Dalibor Dvorský

January 2024 – Team Slovakia heavily relied on Dvorsky during the 2024 World Junior Championship to overcome the disappointment of the 2023 tournament. Unfortunately, for him and his team, the tournament ended in a similar fashion to the previous year, with an overtime loss in the quarterfinals. Fortunately for the Blues, Dvorsky showcased his skills in the tournament, excelling in the second center role. He not only contributed offensively with six points in five games but also played significant minutes defensively. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

October 2023 – After 10 games in the SHL, during which he failed to register any points and averaged just 10:10 of ice time, Dvorsky, the Blues, and IK Oskarshamn mutually agreed to terminate his contract. Seeking a more significant role and the opportunity to compete against players closer to his age, Dvorsky made the decision to transition to the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL. This move could be a significant step in his development if he can adapt to the North American ice quickly. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

September 2023 – The Blues were shocked to find Dvorský still available at 10 in the 2023 draft, considering he ranked as the third best EU prospect by central scouting. He ended last season in the HockeyAllsvenskan with 14 points across 38 games. The young Slovakian will face a massive challenge this season, he will start the season in the SHL with IK Oskarshamn. Considering that two of the team’s top three scorers left last season, it is highly probable that he will have a significant role to play with the team. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte 

June 2023 – Dvorský has been selected 10th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft. Curtis Rines

April 2023 – Dvorský brings together a collection of high-level offensive and defensive skills. Though he never truly found his scoring touch in HockeyAllsvenskan, his rapid release, which often looks effortless. Over the course of the season, he’s become more comfortable with the physical presence of professional hockey and has learned how to manage this threat. At 6’1” and 201 lbs, Dvorský is not small either. This aids his defensive capabilities, as he limits opponent opportunities through his positioning and ability to read plays. Dvorský often plays a smart game but can get caught up in the pace of the play occasionally. While he’s usually reliable with the puck, on some zone entries, Dvorský dumps the puck to open ice, usually resulting in a turnover. Alexa Potack

September 2022 – After starting last season in the J20 Nationell with 23 points in 13 games, Dvorský has set the bar high for himself. The hot streak at the start of his J20 career eventually did cool down, but he finished the season with 40 points in 33 games, one of the best totals for a D-1 player in the league in recent years. With an equal number of goals and assists last season, Dvorsky has an evenly-balanced and wildly talented offensive toolbox.

At even strength, Dvorsky’s stellar vision and accurate passing are obvious. He consistently impresses with his ability to move the puck through traffic, whether it’s on his stick or with a pass. His confidence is typically a positive, but he occasionally gets too fancy with the puck and creates turnovers. Unforced errors like those are common among players his age and should decrease as he gains maturity and experience at higher levels of play. Though he is often circling in the offensive zone to create space, Dvorsky’s office is the right faceoff dot. He lurks along the right half-wall, especially on the powerplay. He is always calling for the puck and his teammates, no matter if he’s in HockeyAllsvenskan, the J20 Nationell, or representing Slovakia, know to move it to him. From there, he will either go for his preference, a quick-release one-timer or patiently move into a better angle for a wrist shot. Last season, nine of his 13 power-play goals were scored from within the right faceoff circle. His 6-1, 190 pound frame lends itself to physical play, especially at the U20 level, and he is finally going towards his fullest potential in that area. While he used to seem more physically overpowered, the beginning of this season has marked a development. He’s playing harder than ever before along the boards and in front of the net. The one place that Dvorsky leaves something to be desired is in his skating. He’s agile and doesn’t have an odd stride but fails to bring the explosiveness that one would expect from a top-10 pick, especially in a class as deep as 2023. While the major strengths in the rest of his game detract from this weakness, even a little more power in his skating would take his game up to the next level. He certainly has the muscle to do this, but it is an area for improvement at this time. Alexa Potack