Deep Thoughts • 20/12/2020

Deep Thoughts Sudbury Star - December 20th 2020 - Full 2021 WJC Preview

DEEP THOUGHTS
 with
Mark Seidel
2021 World Junior Hockey Championships Preview


As we head into the most wonderful time of the year without our usual fill of hockey, the 2021 World Junior Championships are about to begin & I thought I’d preview the Tournament with some Key Players to Watch, Team Questions & some story lines.
GROUP A
Team Canada
Players to Watch:
  • Kirby Dach, (CHI) – Played in Chicago last year & had his coming out party in the playoff bubble. Should dominate this tournament.
  • Bowen Byram, (COL) – Byram should be the stud on Canada’s blueline & will play 22 minutes a night
  • Dylan Cozens, (BUF) – Should play on the wing with Dach on the 1st line but can also play Centre
Key Question: Can the goaltending be good enough on this massive stage because they are loaded up front and on the back end?
Team Finland
Players to Watch:
  • Ville Heinola, (WIN) – Started Last year in Winnipeg and had 5 points in 7 games
  • Anton Lundell (FLA) – 12th overall pick in 2019 missed all of last year’s tournament
  • Brad Lambert (2022 Draft) – The just turned 17 year old Finnish/Canadian citizen will be a Top 3 pick in 2022 Draft
Key Question: Can their feistiness, character & speed be enough to overcome the depth of the superpower teams?
Team Germany
Players to Watch:
  • Tim Steutzle (OTT) – 3rd overall pick in last years draft will carry this team with speed and skill
  • JJ Peterka (BUF) – He is a scorer with a great shot and led Germany in goals last year
Key Question: Having been locked in quarantine until December 24th and without some of their top players like Moritz Seider & Lukas Reichel, can the lessened roster beat Solvakia & Switzerland?
Team Switzerland
Players to Watch:
  • Simon Knak (2021 Draft) – One of Switzerland’s best players in last years tournament will have to be an offensive catalyst
  • Lorenzo Canonica (2021 Draft) – An under rated prospect for the ’21 Draft could have his coming out party in Edmonton

Key Question: The Swiss program is continually improving but can the weak back end play well enough to get to the Medal Round?
Team Slovakia
Players to Watch:
  • Samuel Hlavaj (2021 Draft) – Hlavaj will be the starter in net & he has a lot of talent but he will need to be great
  • Samual Knazko (CBJ) – Offensive defenseman that will generate offense and QB their power play
  • Martin Chromiak (LAK) – Chromiak came into Kingston last year & had instant chemistry with wonderkid Shane Wright with his offensive skills
Key Question:  Can Hlavaj the goaltender who should have been an NHL draft pick last year, show the scouts they made a mistake in passing on him?
 
GROUP B
 Team USA
Players to Watch:
  • Cole Caufield (MON) – A pure scorer that has really high IQ, should put up some big numbers in this tourney
  • Cam York (PHI) – The leader on the back end is very good in both ends & will likely QB the PP
  • Spencer Knight (FLA) – The Former 13th overall pick can steal games & will be tough to beat throughout the tournament
Key Question:  The Americans should score a lot and be great in goal but will the young but skilled defense core be able to handle the other powerful teams?
Team Sweden
Players to Watch:
  • Alexander Holtz (NJD) – A very gifted goal scorer that can be streaky will need to prove why he was a Top 10 pick
  • Lucas Raymond (DET) – 4th overall pick in last years draft is smooth, smart & dangerous & will drive the Swedish offense
  • Philip Broberg (EDM) – The big, smooth skating defender will be a part of the back end on this Team, which will be its strength
Key Question:  The pre-tournament COVID cases cost the Swedes their Head Coach & numerous key players so can the Swedes be resilient enough to make a push?
Team Russia
Players to Watch:
  • Yaroslav Askarov (NSH) The best goaltender in this event struggled last year but expect him to dominate with extra year of maturity
  • Rodion Amirov (TOR)  – The Leafs used their 1st round pick on this dynamic offensive star and he should prove fun to watch
  • Yegor Chinakhov (CBJ) – Columbus shocked the scouting world by taking him at #21 overall but his play thus far in the KHL is showing it may have been a great pick
Key Question:  The goaltender, Askarov has played exceptionally well in every international tournament except last year’s WJC so can he bounce back with a young defense group in front of him?
Team Czech Republic
Players to Watch:
  • Jan Mysak (MON) Mysak will be the offensive leader on this team as he bounces back from a season ending injury last year
  • Jaromir Pitlyk (NJD) The SOO Greyhounds star has been continually improving but he will have to play a big role on this team
  • Stanislav Svozil (2021 Draft) – A personal favorite that is young but should be a key on the blueline for the Czech’s

Key Question:  The Czech Republic opted to go with an older group this year but they haven’t had success in this tournament lately so we will see if they can change that.
Team Austria
Players to Watch:
  • Marco Rossi (MIN) – The OHL scoring leader last year will try to put this team on his back & try to carry them into the playoff round

Key Question:  Austria got into the 2021 tournament by beating Slovenia but without some miraculous performances, can they win a game?
Predictions
Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: USA
4th Place: Finland
5th Place: Sweden
6th Place: Germany
7th Place: Switzerland
8th Place: Czech Republic
9th Place: Slovakia
10th Place: Austria

Sports. Stories. Honesty. Unbiased.

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