GDT: WJC 2024 Thread

[IslandBeast]

ASP is a dominant player...

 

[Ozone]

Boxing Day and all day World Juniors: my Christmas!

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

ASP is a dominant player...

In the offensive zone for sure. Bit of an adventure in his own end.

 

[wonton15]

ASP for Hronek

 

[Jyrki21]

It’s one game against a weaker opponent, and my eye test is no great shakes, but even without the goals ASP looks like a standout whereas Willander is more a steady Eddie.

 

[Vector]

It’s one game against a weaker opponent, and my eye test is no great shakes, but even without the goals ASP looks like a standout whereas Willander is more a steady Eddie.

Yes. Yes.

 

[sting101]

ASP is brilliant offensively, but the Zubov comps are over the top.

Willander looks good. Will be better watching him and ASP play starting the 31st against the Czechs and then elimination games. First 3 games its harder comp playing NCAA opponents

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

Willander has elite stick work. Tanev/Slavin type stick work. It's one of the most important things at the NHL level if you hope to slow down guys like McDavid or MacKinnon

 

[Scumbag Frank]

Came to watch Willander but quickly realized I was watching the ASP show...WOW.
Other than Hughes, that was as dominant a game by ASP from a d-man as you'll ever see. Clearly Sweden's best player in this tournament by a mile.
The mobility, offensive IQ, great outlet passing, but most noticeably, the absolutely booming wrist and slapshot. Was rated top 10 going into his draft and looks like his fall all the way to Detroit was totally unjustified.
If he can carry this over to the NHL, Detroit definitely won't be regretting that Hronek trade.

On Willander: very reminiscent of what Dan Hamhuis looked like at the NHL level.
He would be so annoying to play against as a forward. You come over the blueline and he's right up in your face, stripping the puck from you.
Always in the right position defensively, assertive and competes until he gets the puck back. No wonder he doesn't get scored on.
Offensively, he's not dynamic like ASP but he took lots of sneaky good wrist shots leading to good rebounds and near-goals. Nice facilitator with good passing as well. Looks like a typical PP2 d-man.

 

[JT Milker]

Willander has elite stick work. Tanev/Slavin type stick work. It's one of the most important things at the NHL level of you hope to slow down guys like McDavid or MacKinnon

Willander is an outstanding defensive player. The offensive criticism is fair but that’s never going to be his thing. He’s a Tanev type as a reasonable projection and a Hamhuis type as his top end, which is an extremely valuable player.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Completely forgot about the WJC

 

[racerjoe]

After saying how much I liked the Amazon feed, I can’t watch this… the TSN app keeps crashing.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

ASP head and shoulders above Willander.

 

[ChilliBilly]

ASP head and shoulders above Willander.

Offensively. Willander is a steady Eddie, and his game should safely translate to the NHL. ASP will probably be a good player, but it is not guaranteed.

 

[Canucks LB]

ASP head and shoulders above Willander.

Honestly, I was very impressed with both of them

 

[Lemmiwinks]

It’s easy to be tantalized by ASP’s offensive skill, but with Hughes already on our team Willander is literally the exact type of piece the Canucks need most. He was very good today.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Both Dman have a chance at being some of the very best in the NHL one day but in different aspects. If we didn't have Hughes I'd be kicking ourselves for not drafting ASP. But with Hughes, then Willander is the obvious choice.

Going to be fun to watch how both of their careers play out.

 

[Jyrki21]

It was cool to see them in person. Like I say, I don’t pretend to have a great eye test, but if I knew nothing about these players I wouldn’t really have noticed Willander (except that he did play in all situations) whereas ASP would have been the obvious star player.

And let’s be honest, if the picks were reversed we’d be over the moon and hearing l Detroit fans say things like “we don’t know if it will translate!” would be laughed at as copium.

The two of them lined up together on the PP, though, which was fun to watch. The Swedes also invert their defenders for O-zone faceoffs (is this common?) so Willander lined up on our side a fair bit in the 1st and 3rd, and would continue on the left for a while after the puck dropped.

One last note – Miroslav “son of Satan” Šatan junior is on Slovakia, he’s 6’7” and yet I don’t think I noticed him once after his opening shift. I’m not sure he played much.

 

[ziploc]

Slovakia has a Centre named Miroslav Satan Jr.

This is even better than the original (namewise)

6 foot 7. A giant Satan.

His mother is named Ingrid. Ingrid Satan.

Please, New Jersey, you screwed up the first time around. Get it together and trade for this kid.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Is willander quite possibly the best defensive defenseman prospect we’ve ever had? Ohlund had the raw physical attributes and athleticism but to me Willander’s defensive acumen and natural instincts imo are far superior at the same age. Ohlund was very obviously the better all around prospect but I’m speaking just in terms of defensive ability.

 

[ziploc]

If Willander can make the jump our defence suddenly gets really sorted. Still need one more top 4 guy, but I am guessing we might see that happen in the next week or so.

 

[DFAC]

Is willander quite possibly the best defensive defenseman prospect we’ve ever had? Ohlund had the raw physical attributes and athleticism but to me Willander’s defensive acumen and natural instincts imo are far superior at the same age. Ohlund was very obviously the better all around prospect but I’m speaking just in terms of defensive ability.

Bourdon... RIP

I have no doubt that the kid would've been a star dman for us. His play on OV still sticks out to me

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Tank 4 McKenna

 

[Vector]

 

[Bleach Clean]

Gabe Perrault, third point.

Should have been his 4th point there.

Edit: And there's his 4th point.