today 19:20
|
The Slovak hockey team at the World Cup in Finland could be strengthened by forward Tomáš Tatar, whose club season will end after the basic part of the NHL.
In the case of Zdena Chára, it looks rather negative. The start of the bronze medalists from Beijing Marek Hrivík, Petr Cehlárik and Miloš Kelemen is questionable, revealed the general manager of the national team and the president of SZĽH Miroslav Šatan. Together with the implementation team, they also closely monitor the situation in the lower overseas competitions and the final series of the playoffs of the Slovak and Czech leagues.
The Slovak national team has entered the second week of final preparations for the championship, which will start on May 13 in Tampere and Helsinki. This time, the leaders of the previous three big tournaments – last year’s World Cup, Olympic Qualifiers and Olympic Games in Beijing – Hrivík with Cehlárik – may be missing. Kelemen is also questionable.
“In two cases, it’s an injury that slows down the decision, it looks rather negative, and one case is family reasons. So we don’t count on these three players yet. We’ll have to close it these days.
We’re probably going to have to look at other players, “ Satan said at Tuesday’s meeting before the two-match with Germany in Dresden: “At the World Cup, in the Olympic qualifiers and at the Olympics itself, they were the mainstays, but I think we have enough quality players in the team who can take on the role of leaders and can pleasantly surprise.”
Photo gallery
Peter Cehlárik in the match Sweden – Slovakia at the Olympic Games 2022
Source: TASR
–
The head of the Slovak Ice Hockey Association also explained the absence of defender Tchaikovsky, who apologized for fears of injury, which could jeopardize his contract with Siberia Novosibirsk: “I would say that he left a little quickly, even though he told the management.
However, insurance is not a problem, it is basically ready on the table. He decided out of some fear of injury and that the contract he had agreed would not be valid. We take this as a legitimate reason. “
Tatar questionable, Char is not counted
The situation with reinforcements from the NHL and lower overseas competitions will develop in the coming weeks, but it is already clear that the season will end after the main part of New Jersey Devils striker Tomáš Tatar and New York Islanders bull Zden Chár. In the case of Char, however, due to personal reasons, he is unlikely to come to the World Championships, in addition, his contract will expire after the season and it is not certain whether the 45-year-old veteran will cover another year.
Thirty-one-year-old winger Tatar is the most productive Slovak player in the current NHL season, when he scored 30 points (15 + 15) in 76 games and would be a valid reinforcement in the selection of coach Craig Ramsay. “I called Zden today, he has some personal reasons why it looks like he will not participate. So we do not count with him. On the contrary, Tomáš Tatar is considering his participation and he expressed himself quite positively.
If he is in good health, we will make a phone call after the basic part. The other players are in the playoffs, so we have to wait. We will definitely leave some places on the list. If someone is eliminated in the first round, they still have a chance to hit the World Cup, “ said Satan.
Photo gallery
Zdeno Chara
Source: TASR
–
Shortly before the end of the basic part of the NHL, it is certain that the Tampa Bay Lightning with Erik Černák, the Washington Capitals with Martin Fehérváry and the Calgary Flames with Adam Ružiček will advance to the elimination. Dallas, whose colors are defender Andrej Sekera and forward Marián Studenič, is still fighting for participation in the playoffs. Goalkeeper Jaroslav Halák with the Vancouver Canucks also have a mathematical chance.
The start of the NHL playoffs is scheduled for May 2, and in the event of a quick drop, Černák, Fehérváry and Ružička could also join the national team. However, their teams have high ambitions again, Tampa is a two-time trophy defender and Washington wants to restore its reputation after the previous two seasons, in which he finished in the first round of the elimination.
Calgary was missing from the superstructure last year. Ružička commuted between the NHL and the farm, in the first team of “flames” he managed to play 27 matches and collected ten points (5 + 5). The following season can also play a big role in the decision-making, in addition to Char, Seker and Studenič’s contracts and Ružička’s three-year rookie contract also expire.
Christián Jaroš also worked in the NHL, but New Jersey terminated his contract with him in March, and the 26-year-old defender will not even appear at the championship, as he underwent surgery for an injured member.
There are also reinforcements from the farm in the game
The management of the national team also closely monitors the situation on farms and in lower overseas competitions, in which several other adepts for the most valuable jersey work. Goalkeeper Adam Huska made his NHL debut for the New York Rangers this season.
At the Hartford Wolf Pack farm in the AHL, he captured 29 matches with an average of 2.80 goals collected and a 90.2 percent success rate. Hartford narrowly missed out on the elimination, but the 24-year-old goalkeeper can retire to the first NY Rangers team to play in the NHL playoffs.
At the end of the year, Dávid Hrenák also looked to the AHL. The 23-year-old goalkeeper completed his final season at the NCAA University, where he was five years behind St. Cloud State, and in late March signed a rookie agreement with the LA Kings. The “kings” drafted him in 2018 out of a total of 144 places. Hrenák immediately traveled to the Ontario Reign farm, for which he played three matches with an average of 1.81 goals and a 95.1 percent success rate.
“One of them is being negotiated, I won’t talk to which one yet. We’ll see how the situation develops, whether there will be a change, or we’ll go to the World Cup with the trio we already have here. We’ll know in about a week,” betrayed Satan. Currently, the team includes a hero from Beijing, Patrik Rybár, another medalist, Matej Tomek, and Dominik Riečický from Košice.
The thirty-one-year-old forward Richard Pánik, who played only four games (0 + 1) for the NY Islanders and spent the rest of the year on farms in Bridgeport and Chicago, has had a not very successful season. He collected a total of 38 starts and 18 points (9 + 9) in the AHL. However, the Chicago Wolves advanced to the playoffs as the clear winner of the Central Division and aim high.
Martin Pospíšil played 45 duels at the Calgary farm in Stockton and scored 24 points (7 + 17), his team is at the head of the Pacific Division. Among other aspirants to participate in the World Cup are Maxim Tchaikovich, who played in the AHL and ECHL this season, Martin Chromiak, who scored 86 points (44 + 42) in 60 duels in the basic part of the OHL, but plays the playoffs with Kingston, and theoretically also other young men.
“Rišo Pánik will be in the AHL playoffs and it looks like they will be playing at least one round. The same is true for other players. As soon as one of them is free and the season is over, we will contact them and try to give them a chance to play. at the World Cup, “ said Satan.
Photo gallery
Richard Panik, New York Islanders
Source: SITA / AP
–
The general manager of the national team assumes that the current staff, in which there are 25 players before the double match with Germany, may change from 20 to 25 percent. That is why the implementation team does not plan to register all players at the beginning of the World Cup.
“Changes can be expected after the end of the final series in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We have some players selected who could change the staff. The percentage may still be about 20 to 25 percent of the changes. We will see what the situation is overseas, and maybe one , two changes could be at the championship itself, “ Satan added.
–
