Adam Sykora is as affable a kid as you’re going to meet. In fact, one of the things the New York Rangers most love about the 2022 draft pick is his upbeat personality and sheer joy he brings to the rink every day.

But perhaps there’s a bit of Jekyll and Hyde in the 19-year-old forward from Slovakia. A recent Hockey News story about the Rangers prospects had this to say about Sykora’s transformation on the ice.

“The Slovak forward is a menace at times, working harder than everyone on the ice,” Tony Ferrari wrote in THN. “He gets in on the forecheck and wins pucks back all over the ice.”

So, yes, “menace,” in this instance, is used in the most complimentary way. Simply, the kid with the curly hair and broad smile on his face is a pain in the butt to play against.

“He’s a kid that is happy to come to the rink every day with a smile on his face and infectious energy that spreads throughout the room.” Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer explained at player development camp earlier this month.

That energy bubbles over on to the ice where Sykora is tenacious, hunting down opponents and consistently engaging in puck battles.

What also stands out is the maturity Sykora displays. He was one of the youngest players in the American Hockey League last season, a lineup regular for the Hartford Wolf Pack. He totaled 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 66 games as a rookie pro, and contributed in all three zones of the ice.

Sykora was also captain for Slovakia at the 2024 World Junior Championship.

The Hockey News did question his offensive upside but added that Sykora has “the base of a solid workhorse.”

You can make an NHL player out of that, for sure.

Rangers have ‘solid prospect pool’ with more NHL talent on the way

Brennan Othmann — Photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack

Overall, the Hockey News was complimentary, reporting that the Rangers have a “solid prospect pool with NHL talent coming.” They pointed out that the Rangers are strongest throughout the organization on the wing, which makes sense considering their top two prospects — Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann are wingers.

Center and right defense were the areas of most concern, per the Hockey News.

Ferrari noted the “break-neck pace” Othmann plays with and was impressed by the 2021 first-rounder’s all-around skill-set after he scored 21 goals with Hartford in the AHL as a rookie pro last season.

“The 21-year-old could be a high-level pest in the NHL, blending the ability to contribute as a dual-threat offensive player with the understanding of how to get under his opponent’s skin,” Ferrari wrote.

As for Perreault, who’s currently off to a fast start at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan, Ferrari said the forward was “the perfect play connector, gap filler and tactician for the line” with Boston College and USA Hockey linemates Will Smith and Ryan Leonard.

Perreault had 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 36 games for BC last season and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven games to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championship.

One other interesting note from Ferrari regarded Matthew Robertson, the 23-year-old defenseman who has yet to receive a shot in the NHL after three seasons with Hartford. The 2019 second-round pick received compliments from Ferrari about his physical play and ability to “defend at a high level,” which was somewhat surprising. Ferrari did mention that consistency is the biggest issue with Robertson.