GDT: 2023 World Junior Championship Thread (Clarke, Connors, Salin)

[Trash Panda]

I've never seen people here as happy with Fagemo et. al. for finding success as they are miserable for one roller coaster game by clarke

Hell when Turcotte was the most dominant all-situations force for the Americans (i'm not here to argue, the stats back it up) people were still grumpy

for a tourney we're not supposed to take a lot out of, people sure get upset when prospects don't have a run, and even when they do. This thread has been really strange.

I don’t think there is any misery about one game going on, just a bit of unbiased observation about a prospect.

Clarke has been nails for the rest of the tournament, and I don’t think it’s unfair to criticize a horrid game from him.

 

[King'sPawn]

I've never seen people here as happy with Fagemo et. al. for finding success as they are miserable for one roller coaster game by clarke

Hell when Turcotte was the most dominant all-situations force for the Americans (i'm not here to argue, the stats back it up) people were still grumpy

for a tourney we're not supposed to take a lot out of, people sure get upset when prospects don't have a run, and even when they do. This thread has been really strange.

Are people getting upset though? I thought people were commenting objectively on Clarke's bad game. Not drawing qualitative conclusions on him as a prospect.

Or are you referring to other threads?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don’t think there is any misery about one game going on, just a bit of unbiased observation about a prospect.

Clarke has been nails for the rest of the tournament, and I don’t think it’s unfair to criticize a horrid game from him.

Are people getting upset though? I thought people were commenting objectively on Clarke's bad game. Not drawing qualitative conclusions on him as a prospect.

Or are you referring to other threads?

Maybe not as much as I thought but there was definitely at least one "blake was right Clarke needs to go back to juniors" direct quote and several inferences that because of this game he's not NHL ready.

Just noting how much one-two periods changed the discourse entirely.

 

[Fishhead]

Maybe not as much as I thought but there was definitely at least one "blake was right Clarke needs to go back to juniors" direct quote and several inferences that because of this game he's not NHL ready.

Just noting how much one-two periods changed the discourse entirely.

I would hope this tournament doesn't have much of an effect on their decision with Clarke. I think he's looked far better at the NHL level than in this tournament anyways, which only reinforces the idea that he's not going to learn much by being sent down. He's obviously super talented, but he's also a sponge. He was rarely out of position in any of the games he played, and that was with very little exposure to the system.

Going back to the lack of structure is going to do nothing for him but give him a bunch of habits he'll have to break.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

edit: jesus do yourselves a favor and do not go to the prospect or tournament thread

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Just noting how much one-two periods changed the discourse entirely.

Would you expect anything less from a group that would make wholesale changes/trades/firings based on every individual game that we watch? Like I've said before, if the Kings 'HF community' was responsible for GM decisions, we wouldn't have a single player on the roster that the Kings currently have. #facts

 

[funky]

Turcotte was a beast in the playoff rounds. Akil Thomas was clutch. Fagemo was great. Kaliyev was scoring. Faber and Anderson were tough dmen to beat.
Lots of Kings have had good showings.
None of it matters long term really its just a fun tournament to watch and you get a basic idea of the tools some of these players have.

You are absolutely right. 2 off our prospects have had tourney winning goals in the last 5 years. 1 led a tourney in scoring and an ex prospect Faber made everyone take notice and allowed us to get Fiala.

I love this tourney and get very invested and sometimes forget to have fun. Being Canadian fan last night there was a lot of holding breath and a lot of jumping up and down yelling (sometimes good, sometimes not)

I have no problem being critical of players on a game to game basis as a fan, but I do also give credit where it is due. Last nights performance by Clarke was a bit of a roller coaster and it did show us some things he will have to work on (defense, skating, being to cute with the puck and getting drilled) and it showed us things that we should be very excited about (offensive vision, shot, ability to shake off a bad play, and being cute with the puck and avoiding being drilled). It is often easy to forget that Clarke has played very little hockey in the last month.

Clarke is an 8th overall pick, not a first overall pick. He was never considered a generational talent or a complete player. He is progressing just fine and should have a very solid future. I am hoping for a smarter next tier Durzi but at a much younger age and higher ceiling.

 

[funky]

Would you expect anything less from a group that would make wholesale changes/trades/firings based on every individual game that we watch? Like I've said before, if the Kings 'HF community' was responsible for GM decisions, we wouldn't have a single player on the roster that the Kings currently have. #facts

I would think it would be a very hard thing to be a fan of the team if you manage them. I give these guys credit. Although it would be interesting to have a Torts style GM in the league.

 

[kings11]

edit: jesus do yourselves a favor and do not go to the prospect or tournament thread

Those dudes are full of shit

 

[Remparts666]

I thought he had been very good. Makes 2 really bad play after which he responded very well, and now they are all shitting on him. pathetic.

 

[psych3man]

Hawks get Bedard…book it

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Canadians who get super invested in the WJC are the absolute worst kinds of hockey fans. Just an acrid, frothing mixture of teenager abuse and embarrassing nationalism.

 

[King'sPawn]

edit: jesus do yourselves a favor and do not go to the prospect or tournament thread

People need to remember the harassment some of these JUNIOR-AGED players get for having a bad day. Comtois was getting harassed and death threats for missing a penalty shot:

Here's an article on the threats he received. I didn't want to post some of the tweets or screenshots as it contains NSFW language.

The Despicable Wave of Harassment against Max Comtois

The Canada captain and Ducks prospect has been the subject of extremely hateful and abusive messages in the wake of his team’s elimination.

www.anaheimcalling.com

 

[funky]

Canadians who get super invested in the WJC are the absolute worst kinds of hockey fans. Just an acrid, frothing mixture of teenager abuse and embarrassing nationalism.

Some of us just live watching jr hockey and like watching the next generation of NHL players and stars play in the tournament.

Some even have kids or friends or coworkers kids playing in the tournament and want to see them succeed so we get a little irrational.

Some of us are a bit pent up because there is 4 feet of fresh snow outside and the Dr has banned us from playing hockey or snowboarding because we had one to many concussions playing beer league hockey this year.

Hmm that may also explain some of my posts lately

 

[BigBrown]

Depends on the definition of "top". Fagemo led the 2020 WJC in scoring altogether, with 13 points in 7 games.

Fair, I'd add Faber to that as guys who had good junior tournaments as Kings prospects in recent years.

I just wanna ride the hype train every once in a while instead of looking for excuses. Purely for personal enjoyment.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Some of us are a bit pent up because there is 4 feet of fresh snow outside and the Dr has banned us from playing hockey or snowboarding because we had one to many concussions playing beer league hockey this year.

Hmm that may also explain some of my posts lately

Lol.. your league allows checking?

 

[funky]

Lol.. your league allows checking?

Nope. Not suppose to check or fight but games get a bit heated at times.

 

[funky]

Maybe not as much as I thought but there was definitely at least one "blake was right Clarke needs to go back to juniors" direct quote and several inferences that because of this game he's not NHL ready.

Just noting how much one-two periods changed the discourse entirely.

It might have been me saying I could see him go to jr ti work on his game and put on weight but it definitely wouldn’t be in the same sentence or paragraph as the word Blake is/ was right. I may be one of the only Blakes supporters left, but I am not happy with the way our roster is constructed and with what’s happening with some of our prospects.

The only reason I would want him to go back to juniors is to put on some weight. The kids of being poor and I’m scared he’s gonna end up getting hurt like the rest of our prospects.

I don’t think It would hurt his development too much playing out the rest of the year and the OHL, heading to the AHL for playoffs, and then putting some size over summer.

I believe the trade deadline in the OHL is days away, and that he would be traded to a contender. He could get a nice playoff run there and step and step into the AHL in time for another one.

I am wondering if this is what Blake is planning because I see no other reason to keep a guy like Walker on the NHL roster. Trade or waive him.

 

[LAKings88]

Is the Slovak goalie draft eligible?

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Is the Slovak goalie draft eligible?

I'm pretty sure he was eligible last year. He turned 18 in May last year so that should have made him eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. I'm guessing he'll get picked as an overager this draft.

I was having the same thoughts as you. He looked phenomenal in the tournament and his USHL and NAHL numbers are pretty strong this year. He'll be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season per his EP page.

 

[LAKings88]

I'm pretty sure he was eligible last year. He turned 18 in May last year so that should have made him eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. I'm guessing he'll get picked as an overager this draft.

I was having the same thoughts as you. He looked phenomenal in the tournament and his USHL and NAHL numbers are pretty strong this year. He'll be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season per his EP page.

I’m sure his showing caught a few eyes. Kings need to grab a couple goalie prospects this draft, obviously.

 

[Surf Nutz]

It might have been me saying I could see him go to jr ti work on his game and put on weight but it definitely wouldn’t be in the same sentence or paragraph as the word Blake is/ was right. I may be one of the only Blakes supporters left, but I am not happy with the way our roster is constructed and with what’s happening with some of our prospects.

The only reason I would want him to go back to juniors is to put on some weight. The kids of being poor and I’m scared he’s gonna end up getting hurt like the rest of our prospects.

I don’t think It would hurt his development too much playing out the rest of the year and the OHL, heading to the AHL for playoffs, and then putting some size over summer.

I believe the trade deadline in the OHL is days away, and that he would be traded to a contender. He could get a nice playoff run there and step and step into the AHL in time for another one.

I am wondering if this is what Blake is planning because I see no other reason to keep a guy like Walker on the NHL roster. Trade or waive him.

Yup 9 games writing on the wall for Clarke in OHL. Your take is dead on and positive minded. It is also the right move and the tournament and last nights hit demonstrated, size and work on the D game are what the focus will be.

 

[King'sPawn]

Is the Slovak goalie draft eligible?

I'm pretty sure he was eligible last year. He turned 18 in May last year so that should have made him eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. I'm guessing he'll get picked as an overager this draft.

I was having the same thoughts as you. He looked phenomenal in the tournament and his USHL and NAHL numbers are pretty strong this year. He'll be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season per his EP page.

Yup. He was eligible last year and went undrafted. Moreover, he's currently playing in the USHL and is committed to Minnesota-Duluth next year.

Thomas Milic, the Canadian goalie, is ALSO undrafted. As he will be 20 by the start of next season, he would be eligible for the AHL.

For reference, Gajan (the Slovak goalie) is available for the AHL immediately because he's not being drafted out of the CHL, but signing a contract would void his NCAA eligibility.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Yup 9 games writing on the wall for Clarke in OHL. Your take is dead on and positive minded. It is also the right move and the tournament and last nights hit demonstrated, size and work on the D game are what the focus will be.

Oh and I have said this all season never waivered once. Not a 1 game , 1 tournament over reactor

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If I'm a young FA goalie the Kings may be an attractive spot, too.

Ranford seems/is highly regarded (Copley said as much in an interview);
Younger up-and-coming team;
Nothing in the pipeline really in front of me.

It's a RIPE opportunity for anyone with ability. I don't think we have a shot at a Wallstedt or Wolf or Shesty or whoever unfortunately, but some of these tourney undrafteds are a good lotto ticket at least.