Slovak profile: Marek Zagrapan

Slovak prospects playing in the Czech Republic isn’t a rare thing nowadays, as some of the better Slovak talents feel that going to their western neighbors will help their development. The development of prospects is at a high level in the Czech Republic, and the number of Slovaks in the Czech junior and midget teams is increasing. One of the best is 2005-eligible center Marek Zagrapan, a forward with the HC Hame Zlin juniors.

The main factor in Zagrapan's decision to begin playing organised hockey was his father, a former active hockey player. He played for various teams in former Czechoslovakia at different levels and after he called it a career, he wanted to make good players out of his three sons. As the oldest one, Marek was the trailblazer among the new Zagrapan generation. He entered the 1st-grade team in his native city of Presov, Slovakia, when he was six year old and attended elementary school for the first year.

Zagrapan began to learn the tools of the defenseman trade from the start. He didn't complain and, thanks to his attitude and valuable tips from both his father and coach, emerged as one of the best players on his team. He anchored the defense, but it was obvious, though, that the flashy kid had noticeable offensive talent. After he filled the defensive duties, he impressed with his outlet passes and an ability to jump into the transitional play. His offensive upside helped to garner points, though Zagrapan's defensive-zone coverage could still use more reliability. So, after spending the first three and a half years at defense, he was switched to forward by Presov’s fourth-grade team coach.

Playing center suited Zagrapan well, as he could make use of his above-average vision and creativity, and wasn't tied up with defensive work as much. Zagrapan made a smooth transition, and soon took the team scoring charts by storm. After some time, it was obvious that Marek wouldn’t benefit from continuing to play within his own age group, and was promoted to the older team, where he could hone his skills against more physically-mature players. Zagrapan's best season on the pee-wee level came in the 6th grade, where he spent the whole season performing for teams in the older age brackets. He found good chemistry with his linemates, scoring consistently and, at about this time, began to be talked about as one of the most talented kids in his region.

But as Zagrapan grew in age, it was time to think about moving up to the midget level. After finishing the season for Presov’s 8th-grade team, he decided with his parents on a bold move for such a young player. He said goodbye to his native Slovakia and headed west to play in the Czech Republic. Teams located in the east of the Czech Republic often look for Slovakian talent as well.

Zagrapan felt that moving to a foreign country with a better youth hockey development system would be more beneficial. Thanks to the lack of a language barrier, the transition was smoother for Zagrapan, who accepted an offer from HC Hame Zlin. Even if it wasn't essential, Zagrapan already spoke perfect Czech, and, on the ice, let his play speak for itself. The strong Zlin ninth-grade team got another boost as the new Slovak import skated alongside quality Czech prospects like the twins Roman and Michal Psurny, and Stanislav Balan.

Marek Zagrapan is a solid skater with deceptive quickness and change of pace. He possesses adequate balance and bursts of speed. He is a smooth puckhandler and capable of making nifty moves with his stick. Zagrapan utilizes his sharp instincts and shows excellent creativity. He has above-average hockey sense and is also a deft passer. Zagrapan is effective on both powerplay and penalty killing units. He releases a quick wrist shot with solid accuracy, but could work on the accuracy of his slapshots a bit. On the downside, he needs to be more physically assertive. Zagrapan isn't much of a force in heavy traffic and could use his six-foot, 185-pound frame to a greater extent. As well, his defensive play is only average, and, while Zagrapan isn't a total liability in his own end, he still has to improve his defensive awareness.

In the summer of 2001, Marek, along with the best of his ninth-grade teammates, was promoted to the Zlin midget team to compete in the midget Extraleague. The high-flying 1986-borns joined a strong core of second-year players, such as the likes of Martin Lucka or Jiri Paska, names familiar to OHL followers. The Zlin midgets, coached by the experienced Jaroslav Stuchlik, was, along with Trinec, the team to beat in the 2001-02 campaign. Zagrapan had only to give up his favorite jersey number 21, switching to number 12.

Zagrapan was used mostly on the second or third line and recorded an impressive rookie season. He adjusted to the faster pace in rapid time and contributed offensively all season long. He scored at a point-per game pace in the regular season before his productivity hit a wall in the playoffs. He saw his ice-time dip as the playoff battles went on, though it didn't spoil his season showing. The Zlin midgets made their way to the finals, where they lost to Trinec 2-0 in a best-of-three series. En route to the silver medal, Zagrapan played 54 games, registering 38 points for 24 goals and 14 assists to go along with 26 penalty minutes. In addition, his impressive plus-minus of plus-24 ranked him among the top players on the team.

A Colorado Avalanche fan, Zagrapan began his international career in 2001-02 with the Slovak Under-16 team. Thanks to his skill level and achievments, he was a lock to make the team and emerged as one of the key players. He took part in four international tournaments that year, including two three-game series against the Czech Republic, another three-game series against Switzerland, and one tournament between Slovakia, Switzerland and Finland.

Marek Zagrapan, who goes by the nickname 'Zagi', recorded a comet-like 2002-03 campaign, playing at three different levels in one year. He made use of all his previous experience from the midget Extraleague to establish a reign of doom during the opening two months of the regular season.

Zagrapan, the team captain, didn't have to carry the team's offense on his shoulders as he was accompanied by other very skilled teammates, who helped him skyrocket the scoring charts, finishing with just under two points per game. In 17 midget games, Zagrapan notched 32 points including 19 goals and 13 assists along with 14 penalty minutes. With nothing left to prove at the midget level, he, along with the Psurny twins, was promoted quickly to the junior team.

Zlin juniors head coach Stanislav Prikryl wanted to test their abilities in the junior Extraleague and Zagrapan succeeded well in this trial. Even if he played as an underager against players up to four years his senior, he looked composed on the ice and put up points from the beginning. Zagrapan established himself as the best underaged rookie on the Zlin junior team, where he served as a playmaker more than a sniper. In 23 junior games, he recorded 22 points for 9 goals and 13 assists along with 14 penalty minutes. Those impressive stats earned him a promotion to the Zlin senior team at Christmas time.

Zagrapan made his senior Extraleague debut in a home game against Vitkovice, performing on a line with Petr Mokrejs and Nashville Predators prospect Libor Pivko. Zagrapan hit the ice as the youngest player of the 2002-2003 Czech senior Extraleague. He held this title until the final day of the regular season, when 1987-born defensive prodigy from Pardubice Jakub Kindl made his league debut. Zagrapan skated as a fourth-liner with the seniors and couldn't rush forward as much as he was used to on the midget and junior levels. But, besides spending 10 minutes in the penalty box, he registered his first senior goal and assist, which were his only two points in 13 games.

Zagrapan spent the first half of the 2002-03 international season with the Slovak Under-17 team, participating at the Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic, and at the Four Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But his talent wasn't hidden to Jindrich Novotny, the head coach of the Slovak Under-18 team, who penciled him as a potential member of the team.

They tested him at the Vlado Dzurilla Four Nations Tournament, played in Slovakia in February of 2003, and Zagrapan didn't look lost against older players from the USA, Switzerland and Germany, guaranteeing that a spot on the Under-18 WJC team was his to lose. Zagrapan made the team following a decent but unspectacular showing in exhibition games against the Czech Republic. He was, though, instrumental in the biggest success of Slovak junior hockey so far, as their 1985-born team swept away all opponents until losing to Canada in the final and finishing with the silver medal at the Under-18 World Juniors. Zagrapan played on the fourth line and went scoreless at this event, where he, along with hulking defenseman Boris Valabik and forward Ladislav Scurko, were the only under-aged players.

Marek, however, couldn't maintain his spot with the Zlin senior team in 2003-04. Due to the team’s depth at forward, he was promoted to the senior games only rarely, logging much more icetime in the junior Extraleague. Zagrapan skated just 5 games with the Zlin seniors this season, going scoreless. In order to gain some more senior experience, he was loaned to Division 1 team HC Kometa Brno (Cze 2). In five games in Brno, a city where his father also played, Zagrapan tallied one assist (5-0-1-1, minus-2, 0 PIM).

Still, he was a solid force in junior team games. As one of the players with the most senior experience, Zagrapan assumed a bigger role on the team and took more responsibility for the overall success of the team. Zagrapan has developed an above-average nose for the net and shoots the puck more often now, surpassing the 20-goal milestone for the first time in three seasons. He has also made decent strides in his overall tenacity, even though there is still room for him to improve. Zagrapan appeared in 40 junior games, registering 34 points including 23 goals and 11 assists (40-23-44-34, +1, 42 PIM).

Zagrapan joined the Slovak Under-18 team in August of 2003 for the World Junior Cup, played in both Czech Republic and Slovakia. Unfortunately, a torn leg muscle sidelined him after the first game. Soon thereafter, he broke his wrist, but was healthy in time to play at the Five Nations Tournament, held in Prievidza, Slovakia. In his most recent international appearance, the Vlado Dzurilla Four Nations Tournament, Zagrapan put up two goals and two assists, which earned him the 'Top Forward' trophy.

In order to be better prepared for his future career in North America, Zagrapan passed on any secondary education and takes full-time English courses this year. In his free time, he is often just relaxing to have enough strength for hockey games and practices. Marek sleeps a lot and listens to all kinds of music. But when he has some spare time, Zagrapan likes to play various sports. He is a good tennis and squash player and like most Europeans, plays soccer frequently with his friends. He isn't a superstitious player at all, and, in fact, doesn't have a single pre-game superstition.

Marek Zagrapan is likely to come over to play in the CHL next season. Represented by former NHL defenseman Petr Svoboda, Zagrapan is ready to accept the challenge. Speaking decent English and being accustomed to taking care of himself in a foreign country, Zagrapan shouldn't have as tough a transition as other, ill-prepared prospects have had. Thanks to his late-1986 birthdate, he isn't eligible for the NHL Draft until 2005. Zagrapan has the talent to be among one of the early picks, though it will largely depend on his play next season.