Lukas Klok’s short time playing professional hockey in North America seems to have come to an end. As reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Klok, a member of the Arizona Coyotes organization, has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual contract termination.
Fellow Czech blueliner Michal Kempny recently took this route to head overseas rather than remain in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and now Klok is following suit.
Klok, 27, was signed by the Coyotes this summer off the back of a successful KHL season. Klok spent 2021-22 with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik and scored 31 points in 44 games, which was just a point off of the team lead.
The six-foot-one blueliner had spent the two seasons before that playing for Lukko Rauma in the Finnish Liiga. He also has four seasons of Czech pro experience under his belt, and first popped onto the radar in North America playing for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms in 2013-14.
Klok’s current club, the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, Roadrunners will be without Klok now (assuming he clears these unconditional waivers and has his contract terminated) but likely have the defensive depth to make up for his absence. Klok hadn’t registered much of an impact in four AHL games and the Roadrunners (who are 3-1 so far to start their season) should be able to manage to fill his vacated role moving forward.