Slovak prospects - Top 10 rankings (updated July 3rd)

[slovakiasnextone]

Majority of Slovaks and Czechs don´t speak or understand english. It would be so dead, just like Arizona Coyotes reddit.

Ah, my sweet summer child it shows that you were not around on Hfboards 10 or so years ago when threads like this one would barely get any activity from Slovak / Czechs.

There is no reason that only Czechs / Slovaks would post in such a thread, there are also people on here who are American / Canadian with Sk / CZ rooots who post on this topic or even people like Elvs who follows Slovak prospects closely as a Sweden.

I think you also underestimate Czechs and Slovaks a little with your point about English, especially if we are talking about people under 40. We are not Finland in terms of foreign languages, but I would think that the number of people who can follow a conversion about hockey isn't as miniscule as you seem to suggest.

 

[Elvs]

Majority of Slovaks and Czechs don´t speak or understand english. It would be so dead, just like Arizona Coyotes reddit.

What are you on about? I have yet to come across a person from the Czech Republic or Slovakia below the age of 40 who doesn't speak English. How do you figure all these Slovak and Czech players leave their countries at the age of 16 to play in Sweden, Finland or Canada if they can't speak or understand English?

 

[Antiillafire]

Slovakia's Youth Movement Could Help Grow Nation's Hockey Profile | The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated

 

[Antiillafire]

 

[hellwar9]

 

[JotAlan]

Here are the top upcoming prospects from Slovakia.

I thought it'd be more interesting to rank them, although my rankings should be taken with a few grains of salt. The 2020 draft class is the only class where I've watched every player, the other classes are mostly based on stats, reputation and national team representation.

I will update the rankings after the draft, midterm and after next season. Normally the list will consist of the three upcoming drafts, but because this year's draft was postponed, there's currently four draft classes listed.

For a list of Slovak's currently signed to NHL contracts, check the thread below:
Slovaks of the NHL – The current situation

For a list of other noteworthy players, check the thread below:
Slovakia: Players to keep track of

Unsigned Drafted Players:

Position	Name	Club	Drafted	Born	Sho/Cat	Height	Weight
C	Milos Roman	Calgary Flames	4th round 2018 (#122)	1999	Left	182 cm	87 kg
W	Maxim Cajkovic	Tampa Bay Lightning	3rd round 2019 (#89)	2001	Right	182 cm	86 kg
W	Martin Chromiak	Los Angeles Kings	5th round 2020 (#128)	2002	Right	183 cm	82 kg
D	Samuel Knazko	Columbus Blue Jackets	3rd round 2020 (#78)	2002	Left	184 cm	84 kg
G	David Hrenak	Los Angeles Kings	5th round 2018 (#144)	1998	Left	188 cm	86 kg

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

-


2021 draft:

Rank	Name	Position	Sho/Cat	Born	Club	League	Height	Weight	Trend
1	Oleksii Myklukha	C	Right	2002	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL	179 cm	71 kg	+1
2	Matej Kaslik	C	Left	2002	Chicoutimi Saguenéens	QMJHL	183 cm	82 kg	+5
3	Marko Stacha	D	Left	2002	Vancouver Giants	WHL	186 cm	89 kg	-2
4	Robert Baco	W	Right	2003	SK Kadan	Cze 2	190 cm	91 kg	new
5	Michal Mrazik	W	Right	2001	Bratislava Capitals	ICEHL	194 cm	95 kg	new
6	Simon Becar	D	Left	2003	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	182 cm	70 kg	new
7	Simon Groch	D	Left	2003	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	188 cm	88 kg	-4
8	Jakub Demek	W	Left	2003	HC Kosice	Tipos Liga	193 cm	89 kg	new
9	Marek Sramaty	W	Right	2003	HK Nitra	Tipos Liga	182 cm	79 kg	new
10	Marcel Stefancik	W	Left	2003	HC Kosice	Tipos Liga	183 cm	77 kg	-5

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Honorable mentions: Denis Bakala (D), Adam Beke (G), Max Braun (W), Roman Faith (W), Oliver Fatul (D), Alex Geci (C), Andrej Golian (D), Matus Hlavac (D), Samuel Hlavaj (G), Kevin Horvath (W), Dominik Jendek (W), Jakub Kolenic (W), Lubomir Kupco (W), Jan Lasak (W), Simon Latkoczy (G), Maxim Mastic (W), Markus Michalik (C), David Mudrak (D), Libor Nemec (W), Rayen Petrovicky (D), Tomas Pientka (G), Eugen Rabcan (G), Adrian Zubak (D)


2022 draft:

Rank	Name	Position	Sho/Cat	Born	Club	League	Height	Weight	Trend
1	Simon Nemec	D	Right	2004	HK Nitra	Tipos Liga	185 cm	87 kg	+/- 0
2	Juraj Slafkovsky	W	Left	2004	TPS	Fin-U20	192 cm	99 kg	+/- 0
3	Filip Mesar	C	Right	2004	HK Poprad	Tipos Liga	177 cm	75 kg	+/- 0
4	Rastislav Elias	G	Left	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	188 cm	75 kg	+/- 0
5	Servac Petrovsky	C	Left	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	181 cm	76 kg	+2
6	Adam Zlnka	W	Right	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	180 cm	70 kg	+/- 0
7	Patrik Gabriel	C	Left	2004	Saipa	Fin U-20	181 cm	71 kg	+1
8	Adam Sykora	W	Left	2004	HK Nitra	Tipos Liga	175 cm	76 kg	new
9	Peter Repcik	C	Left	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	184 cm	78 kg	new
10	Alex Sotek	W	Right	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	180 cm	75 kg	-5

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Honorable mentions: Boris Babeliak (W), Alex Bartakovics (C), Martin Benko (W), Daniel Chovaniak (D), Filip Culik (D), Matej Grega (C), Patrik Jurcak (G), Jozef Kmec (D), Luca Krakovsky (D), Adam Kremnicky (D), Marian Mosko (D), David Natny (D), Adam Ondris (W), Richard Patzelt (D), Jakub Plevka (W), Filip Rajzik (D),, Alex Sever (W), Oliver Stumpel (C), Markus Suchy (C), Boris Zabka (D)


2023 draft:

Rank	Name	Position	Sho/Cat	Born	Club	League	Height	Weight	Trend
1	Dalibor Dvorsky	C	Left	2005	HC Banska Bystrica	Tipos Liga	184 cm	85 kg	+4
2	Alex Ciernik	W	Left	2004	Sodertalje SK	Swe-U20	178 cm	78 kg	+2
3	Ondrej Molnar	W	Left	2005	HK Nitra	Tipos Liga	183 cm	75 kg	-2
4	Maxim Strbak	D	Right	2005	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	188 cm	83 kg	-2
5	Samuel Sisik	W	Left	2005	TPS	Fin-U18	170 cm	68 kg	-2
6	Samuel Honzek	C	Left	2004	HK Spartak Dubnica	Svk 2	185 cm	71 kg	+/- 0
7	Leo Eperjesi	D	Left	2005	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	185 cm	74 kg	new
8	Frantisek Ridzon	W	Right	2005	HK Levice	Svk 2	178 cm	72 kg	-1
9	Zigmund Zold	C	Right	2004	Team Slovakia U18	Svk 2	188 cm	74 kg	+/- 0
10	Roman Kukumberg	W	Left	2005	Lukko	Fin-U18	181 cm	72 kg	+/- 0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Honorable mentions: Adam Cedzo (W), Frantisek Dej (W), Daniel Jencko (W), Jan Korec (G), Villiam Kurila (W), Marian Misiak (C), Lubos Stahon (W), Milan Tadeas Jobek (W), Samuel Urban (G)

Jakub Chromiak and Alex Cajkovic?

 

[hellwar9]

Jakub Chromiak and Alex Cajkovic?

J. Chromiak is 2024 NHL Draft Eligible and I think the Elvs do a ranking for the 2024 Draft after the 2021 Draft. A. Cajkovic is not yet outstanding enough to be considered a prospect for draft 2023 in my opinion. He should leave Austria, he made minimal progress last season. Eperjesi and S.Barcik are currently better than A. Cajkovic and still their chances for the draft are minimal. It was also seen recently in the Camp of the Slovak u17 national team, where S.Barcik was much better than A. Cajkovic.

 

[Antiillafire]

 

[hockey2015]

S. Barcik is best D-man for draft 2023 now days. The boy is great skating. I don't understand that the coach didn't take him to the U18 national team.
Eperjesi played next to him and you could see who was pulling whom.
I don't understand he didn't even get a chance. But probably because he chose a different path. Barcik follows in the footsteps of Adam Zlnka, but he is a defender. Anyone who has seen him recently knows that he has the character of a modern defender.

 

[Antiillafire]

This upcoming HGC really looks like the best shot we have had in a while to get a medal. No Canada, USA has a weaker team, this tournament could be wide open. Russia will undoubtedly have a very strong team.
Here is how I hope the team will line up.

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Mesar
Zlnka - Petrovsky - Molnar
Sykora - Gabriel - Sotek
Repcik - Misiak - Ciernik

Nemec - Kmec
Natny - Strbak
Barcik - Chromiak

Elias
Korec
Urban

 

[wings5]

Any surprises/sleepers taken in this years import draft from a Slovak perspective?

 

[Antiillafire]

Any surprises/sleepers taken in this years import draft from a Slovak perspective?

Pavol Stetka is a player who I have never seen play and haven’t heard much about. Seemed to be a pretty random pick. The rest seem to be the ones I had previously thought would be drafted. I believe Adam Zlnka has an agreement to play with the USHL team that drafted him, hence being undrafted today. I do wish a few more of the 04 born defenders were taken though.

 

[wings5]

Pavol Stetka is a player who I have never seen play and haven’t heard much about. Seemed to be a pretty random pick. The rest seem to be the ones I had previously thought would be drafted. I believe Adam Zlnka has an agreement to play with the USHL team that drafted him, hence being undrafted today. I do wish a few more of the 04 born defenders were taken though.

I think the players you'd want going over are players like Stetka. It would be ideal these days if the top players stay home unless they are not in an ideal situation for their development.

 

[alko]

This upcoming HGC really looks like the best shot we have had in a while to get a medal.

How important is a medal form HGC? Its not WCH.

 

[Antiillafire]

How important is a medal form HGC? Its not WCH.

Obviously not, but getting a medal would show that U18 project is having at least some success. Are you really in the position to pick and choose medals?

 

[JotAlan]

This upcoming HGC really looks like the best shot we have had in a while to get a medal. No Canada, USA has a weaker team, this tournament could be wide open. Russia will undoubtedly have a very strong team.
Here is how I hope the team will line up.

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Mesar
Zlnka - Petrovsky - Molnar
Sykora - Gabriel - Sotek
Molnar - Repcik - Ciernik

Nemec - Kmec
Natny - Strbak
Barcik - Chromiak

Elias
Korec
Urban

Molnar twice?

 

[hellwar9]

This upcoming HGC really looks like the best shot we have had in a while to get a medal. No Canada, USA has a weaker team, this tournament could be wide open. Russia will undoubtedly have a very strong team.
Here is how I hope the team will line up.

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Mesar
Zlnka - Petrovsky - Molnar
Sykora - Gabriel - Sotek
Molnar - Repcik - Ciernik

Nemec - Kmec
Natny - Strbak
Barcik - Chromiak

Elias
Korec
Urban

You have O.Molnar twice in your lineup. However, I agree, on the 4th line I would move Repcik to the left wing and M. Misiak would be a nice center. Repcik played this season as a wing and I think it suits him better. As for Misiak, it may not look extra good in terms of productivity, but he made a really big progress and it was also visible at the recent national team camp in June. As 13.forward currently Jencko or Honzek. I agree with the defense and the goalkeepers.

 

[Antiillafire]

You have O.Molnar twice in your lineup. However, I agree, on the 4th line I would move Repcik to the left wing and M. Misiak would be a nice center. Repcik played this season as a wing and I think it suits him better. As for Misiak, it may not look extra good in terms of productivity, but he made a really big progress and it was also visible at the recent national team camp in June. As 13.forward currently Jencko or Honzek. I agree with the defense and the goalkeepers.

Noted, I put Misiak there on the fourth line. I think too Ciernik might not be there. I still like Bartakovics, he’s got very good hands and is shifty on the ice. I wonder how his development is now compared to last year

 

[hellwar9]

Noted, I put Misiak there on the fourth line. I think too Ciernik might not be there. I still like Bartakovics, he’s got very good hands and is shifty on the ice. I wonder how his development is now compared to last year

I don't think so. Despite the not very good performance in the U18 national team for the last time where he was without match practice, Ciernik has an upside similar to Filip Mesar and is still a potential choice for the first round of 2023 draft. He is even a similar type of player to Filip Mesar, although he shoots more than a pass. Bartakovics is certainly one of the alternatives, but currently only in case of injuries. He is skilful and has good movement, but he is very low and on the physical side he is a bit behind compared to other Slovak 04 / 05's. It's his big disadvantage, I'm wondering how he'll fight with it. Next season he should play in the U18 national project team in the lower tier Slovak men's league, so we'll see.

 

[hockey2015]

Dvorsky, Ciernik, Molnar, Barcik (Cajkovic) what I saw. Top for draft 2023. But I don't think everyone will go ob HGC. Many guys in Slovakia are overrated. Slovakia's the agents make a very bad work. The coach should select the player according to the quality not the agent's. The problem of Slovak hockey.

 

[kudla]

I don't think so. Despite the not very good performance in the U18 national team for the last time where he was without match practice, Ciernik has an upside similar to Filip Mesar and is still a potential choice for the first round of 2023 draft. He is even a similar type of player to Filip Mesar, although he shoots more than a pass. Bartakovics is certainly one of the alternatives, but currently only in case of injuries. He is skilful and has good movement, but he is very low and on the physical side he is a bit behind compared to other Slovak 04 / 05's. It's his big disadvantage, I'm wondering how he'll fight with it. Next season he should play in the U18 national project team in the lower tier Slovak men's league, so we'll see.

With all the respect, Ciernik is not a first round prospect. He is not even a lock for our HGC team at this point

 

[Eye of Ra]

This upcoming HGC really looks like the best shot we have had in a while to get a medal. No Canada, USA has a weaker team, this tournament could be wide open. Russia will undoubtedly have a very strong team.
Here is how I hope the team will line up.

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Mesar
Zlnka - Petrovsky - Molnar
Sykora - Gabriel - Sotek
Repcik - Misiak - Ciernik

Nemec - Kmec
Natny - Strbak
Barcik - Chromiak

Elias
Korec
Urban

its probaly as good as sweden, finland and czech. maybe even better

 

[Eye of Ra]

With all the respect, Ciernik is not a first round prospect. He is not even a lock for our HGC team at this point

why not? at age of 16 he got to play in allsvenskan. do you have something against his dad?

 

[hockey2015]

 

[hellwar9]

Elias, Slafkovsky, Mesar and Nemec will join the team in the next camp. I'm really wondering how we're going to play at HGC.