MICHEAL FROLIK Frolik was just 18 years old when he made the pilgrimage from the Czech Republic to join the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He had been chosen 10th overall by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the NHL Draft in 2006. He understood the best thing for his development would be to get a taste of the North American game. “It was something I never really imagined. I couldnt believe that I stayed (with the Panthers).The first two or three games, I didnt play. Then somebody got hurt, I went in and started on the fourth line and played a couple minutes. They gave me a chance and I build my way up the lineup to finish on the first line.”said Frolik. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 9 of 2011. He took on much more of a defensive role in the Windy City. By buying into what head coach Joel Quenneville was selling, Frolik played an important role as a key penalty killer and checker as the Blackhawks captured the Stanley Cup in 2013. “I never imagined I could grow up in a small town in the Czech Republic and have my name on the Cup. That was something special, definitely,” said Frolik. “Just talking about it, I get goose-bumps right now. It was amazing.” Days after the Stanley Cup parade, Frolik was caught off guard when the Blackhawks shipped him to the Jets for a pair of picks at the 2013 Draft in Philadelphia. As Jets head coach Paul Maurice has pointed out on several occasions, “He does it all. Hes been really good for us all year.” It seems like wherever Frolik is slotted into the lineup, the guys who play alongside him seem to elevate their games. Thats precisely why Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff needs to get a long-term deal done with Frolik after the two sides can resume contract talks after Jan. 1. #HutchtheClutch
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 03:05:32 +0000