dlbalr Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 The 2014 World Juniors are almost upon us with exhibition games having already begun with the main tournament set to start on the 26th. The Habs will be very well represented with the following players who either have already, or have a chance at being named to their respective countries' teams: Canada: Zach Fucale, Charles Hudon Finland: Artturi Lehkonen Slovakia: Martin Reway Sweden: Sebastian Collberg, Jacob de la Rose Links: HabsWorld's StatTracker: http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=3283 Tournament Website: http://www.worldjunior2014.com/ TSN/TSN 2 Broadcast Schedule: http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?id=4124 NHL Network (US) Broadcast Schedule: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=695682&navid=nhl:topheads Full Tournament Schedule: http://www.worldjunior2014.com/en/games/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 I watched the CAN-FIN game exhibition game today, my quick thoughts: - Fucale didn't help his cause. Yes, he only allowed two but he was fighting the puck for most of the game. He looked small in the net far too often and also benefited from several goal posts. - Hudon didn't play much but was effective. It's quite concerning that he appears to be one of the bubble players; I got the impression from the extended pre-game that the thought is he may be on the outside looking in. - Lehkonen was decent but his linemate (Teravainen) stole the show. At the very least, Lehkonen fits in well on Finland's top line and should be one of their better players in the tournament. TSN also has US-SWE coming up in a half hour, featuring Collberg and de la Rose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Watching the game, Josh Anderson has to be one of the cuts IMO, the other I'm not sure, but I'd lean toward Girard. The idea that Anderson is a lock on the team is lost on me watching him. I don't think he's as good as some others. The idea that Shinkaruk/Mantha are competing for one spot and anderson is a lock? comical Imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Watching the game, Josh Anderson has to be one of the cuts IMO, the other I'm not sure, but I'd lean toward Girard. The idea that Anderson is a lock on the team is lost on me watching him. I don't think he's as good as some others. The idea that Shinkaruk/Mantha are competing for one spot and anderson is a lock? comical Imo. I cant see how Shinkaruk isn't good enough, but haven't seen him play since pre-season? I thought he and Petan would of helped last year over the "big-grinders' on the big ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 I cant see how Shinkaruk isn't good enough, but haven't seen him play since pre-season? He doesn't look right out there, I'm thinking he's playing through some sort of injury. A couple of thoughts from the Sweden game: - Collberg has an offensive zone mentality of 'see puck, shoot puck.' He passed off a few times but it's easy to tell he's a sniper. His line (with Wennberg and Johnson) was terrific, all three of them played quite well. - de la Rose was fairly quiet I thought. He was slower than I seemed to remember from the last WJC. His size and puck protection stood out to me in a good way though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 I've made a new thread for the WJC talk and moved the posts discussing yesterday's games into here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 I thought Lehkonen was stronger on his skates than I expected for his size. thanks for posting links dlbalr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sakiqc Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 He doesn't look right out there, I'm thinking he's playing through some sort of injury. A couple of thoughts from the Sweden game: - Collberg has an offensive zone mentality of 'see puck, shoot puck.' He passed off a few times but it's easy to tell he's a sniper. His line (with Wennberg and Johnson) was terrific, all three of them played quite well. - de la Rose was fairly quiet I thought. He was slower than I seemed to remember from the last WJC. His size and puck protection stood out to me in a good way though. Collberg made an highlight reel goal vs the US. Will be great to see how he fares in this WJC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Barring another zamboni mishap (and it broke once again today already in the early game), Hudon and Team Canada will take on Collberg, de la Rose, and Team Sweden. Puck drop is at 11 AM EST. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Players to watch in Pool A http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/22/players-to-watch-at-the-2014-world-juniors-pool-a/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Lekhonen 1g 1a and 1 crossbar, looked good to me. Collberg & de la Rose 1 a each in 2nd period Hardly seen or noticed Hudon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Hudon certainly didn't help his cause. He had a couple of giveaways early and didn't see much ice time after that until the end. If it's down to him and Girard for the final spot as has been speculated...he could be in trouble. I was really impressed with both Collberg and de la Rose. Collberg's speed and puck control in particular stood out while he still had his shoot first mentality. de la Rose had some good plays in the offensive zone and was strong on the puck the whole game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meller93 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Hudon made a huge check after the play died out once, caused a little scrum. Good to see a bit of fire from him anyway, and that despite his smaller size around 5-10 he's pretty solid. Canada as a whole had a terrible game, Hudon wasn't bad but wasn't good enough either. I was impressed most with De La Rose. He almost had a couple goals alongside his assist, one almost being a short-handed goal. I honestly think this guy will be the perfect two way bottom six guy for us in 3 years or so. Size, speed, smarts, and even a little skill. Kind of like a bigger, slightly more talented Prust minus the fighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Girard gets cut, Hudon makes the team. Also, Lehkonen had a goal and an assist with 4 SOG this morning as Finland took on the US. I didn't catch any of the game so I can't comment on how he played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Players to watch on Norway Switzerland and Finland includes a Hab. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/23/2014-world-junior-championships-players-to-watch-norway-switzerland-finland/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Hudon will be the 13th forward for Canada in their final exhibition game this afternoon. Fucale's not getting the start either, suggesting the #1 job may now be Paterson's to lose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycing Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Tough break for the Habs prospects on Canada. Still, both Hudon and Fucale could find themselves playing more prominent roles by the end of the tournament. Hudon needs to find a way to contribute more while the starting role will be Patterson's role to lose. Have to think everyone's confident in Fucale's abilities to take over if that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 It's not even the end of the world if Fucale doesn't play much. He'll be eligible to come back next year and since he'll have apprenticed as the backup, the starter job is his to lose for the 2015 tournament already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycing Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Yeah agreed - I'd said something similar early today. I was just hoping we'd get to see him in action for more than one pre-tournament match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Sweden and Russia WJC players to watch includes two Habs prospects.http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/24/2014-world-juniors-players-to-watch-sweden-and-russia/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 Yeah agreed - I'd said something similar early today. I was just hoping we'd get to see him in action for more than one pre-tournament match. The way Canada's goalies have been in recent years, he may get his chance before too long. I don't think Paterson has a stranglehold on the starter job by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Best we don't look at Fucale how we looked at Price. I think at draft we knew he'd take some work. He'll probably develop a lot like how Jack Campbell developed from Windsor to Texas with several World Juniors appearances. (Only reason I thought of Campbell is I used to know his girlfriend haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Best we don't look at Fucale how we looked at Price. I think at draft we knew he'd take some work. He'll probably develop a lot like how Jack Campbell developed from Windsor to Texas with several World Juniors appearances. (Only reason I thought of Campbell is I used to know his girlfriend haha) The first World Junior after Price was drafted.... Price did not make the team. The starter in the 2006 tournament was Justin Pogge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Collberg and Lehkonen are both alternate captains for their respective countries. Edit: The IIHF site is now showing that Collberg isn't. Our annual StatTracker is now up as well. http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=3283 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Hudon didn't play much early on against Germany but got a semi-regular shift in the 3rd with Canada up big. He played well too, certainly better than Leier who didn't do much short of taking a penalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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