While his size could prevent him from being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Luca Radivojevic possesses the attributes that hockey scouts crave. According to Neutral Zone’s scouting report, the 5-foot-10 blueliner is “a dynamic, offensively gifted defenseman who combines elite skating ability, high-end hockey IQ, and an excellent compete level.”
Radivojevic will need to “address areas of his defensive game and add strength to compete against larger opponents,’ but there are many tools in his skillset that should have NHL general managers looking to add him to their prospect pool at the draft this spring.
Luka is the son of NHL player Branko Radivojevic, a six-year veteran of the Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Minnesota Wild. A 1999 third round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Branko finished his career with 52 goals and 120 points over 393 NHL regular season games. He also played six seasons in the KHL before finishing his professional career with his local club, HK Dukla Trencin, a 30-minute trip from Piestany, Slovakia.
Luka was born in January 2007 during his father’s time with the Minnesota Wild. As Luka has grown up and pursued hockey, Branko has not been shy about advising his son regarding hockey matters. “He has coached me very well from a young age, and I appreciate it,” Radivojevic told Daily Faceoff in 2024. “He calls me after every game and tells me what was good and bad. It helps me a lot.”
The right shot defenseman started his career with the HK Dukla Trencin organization in 2020-21 when he played three games with their U16 squad as a 14-year old. In his short time with the team, Radivojevic provided three assists and had a +7 rating.
Luka moved to Sweden the following season and joined AIK U16 in Sweden’s U16 Division 1, providing 11 assists over 16 games as a 15-year-old. From there, he moved into Orebro HK’s U16 program for 2022-23, posting nine points in five games and was quickly moved to Orebro HK’s J18 program for most of the season.
Despite playing against older competition, Radivojevic posted 19 points over 21 games in the J18 Region and another eight points in 17 games in the higher J18 Nationell. His impressive performance earned him two games with Orebro HK’s J20 team at the end of the season. While putting up solid stats across all leagues in 2022-23, the teenager was also impressive with 11 points over 13 games for the Slovakia U17 team.
His international experience with Slovakia continued in 2023-24 with appearances at the U18 World Championship and World Juniors. At the U18’s in Finland, Radivojevic’s six assists over six games trailed only Washington Capitals prospect Cole Hutson’s nine assists for the most among defensemen. Despite being the youngest player in the tournament at the World Juniors, Radivojevic exited the competition with a goal and an assist over five games. “I feel that there is no pressure because I am the youngest,” Radivojevic told Daily Faceoff last year. “I have nothing to lose; I can only gain good things from the tournament.”
During club competition in Sweden last season, the 16-year-old Radivojevic appeared in 43 games for Orebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell), scoring four goals and adding 29 assists for a 33-point campaign. His impressive output also saw him play a handful of games at the highest competitive level in Sweden, appearing in six games with Orebro HK in the SHL.
After two seasons in Sweden, Radivojevic moved to the United States this year to join the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks for his NHL draft-eligible season. In 24 USHL games, the defenseman has remained true to his calling card: aiding offense from the blue line with 14 assists. He has also provided solid defense against same-age competition with a +8 plus-minus rating. Muskegon is in the running for a USHL Clark Cup Playoffs spot for the fourth time in five seasons. Last season, the Lumberjacks reached the Conference Finals, their deepest playoff run since their franchise joined the USHL in 2010.
This past December, Luka traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden with his Slovakian teammates for the 2024 World Junior Championships. Despite having a solid team and reaching the quarterfinals for the ninth straight time, Slovakia failed to advance to the semifinals falling 5-3 to Finland. Radivojevic assisted on St. Louis Blues prospect Dalibor Dvorsky’s third period goal, but it wasn’t enough as the final horn sounded in favour of their European neighbor.
Luka Radivojevic is expected to join Boston College in the NCAA for the 2026-27 season. “I am extremely honored and proud to announce my commitment to play D1 hockey at Boston College,” Radivojevic announced via social media. “I would like to say thanks to my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who helped me along the way.”
The biggest question is what NHL team Luka Radivojevic will be representing when he joins the Eagles in 2026. His scouting profile makes him a “highly intriguing” option near the top of the 2025 NHL Draft this offseason and the team that selects him could be well rewarded with some patience. “His skating, puck skills, and high hockey IQ make him a game-changer in transition and on the power play. With continued development in his defensive game and physical strength, Radivojevic has the potential to become a cornerstone defenseman for an NHL team.”
by Christopher Babos
A multi-sport credentialed sports journalist, Chris is a hybrid lead writer for Philadelphia Sports Network, primarily covering the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, he covers the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin’s quest for NHL history for The Hockey Writers. If Chris is not writing about hockey, he is probably watching it somewhere as a scout for the USPHL’s Hershey Cubs in the Philadelphia region.