Name: Tomas Kralovic
Drafted: Third Round, 90th overall
Bio: 20-years-old, right shot, Bratislava, Slovakia, 6’3″, 203 lbs.
Position: Defense
2025-26 Team: HC Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia
Not every player takes a straight line to the NHL. Nor are they on the same timeline. Tomas Kralovic is not a 17- or 18-year-old kid going through the process for the first time. He’s been through a draft or two or three before. Finally, he gets to hear his name called by a NHL team. In true Tampa fashion, he was out on a jet ski when he was drafted. The kid is going to be okay.
Following the draft, Lightning Director of Amateur Scouting John Russo indicated that Kralovic had been on the organization’s radar for previous drafts, but the overarching conviction was that he “wasn’t ready”. A breakout season as a 20-year-old in Slovakia’s top professional league in which the right-shot defenseman posted 31 points (6 goals, 25 assists) in 52 games. It was an increase of 24 points over his previous season with HC Slovan Bratislava.
As an older player, the Lightning have a pretty good idea of what he is as a player. So far, the consensus is that he is a big, mobile defender with a knack for being in the right spot and making the right decision in the offensive zone. He’s not too bad in his own zone, using his size and reach to knock aside passes and getting in the way of shots. Kralovic doesn’t use his size to the fullest in terms of physical play along the boards or in front of the net.
Since he is a big Slovakian right-shot defender there are some immediate comparisons to Erik Cernak. Honestly, it’s a little unfair at this point. Kralovic doesn’t have that underlying edge to the physical part of the game that Cernak displays. On the flip side, if Cernak could skate like Kralovic, he would probably be making $10 million a season.
It probably won’t be long until Kralovic jumps to North America and his journey to the NHL could be quick. There isn’t much in his way at Syracuse, and he should get a chance to play in all three aspects of the game. It will be worth watching to see how his skating transitions to the AHL, considering it’s one of the strong points of his game right now. He likes to jump up on the play and facilitate off of the rush.
Working on the finer parts of the game and recognizing plays in his own zone quicker will definitely boost his stock in the organization. Much like the Kulebiakin pick, this was considered a bit of a reach for the Bolts, but the potential upside is worth the risk.
