2004 Draft: Czechs all over the map
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft promised to offer one of the better Czech crops in history, as the '86-birth year has been the country's strongest in recent memory. Although the number of 21 Czechs selected
did not enter the record books, the total of four Czech first rounders matches the previous high for the country, set in 2002.
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The likes of Marek Schwarz, Jakub Sindel, Karel Hromas and Stanislav
Balan all slid from their projected rankings and will be poised to prove
their detractors wrong. It was not a surprise that no Czech overagers were selected as there were no Marek Zidlickys this season that firmly stood out.
It is likely that none of the Czechs picked in the draft will make an impact in the NHL next season, but the crop is unmistakeably full of promising talent and the league will feel that presence in two or three years' time.
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The first pick to highlight Mike Keenan's new reign as the Florida
Panthers' General Manager was centre Rostislav Olesz. The Panthers followed a previous trend of selecting players with an abundance of talent and character. We like Olesz for his maturity and underrated
offensive abilities.
Don't expect Olesz to be rushed to the NHL too early as he is likely
to spend at least another year in the Czech Extraleague. His third full
senior campaign will be the first outside of his parent Vitkovice team,
as Olesz was loaned to Sparta Praha for a term of two years.
The Panthers are counting that Olesz' offensive skills keep
developing steadily and if he achieves a breakthrough season next year,
he will be given every chance to become a mainstay on Florida's top
two lines very soon thereafter.
Perhaps reaching slightly were the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, picking up
defender Ladislav Smid at the nine slot. While many, including
ourselves, would argue that there were better options in the top 10,
the
selection does not come as a major surprise as the youngster stands out
due to his pro experience and puckmoving abilities - the skill that the
Ducks judged as mandatory for their young organization. I consider
Smid
to be on cusp of NHL duty.
A lanky player, Smid is expected to fill out his frame next year with
HC Bili Tygri Liberec of the Extraleague. His goal is to play in the
NHL within two years and the upside is there to mature into a top-two
rearguard.
One of the several major head scratchers at the draft was the
unexpected fall of bluechip goalie Marek Schwarz out of the top 15 of
the draft. The St. Louis Blues and chief scout Jarmo Kekalainen, who
consistently covets the Czechs, snapped up the promising prospect who
will help the Blues to restock a thin pipeline of netminding prospects.
Schwarz will stay in the Czech Extraleague next season, as he signed a
contract with HC Ocelari Trinec. The Blues, promptly, further
solidified their goaltending situation by adding the proven Patrick
Lalime in a trade with Ottawa. Lalime will weather the storm for the
next few seasons, until Schwarz is considered to be ready to take over.
We give the Blues top marks for filling the void that has haunted them
for the past several years.
The San Jose Sharks' Czech scout Karel Masopust may have been the
catalyst for the club's second consecutive Czech selection with their
first pick. After last year's pick of Milan Michalek, the Sharks
overlooked the concerns voiced by many about the character of
dedication
of skilled forward Lukas Kaspar and picked him up, hoping that all the
pieces will eventually come together. Interestingly, Kaspar is not
entirely different from the likes of Petr Sykora and Patrick Elias who,
at his age, were chastised similarly for their lack of physical and
mental dedication. The goalscoring upside is unmistakable, as was
reflected by his top-30 ranking on our top 100 list.
Kaspar will stay with HC Chemopetrol Litvinov next season and should
see playing time on the third line. He has the tools to put up
consistent points on a top line at the NHL level in the future, much
like Sykora, if he meets expectations.
Jakub Sindel's posterior was firmly planted for longer than many
anticipated at the draft until he was, mercifully, gathered up by the
Chicago Blackhawks 54th overall. Looking to add much-needed skill,
Chicago picked up the Czech senior Extraleague 'top rookie', a
rather astute pick considering his experience and solid international
reputation. It is most likely that Sindel's stock took a nosedive due
to his rather skinny frame. As we mentioned before in our draft
coverage, Jakub failed to dominate at junior tournaments as many had
expected due to being overwhelmed along the boards and in high-traffic
areas.
Sindel has a valid contract with Sparta Praha, but was picked at the
CHL Import draft by the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. The word is
that Sparta Praha may release him for at least one year of CHL hockey.
Sindel has top-line NHL upside, but I really don't see him making his
living on the checking line, so the chips need to fall in all the right
places for him.
Addressing the need to add finesse skill to their stable of prospects,
the Boston Bruins made consecutive Euro picks late in the second round,
snapping up David Krejci and Martins Karsums. Krejci is not going to
help immediately, but is a valuable asset due to his mix of smarts and
skill.
The Bruins' scouts will not have to pay a pretty airline penny to see
him play either as Krejci will perform in the CHL next year, joining
countryman Petr Pohl in Gatineau. I feel that he has the potential of
a
second line playmaking centre, but if he does not learn to cope with
the
physical demands of NHL hockey, look for him as a mainstay in Europe.
Late draft riser Zdenek Bahensky was drafted by the Rangers, who seemed
to have the jump on all the late risers in Raleigh (Korpikoski,
Callahan, Ryan). Sather and Co. also improved the organizational depth
at centre by picking up the Czech pivot, although free agency may make
that point moot anyway. Bahensky is likely at least two years away
from
joining the Rangers - he is a raw forward with intriguing upside.
The first overall pick at the 2004 CHL Import Draft by the Saskatoon
Blades of the WHL, Bahensky will play in North America in 2004-2005. He
does not see a significant future for himself with Litvinov, which
accelerated his move overseas. He fits the mold of a future third-line
NHL forward, but with added luck could play on the second line.
The Nashville Predators liked what they saw from the big and rangy Vaclav Meidl, picking up the tall pivot with the 81st overall pick.
With
one season of OHL hockey under his best, the raw forward is slowly
getting accustomed to North America, which is a positive, although he
struggled through a mostly inconsistent campaign in 2003-2004. A brazen
guy with a chip on his shoulder, Meidl is at his best when his work
ethic is showing.
Meidl will return to the Plymouth Whalers for his second OHL campaign.
Expect him to finish him junior eligibility before he is being
considered at the Predators' camp. Not known for his scoring touch,
Meidl looks like a future third liner, but perhaps with a twist. He has
the kind of sparcious body that would allow him to physically dominate
at either end of the ice if his head is up to it. His hands are not
top-line quality.