F Matyas Sapovaliv - Saginaw Spirit, OHL (2022, 48th, VGK)

[JustSomeGuyCZ]

Matyas Sapovaliv at eliteprospects.com

2004 born winger from Czech republic. He didn´t play much this season unfortunately. He participated in U18 WJC this year. Next season he should be trying to get some ice time in Czech Extraliga, or he might move to CHL.

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[wings5]

Though he didn't play in many games he had really solid numbers in Czech u20 league as a 16 year old. Also played u18s championships as an underager, I'm sure he's on some CHL teams radar and I think this would be his best option. Though playing with Jagr in Czech Extraliga next season wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Looks to have Russian roots, Estonian maybe?

 

[JustSomeGuyCZ]

Though he didn't play in many games he had really solid numbers in Czech u20 league as a 16 year old. Also played u18s championships as an underager, I'm sure he's on some CHL teams radar and I think this would be his best option. Though playing with Jagr in Czech Extraliga next season wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Looks to have Russian roots, Estonian maybe?

If the junior league had not ended so quickly and Sapovaliv had played whole season, he would have had similar numbers as Jason Peterka when he played in Salzburg in Czech U19 league. Hopefully he will get enough space in Extraliga.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Though he didn't play in many games he had really solid numbers in Czech u20 league as a 16 year old. Also played u18s championships as an underager, I'm sure he's on some CHL teams radar and I think this would be his best option. Though playing with Jagr in Czech Extraliga next season wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Looks to have Russian roots, Estonian maybe?

Him being Russian is very unlikely, we have 150k-300k Ukrainians maybe he was born in cz by ukrainian parents.

 

[wings5]

Him being Russian is very unlikely, we have 150k-300k Ukrainians maybe he was born in cz by ukrainian parents.

Could very well be a Myklukha type situation then with with Ukrainian parents, except Sapovaliv is Czech not Slovak. We only have stats so far which look good, does anyone have a scouting report on him?

 

[Albatros]

He's Czech, just has inherited the name from some ancestor from the east.

 

[JustSomeGuyCZ]

Was drafted in CHL import draft by Saginaw Spirit.

 

[letsgrowcactus]

Matyas Sapovaliv at eliteprospects.com

2004 born winger from Czech republic. He didn´t play much this season unfortunately. He participated in U18 WJC this year. Next season he should be trying to get some ice time in Czech Extraliga, or he might move to CHL.

Off-topic but could you please fix the thread title? There's always "I" (not "Y") after Ř in Czech; it's pretty much the first grammar rule Czech kids learn at school and it makes my eyes hurt. Thanks!

 

[bcspragu]

Matyas has signed with Saginaw in the OHL for the upcoming season.

Any idea on the type of player we are getting here in Saginaw? Seems like a high upside kid.

 

[pgfan66]

Matyas has signed with Saginaw in the OHL for the upcoming season.

Any idea on the type of player we are getting here in Saginaw? Seems like a high upside kid.

I think I watched 10 or so games from his league team and the Czech U18 team last season, plus the U18 worlds. He’s the kid everyone said was the player to watch among Czech 04s but he disappointed me every single time. In part because of my expectations going in, but also because I didn’t think he played particularly well.

I’ll start with the positives:
I think he has big upside because of his combination of size and hockey sense. He has strong offensive awareness and vision, flashing high-end playmaking ability to set up teammates for scoring chances. He works extremely hard and has strong defensive sense as well, so I think he’ll at least be a strong two-way player.

What’s holding him back is his skating. It improved a bit throughout the year but was awful early on. He’s a tall, lanky guy and doesn’t always seem to have his legs under control. His posture isn’t great, so he lacks stride power and agility. There are tons of bad skaters in the CHL, so he’ll be fine, but it could absolutely hold him back from becoming the top-six impact player Saginaw will hope he becomes. On top of that, I just don’t think his skill level is particularly high. Maybe he wasn’t able to show much playing against men as an 04, but he didn’t look great at the U18 level (playing against players a year older) either.

 

[Wooren]

I think I watched 10 or so games from his league team and the Czech U18 team last season, plus the U18 worlds. He’s the kid everyone said was the player to watch among Czech 04s but he disappointed me every single time. In part because of my expectations going in, but also because I didn’t think he played particularly well.

I’ll start with the positives:
I think he has big upside because of his combination of size and hockey sense. He has strong offensive awareness and vision, flashing high-end playmaking ability to set up teammates for scoring chances. He works extremely hard and has strong defensive sense as well, so I think he’ll at least be a strong two-way player.

What’s holding him back is his skating. It improved a bit throughout the year but was awful early on. He’s a tall, lanky guy and doesn’t always seem to have his legs under control. His posture isn’t great, so he lacks stride power and agility. There are tons of bad skaters in the CHL, so he’ll be fine, but it could absolutely hold him back from becoming the top-six impact player Saginaw will hope he becomes. On top of that, I just don’t think his skill level is particularly high. Maybe he wasn’t able to show much playing against men as an 04, but he didn’t look great at the U18 level (playing against players a year older) either.

It shoud be said his skating was actually decent in the previous season. If the measurements on EP are correct (and they seem to be, just from watching Sapovaliv play) he has grown a lot over the past season. That probably did him no favors in that regard. He went from 6'1" to about 6'3"/6'4" in a season where he has seen very little playing time.

I understand your concerns though, he did look sluggish at the U18s. Still, I think this could turn out to be a homerun pick by Saginaw.

 

[pgfan66]

It shoud be said his skating was actually decent in the previous season. If the measurements on EP are correct (and they seem to be, just from watching Sapovaliv play) he has grown a lot over the past season. That probably did him no favors in that regard. He went from 6'1" to about 6'3"/6'4" in a season where he has seen very little playing time.

I understand your concerns though, he did look sluggish at the U18s. Still, I think this could turn out to be a homerun pick by Saginaw.

That’s definitely the reason and the fact that his skating looked better before the growth spurt is encouraging. But at the same time, many players never manage to improve their skating to a pre-growth-spurt level. Skating just gets that much harder the taller you grow. Fingers crossed that he manages to do it but I won’t be holding my breath.

A year ago, I think people would’ve said Sapovaliv is a top 60 candidate for the NHL draft, with a shot at the first round. Today, I think he’s more likely to be a mid/late pick. He still has a year to work on his skating and show his upside before the draft, but if he can’t do that, it’ll take a team that’s super confident in their skating coaches and development staff (Toronto?).

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My opinion is that he's a very safe type of player. 6'3/6'4, plays center, skates well enough. Not much offense. He was the weak link on the PP. Fumbled pucks, threw them away under pressure. He'll probably be a mid-rounder with his size/skating/center combination, but the rest of his game is underwhelming. If he had the offensive skills Slavicek or Kulich, he'd be picked in the first round.

 

[Frk It]

I think I watched 10 or so games from his league team and the Czech U18 team last season, plus the U18 worlds. He’s the kid everyone said was the player to watch among Czech 04s but he disappointed me every single time. In part because of my expectations going in, but also because I didn’t think he played particularly well.

I’ll start with the positives:
I think he has big upside because of his combination of size and hockey sense. He has strong offensive awareness and vision, flashing high-end playmaking ability to set up teammates for scoring chances. He works extremely hard and has strong defensive sense as well, so I think he’ll at least be a strong two-way player.

What’s holding him back is his skating. It improved a bit throughout the year but was awful early on. He’s a tall, lanky guy and doesn’t always seem to have his legs under control. His posture isn’t great, so he lacks stride power and agility. There are tons of bad skaters in the CHL, so he’ll be fine, but it could absolutely hold him back from becoming the top-six impact player Saginaw will hope he becomes. On top of that, I just don’t think his skill level is particularly high. Maybe he wasn’t able to show much playing against men as an 04, but he didn’t look great at the U18 level (playing against players a year older) either.

It shoud be said his skating was actually decent in the previous season. If the measurements on EP are correct (and they seem to be, just from watching Sapovaliv play) he has grown a lot over the past season. That probably did him no favors in that regard. He went from 6'1" to about 6'3"/6'4" in a season where he has seen very little playing time.

I understand your concerns though, he did look sluggish at the U18s. Still, I think this could turn out to be a homerun pick by Saginaw.

Thanks for this info, was very curious about this kid.

 

[Babula]

is he on rise ?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I’d say so, he has been quite good for Saginaw.

 

[Wooren]

Also ranked 19th in the recent HockeyProspect ranking.

Starting to gain some attention finally. Not surprised, but I do wonder how high can he rise. He has everything you are looking for in a forward prospect.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

He will be 3rd rounder. Czech hockey is f***ed and there is not a single sign it will get better. Corruption is just too high. Hockey is going to get replaced by much more polular floorball and MMA/UFC.

 

[lamini]

He will be 3rd rounder. Czech hockey is f***ed and there is not a single sign it will get better. Corruption is just too high. Hockey is going to get replaced by much more polular floorball and MMA/UFC.

Don't agree that MMA will get more popular than hockey....but rest seems probable.

 

[Antiillafire]

What’s up with the production? He was ranked 13th overall for NA skaters but it seems like since than he’s not producing the same. In his last 10, just 2 assists and a minus 9. One positive is that he seems to be really good for face offs. He’s playing with some really good players too, Josh Bloom being one of them.

 

[Czechboy]

Don't agree that MMA will get more popular than hockey....but rest seems probable.

Either do I but I was excited to see that a Czech is in a UFC event in a few months! First time ever to my knowledge.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

What’s up with the production? He was ranked 13th overall for NA skaters but it seems like since than he’s not producing the same. In his last 10, just 2 assists and a minus 9. One positive is that he seems to be really good for face offs. He’s playing with some really good players too, Josh Bloom being one of them.

He is projected as high end 3rd line defensive center.

 

[Antiillafire]

He is projected as high end 3rd line defensive center.

Makes sense, I am not watching the games so just going off game reports. First line C at U18 tournament?

 

[bcspragu]

What’s up with the production? He was ranked 13th overall for NA skaters but it seems like since than he’s not producing the same. In his last 10, just 2 assists and a minus 9. One positive is that he seems to be really good for face offs. He’s playing with some really good players too, Josh Bloom being one of them.

Saginaw has played really bad lately. Bloom even played defense last game as we are down to 4 healthy D so hes down a winger.

I'm surprised hes not even more of a minus player as much as hes on the ice to be honest. Testament to his 2 way play

 

[neelynugs]

Elite Prospects - MMCR Stats 2018-2019

anyone know what this tournament is?

saw a little of sapovaliv recently. skating seemed to be improving.