The Columbus Blue Jackets have entered into the transitional phase of their rebuild. With a new GM leading the way, it's important for players throughout the system to find ways to stand out and prove that they're part of the solution here. Stanislav Svozil may not be on the top prospects tier, but he's doing a nice job in his role with the Cleveland Monsters this season.
Now in his second year in the AHL, Svozil has stepped into more responsibilities with the Monsters this season. He's producing at a higher rate, with 3 goals and 14 points through 25 games; and overall, he's playing with more poise on both sides of the puck.
His rookie season certainly wasn't bad. In 57 games, he scored 5 goals and 23 points, added 24 penalty minutes and was a +1 on the year. His points pace is up, but the biggest thing that stands out year over year may be the number of shots he's getting off. Last year he had 64 for the season. Already this year, he's at a much higher rate with 47 on goal in 25 games.
It's easy to overlook Stan in this system. Denton Mateychuk stepped right in front of him on the depth chart with the Monsters and was even recalled to the NHL first. But, don't let that deceive you. This is exactly how this system should work.
Mateychuk is a bit of a super prospect. Svozil, while a great prospect himself, is probably going to end up behind Denton on the NHL depth chart. That's not uncommon when you're comparing a #12 overall pick to a third rounder.
And yes, I do see Stanislav Svozil as a legitimate NHL prospect. He's still developing, but he has projectable talent. Listed at 6'0" and 192 pounds, I think he'll need to add another 5-10 pounds to be at his ideal playing size. This would be important because he's an active defenseman on both sides of the puck.
Whether it's jumping into the rush to help generate offense, or laying a big hit in the neutral zone; he finds ways to stand out whenever he's on the ice. This style is going to endear him to whatever fanbase he plays in front of.
How far off is Stanislav Svozil?
I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the NHL at some point in the near future. It's going to be tough with overall depth in the organization, but I do think he's in the plans; and development-wise, he's close. I think the plan here is for Stan to develop into a bottom-three guy who can fill in on either special teams unit.
He may get a cup of coffee this season, and possibly even spend next year back in the AHL. But, like Mateychuk, playing good hockey can expedite the process. We will just have to wait and see.