Kase beat the odds just by making it to the NHL.

After getting 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 43 games for Chomutov in the Czech Extraliga, Kase was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round (No. 205) of the 2014 NHL Draft.

A native of Kadan, Czech Republic, the offensively gifted forward signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks on May 14, 2015. The following season, Kase played for San Diego of the American Hockey League, where he had 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 25 games after missing much of the season because of a concussion.

However, in 2016-17, Kase played 53 games with the Ducks, finishing with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) despite limited ice time (an average of 11:47 per game). He also had two goals in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Injuries again hampered Kase a bit in 2017-18, but he was able to showcase his offensive abilities by scoring an NHL career-high 20 goals and 38 points in 66 games.

After two more seasons in Anaheim, in which he only played 79 games, Kase was traded to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 21, 2020, for forward David Backes, defenseman Axel Andersson, and a first-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft.

Kase signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 13, 2022.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Traded to Boston by Anaheim for David Backes, Axel Andersson and a 1st-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft, February 21, 2020.
• Signed as a free agent by Toronto, July 30, 2021.
• Signed as a free agent by Carolina, July 13, 2022.