The Arizona Coyotes drafted a goalie in Michael Hrabal with the 38th overall pick that has super-star potential in the NHL.
It's hard to find a super-star caliber goaltender in the NHL but the Arizona Coyotes might have hit the jackpot picking Michael Hrabal with the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The 18-year-old goalie last played for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League where he posted a 9-13-4 record, 2.86 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.
Hrabal stands at a whopping 6-foot-6 which is pretty rare for goalies in the NHL today. With that sort of size, Hrabal already has the tools to at least be a serviceable goalie in the NHL.
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“At 6-foot-6, he’s athletic, composed and he battles. His team this season struggled in front of him and that led to sub-par numbers,” Chris Peters of Flo Hockey wrote. “That said, Hrabal has all the tools teams are looking for in NHL goalies, even beyond his size.”
While Hrabal’s size is a major part of his game, he also is an extremely calm and steady goalie. His fundamental tools on top of his size that Hrabal already possesses makes him a potential lethal goalie once he fully develops.
“He is efficient in his movements but can make the tough saves across his crease when he needs to,” Corey Pronman of the Athletic said. “His puck-tracking isn't perfect, but generally I've liked his reads and ability to stay with the play. He has the best chance to be a starter in this class.”
It may be exciting to think about Hrabal putting on the Coyotes sweater but fans will have to be patient. It takes at least a few years generally for goalies to make the jump into the NHL.
Hrabal is expected to play at the University of Massachusetts this upcoming season, a school that helped develop Jonathan Quick and Matt Murray, two Stanley Cup winning goalies.
The Coyotes are in the midst of a rebuild. The team has accumulated a ton of young forwards and defenseman over the years but were lacking in young goalie prospects.
Hrabal can be that prospect that boosts the Coyotes and helps them become a contending team in the future.