Habs fans everywhere want to see some stars coming from the Canadiens prospect pipeline and after a few lean years we may finally be seeing just that.
The Habs have some pretty good players involved in this years World Junior Summer Showcase event and the players involved are the type that could fill a very specific need: Center.
Although he hasn’t played in the split squad warm up games the 6’2… Ryan Poehling is already being discussed as the top Center for Team USA at this winters World Juniors. It will be difficult to outshine the possible 2019 1st overall pick in Jack Hughes, but Poehling’s experience may give him the nod in most situations. At minimum, Poehling will be playing 2nd line C to a possible generational talent in Hughes. Not something to be ashamed of, that’s for sure.
.@NHLNetwork to televise 2018 World Junior Summer Showcase & 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup → https://t.co/8UIJe5UNfj#WJSS | #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/DhqCGDeEU6
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) July 27, 2018
Poehling hasn’t played in the split squad warm up games yet due to tonsillitis but is expected to play in the Round Robin.
WJSS update: Center Ryan Poehling (2017 Draft, No. 25) had surgery for tonsillitis after @CanadiensMTL development camp in June and remains day2day for the U.S. at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) July 31, 2018
Team Sweden is yearly contender for the Gold and this year looks to be no different. The player they have been using at #1 C in these warm up games is recent Canadiens pick (56th overall) Jacob Olofsson. Olofsson has been regarded as an all around complete center with high end skill. To see him playing #1 C on a top national team should make all of us very happy for the future.
#Habs U-20 Swedish coach Motten saying he regrets not choosing Olofsson for the 2018 WJC last December speaks volumes. Says Olofsson has impressed at every viewing and added that he scored 8 GWG in the Allsvenskan last year while playing top-6 C. Everyone loves this guy so far.
— Scrimmage & Stats (@thehockeyexpert) August 1, 2018
Olofsson has already scored in his first warm up game against Finland and could give Montreal big time potential for the future.
That’s 2 potential top 6 C’s of the future playing for their national teams on the biggest junior stage aside from the Memorial Cup. The future is looking good so far.
Some of the best prospects from Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland will hit the ice in Kamloops for the World Junior Summer Showcase.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 27, 2018
@SportsnetSpec tees up the tournament in his latest column.https://t.co/bsU7xpMInX
But wait! There’s more!
The Habs 3rd overall pick from the 2018 draft, center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, took part in Finland’s summer showcase camp but will not play in the summer showcase in Kamloops, BC. This isn’t due to injury and is speculated to be simply about the amount of travel this summer as he prepares for the Habs camp.
It’s also presumed he is a lock for Finland’s #1 Center position at the World Juniors anyways so there was no real reason to have him in the tryouts.
That gives the Canadiens 3 potential #1 Centers from the last two drafts and we haven’t even seen what draft day steals Cam Hillis, Allan McShane, and Cole Fonstad can do yet.
This offseason has been a pretty incredible one for the Canadiens, aside from the Shea Weber surgery news, and I for one feel pretty confident in the future of the club. Kudos to Timmins and Bergervin for a summer of change and bringing in some of worlds best young centers.
In a nutshell, there's a ton of talent at this year's World Junior Summer Showcase. https://t.co/FhRArConnB
— NHL (@NHL) July 28, 2018