3 NHL Players Comparable to Canucks’ Adam Novotný – The Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

While third-overall pick Caleb Malhotra has gotten plenty of buzz, the Vancouver Canucks had a second selection in the first round: Adam Novotný. 

Novotný is a Czech winger who has played on both the left and right sides of center. He played his draft year with the Peterborough Petes, scoring 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games. He was lauded for his competitive drive and intangibles as well, which made it a bit of a shock he was still available at pick 24. 

So what exactly can Canucks fans expect from Novotný when he breaks through with the team? Well, they may be getting a player like one of these three productive NHL players. Let’s break them down.

Adrian Kempe

Based on physical measurements, Adrian Kempe is one of the closest players to Novotný. Both have been measured at 205 pounds, with Kempe only being an inch taller at 6-foot-2. 

Kempe is more of a best-case scenario than the most realistic comparison. However, he was picked later in his draft than Novotný at 29th, so you never know.

Kempe’s biggest strength is his shot, which is also Novotný’s calling card. Per NHL EDGE Stats, Kempe’s 95.3 mph hardest shot was in the 97th percentile of all forwards in 2025-26. He also has the accuracy component down, as his shooting percentage was nearly 16% this past season, which puts him in the 78th percentile of forwards. This lethal and accurate shot has given him 189 goals in the 2020s thus far, good for 24th among all players in that span, ahead of stars like Artemi Panarin, Nikita Kucherov, John Tavares, and the Tkachuk brothers. Again, it’s maybe a bit unreasonable to expect Novotný to put up those numbers, but scouts have buzzed about his excellent release, and he has shown himself to be willing to shoot at a high volume.

Kempe is lightning quick, which is a bit different from Novotný, whose raw speed is viewed as a minor concern. Novotný makes up for this, though, with great edgework and overall elusivity. 

Mason McTavish

A new member of the St. Louis Blues, Mason McTavish was a player that The Hockey Writers’ own Jordan Orth used as a comparison for Novotný. It’s easy to see why, as they are both 6-foot-1 and excelled in junior with the Petes.

You could describe the career of McTavish so far as “solid, not spectacular.” When he arrived on the scene with the Anaheim Ducks in 2022-23, he looked really promising, scoring 17 goals and 43 points. This was impressive for a first-year player, though he didn’t show too much scoring improvement in the subsequent campaigns, as his career highs in goals and points are 22 and 52, respectively. 

Still, McTavish in the right role can be lethal, which we have seen at times. He may not be a first-line driver, but in a complementary role, his net-front presence, solid shot, and puck skills make him a potential difference-maker. These skills are very reminiscent of Novotný, who is projected to be a top-six player who won’t necessarily be the driving force of a line. Even if McTavish hasn’t quite lived up to the third overall pick pedigree, getting the current-day version of him with that pick would not be a bad outcome at all for the Canucks.

Vasily Podkolzin 

Canucks fans are definitely familiar with Vasily Podkolzin, as the team took him with the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well in Vancouver, as it took a trade to the division rival Edmonton Oilers for him to shine.

If you go back in time and read Podkolzin’s scouting reports, it feels like they were written about Novotný. Podkolzin’s compete levels were lauded, and his exceptional shot was tantalizing. While these weren’t seen often with the Canucks, the Oilers have reaped the rewards of his raw skills. He scored 19 goals and 37 points last season, noticeably stepping up for a team that was barraged with injuries. Podkolzin was able to utilize his excellent release, taking more shots in 2025-26 than any previous season, all while shooting at the highest percentage of his career.

While Podkolzin has maybe not lived up to some of the lofty expectations he had as a top 10 draft pick, he’s proven himself to be a great complementary player with the Oilers. This is probably the most realistic NHL comparable for a player with Novotný’s skillset and pedigree, and a Podkolzin-like piece would be a huge add to a young core if the development is handled right.

Forging His Own Path

If Novotný succeeds, in years to come he may be used as a benchmark for scoring winger prospects taken in the mid-first round. One player currently on the Canucks who could also be similar to Novotný is Liam Öhgren, another big winger who is looking to become a scoring threat. If both players can come close to the production of any of these comparable players, the Canucks will have depth at the wings for potentially a long time.