Buffalo N.Y. (WGR 550) - Things weren't easy for Michael Frolik after he found out he got traded to Buffalo last Thursday. Being from the Czech Republic and working in Canada, Frolik had to get a visa to work in the United States. He said he's glad it's finally over, "It took a couple of days and over the weekend didn't help, so it's been a busy few days, but I'm really excited to be here and it seems like the group is a great group of guys."
Frolik traveled to Toronto to take care of the work visa. Early Tuesday morning, he had to go to the embassy and he finally left with a work visa at 4:30 p.m. He said with traffic, he didn't arrive in Buffalo until 7:30 p.m. and then he laced up the skates and took a few laps on the arena ice.
Frolik has played in Chicago, Winnipeg, Florida and Calgary. He really wanted this trade and will have no trouble handling it, "The first trade is always hardest one, but this is my fifth team. I know what to expect and it was a very nice welcome here."
Ralph Krueger wanted to make sure Frolik got a practice in before he played a game. Frolik isn't too worried about fitting it, "You get one practice and straight to the games, so hopeful we have a big game and come home with a big win."
Krueger said Frolik will be in the lineup, but he's not going to throw too much at him, "The important thing is you want him to play free and play naturally within the principles. We have to be patient on him automating those principles and we're not going to overload him here. He has such a good instinct, and you see his speed and his defensive decision making is strong. We feel he's going to slide into the way we play quickly, so you don't overload him."
Frolik skated twice in Calgary before arriving in Buffalo. He skated at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night before Wednesday's practice.
Frolik has played with a few of the Sabres. He said, "I know Bogo [Zach Bogosian]. He was with me in Winnipeg, so I know him pretty good. I was with Laser [Curtis Lazar] in Calgary and Huts [Carter Hutton], he was in Chicago. It's always a little easier when you have a guy here that you can ask some questions and some names."
In practice on Wednesday, Frolik was on the left wing with Marcus Johansson and Conor Sheary. Frolik is happy to try to get a chemistry with those two, "Being in the West a long time, I didn't see those guys that much, but I know Johansson is a skilled player and he's a really smart centerman and that's what I need - a good playmaker in the middle."
Frolik will jump right into the penalty killing units on Thursday. It's something he's done his whole career, "Things are pretty similar and we'll talk about it a little bit on the ride in the plane, you know, what the structure is, but I doubt there's going to be anything I haven't seen before. It's pretty standard."
Wednesday's Lines:
Asplund - Eichel - Reinhart
Frolik - Johansson - Sheary
Vesey - Lazar - Wilson (Rodrigues)
Girgensons - Larsson - Okposo
Pilut - Ristolainen
Dahlin - Miller
Montour - Jokiharju
Bogosian
