The Golden Knights prospect has 16 points on the year (7 goals, 9 assists), but has netted just four goals over the team's last 26 games.

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Silver Knights forward Jakub Brabenec has plenty of offensive potential.

If only he'd shoot the puck more.

But like a lot of young forwards aspiring to get to the NHL, there's the complex issue of putting the team first while still trying to establish a certain skill set.

"He's gonna have to get stronger, continue to work on his strength, continue to build his game," Silver Knights coach Ryan Craig said. "We've used him on the wing once in a while. We've put him in opportunities for him to play in different situations.

"We want him to shoot more. He's got a good shot when he's inside, in those heavy areas, the interior of the ice in the O-zone. And if he continues to grow that part of his game, he's got a chance because of his skill set and his skating."

Brabenec has just 16 points on the year (7 goals, 9 assists). But he has merely four goals over the team's last 26 games.

"Yeah, I was always the guy who liked passing more from the young age," the 21-year-old from the Czech Republic said. "So it's a little difficult for me to switch the mentality a little and be, I don't want to say it, but be more selfish and shoot more.

"But, yeah, I'm just trying to improve my game and listen to coaches and what they say. So if they want me to shoot, then I'm gonna try and shoot."

Brabenec, who was drafted 102nd overall by the Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL Draft, said that while strength has never been an issue for him, he continues to work on blending his skills with his agility to improve offensively.

He also said it can be hard at his age since he's been coached in certain ways in Europe and is now doing different things with the Silver Knights. Keeping in mind what's best for him while abiding by what everyone is teaching him can take a toll at times, but he's taking it all in stride.

"I think speed is my main thing, what I'm trying to improve every day," said Brabenec, who represented the Czech Republic at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. "And of course, I'm trying to get stronger, but I would say the speed is most important thing for me, and I'm trying to get better every day with it.

"I know how I can play with the puck, so just keep going and be the best guy for the team, help the team. The points are gonna come. So just don't focus on points. But just do the best things I can do for the team."

Craig is confident in the 6-foot-2, 175-pound forward, knowing that as the process plays out, Brabenec will find his rhythm and eventually his offensive game.

"Brabs is a guy who's a smart player who values the defensive side," Craig said. "Maybe not as big and strong as (others), but for me, he's a guy that when he plays through people, gets underneath people, he ends plays, and then he has the skill and the speed to get away from them in the offensive zone. You can see the hockey IQ in the right spots above pucks, just the way he's continued to build there."

Brabenec, whose father Kamil Brabenec played professionally and made 15 international appearances for the Czech Republic, said having the team that drafted him play in the same town continues to fuel his passion every time he arrives at the rink.

"It's the best fuel you can get," he said. "Like the young guy, if you're playing hard and playing for the team, good things are gonna come. So I'm just trying to build my game and play my game. And hopefully one day I'm gonna be there."