Martin Frk
Frk with the Ontario Reign in 2020
Born (1993-10-05) 5 October 1993 (age 30)
Pelhřimov, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NL team
Former teams		 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit Red Wings
Los Angeles Kings
SC Bern
NHL Draft 49th overall, 2012
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2013–present

Martin Frk (/ˈfɜːrk/; Czech: [ˈmarcɪn ˈfr̩k]; born 5 October 1993) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League (NL). Frk was drafted 49th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Junior

During the 2009–10 season, Martin Frk was the leading scorer for HC Energie Karlovy Vary (juniors) in the Czech Extraliga. Frk recorded 28 goals and 30 assists and had a league-leading 186 penalty minutes in 41 games. Frk scored two goals and three assists in five playoff games. He played eight games with HC Karlovy Vary U18 and scored nine goals and assists. Frk was drafted 24th overall in the 2010 KHL Junior Draft by HC Yugra. The Halifax Mooseheads drafted him 3rd overall in the CHL Import Draft.

During the 2010–11 QMJHL season, Frk was the second-leading scorer for Halifax in his first season in North America. Frk recorded 22 goals and 28 assists in 62 games with the Mooseheads. Halifax reached the QMJHL playoffs despite winning just 20 games. In the four-game first-round series against Montreal, Frk had two assists.

In the 2011–12 QMJHL season, Frk suffered a concussion in the pre-season that kept him out until December but he had a strong second half as the Mooseheads were one of the QMJHL's big turnaround stories. Frk recorded 16 goals and 13 assists in 34 games. Halifax finished second to powerhouse Saint John in the Maritimes Division and advanced to the playoff semifinals. In 17 playoff games Frk scored five goals and six assists. Frk was invited to the NHL Draft Combine and ranked 20th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

During the 2012–13 QMJHL season, Frk skated for the Memorial Cup champion Halifax Mooseheads. Frk was the second-leading scorer for Halifax in his third season, recording 35 goals and 49 assists in 56 regular-season games. The Mooseheads had the QMJHL's best record and defeated Baie-Comeau in the league finals. Frk scored 13 goals and 20 assist in 17 playoff games. Frk was fourth among all scorers at the Memorial Cup, finishing with five goals and four assists in four games. The Mooseheads defeated WHL champion Portland Winterhawks in the Memorial Cup Finals.[2]

Professional

On 31 July 2012, the Detroit Red Wings signed Frk to a three-year entry-level contract.[3] Frk played within the Red Wings affiliates, the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye for the duration of his entry-level deal.

Prior to the 2016–17 season, Frk was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes on 9 October 2016.[4] Remaining on the Hurricanes roster, Frk made his NHL debut in a 3–2 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on 18 October.[5] By making his debut, Frk became the first player in NHL history to not have a vowel in his last name. He appeared in one more game, against his former club, the Detroit Red Wings, before on 1 November, he returned to Detroit after he was re-claimed on waivers from the Hurricanes. The Red Wings reassigned him to their AHL affiliate club, the Grand Rapids Griffins.[6]

On 18 July 2017, the Red Wings signed Frk to a one-year contract extension.[7] On 30 September, it was announced Frk had made the season-opening roster for the Red Wings.[8] On 5 October, Frk scored his first career NHL goal against Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild.[9] During the 2017–18 season, in his first full NHL season, Frk recorded 11 goals and 14 assists in 68 games. On 25 June 2018, the Red Wings signed Frk to a one-year contract extension.[10] Frk was the recipient of the Red Wings/Detroit Sports Media 2018 Rookie of the Year Award, selected annually by DSM members.

On 14 February 2019, Frk was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Prior to being assigned to the Griffins, he recorded one goal and four assists in 25 games for the Red Wings.[11] During the 2018–19 season, Frk recorded one goal and five assists in 30 games for the Red Wings. Following the completion of the Red Wings' season, he was re-assigned to the Griffins.[12]

On 1 July 2019, Frk signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[13]

Frk participated in the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic, where he won the hardest shot contest with a 109.2 mph slapshot, breaking Zdeno Chára's record for the fastest shot ever recorded.[14]

As a free agent after three seasons within the Kings organization, Frk was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on 15 July 2022.[15] In the 2022–23 season, Frk played exclusively with the Blues AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, leading the team in scoring with 30 goals and 64 points through 67 games.

As a pending free agent from the Blues, having played 10 professional seasons in North America, Frk opted to pursue a European career in signing a two-year contract with Swiss club, SC Bern of the NL, on 24 April 2023.[16]

International play

Frk represented the Czech Republic at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. Frk shared the team lead in points for the sixth-place Czechs at the U18 WJC with two goals and five assists in six games.

Frk represented the Czech Republic at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships. At the U20 WJC, Frk led all players in the tournament with 31 penalty minutes and was the seventh-place Czech team's second-leading scorer with three goals and three assists in six games. Frk and Dmitri Jaškin were the leading scorers for the Czechs at the U18 WJC with five points each. Frk scored one goal and four assists as the Czechs finished eighth.

Frk represented the Czech Republic at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the WJHC, Frk recorded three goals and one assist in six games.

In December 2023, Frk was suspended 6 games by the Swiss National League after intentionally kicking his opponent, Lawrence Pilut, twice in the head/neck area. This incident came less than 2 months after the death of Adam Johnson, which was caused by an opponent, Matt Petgrave, slitting his throat with a skate blade. There has been much public outcry that Frk should be suspended for life and charged with attempted murder. In an attempt to hide from public repercussions, Frk turned off the comments on his Instagram account.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE U18 44 25 17 42 56 2 1 0 1 4
2008–09 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE U18 22 26 12 38 85 — — — — —
2008–09 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE U20 16 8 12 20 6 — — — — —
2009–10 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE U18 8 9 4 13 41 — — — — —
2009–10 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE U20 41 28 30 58 186 6 2 3 5 4
2010–11 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 62 22 28 50 75 4 0 2 2 8
2011–12 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 34 16 13 29 41 17 5 6 11 26
2012–13 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 56 35 49 84 84 17 13 20 33 32
2013–14 Toledo Walleye ECHL 15 5 8 13 10 — — — — —
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 50 3 9 12 22 4 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Toledo Walleye ECHL 29 23 15 38 16 3 2 0 2 4
2014–15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 32 6 6 12 16 2 0 2 2 0
2015–16 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 67 27 17 44 89 4 1 3 4 2
2016–17 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 65 27 23 50 58 16 5 10 15 20
2017–18 Detroit Red Wings NHL 68 11 14 25 14 — — — — —
2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 30 1 5 6 4 — — — — —
2018–19 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 13 5 9 14 6 3 1 2 3 16
2019–20 Ontario Reign AHL 37 23 13 36 59 — — — — —
2019–20 Los Angeles Kings NHL 17 6 2 8 4 — — — — —
2020–21 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 14 6 6 12 12 1 1 0 1 0
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 58 40 33 73 73 5 2 3 5 24
2021–22 Los Angeles Kings NHL 6 2 0 2 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 67 30 34 64 68 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 124 20 21 41 24 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Czech Republic U18 6th 6 2 5 7 6
2011 Czech Republic WJC 7th 6 3 3 6 31
2011 Czech Republic U18 8th 6 1 4 5 2
2013 Czech Republic WJC 5th 6 3 1 4 16
Junior totals 24 9 13 22 55

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
CHL
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2013 [17]
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2017 [18]
Second All-Star Team 2022 [19]

References

  1. ^ "Martin Frk player profile". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 15 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Martin Frk prospect profile". hockeysfuture.com. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Red Wings sign second-round pick Martin Frk". National Hockey League. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Hurricanes claim Frk from Red Wings". The Sports Network. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Pitlick gets winner in Oilers' 3–2 win over Hurricanes". CBS Sports. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Martin Frk claimed by Detroit Red Wings". CanesCountry.com. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  7. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (18 July 2017). "Red Wings re-sign winger Martin Frk". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. ^ St. James, Helene (30 September 2017). "Frk yeah! Forward makes Detroit Red Wings, needs dog-friendly home". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  9. ^ Hogg, Dave (6 October 2017). "Red Wings open Little Caesars Arena with win against Wild". National Hockey League. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  10. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (25 June 2018). "Red Wings agree to terms with Bertuzzi and Frk". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Red Wings assign Frk and Cholowski to Griffins". NHL.com. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  12. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (7 April 2019). "Red Wings assign nine players". NHL.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Joakim Ryan, Martin Frk sign 1-year contracts". Los Angeles Kings. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  14. ^ AHL (26 January 2020). "WE HAVE A NEW RECORD!". TheAHL. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Frk signs one-year, two-way contract". St. Louis Blues. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. ^ "SC Bern sign Martin Frk" (in German). SC Bern. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Memorial Cup All-Star Teams". Memorial Cup. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  18. ^ Wakiji, Dana (13 June 2017). "Grand Rapids Griffins win Calder Cup at home". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  19. ^ "2021-22 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled". American Hockey League. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.

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