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“He has all the skill in the world, so we’re excited. We went to him and said, ‘You’ve earned a contract. Let’s get this done.’ ”

Chlapik signed the deal when he was in Ottawa for a world junior championship pre-tournament game. He didn’t play that night because he was serving a suspension for cross-checking an opponent in the face during a QMJHL game.

“I think that meeting after the development camp was the turning point for me,” Chlapik said. “On the way back home, on the airplane, I was just thinking what to do with me. I was just confused and everything. I think it was probably the best thing that could happen to me. I realized how much I want to be a NHL player and how much I want to make the team.

“So I knew I had to change off ice things and on ice, too: how to play, how to prepare, everything. I think it worked out really well.”

Chlapik admits he didn’t have the proper mindset for pro hockey previously. He didn’t take his career seriously enough.

“Before practices, I never stretched,” he said. “The next thing was eating. Before, I just wanted to have some good food and I didn’t care what it was. Now I don’t eat bread. I’m eating food that is gluten-free. I’m just making sure I’m ready and fit. I feel much better now. I’ve lost body fat and gained muscle.”

His skating, he says, has improved immeasurably with the help of a figure skater. His compete level is much better because of the realization it had to be.

Photo by Andre Ringuette / NHLI

“I finish checks, I just work hard,” Chlapik said. “Before my game was just about making plays. I played in Czech and my talent was good enough for me. I came to Canada and the first year was good. Everything was new. It worked out well for me. The next year, I just realized it doesn’t work that way. Every second guy is talented and skilled, so you have to put a little more extra into it to be special. I think only the special players can play in the NHL.