• Projecting Czech Republics 2022 Olympic Roster

    From The Hockey Writers - Main@1:123/115 to All on Sun Feb 7 04:40:00 2021
    United StatesCanadaSwedenRussiaFinlandSwitzerlandGermanyMedal Round: Best of the Projected 2022 Olympic Rosters

    Next year, Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics and NHL players are expected to participate after skipping the 2018 games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

    The Czech Republic could send a relatively young roster with David Pastrnak leading the way. Additionally, their goaltending could be a strength with a handful of Czech netminders playing quality hockey at the NHL level.David Pastrnak figures to lead the Czechs. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

    With that being said, let's take a look at what Czech Republic's roster could look like next year.Czech Republic's Projected 2022 Olympic Roster

    Heading into the 2022 Winter Games, here's how Czech Republic's depth chart could round out with NHLers available to participate.

    LWCRW

    Jakub VranaTomas HertlDavid Pastrnak

    Dominik KubalikDavid KrejciFilip Zadina

    Ondrej PalatMartin NecasJakub Voracek

    Radek FaksaPavel ZachaOndrej Kase

    Jan JenikFilip Chytilÿ

    LDRDG

    Michal KempnyFilip HronekPetr Mrazek

    Libor HajekRadko GudasPavel Francouz

    Jan RuttaRadim SimekDavid Rittich

    Jakub ZborilTomas Kundratekÿ

    Olympic Roster Breakdown

    Compared to the rest of the world, the Czechs could have a relatively inexperienced roster when it comes to international tournaments.ÿPlayers from 2014 Olympic Games: 4Players from 2016 World Cup of Hockey: 7Players from 2018 Olympic Games: 3Players with no international experience*: 14

    *Excluding World Junior Championships and World Championships.Sneaky Good Offense

    Make no mistake, Pastrnak and Tomas Hertl will be the drivers of Czech Republic's offense. The two NHL All-Stars can score in bunches and thrive on the power play. It will be interesting to see if Hertl and Pastrnak stick together throughout the tournament or are split up to create offense on two lines instead.Tomas Hertl and David Pastrnak will be a dangerous combo to watch. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)

    Next up on the depth chart are a handful of players who can provide secondary scoring. Veterans David Krejci and Jakub Voracek should still be effective by the time this tournament is held and can set up teammates well on the power play. These two will also bring valuable leadership skills to the locker room.

    In addition, Filip Zadina, Martin Necas, and Jakub Vrana represent the next wave of Czech talent. Zadina, in particular, has loads of offensive skill and could be right up there with Hertl and Pastrnak in terms of scoring. However, he may be pushed to the second power play unit with Voracek typically lining up on Zadina's usual right flank position.

    Rounding out the forward group are a couple wild cards. By 2022, Jan Jenik could be a key contributor at the NHL level, albeit a young NHLer. Likewise, Ondrej Kase could be a consistently dangerous bottom-six wing with a scoring touch. They could be valuable forwards for the Czechs, pushing for top-six ice time, or also fall short of those expectations and settle into depth roles.Czech Defense & Goaltending Depth

    Let's not sugarcoat it, Czech Republic's defense isn't very deep. Filip Hronek is a solid, all-situations defenseman, but isn't exactly an Olympic-level, top-pairing blueliner. The same goes for Michal Kempny, whose calling card is more on the defensive side of the puck.Filip Hronek figures to be the Czechs'; best defenseman. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

    Overall, Hronek will be the Czech's go-to defenseman. He can quarterback the power play effectively and contribute on the penalty kill as well. It would not be surprising to see Hronek play upwards of 25 minutes per game during the tournament.

    There's not much to see moving down the depth chart. Radko Gudas' best days are behind him now, let alone in 2022. Libor Hajek could be adequate against stronger competition, but isn't going to contribute much offensively.

    That being said, Czech Republic does have great depth in net. All three netminders-Petr Mrazek, Pavel Francouz, and David Rittich-could start. The Czechs could go with the hot hand to fuel internal competition. Either way, they'll have a solid option to start against the world's best.ÿJust Missed

    David Musil, Roman Polak, Martin Frk, Martin Kaut, Michael Frolik, Vladimir Sobotka, Michal Jordan, Andrej Sustr, Dmitrij Jaskin, Jan Kovar, Roman Horak, Jiri Sekac, Lukas Radil, Tomas Nosek.

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