It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Next up is the Czech-born forward Adam Jecho. The Edmonton Oil Kings forward projects as a second-round pick, ranging from 33rd to 64th overall.
| PLAYER | POSITION | HANDEDNESS | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | AVG TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Jecho | RW/C | Right | 6’5″ | 201 lbs | 18:45 |
Jecho’s On-Ice Production
| YEAR | DRAFT RELATIVE | LEAGUE | TEAM | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | D-5 | Czechia U16 | Berani Zlin U16 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| QC Int PW | Czech Knights | 6 | 6 | 4 | 10 | ||
| WSI U13 | Czech Selects U13 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 2019–20 | D-4 | Czechia U17 | Berani Zlin U17 | 36 | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| ODM | Zlinsky kraj U15 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 17 | ||
| 2020–21 | D-3 | Czechia U17 | Berani Zlin U17 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| U16 SM-sarja | Tappara U16 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 19 | ||
| 2021–22 | D-2 | U18 SM-sarja | Tappara U18 | 43 | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | Czechia U18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| International-Jr | Czechia U17 (all) | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| International-Jr | Czechia U18 (all) | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 2022–23 | D-1 | Hlinka Gretzky Cup | Czechia U18 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| U18 SM-sarja | Tappara U18 | 37 | 21 | 26 | 47 | ||
| U20 SM-sarja | Tappara U20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| WHC-17 | Czechia U17 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| International-Jr | Czechia U17 (all) | 13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | ||
| WJC-18 | Czechia U18 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| International-Jr | Czechia U18 (all) | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2023–24 | D+0 | WHL | Edmonton Oil Kings | 54 | 23 | 24 | 47 |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | Czechia U18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| WJC-18 | Czechia U18 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| International-Jr | Czechia U18 (all) | 18 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
One thing to keep in mind is that the Oil Kings are in rebuild mode this year and have struggled with special teams and generating offense 5v5. These two things negatively influence Jecho’s point production.
Jecho was born March 24, 2006 in Zlin Chechia. He began his development with his hometown club, Berani Zlin, at the U16 and U17 levels before moving to join the Finnish Liiga’s Tappara Ilves developmental system for U18 and U20. The 2023–24 year was the start of Jecho’s journey to North America.
Being selected in both the 2023 USHL import draft—12th round, 170th overall by Omaha Lancers—and the 2023 CHL import draft—first round, 12th overall by the Oil Kings—Jecho had choices. Eventually, the big Czech opted to go the CHL route. Commonly paired on a line with ’03-born forwards Skylar Bruce and Ty Nash, the Zlin product put up a respectable 47 points in 54 games for the 2023–24 season.
Jecho’s Strengths
Puck play
The most immediately noticeable element of Jecho’s game is his play with the puck as a notably decent passer and puck-handler. In-zone, Jecho serves as a capable play facilitator with above-average vision and, notably, quality passes. This passing aptitude is even more noticeable in transition.
The Zlin product also possesses capable puck-protection mechanics due to his extended reach and ability to shield the puck from smaller opposing players while also initiating cycles when he has to. Both of these factors might contribute to why Jecho started 51% of all shifts in the O-zone.
With all of this being said, Jecho does need to improve on the consistency of his puck play, as one shift will be a high-end seam pass, and the next will be a puck bobble and a giveaway.
Shot
Although not apparent at first glance, Jecho is a shooter. Good thing, too, as the forward possesses a quality shot in terms of release, variety, and power. Jecho’s standard wrist shot release is quick with some deception, and he has no problem with elevation, often starting out low to go high.
There is significant power behind his shots as well—largely due to his frame and size—which just grants more shot leverage.
In the zone, the big 6’5″ forward is often used as a net-front presence, so he rarely gets the opportunities for clean shots. He often relies on his backhand, which has similar traits and notable finishing skill.
Fundamentals
Jecho does a lot of the basics well in the areas of skating and habits but does not particularly excel in them. In transition, he serves as a capable enough skater with clearly above-average stride, agility, and edgework for a player of his stature.
The Oil Kings forward is also capable of generating a fair amount of power, skating-wise. This skating base is helpful because, when he chooses to, Jecho can be relentless on pucks.
The Czech also displays decent habits in terms of situational scanning, power play positioning, and lane creation. Particularly with lane creation, Jecho has a definite nose for the net and often serves as a net crasher in transition.
On the penalty kill—where he averaged 0:52 per game—his reach and some willingness to block shots make him an asset.
On the power play—where he occupied 4:18 of ice time per game—he largely served as a net-front presence—in large part due to his size—but gets the occasional rotation to top right distributor. This, combined with the previously mentioned vision he displays, makes him a capable special teams threat.
Jecho’s areas of improvement
Senses
Jecho does seem to struggle with pace of play, awareness, and pressure. In transition, Jecho occasionally appears to be lost in the progress of the play, unsure of where to be, demonstrating a lack of play anticipation.
There are also situations where the winger shows a lack of risk assessment, such as intercepted passes, blocked shots, or indecisiveness.
Compete level/Physicality
Jecho’s compete level and physicality are two elements that need major improvement for his game to be transferable to the pro level.
For compete level, Jecho needs more consistency, often having a high motor in one shift, carrying the puck all around the o-zone, to being a play passenger the next. This is articulated by his way below-average puck battles won percentage at 44%.
With his size, reach, and muscle, one would think he would average more than 0.39 hits per game. Not only do the numbers lack, but so does the quality. He is largely ineffective in producing clean hits, all while temporarily pausing his own game to follow through.
Jecho has the potential to figure out how to use his muscle, size, and reach to his advantage, it’s just a matter of if he will.
Potential
The Czech forward has shifted between a winger and a centreman, but projects more as a winger at the pro level, with a 45% faceoff win percentage mixed with below-average form.
Jecho is quite a raw forward who has lots of growing to do to make his game pro-ready. As it stands, he likely projects as a scoring bottom-six winger at the NHL level.
Comparables
A slight comparable would be that of a foot-taller version of Alex Debrincat without the high-end skill.
Fit with the Flames
Historically, the Calgary Flames have placed an emphasis on size and focus on the WHL, so it would not be unexpected to see Jecho dawn a Flames jersey come draft day. That being said, he would fit as a secondary power play threat within the lineup, likely suiting up for a third-liner scorer plus-size role.
Summary
Risk: 3.5/5
Jecho seems to be more of a project than some of his fellow draftees in a similar range, and naturally, there is more risk to such players.
Reward: 2/5
He has some of the tools to be a successful everyday NHLer; it’s just a matter of whether he can unlock those enhanced layers of competition, physicality, senses, and consistency to become one.
Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2024 NHL Draft prospects:
Macklin Celebrini | Ivan Demidov | Artyom Levshunov | Sam Dickinson | Cayden Lindstrom | Berkly Catton | Cole Eiserman | Zeev Buium | Konsta Helenius | Zayne Parekh | Carter Yakemchuk | Anton Silayev | Tij Iginla | Adam Jiricek | Michael Brandsegg-Nygard | Liam Greentree | Igor Chernyshov | Trevor Connelly | Aron Kiviharju | Michael Hage | Ryder Ritchie | Sacha Boisvert | Nikita Artamonov | Maxim Masse | Cole Hutson | Beckett Sennecke | Dominik Badinka | Emil Hemming | Henry Mews | Terik Parascak | Alfons Freij | Charlie Elick | EJ Emery | John Mustard | Luka Misa | Tanner Howe | Lucas Pettersson | Matvei Gridin | Dean Letourneau | Leo Sahlin Wallenius | Jesse Pulkkinen | Cole Beaudoin | Kamil Bednarik | Jett Luchanko | Andrew Basha | Stian Solberg | Adam Jecho | Matvei Shuravin | Veeti Vaisanen
