The NHL draft often features a standout smaller player each year.
In 2022, Lane Hutson caught everyone’s attention, followed by Zach Benson in 2023. The 2024 draft had Aron Kiviharju and Justin Poirier as top contenders. Now, for the 2025 NHL Draft season, all eyes are on Adam Benák from the Youngstown Phantoms. He’s been impressing scouts with his performance since his U-16 national team games back in 2021-22.
Benák shone at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year with ten points in five games, helping his team secure a silver medal. Even when he returned to the U-17s and didn’t perform as expected, he still managed eight points in eight games. Fast forward to August, and Benák is now the all-time scoring leader at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with an astounding 21 points over ten games! Despite this success , people aren’t talking about him much because of his size—he’s just 5-foot-7 and weighs 157 pounds.
Scouts’ Concerns:
Many scouts worry that Benák’s size will hold him back in professional hockey. Yet his skills are undeniable; he can outmaneuver opponents one-on-one, even against top prospects like Gavin McKenna. “I need to work harder because I’m smaller,” Benák said. “So I need to be faster than the bigger guys.” Some scouts believe he could follow in the footsteps of other successful smaller players like Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield.
Fans might wonder if size really matters that much when skill is so evident.
Last year with Plzen was tough for Benák—two assists while playing against men at just 16 years old was a big ask! Now he’s taking on new challenges in America with Youngstown in the USHL where he’s nearly scoring a point per game despite tight matches. Excited about this move, Benák feels it was right not to stay in Czech pro leagues too soon: “I wasn’t prepared for it… meeting new people here is great.”
Future Paths:
Looking ahead to his Draft+1 year brings choices: return home and face men again or stay stateside for college hockey—or maybe even try CHL? While pondering these options might seem daunting now, what truly matters is becoming stronger off-puck regardless of where he plays next season.
For now though? Keep watching how Adam adapts—it’s early days yet but already fifth among draft-eligible scorers isn’t bad going! What do you think about young talents like him facing such hurdles?
