DON

too bad havent televised any Swedish games. i know AG has been productive, points wise and is not getting the ice time he is used to, but almost seems he is a bit less effective every game as the tourny goes on? I think is just unrealistic expectations on my part maybe? But he is turning puck over and trying so many low % passes instead of taking puck to net or simply shooting more? Maybe Housley's "team first" logo and benching that kid for being selfish is part of reason? I know almost 2 PPG is friggin super, but i still find it hard to ever pull for Team USA to win anything. I simply cant get that irritating Ryder Cup "USA..USA..USA!" chant out of my head.

I meant even if Camara's hit was clean, he knew he was gonna catch him with head down and lay him out before he hit him, a typical Kromwall hit and all i am saying is that these days, if a defenseless player (whether his own fault or not) gets run over and injury occurs, you risk getting tossed/suspended. NFL is having similar difficulty trying to curb concussions and trying to figure out what is or isnt a "defenseless reciever". And most blindside hits or cheap shots, that were 100% fine before, just arnt any longer and that is somewhat OK by me.

Both Bozon and Colin Smith were +2, Smith was another i was a bit surprised to not get an invite to camp, with a 35 goal season last year as well, he seems a better prospect than Lipon? But good that Bozon still has 1 super linemate to play with for next week or so.

Almost seemed like AG was on 3rd-4th line. But when you look at stats for face offs, his centre (#7) had the most taken, seems top 3 centres had similar amount of face offs. I love how useless Biggs is out there, Brianiac Burke's pride and joy. I havent seen Canada's game yet, but saw highlights of 2 big hits; Lipon should be suspended for sure and the other was at least a charging penalty and when you steamroll anyone these days, you are asking for trouble, even if a "clean" hit.

Will goaltending be an issue again this year? Torn between wanting Subban to flop and not be another super prospect for Bruins, but not at expense of the junior team. But i think he is playing he was too the bench giving up AHL-side goals vs CIS and today. Hudon seems like a smart player, hope he gets top 6 minutes and some PP time. Alot of whining about penalties, but most were deserved. First game i have seen Galchenyuk play, yes he did look dangerous and had many scoring chances. At least Collberg can skate very well and i thought his best play was backchecking on a turnover he coughed up. Jacob de la Rose semed like a good young player for Sweden.

Sure, all sounds good. Hudon, had a good game this morning (what i saw of it). Now will Galchenyuk or Collberg stand out more in this next exhibition game?

? you wrote the outstanding performances in last dozen years by kids in draft year; Kovalchuk-Ovechkin etc with almost identical numbers as Collberg put up (4 goals on 10 shots, + sweet shootout goal)? So either i am interpreting incorrectly that paragraph, or can say/assume Yakupov-Collberg stood out as much as future NHL stars did in their draft year. Didnt Kovachuk-Ovechkin-Stamkos get points vs crap opposition also when they got 6 or 7 points also? And i know Yakupov was almost a 2011 draft, Collberg wasnt, but i also agree that birth month difference can be important to factor in (Seth Jones, Shinkaruk, Pulock are all the same, almost 1 year older than MacKinnon and only 3 months younger than Reinhart) I am guessing Drouin is a cut above Strome/Schiefele and already has better vision, but the older guys will get the ice time to produce. If Yakupov (or Hopkins) has 9 assist-zero goals, i dont think Oiler fans will freak at all, there are more laid back than your average Hab fan (dont know about prospect people). 1.5 PPG simply aint that bad. MIkael Granlund had a whooping 2 goals and no one from Minni was too worked up and he is still hailed as one of top prospects (i think?). Anyways, should be some good games and lots of talanted kids to watch.

Good news- Dietz adds another assist and now 18th in WHL d-scoring and at least he no longer is last in +/- Bad news- he was a -1 and now is -20, which is about 637th with only 2 or 3 players beneath him. Thrower not scoring, but is on 2 game fight streak and i see his 16 year old brother is following in his footsteps and plays a very similar game for the HItmen, making big hits and taking on 20 year olds who outweigh him by 30lbs.

Good one Mr. Kerr, Collberg with 7 points in 6 games in his draft year was outstanding, Yakupov was also a standout, while neither led their teams, both showed above average skills, whereas most draft year kids do fall into your typical catagory of role player for sure. However, I dont think it is unreralistic to see Barkov lead team Finland and Drouin having a ton of assists if given ice/PP time and possibly being the #2 playmaker on team, behind Hopkins. Lindholm/ MacKinnon and Ristolainen/Jones are likely to be similar quality role players, but all can still expect to see glimsps of why they are all so highly rated. Maybe many expect too much from 2013 kids?, i had hoped Shinkaruk-Pulock would of made the team as that 7th d and extra forward, which maybe was unrealistic, but i still would insert them and remove 1 d and 1 forward and have a more offensively dangerous team (i would exchange MacKInnon-Reinhart)?

Beaulieu's production is pretty consistant and chipping in every game for past few weeks. Nice to hear Chaput get a couple, seems like an honest hard-working player. 0 for 5 on the PP is just a killer, if somehow Lefebvre can get that going, would make a big difference in W-L

I know Commodore likely gives them a better chance at winning, but always prefer to see youth, Corbin, get slotted in. Chaput seems a capable player.

Well, good to see Dogs at least scoring some goals lately and super to see Corbin-Tinordi break the ice. Corbin has a good shot from the point. Dumont may have brighter future than Palushaj? He seems to be hardest worker on the team. Can a guy his size be a 4th line centre in the NHL? Any word on how Pateryn's injury is healing, timeframe for return, Feb?

We shall see how Galchenyuk-Yakupov-Collberg-Forsberg-Grigorenko, etc all fare vs top competition again next week. And really looking forward to seeing all the top 5 - 2013 prospects compete; Alek Barkov-Elias Lindholm-Seth Jones-MacKinnon and Drouin.

Sure, Giants are not a strong team to follow this year, they do have a couple nice players, but will end up with high end picks by easily finishing last this year, and is too bad Toronto media seem to show NCAA crap more so than canadian sports, but betting on NCAA is just so huge that seems to dominate. But Sportsnet i think is getting OK ratings for CHL/AHL hockey and hope they continue to cover and maybe even show more games, even if NHL comes back. I have always been a Blue Jay fan, so cant complain but know exactly what u mean. At least the Shithawks are worth watching this year and if they can just learn how to win on the road, they could really contend.

You really think so? I was 100% convinced a full year in CHL would be best for him, but him on the wing instead of Moan being in top 6/or 9, would surely be more productive and Plekanec/Eller would likely be quite happy to have him there as well. Maybe Habs very lucky he didnt play last year, Columbus/Oil may have chosen differently? Great to see Kristo get 6 points in last 2 games and MacMillan already at his freshman goal total. Even the Blades have turned things around and Thrower is back being physical, lugging the puck alot and Dietz continuing to produce offensively (other end of ice still a ??)

showed Fortier had 7 shots which is nice to see, while Gallagher only had 2 which is low for him great to see bunch of young guys producing with Palushaj and Geoffrion gone. surprised Leblanc is not adding more offense?

Middling significance? It was quite a bold ballsy move by Gauthier and it appears he/Gainey were correct in Price being the real deal and i still get a chuckle over blowhard McGuire freakin out when Halek was moved. You seem to equate Hockey = NHL? Hockey will do fine without the NHL. NHL is just 1 league of many and super hockey is being played all over. I would prefer to see Sarnia games with Galchenyuk ripping it up, than listen to Gomez being booed off the ice.

Again, i have no real issue with choices, only seen Corrado play once. and all you say makes perfect sense. But wouldnt have picked Murphy nor Reinhart (if Pulock is healthy now, if not then add Murphy as 7th man). Pulock has a Weber-like cannon of a shot, is racking up the points on a crappy team with the worst goal differential, while also leading team with a +11. Why he wasnt even invited to camp i dont know? Reilly-Hamilton Harrington-Ouellet Pouliot-Ceci Pulock

Great to see Drouin make the cut. Whomever gets to play with him should have some gift-wrapped goals. Got no real beef with any player selected but:: Question: If Ryan Murphy played for Tri-city or Saint John and not Spott's team, would he have made the cut? Wouldnt Ceci or that Corrado kid be better choices than Murphy; or is Murphy like Esposito and had to be selected simply due to past Hockey Canada participation/invitations? Morgan Reilly is the best PP QB, and Hamilton aint too bad neither is he, so Murphy also isnt likely to be effective defending big fast Swede/Russian forwards.

yes and i would bet he is the lowest drafted skater also (besides Lipon of course, who will iikely go 2nd-3rd round this year)?

Nice to see grinders like Bournival and Nattinen score. Nattinen deserves better than Hagel-Stortini as wingmen. Beaulieu's chances are starting to pay off (funny that Subban said couple days ago that he didnt start to produce till after 20 games in Hamilton) , he still needs to work on his defense, but that will come with time and he just turned 20. I have been crapping on Nash, but i thought he actually played a solid game, even while being a -2. Gotta love Gallagher's shit disturbance in the crease every game (he is a cross between.Ott and Gionta).

Well, Fortier should be pretty motivated and good to see him called up and while bad for Palushaj, will mean more icetime for rookies and maybe good in long run and for Lefebvre's toss em in the deep end style so far? And i dont think Chicago is a strong team, so could be a 3rd win in a row??

Bozon had OK game yesterday, had a sweet goal, top-corner short side, on a hot goalie in Tristan Jarry, who stood on his head most of game (another WHL goalie Timmins should have his eye on in Top Prospects game, along with Comrie). Bozon dosent seem big on physical side of game, but is skilled with puck and can skate.

yes missed almost all last year-shoulder. But, he just seems lost out there, turning puck over, cant pass for shit, not physical at all and just seems to fumble the puck everytime he has it? But he still is a +, so maybe i do expect too much? Or maybe all the attention paid to rookie group has he and St.Denis "out of sorts" and seeing themselves drop big time in the depth chart? And also knowing Deitz/Thrower/Bennett/Nygren are likely gonna challange for d-spots also over next few years and a crack at Hab roster next season is fading?

Petan size may be overlooked and be a sure bet for 1st round, if he keeps being the leading scorer for Portland; +33, 53pts in 30 games. Seth Jones is now 4th in d-scoring, looking like real deal and better all the time.