WC: 2023 Czech Team

[Mirinho]

One of Palat or Necas will be massive upgrade for this team. So there is still chance to be better for QF match

 

[Eye of Ra]

Cervenka - Chytil - Kubalik
Chaplik - Spacek - Tomasek
Smejkal - Sedlak - Kaut
Vozenilek - Sobotka - Flek

Its a good forward group imo

 

[Czechboy]

I'm so sad I don't get to see Jiricek!

D is rough.

Rest is fine.

Must avoid a Finn quarterfinal!

 

[Czechboy]

One of Palat or Necas will be massive upgrade for this team. So there is still chance to be better for QF match

Barring injuries, I think both would come. Unless it goes to game 7 or something like that.

I'd be thrilled with either in our Top 6 - both would make a big difference and both would have a different impact!

 

[Voodoozz]

Getting Necas would be an absolute gamechanger for us. He could absolutely shine on international ice with more time and space. He already had some dominant shifts in Copenhagen (2018) when he was 19 and still playing for Kometa, great chemistry with Kubalik also iirc. But I don't think there's a way the Canes choke, so it's probably Palat. Which would still be an amazing addition.

 

[martygod12]

Man I just dont like this team. Dont get me wrong, its not that bad, I mean its not particulary strong(the D is weak yes again ) ,but other top nations also doesnt have exactly strong teams this year, so we still have a solid chance for succes.

What I dont like is that the team is old and boring as hell. There are almost no interesting players I would look forward to see play (just Chytil, Kubalik, maybe Tomasek, Smejkal).

I absolutelly hate to see Sobotka, Jordan and Nemecek in the team. First two are way past their prime, the third is just an average D even for extraliga.

Most of players I wanted to see there (Jiricek, Kulich, Svozil, Vrana, Galvas, Rousek etc.) are not there because of either injury, still playing or weird coaching desicions which I dont get.

So we might actually even bring medal with this team with a bit of luck. I just doesnt really look forward to see them play, thats the problem.

 

[Czechboy]

12 guys from extraliga.. guess we will see what kind of quality that league has. I admire Kari for trying to replicate the Finn recipe but, again, I don't think the extraliga is where our best Czechs are. This isn't 1998. There is no way 2010 had 12 extraliga guys either.

Kari seemed very determined to do this. Let's see how it goes. I think we could've had a better team and way too much was put into meaningless EHT games and over valuing the extraliga.

However... I'm don't bitching.

I will now switch to cheering! The first game against Slovakia is key! Need to avoid the Finn's. Shame we couldn't have played Canada in game 1. They lose those here sometimes

 

[tade]

Getting Necas would be an absolute gamechanger for us. He could absolutely shine on international ice with more time and space. He already had some dominant shifts in Copenhagen (2018) when he was 19 and still playing for Kometa, great chemistry with Kubalik also iirc. But I don't think there's a way the Canes choke, so it's probably Palat. Which would still be an amazing addition.

Definitely, would be similar to last year when Pastrnak arrived late to the tournament (similar kind of impact, I think). He's having terrific season and playoffs.

1 thing everyone learned about Devils is to not count them out when they are losing 2-0. Seems like they have Canes right where they wanted ( )... And of course Devils are up 3-0 in the third game after the 1st period.

Edit: already 4-0!

 

[Czechboy]

Definitely, would be similar to last year when Pastrnak arrived late to the tournament (similar kind of impact, I think). He's having terrific season and playoffs.

1 thing everyone learned about Devils is to not count them out when they are losing 2-0. Seems like they have Canes right where they wanted ( )... And of course Devils are up 3-0 in the third game after the 1st period.

Edit: already 4-0!

8-4 final.. my only frustration is that Vanecek didn't look great again. I'm a fan but he has yet to have a great playoff game.

Sub .900 in his playoff career.

I'm not sure he did enough to even gurantee the next start despite the W.

If they had lost I'd already be counting on Palat to show up! Now it's going to 7.haha

 

[Old Man Jags]

Hmm. Not loving this line-up. Lots of injuries this year, which I can live with - not a lot anyone could have done about it. But there are also some WEIRD coaching decisions, my goodness! Has Kari been drinking when he removed certain names? That said, I feel strangely assured that Scotka is not going. But I cannot see this D getting them over the line in the quarters. Will they even make the quarters?

 

[Czechboy]

Kampf.might be available this week! And he played awesome tonight.

Scratch that... No contract.

 

[Old Man Jags]

12 guys from extraliga.. guess we will see what kind of quality that league has. I admire Kari for trying to replicate the Finn recipe but, again, I don't think the extraliga is where our best Czechs are. This isn't 1998. There is no way 2010 had 12 extraliga guys either.

Kari seemed very determined to do this. Let's see how it goes. I think we could've had a better team and way too much was put into meaningless EHT games and over valuing the extraliga.

12 guys from extraliga.. guess we will see what kind of quality that league has. I admire Kari for trying to replicate the Finn recipe but, again, I don't think the extraliga is where our best Czechs are. This isn't 1998. There is no way 2010 had 12 extraliga guys either.

Kari seemed very determined to do this. Let's see how it goes. I think we could've had a better team and way too much was put into meaningless EHT games and over valuing the extraliga.

However... I'm don't bitching.

Exactly. I think the issue is that Kari is simply trying to replicate the success formula he is comfortable with from Finland, but we are not Fins. I think you could also see it in the world championships last year where the system sometimes seemed to stifle the Czechs’ natural creativity or playfulness. Yes, we won a medal but that success had many fathers, and I suspect an important catalyst was just that additional individual quality of players like Pastrnak that got us over the line.

 

[Czechboy]

Exactly. I think the issue is that Kari is simply trying to replicate the success formula he is comfortable with from Finland, but we are not Fins. I think you could also see it in the world championships last year where the system sometimes seemed to stifle the Czechs’ natural creativity or playfulness. Yes, we won a medal but that success had many fathers, and I suspect an important catalyst was just that additional individual quality of players like Pastrnak that got us over the line.

We had Vrana, Pasta, Krejci and Hertl. Actually and Kampf plus Hronek. I loved last year's roster. Cervus and Blumel too!

 

[Old Man Jags]

We had Vrana, Pasta, Krejci and Hertl. Actually and Kampf plus Hronek. I loved last year's roster. Cervus and Blumel too!

Could have had an in-form Vrana this year, too… Thanks Kari

 

[martygod12]

Hmm. Not loving this line-up. Lots of injuries this year, which I can live with - not a lot anyone could have done about it. But there are also some WEIRD coaching decisions, my goodness! Has Kari been drinking when he removed certain names? That said, I feel strangely assured that Scotka is not going. But I cannot see this D getting them over the line in the quarters. Will they even make the quarters?

I am bit worried too. The range of this team Is from winning the medal, to not making qf easy lol. Those games against Slovakia, Latvia or Norway wont be easy and we can't fumble and lose points there. Kazakhstan and Slovenia should be a W, with Swiss it will be 50:50 and I am sure Canada will beat us again.

We need to have at least 12points before the last two games, that should be enough for qf and we can go to these game without being nervous and facing elimination.

 

[Namejs]

I am bit worried too. The range of this team Is from winning the medal, to not making qf easy lol. Those games against Slovakia, Latvia or Norway wont be easy and we can't fumble and lose points there. Kazakhstan and Slovenia should be a W, with Swiss it will be 50:50 and I am sure Canada will beat us again.

We need to have at least 12points before the last two games, that should be enough for qf and we can go to these game without being nervous and facing elimination.

Most teams are weaker than usual this year. This Group B might be the weakest ever in World Champs, which should make for an exciting tournament.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Most teams are weaker than usual this year. This Group B might be the weakest ever in World Champs, which should make for an exciting tournament.

The group will highly probably be very predictable. Canada, Czech Rep., Switzerland will take the first 3 spots, Slovakia and Latvia to compete for the remaining QF spot. Pretty like every year. The "real" tournament will start in the QF round. It is the same (almost) every year. They want to have 16 teams included to give "weaker" teams the taste of top hockey, but I assume this may be one of the reasons why many top players decide to skip the tournament. 7 games in the group stage are simply too much, especially given that at least 3-4 of them are usually one-sided, not very competitive games.

 

[Namejs]

The group will highly probably be very predictable. Canada, Czech Rep., Switzerland will take the first 3 spots, Slovakia and Latvia to compete for the remaining QF spot. Pretty like every year. The "real" tournament will start in the QF round. It is the same (almost) every year. They want to have 16 teams included to give "weaker" teams the taste of top hockey, but I assume this may be one of the reasons why many top players decide to skip the tournament. 7 games in the group stage are simply too much, especially given that at least 3-4 of them are usually one-sided, not very competitive games.

For most of the teams participating, it's not about finishing in the top 3, so I think you might have missed the point.

2 years ago Canada almost lost its QF spot to Kazakhstan, only to win the gold later. There's more point-sharing going on than before, and this will continue with the weaker rosters.

 

[BigBadBoar]

For most of the teams participating, it's not about finishing in the top 3, so I think you might have missed the point.

2 years ago Canada almost lost its QF spot to Kazakhstan, only to win the gold later. There's more point-sharing going on than before, and this will continue with the weaker rosters.

Canada last year was an exception which occurs once in several years. Like in 2003, when the US team was playing in the relegation group. Things like that happen time to time, but with a high probability it will be as I said. Maybe Norway can compete for the 4th spot as well. Slovenia and Kazakhstan will probably just try to avoid relegation. I would be excited if, for example, Slovenia surprised Canada or Switzerland to make things less clear, but that probably won't happen.

 

[Namejs]

Canada last year was an exception which occurs once in several years. Like in 2003, when the US team was playing in the relegation group. Things like that happen time to time, but with a high probability it will be as I said. Maybe Norway can compete for the 4th spot as well. Slovenia and Kazakhstan will probably just try to avoid relegation. I would be excited if, for example, Slovenia surprised Canada or Switzerland to make things less clear, but that probably won't happen.

No, you're making general, low-resolution assumptions right now.

As I said, the difference between the best rosters these teams can ice and the ones being iced at the World Champs has increased. The distance between the mid nations of Denmark/Latvia/etc. and the top tier nations is not linear. It's lonely at the top.

With Czechia sending a weaker roster, it's much easier to play tight games against them. Same for Canada. They're sending their 7th or 8th best team, or worse.

This makes it into a less predictable tournament with an increased likelihood of the Kazakhstan-Canada scenario reoccurring.

I've been watching the IHWC for a while and there was a time when you could pencil in blowout losses. When Riga was the host city back in 2006, they lost 0-11 vs. Canada. I would be flabbergasted if that happened on May 12.

 

[Czechboy]

No, you're making general, low-resolution assumptions right now.

As I said, the difference between the best rosters these teams can ice and the ones being iced at the World Champs has increased. The distance between the mid nations of Denmark/Latvia/etc. and the top tier nations is not linear. It's lonely at the top.

With Czechia sending a weaker roster, it's much easier to play tight games against them. Same for Canada. They're sending their 7th or 8th best team, or worse.

This makes it into a less predictable tournament with an increased likelihood of the Kazakhstan-Canada scenario reoccurring.

I've been watching the IHWC for a while and there was a time when you could pencil in blowout losses. When Riga was the host city back in 2006, they lost 0-11 vs. Canada. I would be flabbergasted if that happened on May 12.

I tend to agree with you on this one.. good example being how Denmark defeated us at the Olympics. That was their B squad beating our D squad.

I do expect much closer games and upsets in the round robin. I actually think Latvia will beat Canada on Friday.

However, I think the Semi's will be the usual suspects. We will see!

 

[garbageteam]

No, you're making general, low-resolution assumptions right now.

As I said, the difference between the best rosters these teams can ice and the ones being iced at the World Champs has increased. The distance between the mid nations of Denmark/Latvia/etc. and the top tier nations is not linear. It's lonely at the top.

With Czechia sending a weaker roster, it's much easier to play tight games against them. Same for Canada. They're sending their 7th or 8th best team, or worse.

This makes it into a less predictable tournament with an increased likelihood of the Kazakhstan-Canada scenario reoccurring.

I've been watching the IHWC for a while and there was a time when you could pencil in blowout losses. When Riga was the host city back in 2006, they lost 0-11 vs. Canada. I would be flabbergasted if that happened on May 12.

0-11 wouldn't happen even if Canada sent their 23 best players to a tournament. For all the moaning about how no one else has joined the top 5 nations (and a couple have even dropped off an old list of 7), the next 5-6 nations in hockey have gotten a lot better.

 

[Old Man Jags]

I tend to agree with you on this one.. good example being how Denmark defeated us at the Olympics. That was their B squad beating our D squad.

I do expect much closer games and upsets in the round robin. I actually think Latvia will beat Canada on Friday.

However, I think the Semi's will be the usual suspects. We will see!

Indeed. The games with at least some of the “lesser teams” are getting closer, and Canada is quite capable of losing its first game. Gone are the days of Czech Republic (or possibly even Czechoslovakia still back then, I think) - Poland 15:0. (After losing to us 0:15, the Poles then beat Germany!) I remember when it was only 8 teams and I liked it because the gap after the top 5 was so huge (Switzerland was completely useless then and Slovakia did not exist), so I did not like the watering down of quality at the time of the first expansion. Do you remember that they only expanded the number of teams because German sponsors / market were important but Germany kept either getting relegated or coming close to it. They wanted Germany to be un-relegatable. But now I am glad they expanded the pool because over the years I think it helped lift the level in some countries, which can only be good for the game of hockey. I do think though that this one has gone a bit far. And I do believe that in the end, the predictable four nations will advance to the QF, albeit not necessarily in the order people predict.

 

[martygod12]

Seider is coming fot Germany, changed his mind insteresting.

No one from our stars would do that hm? Hertl, Zacha? No one?

 

[Old Man Jags]

Seider is coming fot Germany, changed his mind insteresting.

No one from our stars would do that hm? Hertl, Zacha? No one?

Zacha can f*** ***, but I am disappointed with Hertl.