Vladimir Dravecky

September 2026 – Vladimir Dravecky is a mobile, offensively gifted right-shot defenseman the New York Islanders selected 141st overall, a player several boards had going a round or two earlier. Born in Manchester, New Hampshire and raised in Czechia, he represented the Czechs at the 2026 World Junior Championship and reached the Eastern Conference Final in a strong rookie Ontario Hockey League season with the Brantford Bulldogs, posting 28 points and a plus-24 in 58 games while buried on a deep blue line. The offense is the calling card. He is a smart, confident puck-mover with good hands and vision who draws pressure before dishing, and his former coach Jay McKee told Scott Wheeler of The Athletic he is the best practice player he has seen in 11 years. The concerns are his lack of size and physicality and some inconsistency in his breakouts and retrievals. He was dealt to the Guelph Storm and will play there in 2026-27 as the club hosts the Memorial Cup, a real opportunity for exposure. For fantasy he is a puck-moving defenseman with mid-league offensive upside, worth a dynasty-only stash, and a bigger role in Guelph plus cleaner exits is the tell before any add. Andrew Epps