Czech hockey striker Jakub Vrána celebrates his shot in the Detroit jersey
Tim Fuller, Reuters
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In Bratislava, two years ago, during the premiere start at the World Championships, you missed the medal, the second time you would not want to return empty-handed …
I don’t even want to say we want a pancake. We have to go to Riga to win the tournament and do it all!
Are you very hot for matches?
I look forward to much! It is an honor for me to wear a national jersey whenever possible. After the trip to Detroit, it was more or less clear that we would not advance to the playoffs, so I waited for what would happen next and I am very happy to be here. I want to show what I can do and be one of the team leaders.
I wanted to sacrifice the result of the match with the Swedes, Pešán surprised. In the end, he didn’t have to
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How difficult is it when you know that you will have another three weeks in the “bubble”?
Due to limitations, it is not entirely enjoyable. I hope we get the opportunity to at least go breathe fresh air. But we know why we go there for hockey and make a success!
Why didn’t you fly to Prague straight from Detroit and travel to Washington first?
I still needed to fly home and solve some things about the apartment, the car … Trejd was born very fast, from day to day and I didn’t expect him at all. So I took only the essentials from Washington to Detroit for those few weeks at the time.
In the Capitals you even found yourself in the role of a substitute during the season, was the exchange not a bit of a liberation for you?
I like the role of leader and I didn’t have it in Capitals. When I came to Detroit, I played a completely different number of minutes and tried to take advantage of it. The club is now in the process of rebuilding, while Washington is currently one of the best teams in the NHL to go to the Stanley Cup. Like I said, it was a shock to me. I also had days when I woke up and thought I was still in Washington. But such is sometimes hockey. It was not easy to adapt immediately to the new team, but on the other hand in Detroit, everyone welcomed me nicely.
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Czech Detroit forward Jakub Vrána (left) escapes Mikhail Grigorenko of Columbus in an NHL game.
Paul Vernon, ČTK / AP
The presence of compatriots Zadina and Hronka certainly helped you with acclimatization …
It is definitely better to have some boys from the Czech Republic in the team. Hróňa and I have already known each other from the World Championships in Bratislava and of course I was looking forward to him. I also had a chance to meet the Stern.
How did you bear the fact that you lost your leading role in the Capitals?
When Washington drafted me, I was already forming a team for the Stanley Cup, and I tried to get into the team in any way, which I did, and from the minutes I got, I think I made the most of it. In the end, I created the position of leader there as well, but there were five of us there. The team has players who have been playing in the NHL for over 12 years and already have a name.
Crow arrived at the national team, the wounded defender must go home. Current list of the Czech team before the World Cup
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Didn’t you have a quarrel with coach Laviolett during the season?
There was no problem. Something happened in the club during the season, a lot of things changed, the whole system. My ice time went down out of nowhere. The coach then felt that he would sit me down for two matches. Of course I looked like crazy, but that’s part of hockey. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.
For example, he accused you of defending, do you have a freer position in this direction in Red Wings?
You can’t say looser! It is my duty to defend, I personally think that I have improved in those years in defense. It was more about details, personal fights … In short, the coach sometimes finds some mistakes.
Will you continue in Detroit next season?
I had a good interview with General Manager Yzerman about everything that happened this season. I also talked to Coach Blashill. But we haven’t talked about what’s next yet. But I felt good in the team, I want to help him improve and transfer my experience to him.
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