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Nestrasil 'ready to battle every shift'
By Matthew Wuest - RedWingsCentral.com / July 2, 2009Andrej Nestrasil didn't need much time to adjust to North America.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward made the jump from the Czech Republic last season, suiting up in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Victoriaville Tigres. Not only was he productive — finishing fourth in rookie scoring — he also showed he was ready to do the dirty work.
"He's willing to pay the price every shift and he's ready to battle every shift," said Tigres head coach Yanick Jean. "He's a big body, he throws his body around, he never refuses physical contact and he's always engaged."
The Detroit Red Wings liked what they saw, too, ranking Nestrasil as a first-round pick and taking him in the third round (75th overall) in Saturday's NHL draft with an extra pick acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nestrasil, who was second on his team with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 66 games, can't be described as a bruiser, but can be described as a new-age power forward who uses his size to his advantage offensively.
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| Andrej Nestrasil made an immediate impact as a rookie with the Victoriaville Tigres. |
"He likes to take the puck to the net," said Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill. "He protects the puck well in the corners and he's got the hands to do it. He's got good size and he's just a good hockey player."
The Red Wings raised Nestrasil on their list after he scored 15 points in his final 11 games and went on to be one of the Czech Republic's top forwards at April's world under-18 championship with two goals and two assists in six games.
"We really liked how his development showed up at the world under-18," Nill said.
The one downfall that could hold Nestrasil back in the future is his skating. He is a little bit sluggish on his feet and needs to improve.
"If he was 15 percent faster, he would have been a first-round pick," Jean said.
But the Red Wings didn't see it as a deal-breaker.
"When he gets the puck, his skating doesn't seem to bother him," Nill said.
The adjustment to North America is often as difficult off the ice as it is on it for European teens trying their luck in major junior. But Nestrasil was a good fit in Victoriaville, a French city of about 40,000.
"He's an A-1 kid who works really hard," Jean said. "All of his teammates love him. He's a kid I wouldn't be afraid to put a letter on his jersey."
Jean expects him to put up 80-90 points next year and 100-plus in 2009-10. From there, his upside with the Red Wings appears high.
"He's not a guy you look at and say, 'He's going to be a third- or fourth-line guy in the NHL," Jean said. "He's got more skill than that. If he keeps improving his skating, he could be a good offensive player in the NHL."
This is part of a series of features on the Red Wings' 2009 draft choices. Check back all week for more on the other prospects selected.
» July 1: Feet-first Fournier a fit for Wings
» June 30: Tatar tops Wings' charts
» June 29: Yappin', scrappin' Callahan breaks the mold
» June 27: Triple threat: Ferraro, Tatar and Nestrasil
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The next wave
RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
| 01 | F | Tomas Tatar » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 02 | D | Jakub Kindl » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 03 | D | Brendan Smith » | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 04 | G | Thomas McCollum » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 05 | F | Gustav Nyquist » | Maine (NCAA) |
| 06 | F | Landon Ferraro » | Red Deer (WHL) |
| 07 | F | Jan Mursak » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 08 | F | Cory Emmerton » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 09 | F | Joakim Andersson » | Frolunda (SEL) |
| 10 | F | Mattias Ritola » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |