You also forget that we were extremely lucky in the QF against Canada, so we very well could have ended in QF last year. The team outperformed itself with the bronze.
Still looking at lineup again, there were Hamara, Alscher, Cibulka and Galvas in the back, Ales Cech was playing in ELH full time, so I would not say D the were much weaker then this year.
In the net was Hrabal so that was the same.
Offense were maybe a bit weaker, but you forget there was still Kulich and Sapo, backed up with Sale and extremely productive CHL players Becher, Rymon and Melovsky who have really standed out in their age group at that tournament. We completely lack those kind of players this year. The Euro part of offense is looking really good, but the CHL part is kinda weak imo. Most of those players are barely at ppg. in their teams, which is really just not that great for CHL. Topped out with tiny and unproductive Simek who is below average at CHL even at age 19.
Yeah seeing the lineup again and if Jiricek makes it and boosts our D, the team actually doesnt look that bad, 95% was an exaggeration, but still a chance for medal is not very high this year.
And no Badinka, Benak and Mrtka are just stupid decisions.