Jan Larys – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Jan Larys

2025-26 Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Date of Birth: Feb. 14, 2008
Place of Birth: Ostrava, CZE
Ht: 6-foot-3, Wt: 161 pounds
Catches: L
Position: G
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

• NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings: 5th (among NA Goalies)

Coming into the 2025-26 season, the Drummondville Voltigeurs were widely expected to rebuild from the ground up. They had just parted ways with their veteran goaltender, Louis-Félix Charrois, and handed the crease to a pair of untested rookies. Most projections had Drummondville finishing near the bottom of the standings. Nobody told Jan Larys.

The 18-year-old Czech netminder, selected by the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the first round of the 2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft, arrived from Ostrava with a real pedigree. His pre-draft numbers in Czechia were eye-catching: a .927 save percentage at the U17 level and .917 in U20 competition. Still, translating that to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as a first-year import, at 17, with a rebuilding team in front of him, was never going to be a given.

He immediately claimed the starting crease and never relinquished it. Drummondville released their overage goaltender early in the year, a remarkable vote of confidence in a teenage import, and Larys rewarded them with one of the more quietly impressive rookie goaltending seasons the QMJHL has seen from a draft-eligible player in recent memory. Drummondville, against all expectations, finished in the top three of the Western Conference during the regular season.

Larys posted a 26-10-1-1 record across 38 games, with a 2.86 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and three shutouts. He was voted to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team as the starting goaltender. At the midseason mark, he was the highest-ranked QMJHL goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s list, sitting fourth among all North American netminders.

At 6-foot-3 and still 18 years old at the time of the draft, the frame is already projectable, and the foundation is undeniably there. Larys regularly makes intelligent reads based on the play unfolding in front of him and tracks pucks well on initial shots while maintaining control within his positioning. His compete level also stands out, allowing him to battle through difficult sequences and second opportunities.

That said, he had a tendency to struggle at times with screens and in scrambles, and he seems to rely much more on his athleticism than on overall technique.

Jan Larys – NHL Draft Projection

Larys enters the 2026 NHL Draft as the highest-profile goaltending prospect to emerge from the QMJHL in this cycle. NHL Central Scouting rated him a “B” prospect on their preliminary list, projecting a second- or third-round selection, before climbing to fourth among North American goaltenders at midseason, ultimately finishing fifth on their final list.

The combination of elite size, composure beyond his years, and the ability to step up as the starter on a rebuilding QMJHL team at age 17 will attract attention from NHL development staff. Teams that prize patience with goaltenders in the middle rounds will have him firmly in their sights.

Quotables

“His game isn’t as polished as his stat line might suggest, and he lacks a standout defining trait that would drive significant upside.” – Draft Prospects Hockey

“I’m not sure there’s a single future NHL starting goalie in this class. But very few ever emerge at this point; instead, you’re hoping to find someone who can at least contribute at the NHL level. I think we’re looking at maybe four or five from this class, but there’s no clear favourite No. 1 just yet.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“Despite being just 17 years old, Larys stole the starter’s crease for the Voltigeurs, helping Drummondville remain a top Western Conference contender for a third consecutive season. Larys stands at an already projectable 6’3”, and with his age, has room to grow in the future.” – Clint Householder, Inside the Rink

“Larys had a fantastic rookie year as Drummondville’s starter. While the playoffs didn’t go to plan for him or his team, expect Larys to hear his name called at the NHL Draft this summer, as NHL Central Scouting has him as their fifth-ranked North American goaltender.” – Rory Arthur, The Hockey News

Strengths

• Prototypical NHL size and frame
• Calm, composed presence under pressure
• Strong technical foundation and reads
• Proven durability and starter’s workload capacity

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Lateral quickness and movement efficiency
• Learn to elevate his game in high-pressure situations

NHL Potential

The upside case for Larys is a big, technically sound, calm goaltender who processes the game well, a profile that has produced NHL contributors before. The 6-foot-3 frame alone will keep him on the NHL radar.

What sets Larys apart from most goaltending prospects at this stage is that he has already demonstrated that he can handle a full professional junior workload in a foreign country as a teenager on a team with modest defensive support. That adaptability and resilience are genuinely valuable and harder to find than raw statistical output.

Risk–Reward Analysis

Risk – 3/5 | Reward – 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Goaltending: 7/10

Awards/Achievements

• QMJHL All-Rookie Team – Goaltender (2025-26)  
• QMJHL Prospect of the Week – Week 18 (Jan. 27, 2026) 

Jan Larys Stats

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