LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Vojtěch Čihař

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Vojtěch Čihař!

Vojtěch Čihař

Birthdate: March 29, 2007

Birthplace: Chomutov, Czechia

Height: 6’1

Weight: 181 lbs

Position: Left wing

Shoots: Left

Draft: 2nd round, 59th overall, 2025 NHL Draft

2025-26 season

Vojtěch Čihař spent time in Czechia and in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets. Starting the year in Czechia’s top professional league with HC Energie Karlovy Vary, Čihař played third-line minutes and didn’t get the results he would have hoped for. In 27 games, Čihař recorded eight points (4 G, 4 A). Eventually, Čihař was expected to make his way to North America after the World Juniors, and he did with the WHL-Kelowna Rockets after the club acquired him in a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He also signed his entry-level contract with the Kings before the trade.

For those who did know Čihař’s name at the start of the World Juniors tournament, they did at its conclusion. The speedy forward recorded 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in 7 games for Czechia, earning himself MVP of the tournament – the first-ever player from Czechia to earn those honors – and a Silver Medal for Czechia.

Then came the WHL. Playing on the wing alongside Tij Iginla (Utah Mammoth prospect) on the top line and in power-play minutes, Čihař had no trouble racking up points, scoring 31 points in 31 games with Kelowna. In the WHL playoff games, he scored 13 points and was also held scoreless in three Memorial Cup appearances. In a successful stint to begin his North American hockey journey, Čihař also took home WHL Rookie of the Month for March and Rookie of the Week in late March/early April.

2026-27 outlook

Čihař isn’t a lock to join the Ontario Reign this year, but is eligible to play in the AHL. Although he played in the WHL and doesn’t turn 20 until next March, Čihař doesn’t fall under the CHL-NHL transfer guideline rules because he was drafted as a European import in the 2024 CHL draft.

Like his fellow countryman Jakub Dvořák in 2024, Čihař has a few options as to where he can play next year. He can return to Czechia (unlikely), return to the WHL with Kelowna, or play professional hockey in North America with the Reign.

The Kings are very high on him, but if they feel he isn’t physically mature enough to handle the physicality at the pro level and/or want him to work on certain aspects in his game, then I see a return to Kelowna as the likeliest scenario. If they feel he is ready and want to keep track of his development closely in El Segundo at the Toyota Sports Performance Center, then Ontario it is.

Featured image credit: Kelowna Rockets

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