I don’t think Repcik is a #1 C on this team even though every time he puts on NT jersey he is a beast. This upcoming tournament will reveal potential defensemen more so than forwards.
I still see the same forwards as what I posted, although I believe Molnar would be an absolute lock for the team if he could play. Jencko isn’t suited for 4th line role, Sotek is better 2 way player and has more of a physical element that is needed.
I am leaning towards Nemec being there if he’s still in the AHL, he’s the heart of the team and I think he’d be pretty angry if he wasn’t allowed to go. Mosko has been now a healthy scratch for Cornell, I don’t know how he’s played so far. Strbak and Natny are locks and I think Pisoja should be too. Radivojevic will have to show coaches next weekend that he can defend top end U20 players. I also like Baran on the third pair. Zabka will probably be there, but I would take him only for injury depth.
I 100% agree with Repcik, he is not your typical 1st C, i was just thinking about balanced first 3 forward lines, not in particular order, not like typical 1st, 2nd and 3rd, but more like 3 strong lines on the same level and add someone who can PK (Suchy) to the 4th line, so will also have 4 really good penalty killers in Suchy, Repcik, Petrovsky and Sykora. Molnar would be also a lock in my opinion (replacing Sykora in 3rd and Sykora to 4th instead of Jencko), unfortunately, i just dont think he will be going.
About Nemec, i hope he will be available for WC, he should be there if he will be still in the Ahl. But in case he will not be able to go, this team will be missing puck moving D who can control play and also distribute puck and dictate play on PP. Radivojevic is showing that he is capable of doing exactly this in Swedish U20, in a league from where quite a lot of players will be in Swedens NT. I can see him making the team in case Nemec will not be available, or as 9th D if Nemec will be going. Mosko was healthy scratch in 2 games in NCAA, but i still see him as a much better choice then Baran who is playing “just” BCHL, a league a tier below USHL. Dont take me wrong, i consider Baran a pretty good D and prospect, i just rank Mosko higher right now, but i definitely can imagine defense without him anyway, i can see something like Natny, Pisoja, Eperjesi and Cajkovic/Baran on the left. There is a no way they are taking Zabka, i love his physical play but he is a weakness defensively.
with a really few exceptions it is almost completely same line up as i have been thinking
