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

18 games in the Czech league last year: did he sign a pro contract or was he just playing as an affiliate player while under a junior contract/agreement? Just wondering if he's still NCAA eligible or not.
 
Hockeyville USA said:
18 games in the Czech league last year: did he sign a pro contract or was he just playing as an affiliate player while under a junior contract/agreement? Just wondering if he's still NCAA eligible or not.
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If he's NCAA eligible it's another proof that these rules are rubbish. A player who gets into one CHL preseason game is usually ineligible.
 
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SergeConstantin74 said:
If he's NCAA eligible it's another proof that these rules are rubbish. A player who gets into one CHL preseason game is usually ineligible.
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Willander played in some SHL games, but he had never signed a pro deal, just played pro as an affiliate player. So as long as he isn't getting paid, that's how he stayed NCAA eligible..

But yeah the NCAA rules are so weird
 
Good for Benák, I think USHL will suit him. His offensive game should really flourish. He had to play very strict and responsible game as a center this year in CZE Extraliga, and he did so very well. He was extremely disciplined in his routes and two-way habits - nice vid from Jack Han about Adam's defensive skating. Naturally, that (and fatigue from playing on a struggling team in a gritty men's league) took away some of his offensive prowess and I think it impacted him even when he was sent down to the Czech U20. But even then he showed some really good stuff in those 18 Extraliga games and could have been a 0.5 ppg player with some puck luck and finish from his teammates. The mix of motor, talent and effort level is something special IMO.

Some of his best plays that I've saved:


I hope he has a great year in the US and gets drafted somewhat high, though I have zero expectations after what happened to Tomas Galvas:help:. Benák is even shorter (still can grow) but fortunately not that tiny in terms of build. He's got pretty strong legs and low center of gravity, which helps him to stay on his feet in board battles (although he was obviously pushed around a lot against men). Looking forward to what he can do with the Phantoms.
 
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Bounces R Way said:
If he doesn't end up a 1st rounder 2025 must be one of the most stacked drafts in history. He is really really good.
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Hope he will improve throughout the season, last year after Hlinka he looked like a top 5 pick, but then kinda faded away during season. Not that he was bad or anything, he was still very good, but I was expecting bigger dominance especially in the youth leagues in czechia and then at U18 WCH
 
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GermanSpitfire said:
Too small to be a first rounder. That’s the reality of the current NHL.
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I'd normally agree and perhaps this is a lazy and definitely not new comp - but Benak really does have that Stankoven-esque fiestiness and two-way play and at least he's a forward not a defenseman. He just makes things go every single time he steps on the ice.

Granted, Stankoven himself fell to the second round so you are most likely correct...but I do think Benak and Mooney both are really going to make teams think...and perhaps look foolish too...they aren't your ordinary "tiny" junior players, that's for sure.
 
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BKarchitect said:
I'd normally agree and perhaps this is a lazy and definitely not new comp - but Benak really does have that Stankoven-esque fiestiness and two-way play and at least he's a forward not a defenseman. He just makes things go every single time he steps on the ice.

Granted, Stankoven himself fell to the second round so you are most likely correct...but I do think Benak and Mooney both are really going to make teams think...and perhaps look foolish too...they aren't your ordinary "tiny" junior players, that's for sure.
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Stankoven goes in the 20s if the Dub plays a full season and he puts up 88 points in 66 games for Kamloops in that hypothetical. Only 6 games in the Dub and then the U18 (which still gave him a 1st round grade from most people) hurt his stock in the NHL scouts world.
 
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Marco Rossi was 176cm when he was drafted, there's a decent chance that Benak is 174cm by the time the draft rolls around. If he puts up 85+ points in the USHL, he has a chance to go in the 1st round. I think he can do it.
 
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BKarchitect said:
I'd normally agree and perhaps this is a lazy and definitely not new comp - but Benak really does have that Stankoven-esque fiestiness and two-way play and at least he's a forward not a defenseman. He just makes things go every single time he steps on the ice.

Granted, Stankoven himself fell to the second round so you are most likely correct...but I do think Benak and Mooney both are really going to make teams think...and perhaps look foolish too...they aren't your ordinary "tiny" junior players, that's for sure.
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Round 2 is the earliest I can see him going no matter what he does this year. How much better numbers will be put up in the USHL than say Mac Swanson who did everything conceivable you can do in that league as a 17 year old yet still went in the 7th round?

Unless he sees a 3 inch growth spurt, he will not be seeing a first round selection. That’s the unfortunate reality of the NHL. The shift to size in the league real, and some people can’t comprehend it.
 
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Crazy people cannot accept short players don’t see success in the NHL. No current 5’7” NHLer has been sucessful come playoff time. Stankoven looks promising but even he is still TBD.

Gaudreau hasn’t done anything.

DeBrincat as well.

They’re regular season players. It’s okay, but if your goal was to win the cup you stay away from small players until a certain point in the draft.
 
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LeProspector said:
Crazy people cannot accept short players don’t see success in the NHL. No current 5’7” NHLer has been sucessful come playoff time. Stankoven looks promising but even he is still TBD.

Gaudreau hasn’t done anything.

DeBrincat as well.

They’re regular season players. It’s okay, but if your goal was to win the cup you stay away from small players until a certain point in the draft.
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Gaudreau has 21 points in his last 21 playoff games, including a game 7 OT GWG. He absolutely dominated Dallas in their 2022 series.
 
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GermanSpitfire said:
Round 2 is the earliest I can see him going no matter what he does this year. How much better numbers will be put up in the USHL than say Mac Swanson who did everything conceivable you can do in that league as a 17 year old yet still went in the 7th round?

Unless he sees a 3 inch growth spurt, he will not be seeing a first round selection. That’s the unfortunate reality of the NHL. The shift to size in the league real, and some people can’t comprehend it.
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I'm leaning towards early second/late first round for Benak as of this moment. I've seen several people comparing Benak to Swanson and I don't really see it. Just from watching some of Swanson's tape - yes, like Benak, he's a superb playmaker and passer, but to me Benak looks immeasurably more dynamic in every other way - be it his puckhandling, skating, play off the puck, tenacity in battles or general compete. Lots of projectable stuff that scouts will take into account. But I might be wrong, haven't really seen a ton of Swanson.
 
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LeProspector said:
Great, how many Stanley cups does he have? You know as well as I do he won’t be seeing one as a prominent piece to a cup winner, either.
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Hockey is a team sport.
LeProspector said:
Small players don’t lead to team success.
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Tell that to Patrick Kane. Or Martin St Louis.

Tampa just won multiple the cups with Point, Johnson, and Gourde as 3 of the their centers lol.
 
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