QMJHL: Frolik and Play

One Florida Panthers prospect is proving Kladno has more to offer than just the number 68. Czech Republic native Michael Frolik, drafted 10th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, has accumulated 52 points as a rookie for the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic in a mere 38 games. He feels his transition to the North American style of game has jolted his progression toward joining his hometown hero Jaromir Jagr in the NHL.

"For me it was change, to change my life and change my hockey. My dream is to play in the NHL and I think it's (better to learn) here than Europe," says a smiling Frolik, continuously apologizing for his broken English. "So now I play here, I am happy and the organization in Rimouski is perfect."

Perhaps Frolik's seamless conversion to the Canadian Hockey League can be explained by his relative youth when compared to his teammates in his recent development. He was the youngest participant in the 2005 World Junior Championships, and was skating alongside players in Kladno who have already had a kick at the NHL can including Martin Prochazka, Ivan Huml and Vratislav Cech. With these experiences under his belt, Frolik is excelling with individuals his own age which he believes is a sequence that is congruent with his aspirations of playing in the NHL.

"It's true. For years before when I played Senior in Czech," he says. "I want to try different hockey, play in the NHL and I think the hockey here is close to NHL, so I want to be here."

Known as "The Baby Jagr" for his similar playing style to that of his hero Jaromir Jagr, the 18-year-old Frolik has tried to minimize those comparisons since moving to Canada to relieve any gratuitous pressure. While no member of the Oceanic lays claim to the number 68, the young centre changed the number he became accustomed to wearing on his back upon arrival from Europe.

"Jaromir had 68 and I was close to him so… it doesn't matter," says Frolik, who now wears number 67. "My number is a number. I try a new thing."

During the cancelled NHL season of 2004/05, Jagr returned to Kladno and played with Frolik for 17 games. The rookie doesn't mind giving credit to Jagr for his style, and says the experience of skating with his role model was invaluable.

"During the lockout he played in Kladno, like 20 games and I played there too so I met him. It was so funny, and he's a good guy," says Frolik. "It was a good experience because I watch him all the time on the ice and I think he is the best player in the world. I see him in the NHL and look at him."

With the Oceanic in a fight for the playoffs, Frolik says he has focused his sights on that one aspiration for the time being but as far as his professional career goes, Frolik does say you can count him in wherever the Panthers feel he fits as early as next season.

"My dream is the NHL, and my first thing is to play here and make the playoffs," says Frolik. "But we'll see after this season. AHL would be good."