2026 IIHF World Junior Discussion

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Locke

Exactly. How many World Juniors superheroes turned into complete NHL busts?

Jack Campbell

[The Fonz]

Tyler Parsons

[Claes]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Team USA has cut Henry Brzustewicz. Additionally they won't have Trevor Connelly due to a lower-body injury.

Any relation to Hunter?

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[Roko]

Originally Posted by Claes

Any relation to Hunter?

Skickat från min SM-S921B via Tapatalk

Brother

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

A few posters seem to think the Flames are doomed forever if they don’t draft McKenna specifically and no other player. Me, I think the ’27 draft is more important, because there’s a better crop of centres figuring to be at the top.

I want a shot at drafting Alexis Joseph so bad. Kid is going to be really good. I don't think it's McKenna or bust at all, but he's the kind of offensive dynamo that people want. But I think any of Stenberg, McKenna and Lawrence would be vital in our rebiggle.

McKenna in 26, Joseph in 27 ... a man can dream.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Judging teenagers, based on exhibition games where they are simply getting themselves prepped for the actual tournament...

Perhaps these games shouldn't be televised - some of you don't seem capable of handling it.

I think that reaction fits if someone actually called Parekh a bust or something like that (Rhett ... they didn't).

But a measured concern about away from the puck work ethic isn't allowed because it's an exhibition game?

I have a bias for complete players though from coaching kids. The kids that cheated the game drove me nuts.

I'll be happy to see that was just a tune up and Parekh playing better all over the ice though!

Either way I'm guessing I've had my homer card revoked

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Groot

I know its been brought up before and I dont know the merit of the argument with all factors considered, but Celebrini was 17 for his entire NCAA season and put up 32G 32A 64P in 38 games. I understand how that can make people tepid considering the McKenna hype prior to this season.

I think with the migration away from the CHL to college hockey this year, there is going to have to be a different lens on numbers that college players are putting up pre-draft. Some of the best talent left the CHL, and then you combine that with the older ages and physical development, it maybe helps explain that McKenna hasn't put up the same numbers. I think he'll have a solid second half as he settles in, and a team who gets Mckenna if he drops to a lower pick is going to be hitting a home run.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Two years ago you'd have to flip the names, though. Celebrini was expected to be first overall but not a generational player; McKenna was. A lot has changed recently.

I'd say it's more like 2 months. Heading into the year, McKenna had the most productive D-1 year since Crosby 23 years ago. Better than Bedard. Better than McDavid. He was generational talent in everyone's eyes until questions started being asked maybe 6 weeks ago at most?

Hope it's just a blip for the kid.

Interestingly, his season is mirroring Hagens' draft year in a lot of ways. Hagens ended up going 7 after the hype train crashed. He was no mckenna in terms of hype though so I doubt he drops out of the top 5, but if he does go top 5, it won't be based on his draft year to this point.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think that reaction fits if someone actually called Parekh a bust or something like that (Rhett ... they didn't).

But a measured concern about away from the puck work ethic isn't allowed because it's an exhibition game?

I have a bias for complete players though from coaching kids. The kids that cheated the game drove me nuts.

I'll be happy to see that was just a tune up and Parekh playing better all over the ice though!

Either way I'm guessing I've had my home card revoked

Yeah, up until the puck jumped over his stick I thought Parekh was one of the best players on the ice.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Yeah, up until the puck jumped over his stick I thought Parekh was one of the best players on the ice.

I saw two games ...

When he was in the offensive zone he was active and creating, getting open, making a lot of good passes. Walked into a seam with a great chance.

But too often when the puck wasn't in the offensive zone he was looking for his pairing mate to do the heavy lifting and wasn't all that involved.

He'd look to his pairing mate to go get the puck on the clear, geared down if a forward was equal distant on a backcheck.

Has me a little concerned.

But happy to be proven 100% wrong!

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think that reaction fits if someone actually called Parekh a bust or something like that (Rhett ... they didn't).

But a measured concern about away from the puck work ethic isn't allowed because it's an exhibition game?

I have a bias for complete players though from coaching kids. The kids that cheated the game drove me nuts.

I'll be happy to see that was just a tune up and Parekh playing better all over the ice though!

Either way I'm guessing I've had my homer card revoked

Did you just join the negative crowd Bingo?

I do think it’s fair to want to see the work rate tick upwards a bit for Parekh. I wonder what his mental state is as I’m sure he’s been surprised at how difficult the pro game has been for him thus far.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Did you just join the negative crowd Bingo?

I do think it’s fair to want to see the work rate tick upwards a bit for Parekh. I wonder what his mental state is as I’m sure he’s been surprised at how difficult the pro game has been for him thus far.

A lot of highly-skilled players don’t have the desire to get better without the puck. They’re not motivated by that part of the game and have to be coaxed and prodded to GAF about it. Most eventually come around and become half-way decent two-way players. Some never do.

Since this has been a knock on Parekh for years, it’s worth monitoring.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by devo22

I want a shot at drafting Alexis Joseph so bad. Kid is going to be really good. I don't think it's McKenna or bust at all, but he's the kind of offensive dynamo that people want. But I think any of Stenberg, McKenna and Lawrence would be vital in our rebiggle.

McKenna in 26, Joseph in 27 ... a man can dream.

This is my dream scenario as well. If the flames somehow got any of Lawrence/McKenna/Stenberg in this draft and then somehow got Joseph next year… what a crazy setup for the rebuild. You either end up with a play-driving winger (McKenna/Stenberg) to pair with a complete game centreman like Reschny and have Joseph be the dominant #1 centre who drives his own line… Or you could end up with crazy centre depth with Joseph-Lawrence-Reschny up the middle.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I saw two games ...

When he was in the offensive zone he was active and creating, getting open, making a lot of good passes. Walked into a seam with a great chance.

But too often when the puck wasn't in the offensive zone he was looking for his pairing mate to do the heavy lifting and wasn't all that involved.

He'd look to his pairing mate to go get the puck on the clear, geared down if a forward was equal distant on a backcheck.

Has me a little concerned.

But happy to be proven 100% wrong!

That's how I saw it too.

Tons of talent, especially offensively.

but not a ton of compete on the other side of the puck.


One thing that gives me optimism is I felt in his NHL time he actually tightened up his defensive game quite a bit.
He'll just need to figure out how to tie the two together.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I saw two games ...

When he was in the offensive zone he was active and creating, getting open, making a lot of good passes. Walked into a seam with a great chance.

But too often when the puck wasn't in the offensive zone he was looking for his pairing mate to do the heavy lifting and wasn't all that involved.

He'd look to his pairing mate to go get the puck on the clear, geared down if a forward was equal distant on a backcheck.

Has me a little concerned.

But happy to be proven 100% wrong!

He's 19, his natural talents come thru at that age which is skating, IQ and offensive flair, he's a very smart kid, with proper coaching he should learn the other side easily.

[dino7c]

That was a terrible pass on that short handed goal, it was right in his skates he had to choke up to try and take it and that's why it jumped over his stick