#Frame #cut #Pardubice #release #representatives #Hokej.cz
Tomáš Hyka and Jan Košťálek. | Photo: Hokej.cz collage
Jan Košťálek and Tomáš Hyka were supposed to play at least three more seasons in Dynamo. But now it looks like he won’t last even through the summer in the vice-champion squad. The Pardubice club is reportedly considering terminating their contracts due to dissatisfaction with their performances in the playoffs.
He came to Pardubice in the summer of 2021 and in the first season won the extra league scoring for defenders. Jan Košťálek played at last year’s World Championship, and is still in the national team at the Czech Hockey Games in Brno. He has a contract in eastern Bohemia until 2027.
At the same time, the final against Třinec did not go as expected (-5), with Tomáš Dvořák they were statistically Dynamo’s worst defensive pair. In the entire playoff, Pardubice also did not have much power play, which is otherwise Košťálk’s playground.
Even with his performances in the regular season, Košťálek did not follow up on the previous successful years so much – while offensively he kept his high standard and was among the fifteen percent of the best forward defenders, he was among the worst in the entire extra league in front of his own goal.
Jan Košťálek. | Photo: HC Dynamo Pardubice
What about striker Tomáš Hyka? He headed to Pardubice as a big reinforcement in the summer of 2022 from the KHL together with Will and Sedlák. In eastern Bohemia, everyone signed first for a year, then for the next five seasons (until 2028).
Hyk’s first season was marked by an infectious liver disease, he had to miss the entire autumn. After his return to the ice in December, he was soon joined by Lukáš Sedlák from overseas and together with David Cienciala they formed a striking formation. Hyka ended up scoring in almost every game of the regular season.
In the seventh game of the semi-finals, he did not convert an important free kick less than three seconds before the end, but this year he was dominant in the regular season. In 49 games, he collected 45 points (third in team scoring) and, according to data from Hockey Logic, he was one of the best players in the extra league (99th and 98th percentile) in the attack and on the power play. He also had great numbers in transition.
However, he did not score a goal in sixteen games in the playoffs, adding only six assists.
“Dynamo’s sports management is now evaluating the recently ended season and considering how to supplement the team appropriately,” confirms Dynamo’s press spokesman Jan Mroviec, that changes are coming to the vice-champion.
How big? Robert Říčka left for Brno, Richard Pánik’s contract will not be extended and Adam Musil is headed to Liberec. Instead of him, Dynamo should pay Jáchym Kondelík out of the contract in České Budějovice. The club management is also interested in Radim Zohorna (if he does not sign a new contract in the NHL).
“Dynamo’s sports management evaluates the recently ended season.”
According to three sources, however, Pardubice is also dealing with Hyka’s future with Košťálek. If that happens, we will inform the public in time,” Mroviec did not want to be specific when asked by Hokej.cz. Will the contract be terminated directly?
Tomas Hyka. | Photo: Michal Dědič
After all, Tomáš Hyka, a participant in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and the 2017 and 2018 WCs, did not even jump on the ice in the second half of the seventh final, coach Marek Zadina withdrew him from the game.
“It was the last match of the season, there was nothing to wait for. You play guys who are in shape at the moment, and you think of them as being able to push the opponent and decide the final,” Dynamo coach explained afterwards.
“You play guys who are in form at the moment and you think of them as being able to push the opposition.”
If Hyka had really finished, he would have said goodbye to his partners Will and Sedlák after five years. But the fundamental problem of the first attacking formation was not only that Hyka lost his form.
In short, the ideal third player for his pair with Sedlák was simply not found during two seasons – Cienciala suited them in terms of thinking and skill, Kaut rather in speed. But even Říčka and Pánik could not fully support their offensive talent – or complement them in attacking, winning pucks and defensively, so that Lukáš Sedlák would have more freedom going forward as a center.
If the speculation is confirmed, what next? The twenty-nine-year-old Košťálek grew up in Kolín, and his transfer to Sparta (where he is a foster child) is clearly suggested. The same goes for Hyka, who therefore comes from Mladá Boleslav. The skaters are massively strengthening for the next season, coach Richard Král already knows Hyka… However, it will not be easy to pay the contracts of extraleague stars with experience from overseas and the national team.
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