Czechs in North America

[Czechboy]

Congrats to the Czech U18 ladies for a bronze
Congrats to the Felcman parents because they now have 2 bronzes in a few weeks
Nice to see Sweden back in top 4
Couldn't believe we hung on 4-2 with Canada at a U18 event... I won't research it but I will assume Canada has considerably more ladies playing hockey at the U18 level than us.

Our ladies have a better chance at a medal in the Olympics than the boys this time.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What does this even mean? Does he have post traumatic concussion syndrome or something?

 

[Old Man Jags]

Congrats to the Czech U18 ladies for a bronze
Congrats to the Felcman parents because they now have 2 bronzes in a few weeks
Nice to see Sweden back in top 4
Couldn't believe we hung on 4-2 with Canada at a U18 event... I won't research it but I will assume Canada has considerably more ladies playing hockey at the U18 level than us.

Our ladies have a better chance at a medal in the Olympics than the boys this time.

Last year the Czech U18 beat Canada 4-2 in the quarterfinals! But that was a complete sensation. (I think they won silver in the end, lost the final against the US if I am not mistaken.

Only losing 2-4 against Canada is actually not too bad, given that the gap between Canada and the US on the one hand and the rest of the world on the other is much, much bigger than in the case of the men and even the juniors (where it if of course bigger than with the adults).

The Czech women (junior and senior levels) are pretty good at the knockout stages in recent years - they can lose 1-8 or, as happened this year, 0-5 against Canada in the round robin, but then keep it tighter at the knockout stages and occasionally win. I think the women are legit number 3 now. Mostly beat Sweden (junior, senior level) and marginally more often than not Finland. It used to be a very, very different situation in the past, they caught up massively in the past 10-15 years, and overtook most teams. The senior women had never even made a semi-final until 2022, and then won bronze twice and once lost to Finland (SO). The senior women's last 10 games against Sweden: 8-2 Czech wins. Against Finland: 6-4 wins.

Less than 10 years ago I barely knew that the Czech Republic even had a women's ice hockey team.

 

[Czechboy]

Last year the Czech U18 beat Canada 4-2 in the quarterfinals! But that was a complete sensation. (I think they won silver in the end, lost the final against the US if I am not mistaken.

Only losing 2-4 against Canada is actually not too bad, given that the gap between Canada and the US on the one hand and the rest of the world on the other is much, much bigger than in the case of the men and even the juniors (where it if of course bigger than with the adults).

The Czech women (junior and senior levels) are pretty good at the knockout stages in recent years - they can lose 1-8 or, as happened this year, 0-5 against Canada in the round robin, but then keep it tighter at the knockout stages and occasionally win. I think the women are legit number 3 now. Mostly beat Sweden (junior, senior level) and marginally more often than not Finland. It used to be a very, very different situation in the past, they caught up massively in the past 10-15 years, and overtook most teams. The senior women had never even made a semi-final until 2022, and then won bronze twice and once lost to Finland (SO). The senior women's last 10 games against Sweden: 8-2 Czech wins. Against Finland: 6-4 wins.

Less than 10 years ago I barely knew that the Czech Republic even had a women's ice hockey team.

4-2 at U18 level is amazing to me. Back to back medals too!

I get we should be able to hand at Senor level a little because you may have a great group of players on the NT for a decade. But U18 is cyclical. I was thrilled with it to be honest!

 

[Czechboy]

This is one of the newest rankings to come out. .I suspect a few more are coming. This is the mid term rankings...

the good is that Nestrasil is rising. Cihar is rising and Psenicka is rising. Mrtka seems to be a first round lock. Galvas at 89 in Europe could be a 7th round pick, maybe. Benak at 60 in North American should be around Round 5 to 7.

Of course, there will be lots of other rankings that will have different views.

 

[Czechboy]

Craig’s List: Matthew Schaefer ascends to No. 1 for 2025 NHL Draft | TSN

There is a new player at No. 1 for the third straight edition of TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button’s 2025 draft ranking.

www.tsn.ca

And here are Buttons rankings which don't really line up at all with the post above.lol

Mrtka is a first rounder again.

Benak is next in round 2.

Galvas at 41 is the highest I've seen him.

Cihar at 52

Poletin at 61

I'm happy with that list! Still curious if Nestrasil and Psenicka can get into top 100 as season progresses?

 

[Czechboy]

 

[martygod12]

This is one of the newest rankings to come out. .I suspect a few more are coming. This is the mid term rankings...

the good is that Nestrasil is rising. Cihar is rising and Psenicka is rising. Mrtka seems to be a first round lock. Galvas at 89 in Europe could be a 7th round pick, maybe. Benak at 60 in North American should be around Round 5 to 7.

Of course, there will be lots of other rankings that will have different views.

I am sorry but I can't take seriously a list where Benak is ranked 60 amongst NA skaters only. He is a 2nd round prospect at worst even taken in consideration his size disadvantage. This is completely ridiculous

 

[martygod12]

Craig’s List: Matthew Schaefer ascends to No. 1 for 2025 NHL Draft | TSN

There is a new player at No. 1 for the third straight edition of TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button’s 2025 draft ranking.

www.tsn.ca

And here are Buttons rankings which don't really line up at all with the post above.lol

Mrtka is a first rounder again.

Benak is next in round 2.

Galvas at 41 is the highest I've seen him.

Cihar at 52

Poletin at 61

I'm happy with that list! Still curious if Nestrasil and Psenicka can get into top 100 as season progresses?

Now this is a much better list and I would take it 100% if it went like this in June. Well 90%, I would put Mrtka a bit higher somewhere around 15th spot and I just think Cihar is a late 1st rounder, I mean 1st line in ELH, at pace for some 15 points, if this is not first round potential I don't know what is.

That central scouting list is ridiculous and Czech prospects are underrated there once again. I guess we must kick out Canada at WJC few more times for NA scouts to take us seriously again

 

[Czechboy]

I am sorry but I can't take seriously a list where Benak is ranked 60 amongst NA skaters only. He is a 2nd round prospect at worst even taken in consideration his size disadvantage. This is completely ridiculous

Here is my guess how the grading works

Speed/skating: A
IQ: A
Work Ethic: A
Skill: A
Size - f*** this little fella

Overall: 60th in North America

 

[martygod12]

Here is my guess how the grading works

Speed/skating: A
IQ: A
Work Ethic: A
Skill: A
Size - f*** this little fella

Overall: 60th in North America

Sad state of NHL these day, skill doesn't matter as long as you have 2m and 100kg you are good to go lol

 

[martygod12]

I mean seriously who did this ranking? Guy looked elite in every single international tournament. Excelled in u20 league at age 15, played with men at age 16, now is 2nd in scoring amongst undrafted players in USHL and top ten in whole league scoring. Not to mention his skill, hockey iq is just top notch, basically only downside is the size. And you rank him 60????? Eg. Somewhere 5round bullshit, seriously lol?

And don't get me wrong I love how Nestrasil looks so far and that he is rising. He looks promising and interesting and I would even take him to next year WJC, but rank him higher out of those two? Just seriously wtf, whoever did this ranking is a complete hockey ignorant

 

[Czechboy]

And you rank him 60?????

Technically, 60 in North America. So more like 100 overall.lol

The North American rankings made me laugh as it was several USHL players yet Augusta claims the USHL is a different kind of hockey than the CHL. I'm hoping the Czechs start using the USHL/NCAA route more to be honest.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I am sorry but I can't take seriously a list where Benak is ranked 60 amongst NA skaters only. He is a 2nd round prospect at worst even taken in consideration his size disadvantage. This is completely ridiculous

Sorry, I disagree, and I thought that was a terrible list for NA.

As enticing as he may have been, the guy needs to score at a higher rate than he has to be looked at as any higher than that. The USHL MVP scored at a much higher rate last year in his DY and went 7th round.

Honestly, Benak would be much lower if he didn’t have a high prior reputation and there wasn’t a feeling that he’s capable of much more than he’s shown.

Remember what happened with Galvas? Unfortunately the NHL draft isn’t an aesthetics contest. Small guys get downgraded relative to scoring. Big guys get upgraded relative to scoring. That’s how players like Psenicka will likely go higher than Benak and Mrtka much higher. Each player is looked at in the context of how they fit a certain role, and I think the conclusion for Benak is that it’s questionable in the NHL community whether he’s projecting as a player who can fulfill a role in the NHL.

I must state that I don’t like that this is how it is. I would like Benak to be rated higher. It’s my opinion of what hockey should be, but looking at the NHL for what it is, 60 for NA probably is an accurate reflection of how he’s viewed in the NHL.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Noticed Jaskin hasn’t played for the national team in a few years, is that a KHL issue?

 

[martygod12]

Sorry, I disagree, and I thought that was a terrible list for NA.

As enticing as he may have been, the guy needs to score at a higher rate than he has to be looked at as any higher than that. The USHL MVP scored at a much higher rate last year in his DY and went 7th round.

Honestly, Benak would be much lower if he didn’t have a high prior reputation and there wasn’t a feeling that he’s capable of much more than he’s shown.

Remember what happened with Galvas? Unfortunately the NHL draft isn’t an aesthetics contest. Small guys get downgraded relative to scoring. Big guys get upgraded relative to scoring. That’s how players like Psenicka will likely go higher than Benak and Mrtka much higher. Each player is looked at in the context of how they fit a certain role, and I think the conclusion for Benak is that it’s questionable in the NHL community whether he’s projecting as a player who can fulfill a role in the NHL.

I must state that I don’t like that this is how it is. I would like Benak to be rated higher. It’s my opinion of what hockey should be, but looking at the NHL for what it is, 60 for NA probably is an accurate reflection of how he’s viewed in the NHL.

Suck the way overseas hockey is going. I hope he will f*** them over also with Galvas at WC or OG and show them how wrong they are lol.

Still if you put it that way, then why he even went to USHL, seems like a terrible idea if being second in undrafted players scoring gets you nowhere. He could have played in CHL and maybe get rankned much higher.

And other thing, the ranking still feels a bit strange and low, idk but most of the draft lists for 2025 I seen so far he was always there, round 2 or honorable mention or even late 1st round. And now he is ranked to be somewhete 5-7 round or someting all of the sudden? Feels weird.

Noticed Jaskin hasn’t played for the national team in a few years, is that a KHL issue?

KHL players are not allowed to play for czech NT

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Still if you put it that way, then why he even went to USHL, seems like a terrible idea if being second in undrafted players scoring gets you nowhere. He could have played in CHL and maybe get rankned much higher.

Yeah, maybe. It depends. He could go to CHL and he ends up like Zahesky. I don’t think the difference between USHL vs. CHL makes much difference. I think he’s probably close to the same scoring totals in the CHL. There’s little real difference in caliber between the four major NA junior leagues.

And other thing, the ranking still feels a bit strange and low, idk but most of the draft lists for 2025 I seen so far he was always there, round 2 or honorable mention or even late 1st round. And now he is ranked to be somewhete 5-7 round or someting all of the sudden? Feels weird.

I think name recognition helps with that, and honestly it might be why a guy with his attributes and stats who has nowhere near the same prior reputation might be ranked like 5th or 6th round.

And it seems like the public lists always list the smaller, skill guys higher than the NHL teams.