Toggle sidebar

Draft R2 #63: Rangers select LW Adam Sýkora (HK Nitra, Slovakia)

I don't get this pick. He's an ok middle-bottom 6 prospect, another slow, defensive type of forward, all be it with a good shot. But I really don't see the upside compared to a few of the centers that were taken after him at least, which we need. At least if he was going to pick a winger, there were some higher ceiling wingers still available too.

But as far as centers, particularly Kaskimaki, Adam Ingram or Aiden Thompson, the latter two who I think could really blow up in college.

McConnel_barker seems like a decent pick for late 3rd. But really would have preferred one of the above 3 over Sykora.
 
Last edited:
brakeyawself said:
I don't get this pick. He's an ok middle-bottom 6 prospect, another slow, defensive type of forward, all be it with a good shot. But I really don't see the upside compared to a few of the centers that were taken after him at least, which we need. At least if he was going to pick a winger, there were some higher ceiling wingers still available too...
Click to expand...
Look i`m fine if anyone doesn`t like the picks. But please READ or LISTEN to scouting reports if you don`t know the player(s).

Here some scouting reports just for everyone who has to complaine...

"Sykora is a speedy forward who likes to be around the puck. His game is all about playing in a high-tempo and competing hard.”(Miroslav Simurka, FC Hockey)

From the EliteProspectDraftGuide:
His speed, especially, will create opportunities for him. Even in the NHL, opponents will have to watch out for him – he could turn an interception or a stick-lift into an odd-man rush the other way on a moment’s notice.
Sýkora’s high pace of play, speed, developed physical skills and balance, and perpetual defensive engagement will likely make him a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick at the NHL draft.

I also don`t like the later rounds drafts that much, but I read the reports or watch some videos to build my own oppinion and don`t arguement with wrong facts.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Gluten Free Breadman, lilphildub, Speedtrials and 2 others
NYBaselRanger said:
Look i`m fine if anyone doesn`t like the picks. But please READ or LISTEN to scouting reports if you don`t know the player(s).

Here some scouting reports just for everyone who has to complaine...

"Sykora is a speedy forward who likes to be around the puck. His game is all about playing in a high-tempo and competing hard.”(Miroslav Simurka, FC Hockey)

From the EliteProspectDraftGuide:
His speed, especially, will create opportunities for him. Even in the NHL, opponents will have to watch out for him – he could turn an interception or a stick-lift into an odd-man rush the other way on a moment’s notice.
Sýkora’s high pace of play, speed, developed physical skills and balance, and perpetual defensive engagement will likely make him a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick at the NHL draft.

I also don`t like the later rounds drafts that much, but I read the reports or watch some videos to build my own oppinion and don`t arguement with wrong facts.
Click to expand...

rofl blah blah "I also don`t like the later rounds drafts that much, but I read the reports or watch some videos to build my own oppinion and don`t arguement with wrong facts."

The FACTS are there are competing reports about his pace. Decent straight line speed without the puck, not so much with the puck, poor edgework and not that agile. And if you actually watched the videos, that seems about right.

Hadi Kalakeche:

"Sýkora is among the best defensive forwards in his draft class. He understands defensive positioning very well, directs opponents into unfavorable areas, and approaches them at angles that maximize the odds of him escaping contact with the puck. He forechecks hard, backchecks diligently, and makes himself troublesome for his opponents on loose pucks and broken plays. On top of that, the winger has decent hands, a surprisingly good shot from medium range and some playmaking tools that are foundationally sound but need refining. He can find seams and exploit them, but doesn’t create them as often and tends to go for safe passes rather than take risks. The main concern with Sýkora is his lack of pace, especially with the puck, but some fine-tuning to his skating mechanics as well as the inevitable physical growth ahead of him should iron that out. He mans the boards well with his puck-protection mechanics already, and that should only become more of a strength as he matures physically. Sýkora could well be a second-line penalty-killing specialist when all is said and done, and has a fallback game as a bottom-six checking forward that makes him a safe pick-up in the late-first to early-second round."

High: "High said Sykora resembles Artturi Lehkonen and possesses a good shot, but needs to work on his acceleration."

So what are the "facts"?

That's rhetorical. No need to answer. I'm sure you'll just drone on and on talking about yourself. He doesn't have a great deal of control going forward and his pace with the puck is subpar. Maybe it will get better if he gains better control. But with his skating technique, questionable.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: rangersfansince08
SnowblindNYR said:
How does he compare to Berard? Berard seems to have more offensive upside?
Click to expand...

Berard is a high-energy winger, Sýkora is a physical, high-intensity winger.

Berard is more a transition player who carries the puck into the zone, while Sýkora is a 2-way player who benefits from his hockey IQ and positioning.

Offensively, I think they're not that much different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR and Do you want ants
I was reading some stuff last night. Artturi Lehkonen/Blake Coleman type of player. The Avs won with Lehkonen. TB won two Cups with Coleman. Skating ability. Hockey sense. Competes hard. Forecheck. Finishing is his problem. He would have been a 1st rounder if he could finish. He was projected to go in the 2nd round. His projection is as a high-end role player and we have seen every team needs those players.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beer League Sniper, lilphildub, Galvatron and 6 others
RangerBoy said:
I was reading some stuff last night. Artturi Lehkonen/Blake Coleman type of player. The Avs won with Lehkonen. TB won two Cups with Coleman. Skating ability. Hockey sense. Competes hard. Forecheck. Finishing is his problem. He would have been a 1st rounder if he could finish. He was projected to go in the 2nd round. His projection is as a high-end role player and we have seen every team needs those players.
Click to expand...

The key part is THIS team will need them in a few years. If things fall correctly, they will have the high end skill, they’ll need the glue guys. It’s why guys like Berard, Cuylle and now Sykora are good finds for where the team will be in a few years
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beer League Sniper, lilphildub, surlysailor and 3 others
NYR Viper said:
The key part is THIS team will need them in a few years. If things fall correctly, they will have the high end skill, they’ll need the glue guys. It’s why guys like Berard, Cuylle and now Sykora are good finds for where the team will be in a few years
Click to expand...
Those players are very expensive to acquire. TB traded two first round picks for Coleman and Goodrow. Both of them received huge contracts in free agency. Coleman is kind of overpriced at $4.9M. TB gave up a decent young player in Joseph for Paul. TB gave Paul 7 years and $3.15M. No state income tax. That's a big deal. Colorado gave up a former first round pick in Justin Barron and 2nd round pick for Lehkonen. Sakic paid a big price. Lehkonen was a key player on their team.

The Rangers are better off drafting these players. Cuylle and Sykora are 2nd round picks. You're not getting a 1st or 2nd line player in the 2nd round. It happens sometimes. The Rangers just need them to middle of the lineup players. Berard is a lottery pick. 5th round pick. That's a bonus. Hagelin was a 6th in 2007. The Rangers just need him to be a middle of the player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanishRanger, SnowblindNYR, Galvatron and 4 others
brakeyawself said:
I don't get this pick. He's an ok middle-bottom 6 prospect, another slow, defensive type of forward, all be it with a good shot. But I really don't see the upside compared to a few of the centers that were taken after him at least, which we need. At least if he was going to pick a winger, there were some higher ceiling wingers still available too.

But as far as centers, particularly Kaskimaki, Adam Ingram or Aiden Thompson, the latter two who I think could really blow up in college.

McConnel_barker seems like a decent pick for late 3rd. But really would have preferred one of the above 3 over Sykora.
Click to expand...

Albeit is one word.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Gluten Free Breadman, bhamill, Barnaby and 3 others
brakeyawself said:
I don't get this pick. He's an ok middle-bottom 6 prospect, another slow, defensive type of forward, all be it with a good shot. But I really don't see the upside compared to a few of the centers that were taken after him at least, which we need. At least if he was going to pick a winger, there were some higher ceiling wingers still available too.

But as far as centers, particularly Kaskimaki, Adam Ingram or Aiden Thompson, the latter two who I think could really blow up in college.

McConnel_barker seems like a decent pick for late 3rd. But really would have preferred one of the above 3 over Sykora.
Click to expand...
Where do you get slow from?

NYBaselRanger said:
Look i`m fine if anyone doesn`t like the picks. But please READ or LISTEN to scouting reports if you don`t know the player(s).

Here some scouting reports just for everyone who has to complaine...

"Sykora is a speedy forward who likes to be around the puck. His game is all about playing in a high-tempo and competing hard.”(Miroslav Simurka, FC Hockey)

From the EliteProspectDraftGuide:
His speed, especially, will create opportunities for him. Even in the NHL, opponents will have to watch out for him – he could turn an interception or a stick-lift into an odd-man rush the other way on a moment’s notice.
Sýkora’s high pace of play, speed, developed physical skills and balance, and perpetual defensive engagement will likely make him a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick at the NHL draft.

I also don`t like the later rounds drafts that much, but I read the reports or watch some videos to build my own oppinion and don`t arguement with wrong facts.
Click to expand...
You do know what his other handle is, don’t you?
 
What moron said he was slow? Lol.

I've ingested as much video as I could find on him over the last 24 hours and while I don't think he's as fast as some of the reports make him seem, he's very far from slow. His acceleration is actually pretty damn near top tier. I imagine that as he gets stronger he'll get faster and be able to keep (or even increase) the separation he is already able to generate.

I'm actually excited to see what he looks like when his body catches up with the rest of his game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gluten Free Breadman
Sounds a lot like Ondrej Palat. We need that kind of player. This Slovak group is supremely talented. Top 2 picks in the draft.

Any idea if he is heading to the CHL or if he will stay in Europe?
 
bobbop said:
Rule #1 - watch.
Rule #2 - if you can watch, read
Click to expand...

Could be worse. There are Ranger fans on Facebook who call him soft just because he's European.

JimmyG89 said:
Sounds a lot like Ondrej Palat. We need that kind of player. This Slovak group is supremely talented. Top 2 picks in the draft.

Any idea if he is heading to the CHL or if he will stay in Europe?
Click to expand...

Last week he said that he will leave that up to the team that drafts him. I am sure they will have conversations. He was the 1st overall pick in the CHL Import Draft a week ago, and would go to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL if he goes.

But with how young he is, an extra year in Tipos isn't terrible either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobbop
Amazing Kreiderman said:
Last week he said that he will leave that up to the team that drafts him. I am sure they will have conversations. He was the 1st overall pick in the CHL Import Draft a week ago, and would go to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL if he goes.
Click to expand...
Slovak league isn't the worst place for him to develop for another year. Probably a 4 year trajectory for him. I'd see if an SHL team would be interested next summer. Finnish league would work too. Gets the away from family perspective, but not as far as being across the globe.

D+1: Slovak
D+2: SHL/Finland
D+3: AHL
D+4: NHL
 
JimmyG89 said:
Slovak league isn't the worst place for him to develop for another year. Probably a 4 year trajectory for him. I'd see if an SHL team would be interested next summer. Finnish league would work too. Gets the away from family perspective, but not as far as being across the globe.

D+1: Slovak
D+2: SHL/Finland
D+3: AHL
D+4: NHL
Click to expand...


I'm thinking he'll stay one more year in Nitra (Slovakia) with high icetime on the second line probably. To the uninformed Rangers, Nitra is where no.2 pick Simon Nemec played his last two seasons with big icetime and he is close to NHL ready (likely 1year in AHL). Slovak league has become a great development league for D, D+1 before a season in AHL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanishRanger
JimmyG89 said:
Slovak league isn't the worst place for him to develop for another year. Probably a 4 year trajectory for him. I'd see if an SHL team would be interested next summer. Finnish league would work too. Gets the away from family perspective, but not as far as being across the globe.

D+1: Slovak
D+2: SHL/Finland
D+3: AHL
D+4: NHL
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good career path IMO.

The Swedish system (SHL and HA) has been a good league for players from smaller countries to develop.

Anže Kopitar, David Pastrňák, Moritz Seider, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Jakub Vrána, Kevin Fiala, Martin Fehérváry are just a couple of examples.
 
tobu said:
I'm thinking he'll stay one more year in Nitra (Slovakia) with high icetime on the second line probably. To the uninformed Rangers, Nitra is where no.2 pick Simon Nemec played his last two seasons with big icetime and he is close to NHL ready (likely 1year in AHL). Slovak league has become a great development league for D, D+1 before a season in AHL.
Click to expand...

My preference would be for him to stay overseas.

I think hes making the jump to the WHL though. He was taken 1OA in the import draft and I dont think that would happen if they didnt feel pretty good about getting him to come over.
 
Uninstaaled said:
My preference would be for him to stay overseas.

I think hes making the jump to the WHL though. He was taken 1OA in the import draft and I dont think that would happen if they didnt feel pretty good about getting him to come over.
Click to expand...

From a interview in Slovak media 3 weeks ago, quoting with a loose translation:
"I still have a contract with Nitra and currently the way I see it is that I want to stay there. I have been given lots of icetime, something I did not expect before the season and for which I am grateful.

If the team that picks me in the draft says I should go play there or there, then I will likely change the team, assuming Nitra releases me from under the contract."

edit: Clubs he interviewed at Combine aparently told him they'd like to see him in north american junior leagues next season.

source: Exkluzívna spoveď 17-ročného Adama Sýkoru: Tieto dva tímy NHL o mňa prejavili záujem | TVNOVINY.sk
 
I hope next year he plays for Medicine Hat.

Former NHL Coach Willie Desjardins took over last year and did an overhaul of the Medicine Hat system with young players. They basically tanked for a prospect who looks to be comparable to connor bedard.

Desjardins is known for coaching smaller speedy forwards. If you want to develop his offensive game and offensive instincts he is probably one of the best coaches you could pair him with.

Desjardins discovered and helped develop Derek Dorsett who seems like a very similar style of player. Incredibly feisty and hard to play against type played a couple years for the rangers back in 2012 to 2014
 
  • Like
Reactions: ArPanet
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom