It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier on, we released the TWC consolidated 2026 NHL Draft rankings. The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo.
Next up is centre, Simas Ignatavicius. Playing pro in Switzerland, Ignatavicius has posted solid results, positioning himself to be Lithuania’s third-ever NHL draft pick.
Who is Simas Ignatavicius?
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight | Nationality | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simas Ignatavicius | Centre / Right Wing | Right | 6’3″ / 190cm | 201lbs / 91kg | Lithuania | TWC Rank #39 / CS EU Rank #10 |
Ignatavicius was born in the USA and grew up there until his family moved back to Lithuania when he was around 10 years old. Throughout his youth, Ignatavicius developed in the youth hockey program in Switzerland. The system he was with was the youth teams for Geneve-Servette HC. Ignatavicius spent time with the U15, U17, U20, and U21 teams before going pro this season.
Ignatavicius’ on-ice production
| Year | Draft Rel. | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | D-5 | U15-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U15 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 1.86 |
| U17-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U17 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.29 | ||
| 2021-22 | D-4 | U17-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U17 | 40 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 0.78 |
| 2022-23 | D-3 | U17-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U17 | 29 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 1.00 |
| 2023-24 | D-2 | U20-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U20 | 33 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 0.61 |
| 2024-25 | D-1 | U20-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U20 | 45 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 1.11 |
| SL | EHC Visp | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| 2025-26 | D+0 | U21-Elit | Geneve Future Hockey U21 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1.75 |
| NL | Geneve-Servette HC | 52 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0.25 | ||
| SL | HC Thurgau | 8 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 1.38 |
After lighting up the U20 league last season and the U21 to start this year, Ignatavicius received his first full season of pro hockey. He spent the majority of his season with Geneve-Servette HC in the National League, which is the highest level of hockey in Switzerland. Across 52 games, he found the back of the net seven times and totalled 13 points. They’re not some gaudy point totals, but he is just 18 years old playing pro hockey in a depth role. Ignatavicius also showed he was too good for the Tier 2 league, as in his loan to HC Thurgau, he produced seven goals and 11 points in eight games.
In regard to next season, it is very likely Ignatavicius will return to the National League with Geneve-Servette HC.
Ignatavicius’ strengths
Puck protection
When watching Ignatavicius, the first thing that impressed me was his ability to protect the puck. He’s quite strong on his feet and doesn’t get shoved around too often. In addition to his strong stance, Ignatavicius also does well with using his arm to ward off pressure and can use his reach to hold the puck at a decent distance. Along the boards or around the net, Ignatavicius does well with keeping possession of the puck or distributing it under pressure and in tight, thanks to his puck protection skills.
Hockey sense
Another standout aspect of Ignatavicius is that he is a very aware player. Whether it be offensive or defensive, Ignatavicius always seems to understand the ongoing situation. He can read when he should start inching to the neutral zone for a breakout, or when he should hold his defensive position, as the opportunity for mistakes is higher. When it comes to setting himself up for offensive chances, Ignatavicius does a good job of knowing when to position himself to shoot or when to head to the net to play net-front. It’s quite impressive how he seems to have eyes on the puck at all times, which helps him to usually be ahead of everyone else in developing situations.
Effort
On most nights, Ignatavicius is skating hard and running on a motor to stay engaged. He usually incorporates a hard forecheck into his game. He can get involved physically, whether it be checks, board battles, or just having a known physical presence over other players. Typically, he doesn’t glide at either end of the ice. He keeps his feet moving in the north-to-south transition, which allows him to stay positioned. In the offensive end, he tries to move into positions to receive or distribute, or he heads to the net front. At the other end, Ignatavicius isn’t afraid to block shots and does his best to threaten turnovers in lanes.
Ignatavicius’ areas of improvement
Speed
I think the mechanics of Ignatavicius’ skating look fine; he doesn’t skate in a terrible stride, and he can make smooth turns. However, his skating does lack explosiveness and good top-end speed. It can take him a few steps to get going in the transition, which can get him caught behind the play. The other issue is that even when he reaches his full speed, he’s not incredibly threatening and has the tendency to get caught with a stick check. Ignatavicius’s lack of footspeed also just makes his game look a lot more vanilla.
Offensive skills
The offensive game of Ignatavicius is alright. His shot can look quick and accurate in moments, and he shows an understanding of the passing game. However, he doesn’t necessarily take dangerous shots in stride, nor does he really create shooting lanes on his own. And while his passing is effective, it is pretty simple and doesn’t usually dare to be risky or flashier. He also doesn’t really have the prettiest set of hands. All of those things have me worried about the upside of his offensive skill set. It’s definitely serviceable, but it limits his play-driving and danger-creating capabilities.
Fit with the Flames
| Organizational need addressed | Centre prospect |
| Realistic pick range | 28-42 |
| NHL timeline | 2-3 years |
| Fit with the Flames | Possible fit |
Regarding pairing the Flames and Ignatavicius, I think there’s a possibility of a match there. The Flames need centre prospects, and Ignatavicius happens to be one. He’d likely be the second or third best (depending on what position you view Cullen Potter as) centre in the Flames’ pool. Also, the Flames will have three possible chances at Ignatavicius as they own picks 30th/31st, 35th, and 36th. Although the Flames should be opting for higher ceiling selections, I think it’s quite okay to take a projectable centre prospect at one of these picks.
Summary
When looking for a projectable prospect near the end of the first or early second, Simas Ignatavicius fits the bill quite well. The Lithuanian centre has made an impact in the Swiss pro league thanks to his size, ability to protect the puck, strong senses at both ends of the ice, and a consistent effort. There are concerns to be had with the lack of footspeed and explosiveness, and his offensive skillset seems quite limited, which lowers his ceiling. However, Ignatavicius is a good bet to fill out a bottom-six role and certainly has the potential to be a middle-six piece.