​With the 90th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Tomas Kralovic, a right-handed defenseman from HC Slovan Bratislava in the Slovak league. The 20-year-old, who had previously gone undrafted multiple times and was ranked as the 122nd European skater by NHL Central Scouting in the 2023 Draft, made a notable jump offensively last season, tallying six goals and 31 points in 52 regular-season games. He followed that with four goals and six points in 17 playoff appearances for Bratislava.
Kralovic is expected to return to HC Slovan Bratislava for the 2026-27 season, though the Lightning’s selection could prompt a change as General Manager Julien BriseBois may want to bring him to North America for evaluation on a smaller rink. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 203 pounds, the 20-year-old, who shoots right, represents a long-shot bet for Tampa Bay after not being drafted in previous years. However, BriseBois has a history of uncovering second-day steals in the draft. This move could also bolster SEO for broader visibility.