WORLD JUNIORS VIEWING GUIDE
Scouting reports for Top 5 players to watch, goalie rankings and must-watch TV, too
Canada will compete in the world junior championship without a draft-eligible player on its roster.
Sound familiar? Fear not, hockey fans: like the 2017 tournament, when there were no draft-eligible Canadians, this year’s edition features a handful of upper echelon prospects dressing for other nations.
Last year we witnessed projected high-end 2017 picks — like Switzerland’s Nico Hischier, Eeli Tolvanen of Finland, and the Czech Republic’s Martin Necas — compete against the best under-20 players in the world.
This year promises to be even better and we’ve enlisted the help of Mark Edwards, owner and operator of HockeyProspect.com, a respected independent scouting agency, to provide a pretournament report on the cream of the draft-eligible crop.
Keep a close eye on these five stunners:
1
Rasmus Dahlin, Sweden, Defenceman The rundown: Dahlin, used sparingly in last year’s WJC, is coming in hot. He’ll assume a starring role on a strong Swedish entry and without a doubt is the tournament’s main attraction. The left-shot rearguard has 11 points in 26 SHL games. Fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom, who knows a thing or two about the position, recently compared Dahlin to Brian Leetch. The consensus projected No. 1 NHL pick next summer possesses drool-worthy skills. Scout’s take: “Skill. Creativity. Smarts. Skating, great edges. The stickhandling is fantastic. He really is a multi-talented threat. He has high-end lateral quickness, so he walks the (offensive blue) line with ease … He’s a human highlight reel … He has a chance to be a No. 1 (NHL) ‘D’ for a long time … I don’t expect us to change our rankings (Dahlin tops most recent list). There’s a lot of hockey left, but this kid is pretty special.” — Edwards
2
Andrei Svechnikov, Russia, Forward The rundown: A hand injury sidelined Svechnikov for two months, slowing some draft-year momentum, but he’ll still arrive in Buffalo with tremendous clout. The 6-foot-2, 187-pounder is a point-per-game player in the OHL this season for the Barrie Colts and, as a 16-year-old, had his way with the USHL, recording 58 points in 48 games. What’s more, he tore apart the 2016 World Junior A Challenge (8 points in 4 games). The big Russian is the secondbest prospect in the draft class. Scout’s take: “A fantastic player … He’s the real deal. He’s a power forward with high-end skill and
skating ability. He oozes offence and is a point machine.” — Edwards
3
Filip Zadina, Czech Republic, Forward The rundown: Zadina, the next great hope for Czech hockey, has transitioned to North America without a hitch this season. In 32 QMJHL games for the Halifax Mooseheads, the left-shooting winger with good size (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) has racked up 24 goals and 46 points. He shows well at international events, can handle the puck and shoot at a high level, and has excellent lateral quickness. Scout’s take: “He loves to come across (the offensive zone) and let the shot go. It reminds me of (Winnipeg Jets forward) Nikolaj Ehlers doing the same thing for Halifax (a few years ago). I’m not comparing him to Ehlers, but that specific move (is something both players) like to do … I wouldn’t be shocked to see him in the NHL next season.” — Edwards
4
Brady Tkachuk, United States, Forward The rundown: An agitating, skilful forward from an NHL family, Tkachuk will draw a lot of attention. Opponents hate him; teammates love him. The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Boston University freshman is versatile, not a one-dimensional shift disturber. He’s similar to brother Matthew of the Calgary Flames but tagged by many experts as the stronger skater. Scout’s take: “Look at his brother — he’s got a lot of the same traits. He is hard to play against. He makes his linemates better. He’s got underrated talent. Great vision, great playmaking ability. He is just a great player in all three zones and a big, strong kid.” — Edwards
5
Quinn Hughes, United States, Defenceman The rundown: Hughes is a prototypical modern defenceman: on the smaller side (5-foot-10, 174 pounds), can skate like the wind, has good puck skills. Following a two-year stint at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, he now suits up for the University of Michigan (10 points in 16 games as an NCAA freshman). Brother Jack is a highly touted kid himself, considered the 2019 draft’s top prospect. Scout’s take: “Fantastic skill. He has the ability to move the puck, skate the puck … One NHL scout said to me after a game this year (that Hughes) ‘does struggle to defend at times. The thing is, though, he always has the puck.’ ” — Edwards
CREASE KINGS
With a primary assist from InGoal Magazine analyst/scout Greg Balloch, behold Postmedia’s goalie power rankings for the 2018 world juniors:
1.
Team Canada Goalies: Carter Hart (PHI), Colton Point (DAL)
On a Canadian roster devoid of next-level talent, Hart may be the closest thing to a true superstar. The WJC veteran is enjoying a dominant season for the WHL Everett Silvertips (. 961 SV percentage) and seems to be just scratching the surface.
“Hart is probably the best goalie to come out of the Western Hockey League since Carey Price. And that’s no understatement,” Balloch said. “He’s a pretty incredible talent. The Flyers have an embarrassment of riches right now with their (prospect) goalies.”
In the off chance Hart falters, Point, another 19-year-old, is a worthy backup.
Technically sound, the Colgate University sophomore and Stars fifth-rounder is “intimidation in the crease.”
“When shooters come down on him,” Balloch said, “he competes incredibly hard … there’s nothing to shoot at.”
2.
Team U.S.A. Goalies: Jake Oettinger (DAL), Joseph Woll (TOR), Jeremy Swayman (BOS)
The host Americans are neck and neck with Canada in the backstopping department.
Returnee Oettinger, a big-bodied Boston University standout, plays a different style than Hart but their ceilings as pros and present capabilities are “very close,” according to Balloch.
The tiebreaker between the two nations? Backups. Point is further along.
“I don’t think he’s quite there yet,” Balloch said of Woll, Team USA’s third string goalie in 2017 and most likely its No. 2 this year.
“He’s not at Point’s development level yet. I think Canada has the slight edge.”
3.
Team Sweden Goalies: Filip Gustavsson (PIT), Filip Larsson (DET), Olle Eriksson Ek (ANA)
Hart, Oettinger and Gustavsson, perhaps the most intriguing Buffalo-bound netminder, are a cut above the rest of the WJC crop and the latter should start every important game for the Swedes.
Back home, the Penguins second-rounder has climbed the Lulea HF ladder, earning 10 appearances this season in Sweden’s highest league.
“It’s clear that Gustavsson possesses a fantastic skill set,” Balloch wrote in the lead-up to the 2016 NHL draft.
Team officials have not declared a backup as of this writing, however, Larsson (. 946 SV percentage in 18 USHL games for the Tri-City Storm) appears to have the inside track.
4.
Team Russia Goalies: Mikhail Berdin (WPG), Vladislav Sukhachyov (undrafted), Alexei Melnichuk (undrafted)
In regards to goaltending for this tournament, there’s a definitive Big 3 of Canada, U.S. and Sweden.
But, Balloch warns, don’t sleep on the Russians or the Czechs.
Berdin, who made international headlines in November for scoring an empty-net goal, projects to be an NHL goalie.
5.
Team Czech Republic Goalies: Josef Korenar (SJS), Jakub Skarek (2018 draft eligible)
Korenar is developing well in the Czech pro ranks. Skarek could be the first goalie off the board at the 2018 NHL draft. “I think they’re going to surprise some people,” Balloch said of the unheralded tandem.
6.
Team Finland Goalies: Niilo Halonen (undrafted), Lassi Lehtinen (undrafted), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
Down year for Finnish goalies. Dressing nobody of note.
Slovakia, Denmark, Switzerland, Belarus