At this time of the draft season, roughly one month out from the single night that can mean a whole lot to any NHL organization, we get some players moving around the rankings and some opinions changing. Everyone is a little more tuned into these teenaged hockey players and exactly how well their skills and talent could translate to the big stage – and no opinion of a player projected to go in the first round has changed as much as Eduard Sale.
I have been doing my best to keep as many fingers on the pulse of scouting circles and players that people hone in on, so from everything that I can see at this time, some people are more down on the Czech winger compared to a few months ago.
He has shown some flash in the Czech junior leagues and most importantly has been seen as an international star during the tournaments where he gets to represent his country, but as people have taken a closer look at what he can do, his reputation has slipped and other players have taken over the reins as a potential top-six winger that could be drafted in the first 10 picks.
Maybe it’s just exposure – since how often are internet scouts really watching game tape from the Czech leagues? – or it could truly be just him not being able to shine as much as others. He is certainly an interesting player, no doubt.
Pre-Draft Rankings
No. 4 (European skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
No. 12 by TSN/Bob McKenzie
No. 27 by EliteProspects
No. 24 by The Athletic/Corey Pronman
No. 8 by FCHockey
Statistics
As I mentioned, Sale has lit the world on fire when representing Czechia. Scoring over a point per game on the Under-18 team and then being able to follow that up with a very healthy appearance at the Hlinka Gretzky and the World Juniors this season, he seems to adore being the top option on his team.
This past season was his first full year playing in the top Czech division and it might not look super impressive to score seven goals and 14 points throug 43 games, but that’s fairly normal for a top 17-year-old prospect. Just last year, Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich scored 0.29 points per game (under Sale’s 0.33) and now he has developed into an elite talent at the AHL level that could make the step into the NHL as soon as next season.
Martin Necas is another player who, at 17 years old, scored 0.37 points per game in this league before he was drafted 12th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017. On the other side of the coin – the boring and worrisome side – Jan Mysak (disappointing Montreal Canadiens prospect) notched 0.35 points per game in 2019-20 and Michael Spacek (nothing Winnipeg Jets guy who couldn’t make it to the NHL) earned 0.30 points per game in the 2014-15 season.
There different paths that players who produced similar to Sale this past season have gone down. It’s just determining what Sale has beyond just the points on the board and the goals he has scored.
What’s there to like?
Sale hits a lot of what teams should look for in a scoring winger. He is 6-foot-1, a little small at 168 lbs but can certainly fill out, he skates well, can read plays to make the right pass, and can shoot well enough to score close to as many goals as he assists on.
When Sale is given the right amount of time and space on the ice, he can make things happen. He will keep his head up, read the play, and make the right decision most of the time, given that his linemates are in the right position.
His offensive game is something that will be lasered in on when it comes to what makes Sale special and deserving of a top-25 or so selection at this year’s draft. There are no true holes when his team has possession of the puck – he will either keep it on his stick just long enough to make the right pass or scoring chance, or could get in the right position to receive the puck and without defensive pressure, so he can unleash his very solid shot.
He has the tools but it is just a question if he can put it all together with the extra bits needed.
What’s not to like?
The inconsistency has been what most scouts have discredited Sale on. He can be seen making electric plays that ruin entire defensive schemes one night, and then be a total passenger on his line the very next.
There is also sometimes a lack of energy and work ethic coming from Sale. He has been seen flat-footed and not really aware enough to keep active in the play in all three zones.
Not to delve too deep into what this means when it comes to a teenaged hockey player, but maybe Sale has just been a player that has coasted by on raw talent for so long. He skates well, he shoots the puck very well, and can weave and dodge defensive efforts well enough to put points on the board. It’s just everything else – the fundamentals and extra effort to make the entire team better, not just the individual – that seems to be lacking. He can be an incredibly exciting player and a steal on the first night, but only if he goes to the right team that can help Sale put in that effort. Or he could just coast on his talent in the NHL and rack up points on the power play while playing on a non-playoff team.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Honestly, he would fit in well meaning that the Philadelphia Flyers have so many players that fit this exact type of mold. All the shoot-first guys like Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett, and already failed second-round pick Samu Tuomaala is something Philadelphia has seemingly targeted in recent drafts or transactions.
Sale would just add to that pile of guys who are potential distributors but would rather take the shot than pass it. There are simply enough and other players available that would balance out the prospect pool better than if Sale was added to it.
Can the Flyers actually get him?
They most likely can unless some team absolutely falls in love with him. As of now, Sale is projected to go anywhere from 10th to the last pick of the first round. He is a wild card that has been seen as someone that could give that offensive boost to an organization, but not someone that can shoulder the future load completely on his shoulders.
All that to say, yeah, the Flyers can get him but they probably shouldn’t with the seventh overall pick. Now, if they make a trade and Sale is available with a newfound late-first/early-second round pick, then it would make a whole lot of sense to just add that firepower, especially if the Flyers opt to draft a defenseman earlier.
What scouts are saying
Sale’s toolkit is exciting. He’s a good-sized winger who skates quite well and has a ton of natural offensive abilities. He has the hands to beat NHL defensemen regularly and with his length and speed he’ll be able to drive play at even strength. Sale is a great passer who can run a power play well and hit seams at a strong clip. He can shoot the puck well enough but is better as a passer for me. His compete is OK. I wouldn’t call him a physical or high-energy type of player, but he shows enough courage to get to the net. I would like to see him be more consistent as there’s too many nights I watch him have little impact, even if he can take over games other nights. I think he’s a very good player, who can be a legit top six wing in the NHL, but I also see him in the process frustrate coaches and fans. – Corey Pronman, The Athletic
Eduard Sale is a relatively good skater who could benefit from a better first step. His technique is sound and he moves his feet well when controlling the puck in transition. However, he is caught flat-footed at times in all three zones. Sale needs to move his feet to create space for himself which will increase his pacing as well. He uses his edges well in tight spaces which aids his dynamic ability in small quarters. His offensive instincts are the most projectable qualities of his game as he has above-average scanning habits and elite playmaking ability from the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. When given time and space, he is a great passer and can be a huge threat on the powerplay with his above-average shot. His release is the key component in his shot as he should work on getting more velocity consistently. Offensively, Sale is a mixed bag of high-end skill and playmaking ability with above-average intelligence to boot. – Sasha Lagarde, Dobber Prospects
We’ll make another addition to the poll, and it’s offensively gifted defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka!
Back from his stint in the SHL, Sandin-Pellikka has looked a bit lost at times, but the core aspects of his game are still noticeable and often successful. Through the neutral zone, Sandin-Pellikka remains highly intelligent, knowing when to utilize passing options and when to carry the puck himself. The issues have mainly been once he enters the offensive zone, as he occasionally runs out of space or carries the puck directly into traffic. The frequency of this is higher, but his ability to weave effortlessly through the opposition hasn’t gone away entirely. Once entered into the offensive zone, Sandin-Pellikka continues to make smart passes and can cover ground for a forward out of place. Overall, It’s easy to envision Sandin-Pellikka’s combination of mobility and stickhandling at any professional level, and he has a translatable ability as a power-play quarterback. His defensive game is not his strongest quality, but he knows how to position himself to create giveaway opportunities, often capitalizing on them.. – Alexa Potack, Dobber Prospects
Who should be No. 11 on the Community Draft Board?
Previously on the 2023 Community Draft Board…
