Matěj Pekař

Player Overview Matěj Pekař is a 19-year-old Czech center with WHL experience on the Seattle Thunderbirds who has transitioned to professional competition in the NL with HC Ambrì-Piotta, making him one of the younger players testing himself at the top level of Swiss professional hockey ahead of the 2026 draft.

Current Production Over his last 10 games in the NL, Pekař has posted 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points at even plus/minus, a modest but steady output that suggests he is holding his own offensively against professional competition without yet driving consistent production.

Key Attributes Playing meaningful minutes in the NL at age 19 indicates Pekař carries a competitive foundation and hockey maturity that translates beyond his draft-eligible peers still in junior. His even-strength point production in a checking-heavy Swiss league suggests his game is built more around structure and two-way responsibility than pure offensive instinct. The center position, combined with professional deployment at Ambrì-Piotta — a club known for defensive structure — points to at least baseline defensive awareness and positional discipline.

2026 Draft Outlook Pekař projects as a mid-to-late round candidate whose professional experience in a credible league works in his favor relative to junior-only prospects at this stage; the primary area requiring development is elevating his offensive rate of production to demonstrate he can be a net-positive contributor rather than simply surviving at the pro level.