The Scouting Report
Dominik Badinka, 6-foot-3 and 190-pound defenseman and Chomutov, Czechia native, is a player flying under the radar. A defenseman with a solid, two-way game he can be a future captain with his gameplay and leadership. Last season, he played for the Malmo Redhawks J20 of the J20 Nationell, the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), and the Czechia U20 International-Jr teams. He combined for three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 53 games. He has committed to play for the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL in the 2024-25 season.
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Draft Projections
Ranked #38 by EliteProspects.com
Ranked #61 by TSN/ Craig Button
Ranked #44 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #14 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
Ranked #25 by Dobber Prospects
Ranked #39 by Conrad Jack of Inside the Rink
I’ve highlighted some of Dominik Bandinka’s attributes. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of his attributes and areas for improvement.
Shot Blocking
With his size, he has a way of blocking shots without trying. He gets his body in front of everything, blocks the puck with his skates, and helps his goaltender. He will also come out to the slot and challenge shooters to block the shot. Badinka is a force on the defensive end and will be a player that will be difficult to get a shot past.
Strong Two-Way Play
While his defense is his calling card, his offense is nothing to sneeze at, as he is one of the better offensive defensemen in this draft. He closes gaps, blocks shots, protects his goaltenders, and will give up his body to clear the zone. On offense, he leads the charge with a nice outlet pass, has an accurate shot, and can act as a fourth forward inside the offensive zone.
“He’s got size, moves the puck and sees the ice well, likes to carry it and influence play, and plays hard and confidently. He’s a strong skater who takes space on both sides of the puck when it’s there.”- Scott Wheeler- The Athletic- March 25
Areas of Improvement
Discipline
Badinka tends to take bad penalties in any situation. If he does get beat or loses a one-on-one battle, he takes a penalty when one does not need to be taken. He puts his team short-handed due to a lapse in judgment and where he is on the ice. He needs to work on his aggressiveness too, as he can be intense in all three zones.
Stick Handling
He is not the best stick-handler in this draft, and it shows. His passing skills are somewhat lackluster and can lead to turnovers. His passing is broken up when he is in a rush or passes when he does not know where his teammates are. He feels rushed in his zone when retrieving the puck behind the net. Passing on the power play leads to clean clears by the opponent and leads to odd-man rushes.
Prospect Potential
He has the potential to be a second-pairing defenseman who can score 40+ points on a good or bad team. His regular shifts and power-play should benefit from ice time, which may be 20:00 minutes a game. He could be the second power play quarterback on the power play or the top guy on a bad team. With his skill set, could lead his NHL team in defense scoring.
“Badinka defends well enough due to his feet and length but he isn’t going to run guys over, which leaves some scouts wondering if he’s going to be a tweener as a pro. I think his two-way game is strong enough to be a potential No. 4-5 defenseman in the NHL.”- Corey Pronman- The Athletic- March 12
Best Potential Fit
The best fit for Badinka may be the Utah hockey team at #49. He is a big-body defenseman who relies on his strong two-way game. He is a physical player in his zone and may be one of the players to protect his teammates and goaltender. Utah will need defensemen who can draw people and his style of play and offense could do that. He has star potential and Utah could be re-loading their team and this would be a good start.
Final Thought
Badinka is a player that most are not talking about but should be. He may not be a first-round talent but he plays like a veteran and one that should be taken sooner than what he could be. A good, solid player who could turn a franchise around, can be that player that steps in and takes charge right away.
