Czech Draft Review
After an above-average Czech prospects crop in 2002 the 2003 class meant a slight
step back from the Czech point of view. The 1985 birthyear was not very strong,
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which was visible at the Under-18 WJC in Yaroslavl, Russia, where the Czechs claimed
only the sixth place. At the recent NHL Entry Draft the Czech players didn't stand
in the spotlight and only Milan Michalek was selected in the first round. The
total of eighteen Czech players picked is the lowest number in many years, dating
back to 1997. That number includes three overage players, who will fight for a
spot in their NHL employer's lineup as soon as this fall. Time will tell which
of these prospects will have the most successfull NHL careers, but let's have
a look who are the draft picks!
First round
Michalek
Position: left wing/center
Team: HC Ceske Budejovice
Birthdate: December, 7th, 1984
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 205 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 2nd among European skaters
NHL draft: San Jose Sharks, 1st round, 6th overall
Among the most NHL ready players from this year's draft crop, Milan Michalek
is a smart player who is able to play both center and left wing very well. He
utilizes on his powerful stride to emerge as a very good skater. Michalek is
well-balanced and possesses solid speed and acceleration. A sturdy forward,
Michalek is able to use his size well against the opposing players. His strength
enables him to cover the puck well. Michalek works hard on every shift and is
a dilligent backchecker. He possesses a terrific level of defensive awareness.
Michalek is blessed with superb puck skills and soft hands. A creative forward,
Michalek is an excellent playmaker with excellent vision and reflexes. He has
a quick and accurate wrist shot and a powerful slap shot, which sometimes lacks
accuracy. Michalek still could use his shooting skills to a greater extent.
He is an excellent stickhandler at high speeds and in traffic, but does not
overhandle the puck. For such a skilled player he should put up more points,
though. Will challenge for a roster spot with the Sharks this fall.
Second round
Polak
Position: right wing
Team: HC Energie Karlovy Vary
Birthdate: June, 27th, 1985
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 185 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 12th among European skaters
NHL draft: Dallas Stars, 2nd round, 36th overall
The newest member of the Dallas Stars, Vojtech Polak is an talented forward
with an excellent play in the offensive zone. He has a nose for the net and
likes to have the puck on his stick. Polak is a smart player who stays calm
in important game situations. He is a very good skater with a nice burst of
speed and solid balance. Vojtech is a smooth puckhandler who can make many elusive
moves to fool the defense and score. A superb stickhandler, Polak has both his
wrist and slap shot hard and accurate. He possesses solid passing skills. Among
his drawbacks is his intensity without the puck and defensive awareness. Toughness
is a thing to work on for him, Polak is more of a finesse player and rough play
can cause him some problems. He doesn't dish out hard hits and prefers the open
ice more than battling heavy traffic. Will stay in Europe for at least one more
season.
Kreps
Position: center
Team: Brampton Battalion (OHL)
Birthdate: November, 18th, 1984
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 187 lbs.
Shoots: R
CSB Final Rank: 22nd among North American skaters
NHL draft: Florida Panthers, 2nd round, 38th overall
The first from the fourth Panthers picks from the Czech Republic, Kamil Kreps
is a very good skater with a nice burst of speed and is capable of fast turns.
He is a finesse forward who handles his stick extremly well and is blessed with
great
puckhandling skills. He can play in traffic relatively well and his strong vision
and hockey sense allow him to pass the puck through holes unseen by others,
but Kamil is also a solid goalscorer. Once he upgrades his shooting skills,
he can develop into a good sniper. He has an above-average slap shot, but it
still could be improved a bit. Kamil could also use more
aggresivness, he isn't fully using his frame to his advantage. He is trying
to be more aware defensively in order to be an all-round forward. Kreps still
needs to bulk up more, but he is an effective player who does the little things
well. Will finish his junior eligibility in the OHL before he will think about
cracking the Panthers lineup.
Vrana
Position: center
Team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Birthdate: March, 29th, 1985
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 175 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 68th among North American skaters
NHL draft: New Jersey Devils, 2nd round, 42nd overall
After selecting Zach Parise in the first round the Devils went for another
smallish forward in the second round. Looking at Petr Vrana, you'll immediately
notice his intriguing skills. He has great wheels and lot of quickness. He is
both very agile and balanced on his skates and can be slotted as a very good
skater. Petr is a dynamic forward who has a natural gift for irritating
opponents and generating scoring chances using his superb stickhandling skills
and persistence. He is an intelligent pivot who is very strong on the puck.
Vrana shows a commitment to the defensive side of his play and is willing to
help out the defense. Albeit undersized, he doesn't fear from the rough going
and is willing to stick his nose into traffic areas. He needs to bulk up and
upgrade his aggresivness. Petr isn't also a lethal shooter and even if he has
a strong wrister, his slap shot could see some improvement. Will be back for
another QMJHL season with the Mooseheads, but can turn out to be a steal.
Barinka
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Ceske Budejovice
Birthdate: June, 12th, 1984
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 200 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 10th among European skaters
NHL draft: Chicago Blackhawks, 2nd round, 59th overall
Michal Barinka had to wait one year longer than he previously expected to be
picked in the draft, but can be happy with being selected by the Blackhawks
at the bottom of the second round. At 6'3'', 200 lbs. Michal posesses
a great size and he is willing to use it. He can throw hard hits and can dominate
along
the boards. He is also a feared crease-clearer and isn't afraid of the rough
stuff. He can
use his good reach very well, but his positioning can still be upgraded, even
if it isn't bad. Michal possesses a hard slap shot with decent accuracy. He
shoots
lots of pucks in the practices and can be used as a pointman on the powerplay.
Michal's
solid vision and hockey sense allows him to make very smart passes, which are
accurate.
His drawback is his average skating and agility, but Barinka is working on these
things.
With a more fluid stride he could skate more effortlessly and handle the game
situations
with a bigger ease. But overall Michal is a rare blend of size, huge defensive
awareness,
toughness and very good skills.
Third round: none
Fourth round
Lojek
Position: defenseman
Team: Brampton Battalion (OHL)
Birthdate: August, 19th, 1985
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 221 lbs.
Shoots: R
CSB Final Rank: 154th among North American skaters
NHL draft: Florida Panthers, 4th round, 105th overall
Considered as a reach, Martin Lojek was expected to be picked as a late-rounder,
but the Panthers couldn't resist the temptation to take the hulking blueliner
in the early fourth round. Martin Lojek's biggest asset is definitely his size.
With his 6'5'', 221 lbs. frame he can throw hard hits and sweep the opponents
from the crease. His defensive zone coverage is average, but Martin tries to
keep his game simple and mistake-free. Better than making a risky play he dishes
the puck off
and makes the safe play. He uses his superb reach to distribute pucks well even
if he doesn't join the rush very often. Martin is more of a stay-at-homer who
has a booming shot. He can fire hard blasts from the point, but they need to
be more accurate. He has an adequate vision and average passing skills, he is
no passing wizard. Martin has also to further develop his skating and mobility,
which isn't very good by this time, but this is quite common by players of that
size. Better skating would make him more effective. Is going to return back
to the OHL to hone his skills.
Hejda
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Slavia Praha
Birthdate: June, 17th, 1978
Hieght: 6'3''
Weight: 215 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: not ranked
NHL draft: Buffalo Sabres, 4th round, 106th overall
The playoff defensemen scoring champion of the 2002-2003 Czech Extraleague,
Jan Hejda is a reliable defenseman, who developed a decent offensive upside
during the last seasons. At 6'3'', 215 lbs. Hejda posesses a great size and
he is willing to use it. He can throw hard hits and emerges as a force along
the boards. He is also a feared crease-clearer and isn't afraid of the rough
stuff, but could show that nasty edge more often. Hejda is positionally sound
but still can make some strides here. He uses his good reach very well. Hejda
has a very hard, accurate slap shot. Jan's solid vision and hockey sense enable
him to make smart accurate passes. His drawback is his average skating and agility,
faster opponents can cause him little trouble. But overall Hejda is a nice mix
of size, toughness, defensive awareness and solid skills. Will try to crack
the Sabres lineup, if he won't succeed, then he is headed CSKA Moscow to play
in the Russian Superleague.
Valcak
Position: center/right wing
Team: HC Sareza Ostrava Jr.
Birthdate: December, 16th, 1984
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 180 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 42nd among European skaters
NHL draft: Boston Bruins, 4th round, 129th overall
Faded in relative obscurity during the last seasons to emerge as one of the
most pleasant Czech surprises in this past season. Patrik Valcak is a slick
skater with deceptive quickness. He possesses an effective stride and is able
to reach top speed in a few strides. Patrik is blessed with a huge portion of
vision and is a very smart playmaker. He often finds passing lanes which are
unseen by other players, but has also adequate finishing skills. His wrist shot
needs further polishing in the accuracy aspect, but Patrik has a nice release.
His slap shot is solid, quite hard but a bit too telegraphed. He is a hardworking
player, playing the games with a high level of intensity. Valcak has a strong
attitude and is a very coachable player. He doesn't shy away from the physical
stuff, throwing solid hits and posting himself in front of the opposing net.
Patrik needs to develop the defensive aspect of his game more, he isn't a total
liability defensively, but it can't be counted to his strengths. Valcak wants
to come over and perform in the WHL for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who picked
him 11th overall in the 2003 CHL Import Draft.
Trojovsky
Position: defenseman
Team: Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Birthdate: October, 12th, 1984
Height: 6'4.5''
Weight: 220 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 157th among North American skaters
NHL draft: Carolina Hurricanes, 4th round, 130th overall
The Hurricanes took a chance on the behemoth defenseman Matej Trojovsky earlier
as expected, hoping he can develop into a huge NHL physical menace. Matej Trojovsky
is a reliable stay-at-home defenseman who wants to have his defensive duties
done first before he thinks about joining the rush. Thanks to his intriguing
size 6'4.5'', 220 lbs. he emerges as an intimidating physical presence. Trojovsky
is a hard hitter and likes to play with an edge. He can jumpstart his team with
a fight when needed. Also an inspirating crease clearer, Trojovsky boasts a
cannon of a shot. His rockets from the point could only be more accurate. A
big man, Trojovsky still could use better skating skills and therefore more
mobility, which would make him more effectively. He is now trying to develop
the offensive aspect of his game and reached a particular success, even if his
passing skills and offensive play have still a long way to go. He is blessed
with an average vision and hockey sense. Was picked by the expansion Everett
Silvertips, who later traded him to the Swift Current Broncos. There will Trojovsky
play in the next season before trying to make the jump to the pro ranks.
Svagrovsky
Position: right wing
Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Birthdate: December, 21st, 1984
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 205 lbs.
Shoots: R
CSB Final Rank: 91st among North American skaters
NHL draft: Colorado Avalanche, 4th round, 131st overall
David Svagrovsky rounded out the three consecutive Czech picks at the bottom
of the fourth round. Svagrovsky adjusted well to the WHL style of play and made
the most to upgrade his draft stock. A good skater for a player of his size,
Svagrovsky shows above-average speed and balance. Blessed with an impressive
size, Svagrovsky possesses solid toughness and is able to throw good hits. David
has considerable finishing skills and boasts a good wrist shot and a decent
slap shot. Persistent around the goal area, Svagrovsky isn't afraid of performing
in heavy traffic and plays with solid intensity and determination. He has solid
smarts, but could use better passing skills in his play. He has to further develop
his commitment to defense, David is no defensive forward and isn't backchecking
well. Recorded a solid rookie WHL season and will return for another WHL campaign.
Fifth round
Tuma
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Litvinov
Birthdate: September, 14th, 1985
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 210 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 75th among European skaters
NHL draft: Florida Panthers, 5th round, 162nd overall
At 6'4'', 210 lbs., Martin Tuma posesses a very solid size and is working dilligently
on making this to his advantage. He isn't afraid of the rough stuff and is willing
to make or take a hit. Martin is solid along the boards, but can clear the crease
with more intensity and toughness. On the defensive side Martin uses his good
reading of plays and solid positioning to
avoid defensive zone gaffs, but is still quite raw and can use better decision
making with the puck. He is an adequate outlet passer, however he can still
work on this skill. Martin has a very hard slap shot which is easily tippable
and can be used as
a pointman on the powerplay. Mobility and skating isn't a problem for him as
he can rule the defensive zone with his smooth stride. Is headed OHL to play
for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, who picked him 18th overall in the 2003
CHL Import Draft.
Sixth round
Bolf
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Sparta Praha Jr.
Birthdate: February, 20th, 1985
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 191 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 87th among European skaters
NHL draft: Pittsburgh Penguins, 6th round, 169th overall
Lukas Bolf didn't have an overly good season, but his solid showings in the
previous seasons impressed the Pittsburgh Penguins enough to pick him early
in the sixth round. A sturdy blueliner, Bolf is a fluid skater with an effortless
stride who brings a nice offensive flair to the table. He is a smart outlet
passer and he uses his long reach effectively. Bolf quite often joins the rush
and has solid shooting skills which come in handy on powerplay units, he only
needs to showcase them more frequently. On the downside Bolf has to further
improve his positioning and defensive zone coverage. He tends to do mistakes
when pressed by an opponent and is still very raw. The problem here is his slower
decision making. He could also show more of a nasty edge in his play. The Barrie
Colts drafted him 27th overall in the 2003 CHL Import Draft and after playing
for HPK Hameenlinna in Finland is Lukas Bolf ready to leave his Sparta Praha
team again.
Kopriva
Position: goaltender
Team: HC Vagnerplast Kladno Jr.
Birthdate: December, 5th, 1983
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 187 lbs.
Catches: L
CSB Final Rank: not ranked
NHL draft: Minnesota Wild, 6th round, 187th overal
Primarily a stand-up goalie, Miroslav Kopriva uses his size to cover a lot
of the net. He impresses with his strong reflexes and possesses solid skating
skills. A hardworking goaltender, Kopriva possesses good athleticism and doesn't
let a bad goal bother him too much. Miroslav Kopriva has a very good focus and
is getting rid of the penchant for occasionally allowing a soft goal. He is
tough to beat on all initial shots and has a solid control of the rebounds.
He uses his pads well and has a good footspeed. The play with the stick isn't
among Kopriva's strongest assets but he is working in this skill. He could also
use a faster glove hand. A coachable netminder, Kopriva was voted the 2002-2003
top goaltender in the Czech junior Extraleague and hopes into cracking the Kladno
seniors lineup.
Seventh round
Hanuljak
Position: goaltender
Team: HC Litvinov Jr.
Birthdate: September, 12th, 1984
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 165 lbs.
Catches: L
CSB Final Rank: not ranked
NHL draft: Nashville Predators, 7th round, 213th overall
Hanuljak played only sparingly on the international stage, appearing twice
for the Under-17 team in 2000-2001, but still impressed the Nashville scouts
with his performances in the junior Extraleague. More of a surprise pick, Miroslav
Hanuljak is a fast, poised netmindder who is almost unknown to most fans. Hanuljak
impresses with his strong reflexes and quickness. He doesn't cover much of the
net with his frame, but is a solid skater who moves well in the crease. Hanuljak
has solid athleticism and he anticipates the plays quite decent. He should still
work on his reading of plays, though, but there are good signs that more maturity
will solve this problem. Hanuljak thrives under pressure and he owns a solid
mental toughness, thanks to which he doesn't worry about bad goals too long.
His stickhandling hasn't come all the way yet, but it is quite solid. Hanuljak
doesn't possess an exceptional glove hand. Heavy traffic in front of him can
cause him some trouble, so he has to learn how to play those situations better.
Eighth round
Kadlec
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Slavia Praha
Birthdate: January, 5th, 1977
Hieght: 5'11''
Weight: 176 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: not ranked
NHL draft: Florida Panthers, 8th round, 234th overall
One of the best defensemen of the Czech 2003 World Championship team, Petr
Kadlec posted solid seasons for Slavia in the Extraleague and was definitely
worth a selection in the eighth round. A smooth, composed blueliner, Petr Kadlec
brings a nice two-way game to the table. He is a talented puckrusher with a
strong creativity, he is able to find passing lanes which are unseen by the
other players and is a strong outlet passer. Kadlec plays a positionally sound
game and is useful at both the powerplay and penalty killing units. He doesn't
posess a cannon of a shot, but his shots are accurate and quite easy tippable.
He is effective at bringing his shots through. Kadlec is a solid skater who
is very mobile, he could only use a bit more balance in his play. A mature player,
Kadlec isn't guilty of many defensive lapses and his defensive-zone coverage
is effective. On the downside doesn't play the body very often and relies more
on his finesse than toughness.
Marek
Position: right wing
Team: HC Ocelari Trinec
Birthdate: December, 31st, 1979
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 178 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: not ranked
NHL draft: New York Rangers, 8th round, 243th overall
After selecting Petr Prucha last year the Rangers went into the Czech Extraleague
for a smallish scorer again. Jan Marek is a quick skater who takes advantage
of his speed to generate offense. Marek accelerates well and is able to reach
top speed in a few strides. Marek handles the puck well thanks to his very soft
hands. He has a knack for scoring goals and utilizes on his strong shooting
skills. He prefers shooting and has both his slap and wrist shot very solid.
Marek is blessed with an above-average portion of vision and hockey sense. Marek
is no defensive forward and needs to work on this asset more. He doesn't play
the body well and because of his smallish size he doesn't emerge as a physical
presence. Marek isn't a traffic guy, which can cause him some trouble in North
America. The 2002-2003 Czech Extraleague goalscoring champion is going to leave
his Trinec team and play for Sparta Praha if he won't succeed at the Rangers
camp.
Hrabal
Position: defenseman
Team: HC Vsetin
Birthdate: August, 17th, 1985
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 187 lbs.
Shoots: L
CSB Final Rank: 32nd among European skaters
NHL draft: Edmonton Oilers, 8th round, 248 overall
Josef Hrabal is a smooth, poised blueliner who brings a nice two-way game to
the table. He is a finesse rearguard with a strong creativity, he only needs
to keep his game simple and avoid unnecessary mistakes when making the decision
with the puck. Josef plays a positionally sound game and has very good passing
skills. He doesn't posess a cannon of a shot, but his shots are accurate and
quite easy tippable. He is effective at bringing his shots through. Josef has
to mature more as he is sometimes guilty of some defensive lapses and his defensive-zone
intensity neeeds some upgrading, too. He doesn't play the body very often and
relies more on his finesse than on toughness and mean streak. The key factor
will be how far is Josef able to upgrade his skating. He skates only average
and could use a better agility and balance in order to be a more complete player.
Bursted out in the junior Extraleague playoffs and will fight for a regular
spot with the Vsetin seniors in the next season.
Ninth round
Hrdel
Position: center
Team: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Birthdate: August, 19th, 1985
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 195 lbs.
Shoots: R
CSB Final Rank: 105th among North American skaters
NHL draft: Tampa Bay Lightning, 9th round, 286th overall
The sized Rimouski Oceanic forward closed out the eighteen Czech draft choices.
Zbynek Hrdel emerges as a solid physical presence, willing to throw his body
around and fight for the pucks. He is an intense player who is involved in the
games, playing them with determination. An adequate skater for a player of his
size, Hrdel possesses a solid balance, but could be more faster and agile. One
of his strongest assets is his good variety of shots, Hrdel shoots the pucks
quite often and is a hard shooter. He could use more vision and work on his
passing skills in order to become an all-round forward. A valued team player,
Hrdel isn't a total defensive liability but could show a bigger commitment to
the defensive duties. Will return to the QMJHL for another turn with the Oceanic.