The Rangers have drafted LW Adam Sykora at #63.
On NHL Network they said, “energetic, electric personality. He gets after it, a leader, he takes a leadership role, quick, elusive, offensive upside.”
He was ranked #52 by NHL Network and Central Scouting said “speedy, energy player who never stops skating. Active & alert on every shift.”
Sykora said that he models his game after Brad Marchand because “he’s like a rat” and that he tries to play like that. (NYR)
Sykora is 5-10, 172.
McKeen‘s ranked him 48th overall and #10 in “Best Body Checker/Most Physical,” #8 in “Hardest Worker,” #9 in “Best Defensive Forward.”
McKeen’s wrote “Forward Adam Sykora concluded this season with Slovakia’s national team at the men’s WC (three points in seven games) after having spent the entire season playing pro hockey in Slovakia’s top league (12 goals and 22 points in 65 total games). He was also a part of the nation’s WJC entry and, of course, suited up for his country at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as for one game at the most recent D1A U18 Worlds, held in Slovakia. Making this absolutely incredible haul of a season (78 total games) even more impressive is that Sykora is just eight days shy of being eligible for the 2023 draft.”
They added, “A key element of Sykora’s game is his ability to hound the opposition and be an aggressive three-zone attacker without the puck. He makes life miserable for opponents and forces turnovers, often picking up loose pucks on his own and moving them along proactively in transition. Very strong lateral movement and edge work correlates with solid hands in escaping danger and buying time for his teammates, if not also for himself. Heady and bouncy, Sykora shows a lot of jump in getting back on defense and when trying to suffocate opposing skaters. The combination of athleticism and defensive acumen is impressive. His defensive awareness, strong transition skills, solid hands, and hounding resilience likely combine to have NHL teams very fond of what they’re seeing in him.”
He played for Slovakia at the World Championships this past season and had 10 goals and 7 assists in 46 games in the Slovak league.
The Athletic had Sykora ranked 63rd and 67th.
From the Rangers:
- With the 63rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers selected forward Adam Sykora.
- Sykora, 17, played the majority of his 2021-22 season with HK Nitra in the Slovakia league, recording 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 46 games. In 19 playoff games, the Piestany, Slovakia notched two goals and three assists for five points.
- The 5-10, 172 pound forward has played in 61 games with Nitra over two seasons, registering 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points and a plus-3 rating.
- Internationally, Sykora has skated for Slovakia in several tournaments, including the 2021-22 World Championships. In addition, he earned a silver medal in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2021-22.