Yesterday, Hockey Canada announced its selection camp roster for the World Junior Championships, and the list featured exactly zero Winnipeg Jets prospects. Unfortunately, this was both saddening and unsurprising, but at least we have the American camp to look forward to.
Canada’s selection camp roster for the world junior hockey championship. https://t.co/FegwUeAnPm pic.twitter.com/GMYbh38MES
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 1, 2015
Of those names, Noah Juulsen, Anthony Beauvillier, Nick Merkley (!!!), Mitchell Stephens and LHD Travis Dermott were available in the relatively immediate aftermath following Jack Roslovic at 25th. With three representatives each, the New York Islanders, Arizona Coyotes and 2016 draft class are the early winners, while Tampa Bay, Florida, Philadelphia, Carolina, St. Louis, Toronto, Calgary and New Jersey each have two prospects attending. We'll be sure to make a comparative tally once the U.S.A. hockey camp roster is released.
And now the news at noon.
Central Division
- While the Chicago Blackhawks fell to Minnesota 2-1, Patrick Kane's point streak continues. Now at 20 games, it is "Already the longest streak by an American player…Kane can tie Bobby Hull for the longest in Blackhawks history on Thursday in Ottawa and could set the mark by himself Sunday at the United Center against Winnipeg". Please Ottawa, save us from being in the record books on this one. (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Matt Duchene was named the league's 3rd star for the month of November, behind the aforementioned Patrick Kane and Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. Those Duchene trade rumours sure seem both far away and ludicrous now don't they. (Denver Post)
- On prospect Jack Campbell, Dallas Stars goaltending coach Jeff Reese says that "I think he's close", which seems a little odd in light of Campbell's one NHL game and .912 career AHL regular season SV%. (Dallas Morning News)
- Ryan Suter had some egg on his face after publicly questioning Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo's shuffling of the defensive pairs. Here's the thing: I can completely understand when Suter says "I think the heat of the practice, I was just saying stuff I probably shouldn’t have said". That's fine. But don't deflect blame by prefacing with "It’s a story that shouldn’t even be a story." It's a story because Ryan Suter created it and said it. He's just lucky it's Minnesota and not, say, any Canadian market ever. (StarTribune)
- With all that Dustin Byfuglien talk swirling about, the Winnipeg Jets players are simply doing their best to tune it out. I can think of a few ways to make the trade speculation go away. Also, Ben Chiarot looks to be Byfuglien's partner tonight against Toronto, in place of first pairing defenceman Adam Pardy. (Winnipeg Sun)
And All The Rest
- In case you missed it, the Maple Leafs placed Joffrey Lupul on IR and recalled Rich Clune from the Toronto Marlies in his stead. This either means they wanted Clune to sit in the press box rather than one of the kids, or if he's in the lineup tonight, that coming to Winnipeg has once again caused a visiting team to insert a tough guy (see: the Minnesota Wild and Kurtis Gabriel). (PPP)
Pretty sure that other teams are calling up their heavyweights just to ensure that the #NHLJets play Peluso. #solidstrategy
— Ryan Blight (@arby_18) December 1, 2015
- After losing to the Leafs 3-0 on Monday, Oilers Entertainment Group’s CEO and vice-president Bob Nicholson described the experience as "rock bottom". In all fairness to Toronto, so long as Jonathan Bernier isn't in net, these aren't your Randy Carlyle Maple Leafs anymore. Losing to the Colorado Avalanche, now that's rock bottom. (TSN)
- Three exceedingly qualified individuals were appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee on Tuesday, with Ron Francis, Jari Kurri and Bob McKenzie joining the shadowy organization. Could one or more of them please make the case for Soviet legend Viktor Tikhonov? His continued exclusion is beyond ridiculous; if he were Canadian, there would be riots. (NHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella (which is still a weird thing to type) is putting the team through their conditioning drills paces, while paying special attention to Ryan Johansen. Whichever team ends up trading for him is going to get one heck of a player. Anyone need a big, legitimate #1 centre? (BlueJacketsXtra)
- No one tell @kitkat_p, but her Philadelphia Flyers have rattled off three straight wins. And before you make fun of the Flyers, note that their free agent signing Michael Neuvirth has a .939 SV% through 11 games, and they actually have a better record through 25 games (10-10-5) than the Winnipeg Jets (11-12-2). (ProHockeyTalk)
- Hey, remember expansion? Once it was the talk of the town, dominating discussion. Now, it's not even on the Board of Governor's meeting agenda. They really wanted Seattle, didn't they? (TSN)
- Not that it was at all possible the Winnipeg Jets were interested in free agent depth at this point in the season, but David Moss has now signed with Swiss team EHC Biel-Bienne of the NLA. Anyone know what Stephen Weiss and Erik Cole are up to these days? (The Hockey Writers)
- And finally Andrea Barone, a professional hockey referee with the Southern Professional Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League, tells the story of coming to terms with his sexuality. As for being a gay referee in professional hockey, the culture change continues, day by day, story by story, person by person. (Outsports)
Thanks for reading!
