Vaclav Nestrasil – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Despite his tall frame, Nestrasil is a very smooth skater. His smooth stride allows him to accelerate effectively, particularly in transition. One area of concern about his skating is that it falters late in shifts when his explosive energy takes a significant dip. However, his long stride indicates he will gain quickness, speed, and agility as he gains strength, explosiveness, and power.

One of Nestrasil’s other significant upside areas is being a playmaker and puck protector. He effectively uses his large frame to shield the puck in tight areas and along the boards. His ability to thread the needle with passes, including backdoor feeds and cross-ice setups, and long-range passes to set up breakaways, demonstrates his skills in game processing, vision, and hockey sense. He uses these skills to make confident and creative plays while avoiding high-risk plays that put his team in peril.

Defensively, his range and stick work are disruptive, and his backchecking blends pace increases to help guide attackers to the outside. He has a strong presence on the forecheck and can be very efficient on the penalty kill. In an area where he has shown improvement throughout the season, Nestrasil can leverage his size to protect the puck and help his team break out of their own end. The continued development of his lower body and core strength will help him win puck battles and play more consistently physically.

The UMass Amherst commit has a strong arsenal of tools, promising habits, and flourishing creativity, but he also needs to improve in some areas. This makes him far from a sure bet, and he will need close developmental guidance in the coming years to refine his areas of improvement in order to make an NHL roster. Overall, there is too much to like about Nestrasil’s game not to see his name called relatively early in this June’s draft.

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Vaclav Nestrasil – NHL Draft Projection

Nestrasil will likely be taken sometime in the second round, but don’t be surprised if a team grabs him late in the first round. Organizations that do not need immediate help from a prospect may see his potential and decide that they can wait until he develops, as there is so much upside in his potential.

Quotables

“With Nestrasil, it’s his size that stands out as soon as he steps on the ice,” . “He’s smart with the way he uses his big frame, especially off the puck. He draws a lot of attention from defenders and uses it to clear space for teammates. He’s more of a playmaker than a shooter. He sees the ice well and distributes the puck well, especially on the rush.” – FCHockey regional scout Jacob Roth

“Despite his inconsistencies and areas needing development, Nestrašil showed off why he may see first-round consideration on draft day with high-end tools blending fluidly and supported by ceaseless intensity and violence. He looked the part of a middle-six skilled power forward projection in this one.” – Sebastian High, Elite Prospects Scouting Report – 3/17/25

“Nestrasil is a big-bodied power forward who brings some upside as a playmaker. In the offensive zone, he really impressed me with his smart passing, setting up several quality chances in dangerous areas. As a shooter, he did not stand out, but his passing ability and hockey IQ were noticeable. Away from the puck, he caused havoc for opponents, using his physicality on the forecheck to force miscues.” – Kyle Pereira, FCHockey

“A powerful winger who has the heavy shoulders to plow into his spot, with or without the puck. His shot is hard, and he keeps his head up to find teammates with the puck and respond to shifts in play. He can be caught flat-footed, especially weak-side, quite often – but his direction and power are both great traits to buy. A player whose biggest growth is well ahead of him.” – Gabriel Foley, Recruit Scouting

Strengths

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

There is much to like about his game, and if he improves, Nestrasil could develop into a middle-six NHL forward who can be relied on in all situations. He has the high-end tools that blend fluidly and are supported by relentless intensity and the potential for top-level physical play.

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk- 3/5, Reward 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense- 5.5/10, Defense 7/10

Interviews/Links

Vaclav Nestrasil Statistics

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