WC: 2025 Czech Team

[Sebarek]

I doubt it but Cibulka was added recently and I would love to see him. Jiricek out for season. Not sure about Svozil or Spacek. I would welcome both with open arms first. Then it could be the Euro's running the show.

Hronek is looking good lately and he'd be a huge add but I'm honestly not expecting many NHLers or even a great team. Lots of injuries, expired contracts and stalled prospects. Bit of a nightmare season.lol

BUT Europe, things are going well so Rulik may be able to pull of a Finnish type run?

I think the lineup for right defense is shaping up to be Gudas (under contract, no known injuries), Spacek (Iowa won't make the playoffs and Minnesota won't be there long either), and Gazda (great season in Finland and NT).
Hronek would be great, but he's been injured so I doubt he'll come. Rutta injured. Kundrátek is old, but could make it.
On the left we have a lot of players at a good level in Europe: I hope for Ticháček, then there's Krejčík, Šimek, Zbořil, Hájek, Galvas and somewhere behind them Cibulka.
Svozil or Král would be great, but they'd have to come early enough for at least the Czech Games, otherwise they don't stand much of a chance.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Cervenka rolling up at Skoda Cup for the 100x time:

 

[Czechboy]

Cervenka rolling up at Skoda Cup for the 100x time:

He will be carried to the arena by his adoring Czech fans. We will push the wheelchair in for him.

I've said it before but a decade ago I was so sick of euro cervenkabtaking spots in top 6. Time to move on. f*** was I wrong. He is a national treasure like Reichel or vyborny or any of the guys that always showed up. He has two gold's at the skodas and not many Czechs can say that at all in the 2000s.

 

[Czechboy]

I think the lineup for right defense is shaping up to be Gudas (under contract, no known injuries), Spacek (Iowa won't make the playoffs and Minnesota won't be there long either), and Gazda (great season in Finland and NT).
Hronek would be great, but he's been injured so I doubt he'll come. Rutta injured. Kundrátek is old, but could make it.
On the left we have a lot of players at a good level in Europe: I hope for Ticháček, then there's Krejčík, Šimek, Zbořil, Hájek, Galvas and somewhere behind them Cibulka.
Svozil or Král would be great, but they'd have to come early enough for at least the Czech Games, otherwise they don't stand much of a chance.

I think you are right. It will be something like that.

My dream is that Hronek was playing hurt. He had his surgery and time off. He's looked very good since then. So I'm hoping he wants more hockey and will show.

I think radko will politely decline like pasta. I won't even be mad as he has that right. Young kids at home. He'll be a captain at Olympics. I hope I'm wrong.

Agree about Kral and svozil but I do think both are better than Spacek and he did quite well last year.

 

[Eye of Ra]

He will be carried to the arena by his adoring Czech fans. We will push the wheelchair in for him.

I've said it before but a decade ago I was so sick of euro cervenkabtaking spots in top 6. Time to move on. f*** was I wrong. He is a national treasure like Reichel or vyborny or any of the guys that always showed up. He has two gold's at the skodas and not many Czechs can say that at all in the 2000s.

What happened with Jan Kovar? Is he not nt caliber anymore?

 

[Eye of Ra]

I think the lineup for right defense is shaping up to be Gudas (under contract, no known injuries), Spacek (Iowa won't make the playoffs and Minnesota won't be there long either), and Gazda (great season in Finland and NT).
Hronek would be great, but he's been injured so I doubt he'll come. Rutta injured. Kundrátek is old, but could make it.
On the left we have a lot of players at a good level in Europe: I hope for Ticháček, then there's Krejčík, Šimek, Zbořil, Hájek, Galvas and somewhere behind them Cibulka.
Svozil or Král would be great, but they'd have to come early enough for at least the Czech Games, otherwise they don't stand much of a chance.

I highly doubt Gudas is coming, he will focus on Olympics .

 

[Czechboy]

What happened with Jan Kovar? Is he not nt caliber anymore?

I'm fine with him and have no idea what happened.. I'd welcome him with open arms to the world's. Not the Olympics though. I'm not even sure cervus should go to Olympics.. but won't bitch if he does.

 

[Old Man Jags]

I think the Czech team will be a bit of an anticlimax after last year - winning gold in Prague after nothing for 14 years, in front of a record breaking number of spectators... Can't top or even match that. So various players who played in that team and could play this year (eliminated in the NHL like Pasta in Boston, etc.) will respectfully decline I think. Rulik has been great for the national side and will field a reasonably competitive team that will play as well as that group of players can be made to play, but ultimately getting over the quarter final hurdle will be a challenge.

I am still feeding off the energy last year's tournament provided and will watch this year's championship in a relaxed manner with no anxiety or expectations. And who knows...

 

[Czechboy]

I think the Czech team will be a bit of an anticlimax after last year - winning gold in Prague after nothing for 14 years, in front of a record breaking number of spectators... Can't top or even match that. So various players who played in that team and could play this year (eliminated in the NHL like Pasta in Boston, etc.) will respectfully decline I think. Rulik has been great for the national side and will field a reasonably competitive team that will play as well as that group of players can be made to play, but ultimately getting over the quarter final hurdle will be a challenge.

I am still feeding off the energy last year's tournament provided and will watch this year's championship in a relaxed manner with no anxiety or expectations. And who knows...

Exactly where I am at too. We lucked out and got Pasta, Necas, Gudas, Dostal and even Zacha (curious if he goes, he has a contract for next year - if he ever wanted to clear his name of the stigma, now is the time). Some real key best on best players for us. They tilted it for us and Rulik was a masterful coach. The Euro's came together briliantly too. It was the perfect storm. An all timer.

This year, I'd be thrilled with younger guys and testing for OG. I'm not expecting a medal but will obviously cheer like hell.

Hoping for Vej in net. Hronek on D. That may be it for NHLers.lol Spacek will be available again. I'm not sure if guys like Dobes and Klapka can play due to contracts. Same with Dostal. But I'd like to see some AHL guys on there. Svozil, Kral, Blumel would be great tryouts as I think they could hang.

We've already lost Kase and Jiricek now has no chance.

On a good note, I don't expect too many stacked teams at all - the big 4 are sandwiched in between 4 Nations and best on best OG. Those guys won't be coming. Maybe for Sweden but that is it. Should be a much weaker roster selection this year for everyone. Josi's out for season too. Maybe Germany gets Seider, Reichel, Grub and Peterka and then they'd have a nice base to build on.

 

[Czechboy]

For fun... and I don't think it looks like this at all in the end.lol

I 'think' RFA means they have no contract and would need one before arrivign so I am eliminating Klapka, Lauko, Dostal (!!!) and Dobes. Pasta has said no.

Eligible guys with contracts not in playoffs:
Zacha, Kulich, Chytil, Hronek, Vej, Gudas, Mrazek

That's it and I'm guessing:
Zacha says no (he would be a god if he came over and all would be forgiven but I doubt it)
Kulich gets sent to AHL (f***)
Chytil is injured and won't risk it
Hronek may come, I believe he will
Vej will come and be starter
Gudas will politely decline
I believe Mrazek would come if healthy, I really do


So best case scenario
Hronek, Zacha, Gudas, Kulich, Vej and Mrazek

Realistic case scenario
Hronek, Vej

Likely scenario is not one NHL player and Rulik runs the Euro's.

Guys buried away for 'reasons' and unavailable: Jenik, Blumel, Jiricek, Svozil, Spacek, Kulich, Kral, Stezka, Hovorka,

Our missing players are much better than our attending ones:

G - Vej, Zajicek, Korenar

D - Hronek, Hajek, Zboril, Kundratek, Spacek (unless a black ace after Iowa is out), Krejcik, Kempny, Pyrochta

F - Smejkal, Cervus, Sedlak, Tomasek, Zadina, Kubalik, Beranek, Kovarcik, Flek, Kondelik, Stransky, Zohorna,

That is my wild guess. Not saying I'm right. I actually think this is stronger than the final team as I'm expecting 2 of Hronek,Kulich and Zacha to not even attend. Hope I am wrong about everything!

Outsider include Galvas and Cibulka. Chlapik, Vozelnik an d Knot.

 

[Silky Johnson]

I'm convinced this is a duplicate but can't find the original.lol.



I think it will be a very euro heavy roster. I don't expect many NHL players at all as the big 4 just had the 4 nations. So a bit more watered down .

From the NHL for us.. I'm really worried many won't be available and with contract.

Pasta has said he won't be going and I'm fine with that.

I'll wait till trade deadline to start speculating.

In a perfect world for me.. it is a mix of euro and AHL guys that can fill out our 2026 roster.

I expect all 3 Swiss guys above. Vozelink. Tomasek. Hajek. A few NHL goalies. Kauts season is over. Both Kase brothers. Sedlak. Maybe Zboril and simek? Beranek seems highly likely.

Hoping and preying for blumel, Spacek, Kral, jiricek sr, klapka, Ivan and Kulich.

Hey @Czechboy. Now that I'm being made to call your country Czechia should you not change the tread title "2025 Team Czechia"? Also can I start calling you all Czechians? I mean it's a little close to Chechnians but their bad rep won't last forever. Czechianboy has a good ring to it

 

[Summer Rose]

It sucks because many will be ufa or without contract.. vladar is Ufa but I'd love him. Vanecek is in Florida and ufa and I'd love him too. Dostal is RFA and needs a contract which may be signed before then. Patera is also ufa. Mrazek hurt right now but contract. Vej is the most logical choice. Dobes is RFA too.

Imagine having this many NHL goalies unavailable.lol due to contracts.lol.

Korenar would be a logical choice. Malek. Stezka may be returning. Zajicek is already with team.

I keep seeing this for the past couple years or so and I don't think I ever realized that you have to have a current contract in order to be selected for the IIHF world championships. That's an odd rule.

 

[Czechboy]

Hey @Czechboy. Now that I'm being made to call your country Czechia should you not change the tread title "2025 Team Czechia"? Also can I start calling you all Czechians? I mean it's a little close to Chechnians but their bad rep won't last forever. Czechianboy has a good ring to it

You're killing me Silky.lol

 

[Czechboy]

I keep seeing this for the past couple years or so and I don't think I ever realized that you have to have a current contract in order to be selected for the IIHF world championships. That's an odd rule.

It's not a rule, it's a preference by players which I tend to respect.

Sometimes guys shows up without a contract, then get hurt and then they don't get their next contract.

Eg. let's use Jan Rutta. He 'maybe' has 1 NHL season left in him or a PTO. His contract expires. He comes plays for us and gets hurt. There goes that last NHL season/PTO.

Only guys I know that came without contracts were Kempny and Kubalik and I respected the hell out of them for it but it is risky.

It sucks more with RFA though.. because those guys will get a contract but maybe not before May. As a fun example. we ALL want Dostal to be the starter - he is going to get paid decently and has a raise coming. He may have that by May 1st and be playing. He may also get it in June after tourney is over. Those ones suck.. and that is Klapka, Dobes, Dostal and Lauko. All under contract, all will be in NHL next season (I hope) and all won't be available because of a small 1 month window. All young and all fighting for Olympic spots too.

 

[Sebarek]

For fun... and I don't think it looks like this at all in the end.lol

I 'think' RFA means they have no contract and would need one before arrivign so I am eliminating Klapka, Lauko, Dostal (!!!) and Dobes. Pasta has said no.

Eligible guys with contracts not in playoffs:
Zacha, Kulich, Chytil, Hronek, Vej, Gudas, Mrazek

That's it and I'm guessing:
Zacha says no (he would be a god if he came over and all would be forgiven but I doubt it)
Kulich gets sent to AHL (f***)
Chytil is injured and won't risk it
Hronek may come, I believe he will
Vej will come and be starter
Gudas will politely decline
I believe Mrazek would come if healthy, I really do


So best case scenario
Hronek, Zacha, Gudas, Kulich, Vej and Mrazek

Realistic case scenario
Hronek, Vej

Likely scenario is not one NHL player and Rulik runs the Euro's.

Guys buried away for 'reasons' and unavailable: Jenik, Blumel, Jiricek, Svozil, Spacek, Kulich, Kral, Stezka, Hovorka,

Our missing players are much better than our attending ones:

G - Vej, Zajicek, Korenar

D - Hronek, Hajek, Zboril, Kundratek, Spacek (unless a black ace after Iowa is out), Krejcik, Kempny, Pyrochta

F - Smejkal, Cervus, Sedlak, Tomasek, Zadina, Kubalik, Beranek, Kovarcik, Flek, Kondelik, Stransky, Zohorna,

That is my wild guess. Not saying I'm right. I actually think this is stronger than the final team as I'm expecting 2 of Hronek,Kulich and Zacha to not even attend. Hope I am wrong about everything!

Outsider include Galvas and Cibulka. Chlapik, Vozelnik an d Knot.

I wouldn't give up on Lauko and Klapka just yet. Even without contracts, they might still want to go and show themselves to Rulík ahead of the Olympics. Especially Lauko, who has been vocal about his desire to represent in the past.
Unfortunatelly, this incentive doesn't really exist for our RFA goalies, as Dostál is a lock already and Dobeš is too far down the goalie packing order.

 

[Czechboy]

I wouldn't give up on Lauko and Klapka just yet. Even without contracts, they might still want to go and show themselves to Rulík ahead of the Olympics. Especially Lauko, who has been vocal about his desire to represent in the past.
Unfortunatelly, this incentive doesn't really exist for our RFA goalies, as Dostál is a lock already and Dobeš is too far down the goalie packing order.

For them (and Kulich) I think they need to be there when season ends. Rulik doesn't like 4th line NHL players that much. And he likes to see rookies. So hopefully youa re right because the NT loves Kondelik and I've always thought of Kondelik as a worse version of Klapka.lol One got to ECHL other got to NHL. And I love Lauko.

I'm holding out hope for a Jenik tryout as sometimes guys returning to Europe play because they know that a NHL contract is not coming.

 

[Czechboy]

How I think Rulik sees it and I'm speculating

Tier 1
NHL players - Chytil, Necas, Pasta, Hronek, Gudas, Dostal, Mrazek, Vej, Hertl

Tier 2
All his Euro's that are loyal to him and that he loves, Seklak, Cervus, Krejcik etc.

Tier 3
AHL guys, NHL 4th lines (Nosek, Lauko, Klapka) and anyone else in Europe.

I could be wrong of course but that is my takeaway

 

[Czechboy]

This was the nomination for the Swiss games. I expect our final nomination to look 80% like this. Kaut was having a great season but is out.

Toss in 2 NHL players and a surprise Euro.

 

[Old Man Jags]

Hey @Czechboy. Now that I'm being made to call your country Czechia should you not change the tread title "2025 Team Czechia"? Also can I start calling you all Czechians? I mean it's a little close to Chechnians but their bad rep won't last forever. Czechianboy has a good ring to it

Please.. You should know that the correct nomenclature is "Czechistan". So you can call him "Czechistaniboy" or just "Czechistani" for short.

All jokes aside though, the whole Czechia thing is weird to me as a Czech. It is an odd rebranding which was favoured by the previous Czech president Zeman for reasons that are not apparent to me. I do not know any Czechs who prefer "Czechia" to "Czech Republic" in English. Also, it is not a renaming of the country, the word has always existed. It is "Cesko" in Czech, as opposed to the formal "Ceska Republika", and in other languages that was the word used from Day 1 (i.e. January 1993), for example "Tschechien" in German (and "Tschechische Republik", used (correctly) interchangably), "Tsjechie" in Dutch, and so on. But for some reason, the English language equivalent "Czechia" was not used (but always existed). It still sounds weird to me and I don't like it, but maybe it is just a question of getting used to hearing it.