As I've recently updated my Slovak prospects rankings
here, I figured I'd also give an update on the currently signed players in this thread.
Bad news first ...
I asked around on the Isles board, and they seemed to like
Richard Panik in the preseason. Yet, he is buried in the AHL where his production is trash. Only two points in 10 games, and he's a minus 8. I watched a Bridgeport game versus Laval recently, and Panik was defenitely snake bitten, being right on the doorstep with an empty goal - twice - but both times an opposing defenseman got a stick in between. Regardless, with his production, he's not making a return to the NHL any time soon.
Andrej Sekera has been a healthy scratch in a lot of games recently for Dallas, but came back with an assist in his last game.
Tomas Tatar only has one goal in 14 games with the Devils, and only six points. But I think some of this has to due with usage. He's still a better player than the offensive output suggests.
Good news, and more importantly, the younger players are doing good.
Erik Cernak has solidified himself as a top 4 defenseman in the last couple of years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Meanwhile
Martin Fehervary also remains on good track, and is seeing time on Washington's top pairing next to John Carlson.
With the Devils,
Christian Jaros has only appeared in two games, but at least made their team out of camp. That's more than I expected prior to the season.
Marian Studenic also made the Devils team out of camp, and I've liked what I've seen from him (as have Devils fans when I've asked them). Still, he was recently sent to the minors, but he's off a good start in Utica with 4 points in 3 games, despite being more of a 2-way forward/grinder type.
Furthermore in the AHL,
Martin Pospisil is off a decent start productionwise with the Stockton heat, but once again seems to be injured. Meanwhile, his teammate
Adam Ruzicka is dominating the league, having scored 9 goals and 15 points through the 11 first games.
Goaltender
Adam Huska is also off a hot start with the Hartford Wolfpack, having a GAA of 1.77 and a SVS% of 93.8 in the first four games, despite two losses.
Martin Chromiak is already signed by the Kings, despite still being in the OHL, where he's off a strong start. He has 20 points (7+13) through the first 14 games with Kingston.
Among other prosepcts, who were already drafted but are still unsigned, are
Jakub Demek and
David Hrenak who are also off hot starts in the WHL and NCAA respectively.
None of these young players may have high end upside. But if some of these can continue to make strides, they could make for a decent supporting cast behind more talented prospects coming up in the next couple of drafts. While that wouldn't be enough to bring Slovakia back to it's golden age, it'd would certainly make them better than they've been over the last decade.
The full list of current Slovaks signed by NHL teams, is in the
OP.