WC: Team CZE - 2019

[Zaschrona]

Can't believe our coach is not willing to wait for Radek Faksa and Roman Polák. Both of them could be available on Tuesday so they could even play on Friday's opening night. Both of them are easy invites and there would still be place available in case Pastrňák and Krejčí or Hertl and Radil become available. Francouz is also an automatic possible invite, Kovář is a liability.

 

[Czechboy]

Good to see Tomasek make the squad, only matter of time before he gets signed by an NHL team. The talent is there. Hopefully both Boston and San Jose advance so he gets to play. Moravcik and Musil make it, yet Sulak was completely ignored? Terrible decision. Unlikely, but I would like to see Bartosak be the starter, another player with NHL upside. Kovar was shaky at best in the pre-tournament games. Ideally we get Francouz though, easily NHL quality goalie in my opinion, got a bit screwed around by Colorado unfortunately.


No idea about Masin, but Zboril didn't look NHL ready in his couple games he got up with the Bruins. And I agree he needs to traded if he wants at least some chance to make the NHL team, he is buried deep on the Boston depth chart.


Faksa is probably a "young", not fully established NHLer in coaches eyes, who would need to be tested first. He was bad at the last WHC and didn't have the best NHL season either, but if his team gets kicked he should be an easy invite.

Given our D... I'd welcome Polak with open arms... No idea who the fourth guy in our top 4 is?

 

[Czechboy]

Good to see Tomasek make the squad, only matter of time before he gets signed by an NHL team. The talent is there. Hopefully both Boston and San Jose advance so he gets to play. Moravcik and Musil make it, yet Sulak was completely ignored? Terrible decision. Unlikely, but I would like to see Bartosak be the starter, another player with NHL upside. Kovar was shaky at best in the pre-tournament games. Ideally we get Francouz though, easily NHL quality goalie in my opinion, got a bit screwed around by Colorado unfortunately.


No idea about Masin, but Zboril didn't look NHL ready in his couple games he got up with the Bruins. And I agree he needs to traded if he wants at least some chance to make the NHL team, he is buried deep on the Boston depth chart.


Faksa is probably a "young", not fully established NHLer in coaches eyes, who would need to be tested first. He was bad at the last WHC and didn't have the best NHL season either, but if his team gets kicked he should be an easy invite.

I don't expect Faksa to score a lot but I think k he might be able to handle the strong Russian, Canadian, us and swedish players coming our way.

I agree zboril is a borderline NHL player but that would make him one of our best D. Eg. Musil and Kolar would only get AHL contracts.

 

[Retroglyphs]

Can't believe our coach is not willing to wait for Radek Faksa and Roman Polák. Both of them could be available on Tuesday so they could even play on Friday's opening night. Both of them are easy invites and there would still be place available in case Pastrňák and Krejčí or Hertl and Radil become available. Francouz is also an automatic possible invite, Kovář is a liability.

Agreed, those are important elements for success.

 

[BigBadBoar]

I am OK with the roster. Actually, no real surprise there. Bartošák should be the starter in my opinion, especially after he had a great pre-tournament game against Sweden.

 

[Vidy]

Well so now we can write our tips here I think.

10.5. 20:15 CZE - SWE - L
11.5. 20:15 NOR - CZE - W
13.5. 16:15 RUS - CZE - OTL
16.5. 20:15 CZE - LAT - W
17.5. 20:15 CZE - ITA - W
19.5. 16:15 AUT - CZE - W
21.5. 12:15 CZE - SUI - OTW

 

[Mirinho]

Faksa is probably a "young", not fully established NHLer in coaches eyes, who would need to be tested first. He was bad at the last WHC and didn't have the best NHL season either, but if his team gets kicked he should be an easy invite.

Faksa's problem at last WCH was his role in that team. Crazy Jandac started tournament with him as 1st line center (vs Slovakia etc.) and when duo from Boston arrived he moved to 2nd line. Total nonsense. Jandac was expecting point producing from Faksa ... And in NHL? I was checking stats now and he had absolutely average season. Same points, FO%, TOI/G as last 2 years. He is very consistent player.

He simply belongs to national team. By far the best 3rd line center we have. Every night he is shutting down best forwards from NHL.

Bad move by Nedved and Riha don't talk about him and don't invite him (if he'll end in SC).

And same situation is with Polak ...

 

[Mirinho]

Well so now we can write our tips here I think.

10.5. 20:15 CZE - SWE - L
11.5. 20:15 NOR - CZE - W
13.5. 16:15 RUS - CZE - OTL
16.5. 20:15 CZE - LAT - W
17.5. 20:15 CZE - ITA - W
19.5. 16:15 AUT - CZE - W
21.5. 12:15 CZE - SUI - OTW

SWE - OTW
NOR - W
RUS - W
LAT - W
ITA - W
SUI - OTW

QF - vs USA - L

 

[Vidy]

SWE - OTW
NOR - W
RUS - W
LAT - W
ITA - W
SUI - OTW

OF - vs USA - L

No more USA at QF. I 'hope' we'll play against Finland/Canada.

 

[Nexon]

SWE - L
NOR - W
RUS - L
LAT - OTW
ITA - W
SUI - W

 

[Chevx]

I'm quite happy with the roster, though hoping that Kovář won't get much time goalkeeping. Even if Francouz couldn't arrive (seems like he will), I would personally prefer Roman Will to Jakub Kovář.

I see how you guys are not happy with the neglecting of Faksa and Polák, but I think main reason for not considering Polák is that he is RHD and the team already has four fair RHDs as left side lacks quality. Faksa would be nice chip to the third line, nice penalty killer and needed power in front of the goal.

I'm still really curious with the opening lineup. Simon really surprised me how he grew, but I'm not sure he is capable of being first C. Nonetheless, I wish the coaches lucky hand with the choice. That's how I see it (presuming Francouz is the only player that might arrive until then):

Vrána - Simon - Voráček
Palát - Chytil - Jaškin
Frolík - Kovář - Kubalík
H. Zohorna - T. Zohorna - Řepík

Sklenička - Gudas
Kolář - Hronek
Moravčík - Rutta

Francouz/Bartošák(/Kovář)

ed.: Zámorský as 7th D.

 

[Retroglyphs]

Faksa's problem at last WCH was his role in that team. Crazy Jandac started tournament with him as 1st line center (vs Slovakia etc.) and when duo from Boston arrived he moved to 2nd line. Total nonsense. Jandac was expecting point producing from Faksa ... And in NHL? I was checking stats now and he had absolutely average season. Same points, FO%, TOI/G as last 2 years. He is very consistent player.

He simply belongs to national team. By far the best 3rd line center we have. Every night he is shutting down best forwards from NHL.

Bad move by Nedved and Riha don't talk about him and don't invite him (if he'll end in SC).

And same situation is with Polak ...

Exactly.
Totally agree with all of that. Big, strong, good skater, decent point production - exactly the kind of guy you'd want to have for your 3rd line. Much better than Kovar and T.Zohorna.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Exactly.
Totally agree with all of that. Big, strong, good skater, decent point production - exactly the kind of guy you'd want to have for your 3rd line. Much better than Kovar and T.Zohorna.

Kovář is a completely different type of forward. T. Zohorna … he is actually very good with the puck, responsible defensively, but his biggest limit is his very weak shot. That is why he made only some 29 points in the KHL regular season. As a 4th liner, he will be OK.

 

[Czechboy]

10.5. 20:15 CZE - SWE - L
W
11.5. 20:15 NOR - CZE - W
W
13.5. 16:15 RUS - CZE - OTL
W
16.5. 20:15 CZE - LAT - W
W
17.5. 20:15 CZE - ITA - W
W
19.5. 16:15 AUT - CZE - W
W
21.5. 12:15 CZE - SUI - OTW
W

I'm going all in. Undefeated in Round Robin! Russians are slow starters and we'll have at least one more major player added to our roster. Swedes will have a bad day and lose to us. Everyone else we beat clean as we have depth this year.

 

[Czechboy]

For the Faksa argument.. his 'bad season' had more points than Chytil and Simon. It'd be a 'nice problem to have' with him in the lineup. His best work is D and I'd love him assigned to someone in the all important Quarter.

One of the first things Babcock said after the defeat was that they missed Polak. I thought his career was in decline 2 years ago but I was clearly wrong. He's all but guaranteed a spot in the NHL next year as his current and former coach love him. He'll never score 30 points but he'd be great against a high end offensive team like the one we most likely face in the Quarters in 3 weeks!

 

[Czechboy]

My own personal view is that our 'pro's allowed' Olympic team is not strong enough to win the World Championships. I love my Czech hockey and I just like seeing good teams being put together and hope for the Quarter Final victory every year.

I really like the team they've put together. I don't know much about Zohorna's or Tomasek so I'll reserve judgement.

Things I hate the most:
No Sulak!
No tryouts for Masin/Zboril/Frk/Kaut/Zadina
I'm sorry, but too many extraliga guys. No one is winning with so many extraliga guys on their team.
Our C is weak
Our D is weak as well but Hronek/Gudas/Rutta give us 3 parts of a very good (not great) Top 4. Whoever is number 4 in this group will struggle.
Goaltending is not good - we're choosing between an Extraliga goalie and a struggling KHL one. If anyone can name me the last time an active goalie in the Extraliga won a medal at the World's, I'm all ears? Ignoring the guys in the AHL is just plain silly.

For us to medal a few things have to happen IMO:

Francouz needs to come over OR Hertl/Radil do. Francouz gives us proven goaltending, Hertl gives us a 1C which we sorely are missing right now - all of a sudden our C's are Hertl, Simon and Chytil. I do think Francouz is in the NHL to start next season. If not, Bartosak has to play out of his mind.

Obviously would love to see Pastrnak/Krejci come and that would be huge as it'd mean we could have an all NHL third line for the first time in years. But I'd be happy for them to move on and win a cup as well.

If Boston and SJ move on - we have to try and get Faksa/Polak if Dallas loses. In no way will we score more goals with those guys BUT our quarterfinal will be a much closer game and we do have some very opportunistic goal scorers all over our lineup. Amazingly, they are surrounded by very hard working players. We do have a recipe for an upset. If Dallas wins then all 4 of the remaining Stanley Cup teams has a strong Czech Presence - Mrazek in net, Hertl as 1C, Polak/Faksa are getting rave reviews and Pastrnak/Krejci. That is good for Czech hockey too.

 

[Retroglyphs]

If Boston and SJ move on - we have to try and get Faksa/Polak if Dallas loses. In no way will we score more goals with those guys BUT our quarterfinal will be a much closer game and we do have some very opportunistic goal scorers all over our lineup. Amazingly, they are surrounded by very hard working players. We do have a recipe for an upset. If Dallas wins then all 4 of the remaining Stanley Cup teams has a strong Czech Presence - Mrazek in net, Hertl as 1C, Polak/Faksa are getting rave reviews and Pastrnak/Krejci. That is good for Czech hockey too.

I'm all for a strategically smarter distribution of czech presence. Seems futile watching them eliminate each other in the CFs, while the NT still needs good players on key positions.
Go Jackets!

 

[Czechboy]

I'm all for a strategically smarter distribution of czech presence. Seems futile watching them eliminate each other in the CFs, while the NT still needs good players on key positions.
Go Jackets!

Would you then want a healthy Mrazek to lose 4-0 to Columbus and be swept in for last 2 games and quarters? They don't have to register a third goalie until Quarters to my knowedlge.

 

[Nexon]

My own personal view is that our 'pro's allowed' Olympic team is not strong enough to win the World Championships. I love my Czech hockey and I just like seeing good teams being put together and hope for the Quarter Final victory every year.

I really like the team they've put together. I don't know much about Zohorna's or Tomasek so I'll reserve judgement.

Things I hate the most:
No Sulak!
No tryouts for Masin/Zboril/Frk/Kaut/Zadina
I'm sorry, but too many extraliga guys. No one is winning with so many extraliga guys on their team.
Our C is weak
Our D is weak as well but Hronek/Gudas/Rutta give us 3 parts of a very good (not great) Top 4. Whoever is number 4 in this group will struggle.
Goaltending is not good - we're choosing between an Extraliga goalie and a struggling KHL one. If anyone can name me the last time an active goalie in the Extraliga won a medal at the World's, I'm all ears? Ignoring the guys in the AHL is just plain silly.

For us to medal a few things have to happen IMO:

Francouz needs to come over OR Hertl/Radil do. Francouz gives us proven goaltending, Hertl gives us a 1C which we sorely are missing right now - all of a sudden our C's are Hertl, Simon and Chytil. I do think Francouz is in the NHL to start next season. If not, Bartosak has to play out of his mind.

Obviously would love to see Pastrnak/Krejci come and that would be huge as it'd mean we could have an all NHL third line for the first time in years. But I'd be happy for them to move on and win a cup as well.

If Boston and SJ move on - we have to try and get Faksa/Polak if Dallas loses. In no way will we score more goals with those guys BUT our quarterfinal will be a much closer game and we do have some very opportunistic goal scorers all over our lineup. Amazingly, they are surrounded by very hard working players. We do have a recipe for an upset. If Dallas wins then all 4 of the remaining Stanley Cup teams has a strong Czech Presence - Mrazek in net, Hertl as 1C, Polak/Faksa are getting rave reviews and Pastrnak/Krejci. That is good for Czech hockey too.

Although you are right one many points, player selection is not as depending as we think. Problem is our gameplan, we just dont shoot enough, our problem for years, If you dont shoot you simply cannot score goals, I don’t know why we possess this kind of mentality, our players just seem like they don’t want to take the responsibility and rather pass to death.

Anyway,I think Bartošák is solid enough to reach QF, if we wanted more, even winning WC, we would need Vokoun caliber goalie and while I like Francouz I ensure you he is not that guy who can himself send us to finals. I hope he joins though.
As you said, we desperately need 1C, Simon has been great but probably not ready for that position.

 

[Czechboy]

No Pastrnak/Krejci (I really hope they win the cup).

I do wonder if our friends the Russians will end up with Bobrovsky and Panaran on top of their already stacked team?

 

[Retroglyphs]

Would you then want a healthy Mrazek to lose 4-0 to Columbus and be swept in for last 2 games and quarters? They don't have to register a third goalie until Quarters to my knowedlge.

Dude, I see you're doing some serious calculations there. (Un)fortunately for the fans at home, those czech elite players are on a serious push for the SC.

 

[Nexon]

No Pastrnak/Krejci (I really hope they win the cup).

I do wonder if our friends the Russians will end up with Bobrovsky and Panaran on top of their already stacked team?

Panarin is not under contract, I think they AIM at Tarasenko and Gavrikov instead.

 

[BigBadBoar]

If Dallas is out, the coaching staff will invite Radek Faksa, Robert Reichel said.

 

[Mirinho]

If Dallas is out, the coaching staff will invite Radek Faksa, Robert Reichel said.

They probably checked here this thread and they saw how we are pi**ed

 

[Czechboy]

If Dallas is out, the coaching staff will invite Radek Faksa, Robert Reichel said.

Did they mention Polak at all? I know he retired from National Team (and at the time this was good news) but Bratislava is an hour from Brno... can't we buy the guy a gift basket or some Czech cheese?