The Hockey PDOcast - Episode 124: Ripping Up The Tournament Like a Bad Report Card

Episode Date: December 22, 2016

Jeff Marek joins the show to help preview the upcoming World Junior Championship tournament. Topics include: how this particular one stacks up against ones from past years from an exciting and pedigree level, whether Team Canada brought all of the right players, and which prospects you should be keeping a close eye on. Here’s a quick rundown of the topics covered: 1:15 Prospects, prospects, prospects 16:40 This year vs. Last year 25:00 Nolan Patrick's absence 29:30 Pierre-Luc Dubois' slow start 32:45 USA's stacked forward group Every episode of the podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher. All past episodes can be found here. Make sure to subscribe to the show so that you don’t miss out on any new episodes as they’re released. All ratings and reviews of the show are also greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices If you'd like to gain access to the two extra shows we're doing each week this season, you can subscribe to our Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/thehockeypdocast/membership If you'd like to participate in the conversation and join the community we're building over on Discord, you can do so by signing up for the Hockey PDOcast's server here: https://discord.gg/a2QGRpJc84 The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

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And joining me is Jeff Merrick. Jeff, what's going on, man? You know what I really enjoyed? The last PDO cast with Jonathan Willis. Damn, he's a smart guy, eh? Yeah, he's pretty smart. He's like, there's always, like, I don't think I've missed more than, geez, maybe a handful of your podcasts, maybe.

But the ones that, you know, there are just some podcasts where the minute it's available, you download it, and no matter what you're doing, you listen to it. Like, it's going on the treadmill with you, it's going to walk the dog, it's going to the grocery store. The Jonathan Willis podcast you do on this one, to me are some of the finest. So this is my long-winded way of saying that's a smart dude, eh? Yeah. Well, um, you know, I feel like for most listeners out there, uh, the podcast

is Jeff Merrick has kind of fit that bill. So, man, I got a lot of people fooled, dude. I am not that interesting. I am not that smart. I fake the funk on a consistent basis. The mask will come off soon. Trust me. Maybe on this podcast. We'll find out. Oh, you're selling yourself short. Um, we're going to, we're going to preview the World Junior Tournament on this podcast. And I enlisted your help because, uh, for people that don't know, I'm sure everyone does, but for people that don't. You've been doing some work with prospects this year. You're doing the Prospect Project podcast,

and you're doing our monthly rankings at Sports Night, right? I am. I mean, you know, we've talked about this before. I've always loved the draft. I know that that might be a growing minority, but I love it. I think it's one of the things that the NHL does better than any other professional sports organization, North America.

I love all the whole way that it's run whether or not, you know, ethically, you like the idea of, you know, 18-year-olds being told where they're going to be able to work for at least the next three years is another issue. But, yeah, prospect stuff. Again, still remember, like every year, one of my most anticipated, because I've had a subscription to hockey news pretty much my entire life since I was old enough to say, hey, dad, can I buy this magazine? I've pretty much had a subscription to hockey news. Still have one to this day. and one of the most anticipated issues was always the draft preview. That was the one, man, I would just, like, by the end of the draft, that Hockey News magazine was just chewed up because it was dog-eared,

it was rolled up and put in my back pocket, it was putting knapsacks, it was carried around everywhere. Of all the copies of all the old hockey news magazines I have, the draft previews are always the most messed up because it was always my favorite to be true. Yeah, yeah, it's a good time of year. I mean, it feels like anything's possible. possible. So I think that kind of makes it exciting, right? I mean, for all these teams that don't necessarily have, you know, anything really going on right now, it's like one player.

I mean, we're seeing it right now in Edmonton with Connemouth David. Obviously, he's a special generational player. But I mean, like, a guy like that can just come into your life and just completely change everything. Yep. We're not going to see that this year in the draft. Over the past couple of years, fans have really been spoiled, right? When you look at like, I've looked to the, I guess, 97s, maybe the 96s, to some extent, the 98s. But that was the first group of kids that just grew up knowing that this is hockey. And by that, I mean, they didn't have to stop playing a certain way and start playing this way.

Like, up until 2005, all the rules changed. Me, NHL had a ripple effect all the way down through minor hockey organizations, that this is the way that you play hockey now. And I felt bad for people that were trapped in that. At the NHL level, the American League level, minor hockey, junior hockey, division one, all of it. We're all trapped because, uh-oh, I've got to stop playing hockey this way and learn how to play it a different way now.

Whereas the 97s, the 96s as well, you know, they were how old, you know, six, seven years old when the new rules came in, eight years old. So they just grew up, this is how you play. So there's never been a stop, learn it again, and then stop playing. This is just to them the game. And so now that, you know, these guys are all of a sudden playing in the NHL, we probably shouldn't be surprised that, you know, they're amongst the elite because they've grown up just playing this game. But, you know, we've had, you know, a draft class that has seen Matthews and McDavid and Lionain and Jack Eichael. That's not going to come around,

I don't think again anytime soon. Well, an embarrassment of riches really is worth hammering home just because a guy I constantly seem to be thinking about these days is Nathan McKinnon where, you know, I guess people might forget now, but like when he was coming into the draft, he was like the next big thing. There was all these Crosby comparisons and he was, you know, the hottest commodity. And whether it's just been kind of playing in Calgary, Colorado in the past few years, they've been a mediocre team that hasn't necessarily been grabbing a lot of attention other

than what their coach has been doing. And he's had a few injuries here and there and hasn't necessarily put it all together yet. But we just kind of forget, like, you know, he's been cast aside because it's like, oh, we got all these new shiny toys. But a guy like Nathan McKinnon, he's like still like 21 or 22 years old and it's still a crazy bright future. And it's just amazing how much, how much talents come into the league the past few years. And then you watch him at the World Cup and you say, wow, he's ready for the big

breakthrough, right? Because he was amazing. You thought, okay, this is next level time. It's Nathan McKinnon. It's a new head coach. both Jeff and Demetri are wrong in their preseason watchability rankings about the avalanche. They've been nothing short of a disaster. But you're right.

He was that almost the forgotten guy, much in the way that when he was injured at the beginning of the season, Jack E. E. E. Michael was a forgotten guy in the line A. Matthews McDavid conversation. Now he's back and rocking it. We looked at Nathan McKinnon. And the interesting thing about his draft view as well, there was that brief time right up until the Memorial Cup, where all of a sudden all the draft lists had Seth Jones, the majority of them, I think, had Seth Jones as number one, as far as prospects goes.

And then both Portland and Halifax made it to the Memorial Cup. It's the one in Saskatoon. Halifax ends up winning the entire thing. And Nathan McKinnon was just a flat-out star, and that cemented it. Rightly or wrongly for Colorado, they took Nathan McKinnon over Seth Jones. Seth Jones being the guy that fell all the way to Nashville's lap.

Yeah, well, it's insane. I mean, I'm still believer in him. You know, it hasn't been the start of the season that you'd hope for and we thought he'd have. But, I mean, like, I don't know how many times I've watched a game Nathan McKinnon's in and come away with it, not thinking that he was, like, the best player on the ice, right? Like, just, it seems like he's capable of everything. He's just a blur out there. And once he puts it all together, I think, I still think this guy is a limit for him.

But let's look, yep. I was going to say fast and strong, too. Like, he's not like a wiry fast guy. Like, he's sick. Yeah, he's a powerhouse. Like, I remember I was standing beside him at World Cup after one of the games. I'm like, this guy is just flat out thick. I'm not sure how much weight he's put on it.

And it's not just like gratuitous weight. Like he's put on muscle. Well, you see the Tim Horton's commercial. Guys jacked. Right? And he's sitting across from Sydney Crosby, who's no shrinking violet himself. And he's dwarfing Crosby. Yeah.

You just went from cool Uncle Jeff to a creepy uncle Jeff there with a Nathan of Ken is so thick. He's so thick, man. He's one in a creepy scout mode. Oh, great. Thanks. Let's, you know what's crazy? When I was prepping for this podcast, went and looked back because I remember we did a similar thing last year and it's it we did this on

December 23rd, 2015 and that was episode 41 of this show and now we're on a we're on 124 of the PDO cast so it's a it's a really good year man time flies when you're having fun yeah and this is always one of my favorite times of the year as well and I get a couple of days off so I can actually enjoy this properly um you know you know I always feel for is uh the broadcasters on tsn who have been pounding this thing for so long uh Gordon miller who has done this tournament forever and It's one thing to do it in Toronto and Montreal, and that's cool because you can still be around family. But I think of all the production crew as well, the camera crew, like everybody, all the truck guys and gals. Like every single year, they say by to their families at one of the best family times of the season just so we can watch hockey games.

You know, they say bye bye to Christmas. They say bye to New Year's. Like, at a certain point, like the human element, like I know you get into this business and your eyes open wide about it's a prestigious tournament to be part of. But just from a broadcaster's point of view, I don't think we, I don't think we give these guys enough credit for saying buy to their families at Christmas time so we can enjoy the WJC. So good for these guys. And they do a remarkable job. I mean, it wouldn't be the same without them. So that podcast that I just mentioned, we called it the Sochi model.

And I think we were talking about at the time how Hockey Canada finally embraced this kind of what seems like common sense. But for a while, went against kind of mentioned just this approach where it's like. just pick your best 12 forwards and sixth defensemen and however many subs and just take your chances that the talent's going to mesh and work itself out as opposed to going with a conventional hockey team building approach where it's like let's pick guys for certain roles we need fourth line grinders we need you know the third line penalty killers we need this and that it's like you know when your team Canada you have options for various you know levels of talent so you should just take the best guys and see what happens so I guess the good place to start the discussion here is

Do you think that they went with that approach this year? They did. You know, they did. It's the Sochi model is what I think internally, Hockey Canada calls it. The other way to describe it is skill adapts. And this is the Hockey Canada model from the moment that any of these kids enter the program of excellence,

where you're going to be expected to do a number of different things in a number of different positions in really high pressure situations. I know, you know, we can knock minor hockey for there being, just too much of it and too many tournaments and too many, you know, side games and too many exhibition and too many camps. And I get all that. But, I mean, you're taking the jug of orange juice and turning it back into the little can of concentrate. And that's what they're doing with all of these players. And so, you know, whether you're, you know, a longstanding member of hockey Canada at the national team level like Dylan Strom,

or you're someone like, well, take one of his linemates in Taylor Radish from the Uri-Ratis from the Uri-R. Otters, who makes Team Canada, Tampa Bay prospect, you know, by the time you get there, A, pressure should probably not be a thing because you've been in a number of high pressure situations, albeit not on national television, one of the most prestigious tournaments for your age group. But B, you can adapt. And whether you're a first-line guy with the erie-auders, and here you might be a fourth-line guy, and you've been in situations like that before. There's no room to have boo-boo face and there's no room to call your agent and complain. This is just the way it's done.

And if you're down with that and you can play, there's a spot for you. And if not, hockey Canada's done this before. And the name Josh Hossang comes up all the time, always did with Hockey Canada. There is not a spot for you on the roster. Yeah. I think the most, the only real kind of notable omission in my opinion was at least in terms of like the double take I did when I saw the news break of it on Twitter was that. They didn't pick Sam Steele. Were you surprised by that?

A little bit, and specifically considering the season that A, Sam Steele is having, just cite his entry-level deal with Anaheim, I want to say yesterday, and B, the season that the Regina Pats are having as well. But when you look at, you know, all the forwards that Canada has, you know, right now at the high level, you could make the argument that Steele could sneak in there. The question then becomes. love this. And I'm going to take a shot at my industry for this. We're quick to say who should make the team. But the follow-up should always be, okay, so if you want Sam Steele off the team,

on the team, tell me who's off. Right? It's easy to say, oh, how come this guy didn't make the team? How come that guy didn't make the team? We're so guilty of it as broadcasters. But how come no one ever follows up with? Well, then who shouldn't be on the team? Well, that's true. But I mean, I feel like you can probably find a space to squeeze in 23 goals and 25. five games and two points per game, right? Like, I feel like, I don't know. I don't know who you take out, but I feel like if you're picking the 12 best fours, he's probably one of them.

Yeah, is he going to play above Dylan Strom? No. Well, that's the question. Play above Matthew Barzal? No. And I know you can put him on the wing and he's happy, I'm sure happy to do so. But you nailed the right guy as far as, you kind of look sideways at, well, how come this guy is not on the team?

Um, but I, I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm like you. I want to nitpick all of this stuff, right? I want to nitpick left hand shot, right hand shot, all of it. But this looks like, this looks like one of the more solid, uh, one of the more solid team Canada rosters that we've seen at a while and when, and balanced as well. So for them to win, like, I mean, obviously it's going to need to be a group effort, but I feel like Dylan Strome and Matthew Barzal are going to have to be like the two top guys, right? Yeah, centers one and two. I think you're looking at Mitchell Stevens, Pierre-Luc Dubois, you know, there's always, like, whenever tournaments like this,

I mean, of course you always want your big guys going, right? I think last time it was in Toronto and Montreal, and of course, Connor McGabed was outstanding, but so was Anthony Declare, Max Stomi was fantastic. Like, you had a darnel nurse was real good. But you kind of need some of the lesser-known players to take that next step.

So maybe that's, you know, Anthony Sorrelli, who again, this is going to be a common theme. Is a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, to me, because everybody in the tournament is a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, you know, it's such a great job of drafting? You know, is it someone like, well, like Anthony Sorrelli, I just mentioned Taylor Radish.

Can he be that guy? You know, Blake Spears is going to be given every opportunity to succeed coming up, the wrist injuries, me every opportunity to succeed, plays with Sue St. Marie of the O.HL. And then when it comes down to it specifically for Canada, maybe it turns into the exact same conversation we've always had about Team Canada. Is the goaltending good enough?

And maybe is the goaltending big enough? It seems right now, you know, for the next level past this for the NHL, what do you figure the barrier to entry is for a goaltender? Six foot three right now? We're getting to the point where 6 foot 6 foot is almost too big, but between 6 foot maybe 2, 6 foot 3 to 6 foot 5, that seems to be the sweet spot for goaltenders. And Carter Hart and Connor Ingram, by that standard are a little bit smaller at 6 foot 1. I know it's only an inch, but when you're talking about hockey and you're talking about pucks going in nets and red lights going off, that does mean a lot. Having said that, dude, Carter Hart's been fantastic. Yeah, I was going to say, I remember.

You've been awesome. I remember last year we had the discussion about McKenzie Blackwood and we were kind of, you know, he was having a good year as well, but we were a little skeptical about just the goaltending pipeline for Team Canada in the past few years. And while I don't think that's ultimately what necessarily did them in, they just weren't good enough. Like the goaltending definitely didn't help matters. But I mean, you look at Carter Hart's resume, especially this season. I mean, it's a 928% percentage in the WHL. He was a mid-second round pick last year, which is pretty much for like all the top goalies are going these days. I think that, you know, I haven't necessarily, I can't speak from, like, I haven't watched him much, but just based on his statistical resume, it feels like he would, he should be at least competent enough to keep them in these games and help the talent went out. Next year is going to be fascinated for goaltending as well, because, you know, I could almost make the argument that, you know, you're going to have a really solid crop of four to choose from, whether it's Jordan Hallett with Regina, Stuart Skinner with Lesbridge, Michael

DiPietro with Windsor, Ian Scott and Prince Albert. Like there's going to be, there'll be, some would say, more of a challenge for that net mining spot for Team Canada next season. But this year, this year to me, it's Carter Hart and the rest of the bunch for Canada. Yeah, look at you already teeing up the 2018 tournament. So embarrassing. Just throw the names out. Tackle it back like you're in authority. Sure, why not?

So, you know, I'm just looking at this tournament from the big picture. And I don't know, maybe I'm wrong here, but it just feels like, compared to last year, just pales in comparison and like pretty much everything in terms of like high pedigree excitement and like, I don't know. I mean, obviously it makes sense last year we had that finished team with line A, Poliarvy, and Aho. And I mean, you can even toss you, Olegia into that. What is that? Like, that's the three of the top five picks in the draft there. And then obviously we had like the U.S. team with Matthews and Kachuk, who were also top picks. And it felt like there was something happening in each game that would have like NHL repercussions down the road.

and this year just seems like that isn't really the case. Let's stick with Finland for a second because you brought up the big line, right? And they're gone. And everyone expects the Finns to have taken a step backwards. And maybe they will. I mean, there's a number of draft eligible. As you look at the blue line, it's young. Yusovallamaki, who I think is going to be a top 15 pick, Vaccanin,

and Robin Salo. Like, there's a lot of youth on that blue line. But there's some really interesting pieces up front. Like some really interesting pieces. There's some really interesting pieces. players up front. There's no Patrick Lione, but L.A. Tolvinan from Sioux City in the

USHL is they call him the Finnish Teresenko. I mean, I don't know if you've ever seen this guy play before, but when I watch him play, I'm like, oh, Dimitri's going to love this guy. He is just pure finisher. This guy, he's not big, like, you know, Lione's a giant, too, to go along with that shot.

Tolvonin's 510, 511, buck 75, but may have the best release of anybody with all respect to Owen Tippett and Mississauga, the best release of anybody in the draft. He is pure goal score. And the guy that I'm really curious about to see at this, you know, best on best competition is someone, because you always look for that moment at the draft, where someone goes off the board. And last year it was Florida. When everybody expected the Florida Panthers

were going to take Alex the Brinket, they took Henrik Bergstrom, who's playing at Denver this year and shooting the lights out. I don't think many. Like, there are a handful of people that may have considered Bergstrom to be someone who could crack the first round, but when Florida stuck their neck out and took them, it was one of those

were swinging for the fences moment, right? Which is great, which is, listen, man, from a fan's point of view, it's fun. I heard about a couple of the interviews that he had leading up to the draft. One of them was absolutely disastrous to the point where one team wanted to have him back to interview him again because they couldn't believe

if someone could interview that poorly, but there's no deny in this guy's skill. And I don't get a chance to watch the pioneers very often. So I'm really fascinated to watch Finland this year, one for Tovind and two for Borgstrom from Denver University. So it's not, you're right, it's not the

murderers row that we saw from Finland last year. Boy, was that ever fun. But there's still a lot of interesting players to watch this year for the fans. Well, what I gather from Borgstrom, I remember you know, he wasn't really that high on most people's list. And then it just, I don't know, I feel like he was like a late bloomer or something where he had like a crazy growth spur towards the end of the season and it kind of like

who he was at the start of the year when people were compile, starting to compile their lists and doing all their player evaluations was far different from the player he was pretty much like at the time of the draft. And I feel like that's why he went a bit higher than most people thought. But I mean, no, you mentioned Finland's going to be interesting. I think Sweden, I think Sweden is arguably the best team in this tournament. especially now that they got Alex Nealander back? It's funny because every year I say, oh, I like the Swedes.

And everyone always says to me, Jeff, you always say you like the Swedes. Jeff, you always think Sweden's going to win because generally I do. Yeah. You know, and I love their defense, right? I think, you know, Carlson is outstanding. Shillington, we've all seen him skate. He's great. Larson.

We saw it with a cup of coffee with Anaheim this year, playing with the powerhouse team from Fralanda. They have a real nice. nice back end. They really do. And they've got, you mentioned nice, Nealander coming back. They've got some nice returning players as well. And Joel Erick, who we saw briefly with the Minnesota Wild. And again, he plays with that, he plays with the Faristad in the Swedish League. He's a real good player. And I think he's going to be a real good goal score in the NHL for a lot of years. So they have, you know, they have some good, solid returning players. And, you know, they're not shy about having a few draft eligible guys as well.

Leas Anderson is one that comes to mind right out of the gate. Elias Pedersen is also a draft eligible. And they've played together internationally a number of different times that have been gold together. So that's, to me, I say it because I say it every year, I like the Swedes to win the whole thing. But this is small ice, and that seems to be where Team Canada excels, where it's. whereas they just have the hardest time in the world playing when the ice widens a little bit, 15 feet. But yeah, I'm with Deer Dimitre.

I like the Swedes a lot. A lot of reasons too like the Swedes. How did you talk about Sweden for like two or three minutes there without mentioning Rasmus Dahlin? Oh, he's only 16 years old. He's not going to touch the ice. This kid's fantastic. He's real good, man.

It'll be a fascinating draft next year. Right? Because Andre Svetnikov, who plays in the USHL as well, We'll see where he ends up next season. You know, he's making noise already to maybe be the first overall pick, too. But it's going to be tough to see who ends up going number one. Kids 16 years old, like put it this way. I know Timothy Lillian will probably go second overall, plays at Rogla in the Swedish League.

He wasn't brought in on the team. You know, Eric Brandstrom, well, and he'll be a first round pick, isn't on this team. But they've gone with this 16-year-old. old Wonder Kid who's playing in the men's league and Dimitri making men look like boys making him look bad. This guy can flat out skate. I don't know how much ice time he's going to get because you look at that blue line and the big four are going to get a lot of it. But you're right. When he's on the ice, pay attention because this kid's special. Yeah, man. I mean, he's, I've been watching some of his videos and

And it's like, he can just do everything, like the insane combination of puck skills, skating ability. And you even really mention it. But, I mean, just like savage open ice hits, too. Like, he just, I don't know. I feel like he does a little bit for everyone in terms of like whatever you're looking for for your defenseman. He probably does it. And he's small, right? Like he's not a crusher.

He's not six foot three or six foot four. You use a shade over six feet tall. I don't even think he's 170 pounds. Not a lot of room to grow and expect him to do so. But yeah, he'll be a lot of fun to watch, bro. Another reason to watch our favorite team, the Swedes. Go Tray Kroner. I think him and him and Spetschnikov, yeah, the 2018 class looks mighty enticing.

The other day I was looking at Svetchenikov's numbers, and he's leading his USHL team in scoring at least points per game by a wide margin, and all the other guys in his team are like a full two years older than him. Like it's just remarkable what he's doing as well. Yeah, he's ripping it. And I wanted to give a quick shout out to the fine website, Elite Prospects, because they have this new function. that with a player name pronunciations and it really helped me nail the Rasmus Dahlin there

rather than I go in Rasmus Dalin. Well, yeah, because then we think of Ulf Dahlum because every time we see, okay, every time you think, okay, when you see Jeff Skinner out there, he does that Mohawk style of skating, right, the figure skating style, and, you know, much in the same way we call that Peter Forsberg move, the Peter Forrestberg move, even though Kent Nielsen did it first at the World Championships against John Van Biesbrook and Team USA, we'll still call it the Forzburg move, the postage stamp, as it were. Ulf Dallin was doing that.

God, years before. Like in the NHL when he played with the stars, remember watching Oof Dallan come out from around the net going, what the F is going on with his skates? What the hell is this guy doing? And now, I mean, a lot of guys are the straight-line crossovers, that's a big deal coming out of figure skating, but that Mohawk style of

skating as well, which just, you know, buys you space, buys you time, makes your cuts that much quicker going to the net. Dude, Alf Dahl was doing that decade ago in the NHL, come on. Yeah, so, I mean, we just talked about the 2018 class and we were

prepping for the 2018 tournament a bit there, but I mean, just in terms of, in terms of this year, we mentioned how it doesn't seem to have that pedigree and that excitement, and I guess it doesn't help that the guy that's pretty much been considered, like the de facto number one guy of this draft class, Nolan Patrick isn't, you know, isn't playing in this tournament and has barely suited up this year

for his major junior team with injury. I mean, I don't know, do you think that not playing in this tournament and showcasing his skills on national TV for everyone to see is going to kind of hurt his claim there as the top prospect or do you think he's just established himself as the guy? Yeah, I know, the body of work is still there that, you know, much like, you know, Golcenaic or Morgan Riley, to some extent, you know, got to go way back to Gordon Kluzak with the Boston Bruins.

There's enough of a body of work there that you look at Nolan Patrick and you say, as long as the injury doesn't look like his career threatening and the week King's 11 come out and said what it is. Many suspect it's of, you know, flare up of the groin issue we had in the offseason, sports hernia surgery, rather. As long as it doesn't look like it's going to,

you know, shorten his career or cost him his career, I don't know that Nolan Patrick can hurt himself or bump himself out of that top spot. There's a lot of, you know, hot takery, you know, guys that want to,

you know, grab a headline and, hey, let's bump someone else up for that top spot and grab one. And that happens. But from all the teams that I talk to, there's about right now, that is zero chance that Nolan Patrick, unless the injury is more than we believe, about zero chance that he doesn't go first overall.

He'll go first overall. The body of work there is just too strong for him not to go first overall. Well, we'll have plenty of time to talk about the drought. Let's talk about guys that are actually going to be playing in this tournament. Yeah, man. Give me a couple sort of, I don't know, not necessarily sneaky, but just names, individual players or units you're looking. and you're kind of going to be paying attention to in this tournament.

Paying attention to Russia because they're always good. Paying attention to Russia because they're always skilled and paying attention to Russia because they know that they're going to take the best 19-year-olds possible. And that is a formula for success for this tournament. And they do it well. And a couple of the names you should really pay attention to there. One who's not going to be, well, Dennis Gerianov is one that Dallas-Star prospect you should probably pay attention to him german ruptsoff the philadelphia prospect you should pay

attention there but uh caril caprosoff uh who plays at ufa who's in minnesota wild i want to say he's like a fifth round draft yeah he felt a fifth yeah is it fifth round yep okay fifth not the biggest guy out there i gotta stop saying that because it doesn't really matter anymore in the nchl um really highly skilled i mean he may end up ripping up this tournament like a bad report card i mean he may end up as a leading score of this entire thing think that's how highly skilled he is. Consider this. You have Team Russia who have said no to Klim Kostin will probably be a top five pick this year.

Nikita Papagaya plays with the Moostra Warriors of the Western Hockey League. He wasn't even a consideration for this team as well. I mean, knock them for leaving some skill at home, or in this case, Musra. But this is a team that knows that they are taking the... the best 19-year-olds. And every year, dude, they're either in the final or they're in the semifinal. They are always right there terrorizing teams. So tough to stray from Russia if you're looking for – and to say nothing, I mean,

how many times have you and I talked about Mikkelsiricajev will be the anchor on that blue line? And if you haven't seen them before, get ready for a whole bunch of Alia Samsonoff, the Washington Capitals net-minding prospect. This is going to be a tough out, if indeed anyone can get. get them out because they'll be one of the favorites along with you know sweden USA and team Canada yeah I'm glad you mentioned caprisoff he's right up there in my list of guys I can't wait to see because uh he fell in the draft he's obviously he's Russian he's undersized but he also has 30 points and 37 khl games this year and yeah you know for a young guy like that

to basically be kind of leading his team playing and's grown men on a nightly basis is is always impressive and it's always something that I kind of watch for so I think caprizo is to do really well. Another name that we briefly touched on when we were talking about Team Canada, but I'm really curious to see how Pierre-Luc Dubois looks. So am I. They recently traded Pierre-Luc Dubois. It's big power forward.

Is he a winger, is he a centerman? Columbus Watton, you know, drafted him with the idea that he was a centerman, even though, you know, up until the second half of the season for Cape Breton last year, he had never played center. but he took to it, you know, really easily last season. He will be given, you know, every opportunity to succeed. Sounds like they're going to play him with Dylan Strom and Mitchell Stevens on that top line. So this is, I mean, how many players have used, and we just mentioned Anthony Declare a few moments ago,

how many players have used the World Junior Championships to catapult them into another stratosphere? Well, that could do this, this tournament could do that rather, for Pierre-Luc Dubois. but I'm with you. He was one of the more interesting names around draft time last year, and everyone said it was going to be, you know, it was going to be the usual three. Oh, it's three deep, and then you're going to see the big drop off.

It was going to be Matthew, he was going to be line A and it's going to be Polly Arvi. And then there was the drop, and then Columbus threw the wrench into all of it. Well, yeah, he was a kind of classic case of the guy that just peaked to the right time and blew up in the second half of his draft year, and he started drawing all these Anzee Kopitar comparisons,

and I guess it enticed just the thought of having this big two-way sender that they reached for him over Jesse Pooley-Arvey. And I think that, you know, it's been interesting. This year, the results have been mixed. It's not good that he's under a point-point per game in his draft plus one season. So he has been playing better as of late, but I'm kind of curious to see whether, how he actually looks because he was at the draft. He was one of those guys where I hadn't really even considered him to be one of those top

guys. And all of a sudden, there's Columbus taking him. Yeah. And he'll be off to Blaineville. and that's a really good program, and that's a team that's going for it in the QMJHL. I mean, Cape Breton sort of lost a lot of players at the end of last season,

so it would be a better environment for him. But when you look, like here's another interesting thing here, when you look at the Columbus Blue Jackets right now, you know, the team that he's going to, you know, walk into one day, where's the spot for him?

Yeah. Right? I mean, If you just want to do it down the middle, I mean, maybe that's the Dabinsky spot one day. That's that second line's center hole that they have sort of carved out for him. But right now, it's, I mean, it's not as if they have a bunch of old guys up top that he's going to grab a spot from. Yeah, I think that's a good problem to have, right? I mean, if he...

Oh, totally good problem. If he pans out, he'll find room for him some way. Yeah. No, definitely. That's a... Listen, if he can pan out, then it's an embarrassment of riches for the CVJs, because that blue... young blue lines looking, you know, stacked for the next however many years, five, six years, maybe longer. The other thing I had highlighted that I'm curious to see is, isn't just one player, it's more so a group,

but we haven't really mentioned the U.S. forward group yet. And I'm looking at this list, and man, there's a lot of talent and a lot of big names there. A lot of talent, a lot of big names, even without Brock Besser, who's out with the surgery. And that's a, man, that's tough. No one's replacing Brock Besser. but when you go right down the list of your de Brinkets and your bellows, I know he's next Jeremy Bracco, maybe the best passer in the entire tournament. Clayton Keller, geez, I know the injury and all, but Luke Cunning,

Rasselovek, Tage Thompson. Oh yeah, Colin White, let's not forget about him. You're right, like this is a forward unit that should probably score the most goals of anybody in the tournament. Like really, like when they're in the offensive zone, the puck's going to have wings. It's going to be magical. when these guys have it and start throwing it around. The question that I think a lot of people have is, you know,

outside of Charlie McAvoy, Chad Chris, to some extent, you know, how's that blue line looking for you? Yeah. Do you love the blue line? It's not the best U.S. blue line we've seen in the past few years. Like, if I'm Bob Motzko, like, all I'm doing is just, I'm keeping Charlie McAvoy on the ice as long as I can, you know, just call time out to let him catch his breath and send him back out there. I mean, I just think that highly of Charlie McAvoy to begin with.

But the defense, as great as that forward unit is, to me, if USA is going to unravel or probably because of the back end. Yeah, if I was coaching that team, I would just play McAvoy and four of those forwards and just take my chances. Yeah, man, just go for it. Why not be revolutionary? But yeah, it is a murderous role up front. So do you think that, do you think Russia or the U.S. is a bigger challenge for Canada

in that group B? Oh, I think. I would probably, I would almost say Russia just because of the goaltending. I mean, in a, in a, you know, one game scenario, you know, I'll take Olaas Sampsonoff over any of the U.S. goaltenders. I'm not sure we're right on that one, but that, that would be my, I will take the Washington prospect over Rottenger, Parsons. Like, I would, I'll, I'll take, I'll take, I'll take Yelian off, thanks. So, you know, in a one game situation where the goaltender can steal it, and it's a big, strong, high-scoring Russian,

it. I think Russia probably gives them more fits than the USA does. Well, I think both teams have What do you think? What do you think? It's tough. I'm going with you there. I think that I think Russia, but I mean, both teams are very similar in the sense that they could easily just get hot and they have so much talent up front that they could outscore any team in this tournament, right? So it's like as long as the D and the goal ending hold up a little bit and I think that Russia has a better chance of doing so. You know, they can be right in there and I think there can be a scary matchup for anyone. Is there, is there any angles for this tournament that we haven't hit?

I feel like we've done a pretty good job. Yeah. I mean, it's, the one thing that I think a lot of countries have a better handle on is what this tournament really is, which is, it's a development tournament, right? As much as we want to treat this like, you know, the be-all and end-all, this defines, you know, ours, because Canada goes berserk over it. As much as, you know, a lot of people will define themselves and their identity by what happens at the world of junior hockey championships.

I think the rest of the world has a more sane approach and a sane look at it, which is really, this is a snapshot from where these young hockey players are at at this point of their career. As they get, now, it might be the last one. This is like graduation as they all, you know, turn pro after this. But this really is, let's not forget, a development tournament for a lot of these kids. This is not to be all and end all of where your hockey program is at. because you can make the argument that, you know, the finish program is at an all-time high,

and they may have the best program going right now in all of hockey, and they may not get a medal at all. Yeah. It's quite possible. Yes. No, I think that's a good reminder, just kind of taking this tournament for what it's worth. I mean, it's fun, it's unpredictable, it's exciting, but ultimately it is such a small little snapshot, as you said, of, you know, 17, 18, 19-year-olds.

So let's not make it a determining factor for, you know, how their careers are going to play out and let's not get carried away and all become kind of crazed hockey moms and dads here. Let's have fun with it. Having said that where you and I live, Dimitri, you know, none of that will happen. Oh, absolutely. This country will turn itself upside down and go through the emotional roller coaster, shift by shift, period by period, with Team Canada. But listen, man, it's always been a fun tournament. I've always loved it.

Going back to when, you know, CBC used to have it. It's funny, I was thinking the other day about, you know, I remember specifically, specifically where I was for the punch-up in P. H. Shandy in 1987. And where I was when Gunther Sibetsky turned the lights out, and where I was, you know, Everett's Santa Pass and Brendan Shanahan, and there's Pierre Turgeon, still sitting on the bench, and Davidov is dropping guys, and Theo Flurrie's going nuts.

And it was one of those where I remember that coming back to studio, and Brian Williams and Don Cherry, you know, screaming at each other. Williams saying it's an embarrassment, and Cherry saying it's the greatest thing of all time. I've never missed the tournament. I've watched every single one. It's a delight. It's a lot of fun.

And the skill's never been better and enjoy it. And whether it's, you know, just like Dimitri mentioned earlier on, you know, if you're watching Sweden, and even if it's not even going to get a lot of shifts, watch Rasmus Dahlene. And remember, in the back of your mind, that kid is 16 years old. Or if it's, you know, the draft eligible guys, remember, these are the guys, his names are going to be here, heard call in June. Chicago. So, man, it's fun. Enjoy it. Don't get, you know, emotionally wrapped up in it. It doesn't define you as a hockey country. It doesn't define, you know, your program. This is one, like, look at it like a

scout. This is a two-week slice out of a player's entire career. That's it. Yeah. Yeah. Ultimately, it's kind of good to see how these guys react to this and match up against their peers. But, I mean, you know, like, I can have a bad trainer and still wind up having a really, really good career. So let's not get crazy. I want to plug some stuff before we get out of here. I mentioned the prospect project you're doing and all that stuff. When does that come out? Should have a new one coming out, hopefully next week.

Should have a new list coming out as well. What am I doing TVs lately? We have a 630 program now, Hockey Central. 630, so I do Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the assorted podcast, radio here and there, regional games. And I'd like to remind everyone, if you haven't already, go listen to the Jonathan Willis.

episode from not that far ago here on the PDO cast because like we mentioned out the top, that dude is smart. Yeah, yeah. Well, you know, around this time of the year and the holidays, you know, everyone's getting together with their extended families and there's always that loose canon uncle that's rambling about politics and social issues and making everyone uncomfortable. So if you're unhappy with that situation, put on this podcast, listen to Uncle Jeff, talk about hockey and spend some quality time with Uncle Jeff.

Yeah, it'd be. Yes, you're for an hour. Don't be fooled, guys. I'm not that consistently interesting, trust me. Well, happy holidays to you and yours, Jeff. And let's chat in the new year, okay? Of course, absolutely, Dimitri, to you and your family as well, and to all your listeners.

Thanks so much for putting up in my blathering here on this wonderful podcast. It is, without doubt, one of, if not my favorite hockey podcast you tune into, and that includes my own, both of them. Well, that was nice of you to say, and it's my pleasure to have you on, man. So we'll chat soon. Thanks, bud. Philipovich. Follow on Twitter at Dim Philipovich and on SoundCloud at soundcloud.com slash hockey p-diocast.