It was one of those trades that only those who look really would notice: On Jan. 24, 2019, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Kubalik, a 23-year-old forward from the Czech Republic who'd been a seventh-round pick (No. 191) in the 2013 NHL Draft, from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth-round choice in the 2019 NHL Draft.

The trade came during Kubalik's breakout season with Ambri-Piotti of Switzerland's National League. He scored 25 goals and 57 points in 50 games.

The Blackhawks signed Kubalik on May 29, 2019 and he wasted little time picking up where he'd left off the previous season. Kubalik scored his first NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 10, 2019, his second NHL game. He scored 11 goals by the end of December, then picked up the pace in January, when he scored 10 goals in an eight-game span.

Kubalik had his first NHL hat trick Feb. 27, 2020, when he scored three goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and scored his 30th of the season against the Sharks on March 11, joining Steve Larmer (43, 1982-83), Darryl Sutter (40, 1980-81), Artemi Panarin (30, 2015-16) and Eric Daze (30, 1995-96) as the only Chicago rookies to hit the 30-goal mark.

Kubalik signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 13, 2022 after three seasons with the Blackhawks, totaling 116 points (62 goals, 54 assists) and 50 penalty minutes in 202 games.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• NHL All-Rookie Team (2020)
• Traded to Chicago by Los Angeles for Arizona's 5th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft (previously acquired), January 24, 2019.
• Signed as a free agent by Detroit, July 13, 2022.