2026 IIHF World Junior Discussion

[fotze2]

I like regular Madonna, not pre-Madonna.

[GreenLantern2814]

I can only speak for having watched McKenna once against the Hitmen, but I didn’t see a player I would draft 1st overall.

He also had three points, so what do I know.

If they stick in the bottom 3, they’ll get a player.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I like regular Madonna, not pre-Madonna.

Just you wait for Post-Madonna. She's no Maradona tho.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Historically Canada doesn't Edmonton their way through pre-tournament games going 6-0 and becoming the "pre" Champions we're all maybe accustomed to.

These games are for finding chemistry and getting systems and stuff in place.
I wouldn't read into the results too much, we're getting super judgmental on these guys after 2 meaningless games.

If they bomb out in the actual tournament for some reason then yes, your criticisms would then be warranted, but lets get there and see what happens.

Biggest thing is getting the guys slotted on the proper lines, and I trust the Hunter's to find that and get it sorted out for game 1.


Whats funny is if Parekh and the team came out of these 2 games with massive points and blowing out SWE in back to back games people would still find a way to downplay it and point out it was pre-tournament games and means nothing... which isn't wrong but lets use that analogy going both ways. Pre-tournament means nothing, no sense getting worried/worked up about it.

I'll lead the pitchfork rally if Canada comes out of the gates flat and looks terrible across the board, but I personally don't see that happening.
If this roster cant get it done, I don't know what to say.

I personally have never seen the reason to go all pitchfork on these junior kids regardless of the year and I think I have a long posting history on this site to that effect. I personally think they need to have a center who gets in the dirty areas for McKenna to be most effective. I think McKenna is a perimeter player with great offensive skills but I don’t think he can single handedly drive a line with other perimeter players except off the rush. I would prefer that they they put Martin down the middle with Martone and McKenna and then had a second line of Hage Misa and Iginla, a third line of Reschny Beaudin Cootes and a 4th line of any mix of the remaining players.

But adults ####ting on teenage players who are playing for their country has never made sense to me

[Rhett44]

Cowan was absolutely awful last year in world juniors and he is playing fine a year later.

Bedard looked phenomenal when he played world juniors. Then for the Blackhawks he looked like he would be a good player but not elite at first. Now; this year he looks elite.

Lots of time for players to progress or change between world juniors and playing in the NHL.

[Jay Random]

I put zero stock in exhibition games and very little in the World Juniors as a whole. What interests me more is McKenna’s body of work in the NCAA, which at this time can only be graded ‘incomplete’. Teams and fans usually expect a #1 overall pick to be ready for the NHL right away. McKenna wasn’t ready for the NCAA last fall, and this will be a much bigger jump.

At this point I still think he goes first overall, but there are signs that he might play his way out of the conversation.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I put zero stock in exhibition games and very little in the World Juniors as a whole. What interests me more is McKenna’s body of work in the NCAA, which at this time can only be graded ‘incomplete’. Teams and fans usually expect a #1 overall pick to be ready for the NHL right away. McKenna wasn’t ready for the NCAA last fall, and this will be a much bigger jump.

At this point I still think he goes first overall, but there are signs that he might play his way out of the conversation.

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

[868904]

Originally Posted by Locke

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

Marty Murray

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by 868904

Marty Murray

Justin Pogge
Angelo Espisito

There's quite a few honestly, at least a couple probably every year.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I put zero stock in exhibition games and very little in the World Juniors as a whole. What interests me more is McKenna’s body of work in the NCAA, which at this time can only be graded ‘incomplete’. Teams and fans usually expect a #1 overall pick to be ready for the NHL right away. McKenna wasn’t ready for the NCAA last fall, and this will be a much bigger jump.

At this point I still think he goes first overall, but there are signs that he might play his way out of the conversation.

Agreed.

I'm not sure how many are aware, but he turned 18 years old.....two days age.

The majority of guys playing NCAA are 20+. He has played less than 20 games....he will adjust.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Agreed.

I'm not sure how many are aware, but he turned 18 years old.....two days age.

The majority of guys playing NCAA are 20+. He has played less than 20 games....he will adjust.

Thing is, nearly all the guys playing in the NHL are also 20+. If people are expecting him to contribute right away after the draft, I think they need to dial their expectations down.

Stenberg has already made the jump to be an impact player in a men’s league.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Agreed.

I'm not sure how many are aware, but he turned 18 years old.....two days age.

The majority of guys playing NCAA are 20+. He has played less than 20 games....he will adjust.

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.

[dino7c]

There are 64 division 1 NCAA teams...its a pretty hard league to compare stats team to team and year to year

[TheScorpion]

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

[transplant99]

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.

Well if anyone is expecting McKenna to be anywhere near Celebrini level .... i think we have identified the problem.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Locke

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

Pavel Brendl, Dan Tkachuk, Trevor Kidd, Zach Fucale, Puljujarvi, Angelo Esposito, Jordan Schroeder.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well if anyone is expecting McKenna to be anywhere near Celebrini level .... i think we have identified the problem.

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.

[BigThief]

Daniel Tkachuk, Rico Fata, and Blair Betts. The Flames are set for years in the new millennium with that kind of forward group.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well if anyone is expecting McKenna to be anywhere near Celebrini level .... i think we have identified the problem.

Well, based on McKenna's last WHL season, the hype was understandable. If we draft him, I just hope he doesn't turn out to be another Lafreniere.