2026 NHL DRAFT PROFILES: ADAM NOVOTONY

Left Wing/Right Wing
6’1/198
Left
Peterborough Petes/OHL

Related: ALBERTS SMITHS

Adam Novotný is an 18-year-old Czech hockey forward, widely regarded as one of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. He currently plays for the Peterborough Petes in the OHL after developing with Mountfield HK in the Czech Extraliga. Novotony burst onto the International scene at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he put up 5 points in 5 games, then followed it up with 6 points in 5 games at the U18 WJC. He has gotten off to a great start to the season,
tallying 19 goals and 35 points in 29 games with the Peterborough Petes. Considered one of the top Czech prospects of his generation, with scouts noting his blend of size, skill, and pro-level experience. What makes him really valuable is his versatility; he can play both wings, effective in offensive and defensive roles. Novotony has a strong frame and ability to handle physical play make him NHL-ready sooner than most prospects.

Size/Strength Great
Skating Excellent
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Good
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Great
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Great

Strengths

1. Strong north-south stride, good acceleration, and balance — allows him to pressure defenses and transition quickly.
2. At 6’1″, ~198 lbs, he already has an NHL-ready frame and uses it effectively in board battles and net-front play.
3. Reliable defensively, tracks back well, and can be trusted in penalty-kill or late-game situations. Can play both wings, adapts to different line roles, and doesn’t need to be the focal point to contribute.

Areas of Improvement

1. While effective, his playmaking vision isn’t elite — more of a straight-line driver than a deceptive creator.
2. Has shown flashes of scoring touch but can go quiet for stretches; needs to refine shot release and accuracy.
3. Against tighter checking, sometimes defaults to safe plays rather than creating — could limit upside.

Scouting Report

Adam Novotony is a highly skilled offensive player who uses his skating to create space for himself. He has strong playmaking instincts, displaying good vision and passing ability to set his teammates up in prime scoring areas. He’s already a strong, sturdy, stocky kid. He has a good feel for the game and enough smarts on and off the puck, with a good sense of where to be and go. Novotony is a he’s already a strong, sturdy, stocky kid. He has a good feel for the game and enough smarts on and off the puck, with a good sense of where to be and go. Played against men in the Czech Extraliga at 16–17, giving him maturity and resilience. Already NHL-sized, strong in board battles, and effective at net-front. Good north-south stride, balance, and acceleration; excels in transition. Novotony has great defensive awareness; he’s a reliable backchecker, penalty-kill potential, trusted in late-game situations. Adam can play both wings, and adapts to different line roles, doesn’t need to be the focal point. Adam Novotony is more of a straight-line driver than a deceptive playmaker; vision is solid but not elite, and is a streaky scorer, needing refinement in shot refinement in shot release and accuracy. He tends to default to safe plays rather than creating when tightly checked, which is why scouts question whether he’s a true top six contributor. Pavel Zacha is the NHL Comparable for Adam Novotony, like Zacha, he’s a versatile forward with size and two way ability, but some debate his legit top 6 potential. He’s best suited for teams seeking identity players who stabilize a lineup and complement high-skill stars. Adam Novotony is projected to a top 15 pick in the draft and has a high floor but a low ceiling, making hake a very safe pick in the middle of the first round.

Skill: Two-way forward with strong offensive instincts, praised for skating and Defensive upside

NHL Comparable: Pavel Zacha

NHL Potential: Top 6 Power forward

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2024-25	Mountfield HK	Czechia	51	3	5
	Czechia U18	International-Jr	14	6	15
2025-26	Peterborough Petes	OHL	29	19	35
	Czechia U20	International-Jr	8	5	9