Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway, drafted in the 4th round, 116th overall in the 2013 NHL draft was having a magnificent start to the Czech Extraliga campaign. After leading his team, Sparta Praha, in points last season, Reway was leading the entire league in scoring with five goals and 15 points in 14 games this year. However, in a somewhat shocking move, Sparta Praha has sent Reway down to what is essentially their farm club in the second division, Benatky nad Jizerou.
Habs Prospect Martin Reway Dismissed from Czech Team despite Leading League in Points
Reway reportedly had a dispute with the coach of Sparta Praha over his ice time. He then went to his agent and the agent contacted the team requesting a transfer (trade). Reway is in the final year of his contract with the Czech League club. The club opted instead to demote Reway to the their second division affiliate, which while not a true farm club, essentially has acted as one for Sparta Praha.
Reway’s complaints about icetime appear to be justified. He is leading the entire league in points and getting only 13 minutes per game (less than 10 minutes five on five, per game); on average in icetime.
Reway led his team in scoring but was only getting 13 minutes of ice a game (3:42 on PP). I’d be mad too. #TSN690 https://t.co/uOmJTrVCLU
— Sean Coleman (@SColemanCTV) October 23, 2015
Now it would be nice to have some advanced stats here to see if he is a liability at even strength, because fourth line ice time at even strength and leading the league in points, and the team last year in points, doesn’t seem to add up. While we don’t have advanced stats from the czech league, and while I’m not a huge fan of plus/minus it is the best thing we do have. Reway is a +3 in 14 games this year; was a mere -3 in 34 games as a rookie (while putting up 37 points). So it doesn’t seem that his defence is so much of a liability that stiffling his contributions makes sense. Nor does it seem logical that the way to develop a better defensive game from a 21-year-old is to stop playing him any meaningful minutes. Something here is off.
It should be noted that Reway’s complaints were made behind closed doors, through his agent and to the team. It was the team who took this public and to the media.
In our viewings of Reway in the past, we noted that his defensive game needed work when he was playing for Gatineau in the QMJHL. However, in viewing him at the World Juniors, we saw a better two-way game, and he was the key offensive centrepiece and captain of the Slovakian team that won Bronze at last year’s World Juniors. In that tournament he did show a commitment to back checking.
The team released the following statement: “Forward Martin Réway was temporarily reassigned to the major league squad Benatky nad Jizerou. The player told us through his agent that he did not want to play for Sparta at the moment. Playing for our club should be considered an honour for every player, and if the situation is such, we have no other choice than to exclude him from the squad.
Due to the fact that he is under contract in our country, he must recognize that Sparta remain a priority for him in his current hockey career. Once he does we can talk about his possible return to the team. “
Reway’s agent Michal Sivek says that: Reway is unhappy with his role at Sparta but will report to the farm club while he awaits his transfer. He wants to play out his contract in the Czech League, before entertaining offers as a free agent this summer. Reway plans to be with the Slovakian national team during the upcoming break in the European schedule.
Reway has not signed with the Canadiens, though they hold his rights until June 1st, 2017.
