Czechs in North America

[Czechboy]

Wrong league but a work of art. I always dreamed of seeing both brothers in NHL and it happened for one game.lol David scored one of his only NHL goals in that game too.

I hope both stay healthy and are in Prague. Ondrej Top 6 and David Bottom 6.

 

[pgfan66]

I assume the regular season has begun and some of my favs are doing well right away...

Petr and Titlbach had very successful preseasons too. I think the WHL is an excellent fit for Petr. With Titlbach, I’m still not sure. I’m probably wrong here but still haven’t seen a game where I really, really liked him. Don’t think he had a good first WHL game either, despite his 2 points (a penalty shot plus a secondary assist on over 7 minutes of PP time).

 

[Czechboy]

Petr and Titlbach had very successful preseasons too. I think the WHL is an excellent fit for Petr. With Titlbach, I’m still not sure. I’m probably wrong here but still haven’t seen a game where I really, really liked him. Don’t think he had a good first WHL game either, despite his 2 points (a penalty shot plus a secondary assist on over 7 minutes of PP time).

I hear you. I respect your view. He's on his way to becoming my fav non first round prospect though. The fact he gets top minutes with Benak and 7 minutes of PP time (and selected for shootouts) says to me that his coaches see a top line player on both sides of the ocean. Of course.. small sample sizes as we are talking a small hlinka tourney and a WHL game.

 

[Czechboy]

Nice starts for a lot of our Czechs that left the Hadamczak Jr. League.lol

Becher seems to be coming into great form. May even make U20 team if he keeps this up (and is eligible).

I noticed Brabenec is going to AHL which is great! Sapo is back to OHL which seemed a bit deflating to me but I think his team hosts Memorial Cup.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[Czechboy]

Thought it'd be a good time to look at the NHL Czechs...

it's a mixed bag of goods and bad news.

The good, we have some good players in good spots and some real nice young players coming up. Feels like we are slowly turning a corner with 1st rounders and some nice Jr. Results. Guys like Necas, Pasta, Zacha, Hronek, Chytil, Kubalik, Palat and Hertl all seem poised for good seasons. Vrana looks ready to play a full season and that could be big for us. Vanecek is in a great spot on a great team as trade rumous haven't panned out.

The bad - we lost some very good players to injury and retirement. Krejci is gone and would still be one of our best NHL players. So is Voracek! So is O. Kase. I'll even add in Pavel Francouz who is, again, injured. We also lost a few guys that I thought would be full time by now... Kaut, Galvas and Kral. Zadina hanging by a thread!

So this year may have less Czechs but be a better season.

For review:

2 seasons ago we had 31 Czechs play at least one game and 8 goalies with at least 1 game

Last season we had 33 Czechs play at least one game and 8 goalies with at least 1 game

I'm guessing those numbers are going down but quality may go up.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[Czechboy]

 

[Czechboy]

I'm seeing 21 locks and here come the maybes:

Zboril, Kulich, Rousek, Francouz, Jiricek, Blumel, Rittich, Smejkal, Zohorna, Hajek, Patera

So 11 maybes giving us 32 in total that should play at least 1 NHL game this year.

Defininitely down unfortunately.

Of course, I could be way off on my predictions too!

 

[Czechboy]

Every year we also have surprises - curious who bucks the trend? Pavel got some praise from Bednar and may end up being a 4C for Colorado after injury as an example. Does Rousek carve out a full time role? Does Hajek crack the Pens (man we need NHL D)? Dostal become a starter? I'm a big Klapka fan and keep cheering for him despite being an Oiler fan.lol Mysak late in season? Novak would be an amazing late season call up story.

Time will tell. Those are my guesses.

Of top line guys I think Pasta, Vrana, Necas, Chytil, Palat, Hronek and Vanecek all are looking at very promising seasons right now! Curious how Zacha does as I feel he's miscast as a 1C and has very big shoes to fill.

 

[Czechboy]

Not surprsied.. Reichel is available to anyone. Guessing he goes unclaimed. He will be in Europe next season if I had to guess.

 

[Czechboy]

Becher is absolutely killing it right now... didn't really see that coming. Given the top 10 is littered with Cougars, I'm assumign that team is flying.

Petr, my fav, doing great too!

That WJC team is looking better and better. Sale and Sapo will be available. Cech, Dvorak and Galvas are all playing in Extraliga and doing well. Not saying they all make it but encouraging. Curious if Kulich is available.

Adam Bares (another fav of mine) is also off to a nice start in Finland. Badinka off to a nice start in Sweden too! We may not suck!

 

[martygod12]

Kinda bummed with Kulich, expected he is gonna put up some points and be on the verge of first team before first game. But its 100% AHL for him for the start of the season I think. Rousek and Blumel can make it on the other hand which is good.

 

[Czechboy]

Kinda bummed with Kulich, expected he is gonna put up some points and be on the verge of first team before first game. But its 100% AHL for him for the start of the season I think. Rousek and Blumel can make it on the other hand which is good.

My dream is he goes to U20 and then NHL.

Hope you're right about blumel!

 

[Czechboy]

Love the goal.. glad he's still at camp.but don't like Czech on Czech violence.haha.

I think his best bet is to have a good preseason.. get noticed... go on waivers and get picked up.

Really curious what happens if they decide to send him on waivers and he clears.

 

[Czechboy]

And onto waivers he goes.lol

 

[Czechboy]

AHL is going to be called the Extraliga soon.lol

 

[Czechboy]

It is not looking good.lol.

Starting to be some guys who may have NHL futures but not today.

 

[martygod12]

It is not looking good.lol.

Starting to be some guys who may have NHL futures but not today.

Shame for Kulich. Hopefully he can get into the team during the year.

Also Is Filip Chytil still injured with that face injury from WCH? I havent seen him play a single match in preseason, or did I just missed him?

Edit: Also I will add that its good news Rousek, Blumel and Smejkal are still there, I really think they have a chance to make the first team for the opening matches.

 

[Czechboy]

Shame for Kulich. Hopefully he can get into the team during the year.

Also Is Filip Chytil still injured with that face injury from WCH? I havent seen him play a single match in preseason, or did I just missed him?

Edit: Also I will add that its good news Rousek, Blumel and Smejkal are still there, I really think they have a chance to make the first team for the opening matches.

I was wondering the same about Chytil.. he's poised to have a 'Necas/Zacha' type breakout season! His face was fine because I read an article about that in summer.

Rousek, Blumel and Smejkal would be lovely surprises and make up for the sting of Kulich (who I think they probably did the right thing with despite me not liking it.lol). I think he gets a list of things to work on and they are legit developing him. Rosen was sent down too and he's very good.

Klapka was a small pipedream of mine but he played 11 minutes and they got thrashed last night.

Others to follow,, for me, are Zboril, Lauko, Hajek, Zadina and Zohorna. Hoping for at least 3 fulltimers out of the 5. Dreams die last.

 

[Czechboy]

Jecho picking it up. I've noticed, on HF, that when a prospect gets a label early (eg. generational) that everyone shits on them. I think this has happened to Jecho. However, I still see a very good player who will be drafted. Just my opinion of course.

Becher is absolutely killing it and may be our biggest Jr surprise of the season:

 

[Czechboy]

Skarek on waivers... not good. Not that I thought he was making the club but still sucks.

 

[Czechboy]

Zboril on waivers... jesus, it is not going well for our D.

Hajek on PTO
Zboril on waivers
Galvas gone
Kral gone

BRUTAL!!!!

Also, Kondelik is on unconditional waivers so I assume he's returning to Europe.

This preseason has sucked!

 

[martygod12]

Rousek send Down on AHL. f*** that really, Is it just me or does it seems impossible to get to NHL clubs lately.

Our guys are constantly praised around in the NA how great are they by their clubs. You can hear Kulich great this, And Rousek great that, and Jiricek great, Svozil great, Blumel great etc. Etc. And then Its just bam AHL for you And AHL for you.

Honestly starting to get sick of this shit.

 

[GAGLine]

I was wondering the same about Chytil.. he's poised to have a 'Necas/Zacha' type breakout season! His face was fine because I read an article about that in summer.

Chytil is fine. He played in 1 preseason game, but then was day-to-day with an upper body injury. No points in that game (the Rangers got shut out) but he had a team high 6 shots on goal.

He is back from his injury and practicing fully: