Draft Pick 2015 #43 - D Erik Cernak (HC Kosice)

[King'sPawn]

Looks like one of the draws the Kings had to draft him is the different options to choose his developmental path. Like Voynov, he could play in the AHL next season if they sign him.

Ranked #42 by ISS. According to them, his strengths are size and strength, gritty game (no fun to play against), and defensive play. For weaknesses, they write he's prone to occasional lapses in concentration and foot speed. They further wrote as his skills, "Big, physical defender who thrives in physical play and anticipates the play very well."

Future Considerations ranked him #90 . They wrote, "Cernak is a physically imposing defender who can wreak havoc on the wall with his size and pure strength. He brings strong play at both ends of the ice. He is aware and has very fluid movements to go with his solid mobility. Makes good decisions with the puck and sees lots of options in front of him as he scopes out the ice and decides what to do with the puck."

Hockey Prospect has him ranked #80 . They wrote, "He's what you want physically at 6'3 with a big frame. Mobility is ok and he can play with a bit of an attitude at times. He won't wow you with puck skills, but he can move the puck when he's on his game."

 

[hangons]

Actually you can see he is dumber than dirt.. how a kid, that is 18years old and knows that he is going to be drafted, cannot say more than "yeah" and "I'm happy"... so embarassing

Our 3rd round Russian kid couldn't say "hello" without his translator. He'll improve his english in the next two years and be fine.

 

[Jeff18]

Actually you can see he is dumber than dirt.. how a kid, that is 18years old and knows that he is going to be drafted, cannot say more than "yeah" and "I'm happy"... so embarassing

Are you serious?

They don't speak English in the KHL or the SHL or other leagues in Europe. It is not a requirement to know English to be drafted by the NHL. They don't even have a choice to who drafts them.

 

[Choralone]

I find it funny that a Slovak (who is fluent in written English) is getting jumped on because he doesn't understand how supposedly hard it is for a Slovak (Cernak) to learn English

 

[CTKingsFan]

Oh man! This is gold!

I'm gonna be so disappointed when he learns to speak english more fluently. lol

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Oh man! This is gold!

I'm gonna be so disappointed when he learns to speak english more fluently. lol

LOL! He did ok. When you were 18, did you go to Slovakia and do an interview in Slovakian? The best part was "have you met Gaborik or Sekera?" "Maybe"
It's either yes or know, but 'maybe' he walked by them before or saw them playing
in person. (without meeting) That could pass as 'maybe'

I like that the Kings have control of his development and hope he comes here and plays a year in CHL or better, goes straight to Ontario. With Miller gone, there is a new opening there on RD.

 

[masinaLFC]

LOL! He did ok. When you were 18, did you go to Slovakia and do an interview in Slovakian? The best part was "have you met Gaborik or Sekera?" "Maybe"
It's either yes or know, but 'maybe' he walked by them before or saw them playing
in person. (without meeting) That could pass as 'maybe'

I like that the Kings have control of his development and hope he comes here and plays a year in CHL or better, goes straight to Ontario. With Miller gone, there is a new opening there on RD.

The difference is that kids in Slovakia learn English since preschool and I don't think it's the case with Slovak language in the USA, right?

 

[King'sPawn]

The difference is that kids in Slovakia learn English since preschool and I don't think it's the case with Slovak language in the USA, right?

I learned quite a bit of Spanish in grade school, but you "use it or lose it." He probably has minimal practice with the language since learning it.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

The difference is that kids in Slovakia learn English since preschool and I don't think it's the case with Slovak language in the USA, right?

As far as I am concerned, if he can turn out to be a Willie Mitchell in 3 years,
he can speak piglatin. To see what the Kings development team and good training
can do with Forbert, Gravel, Miller, Shore, Dowd, Mersch in 1+ years, to be able to get Cernak in Ontario at 18 or 19 is going to be huge.

I expect Zykov, Kempe and Brodzinski all to be markedly better, 1 year from now,
with 1 yr in Ontario and with the development team. I hope Cernak goes straight to Ontario and passes on the CHL....unless he truly is not ready and will benefit a season
in the CHL.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

I find it funny that a Slovak (who is fluent in written English) is getting jumped on because he doesn't understand how supposedly hard it is for a Slovak (Cernak) to learn English

Yeah, it is pretty hilarious.

As masinaFLC has mentioned, kids in Slovakia usually learn English since they are 6-8 years old until the end of high school.

And it's not that they just learn it for a year or so, basically it's compulsory to learn a foreign language throughout the majority of their school lives for kids over here.

It's true that the English teachers aren't always the best, but one would expect a guy with aspirations of going to play in NA to try to learn it as it can only make his life easier.

 

[Pandaman11]

NA scouts love him. Euro scouts hate him. Some Slovakians say he's completely overrated.

We'll see who's right.

 

[Rommel]

We’ve been looking at him, Nick (Niklas Andersson) and Ruuts (Christian Ruutu) were really high on him, Mike and I had seen him quite a bit, I’ve seen him in the World Juniors. In terms of his character, when we talked to him, he’s an outstanding kid.

http://lakingsinsider.com/2015/06/27/mark-yannetti-offers-a-draft-recap/

Euro scouts too..

 

[Pandaman11]

Oh, I didn't know those were the only euro scouts that exist in the NHL

 

[peto10]

Erik has been drafted by Erie Otters (OHL) at CHL Import Draft.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Erik has been drafted by Erie Otters (OHL) at CHL Import Draft.

Thank you for this

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Interesting to see what happens here. I'm thinking he comes across to North America this year then is given a chance to crack Ontario's roster. If he doesn't find regular playing time there he'll head to Erie.

Also of note is that he can spend just one year in Erie then go to Ontario as a 19 year old.

 

[Clardz]

That interview is gold. He definitely could've used an interpreter, he's from Košice which is in the east end of Slovakia and there's not a whole lot of English/American tourism. It's my girlfriend's hometown and I've been there a handful of times, nice city with a great team in the Slovak Extraliga. I imagine Erik has probably been pretty lax in his linguistic studies and focusing on hockey, and at the time of the interview he probably had crazy nerves. It didn't help that the interviewer was talking to him at his normal, quick cadence.

Ale Masina, suhlasim ze nevyzera ako najgenialnejsie chlap

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Interesting to see what happens here. I'm thinking he comes across to North America this year then is given a chance to crack Ontario's roster. If he doesn't find regular playing time there he'll head to Erie.

Also of note is that he can spend just one year in Erie then go to Ontario as a 19 year old.

Erik even mentioned about coming to NA. I think he will and it will be as you said - try to make Ontario, and if not goes to Erie. Erik is RH and with Miller going, that leaves
a spot on the right side open. Of course, Ebert may get that fulltime slot. If Forbert move up, that creates another opening. But Roach possibly moves up? Then there's MacDermid.

 

[Sam]

Interesting to see what happens here. I'm thinking he comes across to North America this year then is given a chance to crack Ontario's roster. If he doesn't find regular playing time there he'll head to Erie.

Also of note is that he can spend just one year in Erie then go to Ontario as a 19 year old.

Think he goes to Erie for a year, then Ontario. Ontario's blueline, assuming LoVerde comes back, is already fairly full.

Forbort or Schultz-LoVerde
Lintuniemi-Gravel
Leslie-Ebert
MacDermid (Roach probably ECHL again while being an AHL callup)

 

[EON]

You guys hit on it, Otters beat writer Victor Fernandes today spoke to Otters GM Sherry Bassin, who said Cernak is coming over to North America, it's just a matter of whether or not he cracks the Kings AHL roster or comes to Erie. I hope he comes to Erie obviously because it would help the team a lot, but could be great for his development too. I think he'd play top pairing with Travis Dermott (2015 2nd TOR).

 

[ebis]

Oh man! This is gold!

I'm gonna be so disappointed when he learns to speak english more fluently. lol

-My favorite player is Shea Weber.
-What do you like about his game?
-His game? Marian Gaborik.


By the way, English is not compulsory in Slovakia like someone said, two foreign languages are. In 99% of the cases it's English + German, but I've seen a German + French combo before. So it is theoretically possible to go through the entire Slovak school system without learning a word of English.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

-My favorite player is Shea Weber.
-What do you like about his game?
-His game? Marian Gaborik.


By the way, English is not compulsory in Slovakia like someone said, two foreign languages are. In 99% of the cases it's English + German, but I've seen a German + French combo before. So it is theoretically possible to go through the entire Slovak school system without learning a word of English.

I don't think anyone said that English was, just that learning a foreign language is.

And as you indirectly said, the chances that Cernak never learned it in school are extremely slim.

Although currently English is actually compulsory starting from 3rd grade in Slovakia and it has been since 2011 AFAIK, but it wasn't when Cernak was in 3rd grade, so it probably wouldn't have affected him. Also according to the proposal from December of last year the 2nd foreign language should be optional from 7th to 9th grade.

Later it is only compulsory at the gymnazium (grammar school), but it's very likely that Cernak went to (goes to) a sports gymnasium.

 

[donkozak]

Erie Otters Are Now the Flint Firebirds

Interesting to see what happens here. I'm thinking he comes across to North America this year then is given a chance to crack Ontario's roster. If he doesn't find regular playing time there he'll head to Erie.

Also of note is that he can spend just one year in Erie then go to Ontario as a 19 year old.

After this last year concluded the Connor McDavid lead team the Erie Otters have pulled up shop and are headed to Flint to become the Firebirds.

 

[Dhockey16]

After this last year concluded the Connor McDavid lead team the Erie Otters have pulled up shop and are headed to Flint to become the Firebirds.

No. That would be the Plymouth Whalers. The Otters are in Erie to stay. Would love to see Cernak in Erie

 

[Jwm1986]

Actually you can see he is dumber than dirt.. how a kid, that is 18years old and knows that he is going to be drafted, cannot say more than "yeah" and "I'm happy"... so embarassing

Maxim Kitsyn makes him look like an English scholar. By far the funniest post draft interview in a long time. Unfortunately, he doesn't do a very good job of scoring " ze goaws"