The World Junior Squads are beginning to be selected and what can that mean other than “hype?” The World Juniors are one of my favourite events for a myriad of reasons. One being fans viciously arguing over their prospects. Based on performance, lack thereof or if they even made their countries squad. I’m always more interested in how the draft eligible prospects fare. This usually means paying more attention to the Finns, Americans and sometimes the Swedes. Canada and Russia, especially in recent times prefer older rosters with one or two surefire dominant players that you couldn’t possibly leave off…Lawson Crouse excluded.
One person who really loves…nay…worships the World Juniors is NBC’s Pierre McGuire. If he goes three sentences without mentioning it, he might be suffering a stroke. I bring this up because on the radio he has repeated the same mantra, almost religiously, every single show. It’s beyond sickening at this point, but even repetitive garbage hockey talk is better than no hockey talk on my way to work.
The main mantra is quite simple. “If you can dominate a World Junior, you can dominate the NHL.” Living in Ottawa this mantra mainly pertains to two prospects. One being the Sens top prospect and one of the best defensive prospects in the game Thomas Chabot. The other being first year pro Colin White.
While I don’t necessarily disagree with the premise of the mantra, the fact it is one is pretty annoying. There have been countless players that absolutely dominated a World Junior and not only weren’t ready to step into the NHL right then and there as his assertion demands…they never made it at all. Some just turn into pedestrian players and never reach those heights again.
Just as a distraction, here’s my Pierre McGuire’s MonStar World Junior Super Squad.
Viktor Tikhonov – Jordan Schroeder (A) – Nikita Filatov (C)
Martin Réway – Cody Hodgson – Max Friberg
Mikko Lehtonen - Saku Mäenalanen - Sebastian Collberg
Lauri Tukonen - Felix Schütz - Jerry D’Amigo
Brandon Gormley (A) – Maxim Goncharov
Teemu Laakso – Sami Lepisto
Jakub Jerabek – Igor Knyazez
Denis Godla
Jack Campbell
Benjamin Conz
Viktor Tikhonov (LW) – All the way back in 2007 there was an unknown and undrafted Russian forward that took imaginations by storm. The soon to be 20 year old Tikhonov scored 5 goals and 7 points in 7 games and was named to the All-Star Squad, a Top-3 Player on his team, won Bronze and was named the Best Forward of the tournament. An award held by a lot of great NHLers. This performance would see him being that rare first round pick as a draft year +2 selection. He went 28th overall. He would make the Coyotes who desperately played as many of their younger players as they could to their detriment. He flamed out and was put in the AHL where he never found enough success.
Where He Is Now : He has carved out an average KHL career including winning two Gagarin Cups. He would eventually try an NHL comeback in 2015 with Chicago, but it was not to be. He would find himself on the fourth line in the desert and then back to Russia where he continues to play.
Jerry D’Amigo (RW) – The Toronto Maple Leafs looked to have hit gold in the sixth round after an exceptional performance at the WJC. With 6 goals and 12 points in 7 games beside Derek Stepan, he looked like an absolute steal. He was integral to the United States winning their second Gold Medal in their history scoring a goal and an assist in the epic 6-5 Gold Medal Game.
Where He Is Now : That US 2010 squad has a lot of NHL players kicking around these days. Guys like Stepan, Kreider, Palmieri, Carlson, Gardiner and Fowler. D’Amigo isn’t one of them. That year would be the best of his career and it was a steady decline as D’Amigo moved from league to league. He moved to Europe two years ago to play in Finland. He currently plays for KalPa.
Saku Mäenalanen (C/LW) – The 2014 Finnish World Junior Squad was one of the first signs that Finland as a developmental power was back. It was their first Gold Medal since 1998 and came at the expense of the Swedes. While Teräväinen was getting most of the limelight with his 15 points, his triggerman Mäenalanen was another huge story. He scored a tournament high 7 goals and added 11 points. Including a goal and an assist in the Gold Medal Game.
Where He Is Now : Mäenalanen is a part of the Predators system, though he has never left Europe. At 23, his NHL hopes are slowly slipping away. He plays for Kärpät in his native Finland.
Felix Schütz (C) – In 2007, Schütz would lead the tournament in goal scoring with 5 on a poor German squad. Despite strong performances against the USA and Slovakia (wins) and keeping it close against Sweden and Canada (both 3-1 losses), Germany would fall apart in the relegation rounds. Schütz’ 5 goals are just 2 off from the rest of his team combined. He had an MVP level performance for Germany and raised a lot of eyebrows at the time.
Where He Is Now : Unsurprisingly, Schütz did not become one of the very few German players that have made the NHL. He would meander in the AHL for two seasons in the Sabres organization before eventually moving back to Germany. He plays for Kölner Haie in the DEL.
Nikita Filatov (RW) – Filatov was one of the most dynamic and spectacular young talents around in 2008. He was an absolute blue chip player and a dominant international force. For many, he looked like he would be the key to the Blue Jackets becoming more than just Rick Nash and co. Filatov scored 20gp 13g 13a 26p over three separate tournaments. Including his 8 goal 11 point romp in 2009. The battle between Canada and Russia that ended in a 6-5 overtime win was one of the best WJC games I’ve seen. Filatov was having a heck of a year in the AHL and looked NHL ready.
Where He Is Now : Filatov would struggle to make the NHL fulltime and was consistently sent back to the AHL. He demanded a trade and was moved to the Senators where he would find himself in a similar situation. Filatov would move back to Russia where he still currently plays with Lada Togliatti. He would never find much professional hockey success.
Jordan Schroeder (C) – Schroeder looked to be another Mr. Hockey. The diminutive forward was considered an absolute steal by the Canucks after a dominant year in the NCAA and the WJC. He scored 3 goals and 11 points for the Americans that year. In three WJC’s he scored at an elite pace with 19gp 7g 20a 27p. That’s a 1.42 PPG which puts him in an elite list due to him playing so many games.
Where He Is Now : Year by year Schroeder’s moniker as a top prospect began to diminish. Especially after two disappointing years in a row with Vancouver. He was moved on to his home state and played the up and down game between the NHL/AHL, never really making it stick. He’s now in the Blue Jackets system doing the same thing.
Mikko Lehtonen (LW) – The 2007 WJC scoring leader had ten points for the Finns. He was the main stirrer of the best line in the tournament playing with Lindgren and Osala. They combined for 28 points. I’m sure at the time, articles were being written about all three of these prospects and their very bright futures.
Where He Is Now : Collectively. All three would amount to nothing. Which is sad for such a dominant line. Lindgren would play one game for the Stars and Osala three for the Caps. Lehtonen would play two. Fitting as they went one, two and three in team scoring that year. Lehtonen now plays with HPK in the SM-liiga
Max Friberg (RW) – Friberg made a name for himself in 2011-2012 by leading the tournament in goal scoring with 9 goals for the Gold winning Swedes. He scored big goals at big times and was a pest to play against. His 9 goals were the most scored in a single tournament since Markus Naslund’s 13 in 1992. Wild prospect Kiril Kaprizov finally managed to hit the 9 goal mark last tournament.
Where He Is Now – Alas, this dominating tournament is likely going to be the highlight of Friberg’s career. After several years of toiling in the AHL for the Ducks and then Habs; Friberg currently plays for Frölunda HC in the Elitserien.
Cody Hodgson (C) – Cody Hodgson was the recipient of some of the most hype in a long time. Most came on the back of an absolutely dominant year all around in 2008-2009. Hodgson would be named the CHL Player of the Year, the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player and lead the entire WJC’s with 16 points for the Gold Winning Canadians. To put his tournament leading point totals into perspective; since 1993 he is the third highest scorer in a single tournament. With domination like that, it seemed inevitable that he would be the impact centre the Canucks needed to be three deep (Sedin-Hodgson-Kesler) to bring home the Cup.
Where He Is Now : During a solid, though not spectacular rookie campaign. Hodgson was dealt to the Sabres with rumours of off-ice issues regarding his father and ice-time complaints. Hodgson would have a very good second NHL year with 34 points in 48 games, but the signs of things to come were there. Lack of foot speed and defensive awareness were always issues. After a disastrous third season in Buffalo, he was moved to the Preds and faded away. He would retire in 2016 after two terrible years and join the Predators Youth Hockey Program.
Lauri Tukonen (LW) – Part of the “Big 3” of 2004, Tukonen is an unfourtunate member of the triple bust club that Finland produced that draft. Or at the very least disappointments. In 2006 he was a member of the WJC All-Star squad and had a dominant 3 goal and 10 point performance for Finland. That put him right behind Phil Kessel and tied with Yevgeni Malkin. Not bad company!
Whre He Is Now : Tukonen would move back to Finland after three “fine” AHL seasons for the LA Kings affiliate. He currently plays for Lukko in the SM-liiga and has never represented Finland internationally again.
Martin Réway (LW) – Réway was involved in three separate WJC’s. Two of which he was an absolute force for Slovakia. On a team with almost no offensive prowess, Réway was a revelation. He had 5gp 4g 6a 10p in 2014 and 7gp 4g 5a 9p in 2015. In 2015, to put this into perspective, the next leading scorer on Slovakia had just 3 points. In both tournaments he was one of the best forwards in the whole thing. Doing it largely by himself. He was electrifying to watch and gave a lot of hope to Habs fans in need of some good scoring prospects.
Where He Is Now : Unfourtunately Réway has suffered some serious medical issues. He missed the entire 2016-2017 season. Currently he is playing in Slovakia in the KHL for HC Slovan Bratislava to be closer to family and recover his career. Hopefully for the young man, he can get healthy and find a way to the NHL.
Sebastian Collberg (RW) – Collberg might be the weirdest player on this list. Drafted 33rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens, he was electric internationally and yet couldn’t score even a single goal domestically in the Eliteserien. Starting as a 17 year old, Collberg was a mainstay for Team Sweden winning one Gold and two Silver Medals. He amassed 19gp 9g 10a 19p in three different WJC’s and was a driving force offensively for the Swedes. Collberg would eventually be the main piece in the Vanek deal.
Where He Is Now : Collberg could not figure out his game in the AHL playing in the Islanders system. After two seasons of spinning his wheels, he made the move back to Sweden. He is currently a third liner for Rögle BK in the Elitserien. Despite being a phenomenal international player for Sweden, he never has been able to find success domestically.
Brandon Gormley (D) – Gormley had what everyone assumed to be his “coming out party” in the season of 2011-2012. He would dominate the World Junior Championships on a disappointing Bronze medaling Canadian squad and he would dominate the Memorial Cup helping Shawinigan win. In the WJC he led all defenseman in goals and points with 3 and 6. He was named the Best Defenseman of the tournament, to the All-Star Team and named a Top-3 Player on his team. It was a fantastic performance by a player many expected to become a star.
Where He Is Now : Perhaps one of the biggest falls from grace we’ll see. After years of bouncing back and forth from the AHL/NHL and from team to team; this once blue chip prospect is currently playing in Mora IK in the Elitserien. With awards like; The QMJHL Best Professional Prospect, named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Game and being the WJC Best Defenseman, it’s hard to see how he couldn’t have become an NHLer.
Maxim Goncharov (D) – It’s hard to be in the top-10 in goal scoring in any capacity as a defenseman. Even in a small tournament like this. However Maxim Goncharov put on a show in 2009 showing extreme offensive upside and the ability to play against teams top players. He had 5 goals and 6 points for the Bronze Medal Russians. With his extreme size (6’4) and great mobility, it seemed like he was a perfect blend of size and skill.
Where He Is Now : After winning the then called Nadezhda Cup (KHL Championship), Goncharov moved to the AHL where he had a very good rookie campaign for a player playing in North America for the first time. His second and third seasons would be injury riddled and he would go back to Russia. He has never been able to produce the offense he showed at the WJC’s and that year in general. With several more injury plagued years, Goncharov is now a bottom-pair KHL defender.
Jakub Jerabek (D) – In a tournament with Ryan Ellis, Dmitri Orlov, Erik Gudbranson, Calvin De Haan, Justin Faulk, Adam Larsson, Tyson Barrie, Nick Leddy and Sami Vatanen…who was the defenseman that stole the show? Some Czech guy named Jerabek. He had a goal and 8 points to lead his country in scoring. Finishing tenth overall in scoring for any player. He was one of the lone bright spots that year for the Czech Republic along with a then 16 year old Martin Frk.
Where He Is Now : After going undrafted; Jerabek played in the Czech Extraliga until 2016-2017 when he moved to the KHL. He was a standout rookie and got himself on the All-Star Team. The 26 year old was then courted by several teams before picking the Montreal Canadiens. He has split his season between the NHL and AHL.
Teemu Laakso (D) – Over the course of three WJC’s Laakso amassed 18gp 6g 4a 10p. In 2007 he had the distinction of being the most penalized player in the tournament. One of the most penalized in a single tournament. As well as leading the Finns defense in scoring for a second straight year. With an elite shot and the ability and willingness to play the body; he looked like he could be another defensive steal from the Nashville Predators who held his rights.
Where He Is Now : After three seasons in North America where he found it hard to break into the NHL. Laakso tried his luck in the KHL for a few seasons before moving on to Sweden and now most recently Finland. The 30 year old has had serious injury issues the past two seasons. He has only managed 7 games the last two years.
Sami Lepisto (D) – Lepisto had a Monster© WJC in 2004. Lepisto had 4 goals and 8 points to lead all defenders. He was named the Best Defender of the tournament and helped Finland win Bronze. His 8 points put him at 5th overall in tournament scoring ahead of some guys like Ovechkin, Getzlaf, Burns and Carter. That performance got him drafted by the Capitals who banked on his skills to overcome his size issues.
Where He Is Now : Lepisto would have a replacement level career in the NHL as a 6/7 defender. He did however manage to play 176 games across four different teams. After burning out in Chicago he made the move to the KHL where he has carved himself a solid career including an All-Star Team placement. He currently plays for Jokerit and is fifth in scoring by a defenseman.
Igor Knyazev (D) – “The Tank” as he was known for a little while as a “top prospect” was the 2002 Best Defenseman of the WJC. Drafted 15th Overall in 2001; he exemplified the “hardnosed shutdown defenseman” that was still popular at the time. With bone crushing hits and an extremely hard shot, he was a beast for the Russians winning Gold.
Where He Is Now : Knyazev would play two season in the AHL where his lack of foot speed become alarmingly clear that he could not adjust to the North American game. Moving back to Russia he would have an undistinguished career and rumours of alcoholism surrounded him as he ended up playing in the third tier Russian league. He retired in 2013 in the VHL after becoming essentially a goon.
Denis Godla (G) – How many MVP’s from this tournament have not made the NHL (or tracking to do so comfortably)? Just one. How many MVP’s from this tournament have not been drafted by an NHL squad? Just one. While Godla is only 22 years old, it seems highly unlikely that he will ever be an NHL goalie. In 2015 though…he was a star. On a bad Slovak team Godla dragged them kicking and screaming to an upset Bronze Medal win over Sweden. He finished the tournament with a 2.76GAA and a .926sv%. He did so behind a no name defense whose best defender was Lightning prospect Erik Cernak. It was a whirlwind ride and an amazing story.
Where He Is Now : Godla is currently the starting goaltender for KalPa in the SM-liiga in Finland. He was named the Top Goaltender in the Mestis last season, which is the AHL to NHL equivalent in Finland.
Benjamin Conz (G) – Who? It’s been a long time but the 5’10 Swiss netminder still has a place in my heart. Conz absolutely stole an OT win against Russia in a game Switzerland had no chance in. He made 50 saves in the game. He faced over 50 shots in 3 of the 7 games he played in. Facing 318 shots total in just 7 games. His numbers look bad on paper, but it’s important to note that he was excellent. Switzerland was a terrible team. He took a relegation level team to the Bronze Medal game. While Sweden would mop the floor with them, fourth place is their best finish since 2002 (when they also finished fourth). He was named Goaltender of the Tournament and rightfully so.
Where He Is Now : Conz currently plays with HC Ambrì-Piotta in the NLA. He has been a quality NLA starter for eight years now. He is likely a European player for life barring some miracle.
Jack Campbell (G) – Jack Campbell is living proof that goalies are nigh impossible to pick. Campbell was one of the most highly anticipated goalie prospects of the decade. With the pedigree at every single level of competition, to go along with the “correct” build and athleticism. In two consecutive U18 tournaments he had under a 1 GAA. Simply unheard of. Campbell would help break Canada’s streak of 5 consecutive Gold Medals. The next tournament though, was when Campbell really took off. In 6 games he had a 1.70GAA and a .941sv%. He was named the tournament’s Best Goaltender. The future looked extremely bright for the 11th overall selection in 2010.
Where He Is Now : Campbell is unfourtunately entering bust status. After several unsuccessful seasons outside of the US National Development Program, he was just as underwhelming as a pro up until this year. He had been bounced around from the AHL to the ECHL with regularity. Currently in the LA Kings system, he is playing for the Ontario Reign. The 25 year old has a 930sv%...which is a bit less impressive when you realize his split starter Cal Peterson has a .941sv%. Hopefully he can find his way to the NHL and do justice for what was one of the most dominant U20 international tournament goalies of all time.
Thanks for reading…bloody hell this took more effort than it was worth.
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