2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Adam Sýkora
Adam Sýkora had a pleasantly surprising first pro season, playing well internationally and at the club level. He's recently shot up draft rankings and is right in the Hawks range.
The Chicago Blackhawks are looking for a very specific type of player in this year’s draft. I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but they want a player who plays with speed, has a great motor and that’s hard to play against. A player who that fits that mold is Adam Sýkora.
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Sýkora is a 5’11” and 174-pound winger from Slovakia. He spent most of the last year playing for HK Nitra in Slovakia’s highest division. He also played for Slovakia at the Under-18 World Championships, the Under-20 World Championships and at the Men’s World Championships this year. It’s been a busy, but productive year for the Slovak winger.
As mentioned above, the 17-year-old is heralded for his motor/compete (forecheck, backcheck, going after loose pucks) and for his skating (top speed, balance on his skates). He also has some offensive skill to go along with it. It’s also important to mention that he’s one of the youngest players in the class, so there could be some untapped potential here.
There are two obvious uncertainties in the Slovak’s game. One is that his skill doesn’t pop out at you. It’s good, but it’s not dynamic so there are some questions about his offensive upside. The other question mark has to do with his size/strength. At only 5’11” and 174 pounds, he’ll have to add some muscle to his frame.
Statistical Profile:
Sýkora had a great year in terms of production. Amongst Under-22 players in Slovakia, he was T-2nd in goals (10), T-6th in assists (seven), and T-3rd in total points (17). Amongst Under-20 players at the World Championships, he was T-4th in goals (two), T-6th in total points (three), and 6th in points-per-game (0.50).
Sýkora’s NHLe is one of the better ones we’ve seen so far. NHLe is based on point-scoring and equivalency to the NHL and becoming a star. (If you want to read more about Patrick’s NHLe model, what it is, and how he created it, click here).
Where Is He Ranked?
The Slovak’s draft ranking has skyrocketed recently due to his outstanding performance at the Men’s World Championships. He’s still ranked mostly in the second round, but I don’t think the first round is completely out of question either.
What Others Are Saying:
“Sykora is a speedy winger with a solid offensive toolkit who plays at a high pace, utilizing his great footwork and speed. His effort is relentless at all zones and it almost seems that his energy never runs out. He doesn’t have a big frame, but plays way bigger as he is definitely not afraid of physical play and with his relentless effort, he is good in puck battles. He works hard and shows good awareness at the defensive zone as well, making him a solid two-way winger.”
“His speed, especially, will create opportunities for him. Even in the NHL, opponents will have to watch out for him – he could turn an interception or a stick-lift into an odd-man rush the other way on a moment’s notice. He’s all-in, every shift. He bounces from opponent to opponent, barely giving them any time to handle the puck, blocks shots like he’s immune to pain, and attacks loose pucks like the fate of the world depends on his ability to catch them. On the backcheck, he pursues escaping opponents and completely neutralizes them.”
“Sykora has good puck skills, vision, a high compete level and has shown at an early age he can be a versatile player versus pros. Sykora is 5-foot-10 though, and while he has decent skating ability and some offense, the question is whether that tool kit has enough to it for him to be a full-time NHL player. He is one of the youngest players in the draft class, so there is room for projection and I could see him getting some games.”
Film/Video:
Potential & Should The Hawks Draft Him?
In my opinion, Adam Sýkora has a very high floor and a solid ceiling. I think he makes the NHL, and he’ll probably be a great third-liner. I do think there is a chance that he becomes a middle-six forward with penalty kill upside, because of his motor/compete, skating and defensive play.
The 17-year-old Slovak fits exactly what the Blackhawks are looking for, and I think if he’s still there at #57 he could definitely be the pick. Personally, I’d love him at #57 because of his skillset and the likelihood of his game translating to the NHL.
Please consider subscribing to this blog (it’s free of charge) and you’ll receive an email whenever a new piece is out. I’ll be writing about the Blackhawks latest news, rumors, players, and prospects so you won’t want to miss out! Follow me on Twitter here!