In the 2024 Entry Draft, the Maple Leafs selected Miroslav Holinka.
Holinka is a Czech forward who shoots right. He is listed on Elite Prospects at 6'1" and 183lbs.
Elite Prospects has an entry on Holinka in this year's draft guide. They don't rate him very high – you don't generally see high ratings in the fifth round, but they do rate his puck-handling as his best skill.
Miroslav Holinka finished in the top-10 in scoring of Czechia’s U20 league, with 41 in 29 games. This season, he was mostly an in-betweener: too good for the junior league, but not refined enough to play regularly with HC Oceláři Třinec in the professional league.
Holinka headed straight at defenders to dangle them in the U20 circuit. He succeeded more often than not, pulling off impressive toe-drag and backhand moves in the process. He worked around the net, getting more than his share of far-post tap-in goals, and he also showed a talent to beat the defence off the mark. His early drives up ice on breakouts enabled him to get past opponents and earn breakaways.
He also safeguard his team well off the rush, too, replacing defenders and cutting passing plays of the opposition. To become just as effective at the professional level, Holinka will have to develop a more dynamic skating ability and increase the pace to his game.
Adding some crossovers to his rushes would make him more deceptive 1-on-1. He also needs to develop his awareness, puck protection ability, and short-passing game. At this stage, Holinka doesn’t look like an NHL prospect, but his handling ability does give him some upside.
Not the most ringing of endorsements, but it is fairly unusual to even find a scouting report for a player in the 150s. NHL Central Scouting had him 31st of the 135 European skaters, so they seemed to like him a little more.
