The World Junior Hockey Championships, also known as, Canada’s holiday distraction from family obligations, has returned once again, and like always, this year’s squad boasts several talented youngsters from Canadian teams.
Junior-age players are a work in progress and fans don’t always know what they’re going to get when their general manager calls their team’s newest player’s name.
Even with the most advanced scouting and statistics, these players’ career trajectories can skyrocket far beyond expectations, or fall dismally short.
The World Juniors then, is a sort of measuring stick; both for where a player is at in his career, and where he stacks up against international competition.
It’s not a large sample size, but a snapshot. Sometimes stellar performances don’t always translate to the NHL (see: Justin Pogge), but sometimes they just might (Jonathan Toews, Carey Price).
Here are seven of the top players competing in the tournament for Canadian NHL teams, and the expectations they shoulder heading into the tournament.
Montreal Canadiens: Zach Fucale, Canada
Position: Goaltender
Drafted: 36th overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: A lot, it turns out. Fucale is one of the most high-profile junior players in Canadian hockey circles thanks to his Memorial Cup run last season with the Halifax Mooseheads. With Halifax, Fucale led a star-laden team involving the Colorado Avalanche’s diamond prospect Nathan Mackinnon and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jonathan Drouin. The fact that he was the first goalie taken in the draft, by the Montreal Canadiens helps his relevance factor.
What can you do for me now: Try and claim the No. 1 spot on a powerful Canadian roster that includes Saginaw Spirit goaltender and returning Canadian netminder Jake Paterson. Both have the pedigree, but it will about who’s hot in a short tournament like this. This year, Fucale is 19-7-1 with a .902 SV% and two shutouts with Halifax.
NHL Future: Fucale is high on the Canadiens’ depth chart. When he graduates from the QMJHL, he’ll most likely spend a couple years or more in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs before claiming the backup spot behind Carey Price (assuming his development stays the course). Goaltenders are usually a longer project than skaters.
Ottawa Senators: Curtis Lazar, Canada
Position: Centre
Drafted: 17th overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: Helped captain Team WHL against the Russians in the Subway Super Series for one. The six-foot centre has grown into his frame quite nicely, and is scoring at a greater pace than a point-per-game. His 37 points in 27 games played with the Edmonton Oil Kings is no surprise for a first-rounder playing in the WHL, but it is a good sign that his offense is staying consistent in a defensive-minded league. Lazar has a strong two-way game and scouts rave about his leadership intangibles.
What can you do for me now: Canadian coach Brent Sutter has been putting Lazar on Canada’s top line with the Guelph Storm’s Kerby Rychel and the Portland Winter Hawks’ Nic Petan, while Drouin moved down to centre the third line. How long Lazar stays on the top unit is anyone’s guess but if the chemistry is there, it’ll be quite a while.
NHL Future: Lazar is the Senators’ best centre prospect, and with a boatload of younger, skilled players already playing up front for Ottawa, Lazar might slot into the Sens’ forward corps sooner, rather than later. The most promising timeline right now sees the youngster in the NHL in 2015.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Frederik Gauthier, Canada
Position: Centre
Drafted: 21st overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: Gauthier is on pace to score fewer points with Rimouski than last year, but ask the Leafs’ brass if he’s evolved and they’ll tell you in leaps and bounds. Already a top decision-maker on the ice, Gauthier is strong on his skates and has an effective cycle game. He boasts a large frame at six-foot-five and 215 pounds, and more often than not, uses it. The knock on Gauthier is that he doesn’t score as often as a top offensive weapon should, but his utility as a top-level playmaker makes him effective.
What can you do for me now: Against Switzerland in a pre-tourney game, Gauthier was on the defensively-responsible fourth line with the Oshawa Generals’ Scott Laughton and the London Knights’ Josh Anderson. That line has the ability to put pucks in the net (Laughton has 50 points in 29 games), so the scoring is being spread out through all four units.
NHL Future: Gauthier joins a long list of centres the Leafs employ, including Peter Holland and seldom-used Greg McKegg. He’ll have to beat out the latter and hope the Leafs don’t re-sign Holland in any long-term capacity. He’s more skilled than Jay McClement however, and equally as responsible, which gives him the edge.
Winnipeg Jets: Josh Morrissey, Canada
Position: Defence
Drafted: 13th overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: The Prince Albert Raider is averaging more than a point-per-game in the WHL, all while maintaining a defensively-sound game, and that’s a huge reason why Winnipeg scooped him up early in the draft. Morrissey has a long history with the Canadian U18 team, and that looks good with the Hockey Canada brass, who value program loyalty and development. Morrissey rarely makes mistakes when he has the puck, and he carries it with authority and can make an outlet pass at the drop of a hat.
What can you do for me now: Morrissey was being used on the third defensive pairing against Switzerland on the 23rd, paired with Team Canada returnee Griffin Reinhart. Any jitters Morrissey may suffer may be quelled by Reinhart’s experience and Morrissey’s experience with the international game.
NHL Future: The Jets have an outstanding young defenceman named Jacob Trouba, but Morrissey comes quite close to matching Trouba’s tools. Morrissey will be given time to grow his game in the Jets’ system, but look for him to crack the roster sooner than later.
Calgary Flames: Jon Gillies, USA
Position: Goaltender
Drafted: 75th overall in 2012
What have you done for me lately: The lanky six-foot-five Gillies appeared in last year’s tournament, playing behind tournament MVP and Ducks’ goaltending stud John Gibson, so he wasn’t able to flash his wares too much. This year however, Gillies is another year older, another year wiser, and another year more practiced. The South Portland native has an otherworldly .941 SV% with the Providence Friars of Div. 1 NCAA hockey and boasts a 10-1-3 (W-L-T) record.
What can you do for me now: Gillies has a tough act to follow in Gibson, but by all accounts, he will be the USA’s starter in the tournament. He likes to challenge his shooters and his opposition in the crease for the starting job, the London Knights’ Anthony Stolarz is effective, but at times, inconsistent and wildly unpredictable in his movement. It’s Gillies’ net to lose.
NHL Future: The good news for Gillies is that Calgary, at the moment, seems to have no bona fide No. 1, established goaltender. The bad news is that just means more competition. Gillies will have to duke it out with new Flame Olivier Roy, who recently came over from Edmonton to contend for Calgary’s future crease.
Edmonton Oilers: Anton Slepyshev, Russia
Position: Left Wing
Drafted: 88th overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: Slepyshev is known for his blinding speed. With his six-foot-two frame, he’s able to use his size to gain an advantage as well, though not as often as scouts would like. The winger was passed over in his first year of draft-eligibility but had a breakout year the next, and the Oilers grabbed him with a third-round pick. The KHL player needs to develop his work along the boards before he can set his sights on the NHL.
What can you do for me now: Slepyshev has been skating with Pavel Buchnevich and the Buffalo Sabres’ Mikhail Grigorenko, which will certainly help his stock. That line was involved in three of the Russians’ four goals against Germany on the 23rd.
NHL Future: Still a work in progress, the Oilers have yet to really know what they have in Slepyshev. If the winger can continue to put in work with the physical aspects of the game, he could be an effective third-liner.
Vancouver Canucks: Bo Horvat, Canada
Position: Centre
Drafted: Ninth overall in 2013
What have you done for me lately: More well known for coming the other way in the Cory Schneider trade, Horvat has some lofty expectations to live up to in Vancouver. This season though, Horvat is compiling a nice 44-point season, and is set to obliterate his season-high of 60 with London in the OHL. He’s only thrived more with the extra attention from the checking opposition.
What can you do for me now: Horvat’s strength on the puck, gritty play, as well as scoring touch lends himself well to fit on any given line for Canada. So far, he’s scored a shorthanded goal vs Switzerland and centred a line between the Erie Otters’ Connor McDavid and Kootenay’s Sam Reinhart.
NHL Future: Horvat may have the quickest route to the NHL, if only for fan impatience. Vancouver has strength down the middle, but chemistry problems beyond that. Down the line, Horvat could make a promising second-line centre, with chances at being a first in the post-Sedin twins era.
