Scouting Report: Milan Dvorak

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Scouting Report: Milan Dvorak

Position: D
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 180 lbs.
From: Prague, Czechia
Drafted: 5th overall, S82 (Helsinki Titans)
VHLE: Geneva Rush
VHLM: Yukon Rush (S80) / Ottawa Lynx (S81)

 

The Season 82 draft certainly had its twists and turns, and there were many big-name prospects getting a lot of media attention going into the event. One name that didn’t quite get as much media attention was Czech defenseman Milan Dvorak. That’s not to say Dvorak wasn’t talked about at all - he certainly was. But he certainly wasn’t earmarked as one of those elite, can’t-miss talents that headlined the top of the draft class. There were some suggestions that he might be selected by the Chicago Phoenix at fourth overall, in part due to his agent’s relationship with the organization. But other mock drafts that didn’t consider this fact had him pegged as more of a mid-to-late first rounder, hovering somewhere around the 8-10 spot. So when he was selected by the Helsinki Titans at fifth overall, it was a surprise to many watching. Some sources within the player’s circle suggest that it was even a surprise to Dvorak himself. And most Titans fans barely even knew who he was.

So who is Milan Dvorak? After spending much of his career with Sparta Prague in Czechia, the young defenseman made the surprising decision at age 19 to move to the VHLM for Season 80 with a view towards entering the S82 VHL Entry Draft. Dvorak signed with the Yukon Rush for the remainder of the season, and averaged about a half a point per game as a depth defenseman. After the Rush fell in seven games in the Founders’ Cup Finals, he was selected 16th overall by the very team that Yukon lost to - the defending champion Ottawa Lynx. Dvorak then put up 78 points in the regular season (T-7th among VHLM defensemen) as a part of a dominant Lynx team that won its second cup in a row. That brings us to this season. Now, Dvorak will be making his way to the VHLE with the Geneva Rush for a bit more seasoning before he (presumably) plays for the Titans in S83. So what can Titans fans expect to see out of their new hot prospect?

 

PROS
Scoring - Dvorak has very impressive goalscoring abilities, especially for a defenseman. He put up 16 powerplay goals with the Lynx in S81 (T-5th among all skaters), a sign that he’s got not only a dangerous slapshot from the blueline but also a keen eye for goal. He’s an offensive threat almost any time he’s on the ice, which is an asset as we move towards a new high-octane offense era in the VHL.

Puck Handling - Dvorak’s offensive ability doesn’t purely come from his shooting. He’s also great at carrying the puck into the offensive zone, which makes him a useful player to have in transition. His great hands tend to create goalscoring opportunities for both himself and others, which can often take a decent amount of pressure off of the forwards.

Defensive Positioning - He doesn’t necessarily throw the body around like other defensemen, but make no mistake about it: Dvorak is a very intelligent player defensively. What he may lack in size, he makes up for in an ability to cut down angles and see passing lanes. It’s easy to watch Dvorak play and categorize him as a liability on defense. And while he is an offensive defenseman, one cannot disregard his keen defensive awareness.

 

CONS
Size/Strength - We’ve mentioned it briefly before, but now it’s time to address it head on. At 5 foot 9 and 180 pounds, Dvorak is certainly not the prototypical size teams would want out of a defenseman. This was a sticking point for multiple front offices - some of whom wanted him to move up to the wing, which Dvorak and his team were dead-set against - and a large part of why many expected him to go later in the first round. This won’t truly be tested until he gets to a higher level. Dvorak was able to avoid questions about his size in the VHLM and Europe thanks to his offensive ability as well as the comparative talent gap of the teams that he ended up playing for, but he might not be able to get away with it in the big leagues. 

Checking - This is kind of a situation where one plays into the other. Because of his size, Dvorak has developed a game where he avoids having to rely on physicality wherever possible. This is an understandable approach. But it could also turn out to be a drawback, especially as he gets to the VHL. It’s very possible that Dvorak’s skillset won’t be nearly as unique when he gets to the pros, and so he might be exposed by players who are more adept at throwing their body around. It’s likely that Helsinki might pair him with a much more physical defenseman in the VHL in order to disguise his shortcomings.

Passing - It’s surprising to see an offensive defenseman who isn’t a skilled passer of the puck, and it might not be considered that much of a drawback in today’s shoot-first-ask-questions-later VHL, but it’s a weakness nonetheless. Dvorak tends to rely on his shooting and puck handling when it comes to his offensive game to create space for passes. This can work, but it’s a problem when things don’t come off as expected. He’s hesitant to make the more aggressive pass, and can sometimes misplace simple passes that lose possession for his team. This is a less serious issue than the other two, though, and can likely be remedied fairly quickly.