Filip Hronek (born 2 November 1997) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hronek previously played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings. He was drafted 53rd overall by the Red Wings in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

Filip Hronek
Hronek in a game against the Dallas Stars on 25 March 2023 at the American Airlines Center
Hronek in a game against the Dallas Stars on 25 March 2023 at the American Airlines Center
Born (1997-11-02) 2 November 1997 (age 27)
Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Vancouver Canucks
Mountfield HK
Detroit Red Wings
National team  Czech Republic
NHL draft 53rd overall, 2016
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2015–present

Playing career

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Czech Republic career

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Hronek made his Czech Extraliga debut with Mountfield HK during the 2014–15 season. During the 2015–16 season, he recorded no goals and four assists in 40 games.[1]

North America career

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Saginaw Spirit and Detroit Red Wings

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On 14 July 2016, the Detroit Red Wings signed Hronek to a three-year, entry-level contract.[2] Following the completion of the 2016–17 OHL season, Hronek was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins on 22 March 2017. In his first season in North America, Hronek recorded 14 goals and 47 assists in 59 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He was tied for fourth among OHL defenceman in scoring with 61 points, and was among the team's leaders with 47 assists (1st), 21 power play points (1st), 14 goals (4th) and 235 shots (2nd) and was named the Spirits' Best Defenceman, and Most Valuable Player.[3][4]

He made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on 4 October 2018.[5] On 13 October 2018, Hronek scored his first career NHL goal against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins.[6] During the 2018–19 season, Hronek recorded five goals and 18 assists in 46 games for the Red Wings. His 23 points led all Red Wings rookies, and ranked fourth in NHL scoring by a rookie defenceman. He finished the season on a four-game point streak, the longest point streak by a Red Wings rookie defenceman since 1991–92, and posted seven total points in his last six games. Following the completion of the Red Wings' season, he was re-assigned to the Griffins.[7] Hronek was named the 2019 Red Wings Rookie of the Year in voting conducted by Detroit Sports Media.

On 28 August 2020, having returned to his native Czech Republic through the off-season and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hronek joined former club, Mountfield HK of the ELH on loan until the commencement of the delayed 2020–21 North American season.[8]

On 3 September 2021, Hronek signed a three-year, $13.2 million contract with the Red Wings.[9]

Vancouver Canucks

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On 1 March 2023, Hronek was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, along with a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft, in exchange for a first-round and second-round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft. Prior to being traded, Hronek appeared in 60 games with the Red Wings during the 2022–23 season, where he recorded nine goals, 29 assists, four power play goals, 16 power play points, 122 shots and 21:32 average time on ice.[10][11]

In his first full season with the Canucks, Hronek and his defensive partner Quinn Hughes played important roles in helping the team find early success.[12] On 15 November, Hronek recorded his first goal with the team and tied the franchise record for longest point streak by a Canuck defenseman. At the time, he had accumulated one goal and 13 assists for 14 points.[13] By the end of November, Hronek and Hughes led all league defencemen pairs with 59 combined points.[14] Hronek continued to set new Canucks records as he became the fifth fastest player in Canucks history to record 30 assists since being acquired via a trade.[15]

On 18 June 2024, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced that Hronek had signed an eight-year, $58 million contract extension to remain with the team through 2032.[16]

International play

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Medal record
Representing   Czech Republic
Ice hockey
World Championships
  2022 Finland

Hronek captained Czech Republic junior team at the 2017 World Junior Championships, where he was the team's leading defenceman with two goals and two assists in five games.

Hronek also represented the Czech Republic senior team in four World Championships. At the 2019 World Championship, Hronek led the tournament in points for a defenceman, was selected for the tournament All-Star Team, and was named the Best Defenceman.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Mountfield HK CZE U18 43 8 7 15 56 4 0 1 1 2
2014–15 Mountfield HK CZE U18 33 5 19 24 108 9 4 5 9 35
2014–15 Mountfield HK CZE.2 U20 19 4 13 17 20 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Mountfield HK ELH 1 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Mountfield HK CZE U20 13 4 12 16 12 10 4 5 9 28
2015–16 Mountfield HK ELH 40 0 4 4 22
2015–16 HC Stadion Litoměřice CZE.2 12 2 2 4 18
2016–17 Saginaw Spirit OHL 59 14 47 61 60
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 10 1 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 6
2017–18 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 67 11 28 39 44 5 0 1 1 14
2018–19 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 31 7 17 24 45 5 0 3 3 28
2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 46 5 18 23 30
2019–20 Detroit Red Wings NHL 65 9 22 31 46
2020–21 Mountfield HK ELH 22 10 13 23 18
2020–21 Detroit Red Wings NHL 56 2 24 26 16
2021–22 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 5 33 38 36
2022–23 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 9 29 38 34
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 4 0 1 1 0
2023–24 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 5 43 48 38 13 1 1 2 6
NHL totals 390 35 170 205 200 13 1 1 2 6

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Czech Republic U18 6th 5 0 3 3 6
2016 Czech Republic WJC 5th 5 0 2 2 4
2017 Czech Republic WJC 6th 5 2 2 4 10
2018 Czech Republic WC 7th 8 1 2 3 2
2019 Czech Republic WC 4th 10 3 8 11 22
2021 Czech Republic WC 7th 7 1 3 4 4
2022 Czech Republic WC   10 0 2 2 0
Junior totals 15 2 7 9 20
Senior totals 35 5 15 20 28

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2017 [17]
All-Rookie Team 2018 [18]
International
WC All-Star Team 2019 [19]
Best Defenceman 2019 [19]

References

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  1. ^ Khan, Ansar (25 June 2016). "Red Wings select puck-moving defenseman Filip Hronek at No. 53". MLive. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (14 July 2016). "Detroit signs second-round pick Filip Hronek to entry-level contract". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  3. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (21 March 2017). "Red Wings prospect Filip Hronek named Saginaw Spirit MVP". MLive. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Wings Draft Picks Smith and Hronek Join Griffins". Grand Rapids Griffins. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. ^ Wakiji, Dana; Regner, Art (4 October 2018). "Notes: Five rookies set to make NHL debut for Wings tonight". NHL.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Red Wings' Filip Hronek Scores First NHL Goal". CBS Sports. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (7 April 2019). "Red Wings assign nine players". NHL.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Confirmed. After four years Hronek returns to wear Hradoec Kralove jersey" (in Czech). Mountfield HK. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Hronek signs three-year contract with Red Wings". nhl.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Canucks acquire defenceman Filip Hronek from Red Wings for draft picks". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Red Wings acquire 2023 1st and 2nd-rounder from Canucks for Filip Hronek". NHL.com. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  12. ^ Vingan, Adam (28 October 2023). "Why Canucks' Hughes-Hronek pairing has been one of NHL's best this season". Sportsnet. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Canucks vs. Kraken". National Hockey League. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Canucks vs. Devils". National Hockey League. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Game Notes: Canucks at Penguins". National Hockey League. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Vancouver Canucks, Filip Hronek agree to eight-year, $58 million deal". 18 June 2024.
  17. ^ Wakiji, Dana (13 June 2017). "Grand Rapids Griffins win Calder Cup at home". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  18. ^ "2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team Named". theahl.com. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  19. ^ a b "IIHF - Stone named MVP". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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