The Carolina Hurricanes have transferred defenseman Dominik Badinka from Malmö of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). The announcement was made on Monday.
Badinka, a 19-year-old native of Chomutov, Czechia, was selected 34th overall by the Hurricanes in the 2024 NHL Draft. During his recent season with Malmö, he took part in 49 games, scoring two goals and making three assists.
Discussing Badinka’s potential, Canes Associate General Manager Darren Yorke commented at the draft in Vegas: “He has the ability to play fast and to really end plays off the rush. I think that’s something that, when you look at the way the game is played and how we want to play, you’ve got to be able to play fast and play defensively.” Yorke praised Badinka’s length, mobility, ability to play against men, and his impressive defensive capabilities. “His puck-moving game, his transition, and his ability to play in the defensive zone and quickly get the puck up is something he excels at doing. I’m really excited to get that type of player,” Yorke added.
Badinka is noted for his stature at 6-foot-3 and 185 lbs. and is a right-handed shooter. His birthdate is July 14, 2024.
