Scott Wheeler of The Athletic
67. Adam Sykora — LW, HK Nitra, 5-foot-10
Sykora turned Slovakia’s big three into a big four for the 2022 class with his play this season, grabbing some of Nemec’s light when scouts would watch Nitra and scoring an impressive 12 goals and 22 points in 65 regular-season and playoff games at Slovakia’s top pro level before making his men’s team debut at worlds (where he didn’t look out of place and scored another couple of goals). His year is particularly impressive because Nitra was one of the league’s best teams and he’s just days away from 2023 eligibility.
Sykora plays determined with a knack for getting to loose pucks and making the most of his opportunities. I’ve seen him cut into a couple of his own looks on one shift, and work to play catch-up off the puck to get to a hole in coverage or pounce on a rebound on the next. Despite being smallish (he’s actually well-built and strong for his size) and not particularly physical, his sticktoitiveness and overall skill level allowed him to play as a complementary winger against men this season. I suspect his small-area game will fit in even better on North American ice, too, so I’d love to see a CHL team take him in the import draft and an NHL club encourage him down that path (even if it feels to him like a step back from the pro game).
Corey Pronman did a two round mock draft for The Athletic
Second Round
- Montreal: Tristan Luneau, RHD, Gatineau (QMJHL)
- Arizona: Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw (OHL)
- Seattle: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
- Arizona: Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (SLOVAKIA)
- New Jersey: Julian Lutz, LW, Munchen (GERMANY)
- Chicago: Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
- Ottawa: Maveric Lamoureux, RHD, Drummondville (QMJHL)
- Detroit: Ryan Greene, C, Green Bay (USHL)
- Buffalo: Adam Sykora, LW, Nitra (SLOVAKIA)
- Anaheim: Cameron Lund, C, Green Bay (USHL)
- Arizona: Michael Fisher, RHD, St. Mark’S School (HIGH-MA)
- Columbus: Tomas Hamara, LHD, Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
- Arizona: Jani Nyman, RW, Koovee (FINLAND-2)
- Washington: Rieger Lorenz, LW, Okotoks (AJHL)
- Minnesota: Owen Beck, C, Mississauga (OHL)
- Vegas: Alexander Perevalov, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (RUSSIA-JR.)
- Seattle: Danil Zhilkin, C, Guelph (OHL)
- Dallas: Topi Ronni, C, Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
- Los Angeles: Mattias Havelid, RHD, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
- Detroit: Noah Warren, RHD, Gatineau (QMJHL)
- Anaheim: Bryce Mcconnell-Barker, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- Boston: Calle Odelius, LHD, Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
- Winnipeg: Elias Pettersson, LHD, Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
- Minnesota: Viktor Neuchev, LW, Yekaterinburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.)
- Chicago: Seamus Casey, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Seattle: Topias Leinonen, G, Jyp Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
- Calgary: Christian Kyrou, RHD, Erie (OHL)
- Carolina: Lane Hutson, LHD, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Seattle: Jordan Gustafson, C, Seattle (WHL)
- Montreal: David Goyette, C, Sudbury (OHL)
- New York Rangers: Jack Hughes, C, Northeastern (H-EAST)
- Ottawa: Devin Kaplan, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- New York Islanders: Kasper Kulonummi, RHD, Jokerit Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
Pronman ranking
63. Adam Sykora, LW, Nitra (SLOVAKIA)
Sep. 7, 2004 | 5′ 10.25″ | 172 pounds | Shoots left
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Background: Sykora played well versus men and in international play this season. He got a regular shift on a top club team in Slovakia’s pro league. He also represented Slovakia at the U18, U20 and senior team levels.
Analysis: Sykora has good puck skills, vision, a high compete level and has shown at an early age he can be a versatile player versus pros. Sykora is 5-foot-10 though, and while he has decent skating ability and some offense, the question is whether that tool kit has enough to it for him to be a full-time NHL player. He is one of the youngest players in the draft class, so there is room for projection and I could see him getting some games.
The Rangers like the players who compete hard.
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