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Top 25 under 25: #18 Peter Cehlarik

Peter Cehlarik had some Bruins fans buzzing after he was drafted by the Bruins in the third round in 2013. How has he done since then?

Peter Cehlarik represented Slovakia in 11 games this year.
Peter Cehlarik represented Slovakia in 11 games this year.
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Rank Change from '13 M. Leonard Cornelius Nolan Dan Giesse Sean Sarah Kristian Servo
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Position: Left wing

Vitals: 6' 2", 201 lbs.

Acquired: Drafted by the Bruins in 2013, 90th overall (third round)

NHL experience: none

Peter Cehlarik was David Pastrnak before Pastrnak ever Pastrnak'd. Make sense?

Cehlarik was drafted by the Bruins in the third round in 2013, a pick that excited some members of the fanbase. As detailed in last year's entry in this series, Cehlarik was a fast-riser whose stock kept going up and up prior to the draft.

Once he was drafted, it was easy to see why fans got excited (much like Pastrmania): a kid with great hands and scoring touch playing in a men's league (and playing well at that) as a teenager. So, how did Cehlarik do this year?

It was a mixed bag. Cehlarik raised eyebrows because when he made his Swedish Hockey League debut in 2012-2013, he recorded six points in eight games against men years older than him.

This season, Cehlarik played 32 SHL games for Lulea and recorded just four points, a drastic drop in production. He was also loaned to a team in the second-tier Swedish league, where he recorded 13 points in 18 games, raising concerns that perhaps Cehlarik was promoted to permanent SHL status too quickly.

However, it wasn't all disappointment from Cehlarik: he recorded ten points in 11 games for Slovakia's U-20 team, meaning he was still producing against his peers. He currently has one point in two Champions Hockey League games with Lulea. He was at the B's rookie camp this summer as well, and appears to be pretty good at helping kids navigate their way across a lawn. Hey, an assist is an assist.

Now what? This will be a big year for Cehlarik developmentally. He just turned 19, meaning performing against "grown men" will start to become less impressive and more expected. He's off to a decent start in the Champions Hockey League, but it'll be interesting to see how he performs in another full SHL season.

Another demotion to a second-tier team could see his stock take a dive, but the Bruins drafted him as a long-term prospect. His skating still needs work, but the hands and creativity are still there. There's been nothing to indicate that the pick was a bad one, as Cehlarik will continue to develop in Europe.