Eduard Šalé

Eduard Šalé (born 10 March 2005) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 20th overall by the Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Šalé played as a youth within hometown club, HC Kometa Brno, first appearing as a 13 year-old at the under-16 level. During the 2020–21 season, Šalé having appeared with the under-20 team, he briefly left Brno and made seven appearances at the Finnish under-18 SM-sarja competition with Ilves.

Returning to Brno, Šalé made his senior professional debut in the Czech Extraliga during the 2021–22 season, finishing with two goals and three assists in 10 regular season games. Eligible for major junior ice hockey in North America, Šalé was selected in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Barrie Colts.

Continuing his tenure with Brno, Šalé, in his first full professional season in 2022–23, managed seven goals and seven assists through 43 regular season games.

Touted as a potential first-round pick, he was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken on 17 July 2023. Šalé started the 2023–24 season with the Colts, although he was eventually traded to the Kitchener Rangers.

International play
Šalé first represented Czech national under-18 team at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and in the following year he was recognised as one of the top ranked stars in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Šalé won a silver medal with the Czech national junior team at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Šalé won a bronze medal the following year, in a comeback win that saw Team Czechia overcome a 5–2 deficit.