Vojtech Cihar Prospect Profile | 2025 NHL Draft
Throughout the 2024-2025 season, TSLH Prospects will be sharing scouting reports, rankings, and profiles of prospects eligible to the 2025 NHL Draft. Continuing our work of the past five years, our analysts will provide insights on numerous young guns to give you a comprehensive overview of the draft class and their progress. Today, the spotlight is on Vojtech Cihar.
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Vojtech Cihar’s Prospect Profile for the 2025 NHL Draft
Vojtech Cihar is a 6’1”, 187-pound left winger playing in the Extraliga, the top professional league in the Czech Republic. He has also represented his country internationally with the U20 and U18 teams. At the time of writing, he has 7 points in 26 games this season.
Playing for HC Energie Karlovy Vary, Vojtech Cihar averages 14 minutes and 56 seconds of ice time per game on the first line, along with just under 2 minutes on the power play. However, he is not yet trusted in penalty-killing situations. Cihar is a disciplined player, as evidenced by his 6 penalty minutes.
Mobility and Physicality
These are arguably the most translatable aspects of Vojtech Cihar’s game to North American hockey. The left-handed forward is an excellent skater in every sense. He moves effortlessly across the ice, displaying agility in all four directions with an effective footwork that rarely leaves him out of position. Most of the time, he attacks the right corridor to put pressure on the opponent and with his speed, it can gives a lot of difficulties to defensemen.
Vojtech Cihar is also a physical player. He frequently finishes his checks and uses his body to separate opponents from the puck. Additionally, he does not shy away from battling in front of the net or along the boards, where he regularly engages in fierce one-on-one battles to gain or maintain possession. He uses not only his upper body strength but his legs a lot in those kind of situations. We often see the player deliberately obstructing the opponent to give his teammates time and space.
What holds him back slightly is his inability to utilize his speed to create plays in the neutral zone. He is not typically tasked with leading rushes or carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Vojtech Cihar has not yet mastered the skill of holding onto the puck to exploit gaps and set up offensive plays. Instead, he prefers quick, simple touches to pass the puck to more experienced teammates.
This leaves him somewhat vulnerable, as it can be interpreted as a lack of confidence, prompting opponents to apply pressure. Consequently, he is prone to panicking after receiving passes from defensemen. When given time and space, Vojtech Cihar uses his mobility well to quickly advance the play, but he needs to improve his ability to analyze situations and make proactive decisions. Without this, adapting to smaller North American rinks will be challenging.
Offensive Potential
Vojtech Cihar’s offensive potential appears limited. At present, his profile is more aligned with that of an energy forward who excels in the forecheck. However, his willingness to play a high-intensity game is a valuable asset. With his speed, he is effective at pressuring defenders, and his anticipation helps neutralize opposing breakouts.
Cihar thrives around the net and is used as a “bumper” on the power play (though he rarely receives the puck in these situations). Since he rarely controls the puck in offensive scenarios, it’s difficult to evaluate his shot and playmaking abilities. While he occasionally displays flashes of finesse in 1 vs 1, he generally relies on intensity and strength rather than deceptive shots, clever passes, or flashy moves.
This is not necessarily a drawback, as his projection does not involve a top-six NHL role. He is more likely to develop into a middle-six forward if his offensive game progresses or a high-energy bottom-line winger if it does not. He has the athletic tools to succeed but needs to refine his game and handle the puck more frequently. A stint in Canadian junior hockey could greatly benefit his development. Currently, the Lethbridge Hurricanes hold his CHL rights.
Defensive Skills
Defensively, Vojtech Cihar has some intriguing strengths. His positioning is mature, and he stays close to his defensemen to support them when they retrieve the puck under pressure. This often allows his team to counter the opposing forecheck and exit the zone. He is also frequently the first forward to backcheck due to his high-end mobility and his work ethic.
However, issues arise when Vojtech Cihar is static along the boards during breakouts. He tends to make quick passes to the middle rather than stopping the puck to assess his options, especially when under pressure. This results in turnovers and extended defensive zone shifts. While this approach may work in junior hockey, it is not a safe strategy at the professional level.
Vojtech Cihar must only make such plays when he is certain of their success. Otherwise, it would be better for him to absorb contact and hold the puck, allowing teammates to support him before making a safer play. He has the strength and defensive awareness to do this. While this flaw contributes to the impression of panic when the puck is on his stick, it is a correctable issue.
2025 NHL Draft Ranking Projection
I don’t believe Vojtech Cihar will be selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. While he possesses many attributes suited for North American professional hockey, his offensive potential is not apparent enough to warrant a high pick. A team that values safe, physical players might take a chance, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I project him as a second-round selection, likely between 30th and 50th overall, as his skillset makes him a relatively safe pick.
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