Kings select Vojtech Cihar No. 59 overall in 2025 NHL Draft

The Los Angeles Kings selected left winger Vojtech Cihar of the Czech League’s HC Energie Karlovy Vary with the No. 59 overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday.

With HC Energie Karlovy Vary this season, Cihar made 43 appearances in which he tallied four goals and five assists for nine points, making him the top point producer of any under-18 player league-wide. With it, Cihar also posted eight penalty minutes and a plus-four mark. Cihar then added one more point through eight postseason outings.

On the international stage, the budding forward first joined his native Czechia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, scoring once and adding an assist for two points through five games to help his side claim the silver medal. Cihar was then named to Czechia’s entry at the 2025 World Juniors where through seven outings he put up two points counting one goal and one assist.

Of note, Cihar also finished with 29 penalty minutes, the most from the Czech lineup and third-highest tournament wide. Despite his frequent trips to the penalty box, Cihar helped his squad claim the bronze medal, marking the third-straight top-three finish for the Czechs.

More recently, Cihar donned the Czech sweater at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship that saw him put up a modest three points, counting one goal and two assists in five games, alongside two penalty minutes and a minus-five.

Talent evaluators point to Cihar’s speed, while he is also quick at finding his linemates in opportune scoring positions. Cihar’s footwork helps him to create scoring chances in the opposition’s zone and to make an impact on each shift.

While Cihar’s name was called by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the opening round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft, he is expected to once again compete in his native Czechia next season.