NHL Draft profiles: 6-foot-5 forward Jecho looks to be more physical

This is the 13th story in a series of player profiles from the NHL's Scouting Combine in Buffalo, N.Y., focusing on potential second-round picks for the Penguins at 44th and 46th overall.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Adam Jecho said that it's "nothing new" for him to be one of the bigger players on his team. He was always tall for his age growing up, there was no single big growth spurt to which he needed to adjust.

At 6 foot 5 and 201 pounds, Jecho is one of the biggest players in this draft class. And in a sport where a lot of taller kids tend to gravitate more toward defense where that long reach can be more beneficial, Jecho -- a right-handed shot who can play wing and center -- is certainly one of the biggest forwards of this draft class.

Jecho brings more to the table than just that height, though.

"I'm a big-sized forward playing more of a skill game rather than a physical game," Jecho told me at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month. "I think I have a really good shot and can also be a playmaker. And I would also say that I'm pretty good in the two-way play."

Jecho named the Sabres' Alex Tuch as a forward in the NHL he looks up to and tries to emulate, citing "comparables" in their games beyond just similar sizes.

When Jecho said that his game is more skill than physicality, that might cause some pause or disappointment that someone with his assets isn't taking full advantage of them. It's not that Jecho doesn't want to be more physical -- it's just a work in progress, he's still learning.

"Definitely the physical play, definitely the physical play," Jecho said of his biggest focuses. "Just learn how to use my body more and then playing on the inside. Just basically be more around the slot on the ice and put myself in the hard positions on the ice."

Jecho still working on adding that physicality is understandable. He's only been in North America for the last year, coming from European leagues where the style is generally less physical.

Jecho is a native of Zlin, Czechia and grew up playing in his hometown club's youth system. He left Czechia during the 2020-21 season at age 14 to play in Finland, joining the club Tappara's junior system. At 15 years old he played for Tappara's U18 team, scoring 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists in 43 games, and increased that production the following year with 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games.

Entering this past season, Jecho was 17 years old and had lit up his U18 games in Finland the previous two years. So, he made the decision to move to Canadian major junior hockey, and was selected by the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings third overall in last summer's import draft.

It's fair to say that the transition went well. Jecho tied for the second-most goals on his team with 23 and had the fourth-most points with 47 in 54 games.

"It was definitely extremely good experience for me," Jecho said of his season. "I was playing the first year in Canada for me, so I didn't really know what to expect at the beginning. I just knew that it's going to be a really tough season. I think I did a pretty decent job in adjusting myself from the European hockey to the North American hockey."

Jecho said that it was the pace of play and physicality that were the biggest things he needed to adjust to, citing the smaller ice surface. "Everything happens so much faster and more quicker," he said.

Jecho met with 14 teams at the combine, and the Penguins weren't one of them. But Jecho had prior communication with the Penguins, saying that he met with the team earlier in the year and later filled out a questionnaire they sent over.

Rankings are all over the place with Jecho. He's ranked as high as 39th (FC Hockey) to 73 (Dobber Prospects) among major lists, with most lists having him somewhere in between: 45 (Flo Hockey), 47 (McKeen's Hockey), 51 (Smaht Scouting) and 66 (Elite Prospects). The NHL's own Central Scouting ranked him fairly high as the 22nd best North American skater -- the organization separates skaters from goaltenders, and North American players from international players. Even though Jecho is European, he spent the last year in North America so he's ranked with the North American skaters.

Jecho has a lot of the tools -- obviously, that size is a big one, but he's got a scoring touch too -- and the big concern is really just whether he'll be able to find the toolbox and put it all together. That make him more of a project, but a potential high-ceiling one if he pans out. For a team like the Penguins, who have two second-round picks, it might be worth it to use one on more of a gamble-type player.