An athletic defenseman, Psenicka skates very well for a 6-5 player. His mobility and ability to make stops enabled him to play top pro games in Czechia before joining the WHL midseason. He did not stand out at that level playing for Portland as some would have expected, though. The question regarding Psenicka and the reason he fell to the second round is his offense. He does not have a ton of skill or offensive IQ in his game, although Psenicka has a good point shot and can make solid first passes.

Selected at forty-sixth overall, Max Psenicka is now a member of the Utah Mammoth.

Though it took him some time to find his footing, Psenicka has developed into what looks like a potential dependable shutdown option at the NHL level. 6-4, right-handed, physical, and a quick skater with playoff pedigree, Psenicka won’t last long at the draft.

Final Rankings -A towering right-shot defenseman, Max Psenicka is a fluid skater with exceptional defensive awareness and an active stick. Max played an important role in Portland’s run to the Western Conference Finals, but is offensively limited and he will need to refine his decision making to thrive at the next level.—

Not on the radar for much of the season and not viewed as an offensive player, Psenicka has been a solidly productive player at the Czech Junior level for the past few years. While he only made it into 24 games after his transfer to the WHL, he was instantly trusted and leaned upon by the Winterhawks. While, inevitably, they got smoked by Spokane, Psenicka was arguably Portland’s No.1 defensive option and met the challenge with equal parts hard-nosed physicality and intelligent defensive reads.—