• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Not enough action on the 2018 draft-prospect front on Monday for a "Stars of the Night" list.
One player deserves mention, though, Michal Kvasnica of the Czech WSM Liga's Frydek-Mistek team continued to shine. On Monday, he scored one goal, and it was the only goal of the entire game between Frydek-Mistek and Karlovy Vary, coming 48 seconds into overtime. Kvasnica emerged from the left corner and went right for the net, beating the goalie with a slick move.
Over the summer, the biggest Czech names in the 2018 talent pool included Filip Zadina, Jakub Skarek, and Martin Kaut. It's time to add Kvasnica to the list, as his performance in a men's league has been remarkable. He has goals in four of his last five games, and he's on the ice in crucial moments.
A year ago, Nico Hischier saw his name rise in the draft rankings. He ended up as the No. 1 overall pick. Perhaps Kvasnica, or another player exceeding expectations, will be the high riser this time. Still, they won't make it to No. 1. That spot is reserved for Rasmus Dahlin or Andrei Svechnikov. It will be interesting to see where Kvasnica ends up if he keeps having games like this.