A young defense prospect is leaving the Blue Jackets organization. At least for now. 2021 third round pick Stanislav Svozil is reportedly signing a contract to play in his native Czechia next season.
The second rumor has also been confirmed, as defenceman Stanislav Svozil has signed with HC Kometa Brno in Czechia. #CBJ https://t.co/X7VTmYxrQi
— Honza Zoufal (@HZoufal) June 3, 2026
This is a pretty significant loss, if we're being honest. At one point, Stan was considered one of the top blue line prospects in the organization. But, he just could not make the necessary adjustments to his game to be a more effective player at the pro level, and he found himself passed up this season.
Taken by the Blue Jackets with pick #69 at the 2021 draft, he was viewed as a mid-round steal. Many services had him ranked much higher, with Elite Prospects even listing him inside the top-20.
After being selected, Svozil came to North America right away, joining the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. Playing on a team with Connor Bedard, his production was outstanding; ratcheting his perception as an NHL prospect up in a big way.
In his second and final WHL season, he scored 11 goals and 78 points in 56 games. He also captained Czechia at the World Junior Championships that year, scoring 1 goal and 8 points in 7 games and bringing home a silver medal.
At that point, Stan turned pro, joining the Cleveland Monsters for their stretch run and even dipping his toes into two Blue Jackets games at the end of the 2022-23 season. He didn't look out of place, picking up a helper in his debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Those would be his only two games in the NHL thus far. He spent the next three years in Cleveland, playing in 161 games, scoring 10 goals and 54 points. But, that production fell off a cliff this season: he scored just 7 points (1 goal) in 41 games for the Monsters.
Stan found himself further down the depth chart, with the influx of defensemen brought in by Don Waddell over the last couple of years clogging up the pipeline. As a result, heading home to Czechia is probably the best move for Svozil at this point.
Not ready to call him a bust yet.
Stanislav is an active defenseman, able to jump into the rush and play like a fourth forward. He has great hands, can make plays, and brings an underrated shot. On the defensive side of the puck, he's been a bit of a mustang. He loves to step up and throw the big hit, which can drag him out of position at times.
In all, he's a really talented player who just has not yet found his way. Perhaps a stint back in Europe will get him onto a better track towards the NHL. Stranger things have happened. For now, his RFA rights will be retained by the Blue Jackets. We'll see where this goes.
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