Ondrej Kase
Position: LW
Team: Chomutov (Czech Extraliga)
Date of Birth: November 8, 1995
Place of Birth: Kadan, Czech Republic
Height/Weight: 6’0″ / 165 lbs
Shoots: Right
Kase is a winger out of the Czech Republic ranked eighth among European skaters. He’s a player with a lot of intelligence and can slip around the ice with a purpose. Size will remain a concern until he proves he can handle hockey in North America. He could have the ability to make a major impact in games, but ultimately he seems like he’ll be a “project” to see if he can make the transition to playing on this side of the Atlantic.
Scouting Report:
EliteProspects.com: “Kase is a slick, driven, speedy winger who sees the ice well and understands how to impact the game. A natural playmaker who handles the puck well in tight spaces. Has very acute hockey sense and willingness to go to battle with much larger opponents. Size is only ongoing issue.”
Good fit for the Blue Jackets?
Depending on where you look, I’ve seen him listed between 5’10”-6’0” and around 160 pounds. For the game the Blue Jackets play, that just seems way too undersized. He’s a playmaker rather than a finisher, which isn’t exactly at the top of the Jackets wish list. That said, his hockey IQ and vision seem to be the best parts of his game, and those are two things that Jarmo Kekalainen highly covets. Kase could be a second round project and may very well grow into a solid NHL player. I just don’t see it as the right fit for the Jackets, unless you’re taking a flyer in hopes of selecting the next Martin St. Louis.