A lot is made about draft prospects and their ties to current or former NHL players. Every season, the next generation of families steps up to have their name called and continue their legacy. While family ties aren't everything, it's hard to ignore them. The Hurricanes dressed two players this season with deep familial ties to the organization in Riley Stillman and Skylar Brind'Amour.
This year's class is no different. There are plenty of players with NHL connections eligible to be drafted. Among those players is Czech winger Václav Nestrašil. While not the only player with NHL ties, Nestrašil is one of the more intriguing prospects who could fall into the end of the first round for the Hurricanes to snatch up.
Wait, why is that name so familiar?
This last name should be familiar if you've been watching the Hurricanes for a long time. Nestrašil is the younger brother of former Hurricane Andrej, who played parts of three seasons with the Canes from 2014 to 2017. Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the third round in 2009, the older Nestrašil waited five years to make his debut with Detroit before being placed on waivers after 13 games.
The Canes claimed him and gave him a greater chance to thrive, albeit during the team's dark days. He scored his first NHL goal in his team debut on November 11, 2014. Over the next three seasons, Nestrašil scored 17 goals and 46 points in 115 games before being waived. The 2016-17 season was his last in North America. He signed in the KHL before returning to Czechia, where he's still active.
Now it's younger brother's turn
It's no secret why NHL teams would be interested in Václav Nestrašil. His near-6'6" frame is enough to get scouts into the stands. Nestrašil made the jump to North America during the 2023-24 season with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks. After going scoreless in 11 games to finish the season, his role expanded this year.
Nestrašil finished fifth on the Lumberjacks in scoring with 42 points in 61 games as Muskegon finished fourth in a tight Eastern Conference. He was used on both special teams, finding his spot along the goal line on the Lumberjacks' power play. Nestrašil added 13 points during the postseason to help Muskegon capture the Clark Cup.
For a player of his size, his greatest asset is his playmaking ability. While Nestrašil possesses a solid shot, his passing and vision could be what gets him to the next level. It also doesn't hurt that he's a giant on the ice who can throw his weight around. He's committed to play at the University of Massachusetts in 2026.
A potential high-risk, high-reward project
There's plenty of uncertainty surrounding where Nestrašil could land. Elite Prospects is one of the only sites with Nestrašil listed in the Top 30, with most others projecting him to be a second-round selection. He might start moving up draft boards, thanks to his blend of skill and physicality. It wouldn't be surprising to hear his name called on Friday night among the first 32 selections.
Nestrašil could be a major project for the Hurricanes, but he's the type of high-risk, high-reward player they might take a chance on late in the first round. It's even possible that the Hurricanes trade out of the first round and still land him early in the second. Things didn't exactly end smoothly with his older brother, so maybe this is a chance for the Hurricanes to get it right the second time around.