Lukáš Dostál is a difficult prospect to rank mainly due to his size. While he can’t exactly be qualified as small, he isn’t as large as a typical goalie in today’s game. The fact is that Dostál is a smart goaltender. He reads the game well and builds his style on athleticism and quickness, and this makes him one of the top goaltending prospects in the draft coming out of Europe.
He played for HC Kometa Brno at the under-20 level, where he posted a 3.00 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 14 games. He also played pro hockey with SK Horacka Slavia Trebic in the secondary Czech league, where he posted a 2.43 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 20 games.
Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic
Date of birth: June 22, 2000
Catches: Left
Position: Goalie
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Team: HC Kometa Brno
There is lot to like about him. He moves quickly, has good technique, and displays quick hands. However, at 165 pounds, he does still have a lot of bulking up to do.
In a recent interview with Czech journalist Jiri Vitek, the goalie coach in HC Kometa Brno, Jaroslav Odehnal, describes his initial impressions of Dostál. “Lukáš began playing goalie when he was five years old. He wasn’t better than other goalies, but he’s always worked hard, that’s why he’s now so good. Now he has a very good technique and a good skating to fall back on.
“[Jakub] Škarek is already a man, Dostál has still not grown up. Dostál is not so big in net, but I think it’s better because teams can say: ‘Ok, this guy is now quite good, and he will be much better when he will grow up and get some muscles.’ And […] he has great character. Open, friendly, modest, not conceited.
“He reminds me partly of Martin Nečas with his off-ice behaviour, but of course [Dostál] is not a huge leader because he’s a goalie and he tries to focus on himself.”
Of all his skills, what really stands out are his fast reflexes, and they are there for everyone to see in his highlight-reel saves. Dostál is a butterfly goalie, and reads odd angles and shots well. He is also very good at absorbing the shots, having good rebound control. With these strengths it is easy to understand how he will be one of the top goalies in the draft.
He does have a tendency to lose focus a bit after a goal, especially if the goal has been a soft one. He also has some difficulties when the forwards change speed and/or direction, being a bit slow to see the puck after the change of shooting angle.
He needs to fill out, as mentioned, and you would expect this to happen during the summer and the next season.
Rankings
Future Considerations: #131
Hockey Prospect: #98
ISS: #5th (Goalies)
McKeen’s: #63
NHL Central Scouting: #1 (EU Goalies)
Thoughts
Lukáš Dostál has many things working in his favour: reflexes, a good technical foundation, and good reads. His year has also been one of steady improvement, and you would have to predict that he will follow up his development over the next couple of years, and he could definitely become an NHL goalie.
He himself said to Jiri Vitek, “I don’t want to say I’m extremely self-confident, but I trust in myself and in my work I’ve done since I was a kid. While some goalies express themselves a lot on the ice, I try to keep my poker face.“ This bodes well for Dostál’s future development, and it will make sure that one team will grab him at the draft.
