Czech Draft Update: Frolik Heads Hot Kladno Class

It is becoming increasingly evident that the Czech Republic have produced a bountiful crop this year which NHL clubs should find highly attractive by the time the 2006 NHL Entry Draft rolls around.

The undisputed king already separated himself from the pack last season with strong international performances and a full-time breakthrough into the senior Extraleague. This fall, Michael Frolik has seen his role on the Kladno senior team increase further, skating mostly on the second line with older brother Martin, a former Drummondville Voltigeurs. However the younger Frolik is also seeing duty on the top unit with former fringe NHLers Pavel Patera and Martin Prochazka.

The results of an intensive summer workout program are visible in Frolik's play as he appears to have improved his lower-body strength and is consequently tougher to knock off the puck. He has also shown progress in his skating.

His quicker skating bursts have enabled him to beat opposing defensemen and also helped him to become a bigger factor in the September games. Frolik's strongest asset though is his uncanny vision and knack for creating plays - which is drawn on extensively on the second powerplay unit. Frolik especially thrives in the area Wayne Gretzky once did - controlling the play from behind the opposing goal and distributing passes into the slot.

According to Alois Hadamczik, the head coach of the Czech senior national team, an invitation to the senior national team isn't out of contention for Frolik, who played under Hadamczik at the 2005 Under-20 WJC.

Tlusty Rising Too

Accompanying Frolik on the Kladno senior team is another 2006 eligible blue-chip forward in Jiri Tlusty, who spent the first week of the season performing for the junior team but has been a regular on the fourth line for the Kladno seniors ever since.

He spent September adjusting to the elite level and playing more a 'survival' style' as he opted to dish off the puck rather than try and create things. With added experience however, Tlusty's confidence started to rise and so did his play. He is steadily showing better composure in his puck-possession and is also being used for in more roles. He's begun to demonstrate an ability to make precise passes and is now more willing to finish scoring chances than he was a month ago.

Although powerplay time has been very limited for Tlusty, he has nevertheless fit in Kladno's plans well as a diligent, multi-purpose youngster who is just scratching the surface of his offensive potential.

Upward Latal Movement

One player whose stock has taken a sharp upward path in recent weeks is Martin Latal, who also plays for Kladno seniors. Latal served as a top-six forward on the Kladno juniors for the first month of play while only practicing with the seniors. He emerges as a dominant junior player thanks to his blend of slick skating, nifty puckhandling and an improving ability to battle traffic and play through pain.

Latal was sitting atop the junior Extraleague scoring race in a battle with Jakub Curik from Olomouc, three years his elder, when the Kladno senior team was hit by an injury bug a month ago. Latal was called up for duty on the fourth line alongside Tlusty and quickly found a home at the elite senior level.

Since he is blessed with excellent speed, adjusting to the game-pace hasn't been a serious issue for the son of a former Czech senior national team player.

At this point, Latal now only needs to bring his thinking of the game to the same level as his quickness, and learn how to control his temper more.

One factor that has had a positive impact on his pro potential has been Latal's new-found commitment to traffic play as he will take the physical abuse to succeed and won't back down from battling bigger opponents.