2,036 words, x2 media post about the draft


For the first time in a while, the Czech National Team has a chance to be a dominant force in the International Scene in the next couple season. One big part of that is the new push for younger players to get introduced to the sport. The GM's of the National Team is looking for great prospect growth, and this draft certainly shows it. For the S43 SMJHL draft, there are plenty of prospects to go through. Let's look at some of them.

1. Pavel Pivonka, RW
This 6 Foot 5 inch, 235 LB of a monster has entered a draft with a lot of hype surrounding him. This power forward is something to see, with a lot of strength in his Skating and his puck handling. It looks like he could be a figure skater out there with his big frame and a big shot. Though he still has a lot of work to do. From the scout reports that have been out, he seems to be struggling with passing, but I am sure that his coaches and trainers will help him with that.

This right winger is a highly coveted prospect, and in many mock drafts, he is expected to go within the first two rounds. Whoever gets this massive winger will have a special prospect on their hands, I suspect he will be a force to reckon with and a high draft prospect in the SHL draft.

2. Krištof Kovacs, C
This 5 Foot 8 inch, 185 LB center is one of the lesser known Czechs in the draft. That does not mean that he isn't good though. As a sniping forward, some of the scouts also saw excellent proficiency at his skating and at faceoffs he gets the puck most of the time. As a center, he can read the ice pretty well to get in a good position and rip the puck into the net. That being said, if you are looking for a physical centerman he is not it. Many scouts agree that Krištof needs some serious work defensively, but if he can get that together he can be lethal.

Scouts determine he will go in the later rounds of the draft, and if they can work on his, he can be a steal for the late round draft picks. He offensive skills are some of the best in the draft, so once he develops he will be getting a lot of points for your team.

3. Oliver Kovacs, RW
There seem to be 2 Kovac brothers in this draft, but this one is a right-winger. Coming in at 5 feet 9 inches 180 LB's you may not see a good hockey player but you are wrong. Even though in this era 5'9 seems pretty young, the skill on this kid is excellent. He certainly will not be throwing his size around, as a weakness is said to be his physicality, but man he can move the puck around. Even though he physical strength isn't the best, it seems that no one will be touching his with very good skating, puck handling and he can locate his teammate very well for passes. I can see him and his brother be very lethal on the Czech national team if they get paired up.

Scouts determine he should go in the early to mid rounds, most agree 3-6 depending on where everyone else gets drafted. Oliver will be a very solid mid draft pick and hopefully gets good playing time as the season moves along.

4. Alex Winters, RW
If height and weight was a problem for Oliver Kovacs, it isn't for Alex Winters. Coming in at 6 feet 4 inches and 225 lbs, this playmaker right winger looks like a solid pick. Oliver and Alex can be compared very similarly in their strengths, like Skating, puck handling, and passing are both very strong for them. There is no shortage for the Czechs for right wingers then. They both seem to have a very high ceiling for their skill, anyone who drafts this young star will be getting a very productive winger.

Scouts determine like Oliver Kovacs he should be going in the mid rounds. A very respectable draft pick he is and any team that gets him should pair him with a good scoring center or winger.

5. Luke Thomason, LW
The first Left winger prospect for the Czechs seem to be a nice fit for anyone that needs a playmaker left winger. Certainly, the Czechs have plenty of playmakers this draft pool, and they all have a very good skill ceiling on them. This 6 foot 185 LB winger has very skills in passing, puck handling and skating like many playmaking wingers have. All of this develops into a highly skilled winger that pairs nicely with any offensive centerman looking for someone to pass the puck to them. Of course Luke has been struggling with the physical aspect, as his checking has not been up to par for the league, but with the help of trainers and coaches, he will develop into a high tier winger.

Scouts determine he will be going in the first couple rounds of the draft. If he falls any lower he will be a fantastic steal for any organization that gets him.

6. Vital Kravstov, C
If you think that the Czechs are done with their playmakers then you are certainly mistaken. Vital is one of the biggest centers out of the Czechs standing at 6'4 and 210 Lb's, this highly skilled playmaker is nothing to gawk at. He is highly skilled at faceoffs, passing and skating, making him a solid center for any team that needs someone to get the puck forward and out of your own blue line. Vital is a solid defensively and can only get better from here. Even though Vital may seem like a giant, he does have trouble checking, but I am sure with more training that will not be a problem.

Scouts determine he will go in the mid to later rounds, a steal if he starts to produce more and get training harder.

7. Marc Palicka, C
This Offensive Forward will mesh perfectly with any of the playmaking wingers mentioned above. Standing at 6'2  213 Lb's this center is here to make his mark in the SMJHL and eventually the SHL. If you ever saw one of his games, you can immediately tell that he is very skilled at his puck handling, faceoffs, and scoring. All of the skills mesh well with the productive wingers that the Czechs have to offer. Just like a lot of his countrymen prospects, he needs to work on his checking, and defensive skills are a little lackluster, but that does not mean he isn't here to stay.

Scouts determine that he should get drafted in the first couple rounds. With high skills, if he falls any lower, he will be a steal for sure. He is definitely the talk of a lot of scouts, you should be hearing of him 5 years from now as being a stud.

8. Petr Vrana, G
The only goalie that is Czech in the draft, and is the first Czech we see that is not a forward. This 6'2 210 Lb goalie is nothing to dismiss. Without being drafted Petr is already apart of the Eastern Europeans WJC team, being the backup goalie without being drafted yet. Scout saw very good hand speed, reaction time, and excellent rebound control that can shut down  some of the best forwards in his league. Any team that gets him will be getting a very solid goalie for the years to come.

Scouts determine that he should go in the first or second round. If he falls any lower I will be surprised. In a couple years, you should be seeing him in the SHL and representing Czechoslovakia in the IIHF.

9. Mason Hudson, LW
This 5'11 179 left winger is someone to look out of during the draft. As a skilled sniper, you can see him rip it past the goalie and the goalie won't even see it coming. If any team that has half a brain should look at this stud to fill in any roster spot. That's not all if you think he is only good for the offense you are wrong. Just as he is good at shooting he is just as good as being on the defense. His skating can send any offenseman and defenseman in circles after Mason skates through defenseman like swiss cheese.

Scouts determine he should be a high draft pick going anywhere from round 2-4. If he falls any lower than I do not know what the Gm's were thinking. This guy is a star in the making.

10. Matthew Dicky, D
One of the lesser known Czech Draftee, this 6'2 185 Lb two way defenseman is a good draft pick for anyone wanting to grow their defensive squad. He is very skilled in of course stopping shots, but also passing, getting the puck out of the blue line as quickly as possible. His skating will amaze you as he is nimble and can get to a man very quickly. Of course, he still has a long way to get to the SHL but if he works hard enough he will have a chance.

Scouts determine he should go in the later rounds, a steal if he works harder.

11. Mike Hawk, RW
Czechoslovakia has a lot of Right-wingers this draft, but that does not mean that some are weaker than the others. All of them has very good qualities to have if they want to get to the SHL. Mike is not different, being 6'2 and 145 he has a good way to go to get to the SHL, but he is certainly a good pick for any SMJHL organization to pick up. Being a sniper makes him stand out and having very good scoring, puck handling, and defensive skills make him a highly sought after player.

Scouts determine he will be going in the mid rounds, but we really do not know with him.




Lets recap.
3 Centers
1 Goalie
1 Defenseman
2 Left Wingers
4 Right Wingers

The Czechs are very offensive based this draft. Most teams will be filled with them this season as they battle to make the WJC team next time around. Of course, we could also see great Czech lines in the SMJHL as they have very offensive forwards and playmaking forwards.

The right wingers are very deep this draft pool, and the Czechs stand out to have some of the best. I would not be surprised if a lot are taken in the first couple rounds, and as some of the first right-wingers to go.

The one goalie in the draft looks like one of the best goalies that the Czechs will have in a long time if he develops correctly. The future is looking bright for the Czechs, and it would be foolish for any team to pass up on him.

The one defenseman at first does not look like a star, but if you look at his play, he has the potential to be a very solid depth defenseman. If the Czechs want to keep on building, they want to find more defenseman in the country in order to have a fighting chance in the international stage.

Of course, as more people are joining the draft, I surely missed a couple Czechs, but these are the most relevant and head turners.

Thank you guys for reading what the Czech prospects have to offer, they have a deep prospect pool, having 11 out of the 90 + prospects this draft. I am sure a lot of the teams will be getting a lot more Czechs this draft.

If I had to predict then we should see 3-5 Czechs get drafted in the top 4 rounds. Defintly 3 czechs in the top 3 rounds, and a high probalitliy that 2 Czechs will get drafted in the first round.