The 2026 NHL Draft was historic for Czech hockey. After years of developing high-end goaltending talent, Czechia saw a record-breaking six netminders drafted this year — the most ever in a single draft.
In total, 13 Czech players heard their names called in Buffalo, increasing the country’s recent presence at the draft. Forward Adam Novotny was the first Czech player selected, going 24th overall to the Vancouver Canucks, but the spotlight quickly moved to the crease.
The first goalie off the board was Tobias Trejbal, selected 42nd overall by the Calgary Flames. Trejbal was followed by Martin Psohlavec (62nd, Philadelphia Flyers), Michal Orsulak (79th, Detroit Red Wings), Marek Sklenicka (120th, Philadelphia Flyers), Tobias Tvrznik (126th, Colorado Avalanche), and Filip Ruzicka (137th, Minnesota Wild).
A Historic Goaltending Class
Czech goaltending has been on the rise for several years, and the 2026 Draft was the latest confirmation of that trend. Heading into the weekend, five of the top six goalies playing in North America in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings were Czech. The Czechs had a very good season in the junior leagues, and NHL franchises were happy to add them to their organizations, even if most of the calls came on the second day.
Orsulak and Trejbal were the two most highly-touted Czech prospects. Orsulak, a re-enter netminder who moved to the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Prince Albert Raiders, quickly established himself as one of the league’s top young goalies, while Trejbal impressed with his consistency and athleticism. The latter played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) last season, and will play in the NCAA with the University of Massachusetts in the 2027-28 campaign.
Filip Ruzicka, the 6-foot-8 netminder, played his draft season with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, posting a 26-14-1 record with a .906 save percentage and two shutouts. After being selected by Minnesota in the fifth round, he wasted no time starting his pro career, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Wild shortly after the draft. While he’s not quite ready to play in the NHL, it’s a good sign to have a player commit so early to his future team.
Novotny Leads the Skaters
While goalies dominated the headlines, Czech forwards and defensemen also made an impact. Novotny became the country’s only first-round selection after an impressive season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes, where he recorded 65 points (34 goals and 31 assists) in 58 games.
Defenseman Tomas Galvas was another notable selection, going 54th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins. An overage prospect, Galvas had already built a strong reputation in Czech professional hockey thanks to his offensive ability, skating, and puck-moving skills. Like Ruzicka, he was inked by the Penguins shortly after being selected.
A New Generation of Czech Players
The 2026 NHL Draft continued a strong era of Czech hockey. After 13 selections in 2025, another 13 players were chosen this year, showing that the country remains one of the NHL’s most productive talent pools in Europe.
Looking ahead to the 2027 NHL Draft, Czechia should have another solid group led by Petr Tomek, a late-2008-born forward who was not eligible for the 2026 Draft. Michal Hartl, one of the country’s most promising 2009-born players, will also be a name to watch, alongside Dominick Byrtus and Lukas Kachlir. While it is still early in the process, the next Czech draft class already has several prospects worth following.
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