NEW STRENGTH IN DEFENSE

The 33-year-old back has agreed to a one-year contract up to April 30^th 2014. Kutlák, who should make a significant contribution in defense as one of the key players, played his first game for Slovan in Piešťany against HV71 Jönköping. He wears the number 80 jersey.

At 192 cm and 100kg, the defenseman’s hockey career started in his home town of České Budejovice. A talented player, he made their first team as an 18-year-old. In two seasons in the top Czech league, Kutlák played fifty games, and his quality was immediately noticed overseas. In the 2000 NHL draft, he was picked up by the Boston Bruins in the 8^th round, 237^th place, so he headed abroad. In four seasons in the USA, he played 16 games for Boston, and a further 257 for the Providence Bruins in the AHL. An excellent defenseman with a strong shot, Kutlák returned to Europe for the 2004/2005 season, where he played for Karlové Vary, České Budejovice and finally Ambri Piotta, where he clocked up 264 games as a defenseman, with an impressive 121 points. In the 2008/2009 he played under our current coach Rostislav Čada. “Zdenek is an experienced defender in his prime, very strong in defense,” said Čada of the new acquisition. “He’s a player who can play both powerplays and penalty killing. I’m certain his style and way of playing will be effective against the strong Russian teams.”

Kutlák has also had a full career at international level. He won gold at the Junior World Championships in 2000, adding silver and bronze at the senior level in 2006 and 2012. Overall, this stout defender has played 103 internationals.

We welcome Zdeněk Kutlák in the Slovan jersey and firmly believe that with his rich experiences he will make Čada’s team even stronger in defense.