Central Europe Stock Watch: Rising Simas Ignatavičius showcasing offensive potential in Swiss league
February mainly brought the Olympic Games to the hockey world, which also meant a pause in many league competitions. At the end of the month, leagues resumed: several regular seasons in Central Europe came to an end and the playoffs began, while others are only now approaching the postseason.
Right after the restart of competitions, an interesting piece of news arrived. Latvian defenceman Alberts Šmits, one of the candidates for the Top 15 in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, is coming to Central Europe. He joined EHC Red Bull München on loan for the remainder of the season.
In Switzerland, the lower-tier Swiss League continued during the break. Several prospects for the upcoming draft used this opportunity to get more ice time and showcase more of their talent.
The break also helped players who had been dealing with long-term injuries, giving them time to recover and return for the most important part of the season.
So let’s take a look at how players in Central Europe have been performing.
Stock Rising 📈
Simas Ignatavičius, C/RW, Geneve-Servette HC (2026 NHL Draft)
During the Olympic break, Simas Ignatavičius was sent down to the Swiss League, joining HC Thurgau, where he was given a top-line role and significant ice time. He immediately took advantage of the opportunity to showcase more of his offensive upside, recording eight points in six games. He also generated far more shot attempts, as according to InStat Hockey his average shots per game increased from 1.72 to 6. Ignatavičius carried that confidence right after the Olympic break as well, scoring the game winning goal that secured his team a direct berth in the playoff quarterfinals.
At the lower level, he displayed more flashes of his puck handling and passing skills, particularly on the power play. He also found himself more frequently in position for one-timers from the right circle, which accounted for most of his goals during that stretch. Otherwise, he largely played the same style of game we are used to seeing from him in the National League — functioning as a strong supporting player for his line, working effectively off the puck, reading the play well, and using his large frame.
Ignatavičius already possesses an NHL frame that he knows how to use very well, along with great off-puck work ethic and flashes of offensive skill. Because of this combination, he appears to be a relatively safe bet in this year’s NHL Draft class to become an intriguing bottom-six forward who could attract attention from day one.
Petr Tomek, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (2027 NHL Draft)
Petr Tomek surprisingly spent the entire season playing at the pro level in the Czech Extraliga, and his point production was even more surprising. In fact, it was one of the best seasons by a U18 player in league history. He missed only a single game all year and recorded 20 points in 51 games (13 goals, 7 assists), becoming just the third U18 player to reach the 20-point mark, joining Jiri Hudler and Petr Sýkora — both later Stanley Cup champions. That is pretty good company to be in at such a young age, wouldn’t you say? He also couldn’t have asked for a better start to his pro playoff career, recording a game-winning goal and an assist in his first postseason appearance.
When you look at Tomek, you might assume that as a slightly undersized forward he would struggle to generate offense, especially in the slot. However, thanks to his dynamic skating, strong edgework, and good reading, he has managed to offset that disadvantage. He shows excellent scoring instincts around the slot, consistently finding himself in the right position for rebounds or being the first to locate loose pucks. And when the net-front work isn’t producing results, Tomek can still rely on his ability to beat defenders off the rush with slick puck handling, creating breakaways that he often finishes with a quick move or a shot to the far post.
Tomek has already outperformed in his D-1 the DY seasons of Martin Nečas, Jiří Kulich, and Eduard Šalé — all of whom were first-round picks in their respective NHL Entry Draft years. Unlike them, however, Tomek currently lacks ideal size, although it is still possible that he will continue to grow. After the season, he will face an interesting decision: remain in the Extraliga and try to replicate this highly successful year at the pro level, or move to the WHL, where his rights belong to the Kamloops Blazers. Either way, there is a strong chance that by the start of next season we will be discussing him as a potential first-round candidate.
Max Calce, C, Adler Mannheim (2027 NHL Draft)
Max Calce had an excellent start to the season, appearing in 14 pro games in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga and becoming the league’s youngest goal scorer. In the U20 league, he produced at over a point-per-game pace, but unfortunately his season was interrupted by an injury at the end of November. He returned at the end of February and immediately became a key player again for his team at the U20 level, recording four points in two games. During his time away from the ice, he also drew attention for another reason — officially changing his last name from Penkin to Calce.
At the U20 level, Calce, still an underager, can almost do whatever he wants on the ice, mainly thanks to his excellent puck handling and his ability to manipulate defenders, which allows him to attack through the middle. He also looks for his shot frequently, often carrying the puck low in the zone, moving up along the boards, cutting toward the middle, and then releasing a shot. He can show similar flashes at the pro level as well, although naturally in a much more limited role. There, he also adds more off-puck work, looking to steal pucks in the defensive zone and quickly create high-danger scoring chances off breakaways.
At this point, Germany’s top junior league already seems too easy for Calce. It will be interesting to see whether he earns a full-season role at the pro level in the DEL next year or decides to pursue the North American route in CHL. If his development continues in the right direction, we may very well be looking at another very intriguing German prospect.
Stock Steady ↔️
Pavel Kůrka, D, HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 (2026 NHL Draft)
Pavel Kůrka started the season very well, looking like one of the most intriguing draft prospects from Central Europe for this year’s NHL Entry Draft. However, his promising start was halted by an injury at the end of October, and he did not return until mid-February. Right after coming back, though, he did not look like a player who had missed the previous four months, as noted in one of our recent reports:
“Kůrka's second game back after a long injury break, but he certainly didn't look like he just missed four months. Impressive quickness and puck-carrying ability. Good flashes on rush defence, able to keep up with quicker carriers, good gaps, and a strong defensive stick. He looks lean with plenty of room to grow into his frame and he plays a junior game, so I don't think he's anywhere close to a finished product, and that's probably a good thing. Very puck-focused at this stage, always looking to jump in on attacks or do it himself with end-to-end rushes, even if that means trying to use dangles he isn't capable of or running head-first through a wall of traffic. Uses his quickness and mobility well in the O-zone.”
Kůrka will now have to make up for lost time to prove that the projections from the start of the season still hold true. However, with a solid finish to the season so far and the upcoming U18 World Championships — where he could once again earn a role on the Czech blue line, it looks like he might be able to do just that.
Štěpán Hoch, C/LW, HC Motor České Budějovice (Utah Mammoth)
After Štěpán Hoch was selected in the third round of last year’s NHL Entry Draft, expectations were that he would at least build on his performances from last season and ideally improve them at the pro level in the Czech Extraliga. To some extent, he did manage that, doubling his point production — although from three points to six. His ice time also increased, but he is still searching for a way to earn a more significant and consistent role in the top six.
His game still revolves primarily around his large frame and strength, using his size effectively in battles and around the net, looking for rebounds, and playing a responsible defensive game. Unfortunately, there has not been any major visible progress in his offensive upside, an area he will need to further develop, along with his skating, if he wants to seriously pursue his ambitions of playing in the NHL one day.
Stock Falling 📉
Vinzenz Rohrer, C/RW, ZSC Lions (Montreal Canadiens)
After signing his entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens over the summer, Vinzenz Rohrer was loaned back to the ZSC Lions for this season, where he also played last year. As the regular season nears its end, his point production has dropped from 0.48 points per game to 0.29, a decline of nearly half, which certainly wasn’t expected from a signed player.
He still plays with his very active engine, never shying away from any battle, delivering hits, and showing aggression on the forecheck. However, his puck game has not progressed as he might have hoped. That said, this could still be just a single off-year, and with his energetic style, he can become a valuable bottom-six contributor. Even so, a season like this immediately after signing a contract is certainly not the ideal scenario.