Slovak prospects - Top 10 rankings (updated July 3rd)

[JotAlan]

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).

Oliver Tomastik?

 

[Antiillafire]

Draft is a little over 2 weeks away, so thought I would share a final top 5 ranking of Slovaks (first time) eligibles based primarily on their play over the season with small influence of U18’s. Don’t think class is really deep enough at all to go top 10 with only first time eligibles.


1: Andrej Fabus. By a wide margin is my #1 player in the class and has a much greater gap on the next defenseman. Overall I think he’s the smartest of the 2006 born dmen. Maybe lacks the physical traits of others but good puck positioning and doesn’t put himself in bad spots, nor does he have a popping offensive game. But that does not mean he is scared of contact in fact he uses sound positing to rub out opponents and get the puck and also fights in front of the net to move the opposition. If I was a scout and had to pick 1 player from Slovaks (2024 draft only) to say which type I would want in a playoff series it would be him. In the Bronze game he was playing more mins behind only Luka. Go watch the game against Czechia in QF, he was better than guys on Czechia ranked in the top 2 rounds, put on a clinic on the PK and with the net empty for Czechia. Sound and simple is the game he plays. His u18 performance after the first game against USA where the entire team was bad, just confirmed where I was already heading.

2: Alan Lendak. Personally I see him as overall quite consistent over the year. Tough numbers at U18’s but high danger chances were off the charts on a game to game basis.

3: Miroslav Satan Jr. @Martinez89 and @stenlis have slowly convinced me to move Miro Jr up the ranking for a few reasons. He still has lots of room to grow into his frame and throughout the tournament I thought he was able to use one thing to his size that could serve him in a bottom 6 role potentially down the line and that is his stick positioning. Some bigger players struggle to use this to their advantage, I thought Miroslav was able to breaking up passes, forechecking, etc. Lots would need to happen for that role to come true but who knows, his dad will have him with the best training available.

4: Jakub Chromiak. For most of the time discussed about the 2024 nhl draft this would have been the can’t miss #1. However things have not panned out as so. The biggest separator for me with him and Fabus is the way in which the approach the game when it bogs down and becomes heavy in the corners and around the net. Chromiak to me shies away from this, while Fabus will hack and slash to move opponents. Still this ranking of him could come back against me one day.

5: Adam Belusko. More of a rough and tumble defenseman with some offensive upside. Thought he was just fine at U18’s but had a pretty good season. Prone to some bad mistakes. I see him though as a level below 2005 and 2004 born dmen who went undrafted. I see less long term growth with him then Fabus, who to me has more runway.

Feel free to criticize this as this is just what I saw. Overall as we have all said this could be a draft where zero Slovaks are drafted but we can hope for the best.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Draft is a little over 2 weeks away, so thought I would share a final top 5 ranking of Slovaks (first time) eligibles based primarily on their play over the season with small influence of U18’s. Don’t think class is really deep enough at all to go top 10 with only first time eligibles.


1: Andrej Fabus. By a wide margin is my #1 player in the class and has a much greater gap on the next defenseman. Overall I think he’s the smartest of the 2006 born dmen. Maybe lacks the physical traits of others but good puck positioning and doesn’t put himself in bad spots, nor does he have a popping offensive game. But that does not mean he is scared of contact in fact he uses sound positing to rub out opponents and get the puck and also fights in front of the net to move the opposition. If I was a scout and had to pick 1 player from Slovaks (2024 draft only) to say which type I would want in a playoff series it would be him. In the Bronze game he was playing more mins behind only Luka. Go watch the game against Czechia in QF, he was better than guys on Czechia ranked in the top 2 rounds, put on a clinic on the PK and with the net empty for Czechia. Sound and simple is the game he plays. His u18 performance after the first game against USA where the entire team was bad, just confirmed where I was already heading.

2: Alan Lendak. Personally I see him as overall quite consistent over the year. Tough numbers at U18’s but high danger chances were off the charts on a game to game basis.

3: Miroslav Satan Jr. @Martinez89 and @stenlis have slowly convinced me to move Miro Jr up the ranking for a few reasons. He still has lots of room to grow into his frame and throughout the tournament I thought he was able to use one thing to his size that could serve him in a bottom 6 role potentially down the line and that is his stick positioning. Some bigger players struggle to use this to their advantage, I thought Miroslav was able to breaking up passes, forechecking, etc. Lots would need to happen for that role to come true but who knows, his dad will have him with the best training available.

4: Jakub Chromiak. For most of the time discussed about the 2024 nhl draft this would have been the can’t miss #1. However things have not panned out as so. The biggest separator for me with him and Fabus is the way in which the approach the game when it bogs down and becomes heavy in the corners and around the net. Chromiak to me shies away from this, while Fabus will hack and slash to move opponents. Still this ranking of him could come back against me one day.

5: Adam Belusko. More of a rough and tumble defenseman with some offensive upside. Thought he was just fine at U18’s but had a pretty good season. Prone to some bad mistakes. I see him though as a level below 2005 and 2004 born dmen who went undrafted. I see less long term growth with him then Fabus, who to me has more runway.

Feel free to criticize this as this is just what I saw. Overall as we have all said this could be a draft where zero Slovaks are drafted but we can hope for the best.

Thanks for putting this out there. Curious where you think these players will be picked in terms of pick number/round (if at all)?

 

[Antiillafire]

Thanks for putting this out there. Curious where you think these players will be picked in terms of pick number/round (if at all)?

Rounds 5-7

 

[Antiillafire]

60ish picks left. Zero Slovaks taken so far. Wake up call for U18 program ?

 

[alko]

Reality bites.

We knew it will be a weak draft.

Look to WUCH U 18 roster and stats - 2006 only a supporting role players, 2007 game breakers.

60ish picks left. Zero Slovaks taken so far. Wake up call for U18 program ?

 

[Antiillafire]

After having just 1 player drafted in 2024, this upcoming draft and beyond should be more positive for Slovakia. First ranking of 2025 players here with some NHL comps for the top 3 and potential draft range. Pre Hlinka tournament

1: Luka Radivojevic - The obvious #1 I believe will be a late first rounder with possibility to move around depending on his SHL play. Player comp: Shane Gostisbehere.

2: Tomas Pobezal - The let down for him is that he’s only 5 foot 10 but ultimately his work rate is very good. He’s a good face of taker but I find it unlikely he sticks as a C. Rounds 2-3. Player comp: Ross Colton

3: Andreas Straka - Skilled C who is also responsible defensively. Needs to improve his play around the net. I see round 3 with a chance to rise depending on his QMJHL play. Player comp: Colton Sissons

4: Jan Chovan

5: Michal Svrcek

6: Alex Misiak

7: Matus Lisy

8: Michal Cunderlik

9: Roberto Leonardo Henriquez

10: Patryk Zubek

 

[Pazucha]

Unfortunately lots of small guys with skill that could go undrafted and on the other side Zubek and Chovan have the size but their skating is not great.

A. Straka looks to be the only complete player.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Straka will have plenty of icetime in Quebec as they are at the start of a rebuild.

Do you think that in the long run he should be a center or become a winger?

 

[pgfan66]

Straka will have plenty of icetime in Quebec as they are at the start of a rebuild.

Do you think that in the long run he should be a center or become a winger?

I don’t think he’s skilled enough to be a high-end offensive player but he’s really smart, so I think he’ll be a center if anything.

 

[Pazucha]

U16 roster for the upcoming u16 national team camp was made public today and not a single player playing outside of Slovakia was invited.

This is a very strange decision as some of th best Slovak players from thee 2009 age group play outside of Slovakia.

They were also not invited last year.

This could all be just a weird coincidence but I find it hard to believe that so many players could not join the camp?

This is not a big deal but another weird thing is that with so much talent missing they still decided not to invite players born in 2010 even though some of them already out-produced many 2009 born players last season.

I read some comments on-line that szlh wants to stop players from leaving abroad and this is their way of stopping them. (not inviting them to a national team). I doubt that's true as that would be very stupid.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

After having just 1 player drafted in 2024, this upcoming draft and beyond should be more positive for Slovakia. First ranking of 2025 players here with some NHL comps for the top 3 and potential draft range. Pre Hlinka tournament

1: Luka Radivojevic - The obvious #1 I believe will be a late first rounder with possibility to move around depending on his SHL play. Player comp: Shane Gostisbehere.

2: Tomas Pobezal - The let down for him is that he’s only 5 foot 10 but ultimately his work rate is very good. He’s a good face of taker but I find it unlikely he sticks as a C. Rounds 2-3. Player comp: Ross Colton

3: Andreas Straka - Skilled C who is also responsible defensively. Needs to improve his play around the net. I see round 3 with a chance to rise depending on his QMJHL play. Player comp: Colton Sissons

4: Jan Chovan

5: Michal Svrcek

6: Alex Misiak

7: Matus Lisy

8: Michal Cunderlik

9: Roberto Leonardo Henriquez

10: Patryk Zubek

I thought Zubek was good. What happened?

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Prospects that seem to me to be selected next year :

- Luka Radivojevic
- Patryk Zubek
- Jan Chovan
- Tomas Pobezal
- Michal Svrcek

I'm waiting for 5.

 

[kudla]

Prospects that seem to me to be selected next year :

- Luka Radivojevic
- Patryk Zubek
- Jan Chovan
- Tomas Pobezal
- Michal Svrcek

I'm waiting for 5.

You had a strong opinion on Galvas because of his size. Svrcek is probably shorter than him, although heavier. You were right about Galvas so I am curious how this pans out.

Actually, Radivojevic and Pobezal are the same size

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

You had a strong opinion on Galvas because of his size. Svrcek is probably shorter than him, although heavier. You were right about Galvas so I am curious how this pans out.

Actually, Radivojevic and Pobezal are the same size

Svrcek and Pobezal are forwards and weigh 12 to 15kg more than Galvas last year.

Radivojevic has a right sidedness and is indefinitely more talented. And he's also heavier.

Hutson and Kiviharju showed that the league is not closed to small defenders. You just have to be significantly better than others to be so.

I also point out that I would probably have Svrcek and Pobezal lower than the rank where I had Galvas (84th). My strong opinion on Galvas was that he would not be selected in the 2nd round and that Badinka would be selected widely before then.

 

[Antiillafire]

Svrcek and Pobezal are forwards and weigh 12 to 15kg more than Galvas last year.

Radivojevic has a right sidedness and is indefinitely more talented. And it's also heavier.

Hutson and Kiviharju showed that the league is not closed to small defenders. You just have to be significantly better than others to be so.

I also point out that I would probably have Svrcek and Pobezal lower than the rank where I had Galvas (84th).My strong opinion on Galvas was that he would not be selected in the 2nd round and that Badinka would be selected widely before then

Kivijarhu slipped a ton of spots because he literally is so small he cannot play in men’s league. He has a very difficult time playing through contact. It’s a real shame this 2007 born generation of Slovak players are all very small considering nhl is moving in generation of bigger players. They either have to be clear top 6 scorers or basically are useless to no clubs. Pobezal is unique because he’s like a pitbull in terms of his work rate.

I thought Zubek was good. What happened?

He is a very poor skater

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Kivijarhu slipped a ton of spots because he literally is so small he cannot play in men’s league. He has a very difficult time playing through contact. It’s a real shame this 2007 born generation of Slovak players are all very small considering nhl is moving in generation of bigger players. They either have to be clear top 6 scorers or basically are useless to no clubs. Pobezal is unique because he’s like a pitbull in terms of his work rate.


He is a very poor skater

Tomik, Dravecky, Nemec and Chrenko are not.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

This one doesn't seem like a clown

Adam Goljer - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Adam Goljer, 2008-06-07 Trencin, SVK Slovakia. Most recently in the undefined with HK Dukla Trencin U20. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com