C Radek Faksa (2012, 13th, DAL)

[Future]

Can anyone tell me more about him? I watched him play in the Kitchener Ranger's pre-season opener and came away extremely impressed. I think he's 16 but is huge, looks like he is around 6'3"

So can anyone that watched him play more than I have give me some more info about him?

 

[Brock]

When I was gathering information about for my Import Draft Review (http://ohlprospects.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-chl-import-draft-review.html), everyone I talked to seemed to have a pretty positive review of him.

A European scout I talked to had this to say ""Excellent pick by Kitchener, Faksa is very good NHL prospect, right now I see him as late first or second round prospect. Versatile, two-way forward who can play successfully both, as center or at the wing. Smart and instinctive with puck. Good puck skills and very good hockey sense and vision. Can handle the puck in speed and solid hands. Makes creative sets-up around the net and good finishing touch. Competitive, good heart and character. Needs to add strength and improve balance but still able to overpower and compete against stronger players along the boards. Wins battles down low and not afraid to take huge checks to make a play. Strong in puck pursuit on forecheck and on backcheck. Drives the net and finishes checks hard. Solid speed and acceleration, needs to improve agility."

He's gotten off to a pretty solid start in the preseason and looks to be one of the better Euro's in the league this year.

 

[Future]

When I was gathering information about for my Import Draft Review (http://ohlprospects.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-chl-import-draft-review.html), everyone I talked to seemed to have a pretty positive review of him.

A European scout I talked to had this to say ""Excellent pick by Kitchener, Faksa is very good NHL prospect, right now I see him as late first or second round prospect. Versatile, two-way forward who can play successfully both, as center or at the wing. Smart and instinctive with puck. Good puck skills and very good hockey sense and vision. Can handle the puck in speed and solid hands. Makes creative sets-up around the net and good finishing touch. Competitive, good heart and character. Needs to add strength and improve balance but still able to overpower and compete against stronger players along the boards. Wins battles down low and not afraid to take huge checks to make a play. Strong in puck pursuit on forecheck and on backcheck. Drives the net and finishes checks hard. Solid speed and acceleration, needs to improve agility."

He's gotten off to a pretty solid start in the preseason and looks to be one of the better Euro's in the league this year.

Seems about right. Kid was a warrior when I saw him play.

 

[LolungoReboundo]

Radek Faksa

He plays for Kitchener and he's rated pretty high (4th in the OHL) in NHL prelim rankings. He's got decent size at 6'3" 202 lbs and lines up at center. Any information on how he plays his upside etc?

 

[Tim Wallach]

This kid's stock is going one way - up. I have watched every single game he has played this year and he is improving in leaps and bounds. For a 17-year-old kid on a new continent, he has adjusted remarkably quickly.

He's average size and needs some upper body strength, but he doesn't shy away from the rough stuff at all. He stands his ground and will definitely take a hit to make a play. Above average skater and playmaker, with a very quick release on his shot. One of those very quick and accurate wristers with some velocity.

He has excellent hockey sense and battles on draws. He's definitely better at centre than wing in my opinion. But he is playing for a team that is devoid of offensive forwards and he's still managing to put up impressive numbers. His learning/improvement curve is well ahead of Rieder's at the same age and he has leapt well past Marcantuoni in draft stock. He is much craftier and has more tools at his disposal than Matia, who relies primarily on speed and power but hasn't refined his game at all.

Comparisons are tough, but if I'm looking for an NHL comparable, I'd say Tomas Plekanec. Faksa is an intriguing prospect.

 

[Future]

I made a thread about him after watching him play for the first time in the Rangers' first pre-season game. Impressed me a lot.

He seems to be good at pretty much everything. No glaring weaknesses in his game and he has adjusted well to North American hockey and very quickly. I think he will be a first rounder this year. I also get to see him play again tomorrow night

 

[Ward Cornell]

Comparisons are tough, but if I'm looking for an NHL comparable, I'd say Tomas Plekanec. Faksa is an intriguing prospect.

I agree with every point in your post.

Since i don't watch too much of the NHL I'll do a past Ranger import comparison.
Faska on his low end is very comparable with Boedker.
On his high side he could be compared (I have zero idea on leadership) to Landeskog. I know that's heresy but that's my opinion.

I've predicted in other posts that Faska at the end of the season will be a Top 10 pick and I'm standing by that.

 

[Future]

Faksa got a goal and an assist tonight. His goal was a great tip from a point shot and his assist was beautiful. He broke in up the wing and when he got into the corner he passed it back through traffic and hit the point man wide open for an easy snipe.

Really smart player. Great puck control. Very good defensively and offensively. Like I said, no visible holes in his game and he's got size (6'3") to match.

Reminds me of a Plekanec or a larger and a bit less physical Landeskog.

 

[smitty10]

Faksa apparently wasn't named to the 40 man roster of potential players for the Czech WJC team. Matej Stransky also wasn't on the list.

 

[Future]

Faksa apparently wasn't named to the 40 man roster of potential players for the Czech WJC team. Matej Stransky also wasn't on the list.

Shame. Would have been nice to see him at the WJC. Probably would have been a great player for them. Politics it seems. Could it of been because he chose to play in NA?

 

[Czechexpert]

Shame. Would have been nice to see him at the WJC. Probably would have been a great player for them. Politics it seems. Could it of been because he chose to play in NA?

I wouldn´t say politics. More fear of using 17 year kid playing in North America, never played for them in U-20 team.

 

[JeromeHP]

Faksa got a goal and an assist tonight. His goal was a great tip from a point shot and his assist was beautiful. He broke in up the wing and when he got into the corner he passed it back through traffic and hit the point man wide open for an easy snipe.

Really smart player. Great puck control. Very good defensively and offensively. Like I said, no visible holes in his game and he's got size (6'3") to match.

Reminds me of a Plekanec or a larger and a bit less physical Landeskog.

Faksa is rank 25th in our hockey prospect november newsletter and his a fast riser, was not in our top30 in September and October

Like you said his goal was a tip from a point shot Video but his assist on Max Iafrate was real nice. Video

 

[Future]

Faksa is rank 25th in our hockey prospect november newsletter and his a fast riser, was not in our top30 in September and October

Like you said his goal was a tip from a point shot Video but his assist on Max Iafrate was real nice. Video

Yeah, he seems to be rising everywhere. Could make a case for a top 15 pick this upcoming draft. He has been one of my favourite prospects ever since I watched him play for the first time.

 

[Jeffrey]

If you want a better NHL comparison you could use Lars Eller(he is very very much like a bigger plekanec).

I know Faksa might not be a household name yet but they way you guys describe him let me believe this kid will play in the NHL in a not so distant future.

 

[Future]

If you want a better NHL comparison you could use Lars Eller(he is very very much like a bigger plekanec).

I know Faksa might not be a household name yet but they way you guys describe him let me believe this kid will play in the NHL in a not so distant future.

Maybe but more offensive upside imo.

 

[Jeffrey]

Maybe but more offensive upside imo.

I believe that Eller upside is top notch (1st/2nd line center) ! It's not because he has not produced yet at ppg pace that is upside is not high !

I can understand that non habs fans are sceptic about him and all since he is not highly regarded like other top line center prospects but Eller is amazing and he possess as much upside as Pacioretty and maybe more if he can get top line and pp minutes(like Gomez icetime...). I can definately see him becoming a similar player to Mikko Koivu in the future. In other words, maybe not top tier center but a damn good contributor to any team.

 

[R S]

Faksa apparently wasn't named to the 40 man roster of potential players for the Czech WJC team. Matej Stransky also wasn't on the list.

It's no coincidence.

Some (by that I mean many) Europeans that come over to play in the CHL are left off similar teams. Speaking of Stransky, I know that there was some question about him being named to the team because of a document he signed prior to coming to North America. I don't know exact details but I think it essentially tells him that he can go to North America to try and gain more exposure, etc...but it could mean he gets blackballed down the line, atleast in the near future for such events.

 

[R S]

As for Faksa, I haven't seen him...but to me he sounds like he plays like Marek Viedensky.

MV was a big right handed Euro center that played for the Blades and elsewhere in the WHL. Sharks prospect in his first year pro. Hell of a player.

 

[Czechexpert]

As for Faksa, I haven't seen him...but to me he sounds like he plays like Marek Viedensky.

MV was a big right handed Euro center that played for the Blades and elsewhere in the WHL. Sharks prospect in his first year pro. Hell of a player.

Remembering Viedensky back in Slovakia, he had stone hands and was very average skater.
Maybe their games are similar but you can´t compere their skills, vision, hockey sense, speed.

 

[Future]

Faksa just got another goal tonight so far after one period, that's his 12th. Easy little tap in but that is what happens when you go to the net.

People may disagree with me, but I think Faksa has been the Rangers best overall player considering offense and defense.

Adds another assist 1+1 tonight. 12G 13A 25P in 23GP so far.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Faksa just got another goal tonight so far after one period, that's his 12th. Easy little tap in but that is what happens when you go to the net.

People may disagree with me, but I think Faksa has been the Rangers best overall player considering offense and defense.

Adds another assist 1+1 tonight. 12G 13A 25P in 23GP so far.

Finished with 2 goals and 1 assist.
Beyond stats, he's leading a team that most thought would struggle to make the playoffs and now Kitchener with serious injury
issues sits with the third best winning percentage in the OHL.

 

[R S]

Remembering Viedensky back in Slovakia, he had stone hands and was very average skater.
Maybe their games are similar but you can´t compere their skills, vision, hockey sense, speed.

Viedensky improved astronomically from the time that he was in Slovakia to the time that he was a 20 year old in the WHL.

It was amazing to see his improvement.

 

[Brock]

As for Faksa, I haven't seen him...but to me he sounds like he plays like Marek Viedensky.

MV was a big right handed Euro center that played for the Blades and elsewhere in the WHL. Sharks prospect in his first year pro. Hell of a player.

If you're looking for a comparison, the one guy I'd say Faksa reminds me a bit of, is Evgeny Grachev in his time in the OHL. Which is definitely a compliment.

 

[Caged Great]

Where does everyone see him going?

I think he'll be a riser for sure in this draft going in the mid teens.

 

[Future]

Where does everyone see him going?

I think he'll be a riser for sure in this draft going in the mid teens.

As high as 12 or 13. Most likely anywhere from 15-25 though.