Best Czech Centers All-Time

[JianYang]

Kind of a mediocre list for a hockey nation that has the resume of Czechia.... although if we go back to czechoslovkia, then you have the great Peter Stastny and there's no debate.

Also, didn't nedved play center?

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Lang and Holik were my choices. Krejci and Reichel close at 3 and 4 though.

Straka and Prospal were more often wingers than centers if my memory is correct.

 

[Professor What]

Kind of a mediocre list for a hockey nation that has the resume of Czechia.... although if we go back to czechoslovkia, then you have the great Peter Stastny and there's no debate.

Also, didn't nedved play center?

Of course, even then, Stastny is Slovak.

 

[Staniowski]

Reichel is kind of the quintessential Czech centre. He was just a little lacking in size and speed, but was usually very strong on the national team, and no doubt would've won many scoring titles in the Czech league if he hadn't played in the NHL. The Czech national team was usually best served if the team played the Reichel (and Rucinsky) style of game.

Rosie Ruzicka was very talented, his limited success in the NHL shouldn't diminish his overall ability.

Pivonka was very good. I remember him from way back in the WJC, where he was great. Hrdina was very good in the '80s too, but not as good as Pivonka.

Novy, Hlinka, and Nedomansky from the '70s (and a bit in the '60s). Novy was a good scorer, he wasn't as good as Reichel though. Ned was big and mobile, had some scoring talent, but was a little unrefined. Hlinka was very smart, really nice player.