Samuel Karsay

Samuel Karsay — 2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report **F | Team Slovakia U18 | SVK | Age 18**

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Player Overview Karsay is a Slovak forward who earned a spot on one of the most compelling U18 national team stories of the draft cycle, helping Slovakia reach the gold medal game of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship — a tournament held on home ice that captured the country's attention. His presence on a team that defeated Finland and advanced through a competitive bracket places him in front of NHL scouts at precisely the right moment.

Current Production Over his last 10 games at the Slovakia2 level, Karsay posted 3G-2A for 5 points at a +3, numbers that reflect a player contributing consistently without yet dominating the scoresheet. The production suggests a two-way contributor rather than a pure offensive driver at the junior domestic level.

Key Attributes Karsay's value was demonstrated most clearly through his role on a Slovakia U18 squad capable of defeating elite international competition, including Finland, en route to a silver medal finish. His ability to contribute within a structured team system against top-end international competition indicates disciplined positioning and situational awareness beyond his years. The tournament run against Sweden in the final further validates his capacity to operate under pressure.

2026 Draft Outlook Karsay projects as a middle-to-late round candidate whose stock received a meaningful lift from Slovakia's silver medal run. Before June, he needs to show scouts quantifiable individual offensive impact rather than team-driven results to separate himself in a crowded draft pool.