The decisive seventh recreation of the NHL Western Convention semi-finals turned out higher for the Edmonton Oilers group. After a fair battle, the Vancouver Canucks had been eradicated from the struggle for the Stanley Cup, together with the at present greatest Czech defenseman, Filip Hronek. Sadly, his first purpose within the playoffs did not safe Vancouver’s advance. Nonetheless, in idea, Filip Hronek would now be obtainable to the coaches of the Czech group for the quarterfinals of the championship in Prague and Ostrava. However sadly it will not be. And we will solely hope that our protection can cope with out the perfect defender we at present have.
Nice season
The 26-year-old native of Hradec Králové has had among the best, if not the perfect, season within the NHL in his life. He almost slipped to the Western Convention Finals with Vancouver and had an enormous hand in that. I believe it is protected to say he is Vancouver’s second greatest defenseman. Filip Hronek was used all through the season in nearly all recreation disciplines. On common, he spent an unimaginable 23 minutes and 26 seconds on the ice every recreation. Solely the outstanding Quinn Hughes obtained extra space on the ice this yr in Vancouver, who additionally turned the best again in your complete competitors. Hronek collected a very respectable 48 Canadian factors.
Photograph: Håkan Dahlström, CC BY 2.0, by way of Wikimedia Commons
Hronek guarded Vancouver’s dwelling ice this season brilliantly. Nonetheless, his performances within the playoffs weren’t sufficient.
Sadly late
Sadly for the Czech nationwide group. The Czech coaches saved three vacant spots on the roster, however sadly they crammed all of them with out ready for the subsequent NHL playoff sequence to unfold. I don’t enable myself to doubt the qualities of the gamers that the coaches pointed to. Each Martin Nečas and Pavel Zacha have maybe the seasons of their lives behind them. To not point out David Pastrňák, he lives one life season after one other and is among the greatest hockey gamers on the earth. Nonetheless, these three names have one factor in widespread, they’re all strikers. However I believe it was undoubtedly value fascinated with the again door and strengthening the again rows of our choice. Filip Hronek would undoubtedly be certain that.
A stable protection could also be lacking within the quarterfinals
Based on the match arithmetic, it’s already sure that we are going to keep away from the flawless Swedes within the quarter-finals. This doesn’t imply, nonetheless, that the opposite advancing from the Ostrava group can be a soothing opponent for our group. It will be particularly disagreeable to satisfy the sturdy United States of America, led by Brady Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau or Dylan Larkin. Towards such opponents, solely a powerful assault may not be sufficient. Along with being an enormous assist for the again rows, Filip Hronek would additionally imply a superb passing recreation, which stars like David Pastrňák want a lot to have the ability to totally present their star potential.
The choice of the teaching workers is now irreversible. Czech followers haven’t any alternative however to attend and hope that our present celebrity assault won’t lend the disc to the opponents in any respect and the nationwide group will run out for a medal even with out Filip Hronko within the again rows.