BETTER PROSPECTS = MORE WJC VIEWING
Hamonic (and more!) could make it to the Worlds
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
The upgrading of the Islanders’ prospect pool will almost certainly result in more NYI participants in this year’s World Junior Championships, set for Saskatoon during the holidays. To gauge a prospect’s chances of making it to the WJC, we will use a 4-star system. Four stars equals a near-lock.
Canada: Travis Hamonic (***), Calvin de Haan (***), Corey Trivino (**), Casey Cizikas (*). Hamonic was a final cut last year and should make it. “Saskatoon is only 8 hours from home, so it would be a real honor and a major experience for me,” the Moose Jaw defenseman said during prospect minicamp. “It’s been a tradition for my family my whole life…Christmas, Boxing Day, watching the World Juniors.”
For those readers asking if the Islanders’ kids are getting stronger, Hamonic revealed that over the last year he went from 6-0, 195 pounds to his current 6-2, 210. He said the challenge during the season is keeping the weight on – “not so easy when you’re playing 35 minutes a game.”
de Haan and Hamonic will attend Canada’s evaluation camp. Trivino of Boston University was not invited but has a chance if junior stars like Cody Hodgson and Matt Duchene stay in the NHL. Cizikas needs an exceptional start to his OHL season with St. Mike’s to have any chance of getting consideration. “That’s my goal,” Cizikas told PB last week. “It’s up to me to prove that the committee may have missed someone.”
John Tavares is eligible to match Jason Botterill as the only Canadian in history to win three WJC golds, but if the Islanders didn’t loan out Joshua Bailey…
USA: Aaron Ness (***), Matt Donovan (*). Ness, a strong candidate, will be at Team USA’s camp in Lake Placid in August. Donovan starts his collegiate career in Denver and has an uphill battle.
Russia: Kirill Petrov (****), Anton Klymentyev (***). National team evaluation camp is in August. Petrov will play in his second straight WJC, his first one healthy. Klymentyev, who will play for London in the OHL this season, has a very good shot of making his national team.
Sweden: Anders Nilsson (**). The Sweden Cup in late July goes a long way toward deciding their country’s goalie rotation. Nilsson’s biggest obstacle is some serious competition from several Swedish netminders, including Point Blank favorite Robin Lehner.
Finland: Jyri Niemi (****). He still doesn’t make our list of the Islanders’ top prospects, but Niemi will make the more important list of his national team’s lineup at the WJC. What a year for Niemi in Saskatoon: Islanders training camp, another season with the WHL Blades and the World Junior Championships.
Comments.
25 Responses to BETTER PROSPECTS = MORE WJC VIEWING
Hamonic (and more!) could make it to the Worlds
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Staten Islander says:
Can’t wait till some of these guys make it to the NHL level
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Blizzard says: Well Harmonic has certainly put on some beef. Nice. Very interested in Kirill Petrov’s progress. This guy could be the power forward we so desperatly need.
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Zach teller says:
Glad to have u back cb. Really hope ness petrov and harmonic are stand outs this year so Garth and co can gain some serious credibility in the scouting department and start silencing some nay sayers
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Alex O says:
No Ullstrom for FIN???
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Strummer's Army says:
Welcome back Mr. Botta! Glad to see some of the guys like Harmonic has put on ht and wt. Trevino stills looks really skinny but for almost all the guys adding muscle will go a long way towards making it and making the Isles a much better team.
It stinks the Isles never update the hts/wts of their players on their websites. They measure their stats at least once a year for almost all of them (prospect or training camp) but they are way too lazy to update the rosters on their websites.
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admin says:
(6) Ullstrom is too old to qualify…CB
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felix says:
It is very true. Prior to the last year (the Bailey debate) and this year with some meaningful prospects maybe making the team. I would not even knowit was the world juniors unless it hit me in the face. Better prospects is a good thing.
Also there was no indepth bloggin on the isles prospects either. So that say a lot about the job you are doing on this site.
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Brother Rat says:
That weekend flew. Welcome back, CB! Hope you’re rested and recharged. I hope the team is recharged to deal with the Comeau/Hillen situations.
What is this, the year of Saskatoon? It seems like everything is happening there this year. The tourism website shows a cute tiny city in the middle of nowhere, the apparent home of both Shannon Tweed and Joni Mitchell–quite the odd couple. CB, are you heading out there for training camp in Sept?
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
WB CB!!!
You have to be busting with stories to come back early.
I agree with your point. I don’t see JT playing in the WJC if they wouldn’t let Josh go last year …
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dan from va beach says:
were the wjc’s not AFTER the nhl season last year?
why are they during the holidays this year?
they don’t have a consistent time of the year to have them from year to year?
seems that nhl clubs would be even LESS likely to have young players go right in the middle of the nhl season, no????
thanks, -
isles72 says:
you are thinking of the under 18′s tourney dan
the under 20 is always held at xmas time
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Mikey says:
Great news about Hamonic. Considering he is supposed to be one of our more physical dmen prospects, it is encouraging to hear he gained inches and weight. I also think he has intriguing offensive upside. For example, his junior stats in the WHL are eerily similar to those of Shea Weber at the same age. When you consider that Hamonic plays for a subpar team, this is very encouraging. I think it’s safe to say that Hamonic, Ness, and De Hann, are 3 of our top 5 prospects right now. Next summer it might be necessary to sign another quality, experienced blueliner to help bridge the gap to these guys. (Hamhuis, Paul Martin, and Z. Michalek are three 2010 free agents that come to mind.)
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What really is going to set these players apart are how they respond to playing with and against NHL level talent.
Some players wilt under the pressure of facing NHL talent and their stats don’t reflect what they put up in Juniors and College …. While other players actually excel playing with and against NHL talent and surprisingly exceed the type of numbers they put up in Juniors and College. Odd … but it happens… I guess some players just respond better to playing with faster and higher skilled players… coaching could be a factor also.
Take JT for example … he’s going to see more pucks on his tape in close than in JR. … a terrorizing thought for opposing goalies.
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thanks isles72,
that clears it up:):)
i was confused! -
Hey CB and Alex O, besides the fact that Ullstrom is too old for the tournament now, he wouldn’t be playing for Finland anyway, as he is a native of Sweden. Just wanted to clarify.
Great to have you back, CB.
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CB – I thought your break would be at least five days long. Welcome back buddy!
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Steve says:
I hope you enjoyed your well deserved (but shortened) break. Great post, glad to see the prospect pool is deepening. Hopefully you got a chance to enjoy the Tom Watson renaissance at Turnberry. That 11th hour defeat was almost as painful to me as an Isles playoff series loss. What a gentleman and class act he is! I look forward to more great posts!
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Guess who just got back today?
That wild-eyed boy that had been away
Hasen’t changed and still has alot of great Islanders news to write.
They were asking if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were on a short hiatus, but be back soon
CB is back in town
CB is back in town
I said
CB is back in town
CB is back in town
CB is back in town
CB is back in town
CB is back in town
CB is back in town -
richiewheels says:
CB,
Welcome back. Great piece as always.
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MilburyRuinedMyLife says:
Wow, Hamonic is going to be a BEAST!!! Imagine him in 1-2 years at 6’2, 225 with a mean streak to match!
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Tavares #1 says:
Maybe Hann will be another Kenny Johnson.
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I’d love that. When I was younger I didn’t recognize his value at first but over time I really looked at Kenny as one of the best I ever seen. His game was so smooth and subtle but on point, always knew what he was doing and did it well. I’d love for deHaan to turn out that way
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Mark P says:
Seemed like the only think Hamonic was missing was those 2 inches. Now he really seems to fit the mold of the physical stay at home top 4 defensemen we need in the system. Can this guy be our future Brendan Witt (maybe one not afraid to touch the puck?) I now feel a little bit better about our prospect list, though I am still sore about the implosion after the obvious Tavares pick.
I missed you CB!!!! That was the longest weekend in the last 10 years for me.