Dvorsky could be latest from Slovakia taken in first round of NHL Draft
Center prospect earned A rating on Central Scouting's players to watch list
Dalibor Dvorsky is hoping to keep the streak alive of having a Slovakia-born player chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft.
Three Slovakia players were chosen in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft: Juraj Slafkovsky to the Montreal Canadiens at No. 1; Simon Nemec to the New Jersey Devils at No. 2; and Filip Mesar to the Canadiens at No 26.
"I am very happy for these guys to be drafted so high and the other Slovak players that got drafted as well," said Dvorsky, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch presented by BioSteel. "I'm excited this is my draft-eligible season but am focusing on my daily routine."
Dvorsky (6-foot-1, 201 pounds), a projected first-round pick, broke a 24-year-old record set in 1998 by fellow countryman and former NHL forward Marian Gaborik when he became the youngest goal scorer in the Slovak Extraliga on Feb. 2, 2021.
He scored with Banska Bystrica at the age of 15 years, 7 months, 18 days.
"I wasn't thinking about it at the time, but it was very special to score that goal and to beat his record," Dvorsky said. "He congratulated me right after, too, and I got the chance to meet and talk to him afterwards. I took that puck home and put it in my room above the table, so I can still look at it. For me, it's the most memorable moment in my hockey career so far."
Gaborik, who had already turned 16 when he scored for Trencin, posted a photo of himself and then 8-year-old Dvorsky after the goal.
"Growing up, [Gaborik] was my favorite player, but now I like watching Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) because he's good at almost everything and, especially, I like his backhand shot," Dvorsky said. "I'm also a big fan of Nicklas Backstrom because I really like his passes and hockey IQ."
Dvorsky finished with four points (two goals, two assists) in 20 games for Banska Bystrica in 2020-21, his last season in the Extraliga. The 17-year-old left-shot center has been playing in Sweden the past two seasons.
"I am a creative player with a good shot, and I try to make other players better; when I have a chance to shoot, I shoot," Dvorsky said. "I usually play center but can play wing too, and I play mostly on the power play but sometimes penalty kill."
This season, he has six points (four goals, two assists) and 26 shots on goal while averaging 15:09 of ice time in 11 games with AIK in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second division. Dvorsky centers a line with Sweden-born Oscar Öhman and United States-born Jacob McGrew.
"Dalibor is a quick forward with excellent offensive instincts and vision," NHL director of European Scouting Goran Stubb said. "There is room for more physical strengths but he's surprisingly effective in battles, and usually comes out on top. He's trusted by the coach and playing big minutes.
"He's a creative and reliable prospect."
Dvorsky is one of two Slovakia-born players to earn an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list. Left wing Samuel Honzek (6-3, 186) with Vancouver of the Western Hockey League is the other. Dvorsky and Honzek have played together for their country in international events.
Dvorsky is excited to see the growth and popularity of Slovakia hockey the past two seasons.
"Slovakia always is in the underdog category so you're always rooting for the underdog to do well and achieve good things," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "It's tough to say these trends run in cycles or not, but we had a nice run for two or three years with some German players stepping up, and now the Slovaks are having their turn."
PROSPECTS ON THE RADAR (listed alphabetically):
Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL): The 17-year-old right-shot center (5-10, 185) leads all Western Hockey League skaters with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 17 games (2.12 points-per game) and was named WHL Player for September and October. He also has a 53.9 face-off winning percentage (178-for-330). After being held without a point in the first game of the season, an A-rated skater on Central Scouting's players to watch list and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft has a point in 16 straight games, including 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past three.
"It's hard for me to set expectations, whether it's goals, points or whatever,"
Bedard told the "NHL Draft Class" podcast
earlier this month. "I think for me it's becoming a better player. Having our team have success and, obviously, as an offensive player, you want to score goals, you want to get points. I just want to become better in all aspects of the game."
Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SWE):Carlsson (6-3, 198), an A-rated skater on Central Scouting's players to watch list, has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 17 games for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Sweden. In his breakthrough SHL season, he also has eight hits, five blocked shots, 24 shots on goal while averaging 15:06 of ice time. Carlsson plays center with Orebro and wing on the Sweden Under-20 national team.
"A big, powerful, two-way forward who is surprisingly good and fast for a player of his size," Stubb said. "He sees the ice really well, is smart and good at reading and identifying his options. He competes hard in all areas of the ice."
William Smith, C, USA U-18 (NTDP):The 17-year-old right-shot center (6-0, 178) leads the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 21 assists and 34 points (13 goals) in 17 games. One of four A-rated skaters on Central Scouting's players to watch list, Smith has committed to attend Boston College in 2023-24.
"He's an elite skater with so much quickness and ability to handle the puck," NHL Central Scouting senior manager David Gregory said. "He almost invites pressure because he knows he's going to beat you."
Photos: Markus Krantz, AIK Hockey; IIHF
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