As we enter the top 15, we start to get a lot of players who have already established themselves as PHL mainstays. Four of the five players in this group have already played over two full seasons in the PHL, with a few hitting close to 200 games already.
Players had to be under the age of 23 and at least 16 years old on June 1st, 2023. We are only judging play that occurred before that date as well. Players are evaluated based on a combination of career history, current play, and potential. Skaters must have played at least five games to be considered. While most of the ranking is my opinion, numerous Polish hockey people contributed their thoughts on players. 188 players were considered for the list and reviewed. Eighty players received a ranking.
Rank – Player Name (Position), Age During Next Hockey Season, Team (Ranking in 2022, change in rankings)
15 – Igor Smal (F), 23, GKS Katowice, (14, -1)
Smal finishes his final year on the list, dropping a spot to number 15. After playing a decent role on Gdansk and Sosnwiec, he has spent the last two years in a mainly fourth-line role on the back-to-back champions of Poland. This year, he posted one goal and three assists in 58 games. Fifty-eight games is tied for the most by any skater in the league. Smal also played in Katowice’s six Champions Hockey League games. He is a solid player who has cemented his role and spot in the lineup, but it’s hard to see how much he has grown. Smal will be a player to continue to watch after his U23 time.
14 – Michał Zając (F), 22, KH Torun, (27, +13)
Zając jumps into the top 15 after a career year with Torun. In 37 games, he recorded 12 points (3G-9A-12PTS). This placed him fifth among Polish U23 skaters for scoring in the 2023 season. Since he became a full-time PHL player in 2021, he has had the fifth most points by a U23 skater at 31 points. He has a strong offensive read of the game to set up his teammates and does well-winning puck battles. His ability to create scoring chances earned him some top-line minutes for Torun. For 2024, he is making the move to JKH GKS Jastrzebie. It will be interesting to see if he maintains his scoring pace in the PHL.
13 – Sebastian Brynkus (F), 22, Cracovia Krakow, (26, +13)
In his final year on the list, Brynkus returns to the top 15. I waited for the production to pick up as the offensive potential was there. He got a bit larger role on Krakow this year and did well with 15 points (5G-10A-15PTS) in 43 games. His 15 points were tied for second among Polish U23 skaters in the PHL, while his ten assists were tied for first. Brynkus also continued to get looks from the Polish national team and played in a few non-IIHF matches. Krakow slashed their budget once again and is relying on more youth talent. I expect Brynkus to continue to take advantage of the opportunity.
12 – Michał Kusak (F), 19, HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20, (10, -2)
Kusak can be a dynamic offensive player at times but is a bit inconsistent. That was evident both in his club year and on the international stage. Playing in the top Czechia junior league this past year, he posted 11 points (5G-6A-11PTS) in 46 games. This was after 18 points in 33 games during his age-18 season.
He started the year hot but then mainly went silent on the production outside a few games. He represented Poland at the U20 World Championships and the World Cup of Univeirsty Hockey (WCUH). At the U20s, he posted three goals in five games. His three goals were tied for second on team Poland. At the WCUH, he posted a goal and two assists. He displayed great poise in the offensive zone at both events and would lead Poland in shots quite a few times. Again, some inconsistent play saw a few games end with zero shots. He is slated to return to the Czechia U20 for a third season. In his final junior year, it will be interesting to see if he can combine it all to earn a senior contract abroad.
11 – Jan Sołtys (F), 23, Unia Oswiecim, (18, +7)
A personal favorite of mine, Sołtys, is a player that can do it all. His all-around game is one of the best from a young player in Poland. He is only ranked outside the top ten due to a series of injuries that have impaired his U23 career. He was back and healthy this year and led all U23 Polish skaters in points with 16 points (9G-7A-16PTS) In 53 games. His nine goals were the most among U23 skaters as well. He also appeared again for the Polish national team at non-IIHF events, posting two assists in five appearances. I still have very high hopes for him. His ceiling may be capped by losing extended time with injuries during critical development years. Sołtys is a lock to be a part of the national team, even if in a bottom-six role contributing to the strong forecheck.
Next Part: Players 10-7
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