Towering Center Kondelik Enjoying First Preds Development Camp Experience

It would've been understandable if Jachym Kondelik, a native of the Czech Republic, wasn't up on his knowledge of the Nashville Predators.
Until you hear he's a fan of P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg. And has always liked the logo and the Gold jerseys. And finds the chants that rain down on opposing goaltenders at Bridgestone Arena hilarious.
"I think it's just funny," Kondelik said of the sing-song chants at Bridgestone Arena. "My dad [Roman] was a goalie, and fans would chant at him when he got scored on, so I was always laughing at him at home. I can't imagine how bad it must be for a goalie."

If things go the way Kondelik hopes, he could be responsible for inciting those chants one day in Nashville. Of course, the 18-year-old was just drafted by the club last weekend and likely still has years to go before he considers turning pro with his freshman season at the University of Connecticut on the horizon. But it's easy to get excited about a centerman who stands 6-foot-6 and has loads of potential.
After a 40-plus hour journey from the Czech Republic to Tennessee, he was just excited to put on a jersey for the first time on Tuesday at Predators Development Camp.
"I felt really tired before the practice, but then I got the jersey… and I got goosebumps from even wearing the jersey," Kondelik said. "I just felt super pumped, and I was super happy to be on the ice in this jersey."
Kondelik is difficult to miss thanks to his stature, and opponents facing the Muskegon Lumberjacks for the past two seasons recognized that fact. After posting seven goals and 15 points in his first season with the club, Kondelik more than doubled those totals in 2017-18 in the same amount of games to catch the attention of the Nashville scouting staff.

They thought enough of Kondelik to call his name in the fourth-round last weekend in Dallas in hopes that he can continue to improve his skating stride and use his size to an advantage, attributes Kondelik says will be a focus next season with the Huskies.
"I need to improve my skating because I'm so big, so I need to get faster," Kondelik said. "I'm working on it, and I can see improvement every year. My workout is harder and harder every year… Hockey in the NHL is about speed, and I need to get faster and stronger, too."
There may even be a difference on Friday night when Kondelik and the rest of his teammates participate in the Preds Future Stars game at Bridgestone Arena, a culminating contest for the prospects to show Nashville coaches and staff what they can do.
Kondelik knows he likely won't be hearing Predators fans release their goaltender chants down upon one of their own in the game, but nonetheless, the opportunities to skate in the building he may one day call home is certainly something to anticipate.
It's also expected he'll be facing his friend, future UConn teammate and fellow Preds draft pick, goaltender Tomas Vomacka, on the opposite team during the scrimmage - as if he needed any further motivation to put the puck in the net.
"I'll put a few in, for sure," Kondelik laughed.
That would be quite a way to finish his first week in Nashville. So, keep an eye out for him in the middle of the ice, Preds fans. He'll be hard to miss.