2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Ondrej Molnar

Ondrej Molnar skating for the Erie Otters of the OHL
Ondrej Molnár © twitter Erie Otters

The Scouting Report:

Ondrej Molnar from Nitra, Slovakia, born on February 8th, 2005, is a top prospect eligible for the 2023 NHL entry draft. Molnar is a solid bottom-six forward for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League. Molnar is also incredibly strong at playing up and down the lineup as needed, proving to be a strong addition for the Otters and for any NHL team looking to draft him. The rougher-edged forward stands at 6’0″ and 176 pounds, a frame he will almost certainly have to fill out if he wants to continue his professional hockey career.

Related Post: 2023 NHL Draft – Nashville

Ranked #82 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #129 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #40 by Draft Prospects Hockey
Ranked #66 by FC Hockey
Ranked #68 by TSN/Bob McKenzie

Conrad Jack of Inside the Rink has Ondrej Molnar projected at 52nd overall.

Ondrej Molnar is not your typical flashy forward who puts up a ton of points. Molnar plays a hard-nosed game and makes every second count while he’s on the ice. Molnar could be a solid third or fourth-round draft pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft.

Diving Deeper:

Ondrej Molnar is a fascinating forward; let’s dive deeper into Ondrej Molnar’s attributes.

Offensive Read:

Ondrej Molnar is a solid depth forward not only in the OHL, but if he can transition his game to the NHL, he will be a valuable depth piece for any team. Molnar is solid as he has transitioned from NK Nitra to the Erie Otters. When you have a solid defensive read like Molnar, you can scan the entire ice and be relied upon on the powerplay. Molnar’s special units don’t stop at the powerplay, but he’s also an effective penalty killer, and he puts up his points in the efforts of his special unit contributions.

“Molnar is a pass-first player as his shot is often used strategically more than to beat goaltenders outright. With that being said, his offensive output is based around his complimentary game and his motor.”

Sebastian High – Dobber Prospects – Apr. 21st, 2023.

On-Ice Abilities:

Ondrej Molnar plays with high intensity and thrives by being an energy player. His playmaking and scoring abilities could use some improvement, but there’s always improvement anywhere with an NHL prospect. Molnar isn’t a liability in his playstyle and works so incredibly hard to compliment his teammates.

Final Thoughts:

Ondrej Molnar could become a regular NHL depth piece, given the proper development. Molnar stands out as a solid powerplay specialist and an even better penalty killer, which could prove valuable if he develops into what he’s touted as.

Stats via Elite Prospects
Highlights via MyNHLDraft.com


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Conrad Jack

Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He writes the Bargain Bin blog which covers NHL News & Rumours.

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