With the 130th pick in the NHL draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Alex Ciernik from the HockeyAllsvenskan league in Sweden.
Alex Ciernik had one of the most interesting days of travel on his way to the draft in Nashville. He and his family flew from Austria to New York, however their flight to Nashville was cancelled. They ended up renting a car and making the 14-hour drive to make it. That’s some dedication right there.
Ciernik also has an interesting background. He was born in Germany, is of Slovakian decent, but never lived in Slovakia. He also currently plays in Sweden. Ciernik joked with reporters after he was drafted that they can choose what he is. What we do know is that he is looked at as a boom or bust type of prospect, typical once you get to the final rounds. The 5’10” winger has spent his entire career in the various leagues in Sweden. He spent this past season between Södertälje SK and Västerviks IK in HockeyAllsvenskan and the J20 Nationell with Södertälje SK J20.
He keeps putting up the points! Top Prospect for the #2023NHLDraft Alex Ciernik with the set up for HC Sodertalje in @hockeyallsvensk action. A dynamic skater with X-ray vision. @PSE_Hockey @OctagonHockey pic.twitter.com/CRE0CiaiX5
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) March 2, 2023
With the J20 team, Ciernik had nine goals and 21 points in 18 games. He had a combined three goals and 12 points in 25 games between the two teams in HockeyAllsvenskan. He also played for Slovakia on the U20 team at the World Junior Championships, posting two goals and three points in five games.
"“Ciernik is a talented scoring winger. He has the speed and skill for higher levels. His skill can stand out, especially the plays he makes in full stride, with flashes of high-end hands,” Corey Pronman of The Athletic said. “He can make plays on the move and from a standstill. Ciernik’s shot is also quite good, and he’s a guy who can help a power play due to his various offensive tools."
Ciernik comes in as one of the draft’s oldest players, having an October 2004 birthday. The numbers shows that he is more of a playmaker than a shooter, but he has shown flashes of having solid hands. The knock on players his size will always be if they can make it and withstand the physicalities of the NHL. Projected by most to go somewhere between 40-60, the Flyers could end up having a steal in Ciernik if he pans out.