THE PB GUIDE TO THE WJC: Hamonic, de Haan, Petrov, Klementyev, Donovan, Nilsson, Niemi
Chris Botta on Twitter
At the prestigious World Junior Championships, beginning on Saturday, the Islanders have the following prospects representing their countries (PB rankings in parenthesis):
Canada: Calvin de Haan (1), Travis Hamonic (2)
Russia: Kirill Petrov (3), Anton Klementyev (off the team and now back on)
United States: Matt Donovan (8)
Sweden: Anders Nilsson (9)
Finland: Jyri Niemi
For the WJC, this is the highest quality and quantity of prospects the Islanders have had at this tournament since…well, it’s been a while.
Team Canada, with the Islanders’ top two prospects – on the blueline, to boot - is the team to follow. Hamonic, an Islanders second round pick in 2008, is developing into an outstanding defenseman and is one of Canada’s most valuable players. The 12th overall pick in June, de Haan is also a vital part of the Islanders’ future. Canada is especially a must-see because the 19-year-old Hamonic is closest to making an impact on the Islanders, while the 18-year-old de Haan’s steady progress is essential. For the Islanders, Hamonic and de Haan are the crown jewels of the blueline.
Of course, the gifted, enigmatic (there goes that word again!) Petrov also merits attention. Last year in this tourney, coming off an injury, he was horrific. “Kirill has a lot of growing up to do,” one high-ranking Russian Hockey Federation official told Point Blank. This season he was again dropped by Ak Bars to the second league. He was very good in the recent Super Series in Canada, but it wasn’t the best against the best. Playing for his country at his final WJC, this is Petrov’s shot at redemption. The talented Klementyev, as you know, is the supposed bait to free Petrov from his KHL deal.
Niemi is a nice story. The defenseman, drafted by the Islanders in the third round in 2008, is the captain of Finland. As a member of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, he gets to represent his country while playing in his adopted Canadian hometown.
Nilsson is the No. 2 goalie on Team Sweden – one of the favorites – but will get a chance if Panthers top prospect Jacob Markstrom falters. Donovan is the sweetest surprise for the Islanders. The defenseman went from a longshot to possibly receiving top-four minutes. Watch the young man skate and move the puck.
For many reasons (like I’ll be at Fenway, not in Saskatchewan) Point Blank will not be providing over-heated over-analysis of the World Junior Championships I will not be monitoring every hit Hamonic throws, every assist Petrov and de Haan are credited for.
To be sure, this is an excellent opportunity for these young players, and for Islanders fans to watch them in an intense environment. The WJC will be a tremendous experience for them. It is a tournament I will watch every second I get. But these talented players are still some time away – if developed properly – from being part of the Islanders equation. They are already having excellent college, junior and European careers; these two weeks will not make or break them. Same for the other NHL teams’ prospects you may be prompted to salivate over. There’s also Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler to watch – not for the Islanders, of course.
I strongly recommend following TSN.ca, NHL.com and the Islanders website for daily coverage, and following along with your fellow fans on Islandermania or your message board of choice. More than just watching the Islanders’ seven draft picks, this is one of the world’s best tournaments in any sports. There’s a reason it captivates Canada like the NCAA basketball Tournament does here.
Enjoy the WJC. Should be a classic. Canada should win again, but watch out for those Swedes. The schedule on NHL Network:
Saturday, December 26
4:00 Latvia vs Canada
6:00 Czech Republic vs. Sweden
8:00 Slovakia vs. USA
Sunday, December 27
4:00 USA vs. Switzerland
6:00 Czech Republic vs. Finland
Monday, December 28
4:00 Canada vs. Switzerland
Tuesday, December 29
4:00 Latvia vs. USA
6:00 Sweden vs. Russia
8:00 Canada vs. Slovakia
Thursday, December 31
8:00 USA vs. Canada
January 2: Quarterfinals at 5:00 and 9:00
January 3: Semifinals at 5:00 and 9:00
January 5: Bronze Medal Game at 4:00; Gold Medal Game at 8:00
This is the WJC Comments thread.
38 Responses to THE PB GUIDE TO THE WJC: Hamonic, de Haan, Petrov, Klementyev, Donovan, Nilsson, Niemi
-
eye on the island says:
too bad i don’t get the nhl network like say o mlbtv or nbatv b/c bettman is the most foresighted commish in all of sports. thanks gary.
merry christmas to you and the fam cb
-
Irish Isle says:
CB bringing the goods as if his name was Chris Cringle. Merry Christmas to you Chris & your family.
Another reason I am happy that I have Fios, the NHL network. That and my money doesnt go to Darth Dolan.
I take it that Jankowski & crew are now in sunny Saskatchewan??
Also CB do you know if Kabanov is playing for Russia?
-
Big Boy says:
Thanks Chris for the website…its the best thing to happen to the Isles since the Cups
-
admin says:
Irish: Kabanov is still out with his wrist injury and will not play.
Merry Christmas to all! Enjoy the day…CB
-
Brett says:
Merry Christmas to all! My brother, who just came home from an appendectomy, gave me a signed shirt from Park, Thompson, Biron, and Jackman that he got when he was in the hospital. He’s not much of a sports fan, so I took it with open arms. Ha.
-
isle5 says:
All I want for Christmas is a Lighthouse in Uniondale. Merry Christmas everyone.
-
kevin27nyi says:
merry christmas chris and fellow isles fans!
-
Mike for Philly says:
Merry Christmas to all here!
-
Smokey a.k.a. Botta is God says:
Merry Christmas, everyone.
The WJC will be awesome. I won’t miss a minute of it.
-
Johnnyjet says:
Not to watch Hall and Fowler and think there is no chance of getting him. Hall has Tavares like hands but with some speed. We will have a top 3 pick in the summer, which is good if we want to follow the Pitt,Wash,Chi blueprint folks.
-
Chris A says:
Merry Christmas everyone…to include a recommendation try atdhe.net they might have tv feeds for the games
-
Chris R says:
The Isles need to draft Brandon Gormley.
-
okpososcores21 says:
are there any websites streaming the wjc live?
-
HilbertSnipe says:
Just came home from school and my pops switched from FIOS to IO. I get all the Isles games in HD which is the best of course, however, no more NHL Network. I get MLB, NFL, NBA but no NHL =(. Gary Bettman really puzzles me.
-
okpososcores21- You can find IP addresses online so you can stream from different countries. I did that two years ago. Check out justin.tv or channelsurfing.net
There should be some stream somewhere…
-
RobC says:
This is exciting news! Who would’ve thunk it???The Isles are finally beginning to move in the right direction…All we need is a new arena on Long Island and Isles fans can REALLY get excited
-
Islesphan25 says:
look above
-
Jake says:
As for streaming for WJC myp2p.eu you will ned a program called sopcast. or justin.tv should have it
-
Blizzard says: ……thanks for the Christmas present CB!
-
steve says:
oh and merry christmas to all and especially to CB, thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the site
-
Toly says:
To HilbertSnipe and anyone else who may not know this. The NHL Network, where WJC is shown, is available to IO subscribers as a part of a larger sports package for an additional $5-6 /month. It’s available in HD on Channel 791.
Happy holidays to all. Thanks CB for your hard work and valuable insight.
-
brian says:
As an Islander fan in Arizona, this site is my savior. Only other way to follow team before this was checking the box scores
-
Josh says:
Merry Christmas, Chris. I hope the twins are behaving themselves!
When your Christmas break is over, how about an interview with Matt Donovan? As a guy who played AA-level hockey in Atlanta, it would be very interesting to hear about his development coming from OKC. We had a few part-time scouts working for various teams in various leagues (mostly NAHL) watching our games.
-
JJ says:
Seems like the scouting staff and Garth Snow are doing their job.
It’s so tough to know if any of these people will pan out at the NHL level, but at least we know we have some solid youth in our system.
-
Spartiarti - RVC says:
I might have to just order nhl network on IO. Then just cancel it after.
Wonder how much monthly cost is?
Will game be in HD? If not maybe I’ll just watch on atd website.
-
bob says:
Remember when the Isles had Kudroc, Mazei, Connolly, Pyatt, Weinhandl, Kolnik in this tourney and everyone thought the future was amazing? I believe in prospects when they prove something in the NHL. Until then, it doesn’t really matter and EVERY team can say they have a nice future.
-
Hogue fanclub says:
#26 Bob has a great point. Connelly actually turned out ok just can’t stay healthy. I looked up Niemi on Finland’s rostor and it lists him at 6’3 205. I’ve also checked some other sites and apparently he is a pretty nasty customer and tough, fights. Cb do you or anyone else here know anymore on Niemi? He and Hamonic are intriguing.
-
Ricky T says:
15 & 25 NHL Network is on a $5/month optional sports package on IO. I subscribed to it last June for live NHL draft coverage. The package also includes college games, golf tv, outdoor sports, tennis network etc. Well worth the $5/month for the NHL network alone.
-
My point with prospects….. nobody knows. Most of them, includding first rounders, do not amount into what is expected. How do we know DeHaan or Hamonic will be even decent players. We were told that Nilsson, and Nokaleinen and O’Marra and going back aways Dave Czkowski (sp) were going to be fine players. We are always told the Isles have this wonderful future but it doesn’t seem to happen, does it?
-
Klementyev is still with Team Russia. Story fixed…CB
-
Patrick says:
#’2 & 15, I’m curious why you make Bettman out to be the problem re: Cablevision and no NHL Network as part of the basic sports package. Cablevision also doesn’t have the NFL Network – is Roger Goodell to blame there?
No, the issue is as it always is, The Dolans and their stuck in the 70′s monopoly mentality. And the FiOS non MSG-HD issue will be a thing of the past in about 4-5 months and by next season, Verizon will be carrying the Isles in HD.
-
Thanks for the answer to my question CB, didn’t realize Kabanov was injured, thought it odd that hockeysfuture didnt mention him in thier preview of the team.
And now I am upset, I thought I had the nhl network, and I am not paying the 8 bucks just to get it.
-
Uconn husky says:
Team Canada is using the islanders old goal song (burn it to the ground)
-
JT9187 says:
DeHann is flying and Travis can motor well also for a shut down D-man
-
Doug says:
Canada is winning 6-0 in the 2nd period. The people that write on this site could probably field a better team than Latvia.
-
gino says:
hamonic makes it 7-0
-
Hamonic is impressive…I wonder if there is any unwritten mercy rules in hockey…Canada is rubbing it in Lathias faces
MERRY CHRISTMAS CHRIS…THIS SITE IS A GIFT TO ALL OF US ISLANDER FANS!!! THANK YOU AND ENJOY THE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY!!