Red Wings prospect Michal Pradel spoke with SVRT.sk regarding being drafted by Detroit 75th overall during this past June’s NHL Draft in Los Angeles. Here’s a very rough translation of the article:
Young goaltender realizes he’s got strong competition in Detroit: It motivates me to work even harder
He was the highest-drafted Slovak in this year’s NHL Draft.
The highest-drafted Slovak hockey player in the recent NHL Draft, goaltender Michal Pradel is already back in Slovakia after taking part in Detroit’s development camp. At the draft in Los Angeles, he was chosen 75th overall by a famous team from the Original Six, the Detroit Red Wings’ overseas team.
“It really was an unbelievable feeling. Seeing it live and being there during the first round, even with others being drafted, was an incredible experience. There weren’t all the players there, now it was a little different, but it was a great experience anyway,” the 18-year-old shared.
It won’t be easy
Although the Detroit Red Wings have had their biggest success during the time when Michal wasn’t yet born, he claims that the team was among his favorites from a young age. “It’s a team with an incredible history, even though I haven’t seen that before, and it’s only about now. When I was a kid, I also had a hat with a Detroit logo,” he says.
Our young representative won’t have it easy in the Motor City. With the Red Wings, the team’s top goaltending talents are Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa. “They have incredible prospects, which is just more motivation for me to work harder to catch up and overtake them,” he said.
He knows very well what he needs to work on to break through to the elite in his career: “They told me I have to get stronger.”
“For Michael, the goaltender, he’s pretty strong. I’d rather say that he has to work on his mobility and explosiveness. Of course, in time with training sessions I may see other flaws,” said conditioning coach Simon Klimcik.
The goaltender’s journey to the NHL is always long and not easy. He plans to stay in America. “Now it’s being dealt with in this way because I’ve been drafted by Regina in the CHL. I’ll call them this week to see whether I’m staying in Tri-City of the USHL, or going to the CHL,” he outlined his plans.
In addition, he’s finishing high school, and, after graduation, he wants to go to an American university, which should be one of the key steps to fulfilling his big dream to play in the NHL.
