WC: 2023 Czech Team

[Czechboy]

Lauko is offering his services!

 

[Czechboy]

Every year there is a debate about Euro vs North America guys.

Here you go... we have a Team Euro built around Extraliga players.

There is something to the theory that a team not built on stars will do better and the lines will roll more smoothly and no one is sitting around waiting for, eg. Pasta, to get a goal. Reslience may go up and such. Team belonging goes up. We play as a cohesive unit, rely on those EHT teams and experiences and build and grow.

Me? I'd prefer we do that with a team full of stars than a team full of guys that could never play one game in the NHL. But that's just my opinion. I'm not sure why only lesser players can gel and become cohesive? Can we not do the same thing with star players and have depth?

Guess we'll see because this really feels like the team Kari wanted.

I think we make quarters and I think it'll be a 1 goal game. I'd love to see us win that game. Crossover appears to be one of Sweden, Finland, US and Germany/Denmark.

I will cheer to the end. Losing 2 of our 5 best forwards is devastating to the offence but it is still a good group of forwards.

My vote would've been Lauko and Zohorna. I love Zohorna and he's a big body. He's returning to Europe (guessing) and would be motivated to get a nice Euro contract too.

I honestly wish one of our NHLers stepped up and joined as quarters are in 6 days.. minimal committment here.

I will cheer to the end. If keep Vejmelka in net and bond as a team we do have a chance against anyone in the quarters.

Put another way, every morning I wake up, log in here and read nothing but bad news.lol

 

[Eye of Ra]

Even with many injuries...still you guys make playoffs...thats strong.

in qf for sure czechia will beat sweden, usa, germany/denmark....but not Finland

 

[tade]

Lauko is offering his services!

I totally forgot about him. Why is Lauko not on the team already?! Come on now... at least we have Lenc.

 

[Czechboy]

I totally forgot about him. Why is Lauko not on the team already?! Come on now... at least we have Lenc.

If it isn't a guy like Pasta, Palat, Vrana or Krejci coming to save the day then and play for a week it's not that relevant. It is Friday and tourney ends next Sunday. C'mon Havlat.. offer up free beer, beautiful models.. do what you gotta do!

I would've loved Blumel but he is still in AHL. He could've jumped in our Top 6 and been effective immediately.

Lenc, Lauko, Zohorna... all at a similar level despite being very different players.

I would enjoy seeing Lauko though.

 

[Old Man Jags]

Even with many injuries...still you guys make playoffs...thats strong.

in qf for sure czechia will beat sweden, usa, germany/denmark....but not Finland

We have no chance to beat anyone in the QF, I would be OK with just getting there under these circumstances, which is by no means certain.

 

[Swipes]

The loss of Chytil and Sedlak is not replaceable as someone said. Very depressing. I would like to thank them for doing their best to stay and wish them a speedy recovery.

Not sure why Lauko didn't get a look. He was good for Boston this year when I watched him.

As someone said, we can only surprise. Let's see. But I don't remember a tournament with so many injuries like this....

 

[Old Man Jags]

We have no chance to beat anyone in the QF, I would be OK with just getting there under these circumstances, which is by no means certain.

…and I am normally an optimistic Czech. No usual Czech cop-out (our posters are generally cautious and not arrogant), I normally believe in my team as you can see by past posts, and for example never believed we would lose against Latvia, even when we were down and played terribly. But in the current context, I realistically think that the QF in this tournament is our limit. Assuming we even get there.

 

[Swipes]

…and I am normally an optimistic Czech. No usual Czech cop-out (our posters are generally cautious and not arrogant), I normally believe in my team as you can see by past posts, and for example never believed we would lose against Latvia, even when we were down and played terribly. But in the current context, I realistically think that the QF in this tournament is our limit. Assuming we even get there.

The QF (if we get there) will certainly be more difficult. They may bring another gear but it's hard to tell if it'll be enough.

 

[Czechboy]

…and I am normally an optimistic Czech. No usual Czech cop-out (our posters are generally cautious and not arrogant), I normally believe in my team as you can see by past posts, and for example never believed we would lose against Latvia, even when we were down and played terribly. But in the current context, I realistically think that the QF in this tournament is our limit. Assuming we even get there.

If we beat Norway tomorrow and they have nothing like a vlejmelka, Kubalik or cervenka... Then our quarters are pretty much sealed I think. We are on great shape before the last two games and we have the head to head on Slovakia who I think will edge our Latvia.

As far as the quarter itself... Going to be stressful. I tell myself that guys like smejkal, chlapik and Spacek have dreamed of an opportunity like this their whole lives.

Sobotka may be our 1c now too and, for all my bitching, that may not be a bad thing.

 

[Goodman68]

The loss of Chytil and Sedlak is not replaceable as someone said. Very depressing. I would like to thank them for doing their best to stay and wish them a speedy recovery.

Not sure why Lauko didn't get a look. He was good for Boston this year when I watched him.

As someone said, we can only surprise. Let's see. But I don't remember a tournament with so many injuries like this....

It was me. A good man

 

[martygod12]

Ok but Tell me the logic there, Zohorna havent played a single match and he can come without testing but Lauko can't

Like seriously wtf is this kind of logic.

 

[Czechboy]

View attachment 710474

Ok but Tell me the logic there, Zohorna havent played a single match and he can come without testing but Lauko can't

Like seriously wtf is this kind of logic.

It's I haven't won a medal in 10 years logic.lol

 

[martygod12]

It's I haven't won a medal in 10 years logic.lol

I dont mind Zohorna coming, but I think Lauko Is better and Its shame to turn him down if he wants to come.

Anyway thanks to slovaks I think we only need 2points today to have 100% certainity of qf. Of course I hope for three, but slovaks really hepled us there yesterday lol

 

[24 others]

View attachment 710474

Ok but Tell me the logic there, Zohorna havent played a single match and he can come without testing but Lauko can't

Like seriously wtf is this kind of logic.

OMG. So the team is old, lacks jump and energy, and guess what, we have a high-energy young guy ready to go, who can make things happen every time he is on the ice.

So they take Radan ****ing Lenc instead.

 

[martygod12]

Qf secured, now we Will see how "strong" this team actually Is.

Hope they can suprise us

 

[Voodoozz]

Kaut in his current form is probably the most useless player I have ever seen. Can't skate, can't pass, can't shoot, can't win a puck battle, goes to the wrong places.. . I hope he can turn it around but man he looks bad out there.

 

[martygod12]

Kaut in his current form is probably the most useless player I have ever seen. Can't skate, can't pass, can't shoot, can't win a puck battle, goes to the wrong places.. . I hope he can turn it around but man he looks bad out there.

True.I was really looking forward to see him play at WCH. But sadly he Is really bad so far.

Other dissapointment is Spacek. Guy Is a ppg in basically every season and every euro League. He even produces at eht. But then wch comes and he Is absolutelly terrible, like he can't handle the pressure or something.

Also Chlapík and Smejkal as elite euro attackers are behind expextations, but here we must be fair to them And it could very well be beacuse they are just not 100% ok and at full strength

 

[Mirinho]

This team is incredible. 2 top players are already at home (Sedlak and Chytil). There are 2 useless players Kaut and Tomasek and 2 injured players Chlapik and Smejkal (both are +-50% of their usual form and they wouldn't play in other years with all players healthy and ready) + Spacek who isn't bad, but he is playing worse thay usually (but ok, I can live with him on the 3rd line) ... and with all this we are in QF after 5 matches and we have top scorer

 

[Czechboy]

OMG. So the team is old, lacks jump and energy, and guess what, we have a high-energy young guy ready to go, who can make things happen every time he is on the ice.

So they take Radan ****ing Lenc instead.

I'm really happy with the Zohorna add to be honest. He's a guy I would've wanted before the Czech games. Brian Boyle Lite! Big guy, great on draws and can really help our bottom 6. I also feel we are missing a net front presence on PP... I'd like to see him standing there.

Lenc looked good today but, yes, I would've loved to see Lauko! Fast, energy and bottom 6! Also, I think he'll become a bigger 'name' in hockey next year and will be more desired going forward.

 

[Czechboy]

Agree with Mirinho above...

We lost our top scorers in Sedlak and Chytil.

We are playing Chlapik and Smejkal at 50%...

That's our original Top 6.lol

We have a weak D.

We have been playing 3 goalies like a Pee Wee weekend tournament.

After all that nonsense... we are in the quarters VERY comfortably! We can still even win the pool.

We have the leading scorer the tourney! He may set a record.

We have a leading D scorer too in Kempny.

For all my bitching.. hats off to Kari and the crew. And I say that as a highly critical fan of this team and Kari.

 

[Czechboy]

Oh yeah, we are undefeated in regulation!

 

[Goodman68]

Today it was mod Třinec. It was impossible to watch, we played terribly from the beginning and in the end you feel that we actually won well.. Lenc performed very well today, he surprised me, but I would also like to see Lauko in his position.

Kaut in his current form is probably the most useless player I have ever seen. Can't skate, can't pass, can't shoot, can't win a puck battle, goes to the wrong places.. . I hope he can turn it around but man he looks bad out there.

I didn't have high expectations for him, but honestly, he's even worse.

 

[Czechboy]

I have a theory that you guys can laugh at...

Everyday Smejkal gets healthier and more noticeable... he was a total shadow in an Itech to start and now he's messing up 2 on 0 breakways but I've noticed him today.. he's getting better... and by that I mean he's been playing at 50% and I think his 100% is coming with every passing day.

I feel the exact same about Chlapik. Dude would die for us and is another great shooter for us. He still has more game to give and I think it will get better with every passing game.

For all my bitching, Sobotka has been playing great. I love the player, I just don' tlike the PP time and top 6 minutes but it's working and he probably fits into Kari's system perfect. Coaches have always liked him imo.

Spacek is struggling but I think it'll get better for him. To me, it's nerves. Same thing that gets Hrubec. Great players but NT is a different animal.

Kaut is one of my favs... I love that he's here and made the team. He's been invisible and I can't see him playing in the quarter if this keeps up. He doesn't PK, PP and his 5 on 5 is not impressive. He's a 'warm body' for us. I hate to type that. Hope he shows up in last 2 games.

 

[NyQuil]

Everyday Smejkal gets healthier and more noticeable... he was a total shadow in an Itech to start and now he's messing up 2 on 0 breakways but I've noticed him today.. he's getting better... and by that I mean he's been playing at 50% and I think his 100% is coming with every passing day.

Go Sens Go!