The World Junior Championship is just over a month away, and we should start to hear about what the rosters look like in the coming weeks.
One of the most interesting questions every year is what NHL teams will do with their U-20 players. Do they keep them on the NHL roster, or are they willing to send them to the world juniors to be leaders for their country for a few weeks?
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Itâ€s obvious some youngsters will stick in the NHL. Thereâ€s no shot that the San Jose Sharks are even contemplating whether to send Macklin Celebrini, as he sits near the league lead in scoring. Heâ€s more likely to play for Canadaâ€s Olympic team in February than to play for their world junior team over the holidays.
Other players have had a taste of NHL action, but weâ€ve already seen them sent back to their junior clubs. Guys like Jett Luchanko and Brady Martin are virtual locks on the roster for Canada.
There are a few players who are in limbo. They are still playing in the NHL, but theyâ€ve been playing in a lower role, or they have been in and out of the lineup because teams want to ease them into the NHL.
Letâ€s look at eight Canadians and whether they are likely to stay in the NHL or get released to the world junior team.
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Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders
This feels like the easiest player to discuss on the list.
Schaefer should stay in the NHL. Heâ€s been borderline dominant already for the Islanders, and he should continue to face the toughest competition in the world.
The argument for sending U-20 players in the NHL to the world juniors is to give them a chance to get back to dominating the competition, but Schaefer seems to be doing just fine. It doesnâ€t make much sense for the player or the team for Schaefer to be released for the tournament.
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks
This one is a bit tougher. Sennecke has been great for the Ducks, and they have outperformed expectations thus far, but there have been a few hiccups for Sennecke in the early going.
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Sending him to the WJC would allow him to assert himself as one of the best, if not the best, players at the tournament. That said, having him in the NHL, where he can work through his mistakes, will allow him to develop his overall game further.
Sticking around the Ducks makes a lot of sense, and thatâ€s probably what happens.
Harrison Brunicke (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Ben Kindel, C, And Harrison Brunicke, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins‘ rookie duo could both be important pieces for Team Canada. They are in slightly different situations right now, though.
Kindel has been playing fairly consistently, and heâ€s found himself in the Penguins’ top six as of late. His pace and playmaking have always been strengths, but his five goals have been nice to see early in the year, as he goes to the hard areas and gets rewarded for it. Heâ€s playing solid minutes and earning more power-play time as well.
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Brunickeâ€s been scratched since Nov. 3, having played nine games. The 10th game would burn off the first year of his entry-level contract, so the Penguins are staying patient before deciding what they want to do.
Heâ€s been solid at both ends of the ice, but there have been rookie mistakes along the way.
The team has spoken of a detailed plan for Brunicke’s deployment in the NHL. They could be holding him out of the lineup for an extended period so that they can send him to the AHL on a conditioning stint, a seldom-used loophole for getting a 19-year-old some AHL time in the short term.
When it comes to the world juniors, Brunicke should likely be loaned out if he hasnâ€t been returned to junior yet. As for Kindel, there’s a bit less certainty there. The case for him to be lent to Hockey Canada is simple: let him go and be a key piece before returning in January to pick up where he left off.
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Sam Dickinson, D, And Michael Misa, C/W, San Jose Sharks
Dickinson and Misa are in two different boats at the moment.
Dickinson is benefiting from his time in the NHL. Heâ€s getting a fairly regular shift, and heâ€s working through the ups and downs of being a rookie blueliner in the NHL.
Misaâ€s dealing with a foot injury at the moment, and while heâ€s been fairly steady in his games, he hasnâ€t truly hit his stride. An AHL conditioning stint when he returns from injury could get him ready for the WJC with Team Canada, where he could go and be one of the teamâ€s most impressive talents. A stint with the WJC squad could set him up for a very nice second half in San Jose.
Berkly Catton (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
Berkly Catton, C/W, Seattle Kraken
Having surpassed the nine-game plateau, Catton has burned the first year of his entry-level contract, but he still could be sent back to junior hockey, as doubtful as that may be.
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Catton has played top-nine minutes and has flashes of really intriguing play. He only has three points, but heâ€s looked well.
Depending on how his season is going in a month, the Kraken could look to use the world juniors as a way to give Catton a break from the grind and allow him to chase down a gold medal. They did this a few years back with Shane Wright before sending him back to the OHL. With Catton, it feels like he would be back in the NHL after the experience with Team Canada.
Zayne Parekh, D, Calgary Flames
Parekh’s start to the season hasnâ€t been as smooth as many expected. The uber-skilled offensive blueliner hasnâ€t made his mark in the attacking zone, and his defensive game has been exposed at times.
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He was injured in a recent game and was deemed week-to-week with an upper body injury, so health will also play a factor.
If Parekh returns by the beginning of December, sending him to the AHL for a conditioning stint would make some sense, and then loaning him to Team Canada could give him a chance to gain some of his confidence back after a rocky start to the season in Calgary. Being a leader and a go-to option for Canada would be a great thing for Parekh’s development this season.
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