So, is Cervenka liking the NHL?

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by OzSome

You have to remember the guy is playing out of position because Hartley wanted him to learn the NHL more before he put him back on his natural position, which is a centre position. Give the guy time.

that is a good point!
Cervenka still needs more ice time with comparable players to develop that.
Unless he is a cerebral kind of player too and can just pick that up by observing. If that is the case i just don't see him learning much from Jackman, Begin, or especially watching Comeau fill his spot and mess plays up alongside Hudler.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by OzSome

You have to remember the guy is playing out of position because Hartley wanted him to learn the NHL more before he put him back on his natural position, which is a centre position. Give the guy time.

I am all for giving him time to learn but why not in a position that he is comfortable? It's not that he'd be taking the time away from a more valuable centre at the moment. Let him develop that good chemistry with Hudler and Bärtschi and don't waste any more time. The guy may not even be here next season for all we know.

[badradio]

Hartley gives some insight on Cervenka here: http://cflam.es/YwLgEa

Sounds like he's a bit depressed or something... Can't imagine it would be easy... Just hope he can get out of the dog house... Not a fan of the way Hartley is handling this, but there might be more going on that I don't know about... I'm thinking Roman wants to go back home... and that isn't sitting well with Hartley... but I'm speculating...

[Poe969]

I'm sure if he was traded to the wings, he'd LOVE the NHL. I hope everything is ok with him though, I just don't see what all the hype was about with him

[neo45]

Everybody should be prepared to lose Cervenka this summer to Europe. He has not been put in a position to succeed here at all and I don't really blame him if he doesn't like it. He has played well considering his ailment and the fact that he he has never played in NA, yet he still has been scratched and demoted in favor of worse players.

Management didn't even know what position he played. Why should he take less money to play away from home on the 4th line with Begin and Jackman? Not to mention Hudler has been noticeably worse without him

[Roof-Daddy]

Geez, I thought he was coming along just fine, all things considered, and then all of a sudden he's being scratched and benched.

That sure went flying off the tracks in hurry.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Geez, I thought he was coming along just fine, all things considered, and then all of a sudden he's being scratched and benched.

That sure went flying off the tracks in hurry.

Really? I thought he showed some decent skill but looked slower and slower and slower. His defensive play is pretty weak. I can't see the guy being at center anytime.

I don't know if it's the medical condition but the guy sure don't look like much of a skater. Then his effort level seems to have dropped off as well.

Everything was peachy and then suddenly benched. Yeah don't see it at all.

[Sainters7]

Love watching the guy handle the puck, pretty clear he's got a vet's IQ for the game. Every time I see him in a race for the puck though, he seems to lose. Probably just me being stereotypical, but I expected a high scoring European forward to be a lot faster. He's got kind of a choppy skating style.

Love to see what he'd look like next year with a whole off-season of conditioning (and being free of this blood clot issue), you can definitely see the potential. But like a lot of you, I'm getting the feeling he won't be wearing Flames colours next season if it keeps going like this.

[the-rasta-masta]

Watch the guy in the defensive zone... he is frightening. One shift in particular in the Phoenix game he looked lost as soon as the puck went into the Flames end. I was watching him circling lazily rather than making quick stop and start transitions and I knew hew as going to be glued to the bench for the rest of the game. He has good hands, and a great shot, but he is extremely slow in the first few steps and doesn't seem to have the hockey sense to make up for it.

[djsFlames]

I've thought for the majority of the games he's played this season that he's been one of the most creative and dangerous looking forwards on the team. Perhaps defensively, he's not used to the responsibility he must learn to handle in this league, but honestly I've had very few issues with the guy. Even with a lack of conditioning, he's stuck out better than other regular NHLers at times, and made some incredibly intelligent and skilled plays in the offensive zone. And it's undeniable that he helped Hudler's game early in the season. Until this past week, there was at least a couple moments in every game he played that made me say "wow, that was aweseome", "I can't believe he just did that"..which few other Flames do on a regular basis.

What was it.. 7 points in 13 games before all the benching?

For the circumstances, he's actually been really, quite good.

Not nearly enough justification for what they did. He absolutely helps the team, so long as he's with the right line mates. Not like team defense has been a strong suit anyways, being what..28th in the league? Dumb.

[Stay Golden]

Cervenka liking a 4-2 game more than 1-0 lead with 10 min left games.
If the Flames have settled into a defensive attempt to win a game he is not that strong on finding loose pucks in the defensive zone and is easily out worked in the offensive zone.
Cervenka simply is not very effective in grinding played games.

[tvp2003]

Hartley has already said conditioning is an issue -- probably the combination of the injury and subsequent layoff, altitude, any residual effects of his medication (?), and the quicker, faster pace of the NHL game. If you think of him as an overage rookie, I think he'll be fine and has enough potential to warrant the time needed to fix the current holes in his game (i.e. defensive positioning, conditioning, etc.). Doesn't mean he'll be an all-star anytime soon, but I hope he's given a chance to develop in Calgary uniform instead of somewhere else. Hudler/Cervenka could be a really good second line combo if this team is patient with his development. Given our pathetic PP, I think he should get some minutes there as well.

[Red]

He had plenty of chances to prove himself in the first several games. I think the coaches have been very patient with him. He couldn't skate or take a pass. Too slow and weak. Not a good combo for the NHL.

I hope they keep him for a bit longer and give him good skating lessons. With his hands that could make him a good player.

[Poe969]

I think he likes the NHL, I just think he doesn't like the Calgary Flames.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think he likes the NHL, I just think he doesn't like the Calgary Flames.

Look, I get that you are frustrated with the Flames right now, most of us are......but do all of your posts have to be this terrible?

[station]

Originally Posted by badradio

Hartley gives some insight on Cervenka here: http://cflam.es/YwLgEa

Sounds like he's a bit depressed or something... Can't imagine it would be easy... Just hope he can get out of the dog house... Not a fan of the way Hartley is handling this, but there might be more going on that I don't know about... I'm thinking Roman wants to go back home... and that isn't sitting well with Hartley... but I'm speculating...

Thanks for this. Sounds like he has a one month old baby back home so obviously there are some personal issues at play. New country, different style of play, recent illness, possible conditioning issues, personal issues, communication difficulties. Not surprised he's having a bit of a hard time... I don't think he's in the doghouse so much as they are just giving him time to get things together.

[calgaryboy]

And there you go....first Czech interview with Roman Cervenka, published a few moments ago.

http://hokej.idnes.cz/roman-cervenka...115443_nhl_lge

Try translator if you want....., my few quotes:
-------------
Really hard to get used to NHL, rink, tempo of the game, everything is different.

Was used to be team star with lots of minutes, different story in Calgary.

Not helping playing with so many different linemates

Ice time big issue, when he has more ice time, he can be better, limited ice time, more nervous, afraid of every single mistake, then not playing so good.

One mistake, less ice time immediately

English is getting better, understand much more things than at the beginning of the season, Hudler very helpful, they live in the same building.

Family will fly to visit him in about +-14 days
-------------

So.....I think Roman is not liking NHL....so far...............very bitter interview.

My personal opinion according to my knowledge of Roman as a player.........Flames management and coaching staff is not doing good job with him....at all. I know he can be better, for me player like Comeau is not even comparable to Roman, still .he is playing some solid minutes.......I know Roman was not win in a lottery so far, but i know he is much better player than he has shown to this date. But if he will be treated like a 4th line player, on the bubble every game, he will not be good, he will not be a scoring force. Let him play 10 games at least 15 minutes /as was the case today/ and we will see. But that is bad, when he even doesn ´t know, if he will suit up for a game at the morning practice......Taking care of this rookie, i Give Flames D-...........

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As for tonight ´s game................We are really bad, really. But I still hope for better tomorrow, I hope Feaster will make some blockbuster trades, will make us younger and more hungry, and Flames will be fine.....at some time.......GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!

Greetings from Czech republic

[FBI]

That speaks volumes. Dang
Thought he had a much better game last night.

[Sol]

I thought Cervenka looked good last night; Haven't seen that kind of speed from him yet.

[Erick Estrada]

Sounds like he's not going to be back next year as long as Hartley is the coach. Can't blame him. The constant line juggling would annoy me as well as would watching plugs like Comeau take your spot if you have a bad game.