Kings’ Gamble on a Czechoslovakian Defenseman May Finally Pay Off

The Kings aren’t sure what to make of their latest acquisition, a 6-foot 3-inch, 200-pound defenseman from Czechoslovakia named Petr Prajsler.

On the advice of European scouts, they selected Prajsler in the fifth round of the 1985 draft. And they supported Prajsler and his wife while they hid in Austria for the last two months after defecting.

But they don’t know for sure if he can play because they haven’t seen him play in two years.

“We’ll just cross our fingers and hope he can come in and help us in the next few years,” General Manager Rogie Vachon said Thursday at the Forum.

Asked what kind of player the Kings had acquired, Vachon gestured toward Prajsler and said: “Let me ask him.”

When the question was translated into Czech, Prajsler grinned and said through an interpreter: “I am defense. I’m there to let them score as few goals as possible.”

Said Vachon: “Our goalie is going to like him already.”

Vachon was asked if Prajsler was a physical player, and again he relayed the question.

Nudging the defenseman, Vachon told him: “Say yes.”

Came the answer: “When it’s necessary, I defend myself physically, yes.”

Vachon said the Kings drafted Prajsler, 21, two years ago after reading a report that said Prajsler was one of the best players competing in the Junior World Championships. He said they mailed a letter through a European contact, telling Prajsler that if he wished to defect, they would like to have him.

Much to their surprise, they received a reply dated last June 26. Prajsler and Eva, his wife of two months, had made their way through Yugoslavia and were hiding in Austria. They wanted to know if the Kings could sponsor their immigration.

Through an agent, the Kings wired money to Prajsler and moved him to a village outside Vienna.

After working out the details with immigration officials, Vachon said, the Kings flew Petr and Eva, who is six months pregnant, to Los Angeles. After 21 hours in the air, they arrived Wednesday night.

While Prajsler was in Austria, the Kings bought skates and a bicycle for the native of Hradec Kralove, which is located about 70 miles east of Prague.

A report filed this year by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau said of Prajsler: “Good season with club team, has improved a lot and helped his club to win the Czechoslovakian championship this year. Big, strong, can use his strength. Promising young future. NHL prospect.”

Prajsler played for Pardubice, which Vachon said he had been told is “the Edmonton Oilers of Czechoslovakia. If a guy is going to play regularly for the best team in Czechoslovakia, he’s going to be able to play (in the NHL).”

Vachon said he hopes to sign Prajsler in the next few days.

Training camp opens next Thursday at Victoria, Canada.