Vaclav Nestrasil

September 2026 – Nestrasil had an outstanding transition to the NCAA in his freshman year at UMass, posting 31 points in 34 games and establishing himself as one of the team’s most important players almost immediately. The production is rare for a freshman, but what stands out about the 6-5 Czech winger is that the numbers are backed by genuine NHL-calibre vision and quick processing you don’t often see from a player his size. He led his team in power play scoring and shots, generating offence through instinct rather than pure athleticism. For NHL coaches to warm to him fully, he will need to translate his size into a more physically direct presence and develop his strength off the puck. If he can add that dimension, the ceiling is a second-line complementary scoring winger. A dynasty hold worth prioritizing. Ryan Downey

August 2025 – Nestrasil was one of the USHL’s biggest second-half risers, playing a key role in Muskegon’s Clark Cup win with 42 points in 61 games. At 6-foot-3, he skates well in straight lines, competes hard, and brings playoff experience, all traits Chicago continues to target. He can kill penalties, battles well along the boards, and shows flashes of skill around the net, though he could lean into his size more. Nestrasil has committed to UMass, where he will get the development runway he needs. He may top out as a trusted bottom-six forward, but there’s still room for a middle-six ceiling if his offensive game keeps trending up. Puneet Sharma

June 2025 – Selected at twenty-fifth overall, Vaclav Nestrasil is now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.  Alex Wyatt

Final Rankings – Nestrasil took major leaps throughout the regular season, constantly improving his consistency from start to end. The 6-5 winger has a high compete level and has been able to effectively use his size and motor to take over at both ends of the ice. A raw prospect who may need a few years to hit his potential.—Austin Kelly

June 2025—A huge and disruptive winger, Nestrasil has earned plenty of attention. If you told me in October that the Muskegon Lumberjacks were primed to have an all-around beast potentially going in the first round, I’d have thought you were talking about Ivan Ryabkin. As of now, Nestrasil has almost certainly usurped that spot, establishing himself as one of the top names out of the USA. He gets around well in his 6-5 frame, plays with a mean streak, factors in on the PP and PK, and has some sneaky puck skill as well. It would not be a shock to hear his name called on Day One.—Luke Sweeney