- May 21, 2026
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The Dallas Stars have selected defenseman Jakub Vanecek with the No. 59 overall selection of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Vanecek was projected to be selected around 54th or 55th overall on average across all of the main draft rankings, going as high as 32nd and as low as 79th. He was also ranked 31st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis projected him to go above consensus at 41st overall.
Ellis had this to say about Vanecek in his most recent draft rankings:
“Vaněček has hovered around this mark for most of the season for me. I like how he’s always moving thanks to a non-stop motor and good overall footwork. He beats opponents by taking their space away and forcing them to the perimeter. Vaněček isn’t too shabby with the puck, although his decision-making needs a bit of work. I like his two-way game and I think he’ll force his way into a bottom-pairing situation one day. Vaněček is more of a long-term project player, but I still think he’s going to be a decent, versatile blueliner.“
Vanecek spent the entirety of his 2025-26 season with the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League. In 59 games with the team, he had 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points, as the Americans finished 10th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs. The Czech product finished sixth on his team in scoring and led all defensemen.
Vanecek also represented Czechia on the international stage at the U-18 World Championship. He had three goals and two assists for five points in seven games, with Czechia going all the way to a bronze-medal win over Latvia. He was tied for third among defensemen in scoring in the tournament, and second on Czechia behind fellow 2026 draft eligible Ondrej Ruml.
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Vanecek was projected to be selected around 54th or 55th overall on average across all of the main draft rankings, going as high as 32nd and as low as 79th. He was also ranked 31st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis projected him to go above consensus at 41st overall.
Ellis had this to say about Vanecek in his most recent draft rankings:
“Vaněček has hovered around this mark for most of the season for me. I like how he’s always moving thanks to a non-stop motor and good overall footwork. He beats opponents by taking their space away and forcing them to the perimeter. Vaněček isn’t too shabby with the puck, although his decision-making needs a bit of work. I like his two-way game and I think he’ll force his way into a bottom-pairing situation one day. Vaněček is more of a long-term project player, but I still think he’s going to be a decent, versatile blueliner.“
Vanecek spent the entirety of his 2025-26 season with the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League. In 59 games with the team, he had 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points, as the Americans finished 10th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs. The Czech product finished sixth on his team in scoring and led all defensemen.
Vanecek also represented Czechia on the international stage at the U-18 World Championship. He had three goals and two assists for five points in seven games, with Czechia going all the way to a bronze-medal win over Latvia. He was tied for third among defensemen in scoring in the tournament, and second on Czechia behind fellow 2026 draft eligible Ondrej Ruml.
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