At this stage of free agency, the players still available might feel they can do better by departing the NHL for another league.
That’s the choice that Jakub Lauko has made.
HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Republic announced that it has signed Lauko to a three-year deal.
Lauko was non-tendered by the Bruins in June.
The forward began the 2024-25 season with the Minnesota Wild but ended it with Boston after a trade deadline deal.
In 56 games between the two teams, Lauko finished with five goals and six assists to go along with 39 blocked shots and 119 hits.
Lauko had spent the prior two seasons with the Bruins, as well.
In all, he has played 139 NHL games across three seasons with 11 goals, 17 assists, 69 blocks and 339 hits.
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Lauko was a third-round pick by Boston in 2018 who didn’t make his NHL debut until the 2022-23 season.
Still just 25, Lauko is going to his native Czech Republic to continue his hockey career for now.
Lauko had already played for two other teams in the Czech Extraliga before coming to the NHL.
Dynamo Pardubice has lost in the last two Extraliga championship series. They feature former NHL players like Libor Hajek, Lukas Sedlak and Vladimir Sobotka.
If Lauko has a good showing, he can put himself back on the NHL radar.
For now, he’s heading home hoping for the best next step in his hockey career.
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