Keep an eye on these players at World Juniors
Keep an eye on these players at world juniors
Six players to follow from Canada at the world junior hockey championship, which begins Boxing Day in the Czech Republic ...
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 100-point scorer since the Penguins’ captain (2003-05). He is the front-runner 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.
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. “It’s good to have something to work for,” the Newmarket, Ont., 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 1st pick,
5th 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 quarter-final. The former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds captain scored his first NHL goal Oct. 25. The Peterborough, Ont., native excels at both ends of the ice and can neutralize opposing top lines. You can bet he will be out there in the clutch this time around. Last year, he only played in 39 games for the Soo, but buried 26 goals and 66 points.
TY DELLANDREA FORWARD
Team: Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Age: 19
NHL draft: Stars 1st pick,
13th overall (2018)
When a lot of veterans were looking for ways to escape Flint, Mich., 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, Ont., 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.” How much does Flint lean on him? It’s more than his team-leading 37 points in 27 games. In one recent contest, he took an incredible 46 faceoffs.
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. 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-foot-11, 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, Ont., native had zero history with the Program of Excellence before cracking the 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 Anthony Popovich to Flint and, in quick order, Daws has become the best goalie in the league. His .939 save percentage is off the charts.
AND SIX FOES THEY WILL NEED TO BEAT ...
GAME 1 (Dec. 26): 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 Florida Panthers prospect went 13th overall last June, becoming the NHL’S highest drafted goalie since the Stars took Jack Campbell at No. 11 in 2010. 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. The 18-yearold from Connecticut has been the backbone of the U.S. program the past few years and provides a huge barrier for Canada in the opener.
GAME 2 (Dec. 28): 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’s little doubt he can make a difference on this grand stage. He already stands out against the men back home. There’s 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.
GAME 3 (Dec. 30): 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. Only two Germans have ever been taken that high, most recently Leon Draisaitl to the Oilers in 2014. Seider started this season as the second-youngest player in the
American Hockey League and has enjoyed a solid start with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He buried his first goal in mid-november, has been the second-highest scoring rearguard on the team and can bring the pain if you’ve got your head down. Seider has played in the last two second-tier world juniors and helped his home country earn promotion to this year’s event.
GAME 4 (Dec. 31): 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.” Since moving to North America, Jenik has 86 points in 54 career OHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs. The 19-year-old native of Nymburk started the season with a league-best 26-game point streak.
MEDAL ROUND: 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 quarter-final rematch. That would mean running into Kupari, the 19-year-old 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.
MEDAL ROUND, PART II: Rasmus Sandin, Defence, Sweden If not Finland, then Canada will surely tangle with Sweden with everything on the line.
The Swedes were dealt a backend 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 quarter-final. The 19-year-old started the year with the big club in Toronto (two assists in six games) and has produced 12 points in 18 games with the Marlies.