Pospíšilovci are not so wonderful. In addition, the former captain of Slovakia sent a harsh message to future NHL stars

The Slovak hockey public is breathing a sigh of relief at the premature end to the 2026 World Hockey Championship in Switzerland. While the leadership of the association talks about an important contribution to the future, the respected personality of our hockey, former longtime NHL scout and former general manager of the national team Oto Haščák, offers a sober view after the tournament. According to him, we must look for answers to unpleasant questions and be careful that the jersey with the double cross does not become just a pragmatic springboard for young people.

Where is our hockey really going? We should seriously think about this key question after the end of the world championship in Switzerland. The legendary captain of our national team from the 1996 World Hockey Championship in Vienna, Oto Haščák, who watched the whole event in detail, offers Sport daily deep reflection.

“After this World Cup, we should ask ourselves: did the Norwegian selection improve so much that it reached the quarterfinals at our expense, or did we experience the opposite development.”

At the tournament in 2026, the Slovak team presented itself with the lowest age average among all participants. This move was largely forced by circumstances, as the implementation team had to swallow nearly three dozen apologies from stable players before the championship.

The president of SZĽH, Miroslav Šatan, expressed his firm belief after the elimination that this bet on predatory youth represents an investment that will bear the desired fruit in the horizon of two or three years.

Representation as an elevator to contracts in the NHL?

Experienced Oto Haščák, however, raises a warning finger and reminds that such an equation does not automatically apply. According to him, the key to success will be whether the young talents do not lose their sincere attachment to the national colors after achieving their individual goals.

“It will be important for our hockey how the current players’ relationship with the national team will continue. Many talents tend to use the national team as an elevator to fame with the result of lucrative contracts in the NHL. It is said to be an investment in the future. That is fine if its return is shown in the future.” points out the hockey expert.

According to him, true character will only be revealed when players secured by lucrative contracts overseas confirm their commitment to the team: “That is, if the players with fat contracts continue to willingly return to the national selection in the future and do not send a message that they are in pain. I am optimistic that this will happen.”

Positives of the tournament: Combativeness and new talents

Despite the premature end before the gates of the quarterfinals, the rejuvenation of the team brought several positive flashes. The youths, who were given the trust, seized the chance with tremendous commitment and fighting spirit. However, the lack of international experience had a negative effect on the efficiency in the finish, for which the whole team paid the price.

“I agree with coach Vladimír Országh’s assessment that we had a young team with perspective, tremendous will and fighting spirit, but in the end we lacked the points to advance, so we paid for low efficiency,” evaluated the performance of the staff for Sport daily.

Among the rising generation, Oto Haščák found two unequivocal heroes, who especially caught his attention with their play: “I especially liked Luka Radivojevič in the last duels, in addition to the talent in his hands, he has hockey vision and foresight. He scored nice goals in the attack and Chromiak showed great things.”

Pospíšilovci: Heroes or media bubble?

A much more polarizing topic of the entire championship was the work of the brotherly pair Martin and Kristián Pospíšilov. As the central figures of the first attacking formation, they should have been the real leaders and drivers of the team. However, they showed both their faces during the tournament.

On the one hand, they pumped a huge amount of energy into the game, played hard, decisively and quickly, which significantly helped the team to put the opponents under pressure. On the other hand, however, they also showed an averted face – unnecessary interventions, disciplinary offenses and wrong emotions, which visibly harmed the Slovak team at the turning points.

This is precisely why Oto Haščák dampens the exaggerated optimism and frenzy created by the Slovak media around this couple. “As for the endlessly discussed Pospíšilov brothers, they certainly brought energy and a new approach to the team, maybe even a philosophy. On the other hand, I don’t think they are as amazing in the game as the media massages them into this position.” concludes the former national team manager with the insight and critical eye of a seasoned professional.

More about the World Hockey Championship 2026:

• Program of Slovakia at the WC
• Slovakia at the WC
• Complete program
• Complete results
• Tables
• News from the World Hockey Championship 2026
• TV program of the WC in hockey
• Tournament format
• Stadiums