Tomas Vajko

Tomas Vajko — D | HK 95 Povazska Bystrica (Slovakia2) | SVK | Age 19

---

Player Overview Vajko is a 19-year-old Slovak defenseman competing at the Slovakia2 level who has earned consideration for the 2026 NHL Draft on the strength of his recent international exposure at the U-20 level. His inclusion in Slovakia's Five Nations U-20 tournament roster signals that domestic evaluators regard him as one of the country's better young blueliners.

Current Production Over his last 10 games in Slovakia2, Vajko has posted three assists and no goals for three points alongside a minus-3 rating. The numbers indicate a player who contributes primarily as a distributor rather than a scorer, though the negative differential warrants attention at a second-division level of competition.

Key Attributes Vajko's assist totals in Slovakia2 suggest functional playmaking ability and an instinct for moving the puck out of the defensive zone. His selection for the U-20 Five Nations roster — particularly for a program that saw multiple players cut from the nomination, per coach Frühauf — indicates he ranked among Slovakia's most trusted young defensemen heading into that competition. His willingness to compete internationally against Czech Republic opposition provides a useful regional benchmark for evaluators assessing his two-way reliability under pressure.

2026 Draft Outlook Vajko projects as a late-round candidate at best, likely in the sixth or seventh round if selected. The one clear priority before June is improving his defensive-zone reliability, as a minus-3 rating at the Slovakia2 level raises legitimate questions about his positional structure against non-elite competition.