Michael Hrabal

January 2024- It was an excellent showing at the 2024 WJC for Hrabal and Czechia. Despite not the best numbers, .877 SV% and 3.40 GAA, Hrabal’s play was a big reason Czechia earned a bronze medal. He really shone in the quarterfinals against heavy favorite Canada, when Hrabal made 28 saves on 30 shots in a 3-2 victory. Another performance that stood out was in group play against USA that Czechia took down to the wire, 3-3, after regulation and overtime, before the squad ultimately fell in a shootout. Not surprisingly, Hrabel was selected as one of Team Czechia’s Top-Three Players of the Tournament. Keith Duggan

December 2023- Hrabal has been named to Czechia’s team for the 2024 WJC tournament, where he is expected to be the squad’s starter in net. With UMASS, Hrabal has played well, posting a 7-3-1 record, along with a .905 SV% and 2.67 GAA. Keith Duggan

October 2023- Hrabal is off to an excellent start to his college career at UMASS. In three contests he’s undefeated with a .933 SV%, a 2.01 GAA and one shutout. Keith Duggan

June 2023 – Hrabal was selected 38th overall by the Coyotes, probably because he is 6-6 and Arizona loves to draft size. Pat Quinn

October 2022 – Michael Hrabal established himself as a top goaltending prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft in his D-1 season at the Czech U20 level. In 24 games, Hrabal posted a nearly league-leading .936 save percentage before putting up a relatively strong performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. As an NCAA commit to the University of Massachusetts, Hrabal made the decision to move to North America for his draft year. Through three games for the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, he has posted a .943 save percentage. The 6-6 Czechia native has a number of highly intriguing tools (and some frustrating tendencies) that make him an exciting goalie to project.

If there were a word that could best describe Michael Hrabal’s play, it would be “smooth.” It is rare for a young goalie the size of Hrabal to have footwork even equal to that of their peers, but Hrabal is an exception to that stereotype. Hrabal moves efficiently within his crease, implementing proper movement techniques and transitioning effortlessly between them. He is controlled and composed, rarely being caught scrambling. This, in combination with adequate angles, typically gives him a chance to stop each and every shot. Further, he has above-average lateral speed and is confident in his ability to anticipate pre-shot movement. As a result, Hrabal is capable of using his frame to make the out-of-the-box saves that every team needs every now and then. He is particularly effective at sealing the ice and using his glove/body positioning to suffocate chances in tight. While Hrabal’s talent and upside are undeniable, he does have a couple of tendencies that concern me. He tends to get beaten cleanly more often than I’d like for a larger goaltender. This seems to be due to two factors. Firstly, he often plays deeper in his crease than typically ideal. Secondly, his butterfly is quite upright, allowing for very little freedom to shift into pucks. The other bothersome aspect of Hrabal’s game is his tendency to overuse the RVH. He defaults to the RVH position for essentially all play below the goal line – even when there is no near-post threat. As a result, his quickness off the post on low-to-high plays can be limited.

In total, Michael Hrabal is a very gifted goaltender who seems to have a significantly high upside. His size, combined with strong skating and anticipation abilities, make him a prospect worth keeping a close eye on for the upcoming draft. Colin Hunter