Ivan Matta

Ivan Matta — 2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report **F | HK Dukla Michalovce | SVK | Age: 18**

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Player Overview Ivan Matta is an 18-year-old Slovak forward who earned a prominent role on Slovakia's U18 national team at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, competing through to the gold medal game on home ice. His combination of professional league production and deep international tournament run makes him one of the more well-tested Slovak prospects available in this draft class.

Current Production Matta posted 5G–4A–9PTS with a +4 rating over his last 10 games at the professional level with HK Dukla Michalovce, numbers that reflect both finishing ability and involvement in the offensive zone at a rate that stands out for an 18-year-old in Slovak league play. The point-per-game pace and positive plus/minus suggest he is not merely accumulating points in favorable situations.

Key Attributes Matta demonstrated an ability to perform in high-pressure, high-tempo international environments, including a blowout win over Denmark and a semifinal victory over Latvia before falling to Sweden in the gold medal game. Slovakia's nationally noted burst of four goals in three minutes during tournament play points to a group with strong offensive timing and execution, of which Matta was a contributing part. His compete level across both domestic and international competition has been consistently tested against elite peer-age players.

2026 Draft Outlook Matta projects as a mid-to-late round candidate with legitimate upside based on his dual-level production; the primary development question heading into June is whether his game translates when opponents close gaps at higher defensive structure levels, as Sweden's gold medal victory exposed Slovakia's ceiling against elite opposition.