A former Leaf has his sights set on an NHL return next season
His tenure in Toronto was brief and controversial, but after reclaiming his health in Czechia's top men's league, Ondrej Kase has his sights set on an NHL return.
When the Maple Leafs signed Kase to a 1-year deal back in 2021, the news was met with a great deal of criticism, mostly due to the Czech forward's inability to remain healthy. Nobody has ever doubted the skill, but with Kase's injury history being as detailed as it was, the deal was never given much of a chance to be a successful one.
After recording 27 points in 50 games for the Leafs in 2021-22, Kase was not extended by the Leafs, becoming a free agent in the summer of 2022. He would ink a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, but a concussion would derail his 2022-23 campaign, limiting him to just 1 lone game.
In 2023, Kase signed a 1-year deal with Litvinov HC in his native Czechia, producing 23 goals and 54 points in 48 games. Now he's looking to return to North America for another kick at the can in the NHL.
-Kase on his health throughout 2023-24
I highly doubt we'll see the Leafs rekindle their interest in Kase, but stranger things have happened.
Kase has produced 57 goals and 124 points in 258 career NHL games, spending time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks.
| POLL | ||
MAI 21 | 307 ANSWERS A former Leaf has his sights set on an NHL return next season Will Ondrej Kase sign an NHL contract this summer? | ||
| Yes, someone will give him a shot | 144 | 46.9 % |
| No, his NHL career is over | 163 | 53.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
