Washington Capitals: Connor McMichael makes Team Canada
For the second straight year Connor McMichael is on Team Canada in the WJC.
Washington Capitals number one prospect Connor McMichael will look to defend his gold medal with Team Canada in the World Junior Championships. He will go from a depth fourth liner to an even bigger role with Canada this year on the top line wearing jersey number 17.
McMichael impressed the coaches at training camp which easily earned him a roster spot in the tournmanet. The same couldn’t be said for the Caps first round pick this year. Hendrix Lapierre did receive an invite to Canada’s selection camp but did not make the cut for the World Juniors roster.
In four Team Canada scrimages over the course of the month long camp, McMichael scored twice and added two assists. It is likely he will skate with Kirby Dach and Dylan Cozens. The three had a chemistry during Canada’s camp and that will keep that line intact.
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McMichael helped lead Team Canada to gold last year with five goals in the tournament. There’s no doubt he can improve on that number especially after the breakout season he had with the London Knights.
In 52 games last season, McMichael had 47 goals and 55 assists for 102 points. Those are easily Alex Ovechkin numbers for a center. Could he possibly have a breakout season when he enters the big leagues?
Elite Prospects said this about McMichael: “A smart center with impressive hockey sense. Reads the game very well and plays well in his own end too. Puckhandling is good and he has a decent nose for the net. Some consistency issues.”
HockeyProspect.com added: “His anticipation gives him the ability to put himself in scoring positions by finding soft ice.”
Future Considerations mentioned that he “Does an exceptional job of breaking up passes and plays in the neutral zone thanks to his positioning and active stick work.”
Those are all nothing but good things. Say he has a breakout performance in the tournament. What would that mean for McMichael and the Caps. Could Brian MacLellan and Peter Laviolette be impressed enough to give him a spot on the roster? Those questions will ultimately be answered in the coming weeks.
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It is doubtful he could make a starting lineup at this point with four established centers already on the roster but maybe he impresses enough to get a wing spot or gets someone else moved to the wing?