Repik to Make NHL Debut Tomorrow

On Tuesday, it was Kenndal McArdle making his first NHL start against the Washington Capitals, but tomorrow night, it's going to be Michal Repik's moment after the 19-year-old winger was recalled by the Florida Panthers.

Repik was drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 2007 Entry Draft. Most of the 30 other players taken in the second round last year are still playing in junior or in college, and only two others have already made appearances in the NHL; Oscar Möller and Wayne Simmonds -- both for the Los Angeles Kings.

After representing the Czech Republic in an U-17 tournament in 2004, Michal was selected by the Vancouver Giants in the 2005 CHL Import Draft, 21st overall.

He went straight to the Giants as a 17-year-old and played through his first season scoring 52 points (24 goals) in 69 games and in the process, helped Vancouver to the playoffs.

His production was limited to just 6 points (3G, 3A) during the WHL playoffs, but the Giants won the league championship, and with it, a berth in the 2006 Memorial Cup, although they would eventually lose in the semi-final.

The following season, Repik missed a couple of weeks with Vancouver while playing for the Czech Republic in the WJCs, but he was held scoreless through the tournament. Nevertheless, Repik still improved his point totals from his rookie season, picking up 55 in 56 games.

During the 2006-2007 season, Panthers' prospect Kenndal McArdle was traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Vancouver Giants, so although Repik was not yet in the Panthers' system, the two would eventually share great success with the Giants.

Vancouver, set to host the 2007 Memorial Cup, had advanced through to the WHL championship for a second consecutive season, so win or lose, their spot as Cup host was secured.

Repik and linemates Milan Lucic and Wacey Rabbit, along with an offensive explosion by newcomer Kenndal McArdle helped power Vancouver through the playoffs with Repik scoring 10 goals and picking up 16 assists. It was good enough to earn him the honour of leading point-scorer for the playoffs, and it carried through to the Memorial Cup as Repik scored the game-winning goal in the championship game against Medicine Hat. For his efforts, Repik won the Ed Chynoweth Trophy -- awarded to the leading point-scorer in the tournament.

During the summer, the Panthers made Michal Repik the 40th overall selection in the 2007 Entry Draft and signed him to his entry level contract soon after, although the winger would return to Vancouver for one more year of junior hockey.

The 2008 season saw continued improvement from Michal, but a big hit in early December sidelined him for nearly two months with a concussion. The injury kept him out of the WJCs and limited him to only 51 games. But again, he improved his point totals to 61 (27G, 34A), and once more, he set a new career high in still fewer games than in the previous season.

Now, Repik is in his first pro season with the AHL's Rochester Americans and through 24 games, he has six goals and eight assists for fourteen points.

Despite being only 5'10", Repik isn't afraid to play physical hockey, but beyond that, he's a fluid skater and confident puck handler that possesses an excellent wristshot.