Tobias Trejbal- 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – The Hockey Writers –

Tobias Trejbal

2025-26 Team: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Date of Birth: Nov. 9, 2007
Place of Birth: Most, Czechia
Ht: 6-foot-4 Wt: 190 pounds
Catches: Right
Position: Goalie
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

In his first season playing North American junior hockey could not have gone much better for Tobias Trejbal. The Czech-born netminder made his way to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL after being picked in the fifth round of the 2025 USHL Entry Draft. In his draft-year season, Trejbal grabbed the attention of many with his strong play in the crease with the Phantoms, headlined by the size he has (6-foot-4). He already has a NHL-frame, and plays a very fundamentally and mechanically sound game. He does not find himself out of position very often, as he tracks the play in front of him well, and ends up tracking a shot coming his way at the end of a play.

The few times he does end up out of position, he has the mobility to get himself quickly back in a spot to make a save, and with his size, he takes up plenty of the net to make any shot difficult for opponents to beat him on. When given the chance to fully set up in his butterfly stance, Trejbal uses his size to span the crease and has a wide stance to take away much of the net. Where he does struggle from time to time is with the lowering of his glove hand, and he is vulnerable to being beaten on that side. He also has his struggles with rebound control, allowing extra chances for opponents.

When being challenged on rushes for opponents, Trejbal does not have any problem with coming out and challenging a shooter to take away angles and shooting spaces in the net, but he does have the tendency to anticipate the next move incorrectly, leading to odd-man rush goals.

An added wrinkle to his game is that he is a right-handed catching goaltender, which is a rarity at the NHL level, giving shooters a bit of a different level of difficulty to shoot on. On top of that comes the fact that Trejbal has the stickhandling skills to be a strong breakout starter when given the chance to do so. He had five assists in the regular season for the Phantoms.

Overall, Trejbal has earned his way into being the third-ranked North American goaltender in the NHL Central Scouting’s rankings, and he should only continue to develop and mature as he will be following in the footsteps of fellow Czech-born netminder Michael Hrabal (Utah Mammoth) heading to the University of Massachusetts, likely in the 2027-28 season.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Tobias Trejbal- NHL Draft Projection

While there are no goaltenders expected to go in the first round this year, Trejbal could push Brady Knowling and Michal Orsulak as not just the first North American goaltender to be picked, but the first one in general. There is a strong chance he will be picked in the second round.

Quotables

“His ability to stay calm and composed under pressure is impressive, and he has quick hands and quicker feet. Trejbal’s athleticism has gotten scouts talking, and his big frame makes him an easy project for a team willing to be patient with the UMass commit.”- Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“Tobias is a very competitive kid who shows up to the rink every day with an unbelievable attitude and extraordinary work ethic…He is a very athletic and technically sound goalie who gives us a chance to win every game he plays. He is a great teammate, and we are excited to see him down the stretch.”- Youngstown Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward

Strengths

• Mechanically and fundamentally sound
• Tracks the puck and play in front of him well
• NHL size in the crease
• Mobility and quickness
• Challenges shooters well
• Puckhandling ability

Under Construction/ Improvements to Make

• Tends to drop his glove hand, leaving him vulnerable glove-side
• Rebound control
• Anticipation on plays on odd-man rushes

NHL Potential

Trejbal has all of the tools to become a starter at the NHL level. How well he develops and fine-tunes his game as he matures both at the junior and college ranks will eventually determine if he can become a full-time starter for whatever organization takes him at the 2026 Draft.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk: 3/5 Reward: 5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Goaltending: 8/10

Awards/Achievements

• Most shutouts (seven) in the 2024-25 season in the Czechia U20 league
• 2025-26 best regular season GAA (2.15) in USHL
• 2026 Chipotle USA Hockey All-American Game
• 2025-26 USHL Goaltender of the Year
• 2025-26 USHL All-Rookie Team
• 2025-26 USHL First All-Star Team

Interviews/Links

Tobias Trejbal Stats

Videos

Tobias Trejbal was perfect in 30 minutes of play at the All-American Game tonight, stopping all 19 shots he faced.#2026NHLDraft

pic.twitter.com/fuyQkNHWSw

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) January 16, 2026

ICYMI‼️

Tobias Trejbal (@UMassHockey) made a behind the back save to help lift us this weekend in Chicago!@USHL pic.twitter.com/Vm2BeuuZx3

— Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) December 29, 2025

Youngstown’s Tobias Trejbal with some elite level saves!!! #USHL pic.twitter.com/aej1S3bzHz

— USHL (@USHL) December 28, 2025