Further to Taige Harding yesterday. Harding plays minor junior, he’s not in the WHL. Playing in the league he’s in the AJHL allows him to maintain his eligibility to play college hockey. That’s possibly why he’s staying in that league? If he goes to the WHL he cannot play college hockey. If he plays in the USHL can he maintain his college eligibility? If not, maybe that’s why he’s not going there?
- paulr

Harding will NOT lose NCAA eligibility playing in the USHL. There are only TWO ways a player losses NCAA eligibility. Playing Major Junior or pro (in any country), period.

Why Harding has chosen to play in the 4th lowest Jr league and still keep NCAA eligibility I do not know but it's a red flag to me. Especially at 20 yrs old for God's sake.

Harding will NOT lose NCAA eligibility playing in the USHL. There are only TWO ways a player losses NCAA eligibility. Playing Major Junior or pro (in any country), period.

Why Harding has chosen to play in the 4th lowest Jr league and still keep NCAA eligibility I do not know but it's a red flag to me. Especially at 20 yrs old for God's sake.
- Mr Ricochet

If he won’t lose eligibility playing in the USHL and if he’s interested in college I’m with you. It makes no sense.

Harding will NOT lose NCAA eligibility playing in the USHL. There are only TWO ways a player losses NCAA eligibility. Playing Major Junior or pro (in any country), period.

Why Harding has chosen to play in the 4th lowest Jr league and still keep NCAA eligibility I do not know but it's a red flag to me. Especially at 20 yrs old for God's sake.
- Mr Ricochet

you do realize the AJHL SJHL and BCJHL are not crap leagues hey. same league that Cale Makar came from.

hes committed to Provindence? unless something changed.
http://www.ajhl.ca/media-...html?rYear=2021&nID=18214

When Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record he's in the conversation. Fact he is putting up those goal numbers vs 100000000000000000 better quality goalies and an era where every D man and most forwards are in shooting lanes hell bent on blocking shots is a huge variable nobody seems to want to discuss.

on top of that, Ovechkin hasn't been paired with that many great players like Gretzky had or another dominant player, like Messier who forced opposing teams to choose who to shut down like say Malkin and Crosby. backstrom is good, but hes not in that class. Also he had a PRIME Paul Cofey with him as well.

Lets also remember go back and watch all those 80s goals where you had goalies coming out standing up in their dinky pads and getting exposed......whole different era.

Never saw Orr play, but I get the love affair those who did have for him.....
- SteveRain

Imagine Ovechkin playing Junior or college hockey, that was what Orr looked like in the NHL. He was heads and tails better than anyone. I saw a game against Toronto. Boston we’re killing a penalty. Orr got the puck, skated down to the leafs end then all the way back to his own end. On the way back to the leafs end someone hack at his hand and his glove fell off. He skated around the leafs goal and back around his own still carrying the puck. On his way up the ice he skated by his glove while still carrying the puck leaned over and pickup his glove and put it on. And many other times he could kill penalties by himself. The only way to stop him was to hurt him.

https://youtu.be/QTk4fO1yDLg

you do realize the AJHL SJHL and BCJHL are not crap leagues hey. same league that Cale Makar came from.

hes committed to Provindence? unless something changed.
http://www.ajhl.ca/media-...html?rYear=2021&nID=18214
- SaskHawkFan

Lots of good players come out of them. Those leagues are there to allow guys to maintain their college eligibility. We have a minor Junior A league in Ontario. Good hockey.

I've known #99 is retired league wide for 5 minutes and I'm really neutral on it. What's the reason, cuz he's the greatest? I guess most would say he is but that's subjective. Same if one were to say he's the most important hockey player ever, that too is subjective.

I'd concede though retiring any number LEAGUE wide can easily be seen as overstepping boundries and knowing Gretzky he'd rather they didn't do that. He's a humble fella.
- Mr Ricochet

What I find humorous about this #99 jersey discussion:

When the kid was playing hockey in Brantford as a very young boy, he played on 3 or 4 teams of different ages and old man Walter would drive him around the local area and rinks so Wayne could play as many games as possible. Sometimes he would only get there for the 3rd period of a game and the coach would immediately throw him on the ice for most of the period. Usually he scored enough goals in a period to reverse a deficit or make sure his team won easily.

They might not admit it now, but hockey parents around Brantford resented the hell out of Gretzky because of his dominance. Whatever team he was on always won. Their resentment was a main reason he moved on to play in the Toronto MTHL at a very young age.

Ovechkin might break Gretzky's NHL goal record but nobody is breaking his record of 378 goals in a year as a novice.

And I don't think Wayne even cares if his # is retired. And if there is only one of his jerseys that should be retired it is the Oiler one when he and that team was at the peak of their game. Who cares about his Kings, Blues or Rangers jerseys, those teams won squat.

Lots of good players come out of them. Those leagues are there to allow guys to maintain their college eligibility. We have a minor Junior A league in Ontario. Good hockey.
- paulr

few kids from here are out playing in the O league. i had the pleasure watching Chelios, Hextall, Mcinnis as a kid!

you do realize the AJHL SJHL and BCJHL are not crap leagues hey. same league that Cale Makar came from.

hes committed to Provindence? unless something changed.
http://www.ajhl.ca/media-...html?rYear=2021&nID=18214
- SaskHawkFan

Yes.

https://friars.com/news/2...f-the-2021-nhl-draft.aspx

Will arrive there in fall of 22.

When Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record he's in the conversation. Fact he is putting up those goal numbers vs 100000000000000000 better quality goalies and an era where every D man and most forwards are in shooting lanes hell bent on blocking shots is a huge variable nobody seems to want to discuss.

on top of that, Ovechkin hasn't been paired with that many great players like Gretzky had or another dominant player, like Messier who forced opposing teams to choose who to shut down like say Malkin and Crosby. backstrom is good, but hes not in that class. Also he had a PRIME Paul Cofey with him as well.

Lets also remember go back and watch all those 80s goals where you had goalies coming out standing up in their dinky pads and getting exposed......whole different era.

Never saw Orr play, but I get the love affair those who did have for him.....
- SteveRain

Mikita against Gretzky would have been fun.

Imagine Ovechkin playing Junior or college hockey, that was what Orr looked like in the NHL. He was heads and tails better than anyone. I saw a game against Toronto. Boston we’re killing a penalty. Orr got the puck, skated down to the leafs end then all the way back to his own end. On the way back to the leafs end someone hack at his hand and his glove fell off. He skated around the leafs goal and back around his own still carrying the puck. On his way up the ice he skated by his glove while still carrying the puck leaned over and pickup his glove and put it on. And many other times he could kill penalties by himself. The only way to stop him was to hurt him.

https://youtu.be/QTk4fO1yDLg
- paulr

The absolute best Orr ever played was in the 1976 Canada Cup on what may be the greatest team ever assembled. And he was playing on one leg. And sadly he was finished as a player a year after that.

1. Every game needs it heroes and role models. Retiring numbers of truly special players does just that. It is a constant reminder, good for story-telling, marketing, etc.
2. If you wear 99, at some point you will be compared to WG. Even if you don't think about it, not sure anyone needs that pressure.

Nothing wrong with retiring #s of players who were truly revolutionary and changed the game.
- CSKA1981

I go back to there are a lot of 34's running around the NFL. It should be a team decision, not a league unless you're truly talking a transcendental player like Jackie Robinson.

you do realize the AJHL SJHL and BCJHL are not crap leagues hey. same league that Cale Makar came from.

hes committed to Provindence? unless something changed.
http://www.ajhl.ca/media-...html?rYear=2021&nID=18214
- SaskHawkFan

Pre-COVID my son and I would regularly go to BCHL games. Lots of NHL spent time in this league, including Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd.

appreciate your endorsement of my scouting NHL players....

I am a Dach fan, but this is the year he needs to take a large step forward and contribute offensively, like we saw in the bubble in Edmonton. IF he's getting top line minutes with Kane and DeBrincat, notching 20+ goals is asking a lot.

My main point was again....those rag dolling about the picks Bowman gave up for Jones.....1st round picks regardless of where they are, aren't a 100% lock.....Dach will be a NHL player but is it a top 6 player or does he become a top 9 player and a contributor? No idea....but for where he was drafted it would be a disappointment if he doesn't come a lot closer to his ceiling soon.

Hopefully he's ready to roll this season.
- SteveRain

You're saying this because he's no longer a teenager?

I always remember you having excellent scoop on Euro hockey. Very helpful.... I'm 10:00 into yesterday's RUS v FIN Hlinka game. Good game. #17 for Finland, Emil Järventie, 2023 draft eligible, is coming to play for Muskegon of the USHL this yr. ......... If this tournament interests you get a look at Slovakia. They clubbed the USA yesterday and man they play at warp speed. Really fun to watch. Have a Dman, Nemac, sure to go top 5 and a forward, Slavkofsky, looks to be a 1st rounder and I really really like their goalie, Elias, who's supposed to come and play for USHL Green Bay. Kid played U-18's at 15 and U-20's at 16 throwing up .930 SPGs in the top Slovakian Jr League.

Link to the FIN v RUS game: https://www.hokej.cz/tv/hokejka/video/20210711

FIN roster: https://www.eliteprospect...om/team/15795/finland-u18

RUS roster: https://www.eliteprospect...com/team/15797/russia-u18


Hlinka tournament primer from The Hockey News:

After many teams completed U-20 camps over the last week, the attention turns to the eight-team Hlinka Gretzky Cup, an early look at the top U-18 talent for the upcoming season. The tournament wasn’t held last summer but Russia won the last event held back in 2019. Otherwise, Canada has been the dominant unit, winning the tournament in 20 of the last 24 years.

But Canada has chosen not to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the nation instead hosting scrimmages against the U-20 program back home. That means we’ll see a closer competition than usual, with no true No. 1 favorite just yet.

The tournament, set to kick off in the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Monday, is a one-week event prior to Europe’s organized leagues returning to play. Russia, Finland and Sweden always typically contend at this event, but USA can never be counted out, even if they don’t bring their best players.

The 2022 and 2023 NHL drafts are considered loaded with top end talent, and while Canadian’s Shane Wright, Matt Savoie (both 2022) and Connor Bedard (2023) won’t be participating, the talent level from both draft classes are something special.

Here’s a look at 9 players to watch for the annual summer affair:

Matvei Michkov, C (RUS, 2023)
Truly, Michkov is the real deal. People have been saying that for a few years now, especially after scoring 109 points in 26 games in the Russian U-16 league. He’d pot 56 in 56 games as a 16-year-old in the U-20 division – that’s a two-point jump over Nikita Kucherov, the player with the previous best point total from a 16-year-old in the MHL. Kucherov would later become an NHL MVP, for what it’s worth. Michkov had one of the best U-18 tournaments ever witnessed a few months back with 12 goals and 16 points, easily making him the tournament MVP after a silver-medal run. Whether it’s his lacrosse goals on a consistent basis or his ability to just dominate any shift against older competition, Michkov is as elite as they come for his age – and he might not even be better than Canada’s Connor Bedard at this point. Michkov is a top prospect for 2023 but is signed to a KHL deal until 2026, so it’ll be a while until he’s ready. But once he is, watch out, folks.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW (RUS, 2022)
Miroshnichenko was getting hyped up back when he was just 12 years old. At 17, the excitement about his game remains and he continues to shine as one of the most promising young prospects out of Russia in some time. While Matvei Michkov received more attention in Texas a few months ago, Miroshnichenko had six goals and eight points in his first major event with the Russian U-18 team. In fact, at every level Miroshnichenko has played at internationally, he has been one of Russia’s leading scorers, even as an underaged forward. Miroshnichenko is one of the best skaters in this tournament and at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he actually does a solid job of using his size to win puck battles. If you give him room to shoot, he’ll make you pay.

Simon Nemec, D (SVK, 2022)
At this point, Nemec is almost a shoo-in to go in the top five of the NHL draft The 6-foot-1 blueliner played heavy minutes with HK Nitra in the top Slovak league and got some top-pairing opportunities with Slovakia’s men’s team prior to the World Championship. A kid getting a chance to play with men is always a big deal and while he was eased into action more near the end, Nemec didn’t look out of place. “He’s a bit undersized, but the skating, hockey sense, mobility and two-way play… he’s a jack-of-all-trades,” a scout told The Hockey News. “He brings that offensive element, he gets back on pucks quickly, and he’s not soft by any means.”

Juraj Slafkovsky, LW (SVK, 2022)
Another piece of Slovakia’s incoming youth invasion, Slafkovsky also played for his nation at the recent men’s World Championship. Standing tall at 6-foot-4, Slafkovsky had a notable performance with Slovakia at the world juniors in Alberta. Slafkovsky only had 13 points in 16 games, but his .81 points-per-game average was second among 2004-born players in the Finnish U-20 league behind fellow 2022 draft prospect Joakim Kemell. The skill is there for Slafkovsky to take over a shift and don’t be shocked if he’s one of the tournament’s top scorers.

Sergei Ivanov, G (RUS, 2022)
One of the top goaltenders from the U-18 World Championship a few months ago, Ivanov already looks like one of the top goaltenders for the 2022 draft. Ivanov led Russia to a silver medal and battled with Ben Gaudreau at the top of all the major statistical categories among goalies. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 157 pounds by the IIHF, Ivanov doesn’t come close to having ideal NHL size, but the athleticism is definitely there. Ivanov’s glove hand is noticeably quick and while his five-hole is a weakness and he tends to fall down more often than other goalies, he battles to make every save until the very end.

Joakim Kemell, RW (FIN, 2022)
Compared to other top prospects making the jump from the U-18s to this event, Kemell had a quiet showing with three goals in seven points. But truly, Kemell is going to be a player you won’t want to ignore over the next week. A product of JYP in the Finnish league, Kemell led all 2004-born players in the Finnish U-20 league with 36 points and a .95 points-per-game average and even scored in his Liiga debut, too. Kemell is a confident puck-carrier that can also really dazzle with the puck from time to time en route to a goal. Kemell will be a key member of Finland’s attack and likely would earn more love if it wasn’t for having Lambert as a teammate.

Emil Järventie, F (FIN, 2023)
Järventie was one of just four 2005-born players to play in the Finnish U-20 league last year but was the only one to play in more than 10 games, recording an impressive eight goals and 13 points. It’s not completely uncommon for U-16 players to play in that league, but his performance was eerily similar to that of Jesper Kotkaniemi at the same age, with both holding a 0.65 points-per-game average. This will be Järventie’s first major international showing for the Finns and he’ll definitely factor into the team’s scoring hopes.

Hunter Brzustewicz, D (USA, 2023)
Other than a three-game stint last year, this will be Brzustewicz’s first real showing of what he can do at the junior level. The University of Michigan commit had an incredible 96 assists and 111 points at the U-15 level with Oakland and is still considered one of the best defensemen for the 2023 draft despite injuries preventing him from true playing action last year. Brzustewicz’s appearance with the team is also notable since USA typically doesn’t send USNTDP players to the event, but it made since given his long time off the ice. He’s an excellent two-way defender that has no issues finding his teammates, and it’s only a matter of time until he shows why he’s considered a top-10 prospect for 2023.

Noah Östlund, C (SWE, 2022)
He might be small in stature at just 5-foot-9, but he certainly doesn’t lack skill. The skilled, intense forward represented Sweden as an underaged player at the recent U-18 World Championship but was quiet – but also just underutilized. He did have a nice season in U-20 league play with 15 points in 10 games, including seven goals, and he’s ready for a more extended look this year with Djurgardens. Ostlund can play center and wing, but as a middleman, he will remind you a bit of Jack Hughes, but he likes to shoot a bit more.

Other notables: Mattias Havelid, D (SWE, 2022 ), Hugo Havelid, G (SWE, 2022), Otto Salin, D (FIN, 2022), Kasper Kulonummi, D (FIN, 2022), Adam Jecho, F (CZE, 2024)
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks! Emil Järventie is younger brother of Roby Järventie who was Ottawa´s second round pick in 2020. Their father Martti played one game for Montreal Canadiens in 01-02 season. He had a long career in Finnish elite league. Järventie´s family lives in the same city that I do. Both boys are more talented that their father is who was a defenseman. Eemil Järventie could be top 10 material in 2023 draft but it´s long way there.

I´ll try to watch Antti Saarela as much as I can and give you insight how he is developing here in Finland with team Ilves.

When Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record he's in the conversation. Fact he is putting up those goal numbers vs 100000000000000000 better quality goalies and an era where every D man and most forwards are in shooting lanes hell bent on blocking shots is a huge variable nobody seems to want to discuss.

on top of that, Ovechkin hasn't been paired with that many great players like Gretzky had or another dominant player, like Messier who forced opposing teams to choose who to shut down like say Malkin and Crosby. backstrom is good, but hes not in that class. Also he had a PRIME Paul Cofey with him as well.

Lets also remember go back and watch all those 80s goals where you had goalies coming out standing up in their dinky pads and getting exposed......whole different era.

Never saw Orr play, but I get the love affair those who did have for him.....
- SteveRain

It would be tough to argue that OV isn't the greatest goal scorer in NHL history even if he retired tomorrow. Pretty incredible what he's done.

What I find humorous about this #99 jersey discussion:

When the kid was playing hockey in Brantford as a very young boy, he played on 3 or 4 teams of different ages and old man Walter would drive him around the local area and rinks so Wayne could play as many games as possible. Sometimes he would only get there for the 3rd period of a game and the coach would immediately throw him on the ice for most of the period. Usually he scored enough goals in a period to reverse a deficit or make sure his team won easily.

They might not admit it now, but hockey parents around Brantford resented the hell out of Gretzky because of his dominance. Whatever team he was on always won. Their resentment was a main reason he moved on to play in the Toronto MTHL at a very young age.

Ovechkin might break Gretzky's NHL goal record but nobody is breaking his record of 378 goals in a year as a novice.

And I don't think Wayne even cares if his # is retired. And if there is only one of his jerseys that should be retired it is the Oiler one when he and that team was at the peak of their game. Who cares about his Kings, Blues or Rangers jerseys, those teams won squat.
- RickJ

#99 definitely deserves to be retired in LA. Before he came, they were perennial losers, and the stands were half full, and only 3 dilapitated rinks for kids/adults to skate. The hokey scene since Gretzky came is as vibrant as it is in Chicago, producing NHL, college players, and age group teams as worthy as any in North America.

I also agree Orr was in a class by himself. He revolutionized how defenseman played the game.

Johnson #6 - Flip it’s a 9.
McCabe #16 - Flip it’s a 19

Done!! - Pure speculation.

#99 definitely deserves to be retired in LA. Before he came, they were perennial losers, and the stands were half full, and only 3 dilapitated rinks for kids/adults to skate. The hokey scene since Gretzky came is as vibrant as it is in Chicago, producing NHL, college players, and age group teams as worthy as any in North America.

I also agree Orr was in a class by himself. He revolutionized how defenseman played the game.
- LAHawk

There should be a different role mentioned about Orr (and players like him). Defense just does not make any sense. And it cheapens the true "defensive" players that have excelled at that aspect of the game. Maybe call it the ROVERS.

#99 definitely deserves to be retired in LA. Before he came, they were perennial losers, and the stands were half full, and only 3 dilapitated rinks for kids/adults to skate. The hokey scene since Gretzky came is as vibrant as it is in Chicago, producing NHL, college players, and age group teams as worthy as any in North America.

I also agree Orr was in a class by himself. He revolutionized how defenseman played the game.
- LAHawk

8 consecutive Norris Trophy's pretty much says it all.

And the other thing Orr could/would do is fight - quite a few seasons of over 100 minutes in penalties.

And I bet your story is more common than not in the great state of California. Thanks for sharing it...........

Then you come to The City of Big Shoulders and get to deal with Dollar Bill! .... I grew up here and it got to a point I couldn't deal with the old man anymore. Boycotted the Hawks, they didn't get a nickel of my money, for 23 yrs.. Think it was September 27th 2007 heard on the radio he died. On September 28th I ordered a 10 game package, then another. That put me on the list, was called the next summer and have had seasons ever since, row 1, 3rd level, on the goal line where the Hawks shoot twice. The same wall that Kaner sets up shop.

But the old man didn't take hockey away from me. Went to lots of HS games, found AA unafilliated pro and then jrs because of the miserable SOB. Opened up a whole world of hockey I really didn't know about or appreciate and for that I am forever grateful.
- Mr Ricochet

I didn't have that reference point. I grew up in Phoenix before that LA experience. There were maybe two rinks in the whole Phoenix area, and ice time was very scarce. Most malls that had rinks had to close them for lack of interest, and probably the cost of cooling a rink in summer. A friend of my parents had played in a men's league, but that kind of thing wasn't common at all. There were no high school hockey programs. Pac-10 schools only had intramural teams, not NCAA teams. My only way in was Gretzky. There was no national network showing games, either. I gather there was ESPN in the 80s briefly, when most houses weren't set up with cable, but Wirtz killed that and put the league's games on Sports Channel, ensuring that as few people as possible could see games. As I mentioned before, Auston Matthews would have had no chance if he was born 20 years earlier. Maybe he'd have had a baseball career instead, as that is the most likely pro league for people who grow up there.

8 consecutive Norris Trophy's pretty much says it all.

And the other thing Orr could/would do is fight - quite a few seasons of over 100 minutes in penalties.
- RickJ

I remember Orr destroying Magnuson so bad in a fight, Maggie took boxing lessons in the offseason. Din't help him much though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-LAe_KzMeU

you do realize the AJHL SJHL and BCJHL are not crap leagues hey. same league that Cale Makar came from.

hes committed to Provindence? unless something changed.
http://www.ajhl.ca/media-...html?rYear=2021&nID=18214
- SaskHawkFan

Fellas in no way am I saying The Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues are crap. I know, I watch a decent amount of it thru the streaming service Hockey TV that has all of Canadian Jr A and the USHL.

But the CJHL is made up of 8 or so LEAGUES (counting the BCHL, AJHL) and not counting Major Junior. In 2020 all those leagues COMBINED had 9 kids drafted and over the last 5 yrs have CLOSE to 50 drafted. https://ajhl.ca/media-cen...cle.html?rYear=&nID=17687

The USHL has had 50ish drafted EVERY yr for the last 5-6 yrs. The USHL is having more kids drafted than each of the Major Junior leagues and each of those has 20 teams and the USHL has 15. ..... The Chicago Steel had 7 kids, not counting Owen Power who played with them for 2 yrs, drafted just THIS yr and two in the 1st rd. Two short of the CJHL that has 8 LEAGUES.

https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/1175609

The USHL has had more than 50 players selected in each of the last three Drafts. To date, the USHL has had 894 players selected in the NHL Draft, including 108 First Round selections.

I'm not knocking the AJHL at all. The numbers show they are not in the same stratosphere as the USHL and my point is a 20 yr old kid is stunting his development playing in the AJHL instead of the USHL.

In some other news, there's a report out of San Jose saying that many team members want Evander Kane off the team. Sharks tried to trade him earlier this off season. He carries a 7M cap hit for 4 more years and has a NTC where he can select 3 teams to be traded to. GM Wilson may have to retain salary and just give him away.

Torts hired by ESPN as a studio analyst.

#99 definitely deserves to be retired in LA. Before he came, they were perennial losers, and the stands were half full, and only 3 dilapitated rinks for kids/adults to skate. The hokey scene since Gretzky came is as vibrant as it is in Chicago, producing NHL, college players, and age group teams as worthy as any in North America.

I also agree Orr was in a class by himself. He revolutionized how defenseman played the game.
- LAHawk

Next step is to have an NCAA PAC 10 like hockey conference. AZ State has hit the ground running. Can't wait for UCLA, USC and Stanford hockey programs.

The Mighty Ducks, LA Jr Kings and Jr Sharks midget programs compete with the best in the country today. Same with the Dallas midget programs......... 330 million people in this country and with the non traditional markets damn near traditional now the sport's arrow points straight up.