Simon Katolicky
2025-26 Team: Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
Date of Birth: July 24, 2008
Place of Birth: Havlickuv Brod, Czechia
Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 198 pounds
Shoots: L
Position: LW/RW
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
It takes a rare kind of teenage forward to leave his home country, relocate to Finland, and immediately produce at an elite rate against older competition. Simon Katolicky did exactly that. The Czechian winger joined Tappara’s U18 program in the summer of 2024 after standing out with HC Dukla Jihlava in the Czech junior league, where he was the youngest player in the entire competition. His first full season in Finland’s U18 SM-sarja produced 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 30 games, a line that put him among the top scorers in the league and confirmed what early evaluators had been tracking since his days at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.
Katolicky’s calling card is the combination of size and offensive instinct. At 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, he is already built like a pro winger, and he uses that frame to win puck battles along the boards and protect possession through traffic. He is not a perimeter player. He attacks the middle of the ice, drives to the net, and finishes from high-danger areas with a quick, accurate release. His shot is a legitimate weapon, both off the rush and from set plays, and Tappara trusted him to run one of their power-play units at the U18 level. That is a significant amount of responsibility for an imported Czech forward in a Finnish program known for its developmental rigor.
His first touch and puck protection stand out for a player his size. He does not fumble the puck under pressure the way many big forwards do at this age. Instead, he uses his reach and body positioning to shield the puck and create time to find options. His playmaking has improved steadily. The 28 assists at U18 reflected a willingness to move the puck quickly when teammates are better positioned, rather than forcing individual plays.
The 2025-26 season brought a step up to Tappara’s U20 squad in the U20 SM-sarja, and the production adjustment has been real. Through 29 games, Katolicky has posted six goals and 11 assists for 17 points. That drop from 1.73 points per game at U18 to 0.59 at U20 is significant, but context matters. The U20 SM-sarja pits him against players two to three years older, many of whom are on the fringe of Liiga roster decisions. The competition level, pace, and structure are all markedly different. He is learning to play without the puck advantages he enjoyed a level below, and that adjustment is a normal, even expected, part of his development arc.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
Internationally, Katolicky has been a fixture in Czech age-group programs. He scored four goals and added five assists in six friendly international games for Czechia U18 in 2024, and he was a standout at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge with four points in four games. His 2025 U18 World Championship showing was less impactful (three games, no points), though reports indicated he was dealing with a lingering injury that limited his effectiveness. The upcoming 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship in Slovakia gives him a natural stage to re-establish his international credentials before the draft.
The Sarnia Sting selected Katolicky 11th overall in the 2025 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, giving him an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) option for next season. Sarnia’s general manager Dylan Seca called him “an elite talent with exceptional skill” and a projected high NHL Draft pick. Whether Katolicky reports to the OHL or continues his development in Finland’s system will be one of the more interesting path decisions among 2026 draft-eligible Europeans.
Simon Katolicky – NHL Draft Projection
Katolicky’s draft range is wide, which is typical for a player with his profile: enormous physical tools, strong production at lower levels, and a draft year that has involved a legitimate step up in competition without the gaudy numbers. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 17th among European skaters at midterm. Tankathon’s consensus board has him 66th. The Scouting News rates him inside their top 40. That spread reflects the bet teams are making on his ceiling versus his current output at U20.
The players who profile similarly to Katolicky at draft time tend to be polarizing. Teams picking in the second and third rounds will weigh his size, shot, and offensive instincts heavily. Teams that value production at the point of draft will see the U20 numbers and hesitate. A strong showing at the U18 Worlds in Slovakia could push him into firm second-round territory.
Quotables
“The numbers look good, he’s 6-foot-4, and he’s confident as heck. There’s a lot to like about Katolicky. Generating offense is clearly not an issue for the goal-scoring winger, and I think his power-forward style will translate well to the smaller ice.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
“Simon is a player we first noticed at the U17 World Hockey Challenge right here in Sarnia back in November. He’s an elite talent with exceptional skill. We believe he’ll be a high NHL Draft pick in the upcoming year.” – Dylan Seca, Sarnia Sting GM
Strengths
- Exceptional frame (6-foot-4, 198 pounds) with functional strength in board battles and net-front play
- Dangerous, accurate shot from the wing, both off the rush and on the power play
- Strong puck protection and first touch for a forward his size
- Willingness to attack the interior and play in high-danger areas
- Proven production against older competition (52 points in 30 U18 SM-sarja games)
- International experience across multiple Czech age-group programs
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- Skating remains the primary developmental area; stride efficiency and top-end speed need to improve to handle NHL-caliber defenders
- Production dropped significantly at the U20 level, raising questions about his ability to generate offense when physical and pace advantages shrink
- Needs to develop a more consistent compete level away from the puck, particularly in the defensive zone
- Injury concerns at the 2025 U18 WCH limited his showcase opportunity
NHL Potential
Katolicky’s projection hinges on his skating development and how quickly he closes the gap between his physical tools and his ability to use them at speed. If the skating catches up to the frame, the shot, and the offensive instincts, he profiles as a top-nine power winger who can score 20 goals and contribute on the second power-play unit.
The physical profile is there. The finishing ability is real. The question is pace. Czech forwards of his size with similar production profiles have historically taken varied paths, and the difference between NHL regular and minor-league tweener often comes down to whether they can keep up in transition. Katolicky has time on his side. He will not turn 18 until after the draft.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk- 3/5, Reward 4/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense- 6/10, Defense- 5/10
Awards/Achievements
Katolicky represented Czechia at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea, scoring four goals in two games. He competed at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge and the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship. He was the top scorer and youngest player in the Czech junior league (ELJ) playoffs during the 2023-24 season with HC Dukla Jihlava, posting seven points in three playoff games. He was selected 11th overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting.
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Simon Katolicky Stats
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