Chicago Blackhawks 2025 first-round draft pick Vaclav Nestrasil is the younger brother of former Detroit Red Wings forward Andrej Nestrasil. However, his brother isn’t his favorite Red Wings player.

It’s a current Red Wings player whom the younger Nestrasil idolizes. And wouldn’t you know it, he got to meet him this summer.

Imagine Nestrasil’s surprise when he walked into the dressing room at the Blackhawks development camp and there was Patrick Kane in the flesh.

“One day I came to the room and suddenly I see Patrick Kane there,” Vaclav Nestrasil recalled to Czech website iSport.

Incredible #Blackhawks fandom story from Vaclav Nestrasil! Stay for the great Patty Kane story. I hope @88PKane hears this one @NHLBlackhawks. @nestrasilova @vencsee pic.twitter.com/KlmNrzZNUI

— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) July 11, 2025

No, Kane didn’t recognize the player chosen 25th overall in the June draft.

“I wish he did,” Nestrasil said.

Kane was at the rink to get in an on-ice workout. Offered a front-row seat for Showtime, Nestrasil took in the entire show.

“I watched him from afar and watched what he was doing for a while,” Nestrasil said. “It was a beautiful moment and probably the greatest experience of the camp.”

Elder Nestrasil With Red Wings In 2014-15

It’s been a decade since Andrej Nestrasil made an all-too-brief appearance wearing the Winged Wheel. He skated in 13 games for the Red Wings in 2014-15, collecting a pair of assists.

The elder Nestrasil was selected 75th overall by Detroit in the 2009 NHL entry draft. He played 91 games for the ECHL Toledo Walleye and 120 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He won the Calder Cup in 2012-13 and scored 16 goals during the 2013-14 AHL season.

Still active in the Czech Extraliga with Trinec, Andrej Nestrasil is also serving as a sounding board as his little brother embarks on the same hockey journey.

Andrej Nestrasil pic.twitter.com/zaEIle4K4g

— BakerDI.ca (@CrosbyFriends) June 25, 2025

Vaclav also shares Michigan ties. He played the last two seasons with the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks. He’ll be starting in the fall at UMass, at the suggestion of his older brother.

“Originally, I wanted to go more Canadian like my brother, but in the end, it was Andy who guided me to university,” Vaclav said. “He thought it was the best solution.”

Andrej played in the QMJHL with Victoriaville and PEI, but felt his brother’s development would be better-suited to college hockey.

“I’m tall and I need to gain muscle, to get regular exercise into my body,” said the 6-foot-6, 190-pound Vaclav. “I didn’t initially have much information about the university path, but we started thinking about it, and one day I committed to it.

“I’m curious to see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it.”