Slovak Roster announced

[12# Peter Bondra]

Here's the roster:

Goalies: Ján Lašák (HC Pardubice/ČR), Rastislav Staňa (Washington Capitals/Portland - AHL), Peter Budaj (Colorado Avalanche/Hershey - AHL).

Defensmen: Ľubomír ViÅ¡ňovský (Los Angeles Kings), Radoslav Suchý (Phoenix Coyotes), Richard Lintner (Djurgaarden/Å véd.), Branislav Mezei (Florida Panthers), Ivan Majeský (Atlanta Trashers), Martin Å trbák (Pittsburgh Penguins), Zdeno Chára (Ottawa Senators), Jaroslav ObÅ¡ut (Vancouver Canucks/Manitoba - AHL).

Attackers: ĽuboÅ¡ Bartečko (Sparta Praha/ČR), Miroslav Å atan (Buffalo Sabres), Žigmund Pálffy, Jozef Stümpel (obaja Los Angeles Kings), Marián Gáborík (Minnesota Wild), Ladislav Nagy (Phoenix Coyotes), Marián Hossa, Peter Bondra (obaja Ottawa Senators), Michal HandzuÅ¡, Radovan Somík, Branko Radivojevič (vÅ¡etci Philadelphia Flyers), Pavol Demitra (St. Louis Blues), Richard Zedník (Montreal Canadiens), Vladimír Országh (Nashville Predators), Miroslav Hlinka (HC Hamé Zlín/ČR).

A good roster. I would personally change Hlinka with Pavlikovsky but that's all I have to add.

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[ZBORNAJA]

Good team

 

[Golbez]

Here's the roster:

Goalies: Ján Lašák (HC Pardubice/ČR), Rastislav Staňa (Washington Capitals/Portland - AHL), Peter Budaj (Colorado Avalanche/Hershey - AHL).

Defensmen: Ľubomír ViÅ¡ňovský (Los Angeles Kings), Radoslav Suchý (Phoenix Coyotes), Richard Lintner (Djurgaarden/Å véd.), Branislav Mezei (Florida Panthers), Ivan Majeský (Atlanta Trashers), Martin Å trbák (Pittsburgh Penguins), Zdeno Chára (Ottawa Senators), Jaroslav ObÅ¡ut (Vancouver Canucks/Manitoba - AHL).

Attackers: ĽuboÅ¡ Bartečko (Sparta Praha/ČR), Miroslav Å atan (Buffalo Sabres), Žigmund Pálffy, Jozef Stümpel (obaja Los Angeles Kings), Marián Gáborík (Minnesota Wild), Ladislav Nagy (Phoenix Coyotes), Marián Hossa, Peter Bondra (obaja Ottawa Senators), Michal HandzuÅ¡, Radovan Somík, Branko Radivojevič (vÅ¡etci Philadelphia Flyers), Pavol Demitra (St. Louis Blues), Richard Zedník (Montreal Canadiens), Vladimír Országh (Nashville Predators), Miroslav Hlinka (HC Hamé Zlín/ČR).

A good roster. I would personally change Hlinka with Pavlikovsky but that's all I have to add.

This is pretty close to the roster I picked, although I wouldn't have taken Obsut, but rather Cierny...and I picked Kukumberg over Radivojevic, and Murin over Budaj (but I expected Budaj nonetheless)

Miro Hlinka is a good pick, as he's a fine defensive center.

Jes Golbez's Weblog

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

I think Filc picked Obsut because he has experience with the smaller rinks. Cierny never played in N.America. I thought Cierny would go but Obsut is a fine pick.

I would have picked Pavlikovsky over Hlinka becuase Pavlikovsky has experience with the smaller rinks. They are almost the same players. Both defensive players and good face-off men.

 

[Golbez]

I thought Cierny would've made the team with his awesome world champs play... Pairings?

Visnovsky - Chara
Lintner - Majesky
Suchy/Strbak - Mezei/Obsut

I'd expect Lintner to play with Strbak. Strbak is more reliable defensively, and Lintner can go a bit crazy on the offense.

Majesky is big, but I worry that the pace of the World Cup will be a bit fast for him. Suchy-Majesky is alright as a 3rd pairing, with Obsut or Mezei as the reserves.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

I think the pairings will be:

Visnovsky-Strbak
Chara-Lintner
Obsut-Suchy/Majesky
Mezei-Majesky/Suchy

In the World Cup do teams play with 3 D pairings or 4 like in the WC's?

If on 3 then:

Visnovsky-Strbak
Chara-Lintner
Suchy-Obsut/Majesky

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

I'd expect Lintner to play with Strbak. Strbak is more reliable defensively, and Lintner can go a bit crazy on the offense.

Majesky is big, but I worry that the pace of the World Cup will be a bit fast for him. Suchy-Majesky is alright as a 3rd pairing, with Obsut or Mezei as the reserves.

Lintner will play with Chara because Chara is a good defensive D so Lintner can go and attack.

Majesky will play better than in the WC's because in the World Cup there are smaller rinks. Many people forget that fact.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Chara with Lintner? Chara is mobile and strong but likes to go on the offense. Strbak or Suchy probably best choice although I'd like to see either Majesky or Chara to try a defensive role, but I think they want all the offense they can get from their best d-man Chara.

I think Filc will force Chara to play more D than he plays in Ottawa. In the WC's he was our best D and didn't make almost any mistakes and saved a goal with a volleyball save.

 

[Golbez]

I think Filc will force Chara to play more D than he plays in Ottawa. In the WC's he was our best D and didn't make almost any mistakes and saved a goal with a volleyball save.

Except when Chara is creating a solar eclipse in front of the opposition's net on the Power Play

Majesky does have NHL experience, but he also lacks some quickness. Against teams of elite players, he may have his troubles against the faster players and the flow of play.

We'll just have to see if he's improved enough, otherwise the more mobile Mezei will take his spot.

Jes Golbez's Weblog

 

[big_steve]

Nice team, I think it'll finish 3rd or maybe 2nd in the North American division, that's if Tikhonov(spelling?) is coaching the Russians. Otherwise, they'll finish 3rd or 4th.

 

[Flyman]

This is a nice team. Good firepower on offense but I guess the defense is a bit weak...

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Except when Chara is creating a solar eclipse in front of the opposition's net on the Power Play

Majesky does have NHL experience, but he also lacks some quickness. Against teams of elite players, he may have his troubles against the faster players and the flow of play.

We'll just have to see if he's improved enough, otherwise the more mobile Mezei will take his spot.

Jes Golbez's Weblog

Demitra said during the WC:" During the PP if there is Chara in front the net my only problem is to not shoot into him. If I don't hit him. it goes in." Funny qoute.

Mezei didn't really paly great during the WC's and Majesky played quite good. I never saw Obsut play. Mezei will be the 8th D I think. Obsut rejected the invitation for the WC's and Mezei played worst on the WC squad.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Nice team, I think it'll finish 3rd or maybe 2nd in the North American division, that's if Tikhonov(spelling?) is coaching the Russians. Otherwise, they'll finish 3rd or 4th.

I hope we challenge Canada. In the 96 WC we lost only 3-2. Now we have a far better team but I think that Canada has a better team too. I hope we finish 3rd but it all depends on how the Russians get on with each other. If they play as a team, they could finish even 1st in the group, but if they play forthemsleves then I think they will finish 4th.

 

[Robertsson 4-ever]

Very nice team, especially offensively. Among pure offensive skill I can't see no other team beat them, although the defensive play may be a problem, but the got talent in that area as well. Handzus could center a checking line, maybe with Bondra and Bartecko? Seems quite good to me. Satan and Hossa are also quite good defensive players, but there is not much grit in the lineup, which could be a problem when facing the NA teams.

My lineup:
Palffy - Stumpel - Satan
Hossa - Demitra - Gaborik
Bondra - Handzus - Bartecko
Radivojevic - Nagy - Zednik
(Hlinka, Somik, Orszagh)

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Some lines are sure now:

1st line: Bondra-Stumpel-Palffy Great chemistry between these guys.
Some duos are certain: Nagy-Orszagh, Strbak-Visnovsky, Satan-Handzus.
Hlinka will play the 4th line C as he is a good defensive C.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

I think there will be the famous St.Louis line depsite the chemistry between Handzus and Satan.

Bartecko-Handzus-Demitra

The 4th will rather be like this:

Somik/Orszagh-Hlinka-Radivojevic

And we have toughness I think: Chara, Mezei, Majesky, Radivojevic, Zednik and some more guys. But we could have callen up Ronald Petrovicky though.

 

[Douggy]

Does anyone else find it odd that everybody on this roster is on and NHL team or is atleast good enough to be on an NHL team, except for the goalies??

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Who said Lasak isn't good enough to be on a NHL roster? stana will be the future #2 in Wash. and Budaj may get some callups if lucky. Lasak isn't just mentally strong enough now. Hasek didn't break into the NHL immideately. He was considered bad in Chicago. Give Lasak time.

 

[Hossa]

Those forward lines are absolutely fantastic. They are actually probably as skilled as any, certainly better depth in terms of skill than Finland or Sweden at this point I'd say. When a guy like Ladislav Nagy is on the fourth line with Branko Radivojevic and Richard Zednik, you have depth.

Chara aside, the defence is pretty unspectacular. That being said, it's not brutal either. I know Lasak has a good international track record, but if Slovakia were to just get one big goalie, that'd make all the difference. Maybe the Czech Republic would donate Marek Schwarz...they have Vokoun, they don't need him.

Nonetheless a high quality roster.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

We have a talented goalie in Valent I think. Look at Finland 6 years ago. They didn't have good goalies then and now they have Kiprusoff, Lehtonen and others. I think the same will happen here.

The defence is reliable. Not as glorious as Canada's, but it doesn't make mistakes. It's getting better each year. In this years WC's we got 8 goals in 9 games, and had 5 shotouts. Svehla is a great assistant coach. He helped our defensive game a lot.

 

[Hossa]

We have a talented goalie in Valent I think. Look at Finland 6 years ago. They didn't have good goalies then and now they have Kiprusoff, Lehtonen and others. I think the same will happen here.

Oh for sure. I think at some point Slovakia will get their goalie. Finland is stacked, it used to be Hurme, Kiprusoff (before his freak-out, lol), Nurminen were their guys, but with Kiprusoff having become a stud, Lehtonen and Toivonen on the way....they're loaded.

 

[Douggy]

Who said Lasak isn't good enough to be on a NHL roster? stana will be the future #2 in Wash. and Budaj may get some callups if lucky. Lasak isn't just mentally strong enough now. Hasek didn't break into the NHL immideately. He was considered bad in Chicago. Give Lasak time.

But every other country in the tournament is going to have a goalie who is GOOD on North American Ice. Lasak might take time, but how much time?? Just let me know, cause the tournament is in 4 months.

Even countries like Latvia, Switzerland and France, who aren't THAT great at hockey, have better goaltending than Slovakia.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Huet wasn't spectacular at the WC's, in fact, he played horrid. Irbe is finishing his career and Gerber is good, I agree on that. Aebsicher too. But countries like Switzerland, France and Latvia don't have great players.

I hope that Lasak will play great in this tournet to get a place in the NHL. Maybe Lasak will be in the form of his life. Who knows?

 

[Riddarn]

Great team! They will be a semi final contender, at least. The Slovakians always play great when they compete for their country.

 

[Hossa]

But every other country in the tournament is going to have a goalie who is GOOD on North American Ice. Lasak might take time, but how much time?? Just let me know, cause the tournament is in 4 months.

Even countries like Latvia, Switzerland and France, who aren't THAT great at hockey, have better goaltending than Slovakia.

Lasak is not David Aebischer, but he is very comparable to Christobal Huet. When he's going (and he seems to always be going at a world event) he's absolutely fantastic. He's not an NHL goalie right now, but he easily could be. He had an unbelievable WJC a few years back where he was nicknamed "the Lasak Hasek" and for good reason. I don't quite know what happened this year for him in Nashville, but the talent is there with Lasak. He's not Aebischer (let alone Brodeur/Luongo or Hasek/Vokoun), but he's not far behind anybody on Sweden for example.

I'm drawing a blank trying to think of a Latvian goalie better than Irbe. Surely you don't mean Irbe, right?