Originally a first round pick of the Ottawa Senators, (16th overall in 2002), Prague's native son with the soul patch under his lip spent the 2003-04 season with HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Republic Extraleague, recording four goals and nine assists in 44 games.
Klepis also represented his country at the World Junior Championships for the second consecutive year, notching two goals and two assists in seven games.
He was acquired from Ottawa by the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 25, 2003, in exchange for Vaclav Varada and Buffalo's fifth-round choice in the ‘03 Entry Draft.
The Washington Capitals then picked up the 6-foot, 205-pound center on March 9, 2004; in a late season trade with Buffalo for right-winger Mike Grier.
So Jakub debuts in a Pirates uniform on US ice after being used like a Monopoly chip the two prior seasons.
Klepis is playing well: Through 45 games, he has positioned himself among the league’s rookie scoring leaders with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points, ranking 5th best on the Portland squad.
While the talent is there, at just 20 years old, Jakub is still refining his game and will probably need another season of AHL experience before moving on to the next level.
He debuts at No. 29 in the FAB50 2005 Hockey survey. He is the cusp of a range of players that follow who might find themselves on NHL ice if the lockout ends with some players refusing to come back under the play-or-not salary cap rumored to be coming for 2006.
