The skater checking at No. 35 on the Wolves Top 40 Countdown, presented by Jewel-Osco, helped the Wolves capture a championship during the organization’s first year in the AHL: Kamil Piros.
Piros grew up in Czech Republic and was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the eighth round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He continued to play in Czech’s top league until 2001-02, when the Atlanta Thrashers (who acquired Piros’ rights in a deal with the Sabres) brought him to North America at the age of 22.
Piros went directly to the Thrashers and made his NHL debut on Oct. 4, 2001. But after five NHL appearances, Atlanta loaned him to the Wolves — and Piros became a key part of the team’s offense. In 64 regular-season games, the center ranked fourth on the team with 19 goals and 49 points.
Once the Wolves reached the postseason, Piros played in all 25 Calder Cup Playoff games and contributed six goals and 11 assists as Chicago seized its first Calder Cup title.
Piros also spent most of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons with the Wolves before being traded to the Florida Panthers on March 8, 2004. He finished his Wolves career with 39 goals and 59 assists in 165 games.
Want to review the rest of the countdown?
No. 40: Gage Quinney
No. 39: Tim Breslin
No. 38: Nathan Oystrick
No. 37: Ben Simon
No. 36: Curtis McKenzie
