In a bid to improve their team in the now, the Flames traded away some of their higher picks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. That left them with a less eventful draft, and fewer new prospects of intrigue in the system.
Their second pick of the draft, though – one Adam Ruzicka, selected in the fourth round – is certainly intriguing.
A brief history
Ruzicka came up through the HC Pardubice system in the Czech league while representing Slovakia internationally. As a 15-year-old in 2014-15 he accelerated through the U16, U18, and U20 teams, going from nearly three points per game to a point per game to a modest six in 11, respectively, while playing with guys up to four years older than him. He kept it up the following season, reaching 20 points in 20 games for the U20 team, all the while wearing a letter for Slovakia while playing on U16 and U17 teams.
For his draft season in 2016-17, Ruzicka decided to try his hand at the North American game. The Sarnia Sting selected him in the 2016 CHL Import Draft, the sixth last player chosen, and over he came, scoring 25 goals (he is very good at scoring goals) and 21 assists for 46 total points over 61 games. He finished fourth in Sarnia scoring, younger than everyone above him (and most below him). Thirty-seven of his points were primary, 33 came at 5v5, and 26 were primary 5v5 points. He totalled 171 shots on net – fifth among all Sting players, and third among those who spent the entire season in Sarnia.
Ruzicka also represented Slovakia in the 2017 World Junior Championships, scoring one assist in five games. He captained the Slovak Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament team, tying for third in team scoring with four points in four games.
Quotable
Flames head amateur scout Tod Button provided a pretty succinct evaluation of Ruzicka’s first OHL season when he chatted with the media at the draft.
Up and down this year, but great skill package. Big man. We think the experience of playing over in the OHL overwhelmed him at times, but when we watched him at the national teams, World Juniors and Under-18s, he was really solid. We think, again, all our scouts were really high on him in the fourth round as far as untapped potential.
Brock Otten – of the superb OHL Prospects blog – provided his assessment of the young Slovakian forward.
Solid draft pick where the Flames got him this year. Big kid with a lot of skill who can leave a lot to be desired, depending on when you see him. Has a great shot and good hands, as well as pretty decent mobility for a big man. Has a lot of offensive potential. But he really needs to improve his intensity away from the puck. Needs to use his size to drive the net and dominate the corners with more consistency. Also, the questions surrounding his hockey sense and vision are also legitimate in my opinion. At times, seems to struggle to find that open man or that open lane. But at the end of the day you’ve got a big kid with a great skill set who is well worth a fourth round pick. Can be a tough transition for imports playing in their first OHL season, adjusting to a new league and a new rink. He’ll return to Sarnia and be a big part of their offense (which should be solid next year).
Mark Scheig, who covers the Erie Otters and the OHL for The Hockey Writers, had a similar viewpoint on Ruzicka.
He vastly improved in the second half of last season after adjusting to the game in North America. He’s developing into a good, two-way player, but needs to continue making strides offensively. Another year in Sarnia should help get his offensive skills on track.
What comes next?
In all likelihood, noticeable improvement.
Ruzicka was a kid travelling halfway around the world to play hockey, and it showed. But he’s 6’4, 209 lbs., and performed well in the Czech league and whenever he played internationally. He never lit the world on fire, but was anybody expecting him to? He’s freshly 18 and will be entering his second season in North America; there is tons of time for him to reach his potential. Familiarity with his new team and perhaps an increased role could lead to a big improvement in his results – and in all likelihood, we’ll be watching him represent Slovakia again, too.
The potential is there, and if he’s able to exhibit the growth expected of him, he could end up being a very exciting prospect.
Previously
#20 – Ryan Lomberg | #19 – Adam Ollas Mattsson |
#18 – Daniel Pribyl | #17 – Eetu Tuulola |
I think I had this guy #17 on my list and linstrom # 16 . After the summer show case does linstrom enter into the conversation? How many flames prospects could be at wjc this year?
Rafikov and karnaukhov ? Are these even considered prospects anymore ?why do the flames draft Players from Russia ??.
A 6’4″, 200+ lb skilled goal scoring RW. Looks like another late round steal!
Flames scouts have been absolutely killing it lately
Some scouting reports love his size and skills but worry about his consistency. Needs to bring it every night. If he learns to do that, he’ll be a great fourth round pick!
I like how there grabbing a few of these first year guys that put up really good 5on 5 points .smart drafting. I’m surprised they had Dube at #18
Dube was on my top 10 .
Who’s they? Flames Nation? They haven’t covered Dube yet … #18 was Daniel Pribyl
My mistake I think that was on a different site
I think it was on Flame for Thought
There vs they’re?
I like this pick a lot for where they picked him. To me, the big gap the Flames have is a big physically dominant centre like Getzlaf or like Leon D was for the Oilers in the playoffs. Watching the video on Ruzicka reminds me of a raw Malkin-big, skill and a chance to be dominant. If the toolbox from NA coaching catches up to the skill and size, we have a keeper.
Yup it was on Matchsticksandgasoline. And it is the top 25 under 25 so it will include roster players not just prospects.
Sounds very middle six RW, if he develops on plan.
As a fourth round, middle six is a good turnout. Id be happy with that.
He’s a Lefty I’m pretty sure….
On RW? Not with GG around!
WW
That doesn’t apply to forward positions. For example, the first line is all lefties with Ferland on it. I believe it’s more of a defensive player thing with GG.
He is a left shooting Center, but we are penciling him in as a RW in the NHL….?!
Good luck to you kid….
WW
Sorry Walt, I just realized that you were replying to wot96. For the record, I agree with what you are saying.
@Walter
I’m actually curious: what has to happen next season for you to get on board with GG?
@BTF:
If the Flames are top 2 in the Pacific after 30 games I may not call for his immediate dismissal….
WW
You know what Walter? I think that’s more than fair.
But does that mean you’re going to complain about him right up until that point? 😀
Other than playing in the more regularily covered league, and playing in U18s, I fail to see what makes Ruzicka a better prospect than Joly…. what am I missing here outside of draft round taken (which as we saw with Karnaukhov vs Mangiapane, Wotherspoon vs Kucherov/Gaudreau, Reinhart vs Ferland, Mattson vs Phillips, the Flames are throwing ramdom darts at players they really like when you get past the earlier rounds)
Outside of the first few rounds the differences between players is often ‘what league did they play in’ (quality of comp), and ‘how did they do on the bigger stage’? (U18s).
Once you exit the 2nd round the %s of success drop dramatically – you really are just ‘throwing darts’. Which is why it is so encouraging that the darts being thrown appear to be heading towards the target, as opposed to being invested in ‘MOAR BIGGAR’ Hunter Smith types.
Is Adam the son of Vladmir Ruzicka ?
Vladimir was part of Oilers 5th Stanley Cup 1989-90 . Good luck to Adam .
54 more days until official puck drop.
Isn’t that Ras Anderrsons #
Wonder if he makes the club?
If so, where is he among prospects?
This site seems to be getting worse?
I just posted and it ended up in the middle of the threads…
I don’t know about you, but the previous format was easier to read and navigate.
It’s kinda frustrating, especially when you have to read through 200 threads to see a reply..
Carry on, rant over
Ari addressed the new format before. No one really likes it, but the people at the top don’t care. She put it in a much more polite fashion, but yeah…
They don’t care.
The site was redesigned by Committee and they paid themselves big bucks to do it…
Just wondering but do we still come here for hockey talk and info or is this a site about teeth and fighting demons? Still no word on Bennett and kulak? Has anyone heard what’s taking so long? Are they far apart on money or term?
The system accepts my log on for everything other than the current article on both Safari and Chrome. I need to do something on other articles before I can comment on the most recent article. What’s with that?
It’s disbelief that the Oilers didn’t take him with their first overall pick.
That’s transference kicking in, just because nobody wants to play for coil unless they get hugely overpaid like Sekera, Lucic, Russell and so on, you look for signs that you imagine are there with our picks, it is classic case of coiler inferiority and insecurity complex as the result of living in a dumpster fire and getting shelled for a decade.
Your presence in our threads proves it.
BTW. I love the look of mickyD when he got drafted by you guys, it was like his life just ended or his dog got shot.
The couple of your little coiler cobb nibblers that follow my commentary, are living proof of it as well.
He would have to be about 5’8″ to be a coiler first rounder.
I think Bob turtled and when back up the hole.
ohh, here you are again…..
Looks like Bob Cobb got deleted.
the structure of responses is a mess
Yup…
How do you know am Oilers fan designed the comment section?
Who else could make something so good and promising into a pile of crap….?
See also: Yak, RNH, Hall, Eberle, Gagber, hemski, Schultz, Dubnik, Petry, etc etc….
WW
Sometimes your genius amazes WW.
Yup, now Walt has got me wondering how much bigger the pile is going to get.
I like how you adopted the term “inbred degenerates” referring to Oiler fans in other threads.
I approve….
WW
Sorry Walt, I should have referenced that:
….inbred degenerates (Walter White, 2017)
And for reference, WW and Puck have finally agreed on something!!
Can I go to bed now?
I actually still cannot believe how some Coiler fans trashed it. How could they read it through those thick glasses?
That is a question for mommy and daddy
F me! See WW comment above ☝️ re POS comment capabilities.
Good night guy whose eyes are crossed more than e2’s.
Can you be my guardian for today? Seeing as how you and Carl have the illustrious power and position of guarding our Nation from trolls….
May I go to bed now Puck?
Don’t be sore Puck, I thought you were giving WW the reference for being able to slander degenerates.. my mistake
Fight nice then!
Go to bed and dream of Smith being the number 1 goalie in the NHL, Tkachuk winning all the trophies (Byng included), Edmonton being demoted to the KHL, the Flames epic run to sip champagne from…
Carl still weeeeeaaaak froooo
M
Baaaatttleee…
Ahh thanks Puck, I shall do as thee commands….
Life can’t get any better!!! Zzzzz
I hope I don’t get any nightmares of Carl’s tooth coming for me?
That would suck… seeing as he’s a vampire and all.
Taking garlic with me to bed just in case ?
Don’t mention his name or you will awaken the tooth!!!! Lolololollolol….where am I….lololololol
?Carl be good tooth tonight
Lollol.. jk
I doubt it, he’s probably into the vodka again tonight.
Speaking of drinking, I had two beers before retiring to bed and now I can’t stop wizzing..
So suck it up, sleep outside or wear diapers
Since I’m now awake, I wonder if Carl knows that long in the tooth means “aged in years ”
I think he imagines he’s a Sabre toothed tiger… roar… watch for the teeth!
I used to learn all my facts from Wikipedia, however I no longer trust it… seems like hackers are changing sh** every day…
Or do what WW does and drink until you pass out. All Hail WW!
Lol shoot your right .lol not that long in the tooth yet .? I just got one middle tooth .
Ahh the tooth has woken.
What sayith the Tooth? Has our Nation been freed of nauseous troll slinging vermin or do you continue to wage war with the said Oil Demon?
I believeith that the battle between the demonton Soilers trolls is at and end for now .they were briskly defeated just in time for supper .