Potential Jets Draft Pick – Radek Faksa

Today we look at Kitchener Ranger’s centre, Radek Faksa. It’s well noted that the Jets are thin down the middle so Faksa could provide the bigger body that the team needs for the future.

Name: Radek Faksa
Team: Kitchener Rangers
Position: C
Hometown: Opava, Czech Republic
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 203lbs
Shoots: Left

Faksa was named to the OHL First All-Rookie team and narrowly missed out on being OHL rookie of the year to Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts. He size is obviously a huge asset, one of the main reasons he played in the World Junior Championship before he turned 18. Being 203 pounds before hitting the draft obviously helps him out and might make him instantly NHL ready. Scouting reports say he is surprisingly fast for his size. He is the biggest centre of the top three projected centres (Mikhail Grigorenko is listed at 183lbs and Alex Galchenyuk at 181 lbs).

I can see the Jets drafting him over yesterday’s featured prospect, Teuvo Teravainen, based purely on his size and his potential to be NHL ready. He could have a rookie season just like Gabriel Landeskog did last year for the Colorado Avalanche. If Teravainen is already taken at this point I think Faksa is a no brainer but if they both are it might be a tough decision for Kevin Cheveldayoff. I don’t think they can go wrong with either but Tervainen has the first line winger potential while Faksa might be a second line centre with an upside as a first line centre.

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