Czechs in North America

[Czechboy]

Curious if he gets any games in? A few AHL games would be good for him IMO. Then training camp for Skoda's. Then dryland training and a full year in Cleveland!

 

[Chainshot]

Looking at the Amerks remaining schedule (three in three) and how tight their divisional race is (in 2nd but only up on 4th by 3 points), I don't think Rousek or Kulich get a look (or any of the other Rochester prospects for Buffalo) on Thursday or Friday as they close out their season. Rousek will have to carry his 2 points/game into next season.

 

[Czechboy]

Looking at the Amerks remaining schedule (three in three) and how tight their divisional race is (in 2nd but only up on 4th by 3 points), I don't think Rousek or Kulich get a look (or any of the other Rochester prospects for Buffalo) on Thursday or Friday as they close out their season. Rousek will have to carry his 2 points/game into next season.

Rousek has the highest .ppg career average of all time! He's a GOAT.lol

Agree, no way they call them up.

Sorry about how it turned out for your Sabres tonight.

 

[Chainshot]

Rousek has the highest .ppg career average of all time! He's a GOAT.lol

Agree, no way they call them up.

Sorry about how it turned out for your Sabres tonight.

Appreciate that. The disappointment of tonight doesn't take away from this being a fun season where they grew even more. 20 months ago, there was no way I would've thought they'd be in playoff contention at game 80 of this season. They were a mess, reeling from having their core guys want out and needing another new coach.

And now they have a fun team and some exciting Czech prospects to add to the party.

 

[Czechboy]

Appreciate that. The disappointment of tonight doesn't take away from this being a fun season where they grew even more. 20 months ago, there was no way I would've thought they'd be in playoff contention at game 80 of this season. They were a mess, reeling from having their core guys want out and needing another new coach.

And now they have a fun team and some exciting Czech prospects to add to the party.

Some real nice pieces.. next year will be stronger for sure!

 

[tunnelvision]

Curious if he gets any games in? A few AHL games would be good for him IMO. Then training camp for Skoda's. Then dryland training and a full year in Cleveland!

I prefer no Skoda. More time for improving endurance/strength/speed/agility the better.

Based on interviews he seems to be well aware this will be a very important offseason for him.

 

[Czechboy]

I prefer no Skoda. More time for improving endurance/strength/speed/agility the better.

Based on interviews he seems to be well aware this will be a very important offseason for him.

They play a bunch of games before the Skoda's for preperation. Eg. back to back against Germany coming up. I'd like him to get some looks there. He would get cut near the end.

 

[Czechboy]

Mrazek may have freed up Jan Rutta for us.lol

 

[Czechboy]

I will believe it when I see it. That would be 41. Still mad about sustr.lol.

The fact he got a call at all is amazing. Happy to see the covid years of development didn't hurt him.

 

[martygod12]

Guys sorry for my ignorance, just saw Zacha on fb with some award?

Any idea what kind of award did He won?

 

[Czechboy]

Guys sorry for my ignorance, just saw Zacha on fb with some award?

Any idea what kind of award did He won?

7th player

Also, Necas did hit 70!

 

[Chainshot]

I suspect he is just a spare body for tonight (and tomorrow) but...

 

[Czechboy]

I suspect he is just a spare body for tonight (and tomorrow) but...

Is the AHL team out of contention? Eg. Jiricek was sent back down to Cleveland to help in their playoff push. I'd think Rousek is important in the A.

 

[Chainshot]

Is the AHL team out of contention? Eg. Jiricek was sent back down to Cleveland to help in their playoff push. I'd think Rousek is important in the A.

No, in fact, the AHL team is fighting for 2nd (home ice) and with a terrible weekend could wind up in 4th (the play-in round) and has three games in three nights starting tomorrow. If he plays tonight, I don't think they would play him in all four in a row, that's just silly. I think he's just an extra body tonight or if he does play, he sits out tomorrow and goes Saturday-Sunday.

 

[Czechboy]

41!



Did not see this one coming at all ... Really happy and my Brno bias is showing.lol

 

[Czechboy]

Just watched the highlihgts of that 7 period marathon from Extraliga... Stezka looks every bit the next 'Vejmelka'... he was unreal! I hope the Seattle rumour is true...

I don't see any of our current goalies leaving the NHL and then I see Hrabal, Stezka, Suchanek and Dybal all looking to be drafted or signed. The Czech goalie school is not slowing down at all!

 

[Czechboy]

Stan got a point! He was also second in minutes and second in PP minutes. That is one hell of a debut! Get him to the Skodas!

 

[Mirinho]

View attachment 687935

Stan got a point! He was also second in minutes and second in PP minutes. That is one hell of a debut! Get him to the Skodas!

It would be cool. I hope Kari and Havlat are members of hfboards and they read our posts

 

[martygod12]

It would be cool. I hope Kari and Havlat are members of hfboards and they read our posts

Lets hope, cause in that case we will be going for straigt gold without losing a game lol.

But no seriously, they said that they are interested in Svozil and Spacek, so I guess Svozil will join NT for the prep tourneys and if (and I really believe he will, considering our "strength" in defense so far) he plays good we will se him at WC.

As for NHL season, I am really content with performances of our guys. Just a bit shame that Krejci (injury I know) and Zacha couldnt get over that 60 at the end and that Necas had kinda a cold streak (3pts from last 10 matches) at the end of the season and didnt attacked 80 points. But thats just a little things, overall much better season for czechs than that one before and thats great!

 

[Czechboy]

Lets hope, cause in that case we will be going for straigt gold without losing a game lol.

But no seriously, they said that they are interested in Svozil and Spacek, so I guess Svozil will join NT for the prep tourneys and if (and I really believe he will, considering our "strength" in defense so far) he plays good we will se him at WC.

As for NHL season, I am really content with performances of our guys. Just a bit shame that Krejci (injury I know) and Zacha couldnt get over that 60 at the end and that Necas had kinda a cold streak (3pts from last 10 matches) at the end of the season and didnt attacked 80 points. But thats just a little things, overall much better season for czechs than that one before and thats great!

I don't think he'd make it but I'd love to see him in these back to backs against Germany and such. Those are not good D cores. If he did I imagine it'd be like how Tyson Barrie played for the Oilers... third pair and sheltered with PP time. I'd say 10% we see him at Skoda's but I'm cheering for him!

Also, how strong was our D at the U20.. two of them have already played in the NHL!!!!!! That hasn't happened to Czechs in my memory.lol

 

[Czechboy]

It would be cool. I hope Kari and Havlat are members of hfboards and they read our posts

I feel Nedved was reading our stuff after the Olympics fiasco.. it got better after that!lol

 

[Wooren]

Svozil looked good in his 1st NHL game. Really no excuse not to test him at least prior to the WHC now.

 

[Czechboy]

Season is basically over with 2 games tonight and maybe Svozil and Rousek getting 1 more game.

So I thought I'd look back and see how wrong I was in September!

Here are the rest of the Czechs from last year... Few guys who should see more games are Vrana (injured last year), Zboril (shiney new 1 way contract), Hajek (shockingly, 1 way contract too), Reichel has some jam, Simek was injured (feel like he's due to be traded and get more opportunity) Kempny (1 way and cheap contract for Seattle), Jenik is in a show me year for sure, Kaut is near bust territory, Zohorna is now on a 1 way contract (I think), Galvas is due for a full year IMO, Frk got another contract which surprised me.

None of this aged well.lol

Vrana did not see more games.. did not see that coming
Zboril may be a decent NHL player but not for Boston
Reichel got in a game or 2
Simek was still on and off
Kempny left pretty fast
Jenik played about 5 minutes and was never heard from again
Kaut got traded, got some points and sent to the AHL for reasons I didn't understand
Zohorna has now played a few minutes for 3 different teams
Galvas didn't even get a look (despite Chicago being terrible and him leading the AHL D in scoring) and is most likely head to Sweden, and hopefully, NT this week!
Frk did amazing in AHL and is probably done in North America - I do think he'll be a very good Euro league player

Offseason signing include Blumel, Knot, Klok.

Blumel did not get 50 games, not even close and that is my biggest disapointment of the season (along was Galvas). Knot didn't get a game. Klok left early and then joined 3 different teams and declined the NT invite. Awful season for him.

High draft picks include Kulich and Jiricek.

Jiricek got his cup of coffee and did very well. Kulich was amazing in AHL but no cup of coffee. What I didn't think was coming? Svozil got in an NHL game before Kulich (and even got a point).

I think we should be near 25 guys playing 50 or more games this season. Lauko might be close too (same situation is Kaut and Jenik really).

Lauko is close and might be a full timer next year.

Only 13 played 50 or more games.. .ouch. I wasn't even close.

Ooops.. Vejmelka and Vanecek got 50 games in so 15!

So I'm guessing 9 Czech goalies see the NHL this season with 5 of them playing 25 or more games. Bold for sure, let's see how it plays out.

It was 8 goalies. Which is great and I think 7 will be back in NHL next season at least. I think Rittich did enough for another 1 year contract. Rest are all safe. I think Patera may have gotten himself to be worth trading or signing as well.

Dobes signed! Suchanek, Hrabal and Dybal all being drafted (I hope and think) and Stezka may be coming too. Czech goalies are everywhere. Still need one to take off though.

4 played 25 games or more.

I think we hit 45 Czechs suit up for at least 1 game. 25 being regulars and key players somewhere in

We hit 41! 25 did not become regulars or key players though. And I think a few may be done!

Reichel, Hajek, Voracek, Kase, Jenik and Zohorna all are in trouble.

And I hope we can ice 6 D that play 70 games or more (3 last season so this is very optimistic)... most likely being Hronek, Gudas, Rutta, Zboril, Kempny and Galvas.

Didn't even come close. Hronek, Rutta and Gudas were the only full timers. Zboril has had a nice run lately but he's 26. Galvas back to Europe. Kempny back in Europe. Sustr should be leaving for Europe. Kral played 2 games and was never heard from again.

On a good note: 9 Czechs played at least 1 NHL game this season. Hronek had a career year and seems poinsed to do well in Vancouver. I think Jiricek cracks lineup next season.

Kral should be damn close but he's on a very good Leafs team with a beauty D core. Tough sledding.

Some others not mentioned by me... Has in Washington, Teply in Chicago, Raska in SJ, Mysak in Montreal (especially if season goes how it looks to be going) and I'd love to see one of our giants get a game.. Klapka or Kondelik!

Well, the only one that touched the NHL was Raska. I think Teply and Has are in a lot of trouble NHL wise. Mysak had a great end to his AHL regular season and is still on track - 1 more year in AHL and potential callups.

Klapka is having a nice season and maybe next year. Big maybe though. Suter didn't care for Zohorna and Klapka is more of the same.

 

[Czechboy]

The great news

6 x 20 goal scorers!
Pasta was second in goals and should get a Hart nod
Boston was historic and powered by a lot of Czechs (not saying it was all Czechs but they were meaningful contirbutors)
8 goalies played!
Sale looks to be first round! Hrabal, Dybal and Suchanek (maybe Spunar) could all get drafted. Smejkal and Stezka are getting interest from NHL (not sure if they wil be offered 1 ways though)
Blumel should crack squad next year????
Jiricek and Kulich should crack squad next year????
Rousek would be a nice surprise.
Zboril should get more ice time? Maybe?
Kaut may have extended his NHL life... maybe.
Necas, Chytil, Hronek, Kampf, Pasta and Zacha with amazing seasons for them and their prior standards
Krejci looked great.. he hopefully stays a few more seasons
Hertl did well given the circumstances around him
Lots of good signings from Dobes to Pasta
Zadina with 2 more years left on his contract and could be traded which I welcome

Not enough to make it a big 6 yet.. but if Spacek, Svozil and Jiricek start getting NHL games, then we might be close as forwards and goalies seem to be good. Just that damn D and we got some nice D in our U17 and U18 right now.

 

[Czechboy]

And last but not least.. our NT's are all on a very big quarterfinal winning streak.. U18, Hlinka, back to back U20, Skodas and womens back to back World's! Hoping our U18's can crack the semi's next week to keep it going. It's a nice wave of top 4 finishes.