Canadiens prospects WJC review

Now that the World Junior Championship is complete, it’s time to evaluate how the Montreal Canadiens prospects fared this year. After last year’s good showing by Alex Perezhogin, Konstantin Korneev and Chris Higgins, there were high hopes that the five players we sent this year would build off the prior year’s success. Out of the five players taking part in this year’s tournament, two were from the 2002 draft, while the other three were recently drafted in June of 2003.

Representing Team Russia for his third visit, Konstantin Korneev was looked upon to help his team win their third straight gold medal. Representing Team Czech Republic was Tomas Linhart who was looked to use his size and physical play as one of the top defensemen for the Czechs. From the 2003 draft, representing Team Finland was Oskari Korpikari who would be used on the lower pairings, but asked to play a steady safe stay at home type game while using his size whenever possible. Representing Team Slovakia in nets was Jaroslav Halak, coming off being named the top goalie at the U-18′s, Halak was given the starting job in nets, an impressive feat for the 18-year-old. And playing in the Division I Group B, representing Team Belarus, Andrei Kastsitsyn was coming off a very impressive showing at the U-18′s as he caused havoc to goalies and defensemen alike with his impressive offensive abilities.

Konstantin Korneev, D. Taken in 2002 from the ninth round, 275^th overall, Korneev made his third and final trip to the World Junior Championship, taking home the gold in his first two visits. This year Team Russia was not able to grab a medal, but Korneev did have another good tournament, as he was tied for second in assists overall, and he was the top scoring defenseman on his team, and was tied for second in team scoring as well. Russia finished fifth overall, beating Team Slovakia in their final game.

Tomas Linhart, D. Also taken in the 2002 draft in the second round, 45^th overall, Linhart made his first trip to the WJC’s, but was able to play on one of the top pairings, perhaps due to his experience this year playing in the top men’s division in the Czech league. With the loss of their top defenseman, Linhart had to pick up the slack, as his team played in the Bronze medal game, but could not beat the host country in a closely fought game. Linhart used his size well, and with some improved skating, he was able to keep up with the quick forwards and get a few crushing hits, but in his own end, he was overmatched at times.

Oskari Korpikari, D. Taken in the 2003 draft, seventh round, 217^th overall, Korpikari made his first trip to the WJC tournament, as he has been a regular in the Sm-liiga for close to a full season now starting from last year’s mid-season call up. Korpikari was playing on the third pairing for the host country, where he hoped to help his team take home the gold, but unfortunately he was injured halfway through the tournament, but his team did take home the bronze medal for a third straight year. The stay at home defensemen injured his shoulder in the third game, a tough break for the young blueliner who will not be able to play in the tournament again due to his age.

Jaroslav Halak, G. Taken in the 2003 draft, ninth round, 271^st overall, Halak made his first appearance at the WJC’s, yet he was named the team’s starter, as he helped his team take home the silver at the last U-18 tournament, and was named the top goalie of that tournament. Having a very impressive season this year so far, Halak was able to get some experience playing in the top men’s league in the Slovak league, but he had his work cut out for him, as this year’s U-20 was facing some very tough competition. Although he did give up a very costly goal against the rival Czech team, as his team ended up sixth overall, he was still one of the top goalies in the tournament, finishing fourth overall in save percentage, something for him to build on in next year’s tournament.

Andrei Kastsitsyn, F. Drafted in 2003, first round, 10^th overall, Kastsistyn made his fourth trip to the World Juniors, as his team was regulated to the Division I Group B after being knocked out of last year’s WJC. Playing against some lesser talented teams, Kastsitsyn was able to rack up the points, as he finished third overall in scoring in the tournament behind two of his teammates. Belarus was able to win their group, meaning they will be playing in the championship tournament next year, where Kastsitsyn would be eligible to play in an astounding fifth appearance.