Welcome back to the sixth part of my prospect previews from each country. We've already taken a close look at Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, so now it's time to tackle the Czech Republic. I unfortunately wasn't able to think of a creative nickname for these guys but nonetheless let's take a look at the top ten Czech prospects.
10. Ondrej Kase, RW, San Diego Gulls, AHL (7th round, 205th overall in 2014 to the Anaheim Ducks)
Kase is an interesting "Kase" for the Ducks (Anyone? No? Okay) anyways he was a late round pick in a 2014 draft that wasn't overly deep, but he's looking like a solid pick for the Ducks so far. He hasn't played much this season due to injury but has put up 5 points in 6 games for the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. He had a pretty solid season for Pirati Chomutov of the Czech Junior league last year, and could end up being a solid middle six forward for the Ducks in the future.
9. Michael Spacek, RW, Red Deer Rebels, WHL (4th round, 108th overall in 2015 to the Winnipeg Jets)
Spacek spent his entire career playing in Europe for HC Pardubice in the Czech league, where he put up 12 points in 40 games in his final season. This year, the Marianske Lazne native made the transition to North America to play in the WHL for the Red Deer Rebels, where he currently has a solid total of 45 points in 49 games. Expect him to play out one final year in the WHL next season and then make the jump to the AHL in 2017-18 to play for the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' AHL affiliate.
8. Daniel Vladar, G, Chicago Steel, USHL (3rd round, 75th overall in 2015 to the Boston Bruins)
Vladar, like Spacek, spent his entire career playing in Europe. Though instead he played for HC Kladno. This year, the Prague native made the transition to North America, though instead of playing in the CHL he began to play for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Vladar is posting pretty good numbers for the Steel, given the fact that their position in the USHL is mediocre. He currently has an 7-8-4 record with a 2.20 GAA and a .921 save percentage, so not bad numbers for a goalie playing for a middle of the pack team.
7. Dominik Masin, D, Peterborough Petes, OHL (2nd round, 35th overall in 2014 to the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Masin was a pretty early pick in a not-so-deep 2014 NHL Draft, and he hasn't really exceeded expectations, but rather just met them. The Mestec Kralove native has proven to be a reliable defenseman for the Peterborough Petes this season and while he isn't necessarily flashy in any aspect of his game, he's certainly solid all around and if his development goes properly, he could blossom into a solid top six defenseman for the Lightning in the future. He currently has 26 points in 45 games for the Petes this season, and recorded 2 points in 5 games for the Czechs at the World Juniors.
6. Dominik Simon, LW, Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Penguins, AHL (5th round, 137th overall in 2015 to the Pittsburgh Penguins)
When the Pens drafted Simon in the 5th round in 2015, nobody knew who he was. All they knew was that he was an overager who would have gone undrafted had nobody taken a chance on him in 2015. However, he has wowed many people with his performance as of late. The Praha native spent last season playing for HC Plzen of the Czech league and posted 30 points in 52 games for them, pretty solid numbers given his age and the calibre of the league he was playing in. In his first AHL season he's posted 32 points in 45 games playing for WBS. These are very good totals for someone his age in this league, and if development goes smoothly he should develop into a top six forward for the Pens in the future.
5. Dominik Kubalik, LW, HC Plzen, Czech League (7th round, 191th overall in 2013 to the Los Angeles Kings)
Surprisingly enough, Kubalik is the only player on this list who is currently still playing in the Czech Republic. The Plzen native wasn't overly flashy while playing in the OHL, splitting time between the Sudbury Wolves and the Kitchener Rangers, his career high being 34 points in 67 games, but he's tearing up the Czech League now with his hometown HC Plzen, with 40 points in 43 games, very good totals for someone his age. The question is whether or not he will be able to translate this play to the AHL when he decides to make the jump, but if he produces like this he should have no problem.
4. Filip Chlapik, C, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL (2nd round, 48th overall in 2015 to the Ottawa Senators)
Chlapik had a very solid season for the Islanders last season, registering a total of 75 points in 64 games for them and stepping up during their playoff run with 9 points in 9 games. The Praha native is having a solid season for them this season, but isn't producing at the rate he was last year. He currently has 43 points in 42 games, which obviously isn't a problem given the fact that he's still over a point per game, but he can likely do better. Expect him to play out one final year in the juniors next season and then make the jump to the Sens' affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.
3. Jakub Zboril, D, Saint-John Sea Dogs, QMJHL (1st round, 13th overall in 2015 to the Boston Bruins)
Zboril was the first pick in a string of Bruins' first rouders that saw them take some rather odd players, with Jake DeBrusk following at #14 when he was projected late first round, and Zachary Senyshyn afterwards at #15 when he was projected third round. Zboril wasn't odd, however. He produced a very solid total of 33 points in 44 games on a weak Sea Dogs team, and this season currently has 16 points in 38 games. While he also isn't performing at the pace he did last season, keep in mind he is also a 200 foot player. Very good offensively and defensively and should be a reliable top four defenseman for the Bruins in the future.
2. Jakub Vrana, RW, Hershey Bears, AHL (1st round, 13th overall in 2014 to the Washington Capitals)
Vrana is one of the most underrated prospects in the league. He was drafted out of the SHL and spent last year playing for Linkoping HC, posting 24 points in 44 games. This season, the Praha native has far exceeded expectaions in his first AHL season, posting 16 points in 16 games as a point per game player. He is an offensively gifted player and a natural goal scorer. If his production keeps up and his development goes nicely, then he should look very nice in the future alongside of Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the top line in Washington.
1. Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia Sting, OHL (1st round, 6th overall in 2014 to the New Jersey Devils)
Zacha had an injury ridden season last year with the Sting that unfortunately slowed down his production, as he posted 34 points in 37 games. But this season, the Brno native has stepped up his game and is back to his usual form, with 51 points in 44 games while sporting the "A" for the Sting. The Devils have not been known for offensive talent both when they've had success and when they've been near the bottom, but they are getting an offensive juggernaut in Zacha and he will immediately boulster their offense when he solidifies himself a spot on the team in the future.
Thanks for reading, everyone.
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