Prospect Profile: Martin Fehervary

Martin Fehervary is adjusting to North American hockey with the Hershey Bears while making an impact on the team and demonstrating how he can benefit the Caps in the future. The Capitals drafted him in the second round of the 2018 entry-level NHL draft as the 46th overall pick. The twenty-year-old played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) before traveling to America to pursue his hockey career. He has persistently impressed the coaches at the NHL level without any prior play in America. The defenseman showed what he was capable of throughout the recent Caps’ development and rookie camp, which lead to him initially making the Caps’ roster at the beginning of this season. However, he was sent to Hershey to continue his development and has been working hard with the team this season.

Instead of playing in his hometown of Slovakia, Fehervary played in Sweden to ensure more opportunities for his hockey career. He played with HV71 last season, where he skated in 45 games while tallying one goal and four assists. Seven points was his regular-season career-high while playing in the SHL. He then went on to play another nine games that season as his team competed in the playoffs, and put up three assists during that time. He also participated in the World Junior Championship for three years. During last year’s tournament, he was team captain for Slovakia and played in five games with one goal and four assists. In addition, he has played in the IIHF World Championship for team Slovakia, where many players in the tournament are from professional teams, such as NHL teams who are not in contention for the Stanley Cup. Teams do not rely on him for his offensive production, but his defensive mindset and skills are what allow him to stand out from other players and prospects. Despite this and his prior offensive stats, he is having a shocking and momentous rookie year with the Bears.

It has been a noticeable pattern that when many prospects from other leagues in the Caps’ system are sent to Hershey to develop their skills, the Bears’ rookies need time to adjust to the new league. The prospects often try to figure out how to transition to a professional league and alter their style of play to fit the new league. Especially players who have played hockey in America throughout their hockey careers end up modifying their play to compete in a professional league. However, the young defender has quickly found his style and immediately adapted to Hershey. His debut with the Bears was on October 12th against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and he immediately had an impact on the team. He scored his first professional goal the next day in Hershey, which helped his team defeat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-1. Then, during his fourth game as a Bear, he had a multipoint game where he collected two assists in a 4-2 Bears win over the Laval Rocket. In addition to his productivity with the offense, he instantly fit with what he is known for- the blue line.

The Caps favor Fehervary for his defense, and his defensive abilities are significant for the Bears’ success. Yet, he is also having an impact on the offensive production in Hershey, which is even more impressive as he is depended on for his defense. As previously stated, the most points he has ever scored in a span of a regular-season was seven. As of now, he has played a little more than half the season with the Bears, 43 games, and has already recorded four goals and ten assists for a total of 14 points. He also has a +/- of 11, which ranks first on the team. This is a statistical indication that his defensive skills are active during the games. His effective positioning and being able to read plays is what makes his defense exceptional. This is a result of Fehervary’s quick and intelligent mind, which also goes into forming dynamic plays for the Bears. Also, he has great speed that becomes even more proficient with his puck handling. These abilities are helping develop plays that eventually lead to goals for the team, and these skills are valuable for protecting the goaltender as well. He has a significant spot in the Bear’s roster, and he is working towards completing his first season with an American team. He plays every game with reliability and plenty of effort, which will eventually lead to him achieving his goal of earning a full-time spot in the NHL.

Fehervary displayed all of his abilities during the Caps’ rookie camp, preseason, and international play. This is where he played competitively with more experienced players, which then earned him a spot on the Caps’ opening night roster. He made his NHL debut on October 2nd at the Stanley Cup banner raising in St. Louis. He played with Radko Gudas on the third pairing. The 19-year-old, at that time, played a total of 13:35 minutes with a +/- of 1 and committed one penalty that game, but he showed that he can handle the play and pressure at the NHL level. He then went on to complete another two games in Washington’s starting lineup before being assigned to Hershey. This was in result of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s suspension ending and Michal Kempy returning from injury, so the Caps needed roster spots to open up for them. Caps were making plenty of roster moves due to the salary cap as well. It was also beneficial to assign him to the NHL so the young player could develop a bit more. Depending on circumstances, the defender may have another chance to be called up to the pros. But, as of now, he is proving what he is capable of with the Bears while having a significant part in the team’s recent success. Many other players on the Bears team have plenty of experience, which will also have a positive impact on Fehervary’s development. The twenty-year-old fits perfectly within the system, and his immediate adjustment to the professional leagues in America is a bonus. Caps need defensemen in the future, so he is one player who will definitely earn a permanent spot on the team one day as he becomes an even stronger player with the Bears.