Maxim Simko

Player Overview Maxim Simko is an 18-year-old Slovak center who made the transition to North American hockey via the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, a developmental path that signals organizational belief in his long-term upside as a 2026 NHL Draft candidate.

Current Production Over his last 10 games, Simko has posted 3G and 5A for 8 points, a respectable pace that reflects a player contributing more as a distributor than a finisher in the short term. The assist-heavy split suggests he is reads the game well offensively and is willing to involve linemates rather than forcing individual plays.

Key Attributes Simko's playmaking instincts stand out as his most translatable attribute, with his assist numbers indicating an ability to process plays quickly and find open teammates in transition and the offensive zone. His willingness to operate at even-strength without a plus/minus advantage suggests he is engaged defensively and not sheltered in favorable situations. Competing as a teenager in the USHL after developing in Slovakia also demonstrates adaptability and a compete level sufficient to handle a physically demanding league.

2026 Draft Outlook Based on available information, Simko projects as a mid-to-late round target with upside tied to his playmaking and two-way awareness, likely in the fourth-to-sixth round range. Before June, he needs to demonstrate more consistent goal-scoring to prove his offensive game is not solely dependent on linemate production.