A Dandy Dozen: Players to watch at world junior tournament

ALEXIS LAFRENIERE, FORWARD.

Team: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL). Age: 18. NHL draft: Eligible for 2020.

It’s not easy to impress people when you play for Sidney Crosby’s old junior team. But the St. Eustache, Que., native manages just fine. He’s dominating the Quebec league (23 goals and 70 points in 32 games) in his third season and will become the franchise’s first back-to-back 100point scorer since the Penguins captain (2003-05). He is the frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft next June. He is difficult to separate from the puck and has the vision to do something good with it. This is his second trip to the tournament. He learned some important lessons the first time around and is ready to bring his personable brand of leadership. “It’s different (hockey),” he said of the world juniors. “Everyone has to be at their best. It’s fun hockey to play.”

QUINTON BYFIELD, FORWARD.

Team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL). Age: 17. NHL draft: Eligible for 2020.

If Lafreniere slips, this guy will be first on the draft stage next June in Montreal. He’s up for the challenge. “It’s good to have something to work for,” the Newmarket native said recently. “He’s rated better or higher than me and if I keep working hard, I can definitely catch him or get ahead of him.” The 2018 OHL first overall pick is the youngest player on the Canadian roster (17 years, four months) but one of the most physically imposing at 6-foot-4, 215-pounds. He draws comparisons to Penguins star Evgeni Malkin and, though a natural centre, will move to the wing for this tournament. He ripped up the OHL in the first half, scoring 22 goals and 57 points in 30 games.

BARRETT HAYTON, FORWARD.

Team: Arizona (NHL). Age: 19. NHL draft: Coyotes 1 st pick, 5 th overall (2018).

The NHL touch is welcome. Last year, the Blues kept rookie centre Robert Thomas and it hurt. Two years ago, the Canadiens parachuted in D-man Victor Mete and he became a major factor in a gold medal triumph. This is Hayton’s second go-round (four assists in five games last year) so he’s coming in hungry after losing in the quarterfinal. The former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds captain scored his first NHL goal Oct. 25 – a game winner in New Jersey. He is wearing the captain’s ‘C’ for Canada this year. The Peterborough native excels at both ends of the ice and can neutralize opposing top lines.

TY DELLANDREA, FORWARD.

Team: Flint Firebirds (OHL). Age: 19. NHL draft: Stars 1 st pick, 13 th overall (2018)

When a lot of veterans were looking for ways to escape Flint, he wanted to be part of the solution. Dellandrea arrived at a franchise in turmoil, joining a club whose players had protested the unfair firing of coach John Gruden by a meddling owner. The determination to make things better earned the Stars prospect much respect. It’s been a long test. The Firebirds finished last the past two years, but right now, they’re among the OHL’S better teams. “We’ve had a couple of tough seasons,” the Whitby native said. “To win some games and do well is great. I’ve tried to be a leader and that adversity has helped me get where I am today.”

JAMIE DRYSDALE, DEFENCE.

Team: Erie Otters (OHL). Age: 17: NHL draft: Eligible for 2020.

How rare is it for him to reach these heights? Only six other 17-year-old defencemen have graced Canada’s roster in the past 30 years. The Toronto native is angling to be a top-five pick in the NHL draft next June and his performance on this stage will tell the tale. Drysdale isn’t the largest rearguard on the ice at 5-foot11, 170 pounds, but he uses his frame effectively and moves pucks out of his zone quickly. He’s an anchor on Erie’s Ohl-leading penalty kill and has registered 31 points in 29 games for an Otters team trying to make the playoffs for the first time in three years. He’ll start out as Canada’s seventh blueliner, but don’t be surprised if he works his way into additional minutes.

NICO DAWS, GOALIE.

Team: Guelph Storm (OHL). Age: 19. NHL draft: Eligible for 2020.

If he backstops Canada to the top, it will be one of the great underdog stories in world junior annals. The Burlington native had zero history with the Program of Excellence before cracking this roster. Heck, he hadn’t even been a starting goaltender until this fall. That coveted No. 1 job was up in the air until the 6-foot-4 stopper returned for training camp 30 pounds lighter and ready for battle. Storm GM/ coach George Burnett shipped 20-year-old defending champ Anthony Popovich to Flint and, in quick order, Daws has become the best goalie in the league.

AND SIX THEY WILL NEED TO BEAT SPENCER KNIGHT, GOALTENDER, UNITED STATES.

His legs are so long, one of his old coaches tagged him with the nickname “Squidward” in honour of the cranky Spongebob Squarepants cartoon character. The 6-foot-4, 193-pound Panthers prospect went 13 th overall last June, becoming the NHL’S highest-drafted goalie since the Stars took Jack Campbell at No. 11 in 2010 and the first selected in the top 20 since Andrei Vasilevskiy (No. 19 to the Lightning in 2012). He was also the first goaltender Florida has ever taken in the first round. Knight has posted fabulous statistics in his freshman season at Boston College and there is no reason he shouldn’t be able to continue that role for USA Hockey.

YAROSLAV ASKAROV, GOALTENDER, RUSSIA.

You think the U.S. has a money stopper? There hasn’t been a netminder picked in the top five of the NHL draft since Carey Price in 2005 and this 17-year-old might break that streak. He’s been a force on the first rungs of the international ladder and there is little doubt he can make a difference on this grand stage. He already stands out against the men back home. There is a lot of big-name talent on the Russian squad but everyone will be glued to the fortunes of the 6-foot-3, 176-pound puck-stopping phenom. He’s already being viewed as the long-term answer for one lucky NHL lottery team.

MORITZ SEIDER, DEFENCE, GERMANY.

The Germans are hoping to stay out of the relegation round so they will have to beat at least one of the traditional powers in pool play. They won’t ignite the upset special without their best talent playing like it. Last June, the 6-foot-4, 207-pounder was the sixth overall pick in the NHL draft by the Red Wings.

JAN JENIK, FORWARD, CZECH REPUBLIC.

Back before being traded to New Jersey in the Taylor Hall deal, Kevin Bahl shared an apartment with fellow Coyotes prospect Jenik this past summer. It was life-changing. “Basically, it was pure competition,” the big Canadian defenceman said. “Hitting the gym, it was who can lift the heavier weight. Going on the ice, who’s going to win this one-on-one battle. Playing NHL (video games), who’s going to win that. I can tell you he’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever met in my life. He’ll race you to the car for the passenger seat.” There were, Bahl admits, a couple of chairs thrown in frustration around the apartment. Since moving to North America, Jenik has 86 points in 54 career OHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

RASMUS KUPARI, CENTRE, FINLAND.

It won’t be much fun if Canada doesn’t see the Finns again at some point, right? They need a quarterfinal rematch. That would mean running into Kupari, the 19-yearold first-rounder on loan from the Kings. This is world junior No. 3 for the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder from Kotka. He had a goal and five points in seven games last year after being held pointless in a more complementary role at the 2018 event. When Jesperi Kotkaniemi cracked the Habs roster, Kupari became the main man in the middle and thrived in the role. He had six goals and eight points in his first half-season with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ American league affiliate.

RASMUS SANDIN, DEFENCE, SWEDEN.

If not Finland, then Canada will surely tangle with Sweden with everything on the line. The Swedes were dealt a back-end blow when the Blackhawks recently recalled Adam Boqvist because of injuries and opted to keep him. But the Maple Leafs stepped in with a big assist. First-rounder Sandin had two goals and four points in five games in last year’s tournament, where the Swedes were upset by the Swiss in their quarterfinal. The 19-year-old started the year with the big club in Toronto and has produced 12 points in 18 games with the Marlies.