Prospect Info: 2018 World Junior Championships - Buffalo, NY, USA - Dec. 26th 2017 to Jan. 5th 2018

[Irishguy42]

Happy WJC Eve, folks

 

[DDRhockey]

Monten is going to ruin your chance of winning it if he keeps putting these grinders on the top lines. I could understand Karlstrom as a support player on line 2, but Lindstrom centering line 1 is insane.

Monten is an idiot

 

[RangerBoy]

FIRST TEAM
Forwards: Eeli Tolvanen (Fin.), Elias Pettersson (Swe.), Kailer Yamamoto (USA)
Defense: Miro Heiskanen (Fin.), Adam Fox (USA)
Goalie: Carter Hart (Can.)
The Skinny: Given the way he has dominated the SHL this season, I believe Pettersson will be the most important player in the tournament. The Vancouver Canucks pick has the talent and the drive to take Sweden all the way. Tolvanen (NSH) has been similarly excellent in the KHL and if the sniper can find the right center, he’ll pile up points. Yamamoto (EDM) brings NHL and WJC experience. Heiskanen (DAL) is the best defenseman in the tournament, while Fox (CGY) has proven to be an excellent quarteback on the back end. Hart (PHI) has been a brick wall in the WHL since returning from mono.

SECOND TEAM
Forwards: Vitalii Abramov (Rus.), Lias Andersson (Swe.), Casey Mittelstadt (USA)
Defense: Victor Mete (Can.), Rasmus Dahlin (Swe.)
Goalie: Filip Gustavsson (Swe.)
The Skinny: Andersson (NYR) has the experience and two-way ability to make a big impact at center for Sweden, while Mittelstadt (BUF) has the high-end skill to bring the local Sabres fans out of their seats. Abramov (CBJ) has been tearing up the QMJHL and is one of several Russian players with great skill. Dahlin (2018) will be the most watched player in the tournament thanks to his electrifying skill, while Mete (MTL) brings skating, defense and NHL experience. Gustavsson (PIT) is a big netminder who can steal games and he brings great experience.

THIRD TEAM
Forwards: Alex Nylander (Swe.), Jordan Kyrou (Can.), Filip Chytil (Cze.)
Defense: Olli Juolevi (Fin.), Erik Brannstrom (Swe.)
Goalie: Jakub Skarek (Cze.)
The Skinny: Kyrou (STL) is having an amazing season in the OHL and his skating ability will be serve him very well in this tournament. Chytil (NYR) has NHL and AHL experience, plus a great international resume. While you may think Nylander (BUF) should be higher here, there will be a ton of pressure on him and he has only played 15 games due to injury this year. On defense, Juolevi (VAN) has been rejuvenated back in Finland, while Brannstrom (VGK) has the rushing game that drives modern attacks. Skarek (2018) plays against men back home and steered the Czechs to Ivan Hlinka gold in 2016.

2018 WJC Preview: Pre-Tournament All-Star Teams | The Hockey News

 

[Irishguy42]

Chytil will be playing at 12pm ET on TSN/NHLN and Andersson will be playing at 2pm ET on TSN Go (not NHLN)

Today is the day!

 

[Irishguy42]

Here's the NHLN schedule for the rest of the tourney: 2018 World Junior Championship schedule

 

[Irishguy42]

The Sweden game should be a blowout. CZE vs RUS will be a pretty good game.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Will there be a stream of the games? I'm stuck at work and can't watch my NHL network

 

[Irishguy42]

Will there be a stream of the games? I'm stuck at work and can't watch my NHL network

Not sure if there will be official YouTube streams or not.

 

[Irishguy42]

Lias not on first line.

 

[RangerBoy]

Lias Andersson, C, Frolunda (New York Rangers): Another high-impact returnee from last year's team, Andersson is going to have a lot of interested observers. After being sent back to Sweden, he's performed pretty well. The 2017 No. 7 pick is second among U20 players in the Swedish league with 14 points and is certainly showing progression this year. He'll be viewed as a potential offensive leader for the Swedes. With three goals last year, we should expect to see an uptick as he takes on an elevated role.

The Czechs are my dark horse. Not necessarily to win, but to make things a little uncomfortable for some of the top teams. There are more higher-end skill players coming out after some recent lean years. I don't think they have the depth to compete with top clubs, but if you get some goaltending, they have enough skill up front to keep their opponents honest.

Filip Chytil, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers): After managing to stick with the Rangers for a little bit to start the season, expectations for Chytil are continuing to soar at the AHL level. Though he had to deal with some injury trouble of late, he has 12 points in 15 AHL games. At just 18, that's a pretty strong stat line. Having played at such an advanced level, the Czechs desperately need Chytil to make an impact and take advantage of the chances he'll create for himself.

WJC preview: European players to watch

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Lias not on first line.

Well that sucks. That first line is going to score a ton of points and it would have been nice to have him in on that.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Well that sucks. That first line is going to score a ton of points and it would have been nice to have him in on that.

They might not. They have a fourth liner centering their two best forwards, a guy who should've probably been cut from the roster, considering they cut Elvenes and Olofsson.

He's better off on the second line with a returnee and another talented offensive player. Pettersson and Nylander are going to have to carry Lindstrom.

I think they were always going to split up those three, and I can see some logic in that decision, but at least put them with skill guys. Those lines would be way better if they swapped Soderlund and Lindstrom, and moved Pettersson to center.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

They might not. They have a fourth liner centering their two best forwards, a guy who should've probably been cut from the roster, considering they cut Elvenes and Olofsson.

He's better off on the second line with a returnee and another talented offensive player. Pettersson and Nylander are going to have to carry Lindstrom.

I think they were always going to split up those three, and I can see some logic in that decision, but at least put them with skill guys. Those lines would be way better if they swapped Soderlund and Lindstrom, and moved Pettersson to center.

That's true. I guess during crunch times and on PPs we will see all 3 of them together but they wanted to split up the talent a bit.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Chytil #21 according to the World Juniors website. He's on the first line line with Safin and Zachar. I know little about Zachar, but Safin gets good reviews as a big power forward with excellent skating. Necas gets to play with Zadina, but thats okay, Chytil is on the first line.

 

[nyr2k2]

Well that sucks. That first line is going to score a ton of points and it would have been nice to have him in on that.

He may draw better match ups playing on the second line away from Nylander and Petersson.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Hmm I thought I read the Czechs were thinking about going top-heavy with Necas Zadina and Chytil.

Inject that WJC into my veins.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Chytil walked a player and nearly scored on the first shift.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Pesan is the coach that the Rangers were in talks with maybe bringing over, right?

 

[Mac n Gs]

Pesan is the coach that the Rangers were in talks with maybe bringing over, right?

Yes for the AHL I believe

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Chytil walked a player and nearly scored on the first shift.

Who needs Necas and Zadina?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Chytil walked a player and nearly scored on the first shift.

And it was a Devils player who he walked.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Chytil assist. Grabbed the puck behind the net, put it on net with a wrap around, teammate pokes it in.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Critical13]

Chytil will be a top 10 prospect within 6 months.