The Philadelphia Flyers have selected forward Alex Čiernik in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft at 120th overall.
Čiernik, a Slovakian winger who stands at 5’10” and 179 pounds, was ranked anywhere between #36 and #93 on multiple noted draft ranking boards, so falling to #120 seems like a fortunate get for Philadelphia.
He spent the 2022-23 season between Södertälje SK J20 of J20 Nationell, and Södertälje SK and Västerviks IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier men’s league.
Between the two second-tier clubs, Čiernik racked up 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points in 25 games. With the J20 squad, he recorded 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points in just 18 games. He scored 47 points (20g, 27a) with the J20 team in 2021-22 and skated in 11 HockeyAllsvenskan contests as well that year.
Čiernik’s skating and speed are what make him an attractive prospect. His weight leaves a little more to be desired, but he will bulk up with time and with the right development.
Flyers general manger Daniel Brière did not shy away from taking forwards that could be labeled undersized, especially considering he entered the league as someone in that department, but Čiernik fits the mold to play in a faster and more skilled NHL and could be a solid top-6 forward at his peak.
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