With their first pick of the 2015 Draft, Los Angeles selects Erik Cernak from Kosice.
This is what they’re saying about the 6’4″ Slovakian defender.
Corey Pronman (who had him going to the Wings at 19th):
LAK take Cernak. Low first on my board, so much upside. Big, mobile, skilled dman.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 27, 2015
Craig Button:
KyleWiiM from Winging It in Motown:
Big (and I mean huge for his age), strong, and mobile for his size, Erik Cernak is one of the up-and-coming defensemen hailing from Slovakia. He’s a smart player in his own zone, exceptional at sweeping the puck out of his zone and clearing the front of the net using his strength and his long reach. He’s an alluring target, seeing that he just turned 18 years old today, and has an NHL-ready frame.
He’s mobile, but when I watch him I see him having a few issues with his skating. Surely that is something that can be developed at his age. Cernak played some time on the power play in recent years, so having a guy with his size and shot could be a valuable tool to any special teams core.
NHL Comparables: Jacob Trouba