December 01, 2011
Posted in BC Edition, Alberta Edition, Ontario Edition, Hockey Canada, Major Junior, Columns
By Andrew Chong, Editor /
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will never play a game at the World Juniors.
Last year, as the youngest forward invited to Canada’s selection camp, the Burnaby, B.C.-native was among the final cuts, just days before the tournament began.
Twelve months later, as an 18-year-old Edmonton Oilers rookie, he is better than a point-per-game in the NHL, he is Top 10 in league scoring, and he is the front-runner for the Calder Trophy.
In fairness to the Team Canada brass who cut him, Nugent-Hopkins was both the smallest (166 pounds) and youngest (17-years-old) forward in the mix, at the time—and he did make it to the very last day of cuts: Dec. 15, 2010.
“It doesn’t feel good,” said Nugent-Hopkins, the day he was cut.
Exactly three weeks later, Team Canada lost the gold medal final to the Russians, 5-3.
And when the smoke cleared, only three Canadian forwards figured in the Top 25 in tournament scoring—in contrast, Russia had six.
Meanwhile, as a 17-year-old with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, Nugent-Hopkins lit-it-up with 106 points in 69 games.
Woops.
Now, I don’t mean to over-analyze from my cushy hindsight perspective, but this isn’t the first time Team Canada has failed to win gold after passing on a 17-year-old, 106-point Major Junior star.
In fact, a year before Nugent-Hopkins was cut, Tyler Seguin got the bad news that he wouldn’t be on Team Canada’s 2009/10 roster.
Later that season, Seguin won the OHL scoring title and was drafted second overall by the Bruins.
And now, he’s already a Stanley Cup champion, he’s the Bruins’ leading scorer, and he’s on pace for a 45-goal season—and believe it or not, he’s 19-years-old and still eligible to play in the upcoming World Juniors tournament.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” said Seguin back in 2009 when he was cut.
I think he’s over it.
Looking ahead, if Canada’s fails to win gold for a third straight year at the World Juniors, the same question will be asked: did they pick the right players? Credit Hockey Canada—it’s a tricky job picking this team. But when there isn’t a gold medal result, these questions have to be asked.
And both Nugent-Hopkins and Seguin will likely get another shot at suiting-up for Canada. But this time, they’ll be in the discussion for Canada’s most prestigious national team: the men’s Olympic team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
LOTS OF U-20 TALENT
As usual, Canada has a number of other World-Junior-age-eligible players who are currently on NHL teams: Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes), Sean Couturier (Philadelphia Flyers), Erik Gudbranson (Florida Panthers), Devante Smith-Pelly (Anaheim Ducks), Ryan Johansen (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Skinner, Seguin, and Nugent-Hopkins will not be released for the World Juniors—especially since they’re each leading their team in scoring.
Hockey Canada is in discussions with NHL teams regarding the possible release of any of the other players.
With only three returning players (Quinton Howden, Jaden Schwartz, and Mark Visentin), any NHL-level additions would a nice bonus for Team Canada.
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