Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Prospect Early Selection in CHL Import Draft
Slovak goalie drafted for second time in less than a week
Shortly after his 75th overall selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL entry draft, Michal Pradel was projecting his plans for the 2025-26 season.
In all likelihood, he’ll be back again playing for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
“Yeah, probably yes,” Pradel said. “I like Tri-City so much. They gave me a lot of games in a short amount of time. So I really like it there.”
Unless . . .
“We will see what is happening also in the CHL Draft,” Pradel was adding quickly.
Well, something happened, and it happened quickly.
With the fourth overall pick of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, the Regina Pats are proud to select Michal Pradel!#CHLImportDraft pic.twitter.com/JIck4KaVvs
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) July 2, 2025
The WHL Regina Pats made Pradel the fourth overall selection of Thursday’s draft.
Now, when it comes to his decision as to where he’ll play next season, Pradel is a young man with options.
Red Wings Prospect’s Stock Rising
It’s been a rapid ascension for Pradel in the hockey prospect stratosphere since he was sensational in backstopping Slovakia to a fourth-place showing at the IIHF World U18 Championship. Considering that the tournament was held on NHL-sized ice surfaces in Frisco, Texas, it didn’t hurt his stock one bit.
Despite facing the most shots (170) of any goaltender in the tournament, Pradel wound up finishing with the second-best save percentage (.914) and goals-against average (2.46). He was earning a share of the tourney lead by posting two shutouts.
“Yeah, so great experience for me also,” Pradel said. “I think we had a great ride, but unfortunately, we lost the bronze medal game.”
He made 29 saves in that bronze-medal game, a 4-3 loss to the USA.
From a pure development standpoint, Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper loves that the change to the NCAA/CHL rule is offering much more runway for young goalies to evolve.
🔥 Michal Prádel a Michal Svrček v drese @DetroitRedWings. 📸 @detroitnews pic.twitter.com/ey9j19PqrW
— Marian Michalovský (@MichalovskyM) July 1, 2025
“We love his size, we love his athleticism,” Draper said of the 6-foot-5 Pradel. “He’s right now in Tri-City and has an opportunity down the road to go to school. And that’s something that I think you’re excited about with any prospect, to have the ability to either go back to the USHL, or does he want to play in the CHL before he goes to school?
“I think that’s something that has opened up for these young players and a tremendous opportunity for them.”
No matter which route Pradel ultimately chooses, he’ll be playing in North America, which again can only ramp up his progression.
“I think it helps every player to develop here, the many great leagues like the USHL and CHL,” Pradel said. “So I think it’s good for young players from Europe, where the league isn’t, like, as good as here.”
