Michal Pradel (G, L, 6’4″, 195, Tri City Storm, 03/10/2007)
Michal Pradel is a tall, fluid, technically promising goaltender with a modern NHL frame and foundational traits that make him a legitimate long-term prospect. His ability to track pucks through traffic, square up early, and use his size to absorb shots from prime scoring areas gives him a natural advantage at his position. While he is raw in areas—most notably in rebound control, lateral explosiveness, and consistent upper-body structure—his blend of poise, compete level, and untapped upside places him firmly in the mix as a draftable goaltender in 2025.
Why Michal Pradel Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) NHL Size with Foundation Movement Habits
At 6’4″, Pradel takes away significant net and plays with a controlled, compact posture. He rarely overcommits and uses his body mass to create clean seals along the ice. While skating backwards, he shows strong pad-to-ice connection and balance in compact settings. His stance is modern and projectable, not wide and sprawling. Even when fatigued or under siege, Pradel remains fundamentally sound, controlling the middle of his net well.
2) Strong Tracking and Poise Under Fire
Pradel averages 14 Grade “A” chances against per game—a high workload—and still maintains a respectable .899 SV% in the USHL and .922 SV% over two seasons in Slovakia’s U20 league. His ability to stay square, recognize threats, and position early minimizes his need for desperation saves. His 3.4 expected goals saved per game is a standout figure, and he consistently keeps his team competitive when under pressure, including 40+ save performances against Sweden and Canada at the 2024 Hlinka.
3) Calm, Controlled Technical Base
Michal stays upright as long as possible and limits unnecessary movement. He doesn’t chase pucks. His glove hand is improving, and when his hands stay connected to his core and his elbows in tight, he can corral pucks cleanly. He’s showed the ability to make elite-level saves on second and third chances, even with technical holes in his game. That speaks to mental toughness and compete level.
4) NHL-Level Tools with Room for More
He saves 82% of Grade “A” chances, a strong indicator of his raw athletic ability and reflexes. His 71% breakaway save rate is solid, especially when factoring in that he doesn’t rely on flash or baiting—he’s trying to out-position shooters. His tall stance, early reads, and sound puck-stopping mechanics show NHL potential. He plays mid-to-low depth, but still uses his size to take away the top of the net.
5) Mental Makeup & Tough Assignments
Pradel has been his team’s backbone in international tournaments and playoff-style environments. He doesn’t get rattled by soft goals and has made key saves immediately after conceding. His ability to reset, recover, and compete through traffic is a strength. At the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, he was arguably the most important player on a Slovakian team that faced medal-favorite competition.
Why Michal Pradel Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Rebound Control is a Work in Progress
Pradel still kicks pucks into dangerous areas and often lacks soft hands on shots to his chest or blocker side. His lower-half rebound control is inconsistent, often spitting pucks into the slot when his stick is out of position or his pad angles are too square. This allows for multiple scoring chances per sequence, which will be punished more at the pro level.
2) Lateral Movement & Recovery Needs Work
Although his stance is compact, Pradel is slow moving post-to-post and lacks explosiveness in recovery mechanics. On several occasions at the Hlinka, backhand plays or east-west attacks beat him cleanly as he failed to load and push in time. When he’s beaten laterally, it’s rarely because of misreading—it’s because he simply can’t get across fast enough.
3) Upright Chest Collapse and Holes Through Frame
When under pressure, Pradel’s upper body collapses forward, opening holes through his armpits and glove side. This shows up most often when pucks are deflected or redirected from distance. He’s not yet consistently balanced top to bottom in his butterfly, and this has led to avoidable goals from awkward bounces or poor puck tracking off bodies.
4) Sloppy/Choppy Movement Under Duress
His mechanics start to fray when traffic increases or he’s forced into multiple lateral saves. While he’s athletic enough to stay in the play, his crease can get messy. As mentioned, his movement is cleanable — but at this point in his development, his style is not NHL-ready and requires significant coaching.
Projection & NHL Outlook
Projection: NHL backup with potential to develop into a tandem or low-end starter if movement, rebound control, and upper-body coordination progress in line with his size and mental maturity.
Draft Grade: End of 3rd–5th Round
Draft Justification:
Pradel’s size, mental makeup, and foundation in zone tracking and sealing techniques give him a clear NHL toolkit—but he is not ready for high-level North American pro hockey today. He will need several years of tailored coaching — continued USHL/European development or the NCAA. That said, the combination of expected goals saved, performance against elite competition, and size-to-skill ratio make him a legitimate bet for teams willing to play the long game. Pradel is a draftable goalie prospect with long-term NHL upside, but at this point is far from a polished product. Monitor closely, especially as development occurs in a structured North American goaltending program.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images