[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (OK Edition):

6'3" C/LW Jakub Kos was taken in the 6th round, #184th overall, by the Florida Panthers in 2021, and was heralded as a future bottom-6 defensive player in the NHL, due to his grit and work-ethic, but apparent lack of offensive skill. Jakub's brother, Ondrej, is draft-eligible this summer, and has many of the same traits as his older brother- and thus, many of the same projections by scouts- but the younger Kos may possess a higher ceiling, with a bit more offensive potential. Ondrej only managed 3 goals in 8 games for Ilves in Finland's U20 league, but he's the second-highest scoring U-18 player, and first in ppg, in the Mestis- Finland's second-highest men's league, for Koovee, with 5 points in 14 games. OK had an impressive Hlinka Gretzky, finishing third on Team Czechia, with 3 goals and 5 points in 5 games. Ondrej stands 6'2", and weighs in at 167lbs.

Kos is an excellent skater, with a good top speed to separate from opponents, but could perhaps use more explosiveness. He possesses excellent balance, that makes him hard to knock off-stride, or to bump off the puck. Kos keeps his feet pumping hard, and pushes pace. He's a good handler, with tight puck-control, and is hard on the puck. He can change direction and speed quickly to throw off defenders, and is well versed in the art of deception to manipulate opponents into giving him time and space- he also has some slick 1-on-1 moves to move through coverage. He knows how to draw opponents towards him, and exploit the open space they leave in their wake. Kos' anticipation is quite good, his IQ is sharp, and he flashes high-end offensive skill at times, with a fine touch as a playmaker, though he doesn't exactly put up stellar numbers. There's a good sense of where he should be at all times, in order to be ready for what is coming next in all 3 zones- his off-puck play is exemplary. In transition, Kos is often seen spearheading the rush through the neutral zone, with his head up, using his speed and hands to manouver around checkers.

Kos' true defining trait might just be the fact that he's a top-notch defensive player, and he demonstrated his value in this area at the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. He works as hard on the backcheck as he does on the forecheck, and is relentless on puck-carriers to win pucks by smothering them. Scouts love the compete on this kid- his motor never quits, and he never takes a shift off. He's always moving his feet, and playing with energy and physicality. Many say his offensive ceiling is limited, with some declaring him a middle-6 NHL player, and some saying bottom-6, with PK duties. Decision-making with the puck can sometimes be an issue, and he has a long way to go to get to his proper weight. He has a good shot, but needs get more power on it. I'm going to say 3rd/4th round.