The 2014 Winter Olympic games will mark 16 years since the Czech Republic celebrated a gold medal victory. Jaromir Jagr played an integral role on that team, and he will play an integral role on this year’s team as well. Jagr has played for all five Czech teams that have included NHL players, and after a tremendous start to this season he is set to play an integral role on this squad as a 41-year old. The Czech Republic isn’t getting the same attention as some of the other teams involved in this year’s tournament, but they have more than enough skill to be a dark horse contender, and Jagr is one of the reasons they have the potential to win the gold medal, with the odds available at www.wagersolutions.com.
For years, fans of the Montreal Canadiens have been talking about the potential to add Jaromir Jagr’s size and skill to their top-six forward core. Every year, the talk is about what Jagr could offer for one final season, only to play the same game the following year. Jagr has talked about how he is in the best shape he has been in for a while, and his numbers back that up as he leads the New Jersey Devils in scoring with 14 goals and 38 points. Jagr has the skill set to make a difference both five-on-five and on the powerplay, and he has shown this year that he still has the potential to be a game-breaker.
Another reason why Canadiens’ fans have bee so excited about the opportunity to potentially acquire Jagr is the play of Tomas Plekanec, who has shown a definite chemistry with him during a number of international events. That chemistry will be important in such a short tournament, and the presence of fellow Devils’ forward Patrik Elias will add to that on a potential top line along with Jagr, and Plekanec. The Czech team has a number of talented forwards including Jakub Voracek, Ales Hemsky, and David Krejci, and the fact that so many of these players have played together in past tournaments or at the NHL level has created a chemistry that makes them that much more dangerous together.
One more reason to like the Czech Republic is the man that will lead them between the pipes. Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is just 12-19-4 with a 3.08 goals against average, but a big part of those numbers is the team in front of him, which has been awful this year. All too often Pavelec is forced in to situations where he has little to no chance at doing his job to the level he can, but it will be a much different situation in a short tournament and with a better team in front of him. A hot goalie can undoubtedly steal a medal, and Pavelec has the potential to be exactly that.
While the Czech Republic isn’t in the same category as some of the other powerhouse teams, their makeup has made them a legitimate sleeper pick to win it all at Sochi. The play of Jagr, the chemistry that a talented group of forwards has, and some solid goaltending are three reasons to like the Czech Republic, as a team that could come through with a major upset, with the odds available from the same sites that use the best online betting software.