F Adam Benák - Youngstown Phantoms, USHL (2025 Draft)

[Felidae]

I know it's not the be all end all indicator of future success. But how does he compare to Czech prospects of the past? Obviously he's not a Jagr level prospect as he was a 14 year old in the Czech20 league. But highly regarded czech prospects like Reichel and Nedved were in the U18 league at Benaks age who is currently in U20. Pastrnak was in the U18 league at 15 while Benak was in the U17 at 15.

Is it fair to way he's trending to be one of the best Czech prospects? Hard not to be super hyped about him.

 

[Czechboy]

I know it's not the be all end all indicator of future success. But how does he compare to Czech prospects of the past? Obviously he's not a Jagr level prospect as he was a 14 year old in the Czech20 league. But highly regarded czech prospects like Reichel and Nedved were in the U18 league at Benaks age who is currently in U20. Pastrnak was in the U18 league at 15 while Benak was in the U17 at 15.

Is it fair to way he's trending to be one of the best Czech prospects? Hard not to be super hyped about him.

He seems to be Czech generational. The last Czech generational type prospect was probably Hudler. He does a lot of great things. His size will hurt his draft ranking and his NHL success though. Hope I'm wrong of course.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He has a chance to be a first rounder. If he grows to 5’9, he will. If he doesn’t, likely second round.

 

[martygod12]

He seems to be Czech generational. The last Czech generational type prospect was probably Hudler. He does a lot of great things. His size will hurt his draft ranking and his NHL success though. Hope I'm wrong of course.

Exactly why I think Adam Novotny is even more interesting prospect then Benak. Even younger, already also playing some matches in mens ELH, and is crushing czech u20 currently. And already 185cm (6,1) and 84 kg

 

[Czechboy]

Exactly why I think Adam Novotny is even more interesting prospect then Benak. Even younger, already also playing some matches in mens ELH, and is crushing czech u20 currently. And already 185cm (6,1) and 84 kg

At some point.. someone needs to write down all these guys and their draft years...

Frolo, mrtka, Novotny, Benak etc.

 

[czechcanadian]

At some point.. someone needs to write down all these guys and their draft years...

Frolo, mrtka, Novotny, Benak etc.

Who’s frolo?? lol man has Czech hockey ever progressed. When I first joined this site in 2011, there was no one to talk about. Now there’s prospect after prospect to look out for.
What a nice and welcome change.

 

[Swipes]

Who’s frolo?? lol man has Czech hockey ever progressed. When I first joined this site in 2011, there was no one to talk about. Now there’s prospect after prospect to look out for.
What a nice and welcome change.

Agreed. I've given up keeping track of all of them, especially since we never know until they crack the NHL, and even then, they need to be around for a while to convince me.

An exciting time for sure!

 

[martygod12]

Who’s frolo?? lol man has Czech hockey ever progressed. When I first joined this site in 2011, there was no one to talk about. Now there’s prospect after prospect to look out for.
What a nice and welcome change.

Jakub Frolo at eliteprospects.com

Putting up decent numbers in Finish U20 as a 16yrs old, and in the second worst team in the league. Wonder how would he did in the better team. Not sure if he is a first round potential though, but 2-3 maybe.

Adam Novotný - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Adam Novotný, 2007-11-13 Hradec Kralove, CZE Czechia. Most recently in the Czechia with Mountfield HK. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Novotny on the other hand is a first round prospect for me if he can keep this pace. He is 2026draft so even year later then Benak and looking even more great in the U20 (probably due to the better size, but he is starting to fire it up even with U18 NT). Only thing I am not thrilled about him is that he is from Hradec and the club is notourious with relying heavily on older mercenaries rather then playing young guns. So probably he will go to CHL or up north in the near future.

 

[martygod12]

At some point.. someone needs to write down all these guys and their draft years...

Frolo, mrtka, Novotny, Benak etc.

I would say who look interesting :

2024: A.Jiricek, T.Galvas, Badinka, Jecho, O.Kos, Curran, Fibigr
2025 so far: Benak, Pekar, Zahejsky, Cerny, Cihar, Poletin, Bartovic, Mrtka
2026 so far: Novotny, Frolo, Novak, Katolicky
2027 so far.: Byrtus
2028 so far: Kachlir (dont know if 28 or still 27 draft with him)

Dont know if I missed anyone thats just guys I already know about and look interesting, sure many wont make it but I am also sure many more will pop up untill that 2028 draft.

So with some luck we can actually look decent at that 2030 OG lol.

 

[Czechboy]

I would say who look interesting :

2024: A.Jiricek, T.Galvas, Badinka, Jecho, O.Kos, Curran, Fibigr
2025 so far: Benak, Pekar, Zahejsky, Cerny, Cihar, Poletin, Bartovic, Mrtka
2026 so far: Novotny, Frolo, Novak, Katolicky
2027 so far.: Byrtus
2028 so far: Kachlir (dont know if 28 or still 27 draft with him)

Dont know if I missed anyone thats just guys I already know about and look interesting, sure many wont make it but I am also sure many more will pop up untill that 2028 draft.

So with some luck we can actually look decent at that 2030 OG lol.

I need to print this.lol

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Who’s frolo?? lol man has Czech hockey ever progressed. When I first joined this site in 2011, there was no one to talk about. Now there’s prospect after prospect to look out for.
What a nice and welcome change.

Wait until you learn about Katolicky, Novak, and Kachlir.

I would say who look interesting :

2024: A.Jiricek, T.Galvas, Badinka, Jecho, O.Kos, Curran, Fibigr
2025 so far: Benak, Pekar, Zahejsky, Cerny, Cihar, Poletin, Bartovic, Mrtka
2026 so far: Novotny, Frolo, Novak, Katolicky
2027 so far.: Byrtus
2028 so far: Kachlir (dont know if 28 or still 27 draft with him)

Dont know if I missed anyone thats just guys I already know about and look interesting, sure many wont make it but I am also sure many more will pop up untill that 2028 draft.

So with some luck we can actually look decent at that 2030 OG lol.

Kachlir makes the 2027 draft by 10 days.

 

[Czechboy]

Wait until you learn about Katolicky, Novak, and Kachlir.


Kachlir makes the 2027 draft by 10 days.

I loved Kachlir! Something about him.

 

[Swipes]

I need to print this.lol

Hopefully you won't need to cross many off the list!

 

[martygod12]

I need to print this.lol

To look at at in 2030 and learn that only two players off this list actually made it to NHL ... no hopefully not, let's hope this generation can deliver

 

[czech]

...Novotny on the other hand is a first round prospect for me if he can keep this pace. He is 2026draft so even year later then Benak and looking even more great in the U20 (probably due to the better size, but he is starting to fire it up even with U18 NT). Only thing I am not thrilled about him is that he is from Hradec and the club is notourious with relying heavily on older mercenaries rather then playing young guns. So probably he will go to CHL or up north in the near future.

He won't go anywhere.

 

[ghettoNancy]

Looked good in Plzen’s outdoor game. Didn’t show up in the stats, outside of a minor penalty he took on the back check. I love how this kid is always trying to be in the play on both ends.

 

[BKarchitect]

Sale makes me so nervous about hyping any of these guys too much. He had generational stats for his age too and I just fell in love with his playmaking and yet here we are. He’s certainly not a bust yet but the transition to NA suggests he’s just not the level I thought he was. Kulich is so much better in North America. And even he is going to have a transition to get to the NHL…killer scorer but I think he’s got work to do on his play away from the puck.

And he’s not even small. Asking Benak to be a generational centre prospect - even given his good compete level and effervescent skills…that seems tough. I know Sale “plays” smaller than Benak though perhaps…maybe Benak feistiness and two-way attention will transfer better?

The 2026 group maybe looks more promising from a physique upside potential. I am super intrigued by Katolicky after reading the YOG reports. And for later, Kachlir is outrageous for his age.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he’ll be a winger. You basically cannot be any shorter than 5’9, and play center in the NHL.

There’s like 1 or 2 exceptions. And there aren’t that many exceptions either for players under 5’10, although there are a couple who are 5’9.

 

[Czechboy]

I read an interview with Martin Straka (his boss as he owns the team) saying he screwed up and put him on a bad position and they've had to rebuild him.

Seems like the rebuild is going smoothly. Really curious how the U18s go as he should be a top point getter and will definitely have a few good forwards to play with.

As always.. really hard to look at junior Extraliga results and make too many great conclusions.

 

[ghettoNancy]

That shootout goal vs. SWE was nice. Glad Cesko pulled it out.

 

[Czechboy]

That shootout goal vs. SWE was nice. Glad Cesko pulled it out.

The Swede goal before that was amazing (backhand bluff) and he had a hillarious cellie by the Czech bench. So then Benak does that.lol

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Galvas is just GOAT, what a player.

 

[Antiillafire]

ushl next season

https://x.com/i/web/status/1801350076532404529

 

[BKarchitect]

ushl next season

https://x.com/i/web/status/1801350076532404529

Nice. I assume he might still get taken in the CHL import draft? For a guy as undersized as he is, USHL and then NCAA might be a good path although how many truly top Czech prospects have done that route?

Anyways, hope he does hit a growth spurt, he looks like a really fun watch in the highlights.

 

[LeProspector]

He’s fantastic but ultimately too small, unfortunately. He’ll fall hard leading up to draft day.