{"id":350074,"date":"2025-12-15T12:49:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/350074\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T12:49:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:49:11","slug":"blackhawks-prospect-vaclav-nestrasil-blowing-away-his-own-expectations-at-umass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/350074\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks prospect Vaclav Nestrasil blowing away his own expectations at UMass"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blackhawks<\/a> prospect Vaclav Nestrasil is surprising himself with how well he\u2019s playing during his first stretch of college hockey.<\/p>\n

The Czechia native and 25th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, now a freshman at UMass, leads his new team with 10 goals and ranks second with 20 points in 18 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, I was going into the season hoping for 15 minutes a game and [to be on the] second power play,\u201d Nestrasil said with a chuckle. \u201cAnd I basically jumped right into it. I\u2019m playing around 20 minutes, as of right now. I played 23 minutes last game, which was crazy for me. So my expectations were a little bit small, but I cannot complain about that at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is clicking for me right now. As I\u2019m playing more than I was playing in Muskegon [in the USHL last season], I can express my game. I\u2019m getting on the [penalty kill], on the power play. I can show my full potential here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hawks didn\u2019t set such specific expectations, and they did select him in the first round for a reason. But assistant general manager Mark Eaton, who oversees the prospects, has also been amazed by Nestrasil\u2019s rapid development.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t be more impressed, to be honest,\u201d Eaton said. \u201cHe\u2019s super competitive. Even in games when UMass has been down, he\u2019s still out there playing with some anger. He gets a chip on his shoulder and doesn\u2019t like losing. That\u2019s a foundation that\u2019s going to carry him far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestrasil agreed with that assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably hate losing more than I love winning,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely something I was born with.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was described as a raw prospect<\/a> entering the draft last summer. That\u2019s partially because it will take him a while to fill out his tall, broad 6-5 frame. He weighs about 190 pounds \u2014 up from 185 during the summer \u2014 but his ideal weight is significantly higher than that.<\/p>\n

He chose the college route with that very much in mind. With fewer games jammed into the college season, he has more time to grind in the gym and build up strength.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, he doesn\u2019t exactly play like a traditional power forward. Instead, he has generated most of his offense this season off the rush.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe finds open ice and attacks defenders to set up passing lanes,\u201d Eaton said. \u201c[He\u2019s] really good through the neutral zone with good vision. He plays a good give-and-go game. He\u2019s able to make subtle little slip passes but also crisp cross-ice passes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can generate speed and back off defenders. He knows when to get it deep, when to pull up and hit late guys potentially [or when to] keep it himself and try to get a good shot off. His skill set and decision-making really shine off the rush.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestrasil\u2019s next step will involve creating more offense down low around the net and off extended offensive-zone possessions.<\/p>\n

Considering he admitted he wasn\u2019t a physical player whatsoever before his USHL jump a year ago, he has held up remarkably well to the physicality and toughness of college hockey. But he\u2019s not yet a difference-maker in that regard.<\/p>\n

As he gets stronger, he should be able to win more battles, assert himself in dirty areas and protect the puck with defenders on his back for longer stretches of time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to be the best at it because with my body, keeping pucks away from the other team and protecting it is going to be a huge part of my game,\u201d Nestrasil said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019m working on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestrasil will play for Czechia at the world junior championships, but he knows his season at UMass is \u201cway more important.\u201d He projects to play there for another year or two before turning pro.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Patrick<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

After an assertive Kane pushed the Wings out to an early lead, the reeling Hawks got shut out 4-0 in Nick Lardis\u2019 NHL debut Saturday.<\/p>\n

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read<\/p>\n

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\"Nick<\/p>\n

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The Hawks moved swiftly Saturday to fill the gaping hole in their top six, calling up prolific 20-year-old AHL scorer Lardis to make his NHL debut.<\/p>\n

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\"Connor<\/p>\n

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Bedard left the ice holding his right arm or shoulder in great pain after the final horn of the Hawks\u2019 3-2 loss Friday. Coach Jeff Blashill said Bedard won\u2019t play Saturday.<\/p>\n

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