Nicolas Sykora, born on May 24, 2007, is a promising forward eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Hailing from Roseland, New Jersey, the 6-foot-0, 174-pound left-shooting winger has garnered attention from scouts and analysts alike due to his offensive capabilities and potential for growth.
Sykora spent the 2024-25 season playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL), initially with the Omaha Lancers before being traded to the Sioux City Musketeers in November 2024. This change of scenery proved beneficial for Sykora, as he experienced a significant uptick in his offensive production after the trade. Prior to the trade, Sykora recorded a point-per-game (PPG) rate of .41 with Omaha, but after joining Sioux City, he boosted his average to .94. In 44 games with the Musketeers, Sykora tallied 33 points and contributed an additional two points in five playoff games. Before the season, Central Scouting gave him a "C" grade, suggesting he might be picked in the fourth or fifth round, and his improved play may not have altered that projection significantly.
Before his time in the USHL, Sykora played for Montclair Kimberley Boys Ice Hockey team. During the 2022-2023 season, he scored 33 goals and assisted 17 times, adding up to 50 points in total.
Sykora also represented the U.S. U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted four points in five games.
Scouting reports suggest that Sykora is an offensive-minded player with sharp awareness and anticipation. He is known for his playmaking abilities, possessing an elite one-timer and a heavy wrist shot, making him a valuable asset on the power play. Sykora demonstrates the vision to locate open teammates and the capability to fire pucks through traffic, rendering him a threat from anywhere in the offensive zone. He excels at creating space on the rush and consistently finds teammates in stride as they enter the offensive zone, making him difficult to defend.
While primarily a winger, Sykora is a versatile player who can also play at center. However, to effectively play center at higher levels, he will need to add more bulk to his frame to enhance his physicality. Despite his offensive strengths, some scouting reports suggest that his defensive engagement can be inconsistent, with peaks and valleys in his effort and intensity. While he demonstrates responsible positioning and anticipation in his own zone, there is room for improvement in becoming more disruptive and consistently applying pressure.
Neutral Zone's scouting report emphasizes Sykora's versatility and playmaking ability but also points out areas for development. They note his strong skating and quick processing of the game in transition, along with his puck anticipation and ability to recover loose pucks. However, they also highlight his need to improve his physicality and puck management under pressure, as well as his finishing ability.
Currently, Sykora is committed to playing college hockey at Quinnipiac University, with his expected arrival in the 2026-27 season.
In terms of draft rankings, Sykora is listed as 191st by McKeen's Hockey, 152nd by FC Hockey, and 109th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Neutral Zone suggests a potential draft range of the 4th to 6th round, contingent on further development in his strength, puck management, and finishing skills.
