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This past week, we got news regarding which Carolina Hurricanes prospects we’ll be able to watch at the 2021 World Junior Championship, and we also learned more about a potential division realignment. Here are the updates from the week of Dec. 7-13.
HURRICANES’ POTENTIAL 2020-21 DIVISION REPORTED
We got an idea of what the divisions for the upcoming season could look like, courtesy of TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, and the potential division realignment reported would certainly favour the Hurricanes. They’d reportedly be in a division with Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville and Tampa Bay (though some projections have Dallas listed in the division, rather than Minnesota).
SUZUKI MAKES CANADA’S WJC ROSTER, JARVIS AND REES CUT
In a somewhat surprising move, both Seth Jarvis and Jamieson Rees were cut from Canada’s final World Juniors roster. Ryan Suzuki will be the only of Carolina’s three forward prospects on the selection camp roster to play in the tournament.
PONOMAREV MAKES TEAM RUSSIA FOR THE WORLD JUNIORS
Hurricanes 2020 second-round pick Vasiliy Ponomarev will also be playing in the tournament. The forward will be representing Russia, as one of the team’s 14 forwards.
GUNLER AND NYBECK NAMED TO SWEDEN’S FINAL WJC ROSTER
Two Hurricanes prospects will be representing Sweden at the World Juniors, as Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck have both been named to the team’s final roster. This will be the first time either player is participating in the tournament.
As for this week’s poll questions, here are the results and my thoughts on how they turned out:
QUESTION: If the divisions reported are the ones we see next season, do you think the realignment will favour the Hurricanes?
(Votes: 80)
Yes: 86%
No: 14%
The potential realignment would take the Hurricanes out of the Metropolitan Division and put them in a much weaker one instead. Carolina would be in an excellent position to earn a playoff spot, considering their opponents.
QUESTION: What are you most surprised by, in terms of Canada's final WJC roster?
(Votes: 79)
Seth Jarvis not making the team: 58%
None of the above: 16%
Jamieson Rees not making the team: 15%
Ryan Suzuki making the team: 10%
I have to agree on this one. Canada may have a deep roster but I really thought Jarvis would make the team.
QUESTION: Are you surprised that Vasiliy Ponomarev made Russia’s final WJC roster?
(Votes: 15)
No: 87%
Yes: 13%
Ponomarev is a quality prospect and considering he got off to a solid start in the QMJHL this season, it’s not overly surprising to see him make the cut. He may not get a huge role with the team but it’ll be great to see him at the tournament.
QUESTION: Are you surprised that both Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck made Sweden’s final WJC roster?
(Votes: 16)
No: 81%
Yes: 19%
Given that the roster was pretty much set a couple days ago, aside from one cut, we knew there was a good chance both forwards would make the team. Looking back to when they were named to the preliminary roster, however, only nine per cent of readers voted that they thought both would play for Sweden.
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OTHER HURRICANES ARTICLES FROM DECEMBER:
Jesper Sellgren is an underrated prospect for the Hurricanes
Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck named to Sweden’s preliminary WJC roster
Hurricanes are reportedly in the mix to sign Mikael Granlund
Weekly Recap: Hurricanes Edition (December 6)
An early prediction for which 2021 UFAs will re-sign with the Hurricanes
Does a division realignment help or hurt the Hurricanes?
Suzuki named to Team Canada’s World Juniors roster, Jarvis and Rees cut
Vasiliy Ponomarev named to Russia’s final World Juniors roster
Noel Gunler and Zion Nybeck named to Sweden’s final WJC roster 
Carolina Hurricanes Blogger • 
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