World Juniors 2021

[herman]

Confirmed Baby Buds that have made their junior squads
Finland: Mikko Kokkonen, Roni Hirvonen, Topi Niemela
Russia: Mikhail Abramov, Rodion Amirov, Artur Akhtyamov

 

[Nik]

The Leafs apparently won't release Robertson.

Team Canada looks interesting. Only 3 of the draft age players of the 25 and 2 of the skaters aren't first round picks. I know next to nothing about how that stacks up in recent years buy it feels like a lot of first rounders.

 

[Bender]

Confirmed Baby Buds that have made their junior squads
Finland: Mikko Kokkonen, Roni Hirvonen, Topi Niemela
Russia: Mikhail Abramov, Rodion Amirov, Artur Akhtyamov

Finland vs. Russia. Let's goooo!

 

[herman]

The Leafs apparently won't release Robertson.

Looks like taxi squads and expanded rosters are likely to be a thing
https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1336461682156167170

 

[Nik]

Still feels like a bit of an odd decision development wise when he he figures to be marginal to the Leafs but a main guy for Team USA but it's not a horrible travesty or anything.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Still feels like a bit of an odd decision development wise when he he figures to be marginal to the Leafs but a main guy for Team USA but it's not a horrible travesty or anything.

With expanded rosters/taxi squads, Robertson will be with the Leafs. looks like the Leafs feel he'll develop more with the big club then he would in junior.

 

[Nik]

Still feels like a bit of an odd decision development wise when he he figures to be marginal to the Leafs but a main guy for Team USA but it's not a horrible travesty or anything.

With expanded rosters/taxi squads, Robertson will be with the Leafs. looks like the Leafs feel he'll develop more with the big club then he would in junior.

Right. That is the decision I'm criticizing. Well spotted.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

With expanded rosters/taxi squads, Robertson will be with the Leafs. looks like the Leafs feel he'll develop more with the big club then he would in junior.

Yeah, it's a bit of weird one, but a couple factors in that
1) the leafs aren't exactly stacked on the left side compared to the right - Robertson may actually have a pretty decent shot
2) I have little doubt that any player that has played in the wjc, and then has had a positive experience in the NHL, has very little desire to go back and play in the wjc tournament again. Not saying that a developing player should be calling the shots, but perhaps there's more to it
3) Leafs may be shopping a roster player (Engvall?) and this opens up gaps in the expanded team

 

[gunnar36]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

 

[Bender]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

He doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. I think having a good camp absolutely does put him in a better position to succeed than playing in the juniors. There's also going to be injuries, he will play and better to get him used to playing with the Leafs than the juniors imo.

 

[gunnar36]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

He doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. I think having a good camp absolutely does put him in a better position to succeed than playing in the juniors. There's also going to be injuries, he will play and better to get him used to playing with the Leafs than the juniors imo.

Maybe not much to prove playing a season of jr, but playing the best in world in his age group can only help him.  It's not like he is anywhere close to being Alexis Lafrieniere dominant.  I think this will be another case of overhyping a prospect that is far from a sure thing. He is going to have struggles finding a regular spot in lineup I believe.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/pekkajalonen/status/1338111357850365953
*IIHF
https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1338133937101688832
The fix is in

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It's too bad there wasn't more of a gap between the tournament and camp. I think Robertson getting into those games would have given him a leg up on other bubble players who haven't played in a really, really long time.

 

[Bender]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

He doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. I think having a good camp absolutely does put him in a better position to succeed than playing in the juniors. There's also going to be injuries, he will play and better to get him used to playing with the Leafs than the juniors imo.

Maybe not much to prove playing a season of jr, but playing the best in world in his age group can only help him.  It's not like he is anywhere close to being Alexis Lafrieniere dominant.  I think this will be another case of overhyping a prospect that is far from a sure thing. He is going to have struggles finding a regular spot in lineup I believe.

I mean you'd rather have him play than not but if he misses camp then he doesn't get a fair shake in the lineup. It's a choice that has to be made and I think getting ready to challenge for a spot on the big team and have him as close to ready at the outset is more important than the juniors. Speaking of hype, that's a tournament that is easily overhyped. Look up Cody Hodgson.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

He doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. I think having a good camp absolutely does put him in a better position to succeed than playing in the juniors. There's also going to be injuries, he will play and better to get him used to playing with the Leafs than the juniors imo.

Maybe not much to prove playing a season of jr, but playing the best in world in his age group can only help him.  It's not like he is anywhere close to being Alexis Lafrieniere dominant.  I think this will be another case of overhyping a prospect that is far from a sure thing. He is going to have struggles finding a regular spot in lineup I believe.

I mean you'd rather have him play than not but if he misses camp then he doesn't get a fair shake in the lineup. It's a choice that has to be made and I think getting ready to challenge for a spot on the big team and have him as close to ready at the outset is more important than the juniors. Speaking of hype, that's a tournament that is easily overhyped. Look up Cody Hodgson.

Cody Hodgson wasn't a failure through his own fault. He has the RYR1 gene mutation that went undiagnosed for almost all of his career. Sad really because he was crazy good. Me and a buddy used to go to games to watch him and Duchene play. They were such a treat.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/retired-nhler-cody-hodgson-giving-back-game-loves/

https://vimeo.com/306274068

 

[Bender]

Not sending Robertson to World Jrs is baffling.  He had the opportunity to return and represent his country against the best players in his age group.  He would have also seen 1st unit PP and probably PK duties.
You cannot convince me that him being at training camp is more important to his development and to the organization.  There is a strong chance that he isn't in the opening night lineup or doesnt even make the roster in which case this decision will look even more idiodoc.

He doesn't have much left to prove at the junior level. I think having a good camp absolutely does put him in a better position to succeed than playing in the juniors. There's also going to be injuries, he will play and better to get him used to playing with the Leafs than the juniors imo.

Maybe not much to prove playing a season of jr, but playing the best in world in his age group can only help him.  It's not like he is anywhere close to being Alexis Lafrieniere dominant.  I think this will be another case of overhyping a prospect that is far from a sure thing. He is going to have struggles finding a regular spot in lineup I believe.

I mean you'd rather have him play than not but if he misses camp then he doesn't get a fair shake in the lineup. It's a choice that has to be made and I think getting ready to challenge for a spot on the big team and have him as close to ready at the outset is more important than the juniors. Speaking of hype, that's a tournament that is easily overhyped. Look up Cody Hodgson.

Cody Hodgson wasn't a failure through his own fault. He has the RYR1 gene mutation that went undiagnosed for almost all of his career. Sad really because he was crazy good. Me and a buddy used to go to games to watch him and Duchene play. They were such a treat.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/retired-nhler-cody-hodgson-giving-back-game-loves/

https://vimeo.com/306274068

The point I'm trying to make is that the WJC isn't always a barometer for NHL success and is questionable imo that 7 games really impacts their development that much. It'd be nice for him to do both but the idea that giving him the best chance to make the big club when he's been living in Toronto since May for that purpose is the wrong thing for his development is just weird to me.

 

[herman]

ooh, vimeo plugin works
Are we getting the youtube one back online too?

 

[Guilt Trip]

The point I'm trying to make is that the WJC isn't always a barometer for NHL success and is questionable imo that 7 games really impacts their development that much. It'd be nice for him to do both but the idea that giving him the best chance to make the big club when he's been living in Toronto since May for that purpose is the wrong thing for his development is just weird to me.

I saw your point and I'm not disagreeing with it. I disagree with you using Cody Hodgson as an example of a player being over hyped and showed you why he shouldn't be.  Now Justin Pogge...there's a guy who was over hyped and had zero success.

 

[Bender]

The point I'm trying to make is that the WJC isn't always a barometer for NHL success and is questionable imo that 7 games really impacts their development that much. It'd be nice for him to do both but the idea that giving him the best chance to make the big club when he's been living in Toronto since May for that purpose is the wrong thing for his development is just weird to me.

I saw your point and I'm not disagreeing with it. I disagree with you using Cody Hodgson as an example of a player being over hyped and showed you why he shouldn't be.  Now Justin Pogge...there's a guy who was over hyped and had zero success.

I was gonna use him but goalie [emoji2369]

 

[herman]

https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-nicholas-robertson-will-not-play-in-wjc/c-319798176

"Based on the NHL and NHLPA health and safety protocols, unknowns surrounding roster protocols given the coronavirus, and Nick's standing on our roster heading into training camp, we feel it is in the best interest of both Nick and the Maple Leafs that he remain in Toronto so that we ensure he can participate in our training camp, while abiding by all health and safety standards from the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario," Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Saturday.

if that's not a jab at the IIHF and Team USA bungling of protocols, as well as Alberta's pandemic response...