This is going to be a very rough translation on a day of lots of international news: Red Wings draft pick Jaroslav Bednar (pronounced Bed-nash), who is bound for the QMJHL this season, spoke with Ceska telivize and the CTK News Agency regarding being drafted by Detroit.
Here we go:
Bednar wanted a traditional team and it’s Detroit. “A good organization chose me,” he says.
He wanted to join a traditional Canadian team, eventually chosen by another, albeit a traditional NHL team. Hockey goalkeeper Jan Bednář is excited about Detroit. The 18-year-old pupil of Karlovy Vary has already received congratulations from compatriots on the Red Wings, defender Filip Hronek and forward Filip Zadina, and he believes that he will get a chance to show his qualities on the team.
“I’m so glad that Detroit chose me because it’s an organization with a huge tradition, they have a great rink and great fans. My dream has always been to play in Canada, but Detroit is a hockey city and it’s more or less comparable to Canada. In I am definitely extremely satisfied in this respect,” Bednář told the Energie Karlovy Vary website.
Due to the coronavirus crisis, the draft took place on Tuesday and Wednesday virtually, without the personal participation of players and club management. Detroit chose Bednář in the fourth round, 107th overall.
“When the draft went on and the names started falling from the second round, I was a little nervous. Not in the first round, because I knew I probably wouldn’t be selected. I kept my fingers crossed for the other guys. When Detroit chose me, so there were huge feelings of happiness and joy, but of course it is also a commitment to further work, “Bednář says.
“About two days before the draft, I spoke to an agent who said there were about six teams that were most interested. Detroit was among them. Every time one of those teams had a choice, I admit I was all the more nervous ,” Bednář recalled, and he’s waiting for more information from the team.
“Right after the draft, the American scout from Detroit, who had spoken to me several times before, called me and wanted to welcome me to the organization. The main conference call I will have with them hasn’t taken place yet, but we will definitely contact us in the coming days. Hronek and Filip Zadina, who play in Detroit, congratulated me, and it’s nice of them to text me, “said the talented goalkeeper.
He enjoyed the draft at home with his family. “But as the draft went and I saw the boys in suits, I wondered if they had installed a camera for us somewhere, because we were all in tracksuits. But it was definitely a great experience anyway,” Bednář said.
In the ranking of the Central Scouting, he was second among the goalkeepers in Europe behind the Russian Yaroslav Askarov from St. Petersburg. “I didn’t look much at the charts before the draft. It’s important to me that a good organization chose me. Now it’s up to me to prove in the coming years that I can play in the NHL,” said the goalkeeper, who has played in 28 games in the Extraliga for Karlovy Vary.
An 11-time Stanley Cup winning team, Detroit was the worst team in the unfinished regular season last season with 39 points out of 71 games and a success rate of 27.5 percent. Bednar believes that former team captain and current general manager Steve Yzerman, who returned to Detroit last year after working in Tampa Bay, will return the tam to prominence. “He raised Tampa up, so I believe he’s the right person. I think he definitely has something to pass on to the organization,” he said.
Goalkeeper Jimmy Howard, who was drafted by Detroit in the second round in 2003, won’t be brought back by Red Wings. Under contract are Jonathan Bernier, Calvin Pickard, Filip Larsson, Victor Brattström and Kaden Fulcher.
“Now they are re-arranging the team a bit and in the future, maybe five years ahead, they could play very high.”
He is to play in the upcoming season for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL, but with the delayed start of the North American seasons, he remains in Karlovy Vary for the time being. “I’m still waiting for tickets to Canada, but we’ll see what the Detroit people tell me. Most of the teams I’ve talked to have preferred to go to Canada. I don’t think Detroit will be an exception, and I’ll just wait until I can fly away.” added Bednář.
Bednar sounds a bit older than 18. I didn’t realize he was ranked so high. Probably will be the best prospect with the Wings as he gets some pro experience. The prospects for Goalies seem a bit skimpy with some (maybe?) slipping away. I would have liked another Goalie pick in the later rounds but I assume there were players with more upside. Not sure about a trade next year or later. I still think there will be an opening in GR soon. So the elder guys will get bombarded with shots for at least one more year.
I haven’t seen this many low term/reasonable $$ Contracts for a LONG LONG time. Will be interesting to watch and see if the Flames and Oilers sign players just to keep them away from their rivals in Alberta. This sounds like Holland will be active with this, but better remember this is his last stop. Seattle should be like Vegas.