I'll write down what goes through my mind when I read the articles about the U20 and U18 national teams.
I don't share the high esteem for the German 2003 vintage. There's too much hype about the draft here for me, and we all know how the 2002 draft turned out. According to unanimous expert opinion, the 2002 draft is far superior to the 2003 draft, both at the top and across the board. I agree with that assessment, and the 2003 vintage failed to prove otherwise at this year's WJC. Abstreiter pretty much folded the U18 team for their performances. Several players confirmed that to me.
Bettahar was certainly a minor bright spot in this, but I don't see him seriously stealing a 2002 defender's spot. So far he's only made the call-up list, as have Lutz, Kechter and Rausch. Adrian Klein, Rosmy, Cimmerman, Hauf and the Heigl brothers are in camp. Those are the facts. Huebner is not on any list so far and I'm holding back on his quality because I haven't seen him consciously this season. It's still a while until WJC and maybe one or the other will slip into the team. Some of the supposed stars should take this as a damper. The truth is on the ice and not in the draft hype.
The high estimation of Paul Meyer I also think is a hype, because he is hyped by the clubs as the son of an ex-national player and U-Coach. That's the way it is in Germany. First the name, then the performance. I think he is a good player, but if he is drafted, then I wonder what was wrong with a Glötzl, because he does not have his level.
Because we are talking about Glötzl. He flies under the radar because he doesn't jump into the offensive zone with full risk, like a Münzenberger or Szuber do. Glötzl plays his defensive part like a seasoned pro and not like a junior player. Defensively very strong and offensively he has the weapons to match Münzenberger and Szuber. He just follows the coaches' instructions and doesn't see the point of being a third defender up front, because he's all about the team's success and not about his personal shine. While this detracts from his self-promotion, it is in keeping with his personality.
On a side note, although Elias was the official captain of the U20, it was Glötzl who led the team in reality. He proved his leadership quality at the last WJC. He just doesn't take himself too seriously to highlight that.
Leon van der Linde I have seen several times. He impresses with a safe and very detached game structure and good positional play. So far only in DEL2 and Oberliga, but he has all the skills to have a good pro career. The hype around Meyer puts him in the shade. For me, van der Linde is the dark horse. I may be wrong, but we'll soon find out, because van der Linde has been invited to the U20 camp.
Basically, I think that in the forum too much emphasis is placed on statistics and affiliation to a particular team. According to the motto is he in Mannheim or in a North American league under contract, then he must be a rocket. Reality teaches us better. Many a North American returnee has gone under after returning to Germany or has only made the leap into the professional ranks for a short time, and not only high draft picks come from Mannheim.
