Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
NHL World Cup Of Hockey: The Young Stars
This was a brilliant idea by the NHL. It allows for the young players to have a chance to prove themselves. It also helps handicap the big boys and level the playing field a bit. Now, prospects and young forwards are hard to project. However, I’ll try to project these young players, most of whom will be in the NHL come 2016.
FORWARDS: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, John Gaudreau, Nathan MacKinnon, Sean Couturier, Sean Monahan, Jonathan Drouin, Brandon Saad, Ryan Strome, Max Domi, Alex Galchenyuk, Mark Scheifele, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Jonathan Huberdeau
Most of these are pretty obvious picks. Everyone except Domi and Drouin is a proven NHLer. Drouin should improve in 2016 and is one of the best young talents in the NHL. This forward group has a ton of skill and speed. About the only thing they lack is size and grit, which is why Domi is on this team. Tom Wilson could be another fit if he improves in 2016. Same with Bo Horvat, though Horvat has a better chance.
DEFENSEMEN: Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse, Dougie Hamilton, Morgan Rielly, Cody Ceci
Obviously this blue line is inexperienced. However, it more than makes up for it in talent. Ekblad is already one of the best blue liners in the NHL. I have to keep reminding myself that he’s not even 20 yet. Jones has been a victim of being on the same team as Weber and Josi, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s a really good defenseman. Griffin Reinhart and Damon Severson could both contend for a spot on this team.
GOALIES: John Gibson, Malcolm Subban, Zachary Fucale
This was by far the toughest to predict because goalie prospects are by far the toughest to gauge. Goalies are largely a product of their team. Gibson was the only “definite” pick. Gibson has all the makings of a solid NHL starter. He’s quick, agile, and his positioning is impressive for his age. Subban has been tearing it up in the AHL, so he’s about as safe of a bet as you can get for a goalie prospect. Fucale is an unknown at this point, but he’s a really excellent young goaltender.