Notes on the WJC:
Finland 5, Slovakia 2
From a Finnish standpoint, I was extremely happy with how they bounced back from a crushing loss vs. Switzerland. Primarily, Joakim Kemell (NSH) and Brad Lambert (WPG), whose play in the opening loss could both only be described as "godawful" -- both of these talented kids were dangerous all game. Other forwards who impressed were two of my draft-writing favorites, Jani Nyman (SEA) and Oliver Kapanen (MTL), both of whom I though played phenomenal games. On defense, I am proud to say the Finnish standout was clearly Devils 2021-draft-steal Topias Vilen, who has probably shown the most stratospheric prospect progression of any Devils defense draftee this entire decade. Every aspect of his game -- very single one -- has improved exponentially in the past two seasons, and he looks like not only a legit candidate for an NHL top 4 one day, but also like a guy who is polished enough to compete for a NJ roster spot next year. If you're ranking the Devils prospects, where do you put Vilen today? Of course Luke Hughes is at the top with Simon Nemec close behind, and I'd say Mukhamadullin is probably at #3. But Vilen could be in the conversation for the #4 slot along with more-known names like Holtz, Gritsyuk and Casey right now. He's been just that good.
Speaking of Simon Nemec, he was terrific -- so smooth with his outlets and passing, very solid and composed defensively although he still struggles against speed/power rushes against. There's no reason to think he won't be a star at the NHL level. I was also very impressed -- even in a losing effort -- with 2023-draft-eligible Dalibor Dvorsky -- I'll get into him more later, but I want to discuss the other games and I have a lot to do tonight.
Sweden 1, Germany 0
Very competitive game, could have been more "entertaining". The clear-cut star here was German goalie Nikita Quapp, who stood on his head saving 43 of 44. A 6th round pick of Carolina in 2021, Quapp is 6'3 and athletic and a clear reminder that Carolina has drafted better than any team in the eastern conference over the past half-decade. For skaters, I was severely impressed with the power game of F Julian Lutz, a Arizona 2nd round pick in 2022. Lutz plays the basic, old-school crash the crease game as well as any forward I've seen out of Germany in the past decade and is a very good bet to be an excellent NHL middle-6er in a few years. I've been very critical of Arizona's drafting over recent years -- they're terrible on the whole -- but Lutz was a gem of a pick.
For Sweden, I was concentrating a lot on likely 2023 top 5 pick Leo Carlsson. There's really nothing not to like here -- Carlsson is big, fast and smart. He can dangle and sauce passes like nobody's business. I think he needs to learn to shoot more and assert himself, sometimes he'll dangle when he'd be better off firing away. Right now I have him ranked #4 after only Bedard, Michkov and Fantilli. I thought the best Swedish forward might have been their goal-scorer, Filip Bystedt (SJ). A draft pick I heavily criticized (and still do), Bystedt is very good at using his size/skating against smaller competition, and has truly asserted himself vs Austria and Germany. I'm curious -- though still somewhat skeptical -- to see how he'll perform against stronger competition.
Switzerland 3, Latvia 2 (OT)
How about them Swiss? Maybe the best game of the tourney -- scoring chances end to end, while both goalies stood on their respective heads. Kevin Pasche was a little less busy on the Swiss end, but played great and was brilliant in the shootout. At 5'9, he's not a likely NHL net minder, but he's athletic and competitive and fun to watch. For the Latvians, Patrias Berzins was nothing short of brilliant in defeat. At 6'1-185, I think he has back-up potential for the NHL, and at the very least could be an AHL net minder. Undrafted last year, he's eligible again in 2023.
My standout skater for Latvia these past two games might just be LD Niks Fenenko, a 6'1-185 2023 draft-eligible who skates exceptionally and is excellent on both sides of the puck. He's just a rock-solid defender who also possesses plus capabilities shooting, passing and handling the puck. He's a great late-round sleeper candidate for a 2023 class which is a bit thin on the back end.
For the Swiss, the dramatic tying goal in the 3rd was scored on a great shot by a guy I talked about a lot for last year's draft, LD Rodwin Dionicio. Dionicio has one of the most intriguing backgrounds of any player in the WJC -- he's of mixed ethnic background and was actually born in New Jersey. He's also big (6'2-205), skates well, willing to play a gritty physical game and knows what to do with the puck. Dionicio can blast it from the blueline and gave the Latvians fits all game. He went undrafted last year -- although he was vocally ranked by yours truly -- and is available as an over-ager in 2023. He'd be a great pick in the 6th or 7th for NJ, especially considering his twin connections to NJ and Switzerland.
No talk of the Swiss could be complete without a mention of Lian Bichsel. A steal by Dallas at #18 last year, he could be on the level with higher-regarded and similar D prospects like Owen Power and Simon Edvinsson. There's a reason why Dallas has been the best-drafting team in the Western Conference over the past half-decade.
Czechia Blowing Out Austria, I'm Watching As I Write This
The Czechs are for real and Austria is likely overmatched in this tourney, so there's only so much one can divine from this game. I'd like to reiterate that the best player in this tourney so far is LD Stanislav Svozil -- he was dominant against Canada and the Austrians are barely a challenge for him. He's going to be a top 4 NHL D with all-star type upside, and I will go on record -- again and again -- saying the worst Devils 3rd round pick since Connor Chatham was Samu Salminen (#68, 2021), allowing the division-rival Columbus Blue Jackets to snag a potential future star in Svozil with the very next pick.
Speaking of Columbus, they also drafted another future star defender in David Jiricek last year. Holy crap, is this kid good. You just can't beat him down low, his shot is a bomb and he's just so smart on both sides of the puck. I don't think I'm overselling Jiricek by saying this kid's upside is Norris Trophy-level.
I also want to call out another of my draft-day favorites in Jiri Kulich, who plays a game of intelligence/compete very reminiscent of our own Dawson Mercer, only faster. An absolute steal for Buffalo at #30 overall last year, he made up for meh Sabres picks of Savoie at #8 and Ostlund at #16 and right now I'd rank him as the best prospect of the three.
We need to talk about how undervalued the Czech and Slovak prospects have become on draft day. Up and down this line-up -- which is certainly capable of competing for the gold medal this year -- there are "under-drafted" players. Already, in a 2022 re-draft Kulich is likely top 15 and Jiricek might go #2 overall. Svozil is certainly a re-draft 1st rounder for 2021. I'm not even mentioning later steals like C Matyas Sapovaliv (#48 VEG 2022). And I also happily have to mention 2022 Devils 5th rounder Petr Hauser, who looks outstanding paired with Sapovaliv on a monster, dominant two-way line. Hauser might already be challenging for the mid-2nd in a 2022 re-draft, and looks capable of one day achieving a power role in an NHL middle 6, if he can improve his skating a notch or two.
) is something i can't wrap my head around
