Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.kloten-flyers.ch
- Name: Juraj Simek
- Position: RW
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 189 lbs
- Birthdate: 1987-09-29
- Eligible for Draft: 2006
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Presov, Slovakia
- Acquired: Trade with Tampa Bay, 2008
- Playing In: Pro
Juraj Simek
Prospect Grade: 7.0 F (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
Simek was rated highly going into the draft, but fell to the sixth round. He had a very strong season with Kloten’s junior team in 2005-06, scoring 21 goals and 63 total points in 42 games. He is listed with 196 penalty minutes as well. He also appeared in eight games with the Kloten club team, getting one assist. Simek was chosen in the sixth round, 167th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
2006-07: Simek joined the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings and immediately made an impact. In 58 games, Simek scored 28 goals and 29 assists plus an additional six points in nine playoff games.
2007-08: With just 17 points in 66 AHL games, Simek’s first North American pro season was far from a success.
Traded to Tampa Bay before the opening of the 2008-09 season.
Talent Analysis
He is a decent skater who is strong on his skates. Simek has great puck-handling and one-on-one skills with the ability to deke past opponents. Central Scouting says he is not one to initiate contact but is not afraid to get physically involved either. His movement without the puck needs improvement and his speed could also be increased. Canucks Head Scout Ron Delorme on Simek: “Simek was here at the World Junior here in Vancouver also, playing with Switzerland, but he’s originally from Slovakia. He’s got a Slovakian father who moved out there for work. The kid has some individual skill. He does a lot in tight maneuvers with the puck and he’s pretty good. He’s had some games that we were very impressed with the way he scored some nice goals. He’s a kid that’s more than willing to come play major junior and learn more about the North American style. Again, the North American style is pretty much the Euro style too. He’s going to fit in pretty well it’s probably just the language that he’s going to have to learn here.”
Future
Last season was not a good start to his tenure with the Canucks, but Simek’s hands will keep him an interesting prospect moving forward. If he can catch the rest of his game up to his stick skills, he can be a scorer at the top level. However, there is lots of development that must happen between now and then.
Simek was traded to Tampa Bay from Vancouver before the opening of the season.
Stats
Stats Coming Soon...
Profile Last Updated: March, 12th 2009
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