Hronek takes another step in world championships

HERNING, DENMARK -- Red Wings prospect Filip Hronek has represented his native Czech Republic each of the previous three years - once for the U18 world championship and twice for the world junior championship - but the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark is the first time he's suited up for the men's national team.

After a strong first professional season with the Grand Rapids Griffins that saw the 20-year-old defenseman earn 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 67 games, the general manager of Team Czech Republic, who is also the Red Wings' director of player evaluation, Jiri Fischer, invited him to join the team for their pre-tournament exhibition games to try to make this team.
"This was the first time the national team has invited defensemen from the American League. Knowing him from Detroit, I felt confident that he was the right guy for the job," Fischer said. "The coaches needed to get to know his game before the tournament started. There's only so much video you can watch, but he had a great season where he finished pretty much playing as the No. 1 defenseman in Grand Rapids, certainly offensively, and earned this opportunity."
Hronek was excited to get the call, not only for the chance to represent his country again and continue his season for a few more weeks, but also so he could test his game against NHL-level talent.
"The biggest challenge for me is playing against the best players. There are so many players here from the NHL. It's a really good experience for me to be able to play against them and learn to get better," said the 6-foot, 170-pound blueliner who was drafted in the second round two years ago.
It's been a year of growth for Hronek, who started the season with limited ice time, but quickly gained the coaches' trust in Grand Rapids, earning top-pair minutes, including time on the power play, which helped his confidence grow.
His experience at the world championship was very similar.
"His first game with the national team, he was the seventh defenseman, playing less than 10 minutes a game and now he's on the ice during the overtime, running the power play and never getting off the ice," Fischer said. "His game and his confidence has grown tremendously during these games and now he just needs to remember to not do too much and keep things going that made him successful - playing a solid game that makes everyone on the ice better."
Known for his speed and his offensive abilities, he learned this season -- and it was reinforced during the world championship -- that he needs to focus on his defensive game if he wants to make it to the NHL.
"This year, he became the highest-scoring rookie defenseman in Grand Rapids history, which is pretty impressive because it's a franchise that's been around for a couple of decades," Fischer explained. "He really wants to play and make things happen, but now he also understands that he has to be sound defensively and he has to be easy to play with, meaning he has to use the players on the ice in order to make him better and not just try to do everything by himself, which is often the big difference between the junior game and the pro game and he's done a good job of that.
"The most important thing for every player to be successful is to continue to work on their strong suits. So if somebody wants to be special, they really have to work at what they're good at and what they have a natural predisposition for. So, I really hope that Fil's going to take his game to another level by running the power play and being the best puck-moving defenseman that he can potentially be.
"At the same time, he's going to have to work on his strength and stamina to endure a long season with a hopeful playoff run, which some seasons could be over 100 games. That's a grind. So he understands that this is a big summer for him and he needs to continue to try to improve his game."
After playing in 12 games with the Griffins to end last season, Hronek knew he needed to get stronger over the summer and he did.
After eight games at the world championships to end this season, he knows he needs to continue to work on building his strength, improving his speed and honing in on his defensive game.
"I need to work on my D-zone coverage and all the D-zone plays," Hronek said matter-of-factly. "That's why this is a big experience for me to play against these players. I know I need to get stronger and faster and I have a lot to work on to be like the guys in the NHL."
Team Czech Republic was eliminated from the world championship by Team USA, 3-2, in the quarterfinal on Thursday.
The game-winning goal came off a defensive mistake by Hronek, who couldn't contain Patrick Kane's speed and got tripped up at the blueline, allowing Kane an uncontested shot on goal.
"We had a young team and every player played really well. Sometimes in hockey you make mistakes, unfortunately for Filip in the last period he made a mistake and it was a goal against for us. That's life," said Josef Jandac, head coach of Team Czech Republic, with a shrug. "He has good speed and developed skills from playing in this world championship and I hope he'll be better in the next years and help us make a semifinal game in the future."
Hronek, who earned a goal and two assists in eight games, said after the loss that these were tough lessons to learn but that they will motivate him in his training this summer.
"I want to play in the NHL," he said. "I have to be better in all areas, but especially in the defensive zone.
"I will work hard to get better this summer and show myself in September."