Max Psenicka (D, R, 6’5″, 178, Portland Winterhawks, 01/18/2007)
Max Psenicka is a towering, right shot defenseman whose game revolves around his ability to use his size and reach effectively on both sides of the puck in all three zones. While his mobility and puck-moving skills are still developing, Psenicka’s commitment to defensive structure, physicality, and compete level make him an intriguing long-term prospect. His gap control and willingness to engage physically with opponents are key strengths, but refining his skating, puck management while under heavy pressure, and offensive consistency will be critical for him to reach his NHL potential. With proper development, he projects as a bottom-four NHL defenseman who can thrive in a shutdown role.
Strengths
Defensive Awareness and Gap Control:
Psenicka demonstrates excellent gap control, consistently standing up forwards at the blue line and using his long reach to disrupt plays throughout the neutral zone.
He excels at getting his stick on the puck first, followed by using his body to separate players from the puck, making him difficult to play against.
Physicality:
Despite his lean frame for his height, Psenicka plays a heavy defensive game, often engaging physically and battling hard in front of the net and along the boards.
He is unafraid to block shots or lay his body on the line.
Puck Retrieval and Transition:
Psenicka pre-scans the ice while on his way to retrieve loose pucks in the defensive zone and has good habits of moving his feet up ice after making plays.
His ability to maintain gaps while transitioning into offensive support is a strong point of his game.
Compete Level:
One of Psenicka’s defining traits is his high compete level. He battles through adversity, with the ability to quickly recover mentally after a poor play. He has a never say die attitude and does not give up on a shift.
Reach and Stick Work:
Psenicka effectively uses his long reach to pressure opponents, intercept passes, and disrupt offensive plays. His stick positioning is a highlight of his defensive toolkit.
Areas for Improvement
Skating and Agility:
While Psenicka’s stride is adequate in straight lines, he struggles with quick, agile turns and keeping up with smaller, faster forwards.
His foot speed and edgework are still developing, especially to handle tight defensive situations and recover when out of position.
Decision-Making Under Pressure:
Psenicka can be over-aggressive at times, particularly when closing gaps, leading to situations where he gets spun off or loses positioning by ending up on the wrong side of the puck.
His play behind the net and in high-pressure situations needs more refinement to ensure he takes better angles and remains effective.
Offensive Output:
At this point Psenicka’s offensive contributions are limited.
Improving his ability to create shots from the blue line and add deception to his puck movement will elevate his overall game.
Passing Accuracy and Consistency:
Psenicka completes 84% of his passes.
Reducing turnovers when trying to do too much and focusing on simple, efficient plays will help his overall game.
Strength and Physical Development:
At 6’5″, 178 lbs, Psenicka’s frame has room to add significant muscle mass. Gaining core and lower body strength will improve his ability to win battles and handle the physical demands of higher levels.
Projection
We currently have Psenicka projected as mid-to-late second pick in the 2025 NHL Draft due to his size, defensive capabilities, and raw potential. While he’s currently a shutdown defenseman with flashes of transition upside, improvements in skating, puck-handling, and decision-making could elevate his ceiling. With a focus on development in the areas outlined, Psenicka could carve out a role as a reliable bottom-four defenseman in the NHL, particularly in penalty-killing and shutdown situations.
Player Comparison
Erik Cernak: Similar to Cernak, Psenicka brings a combination of size, reach, and defensive reliability. Both players excel at gap control and physicality, with Psenicka having the potential to develop into a similarly effective, steady presence on the back end.
Key Development Goals
Skating Mechanics and Agility: Focus on edgework and agility training to improve lateral mobility and quickness.
Decision-Making: Work on angling and positioning to avoid over-committing and giving up high-danger chances.
Strength Training: Build core and lower body strength to improve puck battles, net-front presence, and overall physicality.
Offensive Awareness: Develop a quicker release and add deception to puck movement to become a more effective offensive contributor.
Game Management: Simplify decisions under pressure and focus on clean breakouts to limit turnovers and maximize transition plays.
Final Assessment
Psenicka’s combination of size, physicality, and defensive acumen makes him a highly intriguing prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. While there are areas of his game that require further refinement, particularly in skating and puck management, his high compete level and ability to disrupt opponents’ plays make him a valuable defensive asset. With the right development path and physical maturation, Psenicka has the potential to become a dependable NHL defenseman capable of thriving in high-pressure, defensive situations.
