Ivan Matta

Ivan Matta — F | HK Dukla Michalovce (SVK) | Age: 18 | 2026 NHL Draft Prospect

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Player Overview Ivan Matta is an 18-year-old Slovak forward who earned a prominent role with Slovakia's U18 national program all the way to the gold medal game of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, marking him as one of the more visible European prospects in this draft class. His combination of club-level production and meaningful international exposure makes him a legitimate name to track heading into June.

Current Production Over his last 10 games with HK Dukla Michalovce, Matta has posted 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points at a +4 rating, numbers that reflect a forward contributing at both ends of the ice and generating offense at a consistent clip against professional-level competition in Slovakia.

Key Attributes Matta's involvement in a Slovakia offense that produced four goals in three minutes at the U18 Worlds points to a player capable of operating at pace in high-density scoring sequences. His positive plus-minus against professional competition in Slovakia suggests he is not a passenger defensively. Advancing through a semifinal against Latvia and into a gold medal game against Sweden indicates he sustains his game under increasing competitive pressure.

2026 Draft Outlook Matta projects as a mid-to-late round candidate whose floor was established by consistent club production and a runner-up finish on home ice; the one area requiring development before June is demonstrating he can drive offense independently against elite international opposition rather than benefiting from line-driven momentum.