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

Elvs

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Jul 3, 2006
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I will update the rankings soon, maybe this weekend, and then I'll update them again after the World Juniors (if there will be any). Though it's hard to rank the guys who didn't play this season at all.
 

hellwar9

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Jul 17, 2017
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Did you see play Patrik Gabriel in Finnish U18 league? He is better than Zlnka and Strbak who are also played there... If not, have a look. Definitely the best player in Saipa.

I would not compare Strbak with them, he is a defender and a year younger. As for Gabriel and Zlnka. Zlnka has better skating, he has very good acceleration, sometimes it seems to me that he literally flies on ice. He has soft hands and decent stickhandling, On the other hand, Gabriel, seems more talented and has more potential. He has good vision, his passes have eyes, he is very creative in the offensive zone. Today, in my opinion, they are at a similar level, very little difference between them and they are different types of players. We will see in a year if any of them will be drafted. I would not be surprised if they go next season like the Geci to one of the CHL leagues.
 

james12

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Mar 31, 2018
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Did you see play Patrik Gabriel in Finnish U18 league? He is better than Zlnka and Strbak who are also played there... If not, have a look. Definitely the best player in Saipa.

Gabriel progresses very solidly. He's got decent vision and skating surely isn't the problem, but Zlnka is much better skater for me. Zlnka underwent sort of injury few weeks ago so that could be the reason for his decline in points. Strbak is one of the best 05 Dmen in Finnish U18. Powerful shooting.
 

hellwar9

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Jul 17, 2017
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Namikaze Minato

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Apr 30, 2009
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Man... 2022 is likely the first draft year in a very long time that would produce a very strong Czechoslovak team.
Should have stayed together for the sports teams, like a failing marriage staying together for the kid!
Sure, its toxic and a bad environment and neither side is happy but we have been robbed of so many good sports teams!
 

Elvs

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Jul 3, 2006
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I've updated the rankings now. The 2021 draft is tricky because many guys didn't play at all, and the 2023 draft is tricky because I feel the entire top 5 is more or less interchangable with one another. You could make the case that Ciernik and Dvorsky should be at the top, but I decided to not make any big movements in the top 5's for now. I'll update the rankings again in a couple of months or so. Hopefully guys will have a more legimate sample size of games played then.
 

hellwar9

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Jul 17, 2017
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Man... 2022 is likely the first draft year in a very long time that would produce a very strong Czechoslovak team.

Well, as Czechoslovakia, we would probably be competitive with the world's best in 2022 draft. As far as independent Slovakia is concerned, in my opinion it could be the best draft since 2005, when 7 Slovaks were drafted. I personally think those 6 or 7 are completely real. In any case, it's still over a year and a half, injuries can come and it can change. Let's hope, however, that the predictions will be fulfilled and it will be a very successful draft for Slovakia

I've updated the rankings now. The 2021 draft is tricky because many guys didn't play at all, and the 2023 draft is tricky because I feel the entire top 5 is more or less interchangable with one another. You could make the case that Ciernik and Dvorsky should be at the top, but I decided to not make any big movements in the top 5's for now. I'll update the rankings again in a couple of months or so. Hopefully guys will have a more legimate sample size of games played then.

2023 is still a long way off, but the first 5 could be drafted, let's hope some of them are in the first round as well.
 
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Elvs

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2023 is still a long way off, but the first 5 could be drafted, let's hope some of them are in the first round as well.

I'm not gonna pretend like I watched all these guys play, but when you compare age/leagues/stats, it's evident that the 2022 and 2023 classes are stronger than in a long time.

The 2021 class looks weak, and we might not see a single Slovak selected from that group. I think Stacha should be drafted, but he was overlooked last time, and now his chance to showcase himself in the WHL got interrupted. The World Juniors will be of big importance for him and Hlavaj.

Myklukha probably has the best chance of being drafted, but so far he didn't play this year at all, and so he fell a spot on my list. Groch has size and is off to a good start in the Czech juniors, but if he's not making Slovakias team for the World Juniors, I don't see him getting drafted in 2021. I think 2022 is more likely for him. Same with Stefancik, who I saw a little with Luleås U20 team. I don't think he's produced enough to get consideration for the 2021 draft, but he has some upside to sneak into the later rounds in the years after.

I also started watching the Tipos Extraliga a little this season. Looking forward to watching Dukla Trencin vs. Nitra tomorrow. Many interesting young players on both teams. I assume all of Stacha, Chromiak, Okuliar, Bodak and Nemec are locks to play if they are healthy. Hopefully we'll see a couple of Honzek, Molnar, Stumpel and Sykora play also. Also looking forward to seeing Lantosi. If not for corona, maybe he would have gotten a couple of games with Boston this season.
 

Mato94

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Apr 11, 2020
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Bratislava, Slovakia
I'm not gonna pretend like I watched all these guys play, but when you compare age/leagues/stats, it's evident that the 2022 and 2023 classes are stronger than in a long time.

The 2021 class looks weak, and we might not see a single Slovak selected from that group. I think Stacha should be drafted, but he was overlooked last time, and now his chance to showcase himself in the WHL got interrupted. The World Juniors will be of big importance for him and Hlavaj.

Myklukha probably has the best chance of being drafted, but so far he didn't play this year at all, and so he fell a spot on my list. Groch has size and is off to a good start in the Czech juniors, but if he's not making Slovakias team for the World Juniors, I don't see him getting drafted in 2021. I think 2022 is more likely for him. Same with Stefancik, who I saw a little with Luleås U20 team. I don't think he's produced enough to get consideration for the 2021 draft, but he has some upside to sneak into the later rounds in the years after.

I also started watching the Tipos Extraliga a little this season. Looking forward to watching Dukla Trencin vs. Nitra tomorrow. Many interesting young players on both teams. I assume all of Stacha, Chromiak, Okuliar, Bodak and Nemec are locks to play if they are healthy. Hopefully we'll see a couple of Honzek, Molnar, Stumpel and Sykora play also. Also looking forward to seeing Lantosi. If not for corona, maybe he would have gotten a couple of games with Boston this season.

Molnár will play tomorrow, Stümpel and Sýkora most likely won’t. Not sure on Honzek, but if he gets his debut, he’ll become the sixth youngest player in the history of the league.
 
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Elvs

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What a fun game that was from a Slovak youth perspective.

Okuliar with two goals and three assists!

Chromiak with a goal.

Nemec with a very nice assist.

Stacha with a good game, although no points.

Molnar debuted. I didn't see him much, but he seemed to have the speed required for this level.
 

Rusty7550

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Aug 11, 2018
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What a fun game that was from a Slovak youth perspective.

Okuliar with two goals and three assists!

Chromiak with a goal.

Nemec with a very nice assist.

Stacha with a good game, although no points.

Molnar debuted. I didn't see him much, but he seemed to have the speed required for this level.
Molnar is very good skater with soft hands. I liked him today. He's playing with a lot of confidence. He also blocked few shots today. It seems like he didn't play that much in 3rd period because Nitra was losing and they were playing with more experienced players.
 
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hellwar9

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Today made a successful debut in the men's category Servac Petrovsky, although only the lower Slovak men's league. He joined U18 Slovak National Project because youth leagues are not played in the Czech Republic due to the Covid19. I think that the game with men will help him in his development more than the Czech junior league, I wonder where he will go next season. As for the match he scored 3 points for 2 goals and 1 assist. The whole match he was active, really good movement. Typologically he is goal scorer. The generation of players born in 2004 turns out promising.
 
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hellwar9

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Today there is second player of the year of birth 2005 in the line-up HK Nitra. Frantisek Ridzon should make his debut at the age of 15 years , 10 months and 7 days. So Frantisek Ridzon should become the fourth youngest debutant in the history of the Tipos Extraliga.
 
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hellwar9

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Jul 17, 2017
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Beautiful goal of the trio Zigmund Zold (late 2004), Frantisek Ridzon (2005) and Adam Sykora (2004) in the match of the Slovak Supercup. Nitra continues to deploy talented boys among men. We believe that in a few years we will have a good Slovak generation and we believe that it will not only be 2 years of birth (2004 and 2005) but it will continue further.

As for today's match, Frantisek Ridzon showed a really good hockey iq and good hands today. He didn't just throw away pucks at all, but he tried to play, he was creative. He is still very young, he will play regularly next season, but I acknowledge Nitra's efforts to try it now. Next season, he and Molnar may be the pair who will be the most watched in our league. Adam Sykora had a weaker match today, he played even better among men, but he is also a very skilful player. Slowly it looks on him as he gradually gets used to the men's category. As one of the youngest players of the year 2004 (September 07) after four Slafkovsky, Nemec, Mesar, Elias, he can be the dark horse. Zigmund Zold also has potential, but he is not yet completely used to that speed.
 
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hockey2015

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Jun 30, 2014
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2004 :

Juraj Slafkovsky (2022) Juraj Slafkovsky at eliteprospects.com
Simon Nemec (2022) Simon Nemec at eliteprospects.com
Filip Mesar (2022) Filip Mesar at eliteprospects.com
Alex Ciernik (2023) Alex Ciernik at eliteprospects.com
Rastislav Elias (2022) Rastislav Elias at eliteprospects.com
Adam Zlnka (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527422/adam-zlnka
Servac Petrovsky (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527429/servac-petrovsky
Alex Sotek (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/485146/alex-sotek
Peter Repcik (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/642637/peter-repcik
Adam Sykora (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527426/adam-sykora
Zigmund Zold (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653090/zigmund-zold
Martin Misiak (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527425/martin-misiak
Patrik Gabriel (2022)
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527417/patrik-gabriel
David Natny (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/537886/david-natny
Martin Benko (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/578965/martin-benko
Markus Suchy (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/561721/markus-suchy

2005 :

Dalibor Dvorsky (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527424/dalibor-dvorsky
Samuel Sisik (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595286/samuel-sisik
Ondrej Molnar (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595293/ondrej-molnar
Maxim Strbak (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595301/maxim-strbak
Frantisek Ridzon (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595305/frantisek-ridzon
Alex Cajkovic (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/654036/alex-cajkovic
Roman Kukumberg (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640609/roman-kukumberg
Jakub Chromiak (2024) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595304/jakub-chromiak
Samuel Barcik (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653084/samuel-barcik
Frantisek Dej (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640612/frantisek-dej
Adam Cedzo (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595295/adam-cedzo
Leo Eperjesi (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/642639/leo-eperjesi
Sebastian Zurek (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/723348/sebastian-zurek
Daniel Jencko (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653163/daniel-alexander-jencko
 
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hellwar9

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Jul 17, 2017
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2004 :

Juraj Slafkovsky (2022) Juraj Slafkovsky at eliteprospects.com
Simon Nemec (2022) Simon Nemec at eliteprospects.com
Filip Mesar (2022) Filip Mesar at eliteprospects.com
Alex Ciernik (2023) Alex Ciernik at eliteprospects.com
Rastislav Elias (2022) Rastislav Elias at eliteprospects.com
Adam Zlnka (2022) Adam Zlnka at eliteprospects.com
Servac Petrovsky (2022) Servác Petrovský at eliteprospects.com
Alex Sotek (2022) Alex Sotek at eliteprospects.com
Peter Repcik (2022) Peter Repcik at eliteprospects.com
Adam Sykora (2022) Adam Sýkora at eliteprospects.com
Zigmund Zold (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653090/zigmund-zold
Martin Misiak (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527425/martin-misiak
Patrik Gabriel (2022)
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527417/patrik-gabriel
David Natny (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/537886/david-natny
Martin Benko (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/578965/martin-benko
Markus Suchy (2022) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/561721/markus-suchy

2005 :

Dalibor Dvorsky (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527424/dalibor-dvorsky
Samuel Sisik (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595286/samuel-sisik
Ondrej Molnar (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595293/ondrej-molnar
Maxim Strbak (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595301/maxim-strbak
Frantisek Ridzon (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595305/frantisek-ridzon
Alex Cajkovic (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/654036/alex-cajkovic
Roman Kukumberg (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640609/roman-kukumberg
Jakub Chromiak (2024) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595304/jakub-chromiak
Samuel Barcik (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653084/samuel-barcik
Frantisek Dej (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640612/frantisek-dej
Adam Cedzo (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/595295/adam-cedzo
Leo Eperjesi (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/642639/leo-eperjesi
Sebastian Zurek (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/723348/sebastian-zurek
Daniel Jencko (2023) https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/653163/daniel-alexander-jencko

I hope from this list that at least a few boys will get into the NHL. If in 5 years we will had Slafkovsky, Nemec Mesar, Elias, Dvorsky, Ciernik and Molnar in the NHL and from older players such as Cernak, Fehervary, Cajkovic, Chromiak, Knazko, maybe Ruzicka and maybe Tatar (if he will still plays) then I would be happy. Around 11 players would be fine and it would be a progress against the current situation.

It will be questionable how our youngster will be then. The year of birth 2006 looks weaker after two better years, even though it is still too early, honestly, I don't see any player there who would be really so good that he would excel. There are a couple of boys, but it's not an extra class.
 

Dirtyf1ghter

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Aug 7, 2019
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Draft 2022 Slovak players in my database :
Juraj Slafkovsky
Simon Nemec
Filip Mesar
Rastislav Elias
Adam Sykora
Servaj Petrovsky

Draft 2023 Slovak players in my database :
Samuel Sisik
Maxim Strbak
Frantisek Ridzon
Ondrej Molnar
Zigmund Zold
Alex Ciernik
Dalibor Dvorsky

Draft 2021 Slovak players in my database :
Jakub Demek (Round 7)
Samuel Hlavaj (Roubd 7)

If in 2022 and 2023 Slovakia should reach a minimum of 6 players, in 2021 it is quite possible that there will be none
 
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