We are in the 40s of our draft board, and entering the conversation at No. 41 is Czech center Adam Benák.
Benák is one of the smallest players of this draft class, particularly among players projected to be taken in the first couple of rounds. He’s a meager 5-foot-7, 163 pounds, and that’s made Benák quite the polarizing player throughout this draft year.
Benák’s big break as a prospect came in the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Benák’s 10-point showing gave him the second highest point totals ever for a 16-year-old in the competition. During this tournament and throughout most of his time in Czechia, Benák played down the middle of the ice, mostly due to his extremely high skating ability and hockey IQ.