Bruk pulled an attacker from Energy. Twenty points in a season? The potential is elsewhere | Hokej.cz

Vítkovice presented the third newcomer to the squad on their website: the offensive ranks of the Riders will be strengthened by promising forward Jan Hladonik. The club did not publish further information about the contract.

“Honza is a very talented and still young player. And yet he already has enough experience from the extra league,” describes coach David Bruk, who has had his eye on Hladonik for the past two years in Karlovy Vary.

“His productivity has been around twenty points per season in past seasons, and we think his potential is elsewhere,” believes Bruk.

There have been several months of speculation about the 24-year-old all-rounder’s breakup with Energia. Behind the scenes, there were rumors about the lure of Litvínov, however… Hladonik will eventually put down roots at another extra-league address.

“He’s coming back to the region he grew up in and has a relationship with. He’s actually coming home. He is a young, but at the same time experienced player who has a chance to show his full potential,” comments sports director Roman Šimíček on his arrival.

The student of Třinec hockey transferred to the west of Bohemia in 2020 and soon became comfortable in the starting line-up. Performances from the first two seasons even earned Hladonik several invitations to the national team.

In the past year, he equaled his point maximum – he scored 22 points (9+13) in 50 games of the regular season. According to the Hockey Logic analytical model, it is especially valid in transition and power plays.

“His big advantage is movement, control of the puck. He has good skills and it is very advantageous for us that he presents himself very well on the wings, even though he is a center,” calculates Bruk for the Riders’ official website.

“We are counting on him primarily in the center position, but if something were to happen, we can use him on the wing without any problems, which is very good news,” announces the new head of the Vítkovice substitute.

After the peer Jan Bambula, the Ostrava club expanded the squad with another player of the middle generation with dormant potential. On Tuesday, he also announced an agreement with sharp defender Patrik Marcel.

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