This year, a hockey-starved continent has lifted the U20 World Junior Tournament on to a pedestal so high it would give David Blaine vertigo. The tournament is surrounded with an aura of mystique that most would say dwarfs the Frozen Four and Memorial Cup put together. Many players will leave this two week tournament with armfuls of hype, expectation, glory and new twitter followers; some will leave with the lumps of coal of bitter disappointment, doubts, and lowered draft stock.
If history teaches us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Switzerland finished in the top 4 a few years ago. Jordan Eberle engineered final minute heroics two years in a row. The Canadian and Russian (then USSR) teams hated each other so much in 1987 that the “Punch-up at Piestany” disqualified both teams and left their respective fans (and those at the game) in the dark.
However, here at The Fake Hockey, we’re in the prediction business. So without further ado, here are 5 players from this year’s tournament that I’ve earmarked to leave everlasting impressions on this tournament.
* 5. Nail Yakupov. Well, no surprise here. In a tournament chocked full with dozens of NHL-ready young stars, Yakupov is at the very least in the top 3 in terms of talent and “wow” factor. At home in his native Russia, where he has been literally tearing the KHL a new one, Nail has the inside track to lead the host squad to a 2nd gold medal in 3 years, and confirm what literally everyone else now knows: He is really, really good. Unlike those who may have fallen under the radar a bit, like…
* 4. Joel Armia. The Sabres have a number of high end prospects in this tournament, and though Mikhail Grigorenko will have more attention from the home crowd, I like the rangy, talented Armia to establish himself as a go-to-guy on a dynamic, yet underrated Finnish team. In pre-tournament games against Canada and the United States it was evident that Armia has grown into a front line role that will give opposing defenses and checking forwards fits. Guys like…
* 3. Boone Jenner. Well, whether you liked his utter annhilation of Jesper Pettersson or not, Jenner will be remembered. Canada’s do-it-all shutdown center and Columbus 2nd round draft pick will transition well into the pro game, whenever that may return. At time of this article, Jenner is on the IIHF’s “death row” waiting for the wheel of justice to determine his fate. Regardless, Jenner’s career won’t suffer- but if without him, Team Canada definitely will- and rely much more on…
* 2. Nathan MacKinnon. Pro scouting’s number one prospect for 2013, MacKinnon may not be the featured star on a deep Canadian roster heading in to the tournament, but he will be by the end of it. Look for MacKinnon to make his mark somewhere on the top two lines, and on the powerplay, as his relentless forechecking skills, tremendous on-ice vision and great hands should allow him to pile up points and help solidify a slight lead over no. 2 prospect Seth Jones, and the rapidly gaining…
* 1. Aleksander Barkov. Part of an unheralded, yet loaded Finnish team, Barkov is likely to be the player whose stock rises the most as he helps the Suomi to (you heard it here first) the gold-medal game. Barkov, who is a Finnish and Russian citizen, has been thriving in the Finnish Elite League where he is a point-per-game player. If you haven’t heard much about him yet, you’re about to. On the bigger ice surface, he will be right at home and announce himself to the hockey world.
Call me crazy, but I foresee a Canada vs. Finland gold medal game. And, though my patriotism tells me otherwise, I could also see Finland winning it all.
Yeah I did not see that coming. Barkov and Armia played well, but the Finns were edged out in the standings by the Swiss who lost 3 straight in the shootout. weak! My Mackinnon pick hasn’t panned out so great either, Spott likes Drouin more than I envisioned.
12:14:09 pm
Sorry Mat, but your Finnish prediction didn’t finish well. I too am shocked with their poor performance, even considering that they lost Aaltonen. Barkov will be a treat to watch next year if he doesn’t get drafted by Columbus and makes the NHL.