Who is Adam Novotny?
Born November 13, 2007, Adam Novotny is an 18-year-old winger who stands at 6’1” and weighs in at 205 pounds. As a youth hockey player, he came out through the Mountfield HK system in Czechia. He performed particularly strongly as a member of the Under 20 team in 2023-24, posting 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points in 48 games. While he would not do as well in his first season with the main club in 2024-25 (just three points in 41 games), he would appear in the postseason for the U20 team, where
he would put up 11 points in seven contests.
Prior to the start of 2025-26, he moved over to the OHL where he joined the Peterborough Petes. In his first OHL season, Novotny again put together a strong campaign scoring 34 goals and adding 31 assists in 58 games. His playoffs were a bit disappointing with just a lone assist in six games. Novotny seems to be developing pretty normally for a prospect who got his start in Europe, as he’s compiled strong numbers against players his own age (both in Europe and North America) while not quite being ready to play against seasoned veterans.
Rankings
Here are some ratings as compiled by TheHockeyWriters:
- NHL Central Scouting (Mid-Term): 12th (among NA skaters)
- Baracchini’s March Top 96 (THW): 12th
- Forbes’ Top 64 February Rankings (THW): 15th
- Orth’s Top 32 February Rankings (THW): 14th
- Craig Button (TSN): 23rd
- Daily Faceoff: 15th
- Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet): 12th
- Jason Bukala (Sportsnet): 12th
- SMAHT Scouting: 20th
All the ratings seem to agree that Novotny is set to be selected sometime within the first round, with multiple outlets having him go as early as 12th (where the Devils pick) and TSN’s Craig Button being the outlier having him as a late first as 23rd. The consensus here would seem to be somewhere around the middle of the first round, but it appears that Novotny would/should be available when new Devils General Manager Sunny Mehta makes his way to the podium for the pick.
What Others Have to Say About Novotny
From Peter Baracchini at The Hockey Writers on Novotny at the OHL Top Prospects Game:
Novotny displayed his skillset, showing great strength in battles and in the high danger areas. He was elusive, broke free from pressure, showed great chemistry and reads with his line mates and displayed a great work ethic every shift. He’s a battler, competitor and never takes a shift off. He showed awareness and vision when making plays and great awareness with the puck to help on backchecks and within his own zone.
Also from The Hockey Writers, this time a summary of his game from Jordan Orth:
With the mix of power forward and goal-scoring styles of play that Novotný can play, as well as his defensive game, there is plenty of upside to his game. NHL teams love having players who can play multiple styles of game, and Novotný fits that mold. He should hear his name being called in the middle part of the first round, likely in the 10-15 range.
From Sam Cosentino’s February rankings at Sportsnet:
From the second he showed up in Peterborough, Novotny has impressed coaches and players alike. He is a team-first player, who works tirelessly on his game both in the gym and on the ice. He plays a hard and honest game. In OHL competition, his strength allows him to clear space and produce top-level numbers. He rarely passes up a shooting opportunity and doesn’t need much time to really rip a puck. He looks like a pro, with intangibles that play all day. I’m not sure if the offence will follow him to NHL, but he’s a safe pick regardless.
From SpokedZ at Smaht Scouting:
Adam Novotny is a hardworking, energetic forward who skates well and plays an intelligent and reliable two-way game. He has a pro frame and strong physical tools which have allowed him to already play a full season of professional hockey in Czechia before his draft year. He’s strong on his skates and plays with confidence, constantly pushing the pace and making plays through contact. He’s a highly skilled player who can combine his skill and strength to drive the net and make plays for himself, but also works well with his linemates in the offensive zone. Committed to both sides of the puck, Novotný is a super competitor and works hard to track back and break up lots of plays as well. There’s a lot to like about Novotný’s combination of tools, and he probably projects as one of the higher floor players in this class. How high he’s selected will likely depend on how much high-end offensive skill and play creation NHL teams believe he can bring at the next level.
Novotny’s Video
My Thoughts on Novotny
I can’t say that I’m disappointed with a player like Novotny being projected to go 12th overall by numerous outlets. The kid seems to possess a great offensive toolset that translated quickly upon his transition from the European game to North American ice. The Devils need players who can finish right now, and while Novotny isn’t projected to be a player who could slide in immediately next season, he could be just the type of player that the team is currently lacking in their system.
He’s described in multiple reports as being strong, as being a team player, and being a skilled player on offense. All of those things check off boxes for needs of the New Jersey Devils. From what I have seen/previewed of this draft, there are a lot of prospects, Novotny included, that are already sporting NHL sized frames. The size of Novotny should silence any critics worried about adding any more “small, non-physical” players to the current roster. I will also say that I specifically like the piece from the Sportsnet quote that says he rarely passes up a shooting opportunity. The Devils need another player or two who aren’t afraid to just let shots rip. While he might be a season or two away, the Devils could use to add a strong shooter; if he is the pick, we just have to hope he develops well and that his shot translates to the NHL.
Final Thoughts and Your Take
If Adam Novotny is available when the Devils select at number 12 and he appears to be the best player available, again, I’m not going to be upset with the pick. At the same time, there are a few forwards that have also been projected to go to the Devils in mock drafts that I think would be better fits for the team. Novotny could become a really good NHLer, and the Devils could use a strong shooter like he is. At the same time, like any prospect, there are warts to his game, and the hope would have to be that the Devils’ staff can develop him correctly.
What do you think of Adam Novotny? Is he going to be a mid-first round selection, or do you think he projects closer to a late first as TSN sees him? Do you want to see Novotny in red and black, or is there another player that you prefer? Leave any and all thoughts in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!
