WJC: 2021 Team Slovakia roster talk

[Elvs]

I think cutting Cajkovic was the right thing to do. On paper, the team is obviously better with him, but there are more things you gotta take into consideration here. First of all, it's a team sport and people who don't believe locker room chemistry means anything has never been part of a team. It is a social environment just like any workplace. Secondly, you gotta set an example for other young players that this kind of conduct won't be tolerated. And last, you want Cajkovic to learn and grow into a pro athlete, who can help the national team in the future. The kid has talent, but talent alone won't make him an NHL player nor a national team calibre forward at the men's level. Hopefully he deals with this the right away and learns something from it.

 

[mirec04]

All 2004 born players survived the first cut. The list of players who left the team:
defensemen: Oliver Fatul, František Gajdoš, Martin Knižka, Michal Beňo
forwards: Antonio Ožvald, Samuel Rehák, Matej Ľupták and Matej Farkaš

The next 5 players will be cut on 12th December.

 

[hellwar9]

Slovak boys with the born year 2004 Slafkovsky, Nemec and Mesar could really get on the WJC. As written in this article, so all three have a great precondition to enter in special formations and play power games. In the model matches, Simon Nemec excellently conducted a power play. Juraj Slafkovský is also very valid for these situations due to his height and movement. Also Filip Mesar, who is a cold-blooded finisher. He can get into chances and score a goal. The boys did their job very well. They fit perfectly in this team and not only did excellent performances, but there were also enough to see them on the ice.

They will try it this year, they will gain important experience and the next one together with the Chromiak, Knazko, probably Elias (2004) and a few other guys, i think that we can be the dark horse of the tournament. So, I hope that the coaches will not remove them from the roster.

 

[SCampo98]

Is this one of the best crops of players Slovakia has had in the past while? It seems like theres a bunch of young players who look poised to make the team.

 

[um]

Is this one of the best crops of players Slovakia has had in the past while? It seems like theres a bunch of young players who look poised to make the team.

Its usually young players who make these teams.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Slovak boys with the born year 2004 Slafkovsky, Nemec and Mesar could really get on the WJC. As written in this article, so all three have a great precondition to enter in special formations and play power games. In the model matches, Simon Nemec excellently conducted a power play. Juraj Slafkovský is also very valid for these situations due to his height and movement. Also Filip Mesar, who is a cold-blooded finisher. He can get into chances and score a goal. The boys did their job very well. They fit perfectly in this team and not only did excellent performances, but there were also enough to see them on the ice.

They will try it this year, they will gain important experience and the next one together with the Chromiak, Knazko, probably Elias (2004) and a few other guys, i think that we can be the dark horse of the tournament. So, I hope that the coaches will not remove them from the roster.

What does next year's team look like? Is there a chance that 2023 draftees make the team? 2022 and 2023 drafts look good for Slovakia so they could have strong teams in at least next two U20 tournaments.

 

[hellwar9]

What does next year's team look like? Is there a chance that 2023 draftees make the team? 2022 and 2023 drafts look good for Slovakia so they could have strong teams in at least next two U20 tournaments.

Ah next year? Honestly, I have no idea. I would give the trio Alex Ciernik, Ondrej Molnar and Dalibor Dvorsky the best chance. Maybe some of them will get there, but they would have to make great progress. At the moment I think they will go to WJC in their draft season. A year is a long time, hard to say. But I agree, in the next 2-3 years, Slovaks could have a good team.

 

[alko]

Is this one of the best crops of players Slovakia has had in the past while? It seems like theres a bunch of young players who look poised to make the team.

No. until we see it on the ice. On paper, there was this team full of 1999 class, that was hyped long before they played. Result was not so good.

What does next year's team look like? Is there a chance that 2023 draftees make the team? 2022 and 2023 drafts look good for Slovakia so they could have strong teams in at least next two U20 tournaments.

Next year will be also a wild card team. You have to consider, there Slovakia will miss 2 U18 Championships. One in 2019 and the second in 2020. Nobody knows, if Hlinka tournament will be played in summer. So there will be no real international competition to see, how the y could play.
If they will play some international tournaments next season, its ok. But that is not so important.

Sure, league performance will have a strong word, but that is also something different as to play in national team.

 

[Rusty7550]

No. until we see it on the ice. On paper, there was this team full of 1999 class, that was hyped long before they played. Result was not so good.

Results were not good because of coaching. Bokroš completely wasted potential of that 99 class. I said this many times .... Coaching is the biggest weakness of Slovak hockey. There are only 2 good coaches is Slovak national teams. Ramsey (who is not even Slovak) and our U18 coach Feneš. IMO he should be coach of our U20 next year. He knows 02-04 born players very well. I don't believe in Petrovicky+Cacho.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Ah next year? Honestly, I have no idea. I would give the trio Alex Ciernik, Ondrej Molnar and Dalibor Dvorsky the best chance. Maybe some of them will get there, but they would have to make great progress. At the moment I think they will go to WJC in their draft season. A year is a long time, hard to say. But I agree, in the next 2-3 years, Slovaks could have a good team.

If Nemec, Slafkovsky and Mesar make the team this year's team being a D-1 players, I don't see why Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky couldn't make it. Next year's team could even be great.

 

[hellwar9]

If Nemec, Slafkovsky and Mesar make the team this year's team being a D-1 players, I don't see why Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky couldn't make it. Next year's team could even be great.

Yea, i agree. But 2001 Slovak class is a little bit weaker than 2002, so the competition will be bigger and the chances for such young players will be a bit lower. If there will be a Hlinka- Gretzky cup in the summer, we will see how about Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky are, or maybe someone else. Also for the nomination will fight the players from the birth year 2003 like Geci, Demek, Kupco, maybe Sramaty , Stefancik and Libor Nemec. Year is a really long time, but it should be a better team than this year.

 

[Rusty7550]

If Nemec, Slafkovsky and Mesar make the team this year's team being a D-1 players, I don't see why Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky couldn't make it. Next year's team could even be great.

It will be tougher to make it for Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky. Our 2001s sucks, so Slafkovsky, Nemec and Mesar have big chance to play at the WJC this year. On the other side, 2002s are much better in terms of quality and depth, they played very well at Hlinka-Gretzky last year and basically during the whole season. + you have few interesting 03 born players and obviously that strong 04 born generation.

 

[JabbaJabba]

It will be tougher to make it for Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky. Our 2001s sucks, so Slafkovsky, Nemec and Mesar have big chance to play at the WJC this year. On the other side, 2002s are much better in terms of quality and depth, they played very well at Hlinka-Gretzky last year and basically during the whole season. + you have few interesting 03 born players and obviously that strong 04 born generation.

Either way, Slovaks should field great teams in next couple of years.

 

[Elvs]

Is this one of the best crops of players Slovakia has had in the past while? It seems like theres a bunch of young players who look poised to make the team.

This team is likely to finish last in it's group. Give it three years, and the 16 year olds on this team are gonna be much better. With a strong 05 group on the horizon as well, Slovakia should have a strong team at the World Juniors when the 04/05 guys are the oldest in the tournament.

 

[hellwar9]

It will be tougher to make it for Ciernik, Molnar and Dvorsky. Our 2001s sucks, so Slafkovsky, Nemec and Mesar have big chance to play at the WJC this year. On the other side, 2002s are much better in terms of quality and depth, they played very well at Hlinka-Gretzky last year and basically during the whole season. + you have few interesting 03 born players and obviously that strong 04 born generation.

I think we could see Adam Sykora from the 2004 generation there next year. From watching the Tipos Extraliga, I see that each match from him is better and better. Not very tall (probably growing by a few cm in a year) but very handy and talented. It looks like he is regularly playing for men in Nitra and he is not lost at all. The others from 2004, apart from goalkeeper Elias, are not very real to today date, but who knows. However, if we had 5 players (Slafkovsky, Nemec, Mesar, Elias, Sykora) next year who will be on WJC in their draft year, it would be great. In that case, however, I can hardly see the place for the players for draft 2023. They will have to wait a year for their draft year. It's very early but I could imagine it like this:

Goalkeepers:
Latkoczy (2002), Beke (2002), Elias (2004)

Defenseman:
Knazko (2002), Stacha (2002), Petrovicky (2002), Zubak (2002), Becar (2003), Groch (2003), S. Nemec (2004) (HM: Turan (2002), Fatul (2002), Socha (2003))

Forwards:
Chromiak (2002), Faith (2002), Kaslik (2002), Michalik (2002), Kolenic (2002), Myklukha (2002), Jedlicka (2002), Geci (2003), Baco (2003), L. Nemec (2003), Mesar (2004), Slafkovsky (2004), Sykora (2004) (HM: Lasak (2002), Krajc (2002), Stefancik (2003), Kupco (2003), Demek (2003), Sramaty (2003), Ozvald (2003))

 

[Rusty7550]

Five cuts today: Adam Beke (02), D Martin Seliga (02), Sebastian Droppa (01), Lukas Skvarek (01), Jan Lasak (02). All three 04-born players - Simon Nemec, Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar are still part of the team.

 

[Jabs102501]

For some reason, Slovakia is going to head to the WJC with 30 players, and then make the 5 cuts there

 

[Rusty7550]

For some reason, Slovakia is going to head to the WJC with 30 players, and then make the 5 cuts there

Yeah, its little bit strange. But few more teams are going to make final cuts in Canada. Not only Slovakia.

 

[vorky]

Yeah, its little bit strange. But few more teams are going to make final cuts in Canada. Not only Slovakia.

It is due to COVID. You need more guys on roster in case of a positive test.

 

[Kamzik]

I really hope the three 2004s make it. It will make the team so much more interesting and exciting to watch, even if it is too young to be good. A glimmer of hope that the program is finally turning the corner, and once again developing young future talent.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Is Groch good?

 

[Kamzik]

Article in Sport.sk by the awesome writer Tomáš Prokop, translated to English by me.

I see my chances at playing in the WJCU20 are becoming more realistic, says youngster Simon Nemec.

Simon Nemec is not only a 16 year-old rookie for the U20 national team. If he is able to fight his way on to the final roster for the upcoming world juniors in Canada, he could belong among the key defenders on the team.

The reason is obvious. Of the 30 players that flew to Edmonton, he has the most experience in mens' hockey. The Liptovsky Mikulas native has received a lot of opportunity this season for HK Nitra. He has for the most part skated on the second defensive pairing for one of the better Extraliga teams. The experienced coach Antonin Stavjana has enough faith in him to play him on one of the powerplay units. That is where he excels the most. He is not afraid to play with the puck, he has excellent vision and a solid shot. He has started 15 games for Nitra. So far he's played 25 games in the Extraliga along with 20 games in the 1st division for Levice. If it wasn't for Covid-19 disrupting last season, he could have even more games under his belt.

"You can see it in Simon that he's already had a lot of experience. In Nitra he gets a lot of ice time which has certainly helped him. At camp in Zvolen he showed great potential. He has a great feel for the game, and fits into our powerplay. We want to use him in situations where his club team does. I believe he'll take advantage of his chances. We'll be glad if he earns a spot", said U20 coach Robert Petrovicky.

The Slovak junior team doesn't often have defenseman like Simon Nemec. It is not an exaggeration to say on the current U20 squad, the only comparable is the more experienced Samuel Knazko, who was selected in the third round of this year's NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nemec really values that he is still has a position on the national junior team, along with 2004 cohorts Juraj Slafkovsky a Filip Mesar. "I must admit that I see my chances at playing in the WJC20 as being more and more realistic. It's great that I'm not the only 16 year-old. The boys are a great addition to the team. There is no division among the older or younger players", said the defenseman.

"The fact that I play a lot for HK Nitra, mirrors that for the national junior team. I hope that I will make it past final cuts", said Nemec. Along with Slafkovsky, Nemec has been spoken of recently as one of the biggest talents in Slovak hockey in recent years. "I notice it. It is encouraging, but I have to show it on the ice. A chance to play in the championships will certainly help me in terms of eventually being drafted into the NHL. It's great that I have a chance to compare to the top level of world juniors".

"The coaching staff gave me opportunities in both intersquad games in different situations in areas where I think I'm good, in terms of offence and PP. I even played shorthanded". Nemec realizes that he must improve defensive play, where sometimes he can hold the puck for too long, eventually leading to errors. The HK Nitra coach Stavjana reminds him of his mistakes. "This season I am working on being dependable and playing a more simple game", said the creative playmaker in conclusion.

You can find the article in Slovak here: Šancu na svetový šampionát do dvadsať rokov vidím čoraz reálnejšie, hovorí mladíček Šimon Nemec

 

[Kamzik]

It looks like one of Slovakia's two pre-season games have been canceled. They were supposed to play Russia on December 22nd, but now they will play just the one game versus Czech Republic on December 23rd. Following the game, they will have to make their decisions and name the final roster. Given that they only have one game, I am guessing that those at or near the cut line will be dressed for the game and get a significant amount of playing time.

 

[james12]

There are 5 players to be cut after the game with Czechs. I suppose 1 goalie, 2 defensemen and 2 forwards. My final roster and line-up:

Hlavaj
Kozel
Latkoczy

Knazko (C) - Mudrak (A)
Stacha - Nemec
Golian - Petrovicky
Turan - Hlavac

Slafkovsky - Myklukha - Chromiak *
Faith - Kaslik - Mrazik (A)
Mesar - Sojka - Kolenic
Jendek - Elias - Baco
Jellus - Turansky

cuts: Rabcan, Becar, Groch, Drabek, Jedlicka
potential cuts: Kozel, Turan, Hlavac, Jellus, Turansky, Baco.

* these 3 were in the same line on ice during practice yesterday - possible elite line

- I expect Knazko being a C and two alternates out of Mudrak, Golian, Mrazik and Jendek.
- Powerplay units can be very interesting as well:

1st Knazko - Mudrak
Slaf. - Mrazik - Chromiak

2nd Nemec
Kaslik - Myklukha - Faith
Sojka

Can't wait to see that 16yo trio playing!

 

[hellwar9]

I thought Mesar would be in the first line. But yes, Slafkovsky with his style of play suits with Myklukha and Chromiak better for me.