stastny12
Registered User
Sekera, Jaros and Panik will not join the NT, officially. This not the case of Studenic, though.
Nemec was a lock after his first game .... Jaros eventual arrival wouldn't change that.Well, there go our quarterfinal chances
Atleast Nemec will make the roster
He would probably make the roster anyway, but I wouldn't say they had him as a lockNemec was a lock after his first game .... Jaros eventual arrival wouldn't change that.
Sekera, Jaros and Panik will not join the NT, officially. This not the case of Studenic, though.
Reasons:This is sad. Sekera usually always says yes, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
But Panik has only participated in one international tournament since 2014, and that was when it was on home ice. Every other time (two World Championships and one Olympics) was before he enterted his prime.
And Jaros has barely played hockey this season.
I don't know there reasons for declining, but genereally speaking, I wish Slovak NHL'ers would be more happy to help. The Slovak people still loves hockey and have waited for their National team to make the quarter finals for nearly a decade now.
Most likely, unless we can beat Swiss for the 4th spot and win out against the other mid level nations. The positive is that we will see some new faces in Slovak NT at WC for the first time.Well, there go our quarterfinal chances
Atleast Nemec will make the roster
Reasons:
Panik and Sekera - pregnant wives
Jaros - no contract for next season
Yeah ... I think that he just don't wanna be in another bubble. But it is what it is. He would be a good fit because our defense lacks size. Most of our defensemen are offensive and we just don't have that big defensive defenseman who is physical, strong along the boards (maybe only Bucko). Guys like Cajkovsky, Ceresnak, Jaros bring this aspect.Thanks.
I don't really buy the contract excuse for Jaros, though. Sure, for a lot of NHL players it makes sense to not play in the WC without a contract if they are in for a raise. But Jaros is a pending RFA and is gonna be making peanuts (relatively speaking) again with his next contract.
Lantosi and Huska are in the same contract situation, as well as Studenic. Not to mention a bunch of European based players with expiring contracts.
The only explanation I can think of, is Jaros' agent eyeing for a 1-way contract in the NHL, something Lantosi, Huska and Studenic surely won't get. Jaros has some NHL experience under his belt, so the possibility could be real, though I doubt it happens.
Thanks.
I don't really buy the contract excuse for Jaros, though. Sure, for a lot of NHL players it makes sense to not play in the WC without a contract if they are in for a raise. But Jaros is a pending RFA and is gonna be making peanuts (relatively speaking) again with his next contract.
Lantosi and Huska are in the same contract situation, as well as Studenic. Not to mention a bunch of European based players with expiring contracts.
The only explanation I can think of, is Jaros' agent eyeing for a 1-way contract in the NHL, something Lantosi, Huska and Studenic surely won't get. Jaros has some NHL experience under his belt, so the possibility could be real, though I doubt it happens.
There is zero incentive for Jaros to risk an injury with no contract for the next season.
anyway, my lines prediction for the opening game
Top 9 F
Cehlarik Hrivik Studenic (NHL line)
Pospisil Ruzicka Lantosi (Finnish-AHL line)
Slafkovsky Kristof Skalicky (Finnish line)
Top 4 D
Daloga Nemec
Gernat Janosik
There is zero incentive for Jaros to risk an injury with no contract for the next season.
Again, the same applies for Studenic, Lantosi, Huska and a bunch of European based players in this tournament. Pending RFA's making near league minimum tend to play in the World Championships regardless of not having a contract.
But it doesn't matter much. Jaros alone isn't enough to make Slovakia a quarter final team. They needed Panik and Sekera. I hope I'm wrong, though. If Slovakia somehow makes the quarter finals with this roster, guys like Cehlarik, Hrivik, K. Pospisil and Gernat (or rather, their agents) could get a couple of phone calls from NHL teams, though I doubt any of them (save for maybe Pospisil) would be interested in a 2-way deal.
Earlier this month, Gernat claimed he is waiting for an NHL bid and willing to take even two-way contract. Like he mentioned, it´s his priority to play one game in the NHL, at least. (Source) Former Leksands player Hrivik has already signed for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Cehlarik is on his way to Avangard Omsk, since the russian team acquired player rights lately. I don´t know how is the situation with Pospisil and Skalicky. I guess that mainly Skalicky has a chance to be signed by one of the NHL organizations.But it doesn't matter much. Jaros alone isn't enough to make Slovakia a quarter final team. They needed Panik and Sekera. I hope I'm wrong, though. If Slovakia somehow makes the quarter finals with this roster, guys like Cehlarik, Hrivik, K. Pospisil and Gernat (or rather, their agents) could get a couple of phone calls from NHL teams, though I doubt any of them (save for maybe Pospisil) would be interested in a 2-way deal.
That's great news about Studenic. He is technically an NHL player and we could really use some on the NT.
Shame about Panik though, I was kind of hoping he'd show up in the end.
To be completely honest, I'd rather have an average (below average), but experienced NHL player (Panik - over 500 NHL games under his belt) than top performers of the Swedish league.
According to flames beat reporter, Ruzicka is likely to make his NHL debut tomorrow as Monahan is out for last 4 games. I wonder if this will diminish his chances of coming to play. Calgary’s last game is on the 19th.Šatan confirmed he is trying to get Ružička.
I think that this team will be exciting to watch. When you look at the age of some players, its basically beginning of new era of Slovak hockey. Very young team (maybe youngest ever), fast, we are creating a lot of scoring opportunities thanks to our speed and forechecking ... we just need goals. I still believe in Cehlarik + Hrivik. Then guys like Studenic, Lantosi, "Finnish guys" Pospisil and Skalicky ,etc. Also we need solid performances from our goalie. Every time when Slovakia accomplished something, it was thanks to our goalies. And a lot of time goalies saved us from big embarrassment. But last 2 WC, our goalies were ... not consistent enough. Hopefully Konrad/Hudacek/Huska can steal some game for us.I think I was a little quick to dismiss Slovakia's chances of making the quarter finals. Several nations are getting a lot of declines from NHL players. Unfortunately for Slovakia in group A, both the Czech's and the Swiss' are among those more lucky with reinforcments. The key is to not lose any points against either of Denmark, Belarus or Great Britain, and then be able to pull of one upset against the stronger nations. Not likely, I know. But not impossible, either.
If I had to guess this years games for us will be more low scoring, i.e 2-1, 1-0, 3-2. Key will be to not allow many goals because as seen by the exhibition games we aren’t world beaters when it comes to scoring. They key for us will be strong special teams. I hope they have been working mightily on the powerplayI think I was a little quick to dismiss Slovakia's chances of making the quarter finals. Several nations are getting a lot of declines from NHL players. Unfortunately for Slovakia in group A, both the Czech's and the Swiss' are among those more lucky with reinforcments. The key is to not lose any points against either of Denmark, Belarus or Great Britain, and then be able to pull of one upset against the stronger nations. Not likely, I know. But not impossible, either.
Probably. Although, Belarus isn´t the biggest obstacle here. Switzerland is.It's hard to be too optimistic, Belarus - Slovakia game seems like a coin toss, roster-wise. Slovakia has more offensive depth but Belarus looks better on defense and has all the tools to get a potentially lethal powerplay. Belarus goalies don't look great but neither does Slovakia's.