Adam Benák is one of the smallest and fastest players in the 2025 NHL Draft

What really stands out in Benák’s tape aside from his tremendous skating, is an incredibly high IQ. His ability to see the play and identify passing lanes most others can’t, helped him accrue the second most assists in the USHL in 2024-25. Additionally, according to scouts, he has a strong shot that he underutilizes due to his ‘pass-first’ mentality.

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler had this to say on Benák.

“Benak is tiny but he’s also one of the best skaters and smartest forwards in the draft and the more I’ve watched him and asked around about him the more inclined I’ve been to trust he has a real chance to defy the odds of his size. His skating, skill and smarts all get very high marks, with a standout quickness from a standstill that matches his quick reads of the ice.”

The numbers

Benák got his first crack at pro hockey in the 2023-24 season in Czech Extraliga, playing for Plzen HC, he logged 18 games and registered two assists as a 17-year-old.

He also led Czechia to back-to-back silver medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023 and 2024. Benák boasted 21 points over those two tournaments and broke the all-time scoring record by an astounding six points.

Benák journeyed across the pond for his first draft-eligible campaign to play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this past season. His move was a success, leading the Phantoms in scoring. He put up 17 goals and 42 assists for a total of 59 points in 56 games while adding three assists in three playoff contests.

His draft ranking varies from the mid-30s to late-50s depending on the outlet, with NHL Central Scouting being the lowest on him, slotting him in at 58th on their North American skaters board.

Availability and fit

Though he may be better suited as a winger in the NHL based on several factors, his experience at centre is at least worth something for a Flames team that is fairly anemic down the middle of the ice. But if he were drafted by Calgary it likely won’t be for his two-way game, instead, it’s his elite playmaking abilities that make him an attractive prospect.

Benák is already a polished distributor and possesses an uncharacteristically heavy shot for his size, long story short, he could be an asset for the struggling Flames’ power play unit. He projects to be a middle-six scorer with a touch of upside and an inherent ability to create on the power play. His outstanding skating, vision and puck handling make him a threat off the rush, which is another area Calgary must improve in.

Size is of course a concern, but the Flames already have an abundance of experience drafting and developing undersized forwards into superstar status. Plus, there’s no shortage of success stories regarding small players in the league today, as recent as Logan Stankoven and Lane Hutson.

There’s a good chance Benák is available at Calgary’s second-round selection at 54th overall, and his size could dictate an even further slide into the third round. By buying the size dip, the Flames could get back into the Czech market and further diversify their prospect pool.