Coach Gives Scouting Report on Senators Newcomer Jiri Smejkal: "He's Like a Czech Hulk"

Jiri Smejkal's head coach in Sweden provides insight on what the 26-year-old forward can bring to the Senators next season.

Whenever the Sens go shopping for a player, the media usually gets wind of it. For example, by the time the Senators signed free agent defenceman Artem Zub out of the KHL in 2020, he'd been talked about for weeks, if not months. 

But when the Senators signed 26-year-old Czech forward Jiri Smejkal out of the top Swedish League last week, it felt a little out of left field. And to be frank, it probably created a lot more curiosity than excitement. 

Here's what we know from the back of his hockey card: Smejkal spent the 2022-23 season with Oskarshamn IK of the Swedish Hockey League and finished 3rd in club scoring with 23 goals and 43 points in 49 games. He's 6 foot 3 and tips the scales at 222 pounds. Smejkal played two seasons in the Western Hockey League with Moose Jaw and Kamloops. 

Here's what we know from GM Pierre Dorion: "Jiri's signing is a good addition for us; it improves our depth and provides us with an additional bottom-six option at forward," Dorion said. "He's a big body who's strong, with previous experience playing in North America, which should help his transition to a rink with smaller dimensions. We're pleased that he's committed to the Senators for the next step in his career."

And now we have a Smejkal scouting report from Martin Filander, his head coach in Sweden, who obviously saw him play every game last year. Filander appeared on The Senstennial Podcast this week and spoke glowingly of his outgoing player.

"He's a big body, like a Czech Hulk," Filander said. "I mean, he is very fit, so strong. (He doesn't have) the smoothest stride, but he's fast for a big guy, and he can protect the puck. So for us, he had a direct impact offensively. He could make something happen and score or create stuff just on his own with his brute force... Really good around the net and around the boards."

For Sens fans watching the Stanley Cup playoffs and witnessing the fade of the soft skill players while those with hard skill thrive, that should be music to their ears.

While Smejkal is expected to compete for a third or fourth line role in Ottawa, Filander hints that he might be capable of even more than that.

"I wouldn't limit myself as a coach or GM to just have him set in one spot," Filander said. "He needs to start in the bottom six. But I mean, he could be a supporting guy to two more skilled guys too. I mean, he's that smart of a player."

Sounds intriguing. Yet one more storyline to look forward to in Ottawa this fall.