NHL draft tracker: Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown Islanders

One part of the process peculiar to Czech forwards, so it seems, is the creativity and playmaking comes first, then the agility has to catch up.

The Charlottetown Islanders' Filip Chlapik is candid about the holes in his game as he tries to augment his stock for this summer's NHL draft. The native of Praha, Czech Republic has had a fine first season of adapting to the more north-south game in North America, posting 30 goals and 70 points across 64 games to rank second in scoring behind fellow 17-year-old Daniel Sprong.

"My skating is my weakness and I know it," Chlapik, who is NHL Central Scouting's No. 17-ranked domestic skater, said in a recent interview. "In the summer I will work on it all the time. I will be doing a lot of one-ice work. Next year, it must be better.

"I need to improve my physical game," said Chlapik, who has 10 points in his last six games. "More hits and more going to the net. More shots. That's what I didn't do before I came here and that's what I need to do."

Chlapik has had some extra motivation in the second half of the season. In December, he was an early cut from the Czech national junior team, which has made no secret of its preference for players who remain in the country rather than migrate to major junior hockey as an import player. However, Chlapik has found the Maritimes to his liking. The 6-foot-¾, 184-pound centre got his first taste of the East Coast at the 2014 world under-17 challenge in Sydney, N.S., which meant there was less culture shock when he arrived on Prince Edward Island this season.

"They are so friendly, everyone is so nice," Chlapik said. "It's a bit different from being home in the Czech Republic.

"When I came there, Sydney, I really liked the style of living," he added. "When I saw the [under-17] games and the fans I said, 'I want to play here.' "

1. You've been described as pretty colourful; how hard is it to show your personality when you're adapting to a new culture?

"Oh, I just do what like. Make jokes and stuff."

2. Which NHL players do you study closely?

"I really like [Pittsburgh Penguins centre] Evgeni Malkin. He's my favourite player. Also Niklas Backstrom."

3. What is your favourite movie?

"It's hard to say, I have a lot of favourites. I would say — I saw it in Czech — 50 First Dates. I like movies Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston."

4. Not including the Islanders, who has the sweetest jerseys in the QMJHL?

"I would say Shawinigan, with the yellow jersey, and Sherbrooke."

5. Where is your favourite road rink?

"In Quebec City it was crazy. You just look up and see so many people."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.