Welcome back to the seventh part of my top ten reviews for prospects from each country. We've already gone over Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic. Today we're going to take a look at Slovakia's top ten most promising youth. One thing I noticed while looking over the Slovaks was that there was a significant drop off in talent from the Czech Republic. However, there are still some promising prospects on this list that could become quality NHLers. Lets take a look.
10. Juraj Siska, RW, Slovakia U20, Slovakia (Prospect Eligible for 2016 NHL Entry Draft)
Siska is a decent prospect who's spent most of his junior career with Slovakia U20 and HC Nitra. He posted solid totals in 2012-13 with HC Nitra U20 with 27 points in 27 games, but unfortunately last season when he switched over to the QMJHL he only managed to register 15 points in 64 games. This season, he's played in 10 games for Team Slovakia U20 and registered 5 points, 2 coming in the World Juniors in 5 games. Given that this is his final year of draft eligibility, he likely won't be drafted. But if his production keeps up he could find his way into the NHL as a free agent.
9. Matus Sukel, C, Team Slovakia U20, Slovakia (Prospect Eligible for 2016 NHL Entry Draft)
Unlike Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic, the Slovaks do not really have a popular top league such as the SHL or Liiga. Most of these prospects only garner scouting reports because of appearences for Slovakia at the WJC. A prime example of this is Sukel, who generated four points in five games for Slovakia at the World Juniors as one of their top producers. The Liptovsky Mikulas native turned 20 earlier in January so this year is his final year of draft eligibility. It's possible he could be looked upon as 7th round pick.
8. Maros Surovy, LW, HC Banska Bystrica, Slovakia (Prospect Eligible for 2016 NHL Entry Draft)
Surovy is a case similar to Sukel and Siska, except he's found his way into the top Slovakian pro league, but he only has 3 points in 32 games. The Brezno native stepped up and recorded 2 points in 5 games for Slovakia at the World Juniors this year, and otherwise has 6 points in 11 games playing for his U20 category in Slovakia2, the junior league for them. It's possible he could sneak into the draft rankings as a late round pick, but it's also possible nobody picks him due to the lack of scouting in Slovakia. Then again, if he continues to develop his game and signs in the KHL or another pro league, he could find his way into an NHL job.
7. Kristian Pospisil, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL (Prospect Eligible for 2016 NHL Entry Draft)
Pospisil is going to be much easier to scout than the other Slovak prospects. The Zvolen native spent last year playing for EC Salzburg II of the MHL, the KHL's junior league, and ended up recording 49 points in 49 games, at exactly a PPG average. This season, he's playing in his one eligible season in the QMJHL for Blainville-Boisbriand, and is posting solid numbers with 31 points in 42 games. It's possible he could see himself drafted this June, but likely later on in the draft, around the same time we could see Sukel go.
6. Radovan Bondra, LW, Vancouver Giants, WHL (5th round, 151st overall in 2015 to the Chicago Blackhawks)
The first player on this list that's been drafted, Bondra could definitely become an effective grinder in the future for the Hawks. One that teams hate to play against. His offensive game needs some serious work, but aside from that the Trebisov native is a towering winger, standing at 6'5 and 218lb, is very physical and good defensively. Currently has 20 points in 47 games for the Giants this season.
5. Denis Godla, G, Hermes, Mestis (Undrafted Free Agent)
It's very confusing to one how teams passed over Godla three times in the draft. He is a very talented goaltender and was absolutely lights-out at the 2015 World Juniors for Team Slovakia, posting a 2.76 GAA and a 2.76 save percentage. He's currently playing in the Mestis league in Finland for Hermes Kokkola where he sports a 2.40 GAA and a .927 save percentage. It's very hard to get an accurate scouting report from that league, as it's widely unknown around the world, but after his performance in 2015 he should be known as an all around talented goaltender. It's possible a team takes a chance on him in the future if he keeps developing his game.
4. Matej Tomek, G, Univerity of North Dakota, NCAA (3rd round, 90th overall in 2015 to the Philadelphia Flyers)
It's been a rough year for Matej Tomek. The Bratislava native had an unbelievable season for the Topeka Roadrunners of the NAHL last season, with a 24-7-2 record along with a 1.83 GAA and a .928 save percentage. He was good enough to be taken in the third round by the Flyers, but due to injuries requiring surgery along with a crowded crease at UND, Tomek hasn't been able to prove his worth in the NCAA and hasn't suited up for a single game. Still, his performance last year is good enough to rank him at #4 on this list and when he makes his return, he could definitely surprise some people.
3. Adam Huska, G, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL (7th round, 184th overall in 2015 to the New York Rangers)
Huska has had a great season for the Gamblers and is showing serious potential to develop into a very solid goaltender in the future for the New York Rangers. He currently has a record of 18-6-2 with a GAA of 1.81 and a save percentage of .935. He's in the midst of a crowded Rangers goaltender prospect pool, hovering with Brandon Halverson and Mackenzie Skapski, but if he continues his play at this rate then there's no reason why he shouldn't be a starter for the Rangers in the future.
2. Christian Jaros, D, Lulea HF, SHL (5th round, 139th overall in 2015 to the Ottawa Senators)
Jaros really made a name for himself at the World Juniors when he was named team captain for the team, posting two points in five games. He is already a young leader and makes players around him better. He's currently splitting time between Lulea HF and Asploven HC of Allsvenskan, where he has 3 points in 18 games for Lulea and 5 points in 22 games for Asploven. Jaros is a defensive minded defenseman, so these totals aren't awful. Expect him to play a few more years in the SHL, developing his game, and then make the transition to North America to play with the Sens' AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.
1. Erik Cernak, D, Erie Otters, OHL (2nd round, 43rd overall in 2015 to the Los Angeles Kings)
Cernak is by far the best prospect on this list. He was drafted in the second round of a very deep 2015 draft and he has tremendous size and a very, very good defensive game to compliment it. The Kosice native currently has only 9 points in 29 games for the Otters, but like I said earlier his defensive game is rock solid. He doesn't take too many penalties for his compete level. If Cernak's development goes right, he'll play one final season in the OHL next season and then afterwards he'll likely join the Kings' affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Expect him to blossom into a solid top four defensive defenseman for the Kings, as he fits their play style almost perfectly.
Thanks for reading, everyone.
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