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Poehling and Ikonen make an impression at Summer Showcase |
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The WJC Summer Showcase has just wrapped up with an incredible 7-5 USA win over Canada Saturday night. Canada finished with a record of 3-2 (including camp games) and Canadiens prospect Victor Mete (19 years old) finished the Showcase with 2 assists in 3 games for Team Canada. For comparisons sake, 2017 4th overall pick Cale Makar put up 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 games as well. Just had to pump the tires of my favorite Habs D prospect Mete there. For as well Mete played, he isn't the Habs prospect making the biggest waves around the Summer Showcase.
2017 first round pick Ryan Poehling (18 years old) was arguably Team USA's best center and was one of three US players to absolutely dominate this competition, the other two being Adam Fox and Casey Mittelstadt. Poehling produced 1 goal and 6 assists in 5 games and many sports outlets were praising his overall game. Poehling seemed ready to prove his draft day drop was a huge mistake for the teams that passed over him and with this effort it looks like Montreal may have finally drafted a complete, skilled center.
There is a good chance Poehling ends up one of Team USA's top centers, along with superstar in the making Casey Mittelstadt, at this years World Junior Championship. I will be following his progress in his sophomore campaign with St. Cloud State University very closely this season, as should all Habs fans who consider themselves of the "die hard" variety. If Poehling can come out and put up a high end campaign, points wise, there's reason to believe he can be a top 6 center with fantastic hands, hockey IQ, and can play a 200 foot game. This kid could be worth getting excited about folks.
The second Canadiens prospect who turned heads was 2017 2nd round pick Joni Ikonen (18 years old) of Team Finland. Ikonen ended the Showcase with a hat trick against rival Sweden and finished the Showcase tied for the team lead in goals with 3 and points with 5 in 5 games.
Ikonen is a battler. He skates well, works hard, and has an NHL caliber shot. At this point he seems to be a lock for first line duty on Team Finland at the World Juniors and his game reminds me a bit of Saku Koivu's in that he doesn't shy away or back down from players. Koivu didn't have the goal scoring touch that Ikonen has and if he can continue to progress we may see this 18 year old in Montreal sooner rather than later. After this upcoming season is over I wouldn't be surprised if Ikonen is making cuts difficult at the Canadiens 18-19 training camp. The kid has desire and the skills, and I can't wait to follow his progress this season.
For all the grief Trevor Timmins seems to catch from the Canadiens faithful (including myself sometimes) it would appear he picked a couple gems in the 2017 NHL Draft. Both are centers, but Ikonen looks like he will be a winger, and both were right there with their respective teams best players at the 2017 Summer Showcase.
If Poehling, Ikonen, and Mete's progress continues along this trajectory and make the Canadiens squad in a season or two then it reaffirms my stance in my previous article about spending a couple first round picks (and then some) to pry away a top line center like Tavares or Duchene. Bergevin can solidify the first and second lines with one top flight center. Then the Canadiens can ease the young kids along, give them a shot if they deserve it, and learn on a competitive team with elite skill at every position. The team will be better and the rookies get to come into a good group and will fall in line to stay up.
The potential of Poehling and Ikonen to come up in a seasons time and play sheltered minutes could give Montreal fantastic depth for playoff games. Both players are clearly offensive catalysts for their respective teams and to have that coming up to occupy 3rd and 4th line roles could help make Montreal's playoff runs longer. The team needs scoring in a bad way and hats off to Timmins so far on these two picks.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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