WJC: Who has been the most surprising player so far?

[Slimmy]

Sebastian Aho, going from undrafted to one of the tournament's best defenders.

Beat me to it.

 

[Garyboy]

Puljujärvi. Nobody really expected him to plaay at this level but he has been Finland's 2nd best forward behind Rantanen.

Same. He looks like a 19 year old veteran of the WJC's out there.

 

[Roof Daddy]

OP got it right with Larkin. This is my first time seeing him and I'm blown away by the guy's speed and pursuit of the puck. Might not be the best comparison, but he's like a much more offensively gifted Darren Helm.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Puljujärvi

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Lots of surprises. But for me Reinhart. I shouldn't have been surprised that one of the top picks is this good but when he was cut by a weak Sabres team I began to wonder how good he really is. He's been the best player of the tournament so far by a decent margin, imo, as he is playing elite both offensively and defensively. With him and Ekblad as the top two picks this draft is looking better than I thought.

I'll also give a homer mention to Demko. For such a young goalie he has really impressed me with his positioning and play so far.

 

[Kamzik]

On SVK Denis Godla, Christian Jaros

 

[WannabeFinn]

Larkin, for sure. Didn't expect him to produce so much offensively. Not surprised by Bjorkstrand because he's a CBJ prospect and I knew that he had it in him.

Also surprised at how little McDavid has done.

 

[Canadian Finn]

oh, and Godla.

He was ridiculous against the Finns.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

oh, and Godla.

He was ridiculous against the Finns.

Especially his goal posts.

Not saying he wasn't good, but...

 

[kazmanian]

1. Dylan Larkin
2. Max Domi
3. Nurse and Bjorkstrand

 

[Slimmy]

...
Also surprised at how little McDavid has done.

If the hype was any indication of how good of a player he is/was then he would have been much more of an impact last year already. I'm not surprised in the slightest.

 

[wings5]

If the hype was any indication of how good of a player he is/was then he would have been much more of an impact last year already. I'm not surprised in the slightest.

He just came off of injury, if he had a few games to get back in form before the WJC he would probably be doing much better.

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Oscar Lindblom had been pretty terrific this tournament.

 

[Kanneda]

Bjorkstrand is the biggest surprise to me. I considered him a simple sniper but he appears all over the ice and gives it all.
Also Timo Meier, who might be a really solid 2nd round pick.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Puljujärvi

I am with you on that one. Larkin is a good choice too.

 

[leaflover]

As usual its the unheralded players impressing me.

Brodecki
Bjorkstad
Morrisey
And one of the Dane defenders whose name escapes me right now. These guys don't stand out due to pre tournament hype, they show you what they can do.

 

[Slimmy]

He just came off of injury, if he had a few games to get back in form before the WJC he would probably be doing much better.

Much better would still not make him the best player of the tourney. He is overhyped. It's as simple as that.

 

[Alerion]

Puljujärvi. Nobody really expected him to play at this level but he has been Finland's 2nd best forward behind Rantanen.

Non-homer vote for Puljujärvi, he really impressed me against Canada and looked good in the other games I caught too, plus Ferraro can't stop gushing about him.

 

[FinPanda]

Positive surprises:
USA: Larkin, Demko, Tuch
Canada: Domi, Fucale, Petan, Morrissey
Slovakia: Godla
Finland: Hintz, Puljujärvi, Rantanen, Aho
Denmark: Bjorkstrand, Eller
Russia: IDK
Germany: IDK
Switzerland: Rod
Sweden: Aho, Forsling, Lööke, Holmström, Brodecki
Czech Republic: IDK

Negative surprises:
Finland: Mustonen, Kapanen, Lehkonen
Canada: Ritchie, Morin
Sweden: Hägg

Others, IDK.

 

[matzz]

For me its Nylander, i had heard he was a good player and close to take a spot in Maple Leafs but i had never seen him play. But never thought he would be this good especially on pp, clever passes and very patient with the puck

 

[Kamzik]

Positive surprises:
USA: Larkin, Demko, Tuch
Canada: Domi, Fucale, Petan, Morrissey
Slovakia: Godla
Finland: Hintz, Puljujärvi, Rantanen, Aho
Denmark: Bjorkstrand, Eller
Russia: IDK
Germany: IDK
Switzerland: Rod
Sweden: Aho, Forsling, Lööke, Holmström, Brodecki
Czech Republic: IDK

Negative surprises:
Finland: Mustonen, Kapanen, Lehkonen
Canada: Ritchie, Morin
Sweden: Hägg

Others, IDK.

Patrik Zdrahal for the Czechs.

 

[604]

I've only watched a few games, but Bjorkstrand looked amazing

I agree. Eye opening.

 

[TheFinalWord]

Much better would still not make him the best player of the tourney. He is overhyped. It's as simple as that.

You really don't understand how underage players don't own these tournaments. See Crosby, Sidney.

 

[SurMartin]

Sebastian Aho, going from undrafted to one of the tournament's best defenders.

Aho has always been one of the best defenders of his age group, just look at the awards:

- TV-Pucken Bronze Medal 10/11
- J18 SM Silver Medal 11/12
- TV-Pucken Gold Medal 11/12
- TV-Pucken Most Points by Defenseman 11/12
- TV-Pucken Most Valuable Player 11/12
- U17 WHC Gold Medal 12/13
- J18 Allsvenskan Best Defenseman 12/13
- J18 SM Bronze Medal 12/13
- U18 WJC Top 3 Player on Team 13/14
- J20 SuperElit Best Defenseman 13/14
- SHL Champion 13/14

There's no surprise in him doing well in this tournament - the surprise was that no one drafted him.

 

[JJTT]

You really don't understand how underage players don't own these tournaments. See Crosby, Sidney.

He will turn 18 in two weeks so using his age as an argument doesn't really work anymore.