Listening to Dominik Kubalik recap his inaugural NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings, it seems that goal scorers are a lot like fishermen. They like to talk about the ones that got away.
Signed as a free agent after three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kubalik would count 20 goals and 45 points from 81 games during his first season Detroit. He was third on the club in goal scoring.
However, Kubalik is of the opinion that he still has much more to give to the Red Wings in terms of lighting red lamps behind the opposing net.
“I have to say that the beginning went great for me,” Kubalik told DenikSport.cz. He put away 10 goals through his first 18 games in a Red Wings uniform.
“I started to think that the season could be fantastic,” Kubalik said. “But a depression came. I couldn’t manage for a while and it turned out like this.”
Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde noted at the conclusion of the season that he was delighted by Kubalik’s 20-goal campaign. At first, Kubalik also was drawing satisfacftion from the accomplishment. It was his second-best scoring season since netting 30 for the Blackhawks as an NHL rookie in 2019-20.
Kubalik Seeking More Consistency
The more he pondered his season, though, the more Kubalik came to consider consistency to be his objective for the 2023-24 campaign.
“Before the season, I would probably take all those,” Kubalik said. “In the next one, however, I would like to minimize a similar fluctuation as much as possible, so that it only lasts a few matches, and not eight to 10, like now.”
Kubalik also noted a factor that could be viewed as a damning indictment of Detroit’s center ice group. He’s a finisher and a finisher requires a set up man to make scoring opportunities for them. A playmaking center, an element not prevalent among the Red Wings centers.
“My game also depends on the center’s game,” Kubalik said. “I need someone who will prepare a chance for me.”
Top Goal Scorer At Worlds
The hockey year finished off strongly for Kubalik. Playing for Czechia at the IIHF World Championship, he finished as the leading goal scorer with Czech-record eight. That was earning him a spot on the all-tournament team.
Again, though, he finds himself pondering what might have been. The Czechs were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tourney.
“I’m more sorry that when we needed to score a goal, like in the quarterfinals, we simply didn’t score it,” Kubalik said. “And I haven’t broken this curse either, which takes the shine off individual numbers. But maybe one day, when my career is over, I’ll have a beer and say to myself that being the top scorer in the championshipis great.”
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