Roman Cervenka wants to return to the NHL

[sureLoss]

Did an interview in Czech.

http://isport.blesk.cz/clanek/hokej-...ekdo-ozve.html

Based on google translation:

left St. Petersburg (KHL) because he needed a change

is hoping and waiting for a NHL contract. His agent has talked with a few (NHL) scouts, but the situation with him terminating his KHL contract is still fresh.

looks back at his experience in Calgary as a postive, great experience.
He came here as an older player which is probably more difficult than if he was younger
thinks his Calgary experience would help if he got back into the NHL

wouldn't do anything different from his first NHL stint
thought he gave Hartley everything he had.
it was bad luck that he got hurt and couldn't train with the team

he is currently looking at NHL teams where he would be a better fit but it is out of his hands
would be glad for any interest and doesn't really care where (he ends up in the NHL)

will look at back up options of Sweden, Finland, or Switzerland in a few months
but right now NHL is clear target
does not plan on playing in the Czech league next season

[savardandjokinen]

Cervenka. Loads of potential

[FlamesAddiction]

The CBA dispute and blood clot issue really hurt his cause the first time around. I would like to see him get another shot somewhere.

[Caged Great]

I didn't mind Cervenka, it was just poor timing that he came here the year that we blew things up.

[Erick Estrada]

Talented guy but not the most fleet of foot and a little soft. Would likely fit best in a market like Phoenix or Florida where nobody is paying attention.

[Lil Pedro]

I think he was a good player, just a tough situation with his injury and the lockout. Bet he goes to Florida to reunite with Jagr; they had good chemistry at the WHC

[neo45]

His skill level was definitely there, he just didn't have NHL cardio and that could be due to the injury/lockout. I think a team would be smart to give him a full season. He plays a very similar game to Hudler.


Maybe Florida to play with Jagr?

[burn_this_city]

Probably wants a season of two making USD after the Ruble collapse.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah I actually thought he was skilled enough, and worked hard enough.

The lockout, no training camp, and then not being able to train for 6 weeks due to the blood clot issue really did him in.

A team would be smart to give him a low risk shot IMO.

[FlameZilla]

Tough to make any definitive judgements on Cervenka. He missed training camp and much of the early season with that blood clot & he never really found his stride.

Doubt there's a fit with the Flames, but a team struggling to find a 2nd line LW might have some better results with Cervenka than we did.

[dammage79]

There were glimpses of his met potential while he was with the Flames but like Backund last year he just didn't get a good footing out of the gate to get any consistency flowing.

Good luck Cervenka. All the best.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I actually thought he was skilled enough, and worked hard enough.

The lockout, no training camp, and then not being able to train for 6 weeks due to the blood clot issue really did him in.

A team would be smart to give him a low risk shot IMO.

I thought he did quite well given those circumstances. 17pts in 39 games. On pace for ~20 goals. I think his criticism here was a bit overblown. I watched him at the Dome a couple times and he looked shifty and was quite skilled. Not the most physical guy, but I never really noticed his lack of cardio that most people did. But that entire 2012-13 team was pretty bad overall. I think if he'd come to the NHL in his early 20s, he could have carved out a pretty decent NHL career.

[GranteedEV]

I bet Dustin Boyd does too.

[GioforPM]

Yeah, I wished he'd had a better chance to be a Flame. Not saying it was anyone's fault - I just thought he had potential and was worth maybe another year.

[mrdonkey]

I didn't mind Cervenka as a player. But the timing for him here was really unfortunate. The blood clot, the lockout, and that particular Flames team being so soft, old, and frustrating to watch as a whole. It also didn't help that Feaster pumped his tires so much without even having all his facts straight.

Hope he finds luck somewhere in the NHL. Florida seems like a natural fit.

[FBI]

Wonder what position he will play.

[lazypucker]

He read that someone bought his game worn jersey at the Flames Equipment Sale this past weekend and he is feeling that the league still wants him now...

[tvp2003]

I had high, high hopes for Cervenka but he clearly was behind the 8-ball from the start and never really caught up under Hartley's "system".

Agree that Florida would be a good option (reunited with Jagr). Looks like he'd be willing to take whatever he can get though.

Crumbling Russian ruble is also likely a factor. Since this guy is a Czech he probably wants to return home once all is said and done.

[Itse]

Doesn't seem like the type of guy we need, but I would imagine that now that he knows more about the NHL game he could do okay somewhere else.

[ricardodw]

He was one of the worst Flames ever on one of the worst Flames teams ever. Small Slow and Timid.

His 4 pts on the PP playing 1:37/ pp time suggests that he did not have the skill as many have suggested.

He made Hudler look like a bad UFA signing. He made Stempniak into a top 6 forward by default.

He didn't come over to Calgary right after signing his contract to learn English and adapt to his environment. I think he might have motivated Hartley to his "everything earned, nothing given" stance.

If Cervenka wanted to play in the NHL he should have played in teh AHL for a year.

On his KHL team last year Patrick Sorenson had 17 goals to Cervenka's 13.

With the KHL missing payrolls there will be a salary roll back across Europe as the KHL players look for someplace to play and get paid and the AHL will become a viable option for these sort of players.