WJC: Czech Republic 2020 Roster Talk

[czechcanadian]

I like Has a lot but he seems to be struggling. I like Kubicek a lot but he's played 10 minutes.
Krutil has been great... very understated and lots of minutes.
I didn't really notice Svozil last night if I'm being honest. He seemed to be everywhere against Swedes and Slovaks.
I'm not sure I get why Kucerik is leading us in minutes? Nothing against him, maybe I'm missing something?
I'd keep it Has/Svozil as they compliment each other great. I'd like to see Kubicek move up in minutes with Jiricek or Krutil (can't remember handedness).
It's entirely possible our Top 4 next year could be Svozil, Jiricek, Krutil and Hamara... that's outstanding by Czech standards.

Definitely. Very excited for that! That’ll be the best we had in 20 years.
It’s actually quite sad but anyways. Jiricek and Svozil getting big minutes is proof of some change of mentality in Czech hockey. Previous Czech teams would stick these guys to the bench.
This experience is so beneficial for them and the success of the Czechs next year.
They will be really good. Just wish our offence would be better. Will likely have to have a few underagers like Slovaks have this year. Except 17 years old.

 

[smitty10]

Any idea which Czechs are expected to be drafted this year?

 

[czechcanadian]

Well until next year fellas. At least we beat Russia.
I like our defence next year with a lot of puck moving guys who have half a brain for hockey.
Offence will be similarly poor to this year. But at least Mysak will be another year older with Novak as well. Like I said in another post, they’ll have to rely on younger guys for offence. Hopefully the 04’s match the pedigree.

 

[czechcanadian]

Any idea which Czechs are expected to be drafted this year?

Only guaranteed guys are Svozil (who looks like a sure fire 1st rounder), and maybe Martin Rysavy.
Other than that it’s a crapshoot. Pretty weak year for Czechs. Hopefully the last one though as the 04/05 groups look good so far at least

 

[BigBadBoar]

Well until next year fellas. At least we beat Russia.
I like our defence next year with a lot of puck moving guys who have half a brain for hockey.
Offence will be similarly poor to this year. But at least Mysak will be another year older with Novak as well. Like I said in another post, they’ll have to rely on younger guys for offence. Hopefully the 04’s match the pedigree.

It is not over yet. The US team is usually the team we cannot play a good game against. This team is not completely bad, as long as they keep their strategy they are capable of playing decent hokey. Today it was basically the same like vs Sweden. The 0-2 goal completely destroyed our game, the team collapsed. I think if the Russians scored first, the RUS game could well end up similar to this, and vice versa: If we scored first today... The main problem this team has is simply their mental fragility. They can play passionate and well organized at the same time as long as things go their way. They are however not able to handle critical situations. I don't know if they can change it within few day, probably not. But if they manage to beat Austria, which I believe they should, the QF game would start 0-0 again, and who knows what may happen.

 

[Ginger Papa]

I have nothing against the Russian squad whatsoever, but I’ve already Posted how much I respect you folks as Members here.

As a result, I found myself cheering for your Boys and was so happy when your Team upset them. It was an amazing celebration and hearing them sing your anthem was great.

To me, it’s been the best game of the tournament by far and those young men will always have that moment.

 

[vil]

The Austria game will be interesting. I hope for the players sake they can prove they can play hockey. They beat Russia because it was a good match-up to our only available tactic. Half the defense needs to learn basics though, and they only have 2 days to do it.

Every little boy wants to be first line center. Unless we start playing smart and skilled kids on defense from a young age, we will be slower and out of position irreparably forever.

Edit:
They know.
Věřili jsme, je to zklamání, hlásí Raška. Podle Kučeříka mohli Češi přidat v tvrdosti | Hokej.cz - web českého hokeje

Raška knows he cant foul stupidly. Kučeřík knows defenders need to be quicker and better positoned. Now just do it.

 

[RBbandit]

It's the same stuff every year unless we have a few next-level kids (Pasta, Vrána, Nečas etc.) Unless they coach kids from a young age not to be afraid to make a mistake it will be no creative, skilled players especially defencemen. Last year Petr Hubáček said it best. There is no place for creating creativity and skills without producing some mistakes in the process.

 

[czechcanadian]

Forgot we can still get 3rd in the group. Gotta be cheering for Sweden today boys. If they win we’re 3rd and likely playing Finland in the QF. That would be winnable.
Boys gotta get their act together though. That was a bad game against US. Need more offence. Have to forecheck better and draw some penalties. our 1st power play is actually really good but haven’t been in it much.

 

[Czechboy]

Forgot we can still get 3rd in the group. Gotta be cheering for Sweden today boys. If they win we’re 3rd and likely playing Finland in the QF. That would be winnable.
Boys gotta get their act together though. That was a bad game against US. Need more offence. Have to forecheck better and draw some penalties. our 1st power play is actually really good but haven’t been in it much.

I forgot that too.lol

It'd be nice to score a goal... like, 1 goal would be nice. Am I asking too much?haha

Also, still need to beat Austria... in no way is that a certainty.

I looked at the minutes and Kubicek got 17 so he seems to be back in the coaches good books. Kucerik still leads team in minutes on D. On a unrelated note, Filip Kral continues to do really well in Extraliga... he's playing over 22 minutes a night in all situations. Hope this translates into a surprise NHLer for us on D in a few years.

 

[BigBadBoar]

It's the same stuff every year unless we have a few next-level kids (Pasta, Vrána, Nečas etc.) Unless they coach kids from a young age not to be afraid to make a mistake it will be no creative, skilled players especially defencemen. Last year Petr Hubáček said it best. There is no place for creating creativity and skills without producing some mistakes in the process.

I remember the year when we had Pastrnak, Vrana, Zacha, and lost to the US with our traditional score 0-7. It's a lot about depth. Also, I think our only chance against teams like US or Canada is to be flawless in the own zone and wait for a few counterattack opportunities. They simply don't have the quality to play an open game against such teams. Czech hockey is currently able to produce some great players like Pastrnak, Hertl, Hronek, Kubalik, I believe Zadina and Necas are going to be very good NHL players too. But in the junior hockey we cannot put together a team of 25 guys which could medal at the WJC. Men's hockey is something different, because if every junior year produces 2 great players in average, you can still put together a roster of 25 great guys (talking about a tournament where you have all your best players available). But in the juniors, we are currently closer to the level of Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia than the US, Sweden, Canada etc. We can beat some of those top notch teams time to time, but hardly twice of trice in the row.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Filip Kral continues to do really well in Extraliga... he's playing over 22 minutes a night in all situations. Hope this translates into a surprise NHLer for us on D in a few years.

Filip Kral looks like a future NHL D-man in my view. He has made a great progress recently which seems to be continuing on. Currently one of the best extraliga D's.

 

[czechcanadian]

Filip Kral looks like a future NHL D-man in my view. He has made a great progress recently which seems to be continuing on. Currently one of the best extraliga D's.

It’s very interesting because as a junior I found him to be quite unimpressive tbh. It’s so weird how it works. For example with Masin. I was convinced he was a sure fire NHL D. Just absolutely dominated in the CHL.
You just never know

 

[BigBadBoar]

It’s very interesting because as a junior I found him to be quite unimpressive tbh. It’s so weird how it works. For example with Masin. I was convinced he was a sure fire NHL D. Just absolutely dominated in the CHL.
You just never know

Look at guys like Jan Rutta, Michal Kempny, Radim Simek. Quite a lot of Czech guys are typical late bloomers, who did no excel as juniors and then improve rapidly between their 20 and 25. I would say this is a typical phenomenon for the current Czech hockey. Similar thing with Dominik Kubalik as a forward. Another promising candidates are the D Martin Jandus (Sparta Prague) or winger Matej Blümel (Pardubice).

 

[RBbandit]

I remember the year when we had Pastrnak, Vrana, Zacha, and lost to the US with our traditional score 0-7. It's a lot about depth. Also, I think our only chance against teams like US or Canada is to be flawless in the own zone and wait for a few counterattack opportunities. They simply don't have the quality to play an open game against such teams. Czech hockey is currently able to produce some great players like Pastrnak, Hertl, Hronek, Kubalik, I believe Zadina and Necas are going to be very good NHL players too. But in the junior hockey we cannot put together a team of 25 guys which could medal at the WJC. Men's hockey is something different, because if every junior year produces 2 great players in average, you can still put together a roster of 25 great guys (talking about a tournament where you have all your best players available). But in the juniors, we are currently closer to the level of Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia than the US, Sweden, Canada etc. We can beat some of those top notch teams time to time, but hardly twice of trice in the row.

Not gonna argue, you're absolutely correct. Also, Pastrnak's team won silver in WC18 back in the day, while everything just clicked for them. My point was that Sweden and Finland are able to produce top-quality players within a similar population like CZ and unless something changes in the whole system of youth hockey the real opponents for CZ youth teams will be Switzerland and Germany and it's just sad.

 

[czechcanadian]

Not gonna argue, you're absolutely correct. Also, Pastrnak's team won silver in WC18 back in the day, while everything just clicked for them. My point was that Sweden and Finland are able to produce top-quality players within a similar population like CZ and unless something changes in the whole system of youth hockey the real opponents for CZ youth teams will be Switzerland and Germany and it's just sad.

At least soccer is getting good again lol

 

[joey16]

Look at guys like Jan Rutta, Michal Kempny, Radim Simek. Quite a lot of Czech guys are typical late bloomers, who did no excel as juniors and then improve rapidly between their 20 and 25. I would say this is a typical phenomenon for the current Czech hockey. Similar thing with Dominik Kubalik as a forward. Another promising candidates are the D Martin Jandus (Sparta Prague) or winger Matej Blümel (Pardubice).

Haha, yeah Kubalik was terrible at WJC. Sometimes you just never know.. I also wonder how Rousek will continue to develop.

 

[Czechboy]

It’s very interesting because as a junior I found him to be quite unimpressive tbh. It’s so weird how it works. For example with Masin. I was convinced he was a sure fire NHL D. Just absolutely dominated in the CHL.
You just never know

I'm still holding out hope for Masin.. crazy as it sounds.

 

[Czechboy]

Look at guys like Jan Rutta, Michal Kempny, Radim Simek. Quite a lot of Czech guys are typical late bloomers, who did no excel as juniors and then improve rapidly between their 20 and 25. I would say this is a typical phenomenon for the current Czech hockey. Similar thing with Dominik Kubalik as a forward. Another promising candidates are the D Martin Jandus (Sparta Prague) or winger Matej Blümel (Pardubice).

Blumel has been great... drafted by my Oilers, might actually work out.

 

[czechcanadian]

Blumel has been great... drafted by my Oilers, might actually work out.

I share some of your joy for the Oilers as my wife is a fanatic. That team needs some Czechs!

 

[Czechboy]

I share some of your joy for the Oilers as my wife is a fanatic. That team needs some Czechs!

Our last run in 2006 had 3 Czechs... Hemsky, dvorak and spacek. Just saying.lol

 

[Czechboy]

Turns out we lead the tourney in penalties so far lol

 

[czechcanadian]

Turns out we lead the tourney in penalties so far lol

Really? Would not have guessed that at all. But I guess if I really think about it we’ve gotten a decent amount at the end of games.
But overall this tourney has been reffed fairly well. Letting the kids play for the most part

 

[Czechboy]

Really? Would not have guessed that at all. But I guess if I really think about it we’ve gotten a decent amount at the end of games.
But overall this tourney has been reffed fairly well. Letting the kids play for the most part

I definitely don't think the refs have been the issue. I think we've gotten two 10 minutes as well... Kubicek and Raska.

Ftr... I don't think we've been bad about penalties. I actually have no complaints and enjoy watching us play for the most part. I'm excited for tomorrow and hopefully one more game after that.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Blumel has been great... drafted by my Oilers, might actually work out.

My "secret" tip for the player who can make some impact in the North America is Radim Zohorna. Definitely the most talented of the three Zohorna brothers in my opinion. That guy is just a monster with his height and reach, and his skating as well as stickhandling are not bad at all for a player of his size. This season he has also developed into a solid scorer in Extraliga. Not many people are talking about him but I see the potential in him to become a very useful 3rd-4th liner in the NHL.