The Halifax Mooseheads are sticking with Jakub Voracek, even though he may never play another game for them.
The Mooseheads are planning to keep the 18-year-old Czech star on their protected list, and as a result, won’t be able to make any picks in the Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Voracek is a good bet to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets next season, and is even considering signing with a Czech ExtraLiga team if his bid to play in the NHL falls short.
“You cannot just release Jakub Voracek and I don’t know of a team that will take the risk of trading for him,” Mooseheads general manager Marcel Patenaude said. “Our focus is to keep him on our list and we’ll wait and see what happens.”
Each CHL team is allowed a maximum of two Europeans on its protected list. In addition to Voracek, the Mooseheads have skilled winger Tomas Knotek returning as an 18-year-old.
Petr Svoboda, Voracek’s agent, said it’s “way too early” to say if his client would play in the ExtraLiga next season, but noted it would come down to what the Blue Jackets prefer.
Patenaude said he would look at trading for a European during the season if Voracek doesn’t end up in Halifax.
