We were unsure whether the Chicago Blackhawks would make their second pick in the first round at No. 25. We saw general manager Kyle Davidson make multiple trades in the first round last year, but no deals were made on the first night of the draft this year. In the end, they remained on the board at 25 and selected Václav Nestrašil from the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Nestrašil has the size that the Blackhawks’ prospect pool is lacking. He will be a force to be reckoned with when he fills out his 6-foot-5 frame. He rose up the draft rankings by playing a physical and smart two-way game. He scored 19 goals and 42 points in 61 USHL regular-season games. Nestrašil ramped up his game in the postseason, putting up seven goals and 13 points in 14 playoff games.
Tall, lanky players often struggle with skating early in their careers. That is not the case for Nestrašil, as he is a smooth skater. He uses his long strides to accelerate quickly in transition. He has the foundation to become a powerful and explosive skater as he continues to develop.
Nestrašil never takes a game off. He brings the same high-energy style to every shift. He constantly pursues the puck and looks to dish out a big hit. His long reach allows him to force turnovers with ease. With the puck, he is an elite-level playmaker with a wide array of passes in his arsenal. He can move well through traffic and has a team-first mentality.
Can you imagine a large, skilled winger getting the puck off the wall, then using elite playmaking skills to get the puck to players like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar? That is Nestrašil’s ceiling. He has a long way to go, but it’s worth the chance with the 25th pick. He’s committed to playing at UMass, so he’ll get the time on the ice and in the weight room to take strides towards the NHL.
