Matej Slaby

Player Overview Matej Slaby is an 18-year-old Czech forward competing for HC Motor Ceske Budejovice at the U20 level, generating enough offensive involvement to place him on the radar ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Current Production Over his last 10 games, Slaby has recorded 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points, a distribution that skews heavily toward playmaking rather than finishing. The even plus/minus suggests he is contributing offensively without meaningfully impacting play in either direction at the defensive end.

Key Attributes Slaby's assist-heavy production indicates a player who processes the game at a high enough level to find teammates in scoring positions rather than relying on his own shot as a primary weapon. His ability to accumulate points at a consistent clip in Czech U20 competition points to reliable offensive involvement and a willingness to engage in the possession game. The balance of his point totals — five of six coming as assists — signals a pass-first instinct that will draw attention from clubs prioritizing center depth and secondary playmaking.

2026 Draft Outlook Based on his U20 production and age, Slaby projects as a mid-to-late round candidate, likely in the range of rounds four through six, depending on how his underlying skating and compete metrics evaluate at combine testing. Before June, he needs to demonstrate a credible goal-scoring threat to prevent defenders from conceding his passing lanes without consequence.