Me personally I think Barlow is a jet next season. We will see though as he has seemingly struggled with consistency this year. A big world juniors could help with any potential confidence issues that have risen.
Unless Barlow explodes in the second half of this season he will be back in the OHL. I don't think he gets invited to Canada's selection camp this season with his injury and mediocre performance so far by his lofty standards. One final year in junior and a chance to represent Canada at the WJC tournament next season is I think the most likely scenario.
CB will not be going to WLD Juniors.
Looks like Petrovsky and Matejicek are going to their respective country's selection camps and will be the only Attack players to go. Slovakia camp starts Dec 11th so I would assume we have Petrovsky until the Sarnia game on Dec 9th. Hopefully Barlow is healthy enough to return by then. Matejicek going opens the door for Smith and Ethier to get a few games. I wouldn't mind seeing them rotate Smith and Ethier in his absence. Ethier has yet to get a look this season.
Not just players gone but significant players gone. Definitely influences the decision making process this season with respect to the trade deadline.
They went up 5-2 and then packed it in. It's like they just took their foot off the gas as it was all Otters the rest of the way. That's definitely a game they need to win and hard to say anything other than they just frittered it away. Really disappointing from a team that was playing pretty good hockey lately.
Meets the requirements of a slew foot by definition but wouldn't say it was malicious. Slew foot comes with an automatic 2 game suspension though the team has the option to appeal. Wouldn't shock me if he avoided suspension.
It was at the far end so it was tough to get a good read.
Watched the game and I agree, the second one deflected off Addy. In my opinion you hurt both goalies confidence, Votary by the early premature pull, and George by putting him in and he lets in 6. Players that play the PP and the PK looked very tired as they were overused in those roles. I would have tried a few others to save some legs.
They used both PP1 and 2 during the 2 weekend games.
Tired? They played 2 games this week as Millpond suggested. On Saturday they played PP2 more then PP1, as PP1 struggled.
I wouldn't have called it but I'm old school. He probably gets the automatic 2 but wouldn't be surprised if they look at video and he ended up with no suspension which IMHO would be the right call.
I didn't think it would be a suspension either personally. I believe the Attack were successful on appeals last season a couple of times and didn't think this was any worse than those. League felt differently I guess.
His injury was recently downgraded from week to week, to now being day to day but I don't think he's practiced yet. If he's back on the ice this week then he'll be close to rejoining the team. The injury is a back strain.
I don't think Hockey Canada has any influence on a previously injured players status.
That would be correct. NHL teams can influence or intervene on players they have drafted in certain situations but an organization such as Hockey Canada wouldn't have any involvement.
Stellar thanks for this post I have had some heavy discussions with people. Many don't get this is primarily a 19 yr old tourney. Another factor holding back an injured player this year is IMHO the smaller(30 player) selection camp. H.C can't afford gambling on a strained back they needed to pick more sure players. Like you say Colby will be counted on more next year.
I think if Barlow was going to make this team it wasn't likely to be as a front line player. I think the piece of his game that would have had him in consideration was his bottom six utility as a penalty killer and defensively responsible player. As an 18 year old, his on ice performance needed to be elite to get the invite and when healthy this season it's been ok at best by his standards. The injury situation would have sealed the deal.
