It’s not often that a player falls far enough in the 2026 NHL Draft for a selection to immediately feel like a home run. Yet when Adam Novotný was still available at 24th overall, that was the sentiment among those familiar with his game.

Whether it ultimately becomes one of the steals of the 2026 NHL Draft won’t be known for years. However, based on where many scouts projected him throughout the season, Vancouver capitalized on an opportunity few expected would still be available. It’s not to say he’s a can’t-miss superstar destined to become a franchise cornerstone. Like every prospect, he still has areas of his game that require refinement before he reaches the NHL. But it’s nice to enjoy a good-value win for a fan base that hasn’t had much to root for over the last few months, and there’s little doubt the Canucks earned an A+ with this pick.

What makes this selection so intriguing is the combination of certainty and upside, as Novotný already possesses many of the traits NHL organizations covet. He’s intelligent, relentlessly competitive, and plays a complete game that doesn’t rely on a single elite skill to make an impact. At the same time, he owns one of the better releases in this draft class, has proven he can score in a variety of ways, and has consistently shown flashes of top-six offensive ability throughout his draft season.

Whether he ultimately settles into a hard-working middle-six winger capable of matching up against top competition, develops into a scoring winger who can unleash his shot from the half wall on the power play, or grows into something in between, there are multiple paths to his becoming a valuable NHL player.

Perhaps that’s what makes this pick so exciting, as there isn’t just one outcome in his game, but several.

As we do our due diligence on the entire 2026 Vancouver draft crop, one thing becomes clear: they wanted shooters. And there aren’t many who can rip a top-corner wrist shot better than this particular Czech-born winger.

Novotný has one of the quickest and most deceptive releases in the entire draft class, and he doesn’t need much time or space to get pucks off his stick. He has an excellent ability to change the angle before shooting, making life incredibly difficult for opposing goaltenders. And that’s a weapon that translates.

More often than not, his goals come from NHL-calibre habits. He attacks the guts of the ice, times his routes well and gets his shot away before defenders can properly close the gap. He’s particularly dangerous off the rush, and when given even a small pocket of space, he’s capable of beating goaltenders cleanly from the circles, forcing defenders to respect his shot every time he enters the offensive zone. That respect naturally opens passing lanes for teammates as well.

Although he’s often labelled as a shooter first, his scoring ability actually makes him a better playmaker because defenders are constantly forced to cheat toward his release. It’s a subtle part of his game that shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, it wasn’t a coincidence that he led the Peterborough Petes in both goals (34) and points (65) through 58 games in just his first season in North America.

For all the attention his shot receives, his game extends well beyond putting pucks in the back of the net. He’s a far more mature player than many offensive wingers entering the draft.

Away from the puck, he consistently tracks back through the neutral zone, supports below the hashmarks and competes for loose pucks instead of waiting for the play to come to him. He isn’t afraid to battle along the wall, and while he isn’t a bruising physical presence, per se, he plays with a ton of bite, making life extremely difficult for defenders.

He’s an extremely driven and competitive player, and shift after shift, he finds ways to stay involved regardless of whether he’s producing offensively. Coaches don’t have to worry about his effort levels or engagement; instead, they can let him run amok and do his thing.

“Just my versatility,” Novotný mentioned when describing his game “I think I can bring a lot to the team. I think my energy, in general, is just so high, and I can bring a lot of energy to the team. I would say that I’m really good at protecting the puck in a small area, and my speed and shot. So I think I can bring a lot to the team and I can accept different roles”

In addition to being the Peterborough Petes’ top point producer, he was used in the late stages of the game and was always good for a shot block or two to cement a win or score a late goal. He was also one of Czech’s most notable players at this year’s World Junior event, where he failed to score but was a noticeable presence in each of their seven games.

Those habits often become the difference between players who dominate junior hockey and players who eventually establish themselves in the NHL.

If there was one thing that became obvious throughout the draft process, it was just how much Novotný enjoys the game. If you ask scouts about his offensive upside, they’ll talk about his shot. Ask them about his skating, and they’ll point to how effortlessly he moves around the ice. But ask those who spent time around him this season, and the conversation almost always shifts toward his personality.

He brings a ton of energy and seems to carry a smile around wherever he goes. He’s competitive, upbeat and genuinely enjoys being at the rink. Those qualities may sound cliché around draft time, but NHL organizations place tremendous value on players who consistently elevate the environment around them.

That’s especially true for Vancouver, and over the past several drafts, Todd Harvey and the Canucks’ amateur scouting staff have made it clear they aren’t simply collecting talent. They’re looking for players who love to compete, embrace development and make the people around them better, and he fits that profile perfectly.

Like every 18-year-old prospect, Novotný isn’t a finished product. Heck, he fell to the 24th spot at the NHL Draft.

While his skating is already above average, adding another step of explosiveness would allow him to create even greater separation off the rush. There are also moments where he’d benefit from using his size more consistently. At 6-foot-1, he has the frame to become even more difficult to play against once he adds strength and continues to mature physically.

Perhaps the biggest area of growth, however, is simply becoming more assertive in his decision-making. There were stretches throughout the season where Novotný looked capable of taking over games offensively. Then there were others where he deferred to teammates despite possessing the skill to attack defenders himself. It’s a common trait among young forwards, and one that often improves as confidence grows. If he learns to trust his offensive instincts more consistently, there’s another level to his game that Vancouver’s development staff will undoubtedly try to unlock.

One of the more interesting aspects of Vancouver’s first round is how complementary its two selections feel.

Caleb Malhotra gives the organization another intelligent, reliable centre capable of playing in every situation, and Novotný provides the same from the wing. He’s a player with a legitimate 25-30 goal upside who can still be trusted away from the puck. Together, they address two areas Vancouver has quietly been trying to strengthen for years.

No, he isn’t without flaws, and there are still legitimate questions he’ll have to answer over the next few seasons. Can he consistently create his own offence against bigger, faster competition? Will he continue to become more assertive with the puck? Can another level of explosiveness unlock even more from his offensive game?

Those questions are fair. But he’s an intelligent player with one of the best releases in the draft; he competes every shift, plays a responsible game away from the puck and has shown enough offensive growth to suggest there could still be another gear waiting to emerge.

For a 24th pick, fans can rest assured that the Canucks collected solid value with him in the system.