Jakub Beres

Jakub Beres — 2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report **D | Barani Banská Bystrica U20 2 | SVK | Age: 18**

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Player Overview Beres is an 18-year-old Slovak defenseman who earned a roster spot on Slovakia's 2026 U18 World Championship squad, signaling he is considered among the stronger defensive prospects in his age group domestically. His inclusion in that program at this stage of the draft cycle makes him a name worth tracking ahead of June.

Current Production Over his last 10 games at the Slovakia U20-2 level, Beres posted 1G, 1A, and a +4 rating — modest offensive numbers that suggest his value is being built elsewhere on the ice rather than through point accumulation. The positive plus-minus is the more telling figure, pointing toward reliable defensive-zone contributions.

Key Attributes Beres has publicly framed his approach around passion and enjoyment of the game rather than external pressure, which scouts often correlate with composure in high-stakes environments such as international tournaments. His selection for the U18 Worlds indicates a degree of two-way reliability that his U20-2 club coaches have recognized. His visibility will sharpen considerably if he can operate consistently in a structured defensive system under international competition conditions.

2026 Draft Outlook Beres projects as a late-round consideration at best without a measurable performance at the U18 Worlds to elevate his profile; the one area he must demonstrate before June is offensive creativity, a quality the broader Slovak program was noted to lack at that tournament.