WC: 2021 Czech Republic Roster Talk

[Czechboy]

Have a feeling they will wake up against Sweden and go on a nice run that takes them to medal rounds.

If that doesn't happen, too bad. The squad is probably top-3 team in the tournament on paper, unfortunately the game so far has been atrocious. Despite being a big fan of Pesan, if the tournament does end up as a total embarassement (missing the QF,) he needs to go, no excuse for him to lead this roster in such a weak competition to potentially the worst result in the Czech history.

By the way, it's time for Kovar to pull his head out of his a** and start playing decent hockey. Comfortably the biggest letdown for me personally, closely followed by Vrana. Moravcik has been worse than both, just comically bad, but at least I had no expectations here. Aside from like three games at his first WC, he has been very up and down internationally, more often than not down though. Still find it funny he somewhow fooled an NHL organisation into giving him a contract lol.

In fairness.. Moravcik did get 2 pts in 4 games from the Brampton Beast in the ECHL! I'm just not a fan. He's had 2 really bad plays for goals against. He directly cost us a point against Russia. I also remember a previous worlds where he was the goat against Patrick Kane in an elimination match. I get he tries hard and loves the 'repre' but he just isn't a guy I'm excited to see on the roster.

Agree we've been poor so far but I do think the tournament is 'evening out' and the stronger teams are turning it around a little. In this one, I consider us a stronger team (I rarely do anymore). Today's game will be brutally hard!

I think, after 3 games, I'd say our Centres are the weakness. Our D has been worse than I thought it would be.

I like Pesan too! But I liked Riha's and Sykora's teams in the past as well.

 

[Czechboy]

Nice to hear that Vrana will be in. I get he drives coaches crazy but I'd keep him in the 2nd line and give him some weaker matchups.. he's very good at sneaking in a goal! That is always what we are missing... a finisher. I know his game isn't perfect. I know he doesn't backcheck like a Flek or a Zohorna. However, he finishes and Czechs don't have many of those. Let him play his mercurial game and score a goal.

I've been saying no one is really standing out as a leader (I love Kovar but he doesn't strike me as a natural leader). I felt like Kubalik may rise up to be that guy. Hronek obviously.

I still remember the last WC team and we had a scoring line (Voracek and friends) a secondary scoring line (Kubalik) and then a pissed off agitator line!

I don't think we have an agitator line.. our salty guys aren't salty enough or not here. It all looks similar.

Very nervous about the match but looking forward to it!

 

[Maluk11]

Lineup vs Sweden

Hrubec (Will)

Musil - Hronek
Klok - Hájek
Šulák - Šustr
Sklenička

Kubalík - Kovář - Zadina
Blumel - Chytil - Sekáč
Stránský - Špaček - Lenc
Smejkal - Hanzl - Flek
Vrána

 

[Czechboy]

Finally.. a nice moment. I doubt we've ever scored 4 goals on Sweden in third.

My big fear now? We lose to GB! This is the way.lol

 

[Czechboy]

So who had us dead last heading into the game with Sweden? 12 pts available. Not sure how many we need and definitely not sure how many we'll get!

View attachment 439426

Much better... even better is that the 3 teams around us (Slovakia above, Denmark and GB below) are our next 3 opponets. We don't need luck now. We don't need another nation to win for us. We just need to do our job. It is in OUR hands. A loss today and we are routing for Denmark.

3 more games.. need to make good things happen. Lots of work still left.

 

[Maluk11]

I liked what one poster on czech forum wrote: In the last period I finally saw the Czech team. I just don't understand why the Bulgarians played for us before
But really, today they have choice if they want to live or died and they looked really alive to me when Flek scores the 4th goal
It was one period and all the games ahead are going to be tough too, lots of work left. But today I finally saw this team has a heart and with it nothing is impossible.

 

[Maluk11]

Also hats off to Vrána. He came without contract, with injured shoulder, after he was benched in last WC. And despite it all, he still fight for this team and country and scored the crucial first goal today.

 

[czechmate]

I liked what one poster on czech forum wrote: In the last period I finally saw the Czech team. I just don't understand why the Bulgarians played for us before
But really, today they have choice if they want to live or died and they looked really alive to me when Flek scores the 4th goal
It was one period and all the games ahead are going to be tough too, lots of work left. But today I finally saw this team has a heart and with it nothing is impossible.

The Czechs had a shocking start into the tournament and I thought that some of the critique was certainly warranted. I had a slight déjà-vu after the first two periods today and was yet again at the brink of disappointment. However, I did not expect that answer in the third period to be honest. Today we were facing the wall as the worst ranked team in our group with 2 points. The PP goals gave us momentum and thereby injected energy and passion into our game. We faced adversity and managed to battle ourselves out of it.

And for the record, it was the first time that I enjoyed watching the Czechs play hockey at this WC. Let's hope that this was the awakening call that will push us very far this year! I don't want to jinx anything and I also don't care if we lose in the playoffs as long as we fight until the last breath and leave everything on the ice. Flek is a prime example of that, just love the guy.

Big virtual hug to my fellow Czechs on here!

Cesi do toho!

 

[Czechboy]

 

[joey16]

I don't even want to google the record against the Swede's... didn't they set some kind of record here like 'never lost a quarter' or something?

I think it was actually us in 2012 who interrupted that streak of Sweden advancing to semis like 10+ years in a row or something.

 

[Maluk11]

Petr Kváča registered on roster today. Which mean the team is complete now.

 

[Czechboy]

It occurs to me that yesterdays win is like getting a break in tennis. It doesn't matter if you don't follow it up!

My only fear now is that we are back to being favourites in our next 2 matches... we don't do well as favourites. I really hope there isn't a letdown and an OT loss or something like that against GB and Denmark. Hope we confirm our Top 4 status. However, I've seen this show before. Beat the big team and lose to the lesser one because we play down to their level.

Curious if Vrana gets tomorrow off? Do we see Will? I've liked that he's run with one goalie personally. I'm not overly impressed with Hrubec yet but maybe I'll change my tune. Not saying I think he's bad but just not out of this world.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[aonb]

Guys, how is Stransky in your opinion? I'm big fan of him

 

[Voodoozz]

Hrubec has looked solid in my eyes. There were like 2 goals he could have saved but other than that he's been great. I particularly like his rebound control.
Save % is kinda irrelevant in a tournament like this. As far as he shuts the door in the QF (if we make it there), i'll be happy.

 

[Maluk11]

Lineup vs Great Britain

Will (Kváča)

Musil - Hronek
Sklenička - Klok
Šulák - Šustr
Hájek

Kubalík - Kovář - Zadina
Vrána - Chytil - Sekáč
Stránský - Špaček - Lenc
Smejkal - Hanzl - Flek
Blümel

 

[Czechboy]

Guys, how is Stransky in your opinion? I'm big fan of him

He's good... big size and all the tools. He's near his athletic prime so doing well. He's also won a LOT. He went to the memorial cup, won the calder cup (AHL) and won the Extraliga. He should be a good player in the NLA. He was huge on the Vrana goal with a gorgeous screen. Of our non NHLers I'd say he is behind Spaced personally.

 

[Czechboy]

Watched it on PVR after it was long over.

Nice game... nice to see the D scoring and being activitated.

I'm convinced guys like Smejkal and Flek do everything right but just can't finish. Beauty bottom 6 players though. The Cerna Praci crew. I may have spelt that wrong.

I was really happy for Lenc and his goal!

Will looked awful on the goal against.lol First he didn't catch it and then they shut it wide and he knocked it into his net. In general, our PK didn't look good. One goal against but another PK the GB team had some great chances as well.

Sekac looks every bit the NHLer but his finishing is rough... I don't know if it's injury, if he can't score or whatever. I like him in the Top 6 but he is either snakebitten or not very good at scoring.

Chytil is so exciting to watch. It's great to see guys like him and Zadina making impacts in games.

Glad they rested Vrana up a bit.

I'm hoping this means Klok is in and Moravcik is out.

Game against the Danes will be HUGE. I expect a very tight game where we outshoot them but the score will be 1 goal. In no way do I expect a 4-0 win. I'd take one but I get the feeling that game will be tight.

 

[Czechboy]

It's crazy to think that our next opponents are the ones grouped in with us. Totally in our hands. The Slovak vs Denmark game looms large right now! Swiss with Belarus and Latvia left so they seem safe for a Quarter spot. I assume Russia locked one up with win? I still think Sweden has a good chance to make it. Ask me after Denmark vs Slovakia.lol

 

[Czechboy]

I'm pretty sure if Denmark beats us in regulation tomorrow that we can't advance. It'd put them at 11 pts and even if we beat Slovakia in regulation we'd have 11 points and lose the head to head. Big game! I think it's going to be very close.

On a good news note... the Russia vs Sweden game has huge impacts on us and will be the day before our game against Slovakia.

If Sweden beats Russia, the Slovaks will be in a must win against us.

Denmark first though.. I wouldn't change the lineup much at all. Hrubec in net and similar lineups.

 

[Czechboy]

All the guys with 2 points or more... Happy to see our captain Kovar with so may points. Zadina is a bit snakebitten.. so is Sekac. Nice to see some offense from Klok and Sulak. Hanzl is a nice surprise with his insane faceoffs as well. I feel like we're coming together quite nicely. Danes will be tough!

 

[Maluk11]

Lineup vs Denmark

Hrubec

Hronek, D. Musil
Klok, Sklenička
Šustr, Šulák
Hájek

Lenc, Jan Kovář, D. Kubalík
J. Vrána, Chytil, Sekáč
Zadina, M. Špaček, M. Stránský
Flek, R. Hanzl, Smejkal
T. Zohorna

 

[Husqvarna]

Lineup vs Sweden

Hrubec (Will)

Musil - Hronek
Klok - Hájek
Šulák - Šustr
Sklenička

Kubalík - Kovář - Zadina
Blumel - Chytil - Sekáč
Stránský - Špaček - Lenc
Smejkal - Hanzl - Flek
Vrána

Klok ... means wise in the Swedish language. Probably in Danish too!.

 

[Czechboy]

Lineup vs Denmark

Hrubec

Hronek, D. Musil
Klok, Sklenička
Šustr, Šulák
Hájek

Lenc, Jan Kovář, D. Kubalík
J. Vrána, Chytil, Sekáč
Zadina, M. Špaček, M. Stránský
Flek, R. Hanzl, Smejkal
T. Zohorna

Bit confusing.. what did Hajek due to become 7th defender? Especially in such a key game? Is he hurt? I thought he was having a good tourney personally.

Every more confusing.. what on earth has Lenc done to get on first line? Shouldn't first line be in stone now? I loved Zadina on that line.

Having said that... glad Chytil is 2C and has Vrana.

Third line looks like a killer line for outscoring.

Love the 4th line. They are perfect and tilt ice well. Hanzl always wins draw.. Smejkal is a big body who pushes thing to the other end and Flek is damn fast and gets a breakaway every game.

Can't remember who got cut here from last game?

Figured it out.. Blumel got cut. Im okay with that for Zohorna despite a big Blumel love.

MUST WIN

 

[Czechboy]

Well, here we are.lol

Danes are out and can't catch us. Down to the Swedes and Slovaks. If Russia wins in regulation the drama is over and we play Slovakia for placement only which would be nice. If Sweden wins clean then our game tomorrow is going to be have a LOT of stakes to it. Even an OT win for Swedes puts Czechs in a bad situation.