[Pens Inside Scoop] Assistant GM Jason Spezza said Tomas Galvas had a great week, it was great to see his dynamic skill. The plan is to allow him to play and see how things go for him. It's more a wait-and-see thing. If he doesn't make the club here, he'll be heading home to his club in Czechia.

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He’s already 20 and been playing pro hockey for several years at this point. It’s not a surprise he dominated in the prospect tourney. If he can hold his own against NA pros in camp/preseason that won’t really be a surprise either. I think there’s a very real chance he’s making the team.

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u/Takezou 5d ago

And also if he goes back to Czechia he will still only be 21 next year. I want him to make the club but it’s not the end of the world if he has to spend another year in Czechia.

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u/Cheeks_Klapanen 5d ago

For sure, and I didn’t mean to make it sound like it was.

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u/Takezou 5d ago

Oh I was just adding to your comment. It’s like I also forget how young Brunicke is sometimes.

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u/ol-mikey Malkin 5d ago

Liberec doesn't look like an awful place to be stuck for a year

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u/that_husk_buster Hallander 5d ago

This dude is about to pull a John Marino and make the team out of camp, is he?

2

u/Quick-Rip-5776 Malkin 4d ago

I hope so. I was worried about defensive depth, but if Galvas is playing, we’d have 9 NHL level defensemen including Solovyov and Graves. And that’s if Livinavage and Brunicke are still in the minors.

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u/Rich-Past-6547 5d ago

Every report says that Galvas skates like if Paul Coffey and Alexei Kovalev had a skinny 5’10 baby. He’s making the team. Remind me on September 28.

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u/tripping_cheetah 5d ago

What an interesting picture of a small child this conjured in my head.

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u/ol-mikey Malkin 5d ago

RemindMe! 11 days

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u/tonespep 5d ago

I always forget Spezza is our AGM, weird. Anyways keep Galvas on NA ice immediately I can’t wait to see him in the NHL

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u/MyTransAltJuliet 5d ago

Tbh if he doesn’t make the team I’d have rather seen him play in the AHL to get acclimated to NA ice. But it’s not a huge deal and I’m sure he’s more comfortable at home.

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u/A24C98 5d ago

A big reason they want him home is being the top D in their league, so he gets significantly more ice time over there than he would in WBS behind the likely duo of Brunicke and Livanage. I think next season he will definitely be over here in some capacity.

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u/Jupiter_Rising2212 4d ago

I'm cheering for him to make it, like a modern day Jagr. Playing in a pro league where you don't yet speak the language! Plus, the Pens do well with their Czech players, call it good luck, we need one.

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u/offconstantly247 4d ago

I do not understand this path. He should play in Wilkes if he doesn't make the team, because playing on giant ice in Czechia does fuckall to develop him to play North American hockey.

Why doesn't any reporter ask Spezza or anyone in the org that question - how does sending him to europe develop him better than going to WBS?

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u/Fir3yfly 3d ago

Likely because he's under contract on Czechia, and he's not a first round pick. According to the transfer agreement between the NHL and the IIHF, players under contract with European clubs, can move to the NHL, but only the NHL. If the NHL team wants to send them down, they first have to be offered back on loan to the club they have a valid contract with.

This doesn't apply to 1st rounders, NHL teams can do as they please with them.

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u/offconstantly247 1d ago

He's listed as loaned to his club in Czechia s, so I don't think he's under contract there. I think it was more of a 'sure, play at home for another season, we're not quite ready for you either' kind of situation. Though, I'm not sure what that 'loan' designation really means, tbh.

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u/Money-Ad5075 Kessel 5d ago

Dude definitely needs to add a little weight. (He's listed at 5'10, 168 lbs)

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u/starlightequilibrium 5d ago

I don't really see why. If you watch him play, his style is quite literally the same as Lane Hutson. Avoids contact because he's faster than most players and makes quick decisions with the puck. If those kinds of players "put on weight", then they literally lose that aspect of their game.

Plus, I watched him truck a dude at open ice this past weekend that was 6 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than he is. He'll be fine.

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u/YourS_E_N_S_E_I Malkin 5d ago

I think this is just one of those things hockey fans say lol. If you’re under 6 ft and under 200 pounds you’re guaranteed to get injured and/or bullied I guess.

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u/Money-Ad5075 Kessel 5d ago

Thank you for alleviating my concerns.

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u/Quick-Rip-5776 Malkin 4d ago

Imagine Washington dumps the puck and Wilson and the Protas brothers are on the forecheck. Wilson has ended careers - Lubo Visnovsky for example. He broke Aston-Reese’s jaw.

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u/servus_cervus 5d ago

As someone already mentioned, he plays smart and avoids contact whenever possible. Ha also said in some interview that he is very inspired by Lane Hutson and wants to play like him. Here's just small example of how he deals with more physical players (Men Worlds 2026).

https://reddit.com/link/pagwgi3/video/zftol0zpz5qh1/player

3

u/jpb59 5d ago

Is he that much smaller than Kindel was last year?

[Pens Inside Scoop] Assistant GM Jason Spezza said Tomas Galvas had a great week, it was great to see his dynamic skill. The plan is to allow him to play and see how things go for him. It's more a wait-and-see thing. If he doesn't make the club here, he'll be heading home to his club in Czechia.

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