Sens find Czech mate for Havlat

By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun


TORONTO -- Ten days ago in a gym in Prague, Senators winger Martin Havlat was joking with prospect Jakub Klepis about the possibility of playing together in Ottawa.

They're going to get their chance.

While Senators failed to move up in a draft where everybody was trying to do the same thing, they were happy to select the 18-year-old Klepis yesterday with the No. 16 overall pick in the NHL draft at the Air Canada Centre.

A Czech centre with the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks, the skilled Klepis has to work on his speed, but he'll fit in well with the Senators, who decided they had to shore up the forward position with plenty of prospects on defence.

"Martin Havlat is a friend of mine. I know him well," said Klepis. "We were kind of joking about the fact that we could get a chance to play together. I just think it's great. It was my goal to go in the first round of the draft.

IMPROVE SPEED

"I want to improve my speed. I think it's going to be tough for me to make the team next year, but I'll go (to camp in September) and see what happens.

"It's nice to be drafted by a team like Ottawa that plays a European style."

Senators fans may cringe at that comment, but the Ottawa scouts have done their homework on Klepis and they believe he has a good opportunity to play in the league if given the proper time to develop.

The Senators watched Klepis between 40 and 50 times last season. They were impressed with his ability to move the puck, take faceoffs and the role he played with Portland.

"We're very pleased to be able to get (Klepis)," said Senators chief amateur scout Frank Jay. "We watched him in April (at the under-18 championships in Slovakia) and we thought he was outstanding. We liked what he was able to do.

OUT OF POSITION

"He played out of position by being on the right wing, he was at the point on the power play and he was an assistant captain. We liked the way he moved the puck. He needs to improve his speed, but we think he'll be excellent."

Instead of returning to Portland next season after finishing with 14 goals and 50 assists, Klepis intends to improve his development by playing for Slavia Praha in the Czech men's league.

He spent the year in North America and took English lessons during his stay, but is convinced that it will be better for his development to play in a men's league. Klepis would like to play in the NHL in the 2003-04 season.

"I just think this would be better for me," said Klepis. "Everybody wants to play in the NHL right away, but I know it's going to take a couple of years.

"I have areas that I have to improve. The one thing I've been told is that I've got to work on my speed. I felt pretty good about the year I had last year, but I know that I can get better and that's what I'm going to try to do."

The Senators support Klepis' decision to play in the Czech league next season.

"That's basically the same thing that Martin Havlat did before he came to us, said player personnel director Jarmo Kekalainen . "We're fine with it because the decision is already made."

Charity: What player are you most excited being with?
Jakub Klepis: Martin Havlat, he is a smart player, he can pass the puck.