Sale is Central Europe’s most intriguing draft talent, but he’s not alone
Get geared up for Eduard Sale.
The HC Kometa Brno standout is Central Europe’s top resource as it pertains to the 2023 NHL Draft, and with just cause.
Sale, No. 8 in FCHockey’s ranking for the 2023 NHL Draft, has some high-end potential.
“He has got everything you would wish in a potential top-10 pick,” FCHockey scout Miroslav Simurka said. “He is a very good skater, plays with speed and has very good puck skills. He is a dual-threat every time he has the puck in the offensive zone. “I expect him to stay all season long with the big club in men’s Extraliga. I am excited to have the opportunity to scout a player with this much potential in my region again.”
Tie game, 5-5. Eduard Sale lets a one-timer let loose off a feed from Jiri Kulich as he pounces on a turnover by Goyette #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/k52HV12Jac
— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) April 26, 2022
Sale has six points (three goals, three assists) in 15 games in Czechia this season. The figure, unsurprisingly, tops all draft-eligible skaters in the league.
It’s a good start that puts Sale in a category of his own.
But in terms of intriguing draft talent, there are certainly others to keep an eye on.
Here is Simurka’s take on the draft class set to come out of Central Europe:
Who are you personally looking forward most to scouting this season?
I really enjoy watching Ondrej Molnar play. He has all the skills and I like his offensive routes and how he thinks the game. I am looking forward to scout his games also because he is on a team with last year New York Rangers draft pick Adam Sykora and 2023 NHL draft prospect Juraj Pekarcik.
Who is your sleeper pick as the biggest riser from Central Europe?
I thought Frantisek Dej started the season strong and he has the size and skills to project as a bottom-six center. He is nowhere near to be a lock for the upcoming draft but I can imagine that he can play himself in a lot of discussions in the late rounds if he puts up a strong season.
Who do you see being the toughest prospect to gauge from your region?
Jakub Dvorak is a big defenseman who can skate, play with the puck, use his reach in the defense and just eat a lot of minutes while doing right plays on the ice. He plays in the Czech men’s league but with limited minutes he may not be able to display that much of his offensive skills. He is worth a pick very early in the draft but I think it may be a little but tougher to rank him properly.