WORLD JUNIORS 2013 PRIMER (OILER EDITION)

Lowetide
December 18 2012 07:13PM

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is "Captain Canada" for this year's World Junior Championships. Edmonton's list of prospects at this year's WJs is shy of previous seasons, but those in attendance will pack a wallop.

NAIL YAKUPOV, Russia: Kid dynamite helped kill Canada in Calgary one year ago with a sublime display of skill in the semi-final and looks to do similar damage on home ice this time around. Yakupov has been nothing short of spectacular in his KHL rookie season (22, 10-8-18).

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS, CANADA: RNH is the captain of Canada and gets a chance to compete in the tournament that helped make Ebs and Taylor Hall legends in junior hockey. Based on his linemates (Huberdeau and Scheifele) I'd say the Nuge is going to be playing big minutes and we should expect big results. After battling big men in the AHL, RNH should find more room on the big ice and against fellow teenagers.

DAVID MUSIL, CZECH: I believe most Oiler fans were impressed by his play at last year's WJ, and we should expect heavy minutes from the big man again this Christmas. The Czechs are never predictable in terms of the quality of their team, but Musil gives them a big edge defensively and on the PK.

TOBIAS RIEDER, GERMANY: Quality 2-way player will be the leader of the German team (no other German on this year's WJ team has been drafted by an NHL team) and he should see major minutes in all three disciplines (if healthy). Rieder suffered a foot injury earlier this month but I haven't read anything about him missing the tournament.

DANIIL ZHARKOV, RUSSIA: Perhaps a surprise that he's on the roster (this is all via tsn, btw) but he's a big body and can score goals (although he's wildly inconsistent). I'm looking forward to seeing him play, as his inconsistency makes it difficult to figure him out as a prospect.

ANYTHING ELSE?

There are more than a few draft eligible kids who will play major roles in this winter's WJs, and we'll have a look at them in the next installment.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

The Oilers didn't send a fleet of prospects to the WJ this time, but there's star power. A year ago, we had a chance to 'review the blue' with Klefbom, Marincin, Gernat and Musil all part of the WJ fun. This time around the Oilers boast two marquee forwards along with Musil and a couple of curio's. Up next: the draft elgibles and why Oiler fans should be watching the Americans and the Finns.

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Nation Radio on Team 1260 in Edmonton.

Sort comments by date

Reply #1 Big Cap December 19 2012, 12:40PM

+1 4 props

Love how you posters mock @DSF all the time...

He makes a simple post to add to the discussion of a highly anticipated tournament and the "cool kids" rip into him, again!

@DSF knows hockey, stats, and the history of the game. He's respectful and generally gives us some food for thought. We may not always agree with him all the time, but so what??

Most importantly, we certainly don’t want to read post after post of you punks laying into him. Man up!

Go Canada Go!

Reply #2 Oilanderp December 19 2012, 02:33AM

+1 2 props

Distinct Statistical Fudging.

Reply #3 DSF December 18 2012, 08:06PM

+1 1 props

Other players to keep an eye on:

Jonathan Huberdeau who scored the most points in the Subway Super Series despite only appearing in two games.

Alex Galchenyuk who is ripping up the OHL.

Morgan Rielly who is turning into a dominant offensive defenseman.

Reply #4 John Chambers December 18 2012, 08:21PM

+1 1 props

RNH will be the first #1 overall pick to play in the WJC two seasons after being drafted. He's going fro playing in the worlds best league, to a professional men's league, to a tournament for teenagers.

Brayden Schenn's scoring record may be about to be shattered.

Reply #5 Walter "Wes" Sobchak December 18 2012, 10:23PM

+1 1 props

I am waiting impatiently for the WJC to start, I can't wait to watch the Oilers future center play for Finland.

Reply #6 Johe December 18 2012, 10:24PM

+1 1 props

DSF wrote:

Other players to keep an eye on:

Jonathan Huberdeau who scored the most points in the Subway Super Series despite only appearing in two games.

Alex Galchenyuk who is ripping up the OHL.

Morgan Rielly who is turning into a dominant offensive defenseman.

THANKS DSF!!!

Reply #7 CJ December 19 2012, 12:23AM

+1 1 props

If Klefbom were playing, wouldn't that make 5 Edmonton prospects who are captains for their country. Even at four, that's got to be a record.

Reply #8 Pucker December 19 2012, 01:00PM

+1 1 props

Big Cap wrote:

Love how you posters mock @DSF all the time...
He makes a simple post to add to the discussion of a highly anticipated tournament and the "cool kids" rip into him, again!
@DSF knows hockey, stats, and the history of the game. He's respectful and generally gives us some food for thought. We may not always agree with him all the time, but so what??
Most importantly, we certainly don’t want to read post after post of you punks laying into him. Man up!
Go Canada Go!

while I agree with you on maybe half his posts, this is an article about Oiler prospects in the WJ's.

DSF comment is pure trolling.

Reply #9 Rocknrolla December 19 2012, 01:09PM

+1 1 props

Take a look at this graph.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IIHF_World_Under_20_Championship_Media_All-Star_Teams

The WJC all stars....some pretty good company here.

I think the oil will put up 2 more here this year, could have been 3 with Klefbom. But either way you slice it, we have some of the best young talent in the world all on one team. Another signal we are on the right track folks...