Tomas Hamara is a very good skating defenseman who possesses above-average puck skills. When pressured on zone exits, he is very impressive in fending off the opposition all while maintaining control of the puck. He has solid size and this helps him win a lot of puck battles in his own end. He also uses a smart stick and positioning to win these battles, often coming out with possession of the puck. He can be stifling at times, adept at cutting all options for the attacker and breaking up the play right at the blue line. He anticipates plays well and gets into passing lanes. He could stand to improve on his decision-making, as he can make some ill-advised passes which get intercepted. Learning how to slow things down at times and not force plays that aren’t there is part of the maturation process in how he plays the game. He has the skating and skill to be a puck-moving defenseman, so there is some untapped offensive potential that he has not reached yet. He is not as offensively skilled as some defenders in this class, but he has definitely flashed some potential from time to time. He will need to get stronger if he’s going to be more effective defending and boxing out larger opponents. The need to build up strength will also have an impact on his shot, which currently is lacking in velocity from the point. Taking a chance on him is hoping that the base set of traits he has, highlighted by the smooth skating, will turn into a defender at the NHL level who can drive offense with speed. He was great for Czechia at the Under-18 Worlds, where he was able to showcase his true ability. If he can translate his offensive skillset to the NHL, Hamara has the workings of a top-four blueliner who plays on the power play.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide