Marian Beres

Player Overview Marian Beres is an 18-year-old Slovak defenseman playing for HC Presov U20 in Slovakia's second-tier U20 league, a player whose strong plus/minus warrants attention from scouts evaluating mid-to-late round defensive depth ahead of the 2026 draft.

Current Production Over his last 8 games, Beres has posted 1G, 2A, and 3 points at the U20-2 level, modest offensive totals that suggest a game built more around process and positioning than raw point accumulation.

Key Attributes The most telling number in Beres's recent line is his +8 rating across just 8 games — a figure that points to consistent defensive structure and a reliable two-way presence rather than offensive risk-taking. Playing in Slovakia's second-tier U20 circuit, sustaining that differential indicates he is making sound decisions in his own zone and contributing to clean zone exits. His assist totals suggest some capacity to initiate or continue offensive sequences, though his primary value appears rooted in defensive responsibility.

2026 Draft Outlook Given his second-tier league context and limited offensive output, Beres projects as a later-round candidate — likely outside the top five rounds — unless scouts uncover stronger compete and skating metrics in live viewings. The priority before June is demonstrating he can produce at a higher competitive level, ideally earning time in Slovakia's top U20 league to validate the defensive metrics he has built at the U20-2 tier.