TOP PROSPECTS - RUZICKA

Over the next two weeks, Torie Peterson will be highlighting a group of young players who have shown tremendous promise in our Top Prospects series.
When asked about Adam Ruzicka's best attribute on the ice, Craig Conroy had to take a moment to mull it over.
"That's hard," the Flames assistant manager told CalgaryFlames.com. "He's got the full package, really.
"Good skater, he's got size, a natural ability with the puck, he can make plays, and he's got a good shot. I don't know if there's one thing that separates him, but he's really good in all those areas, he's such a well-rounded player."

Ruzicka, the Flames' fourth-round selection in last year's draft, has all the attributes needed to develop into a power forward at the pro level: a unique blend of strength, skill and skating abilities you don't often see in players checking in at 6-foot-4 and 215-lb.
He is excellent when he has possession of the puck, controls the play and has the ability to act as a playmaker or a shooter. Thanks to his frame, his opponents struggle to strip the puck and battle with him along the boards.
On his skates, he's agile and can pivot on a dime. Once he gets going, he's fleet-footed and can move up and down the ice with ease. As he continues to develop leg strength, scouts expect his first few steps to improve.
Now, the 19-year-old's task is to gain a bit more consistency to his game, a task he has set out to do with the OHL's Sarnia Sting.
The Bratislava, Slovakia product opted to hone his skills in North America after being selected in the second round of the 2016 CHL Import Draft by the Sting and has spent the past two seasons in Ontario.
During his rookie season, he suited up for 61 regular-season games, netting 25 goals and 46 points. He was particularly effective in the second half of the 2016-17, having settled into a new league and a new country and feeling more comfortable in Sarnia.

"We think he's got some upside, some untapped potential," Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button told CalgaryFlames.com after drafting Ruzicka.
"We think there's a lot of ceiling there to continue to improve and be more consistent with his play, as far as getting involved in the games offensively. He's a very conscientious player defensively but we think he's got more ability to do more offensively."
He did just that in 2017-18, scoring 36 goals and putting up 72 points in 63 games. He put 236 shots on net, leading all Sting skaters in the regular season. He earned more powerplay time and ended up scoring 11 goals and 28 points with the man advantage.
He also represented Slovakia at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, playing in five games at the tournament.
"Overall, an unbelievable regular season," Conroy assessed. "And he had an opportunity to play at the World Juniors, which is great learning experience there, and then also in the playoffs.
"Now he knows he's got to take it to a whole other level. I thought he had a great regular season, working on the consistency, but then he also needs to be able to find that next level when the games ramp up and they mean more.
"And sometimes that takes time - just time. You're trying to learn about it, and when you're in those playoff runs it's not easy - everybody's going 100 miles an hour. It's a good experience to get in a few rounds, see what it takes to play a consistent game
"As good as he was, we need him to find one more level, one more gear in his play, and I know he can do that."