Czech Republic: Are They Contenders?

You bet they are.  While they never seem to be the favorites, they are always dangerous.  The Czech Republic is one of only three nations to medal twice in ice hockey at the Olympic games since the NHL allowed its players to participate in this event.  (Russia and Finland are the others.)  You may have forgot that despite not having Hasek, Elias and Havlet in Torino, the Czech’s still came away with a bronze medal.

The 2010 roster is missing two of their top scoring forwards from the successful 2006 squad - Marin Straka (8 pts) and Vinnie Prospal (6 pts), along with long time national team staples Robert Lang and Milan Hejduk.

7 of the 23 players aren’t playing in the NHL today - but one of the those players in named Jagr and 2 others have had prior NHL experience. 4 of the 23 players are named “Tomáš”.

Let’s take a look at the roster: (follow the jump)

• Tomáš Vokoun, Florida Panthers - In a single game elimination tournament, goaltending is paramount.  Vokoun may not be a name that immediately comes to mind when you think of elite goaltenders in the NHL, but he is quietly having a very good season in Florida.  Vokoun is tied 1st in the NHL in shutouts (7), and Save % (.931)
• Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta Thrashers
• Jakub Štepánek, Vítkovice (Czech Extraliga) - no NHL experience

• Tomáš Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens -  I was surprised to learn that Plekanec is a point a game player (60 points in 61 games), which is good enough for 15th in the NHL in scoring.  His performance against the best centers in the world will be key in whether the Czechs can medal in Vancouver or not.
• Tomáš Fleischmann, Washington Capitals - this is Fleischmann’s first Olympics and he’ll play an important role on a team that is lacking depth at center.  Tomas has 42 points in 48 games.
• David Krejcí, Boston Bruins
• Josef Vašícek, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) - has NHL experience
• Roman Cervenka, Slavia Prague (Czech Extraliga) - no NHL experience

• Patrik Eliáš, New Jersey Devils - Elias will captain the team.  He only played in only 1 game in the 2006 Olympics and just recently retuned from concussion, suffered in January against Colorado.  He’s battled through injuries this season, and has 28 pts in 35 games.
• Martin Havlát, Minnesota Wild - After a horrific start in early in his first season in Minnesota, Havlat has bounced back and now has 41 points in 53 games.
• Jaromír Jágr, Avangard Omsk (KHL) - Jagr isn’t the same player he was in the 90s, but he is still effective.  In the KHL, he’s 18th in scoring - 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 48 games.
• Milan Michálek, Ottawa Senators
• Martin Erat, Nashville Predators
• Tomáš Rolinek, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) - no NHL experience
• Petr Cajánek, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL) - has NHL experience

• Tomáš Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs - Tomas is another Czech quietly having a great year in Toronto.  He already has 15 more points this season vs. the 08-09 campaign.
• Marek Židlický, Minnesota Wild - Marek had 4 goals in 7 games during 2006 Olympics.  It would be a quite a stretch to expect him to repeat that same success, but it would certainly be nice if he could.  He’ll be a key on the Czech PP.
• Jan Hejda, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Filip Kuba, Ottawa Senators
• Pavel Kubina, Atlanta Thrashers
• Zbynek Michálek, Phoenix Coyotes
• Roman Polák, St. Louis Blues
• Miroslav Blaták, Salavat Yulayev Ufa (KHL) - no NHL experience

Ever wanted to know the story behind the weird “logo” on the Czech unis?

The red jerseys will look like this:

And the whites like this:

Tomas Vokoun's mask will look like this.

Two games early on should give us a good idea where this team is at.  In what on paper is the best match up over the first two days, the Czechs take on rival Slovakia on Wed (2/17) night.  Then, on Sun (2/21) they face off against Ovechkin, Malkin and rest of the #1 ranked Russians.  I’ll be paying close attention to see how the Czech’s centers in particular can hold up against these two talented teams.