Maxim Simko

Maxim Simko — C | HK Nitra | SVK | Age: 18 ### 2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report

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Player Overview Maxim Simko is an 18-year-old Slovak center who earned significant pre-draft exposure by helping Slovakia reach the gold medal game at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship in Trenčín — the most high-profile international stage for draft-eligible players. His ability to contribute at that level while logging competitive minutes for HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga makes him a legitimate name to monitor heading into June.

Current Production Over his last 10 games with HK Nitra, Simko posted 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points, a rate that reflects a player trending upward offensively as the season concluded. The 5-assist output in that stretch suggests his value is particularly pronounced as a distributor and play-connector rather than a pure finisher.

Key Attributes Simko's playmaking instincts were on display throughout Slovakia's U18 tournament run, where the team was noted for strong power-play execution — a unit on which skilled passers and puck-movers typically drive possession. Slovakia's ability to advance through the preliminary round and into the semifinals with historic results indicates that Simko competed effectively against elite peer-level talent throughout the tournament.

2026 Draft Outlook Based on available information, Simko projects as a mid-to-late round candidate with upside tied to his playmaking ceiling at the professional level. His even plus/minus over his recent Nitra sample suggests defensive-zone reliability will be the key area scouts will scrutinize before draft day.