NHL Injury Update: Pavel Zacha ruled out of Milano Cortina 2026, Filip Chlapík named replacement

Czechia faced a surprise setback that interrupted its preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Pavel Zacha will miss international competition because his upper-body injury prevented him from playing.

The upcoming tournament requires Czechia to change its team roster because the team has not yet played any matches.Zacha provided essential support to the team because he could play both offensive and defensive positions. The Czechia team must now determine how to make adjustments while testing whether its replacement can take over its position without difficulty.

Why is Pavel Zacha missing the Olympics and who will replace him?

The Czech Ice Hockey Federation announced on Saturday that Zacha will miss the Olympics because of his upper-body injury.

The Boston Bruins forward has missed all games since his injury occurred during the Philadelphia Flyers match on January 29.

Zacha had established a successful NHL season through his performance, which included 15 goals and 22 assists that produced 37 points across 54 games, while he played more than 17 minutes in each match. His consistent performance, together with his skill to manage difficult playing time, made him a projected top-nine player for Czechia.

Officials announced their decision to replace him with 28-year-old Filip Chlapík after the event. Chlapík currently competes in the Czech Extraliga for Sparta Praha and has achieved 19 goals with 26 assists in 45 matches this season. He has previous NHL experience from his time with the Ottawa Senators, where he participated in 57 games between 2017 and 2021.

What this means for Czechia’s lineup

Chlapík arrives in strong form, but he needs an adjustment period, which will end quickly.

Olympic tournaments require fast movement because teams need to build chemistry throughout their short schedule. Zacha’s absence changes both line combinations and special teams operations, which leads coaches to need to change player usage and their assigned tasks.Czechia faces Canada in their opening Olympic match on February 12, which gives them insufficient time to complete their lineup adjustments.The loss of Pavel Zacha shortly before the tournament represents a major setback for the team, while Olympic success depends on athletes who can adapt to changing situations. Czechia will keep its competitive abilities during the Milano Cortina 2026 games because Filip Chlapík will join the team, and his coaches will support him during his transition.