[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Slovak Edition, Vol. 1):

LHC Tomas Pobezal (5'10",179lbs)
HK Nitra (Slovakia Extraliga): 39gp/ 15g/ 8a/ 23pts, +13, 24 PIM

Tomas Pobezal (ranked #26 EU Skaters by Central Scouting) is currently the top U-20 scorer in the Extraliga by 13 points, and is in the midst of the 9th-best season of all-time for a player 18-and-under, with the 4th-most goals of all time by a player of that age. He has represented his homeland Slovakia in many international tournaments, including the most recent World Junior Championship (1 assist in 5 games), last summer's Hlinka (his second appearance at that tournament, with 6 points in 4 games to lead the team), and the 2024 U-18 Tournament, where he served as Captain (2nd-in scoring on the team, with 4 goals and 5 points in 7 games). Pobezal might be the oldest player in the draft, with a September 18, 2006 birthday, but he's a highly intelligent two-way center who plays much bigger than his size, and does everything well; he can play all three forward positions, and contributes in all three zones.

Pobezal already plays a mature and detailed defensive game against men, and engages attackers early in the neutral zone before they ever get a chance to make entry. He doesn't sit back to let the play come to him, he attacks puck-carriers to apply suffocating pressure to force dump-ins, cause turnovers, pick pockets, and poke pucks off sticks- he will even throw hits to separate man from puck. The same game-plan is put into action on the forecheck, where he puts opponents under siege with his intensity, to annoy and disrupt. Pobezal plays with remarkable energy, and never gives up on a play- he is relentless and tenacious, with high-end motor and compete, giving his all every shift. He is considered to be a leader, and drags his teammates into battle by being fiery and aggressive. Despite his rather diminutive stature, he wins battles in the greasy areas, and agitates with his chippy play and his physicality- he throws his weight around, and can land some big open-ice hits. He's in the middle of many post-whistle scrums, and doesn't back down from the rough stuff. Without fear, he exerts a good net-front presence, battling for position relentlessly and taking abuse to have a chance at a tip, or a rebound opportunity. He's an opportunistic scorer in-tight, sneaking in-and-out of the slot and arriving at just the right time to pounce on a loose puck with superb timing. He owns a good shot that could use a little more power, but he can fire in full flight, and can score from any angle, because he employs a lethal release to deceive goalies.

Pobezal is blessed with high IQ and shows good (perhaps not elite) creativity and vision, with the off-puck intelligence to seemingly always be in the right position, at the right time. Though he isn't really a play-driver, he's a skilled passer who can thread the needle through the smallest of holes, and can dish the puck at full speed. He skates with his head on a swivel to map out his surroundings, and displays keen spatial awareness in finding routes through traffic, lanes to distribute through, and weak spots in coverage to occupy. Mobility-wise, he is a quick skater, but not really a burner; his high workrate enhances his speed, giving him the ability to win races to loose pucks, and sneak up behind opponents to pick their pockets. He is light on his skates, and has the smooth edges to to be highly slippery and elusive. He's a fluid stickhandler with quick hands to match his feet, but his puck-control could use a tweak, as he can mishandle the puck at times when in-stride. I really like this player, but there are many who doubt the translatability of his offensive game to the NHL, and his age works against him. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th round.