With the hockey season mostly over, figured I'd refresh my
camp and
roster picks a bit. The summer camp isn't the be-all-end-all when it comes to the final roster, and teenage hockey players can improve a lot in the next 8 months, but nevertheless, here goes.
World Junior Summer Showcase
Forwards (x25):
Evan Barratt
Cole Caufield
Sasha Chmelevski
Logan Cockerill
Cole Coskey
Sean Dhooghe
Jack Drury
Joel Farabee
Jonathan Gruden
Jack Hughes
Logan Hutsko
Brandon Kruse
Ivan Lodnia
Tyler Madden
Blake McLaughlin
Grant Mismash
Josh Norris
Jay O'Brien
Ryan Poehling
Jason Robertson
Alex Steeves
Brady Tkachuk
Alex Turcotte
Oliver Wahlstrom
Jake Wise
Defense (x16):
Mikey Anderson
Ty Emberson
David Farrance
Max Gildon
Quinn Hughes
Joey Keane
Graham Lillibridge
K'Andre Miller
Ben Mirageas
Alec Regula
Dylan Samberg
Mattias Samuelsson
Spencer Stastney
Reilly Walsh
Bode Wilde
Wyatte Wylie
Goalies (x4):
Spencer Knight
Keith Petruzzelli
Cayden Primeau
Dylan St. Cyr
Notes:
- Players I had in January on my camp roster that I no longer included:
- Forwards: Jack DeBoer, Patrick Giles, Gavin Hain, Curtis Hall, Erik Middendorf, Jake Pivonka
- Defense: Phil Kemp, Adam Samuelsson
- Goalies: Drew DeRidder
- In general, I think the 2000 NTDP group will have good representation at camp, but the pack of players worthy of a tryout has clearly been identified in my opinion. I wouldn't be shocked if a guy like Hain, Pivonka, or Samuelsson ended up in camp, but I don't see what they have to offer at the U20 level right now.
- I'd be fairly surprised if the team loses anyone to the NHL this go around.
- Since January, the depth to choose from amongst the defensemen has noticeably improved. Guys like Wylie and Keane have really raised their profiles, and more unheralded guys like Lillibridge have had really strong seasons. You could make some strong arguments for other players not on my list, whether because they're types USAH will gravitate towards (Phil Kemp) or because of the seasons they've had (Cam York, Marc Del Gaizo, Jack St. Ivany).
- Of the five 2001 born players that have been with the U18s, I only left Cam York off the list. He's earned an invite, so I won't groan at all if he's there, but the depth is really strong on the backend for this camp. Would be an unprecedented amount of underagers at the summer camp, but they're all deserving, York included.
Roster Prediction
Forwards (x13):
Joel Farabee - Jack Hughes - Oliver Wahlstrom
Brady Tkachuk - Ryan Poehling - Sasha Chmelevski
Jason Robertson - Josh Norris - Ivan Lodnia
Blake McLaughlin - Jake Wise - Logan Hutsko
Cole Caufield
Defense (x7):
Dylan Samberg - Reilly Walsh
Quinn Hughes - Mikey Anderson
Mattias Samuelsson - Alec Regula
Ben Mirageas
Goalies (x3):
Cayden Primeau
Spencer Knight
Keith Petruzzelli
Notes:
- Most of the top 9 forwards or so are pretty easy choices, but then there's a lot of viable competition for the last 4-5 spots. Should be able to assemble a pretty balanced group overall with some star talent, but the star players will mostly be younger.
- On defense, there should be 3 locks (Samberg, Hughes, Anderson) and then it's wide open. While the choices aren't clear cut, the depth is impressive. Big question is which right-hand shots are going to emerge?
- It's Primeau's goal to lose right now as he had a great year and rebounded really well from his fairly disappointing preceding year. If Primeau falters, I would imagine Knight would take the reins.
- All things considered, there's enough talent to compete for gold, and anything less than a medal would be a massive disappointment.
