KINGSTON, Ont. — Ostensibly the final exhibition tune-up between the U.S. and Sweden under-20 teams looked like an opportunity to weigh the relative merits of two of the most talked about teenage players in the world, 2015 draft-eligible Jack Eichel and William Nylander, Toronto’s first-rounder last June.
It never really materialized.
The U.S. smoked the Swedes 10-5 at the K-Rock Centre. It looked like Sweden might be able to compete … well, at least for the first 60 seconds or so. The U.S. took a penalty nine seconds in and the Swedes were able to keep their opponents off the scoreboard for the next 52 seconds. But then J.T. Compher scored on a short-handed breakaway and the Swedes came apart like an Ikea bookshelf short a couple of screws.
You never had a doubt the Americans were going to win. The Swedish blueline wilted under a smothering and physical forechecking game. The U.S. just looked too big, too skilled and way too aware of these advantages over a Swedish squad that will have to be better if it hopes to advance even as far as the semifinals in this year’s world junior tournament. The U.S. picked up a shorthanded goal in the game’s second shift and never trailed, 3-2 after 20 minutes, 7-2 after 40.
The game within the game between Eichel and Nylander was just about as lop-sided. Eichel, though one of the younger players on the team, wears the “C” and led the way in the first period, his most dazzling plays coming in close quarters around the Swedish net. Yes, a two-dollar exactor bet next June on Connor McDavid No. 1, Eichel No. 2 will pay $2.40 but the separation between these two and the rest of the field is really remarkable.
Even though at least one scouting savant in the media has estimated that Nylander is one of the three best players in the world not currently in the NHL, he didn’t look like the third best player on the ice last night. Or the fifth. Top 10? Okay, we’ll give you that. But then again, his team was in ruins for the last 30 minutes, out-matched; what can you ask?
That question reads as rhetorical, but not to one NHL scouting director in attendance.
"The Swedes weren’t very good but Nylander has just been okay and nothing better," the veteran bird-dog said. "Your team not being in the game isn’t a good enough excuse, not for 60 minutes, especially playing for your country. For as long as the game was close in the first period, [Nylander] really didn’t do much out there."
The scouting director contrasted Nylander’s weak effort last night with the nightly efforts of McDavid and Eichel this season.
"The thing to remember about both McDavid and Eichel is that they make weak teams look a helluva lot better than they are," one NHL scouting director said last night. "Erie was a pretty good team last year but not close to that strong this year. With McDavid in the lineup [the Otters] are as good as anybody. Without him, they have a fight beating anybody. And even though BU [the Boston University Terriers] is ranked [as high as No. 1 in the NCAA] they’re not really that strong. Both these guys are already franchise players already way beyond what 18-year-olds are. "
Okay, it’s only one game and an exhibition at that. And maybe Nylander and the Swedes are still getting acclimatized. Still, the Americans looked awfully impressive Tuesday night.
Players of Interest
Alex Tuch: The Minnesota Wild first rounder had a hat trick Tuesday and could have had five pretty easily. Big, skilled; sort of reminds me of James van Riemsdyk at the same stage, same deft touch on a quick turn and finish in tight quarters.
Thatcher Demko: The goaltender from Boston College, a Vancouver second-rounder last June, wasn’t asked to do much before the Americans ran out to the big lead. Five goals conceded on 25 shots looks pretty weak, but three came in the third, one with a couple of seconds left. He’ll have to be better in the tournament, but he didn’t have to be any good at all last night.
Auston Matthews: The 2016 draft eligible player looked right at home in with big kids, picking up a pair of goals and towing Swedish defencemen to the net and bowling them over in the corners. Said one NHL scout: "At this stage he’s a step behind where McDavid and Eichel were a year ago … with their high-end skill and vision. Still Matthews is odds-on the No. 1 [in 2016]."