Plenty at stake for draft eligible juniors
For Canada’s Chychrun, Gauthier and Dubois, upcoming tourney huge deal
The journey is about to begin for Team Canada’s world junior team.
But for defenceman Jakob Chychrun and forwards Julien Gauthier and Pierre-Luc Dubois, there is more than a gold medal on the line when the tournament begins Dec. 26. Those three are the youngest in camp, the only three draft eligibles, and their draft positions could be affected by how well they perform.
“It’s good to come here and play with a different group of guys,” said Chychrun, a six-foot-two defender with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. “We’re all trying to reach one common goal. I’m not looking at any outside pressure. I know I’m young, but I’m going to try to be a leader.”
Team Canada was pushed to the limit in its first exhibition game, losing 5-4 in a shootout to the Canadian University all-stars. Drawn from around the country and with fiveo’clock shadows, they offered the peach-fuzzed young skilled juniors an older, bigger and more experienced opponent.
Scouts lined the stands at the MasterCard Centre. Some actually asked Team Canada to play their three prospects — Chychrun, Gauthier and Dubois — Saturday since most scouts will miss Sunday’s return engagement in favour of a Junior A tournament in Whitby and Cobourg.
Gauthier certainly didn’t disappoint, playing on the same line as Dubois with Mitchell Stephens of the Saginaw Spirit at centre. Gauthier used every inch of his six-foot-four frame and every ounce of his 233-pounds in Saturday’s game, rewarded with a goal and two assists. Stephens had a goal.
“Personally, maybe it was good for me, but the team is more important,” said Gauthier, who plays for Val D’Or of the Quebec League. “We play for the logo on the front, not the name in the back.”
Anthony Beauvillier scored late in the third to force overtime. And with Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock and assistant GM Mark Hunter looking on, defenceman Travis Dermott — a Toronto second-round pick — scored in the first period on a Gauthier pass. Then Dermott drew a penalty in the second period that led to Canada tying the game 3-3.
“I know it doesn’t mean too much, but you want to get the win,” said Dermott, of the Erie Otters. “But you come together a bit more in a close game. You get better feel for each other.”
Chychrun is expected to be the toprated skater in North America when the NHL releases its mid-season ratings for the summer draft. But that will only make him the second-best player in the draft. American phenom Auston Matthews is playing in Switzerland, and will be listed among European skaters.
“(Chychrun) is a solid two-way defender,” said Dan Marr, the chief scout for NHL Central Scouting. “He’s kind of along the lines of and physically similar to (Florida defenceman Aaron) Ekblad, where he’s got that complete game.”
“They know I bring a physical aspect to the game,” said Chychrun. “They want to see a little bit of that. They want me to defend hard. Those are two main things they looked at coming in. It’s definitely two areas of the game I’m going to focus on.”
Chychrun’s father, Jeff, played in the NHL. His uncle, Luke Richardson, also played in the NHL, including two stints with the Maple Leafs. Gauthier is seen as a top-10 pick. “It’s not everyday you get a chance to represent your country,” said Gauthier. “It’s a great thing for me to be seen here. I need to work hard. It’s good for my draft year. It’s positive pressure. They invite you here to see what you can do. You do things well, that’s why you’re invited here.”
Dubois, who plays for Cape Breton, could also go in the first round. He was invited on the strength of his season in the Q. He had not been part of the world junior team’s summer camp.
“They chose me, they brought me here for a reason,” said Dubois. “I’m just going to keep playing they way I was playing in Cape Breton. Use my body to go the net and bring pucks to the net.”