Team Slovakia Lines: Projected Olympic Lineup and Analysis
Below is a look at Team Slovakia’s projected line combinations for the upcoming Olympic tournament. This page outlines how Slovakia is expected to deploy its roster across all positions as it navigates a more challenging competitive landscape with NHL players back in the field.
Slovakia enters the tournament after a historic bronze-medal performance in 2022, but replicating that success will be significantly more difficult this time. With less depth and fewer active NHL contributors, lineup structure, execution, and goaltending will play a decisive role in determining Slovakia’s ceiling.
This page includes Slovakia’s projected forward lines, defensive pairings, and goaltending depth chart. As with all international teams, combinations may change based on opponent, performance, or availability.
Team Slovakia Line Combinations
Below is a breakdown of Team Slovakia’s projected Olympic line combinations by position group, including all forward lines, defensive pairings, and the current goaltending depth chart.
Forwards
Team Slovakia’s forward group is heavily top-driven and built around one primary offensive catalyst. Juraj Slafkovský enters the tournament as the focal point of the offense and the lone active top-six NHL forward on the roster.
Slafkovský’s size, puck protection, and improved offensive confidence make him the engine of Slovakia’s attack. He is expected to play heavy minutes in all situations, and his ability to create offense will largely determine how competitive Slovakia can be against deeper opponents.
Veteran forwards such as Tomáš Tatar provide experience and leadership, though their roles are now more complementary. Adam Ružička is expected to anchor the centre group, bringing size and scoring touch developed in professional leagues outside the NHL.
Younger forwards like Dalibor Dvorský offer long-term upside and secondary scoring potential, while energy players such as Martin Pospíšil and Pavol Regenda add physicality, forechecking pressure, and pace. Overall, Slovakia’s forward depth lacks redundancy, placing a premium on line chemistry and efficiency.
Defence
Slovakia’s defensive group is one of the team’s relative strengths, particularly in size and physicality. Three active NHL defencemen form the core of the blue line and are expected to shoulder significant responsibility.
Simon Nemec projects as the primary puck-moving and offensive defenceman, while Erik Černák provides a physical, shutdown presence against top competition. Martin Fehérváry rounds out the NHL trio as a reliable all-around defender capable of handling difficult defensive assignments.
Veterans such as Martin Marinčin and Peter Čerešňák bring experience and familiarity with international play, while the rest of the group focuses on defensive-zone coverage and clearing traffic. Slovakia lacks a true power-play quarterback from the point, but compensates with size, reach, and physicality across all pairings.
Goaltenders
Goaltending will be a central factor in Slovakia’s tournament outlook. Samuel Hlavaj is projected to enter the tournament as the primary starter, having established himself as a dependable option in international play despite uneven club results.
Hlavaj has consistently delivered strong performances for Slovakia in high-pressure environments and will be relied upon to manage heavy workloads behind a structured defensive system. Stanislav Škorvánek provides an experienced backup option, while Adam Gajan represents a longer-term project rather than an immediate solution.
With no active NHL goaltenders on the roster, Slovakia will depend heavily on team structure and timely saves to remain competitive.
Power Play
Slovakia’s power play is expected to run primarily through Slafkovský, with an emphasis on puck possession, net-front presence, and second-chance opportunities. Shot volume is likely to be limited, making efficiency critical.
The lack of elite offensive depth places added importance on converting power play chances when they arise.
Penalty Kill
The penalty kill is a key area for Slovakia. Given the team’s limited offensive depth, discipline will be essential, and when shorthanded, the focus will be on compact positioning, physical clears, and time management.
A successful penalty kill could be the difference between staying within striking distance and falling behind against more talented opponents.
Injuries and Lineup Flexibility
Slovakia’s margin for error is narrow, making health and availability especially important. The roster features clearly defined roles, but limited depth means injuries could force significant lineup adjustments.
Flexibility will come from internal role shifts rather than like-for-like replacements, placing added importance on adaptability throughout the tournament.
Using Team Slovakia Lines for Analysis and Fantasy Formats
Tracking Team Slovakia’s line combinations can provide useful insight for fans analyzing matchups or participating in Olympic fantasy formats. Ice-time distribution, special teams usage, and late-game deployment will be particularly telling.
For Slovakia, competitive success will be measured less by scoring totals and more by structure, efficiency, and execution, making lineup usage a key indicator of performance.
