Ok, it´s time to update my personal list of more promising Slovak prospects starting with 2025 draft and later. I wanted to do it a bit earlier as I promised before but I was pretty busy after New Year´s Eve so let´s do it now and also with short write-ups.
Top 10 ranking:
1. Max Melicherik (2029) - this was the first time when I was thinking if I should place on the 1st position him or the player who is in the second position. But it´s stil Max who is a very rare talent similar to Slafkovsky. And Melicherik is even better than Slaf was in his age (Slaf was a poor skater in 13-15) - but he still has a long long way to go into the draft.
2. Luka Radivojevic (2025) - I was always pretty high on him but his progress in 2023 was incredible and surprised even me. Luka breaks historical records in the Swedish league and national team and I´m pretty sure he´s going to be 1st rounder in 2025. The best skater on this list.
3. Vladimir Dravecky (2026) - he´s thinking the game at a very high level and also his stickhandling technique is great. Only him and Simon Nemec managed to be a decent D-men in Slovak Extraliga in 15. Unfortunately his skating is just average but still at this moment he´s a clearly 1st round talent in my eyes.
4. Oliver Ozogany (2027) - one of my favourites for a long time and I see a ton potential here. After last season I´ve seen him play a much in tournaments and I was impressed a lot. He´s a full package, reminds me Dalibor Dvorsky a bit. I didn´t see his games in USA but his numbers are great there and I´m not surprised.
5. Matus Valek (2027) - completely different player than he was a one year ago. Talent always been there but then he grew up a lot and started to dominate in Slovak junior league like no one before. Not very speedy but excellent playmaker with very good hockey IQ.
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the order on these next positions can be interchangeable
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6. Adam Nemec (2026) - I put him relatively high in this ranking and reason is his size and projection as a pro-player. He´s strong, good finisher and also brings nice net front presence. He has a pretty good hands and also knows how to win board battles. But everyone knows his skating holds him back and he needs work on this a lot lot lot...
7. Tomas Chrenko (2026) - I can imagine him as a 1st rounder and also he has numbers like a 1st rounder. He´s great offensively, has a perfect hands and probably is the best stickhandler on this list, potential is here. But he´s not a complete player yet, has a muffin shot, avoids physical play and is poor defensively.
8. Tomas Pobezal (2025) - just two words here - stay healthy, please. Unfortunately, everytime when his game has an upward trend and improving is visible, injury is coming. That´s why I´m thinking his body isn´t builded for the NHL but otherwise Pobezal is extremely smart and talented player.
9. Michal Plancar (2026) - another player where I believed for a longer time that he could be on the rise and it´s happening. He has a great work ethic and character, always goes 100%. The best case scenario for him but quite possible - you can get the next Adam Sykora here but with the great size.
10. Tobias Tomik (2026) - here I have a bit hard time to judge him cause last season I saw him as a good goal scorer who cheated it defensively. I think his shot is good so I don´t understand why he´s not able to score more goals this season. He still needs to improve his defense but for example I like him more in shorthanded situations than on the powerplay which is a big surprise for me. Also is a good skater and potential is there although I´m not so high on him than some others maybe.
HM in alphabetical order:
Michal CAPOS (2025), Adam GOLJER (2026), Jan CHOVAN (2025), Timothy KAZDA (2027), Matus LISY (2025), Michal MARSALEK (2026), Samuel PISARCIK (2027), Juraj RAUSA (2027), Andreas STRAKA (2025), Michal SVRCEK (2025).
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