WC: 2024 Czech team in Prague!

[martygod12]

Where is Simek?

Nedved was trying to get him, but Grand Rapids wont release him

 

[martygod12]

Is it really looks like no Kral? I remember we were discussing, that the silver lining of Kral and Galvas ending in NHL means we at least get to see them at WCH regularly.

Look like both of them wont be there lol.

Yet we still rely on the likes of Scotka, Krejcik etc. guys who never played anything in NT.

Well I will not criticise yet. In comparison to Kari, I still believe that Rulik knows what he is doing. So if he thinks Scotka and Krejcik are better then Galvas and Kral, so be it. I dont think so, but maybe I will be wrong.

 

[Czechboy]

Is it really looks like no Kral? I remember we were discussing, that the silver lining of Kral and Galvas ending in NHL means we at least get to see them at WCH regularly.

Look like both of them wont be there lol.

Yet we still rely on the likes of Scotka, Krejcik etc. guys who never played anything in NT.

Well I will not criticise yet. In comparison to Kari, I still believe that Rulik knows what he is doing. So if he thinks Scotka and Krejcik are better then Galvas and Kral, so be it. I dont think so, but maybe I will be wrong.

So my theory is that a LOT of coaches prefere older, reliable 'heavy' vets. Not 6 of them but 2 of them. So maybe he didn't see a Top 4 role (15 to 20 a night with PP chances) for Galvas/Kral. And he feels that plugs like Scotka would be better on 3rd pair as a heavy type player.

I'm not saying I like this philosophy but it is a thing. Kind of like when we cut Hudler (top 5 in NHL at the time) because we already had Elias and other players would be better in bottom 6. Again, not my philosophy but I think that is what is happening.

However, I am still expecting a Kral announcement. He better be hurt or drunk in Finland after a good season.lol

 

[Kuracmugger]

You czech posters don‘t seem to like Simon Hrubec but i have to say he played very well for zurich this year to be fair he had a powerhouse in front of him but he was defenitely one of the best if not the best goalie in the NL this year. I do remember the goal he „scored“ against slovakia last year tho…

 

[Czechboy]

You czech posters don‘t seem to like Simon Hrubec but i have to say he played very well for zurich this year to be fair he had a powerhouse in front of him but he was defenitely one of the best if not the best goalie in the NL this year. I do remember the goal he „scored“ against slovakia last year tho…

I think it's him on the NT that we don't like. Speaking for myself anyways. He is an awesome goalie and very good. But he always shits the bed on the NT. Might not even be his fault but it always goes poorly. Meanwhile, I think he wins every Euro league and is obviously a clutch goalie who is a winner.

The other issue I have is that we bring an NHL goalie and sit him to play our Euro goalie. About a decade of sit NHL guy and play Euro guy. Last year it was Vejmelka with a ball cap watching Hrubec play game after game after game. It didn't work.

 

[jj cale]

You guys start with Finland right off the hop which is a good thing I think, you will really find out quick what needs to get better win or lose and it can battle harden you early.

 

[Czechboy]

Not a lineup I like but I thought I'd post it. He cut Zadina, so Goodman will love him.lol

 

[Czechboy]

You guys start with Finland right off the hop which is a good thing I think, you will really find out quick what needs to get better win or lose and it can battle harden you early.

Yup. The dream is always Canada or US first though... they always suck in the first game.haha

 

[jj cale]

Yup. The dream is always Canada or US first though... they always suck in the first game.haha

We're certainly not known for coming out of the gate strong at this thing.

 

[Czechboy]

One thing that lineup shows me though is that we don't have a nuclear first line option. We should have 3 very even lines.. a Top 9 and then a 4th line of specialists for PK and such. But no combination of those forwards will give us some insane juggernaut top line. Eg. a few years ago Voracek, Frolik and Simon did a great job! We don't have anything like that this year.

 

[Czechboy]

We're certainly not known for coming out of the gate strong at this thing.

Nope... usually a disaster start. Lose to Jamaica.. everyone posts hockey is dead in Canada. Then you win it 2 weeks later.lol

 

[jj cale]

Nope... usually a disaster start. Lose to Jamaica.. everyone posts hockey is dead in Canada. Then you win it 2 weeks later.lol

If this was a horse race our starts from the announcer would be best described as..." there's Canada in lane 5 starting out in a light gallop!!"

We turn it on in the back stretch usually though.

 

[Czechboy]

Caroline vs Rangers in round two.

Here is my dream.lol.

Chytil returns and plays great.

We get one of Necas and Chytil after round 2. Immediately slot them on line 1.

 

[Kuracmugger]

I think it's him on the NT that we don't like. Speaking for myself anyways. He is an awesome goalie and very good. But he always shits the bed on the NT. Might not even be his fault but it always goes poorly. Meanwhile, I think he wins every Euro league and is obviously a clutch goalie who is a winner.

The other issue I have is that we bring an NHL goalie and sit him to play our Euro goalie. About a decade of sit NHL guy and play Euro guy. Last year it was Vejmelka with a ball cap watching Hrubec play game after game after game. It didn't work.

Okey that‘s true if there are NHL goalies available ghat are obviously better you have to let them play over a Euro guy. And a very good Euro guy is not automatically good in international play of course especially with nhl players there too since the level is higher. And some guys just don‘t perform on the NT. I would want Dostal and Mrazek over him aswell so i completely understand you. Maybe third Goalie in the stands? Just wanted to say he‘s been great for us in zurich but i‘d still prefer a swiss goalie over him despite him being that good but that‘s another topic.

 

[Czechboy]

Okey that‘s true if there are NHL goalies available ghat are obviously better you have to let them play over a Euro guy. And a very good Euro guy is not automatically good in international play of course especially with nhl players there too since the level is higher. And some guys just don‘t perform on the NT. I would want Dostal and Mrazek over him aswell so i completely understand you. Maybe third Goalie in the stands? Just wanted to say he‘s been great for us in zurich but i‘d still prefer a swiss goalie over him despite him being that good but that‘s another topic.

Not that they are asking me.. but my hope was our third goalie be a young guy with NHL chance.. eg. Suchanek, Malek (who they cut), Patera or Dobes. Someone who may become an NHLer and a future NT goalie.

What we do is bring 2 NHL guys.. and somehow end up with the Euro in net.lol My fav was one Olympics where we had Vokoun, Hasek and Hniclicka who had returned to Europe. Guess who started the Semi game?

Kovar of Pavelec
Salak over Pavelec
Hrubec over Vejmelka

The one year Francouz got the job over an NHL starter (probably Pavelec again, they shit on him). The next year Francouz became an NHL goalie.. arrived to camp and was made the backup to a Euro (Bartosak).

Agree Hrubec is excellent though! I'd rather we not even bring a Euro goalie after all this.

Having said that.. the Czechs have seemed to switched their goalie philosophies on who starts and I'm 90% certain it is because Pavelec is around in management now. Eg. Hrabal got every start at U20. Milota at U18 so far.

Another one (lol) we'd do is bring in the NHL guy.. start him against Sweden, Russia and Canada. Start the Euro against Jamaica, Bermuda and Cuba. Then start the Euro in playoffs because he had a higher save percentage.lol Exagerated of course but you get the idea.

 

[Goodman68]

Okey that‘s true if there are NHL goalies available ghat are obviously better you have to let them play over a Euro guy. And a very good Euro guy is not automatically good in international play of course especially with nhl players there too since the level is higher. And some guys just don‘t perform on the NT. I would want Dostal and Mrazek over him aswell so i completely understand you. Maybe third Goalie in the stands? Just wanted to say he‘s been great for us in zurich but i‘d still prefer a swiss goalie over him despite him being that good but that‘s another topic.

Hrubec was a special case of a goalkeeper when he was still catching at the club. He used to have a good regular season early on, but he didn't catch so well in the playoffs. However, he improved every year and finally won the title. Maybe even in Switzerland he had a similar performance trajectory, he would need to get used to it and only then perform at his best. He didn't catch well in the national team, it wasn't really his fault, but he never caught well enough to be a difference player and some of the goals conceded were downright cheap.. And the national team is not the same as the club, no one will give him a few years in case the national team happens to be one day he won't be able to win a medal, there simply isn't time for that.

 

[martygod12]

Not a lineup I like but I thought I'd post it. He cut Zadina, so Goodman will love him.lol

Definitely a lot of objections there. Zadina being what it is I think he will show he can outplay most of the euro guys.

Not Kovarciks pls. Those are so boring and meh players, not a WCH material.

Krejcik you got to be kiddin me ... that guy should not have beein invited ever in the NT, completely below average player.

Otherwise its ok. Hope we can somehow score Jiricek and he will kick out Krejcik to the chance liga where he belongs. And Kampf + Zadina (or in better scenario Pasta + Zacha) instead of Kovarciks and it will be good.

 

[Czechboy]

Definitely a lot of objections there. Zadina being what it is I think he will show he can outplay most of the euro guys.

Not Kovarciks pls. Those are so boring and meh players, not a WCH material.

Krejcik you got to be kiddin me ... that guy should not have beein invited ever in the NT, completely below average player.

Otherwise its ok. Hope we can somehow score Jiricek and he will kick out Krejcik to the chance liga where he belongs. And Kampf + Zadina (or in better scenario Pasta + Zacha) instead of Kovarciks and it will be good.

It's funny because we have the potential for damn near our best possible team from lines 2 to 4.lol.

Eg. Let's say line 1 is pasta, Zacha and Necas.

Lines 2 to 4 would be most the players at camp.

Same with our D. Only glaring omission is Hronek and jiricek.

This is 85 percent of our best possible roster.

 

[Mirinho]

 

[martygod12]

It's funny because we have the potential for damn near our best possible team from lines 2 to 4.lol.

Eg. Let's say line 1 is pasta, Zacha and Necas.

Lines 2 to 4 would be most the players at camp.

Same with our D. Only glaring omission is Hronek and jiricek.

This is 85 percent of our best possible roster.

It kinda is lol. Though I hope it will be without Krejcik. And also think much less ELH/euro players would be in top roster. Probably just Sedlak, Kase. Dont forget that from the obvious Pasta, Zacha, Hertl, Necas .. guys like Chytil, Faksa, Kampf, Blumel, Kulich would probably took the place of the elh guys

So thats like 9 guys already missing in the attack, so I would say offense is there for like maybe 40% full strength. Defense at like 80%. GKs almost 100% there is currently no better trio I would say.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Hrubec was a special case of a goalkeeper when he was still catching at the club. He used to have a good regular season early on, but he didn't catch so well in the playoffs. However, he improved every year and finally won the title. Maybe even in Switzerland he had a similar performance trajectory, he would need to get used to it and only then perform at his best. He didn't catch well in the national team, it wasn't really his fault, but he never caught well enough to be a difference player and some of the goals conceded were downright cheap.. And the national team is not the same as the club, no one will give him a few years in case the national team happens to be one day he won't be able to win a medal, there simply isn't time for that.

That‘ true he was great in the playoffs this year but last year he was pretty medicore so i see what you say and yes of course in the NT you don‘t got that time that‘s true…

 

[Kuracmugger]

Not that they are asking me.. but my hope was our third goalie be a young guy with NHL chance.. eg. Suchanek, Malek (who they cut), Patera or Dobes. Someone who may become an NHLer and a future NT goalie.

What we do is bring 2 NHL guys.. and somehow end up with the Euro in net.lol My fav was one Olympics where we had Vokoun, Hasek and Hniclicka who had returned to Europe. Guess who started the Semi game?

Kovar of Pavelec
Salak over Pavelec
Hrubec over Vejmelka

The one year Francouz got the job over an NHL starter (probably Pavelec again, they shit on him). The next year Francouz became an NHL goalie.. arrived to camp and was made the backup to a Euro (Bartosak).

Agree Hrubec is excellent though! I'd rather we not even bring a Euro goalie after all this.

Having said that.. the Czechs have seemed to switched their goalie philosophies on who starts and I'm 90% certain it is because Pavelec is around in management now. Eg. Hrabal got every start at U20. Milota at U18 so far.

Another one (lol) we'd do is bring in the NHL guy.. start him against Sweden, Russia and Canada. Start the Euro against Jamaica, Bermuda and Cuba. Then start the Euro in playoffs because he had a higher save percentage.lol Exagerated of course but you get the idea.

That‘s a pretty weird strategy for sure, why even take the NHL goalie if you‘re going to take the Euro guy. But this year there‘s no way to not start Mrazek or dostal maybe hrubec(or any 3 Goalie) can play against GB or another weaker opponent IMO. I assume you prefer the strategy from u18/u20 with Dostal or Mrazek and not Hrubec lol but this is the best option for me altough the wjc and u18 only has 4 opposed to 7 round robin games so you have to rotate 1-2 times.

 

[Czechboy]

That‘s a pretty weird strategy for sure, why even take the NHL goalie if you‘re going to take the Euro guy. But this year there‘s no way to not start Mrazek or dostal maybe hrubec(or any 3 Goalie) can play against GB or another weaker opponent IMO. I assume you prefer the strategy from u18/u20 with Dostal or Mrazek and not Hrubec lol but this is the best option for me altough the wjc and u18 only has 4 opposed to 7 round robin games so you have to rotate 1-2 times.

My fear is they will rotate all 3 (which I think we did last year).

For the Skoda's.. I'd pick whoever they think are the best 2 (no idea how you do that.. all 3 are great!). Tell them in advance who and when they are playing.. give both a top flight opponent (I think Canada and Finland are in our pool). Then pick a guy for quarters and stick to him.

One gets 4 games, one gets 3 games and then quarters.

But, no one is asking me.lol

At the Juniors and U18.. I don't mind a split if the goalies are equivalent. However, I really haven't minded them just saying 'you're the starter' and go. I'm no goalie whisperer but I find goalies do better when they can play after a bad game instead of being sat.

 

[Kuracmugger]

My fear is they will rotate all 3 (which I think we did last year).

For the Skoda's.. I'd pick whoever they think are the best 2 (no idea how you do that.. all 3 are great!). Tell them in advance who and when they are playing.. give both a top flight opponent (I think Canada and Finland are in our pool). Then pick a guy for quarters and stick to him.

One gets 4 games, one gets 3 games and then quarters.

But, no one is asking me.lol

At the Juniors and U18.. I don't mind a split if the goalies are equivalent. However, I really haven't minded them just saying 'you're the starter' and go. I'm no goalie whisperer but I find goalies do better when they can play after a bad game instead of being sat.

Agree with you but teams mostly tend to use all 3 for atleast once if i am not mistaken as you said.

 

[martygod12]

Now that first line. Man thats some scary firepower