D Martin Bodak - Kootenay Ice, WHL (2017 undrafted)

[Elvs]

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=275038

I was impressed with this Slovak in the world juniors last winter and was surprised he went undrafted in the summer. Obviously the WHJC is a very small sample size, but he also played four games against grown ups in Liiga, so I guess he was doing something right with Tappara's U20 team as well.

He's playing in Kootenay of the WHL this season and seems to be off a good start. The team has scored 9 goals in three games and he has three assists. He should get more exposure playing Canadian juniors. If he plays anything like he did during the WHJC's he could be a steal in the later rounds as an older player in the 2018 draft.

Any updates from people catching some of Kootenay's games would be much appreciated!

 

[Elvs]

Found a bit more on Bodak:

http://www.cranbrooktownsman.com/sports/the-new-ice-age-begins-2017-18-kootenay-ice-season-preview/


With Fleury away at the start of the Ice’s preseason at an NHL prospects tournament, Slovak-import Martin Bodak comfortably stepped up as the team’s top defenceman.

A big, strong player with excellent vision and puck handling skills, Bodak impressed the coaching staff and fan-base alike throughout training camp and preseason.

A 1998-born player, he played last season in Finland with the Tappara U20 team where he was an alternate captain and put up 22 points in 38 games. Despite being ranked 71st by NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of European skaters last year, Bodak was not drafted and made the decision to come to the CHL after being unable to find a pro job in Finland.

Patrick showed great confidence in Bodak in preseason and the blueliner rewarded the coach by putting up two points in five games while logging big minutes against other teams’ top lines.

With several young defencemen set to crack the team’s roster, Bodak brings a stability outside of the Fleury-Dallas Hines pairing that should keep Kootenay’s goals against down.

The Ice gave up a league-high 335 goals last season, an average of over 4.6 per game. This number should decrease significantly, and if it does, Bodak will be a large part of the reason why.

 

[Haanz]

How has he looked for Kootenay this season? After a strong showing at the WJC, his production has picked up lately (7 points in his last 6 games). Potentially a good value pick in the late (or possibly even mid) rounds?

 

[Haanz]

Make that 8 points in his last 6 games - just tallied his second goal of the night.

 

[Stive Morgan]

He's really good, and he really impressed me at the WJC as well.

 

[kudla]

What do you guys think about his draft chances?

 

[alko]

What do you guys think about his draft chances?

Everyone has a chance. Also Bodak. But he is 1998. So, that is a little disadvantage. Sure, we can imagine, that some team will take him in 7. round. But nobody knows, how exactly are the people in NHL teams thinking.

 

[Teemu]

Passed up again, but will attend Knights development camp

 

[Stive Morgan]

Knights could have a beastly defense in the future if Coghlan, Demin, and Bodak all pan out.

 

[hockey2015]