Adam Ružička
Adam Ružička (born May 11, 1999) is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career. Junior. The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League selected Ružička in the second round of the 2016 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Also in 2016, HC Slovan Bratislava — then of the Kontinental Hockey League – selected Ružička with the 14th pick of the KHL Junior Draft. Ružička elected to join the Sting in advance of the 2016–17 OHL season. As a 17-year-old OHL rookie, Ružička finished fourth on the  Sting in 2016–17 with 46 points (25 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games. Ružička's season earned him a spot on the end-of-season OHL Second All-Rookie Team and earned him some consideration as a prospect eligible for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Ružička as the 37th-best North American skater eligible for the 2017 draft; Bob McKenzie, of TSN, placed Ružička 77th on his draft board. The Calgary Flames selected Ružička in the fourth round, 109th overall, of the 2017 draft. Ružička spent another full season with Sarnia in 2017–18, posting  36 goals and 72 points in 63 games, before being traded to the Sudbury Wolves during the 2018–19 season in exchange for three draft picks. Ružička finished strong with the Wolves, tallying 24 goals and 41 points in 30 games to conclude the regular season. He also contributed 10 points in eight playoff games with Sudbury. On Apr. 12, 2019, following the conclusion of the Wolves' season, Ružička signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flames. Professional. Ružička spent his entire first professional season with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, and posted 27 points  (10 goals, 17 assists) in 54 games. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Heat played the 2020–21 season in Calgary as part of a newly formed "Canadian Division." Stockton ultimately finished with an 11–17–2 record after losing 17 of its final 20 games. As a 21-year-old AHL sophomore, Ružička led the Heat with 11 goals and 21 points in 28 games. The Flames recalled Ružička from Stockton on Apr. 12, 2021, but returned him to the AHL five days later without playing any NHL games.