With their first pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, which came late in the second round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Ethan Czata from the Niagra IceDogs. The 18-year-old forward put up 21 goals and 34 assists in 68 games during the OHL regular season. He chipped in another 2 assists in 5 games in the playoffs.
He’s not a huge player, but does have a physical edge to his game. Let’s go to the Elite Prospects draft profile:
“While defence was the constant in Czata’s game this season, it’s his playmaking and off-puck offensive skills that had us come back to his tape. Given space and numerical advantages, he orchestrated quick, clever, and deceptive passing plays,capitalizing on opposing mistakes and creating more than his share of scoring chances…
Czata’s responsible play, hard skills, and stature give him a high likelihood of playing NHL games and his playmaking skills provide scoring potential. If he can add another gear to his skating and become even more creative, he could rise to a third-ine role.”
