The Hockey PDOcast - Episode 270: Junior Mint

Episode Date: January 6, 2019

Chris Peters joins the show to help dissect the World Junior Championship tournament that was. In this episode we discuss: 1:55 Tournament storylines 9:30 Canada's early Quarterfinal exit 18:50 The improving Canadian goalie pipeline 23:20 The keys behind America's run to the final 27:05 Jack Hughes' progress report 33:00 The NHL ceiling of Russia's top scoring line 46:50 Finland's Golden Generation 49:30 Whether Kaapo Kakko can push Hughes for 1st overall 53:10 Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic Speed Round Sponsoring today’s show is SeatGeek, which is making it easier than ever before to buy and sell sports and concert tickets. They’re giving our listeners a $10 rebate off of their first purchase. All you have to do is download the free SeatGeek app and enter the promo code PDO to get started. A reminder that we’re hosting a daily fantasy listener league contest over at FanDuel every Thursday this season. While you wait for the next opportunity to play to come around, go over to fanduel.com/PDO and tell them we’ve sent you. They’ll hook you up with a bonus $5 to play with after your first deposit, which will surely come in handy throughout the year. See you there! 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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It's the HockeyPedioCast. With your host, Dimitri. Welcome to the Hockey PEDeOcast. My name is Dimitri Filipovich. and sitting across from me in his hotel room. I've done a few of these in the past. I like giving listeners the lay of the land, you know, so just so they feel like they're in the room with us.

And I've done a couple of hotel episodes before, and they're always fun. It's very intimate. It is very intimate. I feel very comfortable here. Well, that voice you're hearing listeners is my good buddy, Chris Peters, my ESPN colleague now I can officially say. How about it?

It's about time. Well, I think I had you on the show, man, I think it was during the World Cup. up with hockey. Right, right after the U.S. flamed out and Toyota was a mess and the roster they selected was all over the place. So it's been a, it's been a while. It's been a journey with a lot of twists and turns, but here we are and we're going to be talking about the the 2019 World Juniors tournament, which is wrapping up here. We're recording on a Saturday afternoon. We're recording before the

gold medal game, so we're not going to make any super bold like proclamations. If you're like, why aren't they talking about the winner? We don't know yet. Although I guess we could do like a part A, part V where we'd give a. Yeah, a little Finland version and a little US version. But I think it's been a pretty interesting tournament. I mean, there's obviously, it's littered with names that have been on our radar for a while for really hardcore hockey fans. And in NHL circles, they're going to be popping up over the next couple years. So it's always a great tournament to kind of familiarize yourself.

There's, I don't know how you feel about it because you cover it obviously more intensively. But I do feel a little awkward sometimes where like you see when Max Montawe misses that shootout goal. And then all of a sudden, you know, you get these razziness. habit Canadian fans jumping it on his Instagram and sending him death threats and all this wild stuff. And sometimes it's easy. Like we get so carried away, especially here in Canada, sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the fact that it's like 18 and 19 year olds who are playing a game. But we get pretty heated. And I guess that's why the tournament is so special because people do get so emotionally invested into it.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, sometimes it can cross a line. But at the same time, I think that the passions are running so deep because this tournament means more to other countries now. I mean, it used to really be kind of Canada only where that was the interest. But now you're seeing coverage from around the world. And it's really grown in the U.S., you know, since the U.S. basically got good at the world juniors, which, you know, started their first gold was in 2004. And then they won in 2010. And that really sparked, I think, the interest.

And then they won again in 2013 and in 2017. So the more consistently the U.S. competes, the more interest there is down south. But I think especially in terms to in regards to Max Comptow, it does go a little bit too far sometimes. And we learned after the fact that he was playing with a separated shoulder, which I mean, maybe he shouldn't have been put in that position by his coach to miss the penalty shot. He plays a hard game. And I think, you know, up to that point, he was one of their best players. He was selected as one of the best players on the team. And, you know, it's unfortunate to see what happened.

But I think that it's kind of indicative of how much people. people care about this tournament. Yeah, Max Connell was interesting because, you know, he, I don't know where the Ducks drafted him. It was outside the first round, but I mean, he'd had a really good season in the queue, and then obviously he was Team Canada's captain this year. And because of the Ducks injuries to start the year, he started the season with guys like Sam Steele and Isaac Lundstrom. And they sort of threw them into the deep end and they really struggled. And some of the underlying numbers were pretty grotesque. And he's had a fascinating season because he played for the Ducks.

I believe they sent him down to the HL for a while. He went and had a stint back with his, major junior team in the queue and then now he's playing in the world juniors and captaining team Canada and i wonder how many guys have sort of ran dad gauntlet of different leagues and this such a short period of time yeah absolutely i mean like that's that's i mean that just speaks to the versatility of the player too because you know when you're put in that situation i mean he played really well the first first i think people got a bit irritated he was definitely diving around oh yeah yeah no question no question like i mean like he there was that one play Was it with Clint Coston, I believe, in the New Year's Eve game,

where Clint Carson gave him a little bit of a cross-check, and he went flying. He went flying, yeah. He definitely, you know, like that, but that's his game, you know, I mean like that. And, you know, if you're surprised by it, then you haven't watched him play very much, because that's kind of how he was last year, too. And he had, you know, he also had a pretty tough hit on one of Finland's young defensemen that knocked him out for the rest of the tournament. I mean, he plays the game on the edge, and I think it's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way.

I think that also kind of contributed to the negativity that he got thrown his way. But again, this is a guy that was playing through a separated shoulder and, you know, played hard and played his hard out for Canada. Well, I don't, because I don't have the numbers for this, but just kind of anecdotally watching it, it does feel like this tournament has been a bit more lower scoring than years past, I feel like. I mean, you know, there's been a couple of the really one-sided blowouts involving Kazakhstan and Denmark. and yesterday's semifinal between Switzerland and Finland got out of hand pretty quickly. But for the most part, it feels like a lot of these games between, especially two of the powerhouses, have been these kind of tightly contested two-one, three-two games. And I don't know, it might just be reason he buys, but it does feel like it's weird because

the NHL right now, you know, one of the biggest storylines is how scoring's up and we're getting all these crazy scores and crazy stat lines. And it feels like this tournament has been a little bit of a throwback. Yeah, it is weird. Like, I think this has been a weird world juniors in general. Like, you know, we don't really have a clear-cut person that you could say is the MVP. We don't even have a clear-cut team that you could say is the best team. I mean, USA and Finland are playing the gold medal game.

But, I mean, you know, up to this point, you know, Sweden and Canada, they had such great games, but they lost the wrong games. You know, goaltending, I think, has been fantastic in this tournament. That's been a huge storyline. The Czech Republic had Lucas Dostal. It was really good. You know, just didn't get enough help. Luca Hollenstein had an incredible tournament before he gave up four goals and eight shots against Finland. You know, where he was hung out to dry.

I mean, there's not much he can do about that. But he's, yeah, I mean, the goaltending has been. Well, Ooku Pekulukin. Yeah, exactly. Cain Cremo. I mean, like, they're all playing really well. And so Mikey D.Piatro as well. And, yeah.

Let's cool it with a Mikey. Let's call Michael. He wants to be called Mikey. That's crazy. That's crazy. That's what they call them. I don't know how I feel about that. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, there's Mikey Anderson on USA. He prefers Mikey and Joey. That's right. Mikey and Joey, yeah. So, I mean, that's just the way it is. It's so funny. So, yeah, I just, I call guys what they want to be called. That's fair.

I mean, it is his name. Yeah, it is. Yeah, everybody that's close with them calls him Mikey too. So I'm not close with them, but still, whatever. I felt like that's what you were flying there. Yeah, those guys, those guys are really, really outstanding players. I mean, so it was a great year for goaltending. but yeah you know I think this U.S. team not as fast not as skilled as some of the previous years

I think that you know jack hugh's being out injured several guys had to miss games either due to illness or injury so there's been a lot of different things that have been happening in this tournament that have kind of contributed to being either lower scoring or just weirdly competitive because i mean you look at canada's game against switzerland and that was an oddly competitive game and so i think that but that's another one where I think goaltending comes in the play. Well, and you mentioned, I mean, there hasn't really been that, you know, clear-cut, like, brand name MVP performance. Like, there's been a lot of great individual performances. And, I mean, the individual talent there is, like, yesterday, I was at the game, just as a fan in the seats watching Finland, Switzerland. And, you know, you watch what a guy like

Capocaco is doing. You're like, okay, I can see why, you know, skeleton teams are drooling all over this guy and can't wait to potentially get him into the league. And, you know, there's guys like that. I mean, we've seen Jack Hughes and more limited because of sort of where he's on the depth chart and also because of the injury. But there's been young guys who like the future is incredibly bright, but we haven't seen that sort of like tour to force performance where it's like, okay, this guy is just every time he's on the ice, he's just clearly the best player. Right. Yeah. I mean, that that just hasn't happened yet. And I think that part of that is due to the fact that there are plenty of guys that, you know, could have been here that are in the NHL.

Although fewer than in years past. I mean, there weren't too many guys like a Brady Kach probably could have owned this term. tournament this year. But yeah, but I mean, like, that's, that's just kind of the way that it goes with, with, with this tournament. It ebbs and flows. And this year, I just think that we, we've seen like Ailey Tolvin and hasn't scored a goal yet.

Yeah. And I mean, he was the lead. Although against Canada, he was. He was great. And he's been, yeah, exactly. Like, that's the thing is, like, some of these guys might not put up points. Quinn Hughes only has two assists, but I mean, when he's on the ice, the U.S. is a better team.

Didn't have the best performance against Russia. But aside from that, they, they own the puck when he's on the ice. So, I mean, like, those, those are the kinds of things. that we're seeing. So again, it just, yeah, it's just kind of been a weird year that way where there hasn't been any single one person that stood out. Okay, I kind of want to go sort of team by team here and just talk about the big storylines. Sure. Sort of what stuck out to me and then you can kind of fill in the blanks with Canada. Obviously starting this. That's got you with it with Canada, obviously. You know, it's been a few days now, so it's kind of settled. But I remember,

yeah, that wacky Wednesday there when Sweden lost and then, Canada lost right after. I mean, it was quite a spectacle. And obviously, I mean, Canada lost in very heartbreaking fashion with a series of events that can only be described as unfortunate with. I mean, what was it, first Dobson stick broke on that, what were

winning essentially an empty netter. Well, first, they gave up the goal on the balance of tie it in the final minute. And then even the goal to win it for Finland went off Cody Glass of Stick. So it was just kind of this series of balances. And that's, I think, sort of the beauty of hockey, right? And that, and that I think Finland earned that win entirely because especially as the game went going, I felt like they were really controlling the play.

I felt like Canada for the most part. I mean, they were doing a good job. They weren't entirely just parking the bus and sitting back. But I felt like they were pretty content with that lead and they were like, let's just try to grind this out and get into the semifinal. Right. And whenever that's why that cliche, I've just put the puck on net and see what happens. And Finland was putting the puck on net a lot. And Mikey DAPHR is amazing. But eventually you get this weird, wacky balance that gets by them. And then all of a sudden, It's an entirely different game. And sort of that's, that was a big takeaway for me where it's, I think Finland earned it. I don't think it was one of those, like, it's easy to look at those bounces and go like that was a fluke performance and Canada should have won. But I think Finland won at Farian Square. I think so too. And I mean, Canada only getting one goal in that game and only two goals over their last two games of the tournament was just kind of strange. I mean, they had the offensive firepower to do better than that.

I thought that Russia, really until the Canada game, hadn't played that well. And then, you know, Canada either, I don't know what happened. Like, I don't know what wasn't clicking. Maybe it comes down to line-up construction. Maybe you have the wrong guys with the wrong guys. But, you know, Cody Glass is an elite setup, man. Nick Suzuki's an elite setup, man. You know, there are so many good playmakers on that team.

Owen Tippett is a dynamite shooter. And he had a great tournament, I thought. But for whatever reason, in those big moments, the scoring went, dry. And they had their opportunities to win it. You know, there was also the penalty shot that they missed. And then, yeah, the broken stick. I mean, I think Nora Dobson puts that in if it's, if it, if it doesn't break. And that was a great setup by Cody Glass. Again, yeah. And also a great back check by Cody Glass who got there. And unfortunately, has the puck go off his stick. I think, do you think it's fair to say that Cody Glow? I mean, Owen Tippett, I think,

got a lot of love and deserved me so. And I thought he had an awesome term. I thought Cody Glass was probably Canada's most impactful players in terms like it felt like when he was out on the ice like that's when they were getting their most dangerous chances and it felt like whenever he had it whether he was shooting it I mean he had that great goal against uh team Russia where he kind of shot it from like a weird Austin Matthewsish angle or the passing I mean he looks amazing and he's obviously been doing great things in WHL but I think if you're like a fan of the Vegas golden nights you've got to be just watching that and getting super excited about the idea of guys like him and Eric Brandstrom coming into the fold yeah he stepped up in a big way and I thought brandstrom was the best

defenseman of the preliminary round and then, you know, things went south for Sweden. But I think Cody Glass is just such a high-end playmaker. His vision is incredible. You know, I think the, I've questioned his foot speed at times, but to see him on that back check and when he finds that gear, he obviously was able to get up and down the ice well enough. And I think when he was on the ice, Canada was absolutely moving the puck better because he makes really great decision with the puck every time he has it and sees it so well. And so that that was huge for them. As a talent evaluator and, you know, someone who, I mean, your job is watching young players and figuring out what's going to happen with them. Like we've seen over the years in the

recent past that there has been a lot of guys who as prospects had those kind of stride, skating concerns that have eventually figured it out. And it makes sense if you're, you know, a 17, 18 year old and all of a sudden you get drafted by an NHL team and you start playing with, you start getting to practice with the best trainers and you get. get the best everything. It makes sense that you'd potentially work out some of those kinks and improve your skating stride. Do you think that's something that I know that was a big concern in the past when a guy's

skating stride wouldn't be up to snuff? It feels like now we could probably, you know, at least relatively speaking, iron that out over the years as a prospect develops. Do you think we've gotten to that point where that's less of a concern for teams, which is kind of ironic to say considering the game has gotten so much faster? Yeah, I think it's still a big concern for teams. I think that they'll look for ways that a player that can make up for that lack of foot speed. Like, you know, I think one of the things with Dylan Strom, it was always known that he wasn't a great skater.

Right. But he had such great vision, much, you know, such great vision, great playmaking abilities, good shot. You know, he made up for it in other ways. So I think teams will look for that. But still, if it's close between the guy who's a good skater and anyone who's not, they're going to take the guy who's the good skater. So I think that that's kind of the, the the the big question mark so it is a huge factor still and scouts i've talked to there'll be guys where they you know the the skating is too much of an issue to not even really want to look at

that guy um but as we've seen like it can be ironed out i think you know john taveris was a guy that that really bull horovat bull horvat um you know and dylan strome is starting to put things together with chicago um as well after you know kind of getting given up on by by arizona Right. And yeah, so I mean, he is, uh, that you, I think Cody Glass is one of those guys where it's not a big enough concern where it would make me downgrade him as a prospect because his, his high end skill, um, and particularly his vision are going to make him a weapon at the next level. Yeah, that's true. I mean, it is a bit of a kind of confirmation bias sort of thing where it's like when a guy does improve his skating so much and answer those questions, we kind of latch on to that as proof that it can happen. But then, you know, when you have a guy like Alex Nealander just toiling away and they, AHL just getting from point A to point B at very slow incremental speeds. It's like, oh, well, you know, there's certain guys that sometimes it's just never going to come. And, you know, a guy like, I think one of my favorite examples is a Timu Poccanin, where, I mean, the shot was obviously electric and his AHL numbers and even overseas were terrific.

And everyone's like projecting it towards NHL level. And I fell victim to this too. And then you watch him playing it just like, unfortunately when the game ramps up just a little bit, like he can't get his shot off because he's not getting to the spots as quickly as he could in the lower levels. Right. Yeah, I mean, and now that the NHL is such a rush league, you're almost, you know, you have to. And like, you know, defensemen might be able to get away with it if they can make that pass and get the puck up to the forwards. But with forwards, they're the ones that have to drive that rush. And yeah, if you can't do that, you really can't play.

Okay, let's get back to Team Canada here. So we got a bit sidetracked there. I think two of the biggest concerns people used to have about Team Canada was, and this applied to World Junior. also Olympics, World Championships, everything, where it's like, sometimes we would get too bogged down with the idea of filling out like a perfect NHL team instead of just getting the most 12 most skilled forwards and six most skilled defense. When you try to like pigeonhole guys to be a third, fourth line grinder, even though there were probably skilled alternatives that were being left behind. And I don't know, I felt like this team that wasn't really the case. Like it was a pretty skilled team. I think it might have lacked like the super high end talent that's been in the past as good as guys like.

tippin and glass were but at the same time i don't think there were like super glaring weaknesses where you'd point to a third fourth liner and go like why is this guy even on the team at this point right yeah that that was yeah i mean i think that this has kind of been since like 2015 or so that's kind of canada has kind of gone away from from you know the christie dominicose and like that's you know the the colton tuberts and uh you know the guys that were heavy heavy players that would would be physical i mean max comtois i is, but he also can score. And, you know, I think that they, they always want to have that identity where they're,

where they are tough, but at the same time, they don't, you know, they, they, they want their players to push the pace. And they want, you know, I think all their D could move the puck very well. All of their forwards had to be, I mean, I think like Morgan Frost and Barrett Hatt Hayton were like on their third line. Yeah. For a lot of the tournament. And those are guys that are on the top line at the, at, at, at, at, at, at, at, at, at,

with their respective teams. And I think that was true for pretty much every, everybody. Shane Bowers was more of a shutdown guy, but he's a top line center at Boston University. So, I mean, I think that Canada's philosophy has shifted dramatically. I don't think there's any reason for them to change that, even though this year didn't go well. I think they ran into a couple of hot goleys. But, yeah, but I mean, I think that that's been one of the more positive developments is that Canada has seen, hey, we don't need to limit ourselves on purpose because we think it'll make us better defensively. Do you think we're turning a bit of a corner here with the Canadian goaltending pipeline?

Because that was another big concern over the years where you'd have all these guys that would be playing. And just like the guys up front were so much better. And then they'd get done in with goaltending. And obviously in every league, you know, the difference between winning and losing is going to come down to whether who is the better goal usually. But it felt like for whatever reason, Canada over the years has historically been behind the curve when you compare them to their counterparts in Finland and Sweden and so on and so forth. And, you know, I guess with Carter Hart recently and then now Mikey D.P. I mean, it's obviously a very small sample. But do you think that's something that's kind of changing a bit?

Because it was always weird that whatever people would ask me, I would never have like a very logical, tangible answer for why Canada was worse at developing young goalies than other leagues were. Yeah, you know, it's definitely turned around. I mean, because I think there was a legit concern. I mean, and I think there's still some concern. If you look at some of the names that have played for Team Canada, I know. And that you're just like, wow. Yeah, like Mark Vizantine was a first-round draft. Yeah, Zach Foucalli, like, they guys were like held up.

Zach Ficali is in the ECHL. You know, like, I mean, that's kind of where things have gone. And you know what, I'm glad that the CHL got rid of the European goalie ban because I thought it was unnecessarily limiting and also kind of a slap in the face of their goalies. Like, you got, we don't think you can win the job. So we're just going to ban the European goalies from even coming out. out here. And so I thought that that was counterproductive, but at the same time, you know, we're just going to see guys like Carter Hart, like Mikey DiPiatro. Ian Scott is having a fantastic

year in the W.HL. And I think there were probably some Maple Leaf fans that were disappointed that he wasn't the starter for team Canada, but Mikey DiPiatro would prove, prove everybody right with his play. You know, but I think that, you know, they've got Fred Brathwaite is the national goaltending coach for Canada now. I think he's done a really good job with a team. that he's had. And I think that there's just been more of an emphasis put on goaltending. I mean, like, I look at what USA hockey did with goaltending. They put together a whole program for developing more goaltenders.

And it's really starting to take hold most of those goalies that have gone through that program. And I think Connor Hellebuck and John Gibson were among the first to go through that program. They're identifying those goalies sooner. They're getting them high-level coaching. I think, you know, I'm not 100% certain what Canada does, what hockey Canada does with that but I think that there is clearly improvement happening now.

Right. And it's not, I think it was an overblown concern to begin with, even though there were, you know, it just kind of comes in cycles. So you kind of have to wait it out and those top talents will eventually come back. Yeah. It's just, yeah, with the number of players that you have. It's true. I mean, now we're seeing even guys like, you know, McKenzie Blackwood, obviously, it's great,

off to a great NHL start with the Devils. I mean, Connor Ingraham's doing well in the HAL. Like, there's a lot of these guys that have been, you know, recent years in this hockey Canada, goaltending bubble, whether they've been backups or starters, are finding much more success, it feels like now than that generation they came before them. Yeah, yeah, I would agree.

It's good to see, too, because I mean, I think the competition that is provided by Finland, Sweden, Russia now, Russia is really turning out goalies like crazy. And the United States, I think it's all good. Yeah. Oh, for sure. Okay, let's take a quick break here here from a sponsor, and we're going to keep up this conversation and bounce around to some of the other countries. Getting tickets online can be far too complicated.

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This is your bread and butter. Yeah, this is where I make my money. This is yes, yes. All that podcasting money. Yeah. So what's, you let's like you dictate this conversation. What do you think have been the biggest storylines with this team? Well, I think first off, that's a tough question.

I think the biggest storylines have been the way that the U.S. has overcome its lack of depth. I think that they don't have the skill or speed that they've had in years past. You know, you look at some of the players that they've had in recent years, and I just think that this team didn't have as much high-end skill and speed, but they've managed to overcome that. I think Caden Primo taking over the number one job is a huge storyline for the U.S. because he's been stellar in every start that he's had here.

I think he's been one of the best goalies here and has totally earned the number one job in what was an open competition. Kyle Kaiser has been the best goalie in the OHL and he looked like he might take the reins and then Primo played well enough to earn the job. And then obviously the Jack Hughes injury has been, you know, that was a big topic. I think that the U.S. was slower without him, less skilled.

He's had, you know, three assists in the tournament so far. So he's had a point in every game that he's played in. And has been a huge factor on the power play. Now, he's not getting the minutes that I think we expected him to get, I think partially because of, you know, the fact that he was injured and that the U.S. found the right mix. but when he's been out there, he's been effective. And then I think the emergence of Mikey Anderson as the team's captain

and essentially their number one defenseman has been huge for this team. Quinn Hughes has played really well, but I think Mikey Anderson has made an even bigger impact in terms of when he's out there, it seems like, or when games have been tight, it seems like he comes through with a big play. He started the comeback against Sweden in the dramatic game in the preliminary round where they were down for nothing. he had when they were really struggling against Slovakia he had the first goal of the game

and then I think against Russia in the semifinals he was their most reliable defender and made so many big plays and also had a secondary assist on the on the game winning goal so those are kind of the main the main things but I mean this this US team has I think surprised and impressed me in in ways I didn't really see coming yeah I mean obviously we'll see how how that story ends against Finland and see if they can take the gold medal. But yeah, no, you're right. I was impressed with particularly, I don't think it was a flawless performance

by any means against Russia, but I think they did a great job. And you pointed this out on Twitter of giving them fits in the transition game where there were so many times where the Russian defensemen were just kind of stopping and starting and being forced to make these kind of low percentage passes

out of their own zone. They were either getting intercepted or deflected. And that's clearly Russia wanted to get more of a north-south transition game going. the U.S. kind of team speed just really stop them from doing that. Yeah, and really good active sticks. I thought the defensemen, like, part of the, one of the things that they had is, like, the defensemen are all pretty big except for Quinn Hughes. They had a lot of size on the back end. And so those long sticks, they were making it harder to get around. They were making it, make it harder to get passes

through. Um, nothing came easy through the middle of the ice. And as we know, that's, you know, that's where you win, where you win the hockey games between the dots. And, and, uh, yeah, I think that they've been really impressive in their ability to defend as a team. It looked less like USA Hockey, a little more like the Finnish style that we used to see where they were, where it was total team defense was how they would win games. I think that's what we're seeing from the U.S. Do you think as a collective, we are properly excited, under-excited or over-excited about Jack Hughes as a prospect? I think properly excited. I mean, I think at times, you know, it gets overblown. Yeah. People can get a bit carried away. Yeah, you know, I,

I mean, I think last year he had, you know, arguably the greatest season ever by an American 16-year-old, like at any level, and broke so many records. And just, you know, his speed and his ability to play has been incredible. This year, he's, I think he's had, you know, some stops and starts and some ups and downs. And the injury certainly wasn't great. And I think that, you know, causes concern, like, you know, his size. You know, we heard that about Elias Pedersen, too. but you know and and sometimes you know it can be overblown and um but i think the thing that that really separates jack from the field is just i think he personally has this will to be the best um having

spent some time with him and his family um i just i keep coming back to that is just like there is something about him this inner drive that is is unique right to players that are that good um and I think Capocaco could compete with him. I don't think that the gap is so far that he's the automatic number one. I think he's certainly the most likely to go number one. He would be my picket number one. But I still think Capocaco is good enough to say, hey, I deserve some consideration too. And all the Finnish players have been saying that too, that he should go number one.

And the funny thing about that is like if Jack Hughes sees that, that's probably not good news. for Finland because he's the kind of guy that would probably take that a little personally and take it to motivate him to play better. Yeah. But he is an exceptional talent. There's no question. Very unique, incredible skill. And I think the best is yet to come for him.

Yeah. I've been very impressed. I mean, just in all over the ice surface, right? Like we've seen in the past couple of games, the complete package, he had the goal against the Czech Republic where he made the defensive play and forces to turn over. and then goes down and sets up, I believe it was Noah Cates for a goal. And then there was a power play goal yesterday against Russia where, like, they're just running the powerplay through him at this point. Right.

And that's very impressive, considering, you know, the stage and some of the other names that are involved and the fact that everyone already kind of looks to him as the guy that's going to be kind of quarterbacking that. And it's obviously the decision with a skill and sort of how they're flinging the puck around. So listen, I love it. I'm not too worried about the fact that there's this been perceived, like a potential sort of stagnation or stops and starts that you mentioned this season compared to last year. I think when you're playing at that level, when you have the year that he has at 16, I think it's kind of one of those things.

It's human nature to just be kind of looking ahead to the NHL. And you're just like, all right, there's like only so much left to really prove here. Like I think people are kind of familiar with what I'm capable of at this point, right? Like you're just trying to stay healthy and trying to get going. Whereas for a guy like Capocaco, if you're playing overseas in a pro league against grown men, I think that's sort of challenged to continue dominating because there's only so much a 17, 18 year old can do in that league. I think the sort of character dangling above him, so to speak, is there as opposed to what for a guy like Jack Hugheser, it's like, all right, let's get to the next stage of my career. Yeah, and I think that that was one of the things that people wondered about him going back to the NCDP, like would he be challenged enough?

And I think that he has been challenged enough. The biggest reason that he went back was he knew that he had to get stronger, and they have arguably the best strength and conditioning program in hockey. I mean, the way that those players come out after going through there. Right. I mean, and he is much stronger this year than he was last year. You know, and I think that that's where, you know, his legs are pretty big. He's got good drive.

You know, his lower body strength is there. He still needs to pick up some upper body strength. But overall, he's getting out of the. this year what he wanted to get out of it. So, yeah, but aside from that, yeah, you know, if he would have gone to the O HL, I don't think he would have been challenged. That's the thing. We see that all the time with these guys are major junior where it's like, all right,

he had 120 points in 75 games. Like, what is he going to do next year, a year stronger, or a year better? It's like, there's kind of this point of diminishing returns where it's like you need to be challenged and pushed to another level if you're that highest end of guy. Yeah, I agree completely. And that's why I would definitely like to see more 19-year-olds. allowed to play in the the AHL. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay, that's not, I could do a full podcast. That's a whole other thing. I know. Yeah, no, I think that's about it with the U.S. I mean, I don't know, you mentioned Canaan Primo's great story. I mean, it was 199th overall. And now he's had back-to-back great seasons in the NCAA and carrying team USA now. And at this point, he might even be better than Gary Price. I don't know, based on how he's seen Price play with his injured hip. I mean, it might be the best option that the haves haven't met. But no, it's been a great story. And it's been cool seeing his dad in the stands and I'm glad to see that he's doing better.

I know there was a dark period there with all the potion cussar syndrome and stuff or anything like that. So it's good to see that he's back out there and enjoying his son play. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, and I think that there's a lot of pride. And that has been very cool. And I think Caden is such a, you know, he's a quiet kid. He's very reserved.

But to see the, you know, he was pretty much, I was just reading a story about him yesterday about how he's, his dad leaned over. to him and said, hey, you might not get drafted this year, you know, and just prepare yourself for that. And then he gets picked by the HABs and has he ever rewarded them with such incredible seasons? And the way he played at Northeastern last year is a big reason why I'm not surprised that he's playing this well with Team USA this year. Yeah, I agree. Okay, let's talk about their semi-final opponent in Russia. They're a fascinating team because that top line, obviously, especially for like i think most of the hockey peter guest listeners are nchl fans and not necessarily

prospect people and so um that'll be of more of interest to them and i think all three of those guys are guys that we're going to be seeing and hearing from to varying degrees um i don't know let's take them one by one um do you think that denisenko stood out from the pack there because it seemed like i i know our good buddy cori prodman has him as the tournament MVP which i'm sure uh i haven't I haven't read the Turner 5s yet, but I'm sure that some people are taking issue with that. Yeah, you know, he is an incredibly skilled player fast. He's got a bit of a mean streak to him. And I thought that he was, you know, probably their most dangerous player throughout the tournament.

And so Denisenko, to me, absolutely, like, he'll be on my all-tournament team ballot. But he's not my MVP. Yeah. Yeah, I feel like you got to be playing in the last. the gold medal game to be the MVP. But either way, you know, he's, he's, he's, he's a super talent and we saw the goal against USA. Oh, God. The angle he snipped that from. And he also made the defensive play at the other end, too. And he goes all the way down with his speed, and then he just sniped it. And I think that the tenacity that he plays with is, is, you know, a huge

part of his ability to just get under team skin. And then he also can score. at will it seems or set up you know he's he's as good a passer as he's a shooter so pretty impressive from him yeah i was i was a fan of him in the pre-draft process um you know just kind of statistically looking at looking at i know some people were a bit concerned with the fact that like he would he was one of those guys that just because of his skill and what you mentioned there he would always pop at these tournaments where it felt like he would really bring out the best in him and you'd watch him go and you go like oh my god this guy's such a dynamic talent he's going to be a game changer but then if you look at the overall package especially it with his club play the

members themselves were necessarily that inspiring. So, I don't know, he's had kind of a bit of a weird year where he's balanced back and forth between the KHL and the junior league. But I think at this age, it's so tough to make any serious noise. And that's why I wanted to get to Vitaly Kravsov, because he is a guy who's making legitimate noise playing against Grode Men in the KHL, which is something we very rarely do. I actually, you know, I don't take too many notes for the PDOCAS here, but I do have, because I did want to cite this.

So he's got 17 points in 33 KHL games. that's eighth all time in age 19 points per game sandwiched between artemi paneran and blad dersenko who are uh two guys that we've heard pretty good so it's good company he's keeping and you know his developmental curve is great and i think you know he didn't necessarily produce as much offensively as you'd expect but the chances were there and i actually kind of like weirdly like like how pissed off he was getting especially in that u.s game where it's like you could like see he was like wearing it on his on his sleeve where he was just like i need to score here so badly and you know he was banged up he obviously missed some time and he took that pretty vicious cross check from dylan sandberg at

the end of the first period and so you know i'm sure he wasn't 100% by any means but i really like what i saw and i think you know rangers fans should be very excited and i know it was a bit of a reach people thought like when they took him at nine because most mock drats had him in the teens but i think based on how he's looked and what he's done like he looks like he could be a legitimate game changer yeah yeah i mean yeah i mean and i mean like that one that he had where he slammed his stick after somebody got a stick in front of them and he it was just like a little mini tantrum yeah and it's just like you know what that's goal scorer is when it's not going in for him that's probably how they all feel and he's he's yeah I mean I feel like it was bad luck but you know him and denisanko and

klin klin klaus and it was like if they were on the ice you were in trouble yeah you know and at all times they could score at any point um puck just didn't bounce for him this time but yeah he You know, his size, I think his skill, his ability to create with some space, his confidence with the puck. You know, that's what we saw at the end of last season in the KHL, which, you know, I came around to him late, you know, because I didn't, I was concerned that, you know, we were judging too much on his playoff play. But I think what I saw, you know, in the more video I watched of him and certainly here, he can be a play driver. I think that that's going to be the biggest thing for him. And I think he was that here, even if the points maybe weren't as high end as you would expect a player of his talent. He had this play on, this is just like a random anecdote, but I love it because I haven't really seen anyone do this.

And I'm not sure if it's possible at the NHL level, but it was on the power play. And Clint Clostin had it on the half wall. And he just kind of like Ray Ferraro called it as like a center in the NBA just backing down on the post. And then he like received a pass from Closton while he was turning around just using it. It was like a very Crosbyish move where he was like using his big butt to box the defender out. and then received it on his backhand and got a great scoring chance off. And I was like, you know, stuff like that, it's very easy to see why scouts would love him

because of the combination of the size and skill that he possesses that. Yeah, size, skill, creativity, and the ability to make plays like that where once the puck's on his stick, it immediately becomes more dangerous, you know, when he has it. So, yeah, that was, you know, he's a player, no question. So I usually push back against this idea that Russian players are enigmatic.

And it feels like we've kind of gone away from a bit as a hockey community. And Ray Ferraro referred to Klimkoston yesterday as Anigmatic. And in this case, I think I have to agree based on the limited viewings I've seen because,

and this might just be unfair to Klim Koston because he might just not be that level of player. Like, it's just like, sometimes we can unfairly, you guys, like a guy like,

I know like Laura Zeller was always like this where like sometimes if you watch him based on just how he looks in a jersey, you know, like, this guy should be one of the best players in the league.

And he just, unfortunately, is not that player. It doesn't mean he can't be a very useful effective player. You just need to kind of recalibrate your expectations. With Koston, like, if you squint hard enough and you watch the right play, you're like, this guy is unstoppable. He's the most dominant player on the ice. No one can get the puck from him, but he's not just like this big

lumbering guy either. He actually has some skill on a stick. But then there's just so many instances where nothing's happening. And you're just like, I wish, I wish he was doing something and using his frame and his skill more effectively right now. And he's a bit of a passenger sometimes. And, I don't want to like, you know, kill the guy for that. But it does feel like, I don't know. I'm still not sure what to make him as a prospect because I know he was very tantalizing in the pre-draft process. And then the blues got him with that pick they got for Ryan Reeves and the final pick of the first round, I believe. And he has the benefit of playing two years now in the AHA, which a lot of these other guys don't at this stage of their career.

So I'm sure that's great for him developmental-wise. But yeah, he's just one of those guys where I feel like there's something being less on the table where there's more untapped potential there. and I'll be very curious to see whether that materializes at some point. Yeah, I think that's true because, I mean, he's, he is, he's unique. There's no question about it. Like, I think that he is, he's one of those guys that, that you see all the tools. Like, I think the tools are there. He has skill.

I mean, and he has power in his game. He has a really good shot. I have a feeling like, you know, sometimes the HL could be too soon for some guys. Excuse me. That's okay. Yeah, Chris is also playing under the weather. Yeah, I'm playing a little under the weather here. Sorry, that's why I sound like a lifelong smoker.

But yeah, but the, like with him and in particular, what I saw in his pre-draft season was incredible. And then to see kind of where he was, like in the HL, it's been really hard for him to find his game. I think that's part of it is because when he was here last year, I think he scored five goals in the tournament and was, you know, was one of the best players on the team. even though he wasn't used very much.

This year he's used a lot, and I could have, I wanted more from him as a tournament went on. But yeah, I think that as a player, it's just going to be, I think he's a guy you have to be patient with because there's something there. You know, give him a, see what else he can do at the HL level. I think he's shown improvement this year.

Hopefully this tournament is a bit of a confidence booster, although I don't know that it would be just because, you know. He took that loss pretty hard. He did, yeah. He did, yeah. And he actually came out and apologized for his reaction. Which I don't think he needed to. I agree.

He didn't need to. But hey, you're a kid. You're a kid and you got to get through it. But I think that the blues still have one of the best prospect pools going right now. And I still view him very much as part of that. Well, that's what I wanted to bring up because I love, obviously, the way the blues are drafted over the years. particularly outside the first round, and it feels like they've been, you know, hoarding talent.

And there was this wave of guys, like, I'm still very optimistic about the Robert Thomas and Jordan Kairus of the world. And we can add Klim Klausen in there. I mean, we haven't seen nearly enough of them to know exactly what they're going to be at the NHL level. But there was that generation before them with the Ivan Barbersheves. And obviously, I guess Robbie Fabry's knee injuries, it's unfair to evaluate him. But even like a Dimitri Askin, I remember, like, he's similar to Yeah. To Clem Clostin here, where it was like, you see the physical tools and you get super excited and you see he's produced in the lower levels.

And then they've come up and for whatever reason it has stagnated quite a bit. And I'm very fascinated to see because they have, they're constantly at the top of the prospect leaderboard in terms of whenever Corey Promen or anyone else in the field is doing a list, they're generally ranked as one of the best systems. And they have all these guys I'm excited about and they look great in the world juniors. But I think Blues fans would agree. Like, I'd love to see that start to manifest itself into more NHL success. Right.

Yeah. I mean, the whole Robert Thomas thing right now is kind of like, you know, where is it going to go? What are you doing? You know, how much, you know. Getting that's a bit of a too much too soon situation? Maybe a little bit, but I mean, I think he's such a tremendous talent. You know, I fully expect him to be in the NHL this year. I'm a huge Jordan Kairu fan.

Just his skill level and his speed are our dynamic. You know, Dominic Bach is starting to put it together in Sweden. right now. Yeah, he's got a lot of skill. The Deutsche Land Dangler. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, and he's, he, you know, so there's a lot there. I just think that, you know, like Bill, Bill Armstrong, who's now the assistant general manager who's been in charge of their drafting, I just think that they've stuck to their philosophy, and they haven't let, like, the Demetri Askins and guys like that scare them away from, from attacking, you know, skill, trying to find skill in those later rounds, guys that, you know, you know, Kyru is, you know, second round pick and, you know, you know,

guys like that that can fit in somewhere down the line and you can be patient with. You know, Robert Thomas felt like it kind of fell into, he fell into their laps and only got better after he got drafted. Now it's just a matter of, you know, what are we going to do next with him? Because you really got a, you know, he's such an important prospect. I just wonder what the development plan is going forward with him. And it's been such a disastrous season in St. Louis too, especially based on the preseason expectations that it feels like, I don't know, there's been this stink on them, unfortunately.

It's rubbed off on Thomas and all those young guys. But yeah, I'm still very optimistic. I don't know. Is there anything else with Russia? Should we move on to the Scandinavian nation? Yeah, I think the only other thing that I want to mention about Russia is that Peter Kochkov, who was their goalie. He was not drafted.

He played a lot in the VHL, which is like the minor, like the HL for the KHL. And prospects that play there don't get seen as much as the guys that might be playing in the junior leagues. I have little doubt now that he'll be drafted based on what he did here. And, you know, when you hear about him, like, why wasn't he draft last year? And the refrain has been, well, we just didn't see him. And so that's a guy to keep an eye out for the draft. And then I also wanted to, he'll be on my all-star ballot,

but Alexander Romanov, the Montreal draft pick. The HABs have been the big winners of this tournament. They have to feel really good about how their prospects are performing at the world juniors. But Romanov is, he's five foot at 11, but he had, you know, if he had seven points going into today, and he's nasty. He plays down low. He's very hard to play against.

He's very solid defensively. I think that he was a guy that I wasn't super high on last year. Right. And I am very much coming around him. I loved his tournament here. I thought he was outstanding for Russia. Yeah, you mentioned the goalie. I was surprised because I was.

actually looking forward to seeing Daniel Teresov. Me too. Because everyone was obviously super high on him. And he's a Columbus prospect, I believe. Yeah. And so I wanted to see him. And then this other guy was just playing out of his mind. And I know it's kind of a bit of a lazy.

I've seen comparisons made to Bobrovsky. And it's always a bit lazy. Yeah, they're both Russian goalies. But I mean, like, it was one of those things where, like, you're not beating him down low. Like, like, you're going to have to make the perfect shot to get it by him. And that's all you can really do is a goal. Right.

Yeah. I mean, the goals that, USA scored. One was just like a bounce that kind of just went through his legs. Seen pass that like just timing was there was no way he was going to stop it. And the second one was that, you know, the Jack Hughes made a great little pass and it just happened to slip through him. Yeah, exactly.

And it goes in. And, and, you know, he just, he's, he's a battler. And yeah, so I came away very impressed with him. Yeah, me too. Okay, Finland. Let's do Finland. Yeah. So we've got this golden generation.

Absolutely. Which I'm lumping these young guys that are playing into the guys who are already at the NHL level, and particularly with forwards. And I know it's not necessarily a unique story that we're not breaking ground here, but it is amazing seeing the skill of these guys, especially like how much it's changed for Finland in recent years. And now we've got all these guys. I mean, we're just watching this with Hipponiemi and Kako and Tauvinan and so on and so forth.

There's just so much skill up front, and they just completely dominate and blew Switzerland and out of the water in the semi-fifference. final and really held their own against Canada as well. And so it's been it's been mightily impressive. And I guess I think I've probably enjoyed watching Finland playing this tournament more than any other team. Yeah, you know, they've had a, it's been weird because they had a really tough start. I mean, they started off with a loss to Sweden. They got completely outplayed by the U.S. too and in the other, their last prelim game. And that was, they really turned it around. and then suddenly, you know, you have that game with Canada,

and it just clicks for you. And that can happen in the World Juniors. It can all change really quickly, and it doesn't matter what you did in the prelims. It matters how you win. You got to win the games that matter, right? So I think, but with what we've seen over the last couple of years is this change in the way that they play

and that they are going to be the team that they used to sit back and just wait for their opportunities, even when they had like Mikhail Grinland, who was such a skilled play, at this level. You know, they still just sat back. Now they want their guys to push the pace, and they have the guys that can do it.

And I think, you know, Rasmus Kupari is probably one of the fastest skaters in this tournament. Capocco is just incredibly brilliant, you know, with the way that the plays that he makes. Tolvinen is, when he wants it, he goes off. Having him playing in this tournament is a bit of a cheat code considering, like, what he's accomplished already. Exactly, exactly.

And, and the fact that they're having success without him scoring goals, I mean, he's still doing things that make them better. And then Hapo Niyemi, who's now, I think, tied for the tournament lead has been, you know, a real revelation. I mean, he was so good in Swift Current last year, and he's been amazing in the league of this year playing with Kupari that he, you know, I think I even expect it a little bit more. But still, he's playing these games. And then you've got Henry Yokihariu and Erhovacaninen and the D is just really solid. And then the goalie, and yeah, it's a very well-round team. Yeah, it's a very, I'd say, a very complete team.

So, Kako's the guy I really want to key in on here because, I mean, he's been, he's blown me away. This is one of the first viewings of sort of sustained viewings that I've had of them, and, you know, we've heard so much about him. But, man, he's lived up to all the expectations for me. And, you know, another, another stat here. He's got 20 points and 29 league of games this year, which is seventh all-time in points. per game for an age 17 guy in the modern era behind michael granland and and barcov those

only two guys like since like the 70s or whatever and so he's ahead of lynae puli rbi caught kenyemi all those guys and right you know that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be a better player than some of those guys but um what he's doing at this stage i i'm very fascinated to see if hughes versus caco is going to become a more heated conversation as we approach the draft similar to um how line a really shot up the lead shot up the rankings in his year. Obviously, he didn't go first overall, but he kind of came out of nowhere to really blow up the list. And it feels like Kako has the potential to potentially push Hughes. I feel like Hughes had such a big head start to start off this season that I feel

like, I don't know if he's going to catch him for first overall, but it's at least a conversation, which is a testament to how good he's been. Yeah, I think so. I mean, and, you know, I think he's been a guy that over the course of his career or young career, these last couple of years, has been such a driving force for anything that his team does. And he can do it at the pro level. He can do it at the world junior level. He did at the under 18 level last year. I think what he shows is that he's got such a mind for the game.

The assist that he had for Kupari's goal against Switzerland was just a dynamic play at the net front where everybody thought he was going to put it to his backhand and shoot it. Instead he put it to his backhand and put it back across the crease to Kupari for a complete empty netter. And it was just one of those plays where it just shows how clever he is and how, you know, just how skilled he is. That's like the highest level of playmaking when like you're seeing that play manifest itself like two steps before anyone else on the ice. Yeah, exactly. I mean, and like to know where the guys are. And I think the biggest factor that one of the things that has impressed me most about Kako in this tournament is as soon as they took Ely Tolvinen away from

Kupari and Hapo Niam. they put him with Kako, Tolvinen's game took off. I mean, it absolutely took off. And it took off because he had the faith that if he was going to give the puck to Kako, he was probably going to get it back, where he didn't have that faith with the other guys.

And he's like, hey, they're in their second year. They're trying to, they feel the pressure to perform too. Kako is more like, hey, I can do, I'm just going to play my game. And to see him kind of unlock the best of Tolvinen. Right. And for Tolvinan to even recognize that was really, was really special. But I think that that he just sees the ice incredibly well.

And he's going to be a guy that, you know, if he, if he doesn't push Jack for number one, I mean, I think it's a clear cut number two at this point. And I'd be, you know, I think if you're drafting second this year, you're going to be very happy with what's available to you. Yeah, it's not a terrible consolation. No, which, I mean, it seems like that keeps happening in these last few drafts. Right. I mean, that's the best part about, you know, doing what I do where I'm watching these prospects is like they're actually, they are better. They are better than the prospects we've been watching. Right. And, and it's great to see.

Yeah. I love it. The game's a great place. I don't know, like Switzerland, Sweden, those are like, kind of the two big, I guess the Czech Republic as well. We haven't really gone to them. But I don't know. Are there any other big sort of takeaways from this tournament or guys you wanted to highlight? Well, I can rapid fire this a little bit because I think like, I'll go. The Czechs were a huge disappointment, I feel like. Their defense was not good. Like their goaltending was outstanding. Lucas Dostal, who I mentioned earlier, I love that kid. I think he's such a competitor.

He had no help against the U.S. Huge disappointment, Philip Zedina. After dominating this tournament last year was not much of a factor this year. I think he might have been playing hurt. And then Martin Nettches as well, not as productive as he needed to be for the checks. to have a chance. Over in Sweden, huge disappointment to lose in the quarterfinals. I mean, they continue, they won all their preliminary round games,

48 straight preliminary round games. They've won. Still can't do it. But I think Eric Bransstrom was legitimately one of the best players in this tournament up to this point. An incredible talent, Unreal Skater. He had four goals in the preliminary round and just is a dynamic, dynamic talent. Get excited about him, Vegas.

Guy on Sweden that I do want to highlight, Emil Bemstrom. Yeah. What a tournament. Great tournament. Great year overall. And I mean, another guy that the blue jackets are watching kind of pop. I thought that the thing that I noticed about his game here was not only that he was scoring goals, but that he was on pucks. I always appreciate the guys that just hound pucks the way that he did.

And he was so difficult to play against, not just because of his skill, but because he was such a hound on the puck. Yeah, and you see it. I mean, you know, back when Sweden was eliminated at that point, he was, leading the tournament with five or six goals or whatever he had. But it was like he also had like 25 or something shots on goal. Yeah. That's sort of a testament to how frequently he was around the puck and in dangerous scoring. Yeah.

And he was around it a lot. And I think that that was a guy that this is not a Swedish team that had a ton of skill up front. That had their usual. Yeah. The fellows are mostly like the blue line with with Boquist and Brandstrom. Yeah. Brandstrom and and Sandine. Yeah.

So that that was all, you know, that was that was big. But I think that for the most part, you know, that that's Swedish team. team they'll be back again um but benstrom i mean what a tournament for him and and certainly a highlight for the swedish team among among very few yeah yes unfortunately and for switzerland i guess like it was basically i mean what are the two stories philip kersheb and then their coach and that's yeah yeah oh gosh christian wall one what a what a beauty um yeah he he's he's something else i mean philip kershev was uh was was dynamite on the power play i think you know he he didn't make my All-Star ballot, even though he was such a dynamic goal score here, just because most of his

damage was done on the power play. And I felt like if he helped them more at five-on-five, that they would have been a tougher team. But I mean, still, it goes a goal, right? So he was able to really score some big ones for them over the course of the tournament. And I thought he was their best, you know, one of their best players, period, just with the way that he skates. And then their goalie was good until he wasn't against Finland, Luca Hollenstein, who kind of came out of nowhere. It looks like we got a...

I'm all right. Nope, don't need anything. Thank you. I think we're going to keep that in. Yeah, so... Let's keep him moving. Let's keep him moving. Yeah, okay. I'm just making sure... I just want to make sure that we didn't have any additional Nat sound coming. Okay.

Yeah, but yeah, so Kirsch Evans, Hollandstein. we're big time. Yeah, for sure. So what's next in the docket here? Obviously, you know, this tournament's wrapping up. We've still got like six months until the draft, five, six months. Yeah.

So, I mean, obviously a lot's going to change. And, you know, with big tournaments, like the Memorial Cup, obviously, and so on and so forth, there's going to be a lot of, you know, flip-flopping in the draft rankings and a lot of guys who are late risers and some question marks arising. Is there anything you're looking for in these final couple months? months bleeding up to the draft where you're going to really be keying in on it to to lock down and solidify your draft board yeah well yeah I mean there's it's it's amazing there's still that much time left it feels like we've we've been through so much

already but yeah but I mean the big things for me you know I'll be heading up to the top prospects game and you know that's always a good good way to just kind of see everybody with each other in the CHL you know I certainly not gonna it's not gonna affect my rankings too much it's just a good way of just kind of gauging where players are against each other and they also do some on-ice testing that I found helpful to seeing how a guy skates, seeing how he works on his edges, how fast is he with the puck. There are a lot of things that they do that I think are maybe more effective than what gets done at the down-h-h-l draft combine.

Yeah, for sure. So I like that element. Yeah, I like that element. Yeah, exactly. So I like that element of it. And so that will be big. World Under 18 Championship, you know, very possibly we'll get another look at Kako and Hughes. You know, the Swedes have not as many high-end talents for this year's draft,

but they'll have some guys for the following year. Philip Broberg, who is a defenseman here, he'll, he's going to be a guy to keep an eye on. But otherwise, it's just kind of you have to just watch as much hockey as you possibly can. Video has helped a lot. I go to a lot of games on a regular basis, so there's a lot here. It's going to be a big year for Americans in this draft. It's going to be a big year for the WHL. That's been the trend that kind of started to be.

the season that I don't think has changed. Jack Hughes' regular team, the national team development programs under 18 team, maybe one of the best they've ever had there. And they've had a lot of good teams over the years. So those are the main things that I'm probably looking at. Cool. Well, I'm looking forward to it. And hopefully as we get closer to the draft,

when we really start getting a better idea how this stuff's going to shake out, and especially when we know who's pick and where, we'll hopefully get you back on the show and kind of go through it and see what's changed from now or early January to then. Sounds good. Yeah, well, thanks. It's always a pleasure. Thanks for being flexible and plug some stuff. Yeah, I'll plug some stuff. Right now, you read me on Twitter for one. Read me on Twitter. Did people say that? Absolutely, no one says that. No, no one has ever said that. You could follow me on Twitter,

though, at Chris M. Peters. And read your thoughts. And read my thoughts there. 280 characters at a time. Starting, I'll be, I'll be churning out. There hasn't been as much content on ESPN Plus lately for me, but there will be a ton starting in February. We're really pumping out a ton of draft stuff. My first draft rankings will be out around February. So ESPN Plus is the place to get that. So if you're in the U.S., subscribe to that, and you also get all the video content that comes with that,

which is amazing, includes college hockey. And, yeah, ESPN.com as well. There will be some things that aren't on ESPN Plus, too, for me. So it's a lot of fun. And, yeah, hope you guys check out what we're doing. There's a lot of really good hockey stuff there, including now, Dmitri. Yeah, yeah, my way.

works there as well. So hopefully, yeah, you definitely go check it out. ESPN does cover hockey and we're, we're trying to do our best there. Absolutely. It's been a blast. I've really enjoyed being part of the team with, with you and Wish and Emily Kaplan and so on and so forth. So hopefully the good times will keep going. And like I said, thanks for, thanks for taking the time. Make sure you hydrate and kick this bug. And hopefully nothing too crazy happens in the,

in the gold medal game that we, you know, glossed over because it hasn't happened yet. Right. Yeah. So hopefully that's the case. And yeah, Thanks for listening. Please take a second to rate and review and subscribe and all that on iTunes and share the work and spread the love. And we'll be back sometime early next week. I think our good buddy, Ufa Bodine while he's here in Vancouver is going to come on the show and make an appearance. I'm looking forward to that. So Chris, thanks for taking the time to do this and we'll chat soon. Hey, thanks a lot, Dimitri. The Hockey P.Dio cast with Dimilipovich. Follow on Twitter at Dim Philipovich and on SoundCloud

SoundCloud.com slash Hockey PDOCast.