Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 fifth-round draft pick Miroslav Holinka has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Edmonton Oil Kings, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.
Holinka, 18, is a 6’1″ right-handed winger who collected three points (one goal, two assists) in 16 games with Czech pro club HC Oceláři Třinec during the 2023-24 season.
The Kromeriz, Czechia product also skated in 29 games with Třinec’s U20 affiliate during the regular season, racking up 20 goals and 41 points; he added six goals and 14 points in 15 games with the junior club during their playoffs.
✍️ The ink is dry! ✍️
Oil Kings have signed Miroslav Holinka to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, the club announced today. Holinka was selected 14th overall by the club in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Welcome to the Oil Kings, Miroslav! 👑https://t.co/aIDUehHFFV pic.twitter.com/oDlPlS0cYP
— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) July 31, 2024
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Earlier this summer, the Oil Kings selected Holinka with the No. 14 overall selection in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, ensuring that they would have full control over his Canadian major junior rights.
“The Oil Kings are proud to sign Miroslav Holinka,” Oil Kings president and general manager Kirt Hill said in a media release on Wednesday. “Since the NHL Draft, Miroslav has continued to impress at Maple Leafs Development Camp, and the Summer World Junior Showcase in Europe. We look forward to him joining our club in early September and adding his offensive abilities and instincts to our forward group.”
With Holinka now set to suit up for the Oil Kings, the Maple Leafs have three prospects slated to play in the WHL in the 2024-25 season: Holinka, Noah Chadwick, and Nathan Mayes. Additionally, Toronto will have Ben Danford, Sam McCue, and potentially Easton Cowan in the OHL this coming season.
Holinka will be tasked with providing more offense for an Oil Kings team that struggled at both ends of the ice last season. He’ll have some help, however, in the form of NHL draft picks Gracyn Sawchyn, Adam Jecho, and Parker Alcos, as well as projected top 2026 draft pick Joe Iginla.
Despite being selected in the fifth round, Holinka was actually the third player the Maple Leafs selected in the 2024 NHL Draft. Toronto picked Danford in Round 1 and Victor Johansson in Round 4 before making three selections in both the fifth and seventh rounds.