Just when it seemed it couldn’t get any worse for the struggling Rangers, it has. Left winger Valeri Kamensky will be out for at least two weeks, beginning tonight when the Blueshirts face the Canadiens in Montreal, with a stress fracture in his right forearm. That leaves untested rookie Jan Hlavac on the first line.
“This will be a good opportunity for him,” John Muckler said after practice yesterday at Rye Playland. “It should help him improve.”
The Rangers have been shut out three games in a row and certainly don’t need to lose a first-line player. Making the situation even more bleak is the fact that Hlavac is inexperienced and has scored as many NHL career goals (zero) as Eric Heiden.
The 23-year-old from Prague in the Czech Republic- who has spent time in the Islanders’ and Flames’ organizations-has had a difficult time dealing with the difference in play between his native country and the NHL. He has appeared in five games this season and has picked up one assist. Playing on the top line with center Petr Nedved and right winger Theo Fleury should improve Hlavac’s confidence.
“It’s a totally different style from Europe to here,” Muckler said. “You have to adjust to it and he hasn’t gotten there completely yet. But he also hasn’t really had a chance to do much with the puck, so this is important for him.”
One of the problems Hlavac has had is his reluctance to shoot. With the larger rinks in Europe, the players are taught to hold on to the puck until they have an excellent scoring chance. That doesn’t cut it in the NHL.
“He’s thinking too much about what to do with the puck right now,” Muckler said. “This is a reaction game. He’s not at that position yet.”
As if Hlavac doesn’t have enough obstacles to overcome on the ice, he has also been dealing with simply learning the English language. Muckler believes that has seriously hindered Hlavac’s development.
“I believe he has had a hard time figuring out exactly what we want from him,” Muckler said. “It will help a lot to be playing with Petr [Nedved].”
The Rangers’ first-line center also hails from the Czech Republic and gave evidence to Muckler’s belief. Nedved helped by translating some reporter’s questions, although Hlavac seemed to have a fairly solid grasp of the conversation before his linemate came over. Hlavac was insistent that the language barrier was not a problem.
“I understand what the coach wants,” Hlavac said in proper English before Nedved took over. “It’s difficult to adjust, but you have to do it quickly or you can’t play in the league. The coaches have been telling me to shoot more and it’s something I have to keep in mind.”
It’s not like Hlavac has never scored a goal; he had 33 last year for Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic’s CR Extraleague. That number, which placed him eighth in the league, gives him reason to believe he will do pretty well now.
“I am never nervous,” Hlavac said. “I’m really excited. I think I can help the team.”