| HISTORY |
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2003-04:
- Rated top underage draft prospect in Europe after year in Czech under-20 league (48-4-14-18).
- Drafted fifth overall by Kitchener (OHL) in CHL Import Draft in June.
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2004-05:
- Joined Kitchener (OHL) and had rough transition as he adjusted to new surroundings.
- Inconsistent season, as he struggled offensively and lacked confidence (62-3-11-14, plus-12).
- Stock continued to fall without much ice time in playoffs (12-0-0-0, minus-6).
- Red Wings had him ranked in top-10 and picked him 19th overall in NHL draft in July.
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2005-06:
- Broke through offensively, finishing sixth among OHL blueliners in scoring (60-12-46-58, plus-7).
- Helped Kitchener go 47-19-1-1, third in the Western Conference.
- Struggled in playoffs (5-1-0-1, team-worst minus-5) as Kitchener upset in first round.
- Represented Czech Republic at world junior, logging top-four minutes (6-0-1-1, plus-2).
- Signed amateur tryout contract and joined the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in April (3-0-1-1).
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Detroit.
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2006-07:
- Played four NHL pre-season games (4-2-1-3) and almost made the Red Wings out of camp.
- Returned to Kitchener and finished eighth in OHL defensemen scoring (54-11-44-55).
- Also had 142 PIMs and a plus-23 rating for Kitchener (47-17-1-3, third in Western Conference).
- Kitchener coach Peter DeBoer calls Kindl "arguably the best defenseman" in the OHL.
- Booed by Kitchener fans in 3-2 win in February in which he assisted on the tying and winning goals.
- Knocked London captain Rob Drummond out of the lineup with a concussion in February.
- London retalation in later game results in 30 games worth of suspensions to Knights.
- Captained Czech Republic to fifth-place finish at world junior (6-0-4-4, 32 shots, minus-6).
- Helped Kitchener go two playoff rounds (9-2-9-11, minus-3).
- Signed amateur tryout contract and joined the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins for playoffs.
- Appeared in all seven first-round games (two assists, plus-1) as Grand Rapids lost to Manitoba.
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2007-08:
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season games with Red Wings before being an early cut.
- Endured rocky AHL rookie season with Grand Rapids (75-3-14-17, 80 shots).
- Posted AHL's worst plus-minus rating at minus-34, partially a product of a weak non-playoff team.
- Decent first half offensively (42-3-10-13) but slow finish (33-0-4-4).
- Called up to Detroit to serve as Black Ace (spare who doesn't play) during NHL playoffs.
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2008-09:
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game with the Red Wings.
- Demoted to AHL's Grand Rapids as part of first round of pre-season cuts.
- Posted outstanding first-half numbers en route to PlanetUSA all-star spot (43-5-22-27).
- Hit a slump after that and finished slow down the stretch (35-1-5-6).
- Fired 116 shots on goal but improved his plus-minus to a minus-14.
- Called up to Detroit as a Black Ace (spare who doesn't play) for the NHL playoff run.
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