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- [00:00]
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- [01:01]
Royal Kingdom Game Promoter
We interrupt your regularly scheduled podcast with some breaking news. Millions of people are now playing the mobile puzzle game Royal Kingdom. This is not a drill. Royal Kingdom has thousands of levels and is incredibly fun. What's that? I'm hearing from my producer that it has no ads and it is completely free to download. What's next? You're gonna tell me it doesn't need wifi? This just in. Royal Kingdom doesn't need wi fi to play. We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops, but get it.
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- [01:46]
Scott Wheeler
This is the athletic hockey show prospect series.
- [02:01]
Max Boltman
Hey everybody. Max Boltman here alongside Scott Wheeler and Corey Prodman for another episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. It is our World Junior Preview episode today, guys, and I want to start with the cuts Canada announced. We're recording this on December 19th. So just a day or two ago, Canada announced three cuts from their roster. It is Jake O', Brien, it is Merrick Vanacker, and it is Jackson Smith. Scott, coming off of the Canada roster, what were your thoughts to these three cuts?
- [02:28]
Scott Wheeler
Not surprised. Those were the three cuts that I'd kind of highlighted in my Camp Takeaways piece. That was the day prior to the game that Corey was at in Kitchener with Sweden to open pre tournament game the pre tournament schedule. But it felt like those three had to be standouts in that Kitchener game. And Corey can touch on the specifics of how they played. But neither of the three of them did that I thought Vaneker was always going to be in tough just because he was a late ad. And then o' Brien we've talked about on the show as somebody who just maybe didn't have a natural role. They. They didn't view him as a bottom six penalty killer. They viewed him more as a PP2 guy than a PP1 guy. And that meant that at five on five, he either had to play his way into being a 13th forward type who could play on their power play or he had to be a true top six guy. And you looked at the top six centers, especially once they got Michael Misa and even the top six wingers and it was a crowded field pretty quickly here, especially with the way that they like the look of Brady Martin in that group. So no real surprise. Smith, not a surprise either for me. They had. They brought five lefties and four righties to camp, so it always felt like it was going to more likely be a lefty than a righty who was going to be cut. And it quickly became clear that they viewed Ethan McKenzie and Cameron Reed and Kayshawn Aitchison differently than they viewed Jackson Smith, Corey.
- [03:50]
Max Boltman
When you look at the players who did make this roster, what stands out to you? Is there a. It's the best roster in the tournament, there's no doubt about that. But is there any vulnerabilities here?
- [03:58]
Corey Prodman
Well, it's the clear favorite in the tournament, very talented group overall. The defense group maybe not quite as gifted as the forward group, especially if they don't get Sam Dickinson, which I think is the kind of where things are trending right now. Although things can. Things can change by the minute. The four group is going to be a point of minor debate with the cut of Jake o' Brien in that I still think this bottom six has plenty of skill. As we're recording right now, the bottom six looks like Cole Bodwin between Cole Reshnie and Jet Lachenko and Braden Coutts in between Green tree and Sam O'Reilly, Reshni, Lachenko, Greentree, Coots all have plenty of skill in their game. Caleb De Noye is the 13th forward. He's got plenty of skill, but I would say Jake o' Brien has more skill than all of those players. He's a much better power play option. He's a much better secondary scoring option. I think there were some concerns how he was going to play it, even strength, a little bit of concerns with his pace. So I under. I understood why he was on the bubble. I understood why he was cut I just think when you look at this roster and they're probably going to have Carter Bear either as a 13th or the healthy scratch. I think if one of their skill guys don't produce, I mean, Brady Martin hasn't had a productive year at all despite his fantastic pre tourbing game against Sweden the other day. You know, if he doesn't produce, if the third line with Reschni and Lichenko and Baudouin don't produce, I probably would have brought a plan B, which is something this team Canada has been criticized in the last couple of years is they don't bring a plan B on the skill front in case their scoring dries up. Last year was Carson Rakoff and I'm not sure how great a plan B that was at times. So that's the one thing in this roster that might be a minor. We just. But overall it's still a loaded roster. Like I said, even these quote unquote, like, you know, bottom six checking guys mentioning they've got plenty of offense and can and can provide legit secondary scoring for this team. Canada has the clear, clear best goaltending in this tournament. Carter George was excellent against Sweden. It's a good blue line. Like I said, it's just it, it is a loaded team. If they don't win gold, it's an upset.
- [06:18]
Max Boltman
To your point about o', Brien, it reminds me a little bit of the conversation we had about Team USA on our Olympic episode, right. Where it's like, yeah, you're, you're cutting some of the most skilled guys, but you're not cutting them for pure, you know, meat and potatoes grinding either. Right. Reschni and Bear were two of the top scorers in all of Canada last season.
- [06:35]
Scott Wheeler
Yep.
- [06:35]
Corey Prodman
I think that's perfectly fair. The issue is more that o' Brien's just having such a great year this year. Right. Like he's the best player on arguably the best team in the CHL right now. And neither Reschni like rescue's having a good year on North Dakota's not having a fantastic year. Bears not having a fantastic year. Coots I know made the Canucks, but he's having a good year in the Western League. He's not lighting it up either. So, you know, I think he, o' Brien is the most skilled player of that group and I understood why they let him. They let him go. Those other guys can kill penalties.
- [07:06]
Scott Wheeler
They can.
- [07:07]
Corey Prodman
They can be a little bit more reliable and strength, especially in the limited minute scenarios that they're probably going to play. But that's that was the decision they made and that's and that affects the roster composition.
- [07:19]
Max Boltman
Yeah, obviously they had a pre tournament game Canada and Sweden, so we've had some look at how all these pieces fit together. Granted it's pre cuts, it's pre Michael Misa getting added in before we get to the game. Scott, can you just kind of sum up the impact of adding Michael Misa to this roster?
- [07:34]
Scott Wheeler
It's huge. I think one of the things that if there was a worry about this roster sort of pre Mesa and what it might look like, I think one of the things is sort of highlighted by what Corey just said. All of those, almost all of those players that he mentioned are natural centers, but it didn't feel like they had a true sort of top six center group. Like their returnees are Cole Bodwain and Jet Luchenko who they've now moved to the wing. Brady Martin was never going to be a center for them at this event. They've always played Brady Martin on the wing. Cole Reschni and Braden Coutts were their top two centers at this spring's U18 Worlds, but are 18 year olds and you don't know whether you want them playing top six at this event. Michael Hage there's questions about center versus wing so Misa just gives them that natural center. And oddly enough Misa hasn't actually played a ton of center for Hockey Canada in the past either. They've used Michael Misa on the wing in the past, but now coming coming off of CHL sort of or OHL player of most outstanding player and the season that he had a year ago, he just looks like that guy. Like he looks like the typical one C that you'd want in this tournament and without Berkeley. Catton, who's still dealing with a wrist injury and he is back skating after blocking a shot, but he's still wearing a red non contact jersey with the Kraken and without Caten they just needed that that sort of true 1c and he gives them that like he gives them someone who they can roll out against James Hagens or Frondell or had Constah Helenius been lent to to Finland like he just would have given them that sort of top dog.
- [09:04]
Corey Prodman
He is still looking for his standout performance though internationally. His U17s and his Hlinka. He was an underage of both of those but he was, he was just fine. He wasn't great at either of those events. His CHL NTDP games last season he was. He was good he wasn't fantastic. I thought he was either. Yeah, he was good. He wasn't like a standout, though. He didn't do what Schaefer did or anything close to that. Then in the summer showcase, you know, he was just. I think he was just okay, fine, like, yeah, you know, this is, you know, he has lacked, I think in his career a defining moment where on a big stage, he has just completely taken over. And we'll see whether this winter is that moment for Michael Misa.
- [09:46]
Scott Wheeler
Even the Memorial cup, like he was used. They had him as their 3C for most of that Memorial cup run.
- [09:53]
Max Boltman
What stood out to you? Corey in the first of the Sweden candidate. By the time everyone hears this, there will have been a second. So we apologize if. If we're missing something out of that game. But from the first time you saw these teams, granted there was no Michael Misa, what were your big takeaways or.
- [10:05]
Corey Prodman
Porter Mart Toner, DJ Ganla. But the line with Michael Hage in between Gavin McKenna and Brady Martin was clearly the best line. Even strength in that game, you know. And McKenna, you know, was played very well. He got, you know, made two very nice assists, you know, looked. Looked very comfortable. And Michael Hayes was driving play, much like he's done in college. But what's really notable was the play of Brady Martin. I thought he was the best player in that game. And it's notable coming off a really so. So start for him to his OHL season where he hasn't been productive at all. And to see him be consistently involved in the offense and even strength to go with this physicality was, you know, a real good thing to see Adam Martin, he's currently slated to be in the top nine, maybe even the top six to start the tournament for Canada. So obviously they are. There's big believers in this player and they don't think that his slow start in juniors indicated by the level of skill he has. He is a very skilled player and that was definitely a major takeaway. The other line that I thought was decent was Caleb Dinoya between Jet Lachenko and Liam Greentree. Lechenko in particular, I thought played very well. You had a lot of energy, a lot of speed in his game. He was around the puck a lot. You know, what you expect from a returning player who's now played in two different NHL seasons, but a guy who's also been criticized at time for his playing junior in the ohl. And he looks primed to play a major role with big minutes for this team. Canada.
- [11:36]
Max Boltman
Yeah, Brady Martin I think is an interesting one because he was a guy that we even talked about as a bubble case. But it looks like Scott here, he's going to play a really prominent role for Canada. Not just, not just be on the team.
- [11:47]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah, he's going to be a regular at even strength. He's going to penalty kill for this team. I thought in the red white scrimmages in camp in Niagara that he was their best, their most noticeable penalty killer. Breaking up plays, creating breakaways, being disruptive, finishing checks even against his own teammates which is kind of a part of his identity. Like there's just no off switch and they've always. Hockey Canada has always been drawn to that player and they've rarely had a player of that identity who, who also has legit high end skill. Like as Corey alluded to, he can beat guys one on one. He might score a highlight reel goal or two in this tournament. He's going to be a very important player. He's likely going to get a look on PP2 as well as PK. So you could see him in all situations. I think he's an identity piece. The one thing you always worry about with Brady is that sort of fine line at IHF events. He's so physical. He had. I don't know, we were all in Texas in the spring but he must have had a dozen like, like checks that you could just hear in the rink. And he avoided a suspension at U18 Worlds. But anything to the head and that kind of a thing can. Can cost you in this tournament with a five minute major. And that's the only thing with Brady that they'll have to. To sort of harp on him for is just early in games. I know he wants to set the tone. Case on Aitchison, same thing. Colbo Dwang, same thing. Those guys are just going to have to walk that line with. With I officiating. Otherwise I think all three of those players are going to be huge parts of the identity of this team.
- [13:16]
Corey Prodman
I understood why Canada cut Jackson Smith. Yeah, he struggled at times with the puck in that game against Sweden. His even his season at Penn State kind of been up and down so far. I do look at this blue line especially if Carson Carls is going to be the seventh D which is what kind of I kind of expect right now and Verhoff would start as a healthy scratch. I do wonder about the skill on this blue line a little bit which is kind of similar thing we saw last year at the. At the tournament is that I think you know Zane Parrick has got plenty of skill. You know he's gonna log a ton of minutes for this team. And while a lot of these other defensemen have good skill, Cameron Reed has good skill, Harrison Brunicke and Keisha Aterson have good skill, there is a little bit of a lack of high end puck moving in this group as a whole and I do wonder how that's going to age and and affect them in in the tough games.
- [14:12]
Scott Wheeler
And they they rotated Jackson Smith and Ethan McKenzie on PP2 and camp and I think it's, it's worth asking whether Ethan McKenzie is a legit power play guy at this level. Like, it looks like Ethan McKenzie with Smith's cut is now going to run their second power play, presuming that they don't get Sam Dickinson now, maybe they just, maybe, maybe Zane's one of those guys who's just out there with both units and plays the majority of the two minutes. But they're, they're, they're a Parek like they were last year with Schaefer's injury. They're a Perek injury away from from having some power play questions in terms of the utility of some of their defensemen.
- [14:51]
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- [14:58]
Scott Wheeler
Can I earn 1.5% cash back on birds?
- [15:01]
Corey Prodman
Birds?
- [15:02]
Scott Wheeler
What if you sent your true love two turtledoves plus a partridge in a pear tree?
- [15:06]
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- [15:09]
Scott Wheeler
The song was very convincing.
- [15:11]
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- [15:17]
Max Boltman
What's in your wallet?
- [15:18]
Capital One Announcer
Terms apply. See capitalone.com for details. With no fees or minimums on checking accounts, it's no wonder the Capital One bank guy is so passionate about banking with Capital One. If he were here, he wouldn't just tell you about no fees or minimums. He'd also talk about how most Capital One cafes are open seven days a week to assist with your banking needs. Yep, even on weekends it's pretty much all he talks about. In a good way. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC.
- [15:52]
Royal Kingdom Game Promoter
We interrupt your regularly scheduled podcast with some breaking news. Millions of people are now playing the mobile puzzle game Royal Kingdom. This is not a drill. Royal Kingdom has thousands of levels and is incredibly fun. What's that? I'm hearing from my producer that it has no ads and it is completely free to download. What's next. You're gonna tell me it doesn't need wi fi. This just in. Royal Kingdom doesn't need wifi to play. We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops, but get it.
- [16:21]
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- [16:22]
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- [16:29]
Max Boltman
All right, let's go now to some of the biggest story lines of this tournament and we'll hold the predictions for for the last segment here. But it's not as that. I think everyone can hear from the first segment like Team USA comes to this as a two time returning champion. They were they are not coming in as a favorite to three peat this right. So what do you make Scott, of the kind of down year narrative for Team USA here?
- [16:52]
Scott Wheeler
Well, I think it's, it's fair just because of the, the glitz and the shine that the last two teams had. Like they were just defined by players that even the average hockey fan knew whether it was Ryan Leonard or Will Smith or Zev Boyam. And, and they had the top dogs. They had Trey Augustine, they, they had the best goalie in the tournament in consecutive seasons, even Jacob Fowler as a backup. Like there was just this collection of talent at the right time for them to do what they'd never done, which is winning two in a row. Now they have to try to do what they've never done which is winning three in a row and winning one on, on home soil. But it's missing that James Hagens and Cole Hudson are still premium names in this event. Like if you were to list the 10 biggest names playing at this tournament, they're two of them still. They've got some, we've talked about it but they've got some very, very talented wingers like, like some seven or eight legit wingers, one of whom is probably going to be playing on their first on their fourth line. But they just, there's no tray and the goaltending is now a huge question mark. And I know our colleague Joe Smith interviewed Bob Mako yesterday and Matsuko told him on his podcast that they, the goalie, the crease is wide open. So and that's just not not been a conversation recently with this team. And, and then down the middle there's questions. One of the thing Bob, things Bob also mentioned on Joe's show was that after James Hagens there isn't they, they don't really know what they're doing with their, with their centers just yet. And he mentioned Teddy Stiga and Max Plant, two wingers potentially moving to the middle of the ice for them. And so there's just, there are more questions. You're still going to have top players, you're still going to have top performers. They're still likely to medal in this tournament and a favorite to potentially even play. And I could see them playing in a gold medal game at this event. But, but it's not, it's not that fever pitch of, of these guys are going to be undeniably good.
- [18:46]
Max Boltman
You mentioned them possibly playing in the gold medal game. I would say Corey, it's probably a coin flip as who the favorite to be the runner up here to Canada is between USA and Sweden.
- [18:57]
Corey Prodman
Yeah, I think that's fair. Sweden has a very good team this year. Despite the loss to Canada in the pre touring game. They did actually have a very surprising loss to Finland at the f at the U25 nations in November where they dressed almost their entire world junior squad and they lost them by multiple by a multi gold deficit. But despite that, I still think you look at this roster overall it's a very talented roster. There's a lot of high draft picks. There's a lot of really good older players on this team. You know, there's a lot of skill. Good enough blue line I think, you know they have some high end guys like Anton Frondell is very is high end. Ivar Stenberg is high end. I do think it's fair to look at this team and wonder how many truly elite players there are. Like you even go to a team usa, you could see Cole Hudson be the best defenseman in this tournament. We could see James Hagan's be the best forward in this tournament. I think outside of maybe Stenberg, like there's not really a guy on Sweden. You're thinking okay, he's going to take over. They're really going to need a group effort from a lot from a lot of those forward lines and D pairs and I think they could do that and I think they even could win with that makeup. But that's kind of more what we're looking at with this team. It's not a lot if there's not game breakers on this team. It's just a lot of really good players.
- [20:15]
Max Boltman
It's still single elimination hockey though, right? So when we talk about what a big favorite Canada is like, I don't think any of us are going to be stunned if someone other than Canada wins it. Or am I wrong with that?
- [20:25]
Scott Wheeler
Scott? Canada lost to both Sweden and Finland at the summer showcase this summer, including one game where it was also Canada's full roster and Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna and Michael Misa were all playing and Finland pump. I think it was 6 3. So yes any. The reality is anything can happen at this tournament. Their kids, the pressure can get to them. We've seen Canada fold at the last two tournaments under pressure. A bad penalty, a couple of bad bounces. Carter George doesn't play his best. There's absolutely a scenario where Canada doesn't win gold at this tournament. Are they the favorites? Yes. I like this Swedish team though. Like I think this Swedish team is going to be competitive with anybody in this tournament. I think Lucas Pedersen, the Ducks second rounder has always been a top player. He's 19 year old now and has always been a top player at this age age level. Liam Danielson who's undrafted has, has looked really, really good the last few times I've watched him. They've got some players. The one worry I have and it's similar to the worry I have with Team USA with the Swedes is in net like Mons Goose and Love Heron Stem have have been consistent goaltenders for this U20 Swedish national team. They aren't steal a game goaltenders. Like they aren't.
- [21:37]
Corey Prodman
It might be Herman Leaf as a starting goalie also.
- [21:40]
Scott Wheeler
Yes. So I, I do wonder about, about the goaltending for the Swedes in a gold medal game against the Canadian top power play unit. That kind of a thing. But it's, it's, it's a very, very good team and a deep team and even like you go down the list. Jack Bergland at your, your boy in Detroit, Eddie Yenborg is having a great season. Like they're, they're a strong, strong opponent for anybody.
- [22:08]
Max Boltman
I talked to Max Plant recently. I called him for kind of like a midseason story and I was asking about the world juniors Corey and I asked him about kind of the perception that the two time defending champs on home ice are kind of underdogs and he pushed back a little bit on, on this and was like, you know, like his age group has had a lot of international success. Now granted they did lose their U18 gold medal game in a rather heartbreaking way but if it's not for a late penalty there he kind of has a point. They probably win that game too.
- [22:37]
Corey Prodman
Yeah, things change a little bit in two years. The, the U20s are not the U18s. The way players mature are a little different. I mean you look at some how some of these players that were the premier guys on Team USA have done in college you know, like Teddy Stiga has been fine. Camille Benarek, who was one of the top players on that team has been just fine. It's in college like it's. It's not this completely the same thing. I understand where he's coming from. I think it's hard to objectively look at these rosters and come away with anything and think that. That Canada isn't the favorite. But USA is a really good team. They could absolutely win a gold medal. They've got plenty of skill. Like you know you mentioned like that, that top, you know, group of players, whether it's Hagens with Cole Eisenman with. With Cole Hudson, maybe Horkoff gets into that, into that top power play conversation. Trevor Connolly plants Hobie Baker candidate. Like there's a lot of talent on this team, but it's not like the murderer's row of talent. And if any one of those guys don't live up to expectations, then that's really going to affect their turnings. I really don't know. But the secondary scoring on this team compared to a candidate compared to a.
- [23:45]
Max Boltman
Sweden, their recipe has to really stem through like a dominant PP1 here. This is going to have to be a team that makes teams absolutely pay for any grade A opportunity they're getting.
- [23:55]
Corey Prodman
Yeah, I agree.
- [23:56]
Scott Wheeler
Hockey Canada would also make the case that Michael Misa and Zane Parek and a number of the players were on this team were not available to them at U18 World.
- [24:04]
Max Boltman
I agree. I like it's a multi age group tournament is the ultimate crux of this.
- [24:08]
Corey Prodman
Right.
- [24:08]
Max Boltman
Like when you're at the U18s. Yeah. Sometimes you pull a guy up who's two years under. But even if plants age group head to head, you know, could have gotten the better of that Canada team, there's a whole nother wave there that that affects that conversation too. But it will be interesting. And I think them having the chip on their shoulder is kind of a part of the whole excitement around this. Right. Like you don't usually get to be. It's not just that they are. You know, I think it's kind of a blessing to be an underdog on home ice and have. Have that at your back. I think that can be a powerful motivator. So.
- [24:37]
Corey Prodman
Well, yeah, the whole mice thing is going to be a story in this tournament as well. The, the early kind of rumors coming out of just people I'm talking to who are either part of the organizing or trying to get tickets for this thing is that it seems to be rather easy to get tickets right now. So I don't know if the home ice variable is going to be a significant as it has been in past years.
- [25:01]
Scott Wheeler
I took a peek at USA Sweden on New Year's Eve on Ticketmaster the other day and I was, I was pretty surprised by how many empty seats in the lower bowl there were. And it looks like the upper bowl they're going to have the sides sold, but it doesn't even look like they've opened the upper bowl seats at the, at either end. So I don't even think they're trying to sell out for New Year's Eve, which is not what you would expect for this tournament typically not just in Canada. Everybody always talks about Canada, but those games are sold out when it's in Europe.
- [25:33]
Max Boltman
It's a little bit of a factor though, Corey. Like for the US Their last tournament was in Buffalo and I don't think that one had a rousing attendance success either from my recollection. Like is this a situation where what do they need to show to have a, to get another. To feel good about getting another one? I'm not saying the US will never get another one if they don't sell.
- [25:50]
Corey Prodman
It, but I think they're kind of blaming the fact that Canadians are not trying coming over to the US as frequently as they have in the past. And you can. That's a political conversation we don't need, we don't need to have right now. Whether you buy that or not as legitimate. I do think it's not as easy for Canadians get them to Minnesota as it is for them to get to Buffalo. It's not exactly on the border even if it's close to the border. I do think that if this, if this is, I don't think it has to be like a rousing success. It doesn't have to be sold out buildings and like this incredible atmosphere. I think people understand that the junior hockey is not the same thing in the United States as it is in Canada. But if it's an embarrassment again like Buffalo was, like if. It's like if, if it just like optically looks terrible the entire tournament, especially into the medal rounds in the important games, I think you're looking at a scenario where USA will be very hard pressed to get another one of these tournaments anytime soon.
- [26:50]
Max Boltman
Alright, let's take a quick break right there. We'll come back with our predictions.
- [26:57]
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- [27:28]
Trivia Host
Yes.
- [27:29]
Scott Wheeler
We're earning unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment with a Capital One Saver card. So let's just get one of everything.
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Corey Prodman
Everything.
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Scott Wheeler
Yes, Chef. This is so nice.
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Scott Wheeler
Ooh, tiramisu.
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- [27:55]
Capital One Announcer
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- [27:57]
Santa's Elf
Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree, Zoe.
- [28:00]
Capital One Quicksilver Card Promoter
This thing weighs a ton.
- [28:01]
Scott Wheeler
Kurski, lift with your legs, man.
- [28:03]
Corey Prodman
Santa. Santa. Santa.
- [28:04]
Max Boltman
Did you get my letter?
- [28:04]
Capital One Quicksilver Card Promoter
He's talking to you, Bridges.
- [28:06]
Scott Wheeler
I'm not.
- [28:07]
Santa's Elf
Of course he did.
- [28:08]
Scott Wheeler
Right, Santa, you know my elf, Drew Ski here.
- [28:11]
Max Boltman
He handles the nice list.
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Corey Prodman
Or give it a suggestion.
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Max Boltman
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Scott Wheeler
Nice.
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- [28:59]
Trivia Host
Today'S trivia quiz is on mobile games. All right, I'm very excited about this one. I'm going to give you a few hints. Ready?
- [29:07]
Corey Prodman
Ready.
- [29:08]
Trivia Host
This game has no ads and no need for WI Fi to play. Wait, so does it cost a Lot of money. Nope, it's completely free to play.
- [29:17]
Corey Prodman
What? No way.
- [29:19]
Trivia Host
It has amazing graphics and they recently added a bunch of new minigames. Hold on.
- [29:25]
Corey Prodman
Is that Royal Kingdom?
- [29:26]
Trivia Host
Yes. Bingo. So if you haven't played Royal Kingdom yet, go to the app store or Google Play and download it for free.
- [29:37]
Max Boltman
All right, we are back. And before we get to the predictions, I did want to get your guys thoughts. We talked about it a couple episodes ago but one of the big storylines in this year's tournament is that we have a really robust draft eligible 2026 draft crop at this year's World Juniors. Corey touched on it a little bit with Verhoff and with Carls. But you know, obviously Stenberg being a top player for Sweden, this is going to be McKenna, one of the top players, should be one of the top players in the tournament. It's a loaded class Scott for draft watchers.
- [30:05]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah. From a scouting, from a pure like if you're an NHL amateur scout, the interest you would have in this tournament is significantly higher than in the last few. And, and part of that is driven by intrigue at number one and people wanting to see Stenberg and that side of it. But forget take, take Verhoff and Stenberg and McKenna out of it. Typically Canada and the US and USA might bring one, maybe two draft eligibles to this tournament this year. Canada's obviously bringing three. You've got even on the Swedes you've got William Hawkinson who's going to be a first rounder and Viggo Bjork who depend on depending on who you talk to is is going to be a first rounder. You've got Albert Smits with Latvia who looks like he's going to be a top 10 pick now and Adam Novotny with the checks. And it's just you've got two kids in Oliver Suvanto and you hope Rynen with Finland. It's a very compelling group. The Latvians even beyond Smiths have a couple of players including a 6, 7 kid named Robert Nodens who's a 2027 draft eligible. But scouts are interested to see at this level again and it's, there's, there's a collection of talent here. Chase Reed, if he makes Team USA, you could have really the bulk of the top 10. I don't know half of the first round. Like there's, there's no shortage of 2026 talent to get into. And if you get a Canada Sweden you're going to get two pre tournament games. But if you get a Canada Sweden game when it matters most and seeing Stenberg and McKenna on that stage, I think that'll be one of the stories of the tournament.
- [31:36]
Corey Prodman
We don't talk a lot about Switzerland typically on the, on this show or Swiss prospects. But in the, in their first Pre tournament game, 27 eligible Jonah Nuschwander played 20 minutes further. He's a top prospect for not this year's rep for the following year Shreve and he's going to, he's going to be a guy to keep an eye on as well. But I think Scott went through a lot of the other players. I thought Hawkinson held his own against Canada. Like for a guy who's a draft eligible defenseman, he defended quite well against Canada and I think he's going to be. I thought, I wasn't sure how big a role he was going to have on this team, but I think he's going to play regular minutes for them on the, on the back end.
- [32:12]
Scott Wheeler
Oddly enough, Verhoff might be the name of the big ones that doesn't play a prominent role. So I'll be interested coming out of the tournament whether that, whether that lasts for all seven, six or seven games and what that looks like for him in terms of when he is playing. What kind of impact can he make in a pretty limited role.
- [32:30]
Corey Prodman
That kind of reminds me a little bit go back to like the 2000 into the 2010 draft with Taylor Holland, Tyler, Sagan. Sagan was the final cut from Team Canada. Taylor hall makes the team as a late berth. Sagan was a regular berth and hall goes on to have a great tournament. That kind of I think affected the perception of the whole Taylor Tyler argument at that time. Yeah, I think unless there's an injury, I think Verhoff's going to be in tough to make this team. He wasn't great in that pre tournament game against Sweden. He had like the one really nice stretch pass to launch a breakaway in the third period. But otherwise I thought he really struggled at times. He fought the puck, made a lot of questionable decisions. So I'll be really interested to see if he even gets a shift at all in this tournament, quite Frankly. And if McKenna, as I think we both expect, will probably be a top player at this tournament, I wonder how that affects perceptions going forward.
- [33:21]
Max Boltman
And your number one player, Corey, like Tynan Lawrence, is a guy who was never really in contention for this roster. Right. So there's, there's opportunities here for guys who you currently have slotted kind of in that 3, 4, 5 range to make an impression that some of the top guys may not get the opportunity.
- [33:35]
Scott Wheeler
To make even in Halifax, too. Adam Fantilli, like, barely played for, for Canada and Halifax and still obviously went fourth overall. But that was in a tournament where side by side, Leo Carlsen was playing a lot for Sweden, obviously. So with.
- [33:50]
Corey Prodman
Not. With.
- [33:51]
Scott Wheeler
Not. Yes. Yes. Not new territory for, for some of the Canadian draft eligibles.
- [33:58]
Max Boltman
Yeah.
- [33:58]
Scott Wheeler
No.
- [33:59]
Max Boltman
All right, let's get to the predictions here and we'll start with, with the medalists. Corey, I'll let you go first. Give me your gold silver, bro.
- [34:06]
Corey Prodman
Canada, Sweden, us.
- [34:09]
Scott Wheeler
Scott, I'm going Canada, Sweden, Us too. But I think that New Year's Eve game is the most consequential game of, of the tournament until you get to the semifinals, because I think it's probably a coin flip between Canada or between Sweden and USA on New Year's Eve and that that will determine which opponents they get in the quarterfinals and all of that. So I could see that going either way. But it's, it's Canada, Sweden, USA for me, too.
- [34:32]
Corey Prodman
I thought you were going to get bold there and put checks in on the brawn space on how we talked off camera.
- [34:37]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah, the checks are a threat. I think the Czechs have one of the deeper blue lines in the tournament. Like, you go through what it could look like. Max and Ichka looks like he's going to be playing on their third pairing. Thomas Galves, who's undrafted, has been a top, top, top player in a minute, eating player for them at this level. And then you've got first rounders like Riddy Murtka and Adam Jurecheck. And up front they don't have Yuri Kulik or Edward Shah like the last four or five years because Kulik and Shala kind of led into each other. You've had like a true offensive game breaker. I'm not sure that Adam Yeko or Sakura or Vaclav Nestrosil, who's having a great year at UMass, or Adam Novotny, who's a top 10, 15, 20 pick in this year's draft. I'm not sure that those guys are game breakers at this level, but they, they've got a. Yeah, Adam Banach's been that at Jalinka's and that kind of a thing, but this will be sort of his, his first real taste of this. Banach was not on last year's team, so it'll be. I don't, I don't know whether their forward group quite has the juice. And then they don't have Michael Horable for sure in net, but their blue line is, is excellent.
- [35:45]
Corey Prodman
Are we disrespecting the Fins maybe here a little bit?
- [35:47]
Max Boltman
Yeah, I was just going to say I had, I had Canada, Sweden, USA as well. But Finland is the team that I always worry about in these things and they did, they beat Sweden head up like you said Corey. And on paper maybe not the roster that jumps out at you, but they've proven time and again like they always come to play at these tournaments.
- [36:03]
Corey Prodman
As Scott said, they beat Canada in.
- [36:05]
Scott Wheeler
The summer and returning the last year's goaltender of the tournament in Pateri Rimpanen, who isn't having a great year in Liga like is hasn't followed up his excellent year last year in LIGA the same way. But they're, they've got. The thing with the Fins is they're, they're a 19 year old team basically like Kaiki Rohanan, Eitos, Koivu Mietanen, Kivi Hariu, Niemanin, like the core of their team. Those aren't first round picks but the core of their team is predominantly 19 year olds who've played previously at this tournament and been good, good international players.
- [36:36]
Corey Prodman
Which leads to one of the kind of the subplots here for Finland is the first round pick 19 year old that they could have gotten was Casa Hallanius. But as of right now Buffalo has no not released him which is interesting. I understand that he's already played in two tournaments so I understand that argument a little bit. But Buffalo's had plenty of injuries, they've never called his name. So I do think it's interesting that he's not on the roster as it stands right now.
- [37:03]
Scott Wheeler
I think part of it, part of it is he's played a good amount now with the men's senior team. Like he was a part of their men's worlds the last two years and didn't play a ton when it actually came to the tournament but played to audition for the team through their sort of pre tournament schedule at men's worlds and that kind of thing. I think they, they probably view him as a bit of a graduate and he's been almost a point per game in Rochester this year. But to Corey's point, the only non Canadian that's being held out of this tournament isn't a Swede who's in the NHL or an American who's in the NHL. It's Hellenius.
- [37:34]
Max Boltman
Let's do some awards here Scott. Best forward for you for the tournament.
- [37:38]
Scott Wheeler
I think this is Gavin McKenna's moment. I think we're going to see Gavin elevate here. I think he, he has looked like he's, he's ready for that both in the red white scrimmages at camp and obviously in the tournament, the pre tournament opener against Sweden. He's going to get his cookies that get Canada's got, got Denmark in their group, which is clearly the weakest team in this tournament. He's going to get his cookies there. They're quite likely going to get a favorable quarterfinal opponent. Like they could get the Swiss in the quarters. I think he'll get cookies there and he's got a chance to wreck. I think Porter Martone and Michael Misa have the chance to do that as well. But I think Gavin's got a real opportunity here to, to have the kind of production that typically gets those votes from the media, rightly or wrongly. And I just don't, I think James Hagens and Cole Hudson, like I thought about them, but I'm just not sure they're going to have.
- [38:27]
Max Boltman
Well, Hudson's. We're still on best forward here. We will get to MVP at the end of this.
- [38:31]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah.
- [38:31]
Corey Prodman
Yeah.
- [38:31]
Scott Wheeler
Okay. I thought you started with MVP there. Well, there's a pre, a preview of who my MVP pick's going to be as well. But I, I, I think it'll be, I think it'll be Gavin. Yeah.
- [38:41]
Max Boltman
Best forward for you, Corey.
- [38:43]
Corey Prodman
Same same reasons that Scott just said.
- [38:46]
Max Boltman
Yeah, I'm, it's clean sweep there. It's, it's boring. But this is a tournament that he should, he should dominate. So we'll go to best D now. I'll start this one. Like Cole Hudson led the tournament in scoring last year. We talked about how important USA's power play could be to their attack. I don't see any, he was on the all star team last year. I don't see any reason why he doesn't win this award other than the fact that, you know, Zane Prak in Canada might pile up a bunch of points too.
- [39:10]
Corey Prodman
Same. Not really providing much.
- [39:12]
Max Boltman
Oh no, we're so boring.
- [39:14]
Scott Wheeler
I, I, I also don't think, I don't think Zayn's necessarily going to play as big a role as you might imagine. He's going to get his power play time in his cookies, but he was.
- [39:24]
Corey Prodman
He was killing penalties against Sweden yesterday.
- [39:26]
Scott Wheeler
He was. I think they're going to lean on, on Aitchison and Bruini and that could take away a little bit from the case for, for Perek and there's there's just. There's no Axel Sandy in Pelica like the Swedes don't have. Don't have that guy. Maybe. Maybe if the Czechs go on a run, we see Redeem Merka or Adam Yurichek have a big tournament, but I think it'll be a queen sleep here for. For Hudson as well.
- [39:49]
Corey Prodman
What about. What about former top prospect Eric Kiva Haru? He can't have a big tournament. You don't think.
- [39:56]
Scott Wheeler
I'd be pretty surprised if Aaron Kiwi Haru has a bigger tournament than Cole Hudson?
- [40:01]
Corey Prodman
Yes, I would, too.
- [40:02]
Max Boltman
Let me save us some potential dead air. Any of us not have McKenna as the tournament MVP? No, we. I guess there's the dead air anyway. All right, so there's that one goalie of the tournament here. My inclination is to say whoever is Canada's goalie. But the interesting thing is I don't really know necessarily if that is Carter, George or Jack. Ivan Kovic.
- [40:21]
Corey Prodman
George was really good against Sweden. I guess he's the opening day guy. But I think Ivan Kovic deserves as much opportunity there. I think Ravensburg is probably the best goalie the three, but I understand that's not how they view it at this current stage. But yeah, it's probably George.
- [40:38]
Scott Wheeler
I'm going George.
- [40:40]
Max Boltman
Oh, we clean sweep our predictions. First time we ever had that. So this is what happens. Chris Peters calls in sick and the whole show falls apart because we have no more. No more intellectual diversity on the panel.
- [40:52]
Corey Prodman
So Chris Peters has actually, I think Scott can attest to this. He gets sick every World Juniors, like, at the tournament. So I'm actually happy that he's getting this out of the way right now just so he can't just spread his virus all through the press box during the tournament.
- [41:08]
Max Boltman
I love that that's not for his benefit. It's not. Oh, we don't want our friend to be miserable at the World Juniors. It's about him spreading it to you.
- [41:15]
Corey Prodman
No, because he will. Because I understand why he does. He wants. He wants. They'll come in. He. You just see him just dragging his body and just. And he just like, looks miserable. And I don't know if he has, like, a weak immune system or whatever. He just, he just gets violently ill.
- [41:30]
Max Boltman
Every single World Juniors, his body has a routine. I, I get sick quarterly. It's almost like clockwork. Every three months, I will get a cold. So I guess that's something CP and I have in common that is going to do it for us today. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. Stay tuned for more on the World Juniors. Obviously, we'll have more for you as the tournament progresses. We'll talk to you soon.
- [41:55]
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Scott Wheeler
Can I earn 1.5% cash back on birds?
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Corey Prodman
Birds?
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Scott Wheeler
What if you sent your true love two turtle doves plus a partridge and a pear tree?
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Scott Wheeler
The song was very convincing.
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Max Boltman
What's in your wallet?
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