Yahoo Sport 
World Cup of Hockey: Team Czech preview (Puck Daddy)
The World Cup of Hockey is back, with the NHL-backed tournament scheduled for the next few weeks in lovely Toronto. Yahoo Sports will offer on-site coverage from the event; but first, here’s a look at the six nations and the two made-up teams that will battle for the funny-looking trophy.
Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Group A preliminary vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET
Monday, Sept. 19 – Group A preliminary vs. Europe, 3 p.m. ET
Thursday, Sept. 22 – Group A preliminary vs. USA, 8 p.m. ET
Vitals
Career NHL Games – 7,413
Career NHL Goals (Skaters) – 1,160
Career NHL Assists (Skaters) – 2,130
Career NHL Points (Skaters) – 3,290
Career NHL Wins (Goaltenders) – 278
Average Age – 28.1
Average Height (Inches) – 73.3
Average Weight (Pounds) – 204.1
Stanley Cups – 1
Forwards
No Jaromir Jagr nor Patrik Elias nor Petr Nedved due to the march of time. No David Krejci nor Tomas Hertl thanks to stupid no-good injuries.
Most of the firepower comes from the expected top line of the mighty turtleneck of Tomas Plekanec centering Ondrej Palat (16 goals with the Tampa Bay Lightning) and Jakub Voracek (one season removed from 81 points with the Philadelphia Flyers).
Martin Hanzal offers size in the middle of the second line, expected to see time with explosive David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and Milan Michalek of the Leafs.
After that it’s a significant dropoff in offensive pop: Dallas Stars forwards Ales Hemsky and Radek Faksa; solid role players in Michael Frolik and Vlad Sobotka (most recently in the KHL, and if healthy); Dmitrij Jaskin of the Blues, Michal Birner of the KHL and Roman Cervenka of the Swiss league, a late injury replacement.
Not exactly a group that an hang with the depth the Americans and Canadians have.
Defense
Meanwhile, the defense might be the thinnest group in the Group, especially with the loss of Radko Gudas to injury.
Roman Polak of the Toronto Maple Leafs is your veteran defensive defenseman, most likely paired with Michal Kempny, recently imported by the Chicago Blackhawks from Europe. Zbynek Michalek’s shot-blocking fun and the mountainous Andrej Sustr of the Lightning (6 foot 8) are likely on the second pairing, although Sustr could see increased ice time. Jakub Nakladal split time between the AHL and the Calgary Flames last season.
Tomas Kundratek and Michal Jordan round out the group, the latter presumably because someone will be left crying when the Czechs are eliminated.
Unless …
Goalies
Goaltending is the great equalizer in a short tournament, and it’s here that the Czechs have at least a prayer. Petr Mrazek of the Detroit Red Wings and Michal Neuvirth of the Philadelphia Flyers are dynamic enough to keep the Czechs in games against the Canadians and Americans, and maybe steal one. Ondrej Pavelec is also from the Czech Republic.
Grade The Jerseys
We could have given them a solid B-plus, especially for the integration of the Adidas stripes. But we’ve gotta knock that down to a C-plus for being the only team in the World Cup to get caught for an illegal jersey before the tournament started.
Special Teams
The Czech penalty kill has been rather impressive in the exhibition games against Russia, with Plekanec, Michalek, Frolik, Faska and Sustr seeing plenty of defensive action. Mrazek was ninth in the NHL last season in shorthanded save percentage with the Wings.
The power-play was less effective, although that’s where Voracek, Palat and Pastrnak can really make an impact. The lack of effective point men on defense could haunt them.
Coach
Josef Jandac, 47, was hired to exclusively coach the Czech national team for the next two years. He worked under Vladimir Vujtek, who retired after the IIHF world championship earlier this year, and Vladimir Ruzicka, who was the head coach from 2008-10. In the right light, he sorta looks like a Liam Neeson character.
They’ll Make It Out of Group Play If …
The goaltending flat-out steals a regulation win from either the Canadians or the Americans and the Czechs take two points from Team Europe.
They’ll Flop At The World Cup If …
Their defense ends up being as thin as it looks, and they can’t generate enough offense from their top six.
Prediction
The Czechs go oh-fer against the Americans and Canadians but grab at least a point against Europe.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
