alko
Registered User
Still under many many Slovak star. Not even Top 10.
I think, he is good, but he is a defensive specialist. And plays in a top team in the last decade. Put him into Coyotes roster and you will hardly notice him.
Slovaks of the NHL (July 1st update)
- Thread starter Elvs
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HFBoards is well aware that today is election day in the US. We ask respectfully to focus on hockey and not politics.
Still under many many Slovak star. Not even Top 10.
I think, he is good, but he is a defensive specialist. And plays in a top team in the last decade. Put him into Coyotes roster and you will hardly notice him.
Pat Maroon is going for his 4th Stanley Cup in 4 years. .. No Hall of Famer, if I'm not mistaken.
Not ruling it out for Černák, but he's not remotely close to that at this point. Slovak Hall of Fame, perhaps, but not international.
Then again, you could say he's still at an early stage of his NHL career – and he certainly started it with a bang!
Višňovský only came over to America when he was 24, and Švehla when he was 25. Černák only turned 25 a couple of weeks ago, and may get to hoist his 3rd Stanley Cup before this month is over...
Not ruling it out for Černák, but he's not remotely close to that at this point. Slovak Hall of Fame, perhaps, but not international.
Then again, you could say he's still at an early stage of his NHL career – and he certainly started it with a bang!
Višňovský only came over to America when he was 24, and Švehla when he was 25. Černák only turned 25 a couple of weeks ago, and may get to hoist his 3rd Stanley Cup before this month is over...
Antiillafire
Registered User
He would probably gain more attention in a larger role. Like Ekholm in Nashville. Still, it is nice that we could have potentially 4 top-4 NHL dman for 2026 Olympics (Nemec, Fehy, Cernak, Knazko). If everything goes to plan of course
The "unsigned drafted players" table in the OP just went from just one player to seven. Whoosh!
JabbaJabba
Registered User
Hopefully this is the turning point for Slovakia. Would be fitting if now Chara, Sekera and Halak, the old guys retired or moved to Europe. Passing the torch moment. Sad but fitting.
PhysicalGraffiti
Bolts STM
Just need a Slovak goalie to get a chance. Those are harder to come by. Hoping Huska gets another chance somewhere.
Not to mention golden days of Satan and the national team. Very charismatic group that was.
I'm sorry to jinx this now, but Slovaks are having a pretty good start to the season by their standards.
Ruzicka is finally getting his chance with the Flames and is making the most of it so far. After seven games, he's got 8 points (4+4).
Tatar seems to be bouncing back a little. Maybe it's because Palat is injured he's getting more of an oppurtunity, but from what I've seen Tatar is looking better than last year.
Cernak and Fehervary aren't getting any points, but that's not their game anyway. Both are still playing top 4 minutes, which in it's own is a good sign for Slovakias defence.
Regenda has spent most of the season with Anaheim. Pretty cool that he made the step from the Slovak league to the NHL right away. But time will tell if he sticks.
Kelemen seems to be off a good start in the AHL, especially for a guy who wasn't overly productive in Extraliga. If he keeps this up he might get a call up to Arizona sooner or later.
Slafkovsky is doing what you can expect from him in Montréal, I think. He's not playing like an oustanding #1 pick, but neither does anyone else from his class.
I have no idea how Nemec has been playing in the AHL, but I've noticed he started producing a little more points lately. The same goes for Knazko, who after a slow start is heating up. Had a five point (!) night recently.
Studenic is slowing down in the AHL recently, but his game is about other things than points. Should still be a viable callup option for Dallas this season.
Ruzicka is finally getting his chance with the Flames and is making the most of it so far. After seven games, he's got 8 points (4+4).
Tatar seems to be bouncing back a little. Maybe it's because Palat is injured he's getting more of an oppurtunity, but from what I've seen Tatar is looking better than last year.
Cernak and Fehervary aren't getting any points, but that's not their game anyway. Both are still playing top 4 minutes, which in it's own is a good sign for Slovakias defence.
Regenda has spent most of the season with Anaheim. Pretty cool that he made the step from the Slovak league to the NHL right away. But time will tell if he sticks.
Kelemen seems to be off a good start in the AHL, especially for a guy who wasn't overly productive in Extraliga. If he keeps this up he might get a call up to Arizona sooner or later.
Slafkovsky is doing what you can expect from him in Montréal, I think. He's not playing like an oustanding #1 pick, but neither does anyone else from his class.
I have no idea how Nemec has been playing in the AHL, but I've noticed he started producing a little more points lately. The same goes for Knazko, who after a slow start is heating up. Had a five point (!) night recently.
Studenic is slowing down in the AHL recently, but his game is about other things than points. Should still be a viable callup option for Dallas this season.
Ivo
Registered User
It is also about time for this infusion of young blood. The last of the golden generation just retired (Chara), but there is finally some reason to be cautiously optimistic about the future.
Antiillafire
Registered User
The difference being
In North America: Rich parents pay for their elite hockey player son to play the best academies, summer hockey camps, and have the best equipment and access to facilities. Kid gets drafted in the first round of the OHL/WHL/QMJHL draft and proceeds to be a first round pick in the NHL.
In Slovakia: Rich parents pay for their kid to play always on the highest level possible even though they aren’t even close to skilled enough. This kid than gets national team nominations for youth categories, undeservingly. Proceeds to play terrible as expected. Kid never gets drafted and yet took spots away from more deserving players over his youth career.
The OP has been updated going into free agency. Currently ten Slovaks are signed by NHL teams, or actually twelve counting Mesar and Sykora, though I keep them in the prospects list until they play pro in North America. Speaking of the prospects list, it was also updated since the draft. All in all, things are starting to look pretty good for Slovakia.
PhysicalGraffiti
Bolts STM
Still hoping Tatar and Halak get signed soon. I'm nervous for Halak with teams getting other goalies, part of me thinks he should have just taken a contract back with the Rangers if they were interested.
Don't think it's likely Panik ends up back in the league, but would really like him to get another shot.
Studenic maybe gets a chance in the pros this year with Seattle? I don't know their roster at all so unsure if that's a pipe dream.
Don't think it's likely Panik ends up back in the league, but would really like him to get another shot.
Studenic maybe gets a chance in the pros this year with Seattle? I don't know their roster at all so unsure if that's a pipe dream.
PhysicalGraffiti
Bolts STM
I saw that right after I posted this haha.
Yeah think he's done in the NHL unfortunately.
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