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 warrant attention from scouts evaluating the 2026 NHL Draft class.

Current Production Over his last 10 games, Slaby has posted 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points at a flat plus-minus, indicating a player who distributes the puck more readily than he shoots, with his value concentrated in the setup role rather than as a finisher. The assist-heavy split suggests a pass-first tendency that will need context from zone-entry and shot-generation data to fully evaluate.

Key Attributes Slaby's production skews heavily toward primary playmaking, which at the U20 level points to above-average hockey sense and an ability to read developing plays before they materialize. His even plus-minus across a 10-game sample in a league where offensive contributors often face uneven defensive exposure suggests he is not a liability away from the puck. The consistent point-per-game pace without a significant goal contribution implies he is facilitating offense for linemates rather than driving it independently.

2026 Draft Outlook Based on available data, Slaby projects as a mid-to-late round candidate whose ceiling will depend on how his game translates against stronger competition; the single area most critical to his draft stock is converting his playmaking frequency into a more balanced offensive threat by adding consistent goal production before June.