Prospect Novotny shares development insights

Canucks prospect Adam Novotny, the Vancouver Canucks' second first-round draft pick this year, has shared insights on his development journey and the players he models his game after. At a recent development camp, Novotny expressed his commitment to rigorous development as he prepares for another year in North America.

Novotny, who turns 19 this fall, made headlines at just 15 years old when he scored his first professional career goal with Mountfield in the Czech league, becoming the youngest player to score in the league's history against the Kladno Knights, a team owned by NHL legend Jaromir Jagr.

Growing up, he idolized Czech players like David Pastrnak and Martin Necas, despite facing challenges in consistently watching NHL games from Europe. After initially playing a 10-game stint, Novotny played a full season with Mountfield before making the jump to Canada for his draft year.

He models his game after Mason McTavish, a player who also played with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL. Novotny noted that their similar size, two-way play, and competitive nature make McTavish a great player to emulate.

He expressed excitement about the opportunity in Vancouver, where he will be part of a rebuilding team with a youthful core, including Zeev Buium and Tom Willander, along with forwards like Riley Patterson, Caleb Malhotra, and Braeden Cootes.

Novotny aims to make his NHL debut as soon as possible and believes that with another year of North American play, he could be closer to achieving that goal.