I tend to agree although I don't really recall many of those Russian players being highly rated. I think these games are more to replace the top prospect games then the Canada vs. Russia games.
I didn't see the first intermission when Button apparently called Schaefer a lock for the WJC team which like others I kind of doubt. I'd like to see Schaefer at least invited to the WJC camp though. The few times I've seen him play he seems to rise to the occasion every time which has resulted in Canada winning several gold medals.
They have an OHL top prospects game coming up in January. I
assume the WHL and QMJHL have the same. That’s probably what is replacing it so they can get more talent out there.
Top 23 in east vs west prob 46 of the best draft eligible in every league getting eyes on them and then if every league did that 46x3=138 total players getting their name out there vs just the 46 best CHL guys in 1 game.
From this way each league brings revenue and the chl as a whole makes triple the profit and triple the players get looked at by scouts- everybody wins.