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

[Fishhead]

If the focus is Clarke putting on weight and learning D, juniors is where he shouldn't be. The players down there aren't good enough to push him defensively, so he won't learn a thing. He'll just be freewheeling. More importantly, the Kings' trainers and programs are going to be light years ahead of any junior team, not to mention the facilities.

The only reason Clarke should go down is if they want him to get loads of ice time. He's not going to learn much down there, if anything. He might get a little sharper offensively and gain some confidence, but neither of those are weaknesses.

 

[King'sPawn]

If the focus is Clarke putting on weight and learning D, juniors is where he shouldn't be. The players down there aren't good enough to push him defensively, so he won't learn a thing. He'll just be freewheeling. More importantly, the Kings' trainers and programs are going to be light years ahead of any junior team, not to mention the facilities.

The only reason Clarke should go down is if they want him to get loads of ice time. He's not going to learn much down there, if anything. He might get a little sharper offensively and gain some confidence, but neither of those are weaknesses.

Frankly, I think Clarke going down is the worst decision, only compacted by the decision to keep him a healthy scratch until WJCs. If they never intended to burn a year off his contract, they should have just sent him down.

Between the ice time and giving him a chance to take a leadership role for high-pressure hockey, I see why there would be benefits.

But there's less structure and weaker players in the junior leagues. I don't know why they felt this course of action (which is unique) was in Clarke's best interest.

 

[kingsboy11]

I'm willing to bet the Kings didn't think Clarke was going to handle the NHL as well as he did. Obviously there's some things he needs to improve upon and its not like he lit the league on fire when he did play, but he showed he could handle it and help the team which made it all the more complicated with what to do for him.

Clearly he's too good for junior hockey now and if you send him back its going to be disappointing for him to spend a good chunk of the season with the Kings and their facilities only to go back to Barrie and then get traded to some contending team in the OHL.

 

[LAKings88]

I'm willing to bet the Kings didn't think Clarke was going to handle the NHL as well as he did. Obviously there's some things he needs to improve upon and its not like he lit the league on fire when he did play, but he showed he could handle it and help the team which made it all the more complicated with what to do for him.

Clearly he's too good for junior hockey now and if you send him back its going to be disappointing for him to spend a good chunk of the season with the Kings and their facilities only to go back to Barrie and then get traded to some contending team in the OHL.

Doughty
Roy
Durzi
Walker
Spence

Even if they move Walker. Still too crowded.

He can try for a memorial cup run and then try to join the AHL playoffs. Take a run at a spot next camp.

 

[Telos]

I don't think Clarke can go to the AHL. It is juniors or the NHL if I am not mistaken. Byfield was allowed to because of special temporary rule changes due to COVID-19. The Kings hosed themselves when it comes to Clarke unless they finally have the cojones to do something about Walker and Co.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't think Clarke can go to the AHL. It is juniors or the NHL if I am not mistaken. Byfield was allowed to because of special temporary rule changes due to COVID-19. The Kings hosed themselves when it comes to Clarke unless they finally have the cojones to do something about Walker and Co.

What @LAKings88 is saying is after the Mem Cup Clarke's junior career would be over so he could then proceed to the AHL. I think?

 

[King'sPawn]

I don't think Clarke can go to the AHL. It is juniors or the NHL if I am not mistaken. Byfield was allowed to because of special temporary rule changes due to COVID-19. The Kings hosed themselves when it comes to Clarke unless they finally have the cojones to do something about Walker and Co.

What @LAKings88 is saying is after the Mem Cup Clarke's junior career would be over so he could then proceed to the AHL. I think?

Pretty sure that's what LAKings88 is saying. Per the CHL agreement, a player assigned to junior cannot play in the AHL until his junior team's season is over. For reference, this is why Kyle Clifford played in the AHL at age 19.

So Clarke can play in juniors and then play in the AHL when his junior season ends.

 

[Maynard]

Pretty sure that's what LAKings88 is saying. Per the CHL agreement, a player assigned to junior cannot play in the AHL until his junior team's season is over. For reference, this is why Kyle Clifford played in the AHL at age 19.

So Clarke can play in juniors and then play in the AHL when his junior season ends.

They’ll probably get him on the AHL roster and then send him down to the Swamp Rabbits for a conditioning assignment.

 

[King'sPawn]

They’ll probably get him on the AHL roster and then send him down to the Swamp Rabbits for a conditioning assignment.

lol - at least he'll get playing time. That's more than what we could say for Byfield last year!

 

[AbsentMojo]

I don't think Clarke can go to the AHL. It is juniors or the NHL if I am not mistaken. Byfield was allowed to because of special temporary rule changes due to COVID-19. The Kings hosed themselves when it comes to Clarke unless they finally have the cojones to do something about Walker and Co.

Clarke turns 20 in Feb.. but my reading of the rules is: your eligibility for AHL is if you turn 20 within the calendar year in which the season starts. So ineligible until his OHL season is over. If he gets traded to an OHL contender be could be tied up until Jun 4th..and if he on a team that doesnt make it, OHL regular season ends March 26th.

 

[King'sPawn]

Czechia shocks Sweden with a 2-1 OT victory. They go on to the Gold medal match. They play the winner between USA and Canada.

Sweden plays the loser between USA and Canada for Bronze.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I cannot believe it, wow Czechia!

 

[BigBrown]

 

[AbsentMojo]

They beat Canada.. not sure why this is considered a big upset... i agree with this from World Juniors Odds: Don’t Sleep On The Czechs

The Czechs topped Group A with 10 points (3-0-0-1). They beat Canada 5-2 to open their tournament and lost 3-2 in overtime to Sweden after dominating the Swedes 35-24 in shots. They allowed fewer goals (6) than any other team in the group stage and had the second-best offense (24 goals).

In the quarterfinals, the Czechs dispatched the Swiss by a score of 9-1. Why are they being written off as semifinal fodder? With their size, maturity and overall talent, the Czechs could upset the odds here and win it.

 

[King'sPawn]

Also, Latvia defeated Austria in the best of 3, winning 2 games straight. Norway will be replacing them next year.

So far the rankings are:
10. Norway
9. Latvia
8. Germany
7. Switzerland
6. Slovakia
5. Finland
1-4. ??? (determined by medal round)

So next year's group A will be:
Gold Winner
Bronze Winner
Finland
Switzerland
Latvia

And B will be
Silver Winner
Bronze Loser
Slovakia
Germany
Norway

They beat Canada.. not sure why this is considered a big upset... i agree with this from World Juniors Odds: Don’t Sleep On The Czechs

The Czechs topped Group A with 10 points (3-0-0-1). They beat Canada 5-2 to open their tournament and lost 3-2 in overtime to Sweden after dominating the Swedes 35-24 in shots. They allowed fewer goals (6) than any other team in the group stage and had the second-best offense (24 goals).

In the quarterfinals, the Czechs dispatched the Swiss by a score of 9-1. Why are they being written off as semifinal fodder? With their size, maturity and overall talent, the Czechs could upset the odds here and win it.

Because Sweden beat them before in the round robin and Sweden frequently medals.

It's not a slant at the Czechs. But a statement of the quality of competition.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It was a compliment to the competition not a slam, that's for sure, and yes, the previous matchup.

Love seeing the countries outside of the more recent 3 or 4 re-emerging, I loved the 90s/2000s era of Czechs/Slovaks (and the Kings have historically LOVED their Slovaks!), the emergence of the Swiss, and so on. IT's good for hockey everywhere.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Frankly, I think Clarke going down is the worst decision, only compacted by the decision to keep him a healthy scratch until WJCs. If they never intended to burn a year off his contract, they should have just sent him down.

Between the ice time and giving him a chance to take a leadership role for high-pressure hockey, I see why there would be benefits.

But there's less structure and weaker players in the junior leagues. I don't know why they felt this course of action (which is unique) was in Clarke's best interest.

And factor in that the last thing they needed was another RD... I think playing a lot even in the O wouldve been best (ie not keeping him up to begin with).. his D skills need work and he could learn plenty by focusing on defensive positioning, sealing plays, working on body checks etc... and the things he needs more than anything is strength and that will come from weight room and natural growth.

 

[King'sPawn]

Kenny Connors puts USA up 2-0.

Clarke hasn't had a great start so far.

I thought Canada would have come to play, but it appears USA is playing with more pride so far.

And factor in that the last thing they needed was another RD... I think playing a lot even in the O wouldve been best (ie not keeping him up to begin with).. his D skills need work and he could learn plenty by focusing on defensive positioning, sealing plays, working on body checks etc... and the things he needs more than anything is strength and that will come from weight room and natural growth.

I just don't think there's enough structure in juniors where he would have the instruction to play defensively. But I understand the sentiment of just wanting him to play.

 

[kingsboy11]

Great start for the US, nice goal Kenny as well. Clarke a -2 I believe although neither goals were directly his fault

 

[AbsentMojo]

I just don't think there's enough structure in juniors where he would have the instruction to play defensively. But I understand the sentiment of just wanting him to play.

Its tradeoffs. The O is not ideal, but I think playing even in the relatively unstructured O is better than what the Kings have been doing w him.. but whatever

 

[King'sPawn]

Its tradeoffs. The O is not ideal, but I think playing even in the relatively unstructured O is better than what the Kings have been doing w him.. but whatever

Oh yeah, I agree completely. I would rather him have gone down to the OHL right away than to health scratch him until the WJCs. Sorry, I misread what you wrote.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Clarke goig to locker room it looks like

 

[Surf Nutz]

And factor in that the last thing they needed was another RD... I think playing a lot even in the O wouldve been best (ie not keeping him up to begin with).. his D skills need work and he could learn plenty by focusing on defensive positioning, sealing plays, working on body checks etc... and the things he needs more than anything is strength and that will come from weight room and natural growth.

No way. Its the best of both worlds. He got a taste of the pro game, being around the club, weight room and training instructions, further evaluation, a chance to be measured against elite peers in his age group at the WJC. All with saving an ELC year and the tournament showing he needs more work on D in the OHL during their crunch time and the playoffs, while the Kings deal with their glut of RHD's. Supremely handled you guys are dead wrong in my humble opinion.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

clarke hurt by a Connors shot after a lackluster tournament is the most Kings thing ever and yet exactly what Blake deserves here.

most mishandled prospect in Kings history and that's saying something given recent f***arounds.

 

[King'sPawn]

Clarke goig to locker room it looks like

Yeah, after blocking a shot from Connors. He was unsteady immediately.