This Is What Slovakia Has to Offer for the 2025 NHL Draft
Not top-ranked, still worth watching
This year, Slovakia is placing its hopes in three players who might get drafted into the NHL. Just two. Ever since we shocked the world with Slafkovský going 1st and Nemec 2nd in 2022, it feels like the NHL draft isn't too crazy about Slovaks anymore.
Is it because of how those two have been doing? Maybe. Both of them just had their best seasons, but let’s be honest — it took a while. The adjustment isn't easy: different rink size, faster pace, more physicality, culture shock, and the "small country" mindset that still lingers. Drafting Slovak players high is seen as a risk again.
Oh, and let’s not forget Filip Mešár — drafted 26th overall in the same year. He’s now stuck in AHL limbo with no clear path forward. Then there's Adam Sýkora, picked 63rd by the Rangers, still waiting for his first NHL game. His recent appearance for Slovakia’s national team was honestly underwhelming — like most of our team this year, the worst showing in a decade.
And sure, we had other names pop up too: Honzek, Dvorský, Hlavaj, Regenda. But so far, none of them are lighting up the NHL.
Meanwhile, back in the day, guys like Pavol Demitra were drafted 227th and still managed to become stars. Miroslav Šatan? 111th overall. Peter Bondra? 156th. You don’t need a first-round pick to become a legend — these guys proved that.
So yeah, I’m asking: what’s going on with our young guns lately? Are NHL scouts losing trust in Slovak prospects? Are we just not producing the same kind of hunger and grit that our older generation had?
🏒 2023 NHL Draft – Slovak Picks
Dalibor Dvorský – 10th overall, St. Louis Blues
Samuel Honzek – 16th overall, Calgary Flames
Adam Gajan – 35th overall, Chicago Blackhawks
Maxim Štrbák – 45th overall, Buffalo Sabres
Alex Čiernik – 129th overall, Philadelphia Flyers
Martin Mišiak – 158th overall, Chicago Blackhawks
Servác Petrovský – 185th overall, Minnesota Wild
František Dej – 209th overall, New York Islanders
🏒 2024 NHL Draft
Miroslav Šatan Jr. – 212th overall
Only one Slovak player drafted in 2024, and it just happened to be the son of a national icon — with a name that still makes headlines in English-speaking media.
Who to Watch in 2025?
I’ve got three names:
Michal Svrček - Center, LW, Brynäs IF's junior team
Stats: 30 GP, 14 G, 16 A
He isn’t a household name — yet. But for anyone watching Slovak youth hockey or the Swedish junior scene, you’ve seen him. He’s the type of player who doesn’t have to score to make you notice him, but still scores anyway.
He played this past season with Brynäs IF’s junior team and showed up where it mattered — fast skater, aggressive forecheck, good hockey IQ, and zero fear in high-pressure games. He was one of Slovakia’s better forwards at the U18s, and while he’s not putting up “wow” numbers like some first-rounders, the effort is there every shift. You’ll see scouts scribbling every time he battles at the boards or turns a defensive play into a breakout.
He’s listed around 5'10", not the biggest guy on the ice, and that’s the one knock that might keep him out of the early rounds. But he’s strong on his skates, relentless without the puck, and shows flashes of real offensive instincts — quick release, smart passes, and the ability to get open.
He has been invited to the LA Kings training camp.
Tomáš Pobežal – Center, HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
Stats: 42 GP, 15 G, 8 A
Pobežal is quick, physical, and doesn’t shy away from net-front chaos. He was a key part of Nitra’s playoff run and already looks like a grown man among boys.
Tomáš Pobežal doesn’t scream NHL-ready on paper — and that’s exactly why he’s dangerous. He’s not flashy, he’s not oversized, and he’s definitely not the guy who’s going to make viral highlights. But what he does do? He scores goals in the Slovak Extraliga. As a teenager. Against grown men.
In 42 games this season with Nitra, he scored 15 goals and added 8 assists. Those numbers might not blow you away until you realize how rare that is for a kid his age playing pro in Slovakia. He doesn't just survive on the ice — he competes, he adapts, and more importantly, he finishes.
What makes him stand out is his shot. Quick release, good accuracy, and a calmness when he’s near the net. He’s not chaotic, he’s calculated. He doesn’t panic with the puck and doesn’t waste chances. You give him space, and he’ll make you pay for it.
He’s also got that "every coach loves him" energy — always skating, always hustling, not afraid to take hits or battle in the corners. He’s not the biggest guy out there, but he doesn’t play small. And he’s got a strong hockey sense — reads the play well, knows when to support, when to attack, and when to pull back.
The biggest question? How much can he grow. Literally and in terms of pace. Can he handle the North American speed and physicality long-term? Maybe. But if you’re a team looking for a later-round pick who might quietly become a solid middle-six NHL forward one day — Pobežal should be on your radar.
Luka Radivojevič – Defense, Örebro J20 (Sweden)
Stats: 43 GP, 4 G, 29 A
A playmaking D-man and son of former NHLer Branko Radivojevič. Smooth skater, patient with the puck, and not afraid to join the rush. He’s got that modern offensive-defender vibe written all over him. Many compare him to Šimon Nemec.
Luka Radivojevič doesn’t play like a guy trying to prove something — he plays like he already belongs. That’s probably because he’s been skating circles around expectations his whole life. Born in the U.S. but raised with Slovak hockey DNA (his dad is Branko Radivojevič — yes, that one), Luka brings the calm confidence of someone who’s grown up with a stick in his hand and pressure in his face.
He played this season with Örebro’s junior team in Sweden, and the stat sheet tells part of the story: 43 games, 4 goals, 29 assists. Not bad at all for a young D-man. But the eye test says more. He doesn’t force plays — he controls the pace. Great first pass, smart decisions, excellent mobility. He’s the kind of defenseman who’s not just trying to survive a shift, he’s setting the rhythm.
What stands out is how he sees the ice. He’s not the biggest, and he’s not overly physical, but he makes up for it with positioning and timing. Whether it’s quarterbacking a powerplay or jumping into a rush without leaving his team exposed — it’s all calculated. Nothing is rushed, nothing is panicked.
He also showed up for Slovakia at the U18s — quietly one of their most reliable players on the back end. Doesn’t get caught out of position, doesn’t take dumb penalties, doesn’t overcomplicate things. Coaches love that. Scouts too.
Is he a first-rounder? Maybe not. But he’s the kind of pick that ages well. Give him a couple years in the NCAA (he’s committed to Boston College), let him bulk up a bit, and you might end up with a second-pair D-man who logs big minutes, makes smart plays, and never needs to be the loudest guy in the room to be the most important one on the ice.
Final Thought
At the end of the day, the draft doesn't guarantee anything. Being picked gives you a paper advantage — nothing more. Plenty of 1st overall picks fizzled out. Plenty of undrafted guys fought their way into the league and stuck.
The draft can either make you or break you. It’s what comes after that really counts.