[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition):

The scouting world loves C/RW Adam Jecho; he's an "A" rated prospect by Central Scouting, and has been ducking in and out of the first round in mocks all year long. Jecho, who is Czech, has been playing in Finland the last 3 years, and also has 3 consecutive Hlinka Gretzky appearances- the latest bringing him a silver medal, with 2 goals in 5 games. This season, he's toiling for the Edmonton Oil Kings, who chose him 3rd overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, and are currently 19th in the standings out of 22 teams in the WHL. Jecho started the year well, showing no difficulty in adjusting to North American ice, with 18 points in his first 19 games, but his production has fallen off a bit since returning from an injury in mid-November, with 19 points in 30 games since late December, for a total of 37 points in 49 games.

Jecho is a behemoth, at 6'5", 201lbs, but his skating right now is a bit of a detriment, with an awkward stride that needs plenty of work in it's acceleration, and explosiveness. When he gets to top speed though, he's looks fairly smooth and fast, and much like a freight train, is hard to stop. To me, his edges look fine, as he can pivot quite quickly in small spaces, and despite the concerns with his overall speed, he can still go coast-to-coast with the puck, deking through checkers with his elite puck-protection and control. For the Oil Kings, Jecho divides his time between center and the wing, and is much more of a goal-scorer than playmaker- his shot is a cannon, and he gets a solid whip on his wrister, and both come with a nearly invisible release. Though he has a Frankenstein-like appearance on the ice, his hands are as soft as silk, and can beat goalies 1-on-1. He's not supremely skilled, but has solid hockey-sense, and stays active to open up lanes for himself and teammates. Off the puck, he plays a smart game, sneaking in and out of the low slot as a moving screen, making himself a solid pass-option, or to pounce on rebounds and tips. He uses his size well to play a heavy game along the boards, win battles, and to bully his way around. As one can imagine, he's a load to handle down low, and impossible to move when he parks himself in front of the net. He demonstrates passing skill, but generally keeps it very simple- he's not much of a playmaker.

A real plus to Jecho's game is his his defensive presence- he backchecks hard, hounding puck-carriers with his enormous reach, while disrupting plays, blocking shots, and intercepting passes. He gives an honest effort in trying to prevent goals, though there are times when he seems to be coasting, or doing some puck-watching. AJ doesn't throw a lot of hits, but would be a much more valuable player if he played with more of an edge, and was more punishing physically. There has been times when his IQ has been in question, as he sometimes makes bad decisions with the puck, forces plays, and can be pressured into mistakes. His effort in the past has been criticized, but I think he's put that to bed for the most part in the WHL. Most writers seem to think he's an NHL 3rd-liner, but I would bet there's plenty of scouts who like him more than that. I still don't think he's a first-rounder though- I'm thinking late second.