NHL
Ben Kindel has opened the season playing in the NHL for the Penguins. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
Canada and USA World Junior camp rosters will be announced in roughly a month. There are a lot of important games in between now and then, but today, we look at players who have moved their stock for those teams.
This year’s U.S. team isn’t as deep as in some recent years, so their section isn’t too bulky as a lot of the roster is locked in already.
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The idea of this article isn’t to point out who’s played well, so try not to feel slighted if your favorite player isn’t mentioned, but to identify meaningful movements in a player’s chances for making the U20 team this winter.
Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (St. Louis)
Carbonneau was a standout at Blues camp and carried that play over into his junior season, where he’s been a goal-per-game player in Blainville. A scoring role will be very competitive on this Team Canada, but Carbonneau’s skill, speed and frame will be appealing for a potential bottom-six job.
Michael Hage, C, Michigan (Montreal)
Hage has been one of the best players in college in the opening month, following up his strong summer camp and all but assuring himself a spot on the Canadian roster. He’s always been a very skilled player who can move well, but it’s the consistency and effort level in his game of late, which haven’t always been there, that have moved the needle for him.
Benjamin Kindel, C, Pittsburgh
Perhaps no Canadian player elevated their chances more than Kindel, who went from a bubble candidate at the summer camp to someone Canada is going to need to seek Pittsburgh’s permission to release from their NHL team. Kindel looked excellent in Penguins camp, earning a job as their third-line center. His NHL games have been mixed, but excellent for an 18-year-old. His skill, IQ and effort level all stand out, and he could play a variety of roles on Team Canada.
John Mustard, LW, Providence (Chicago)
Mustard has been Providence’s leading scorer to start the season. His skating has always been excellent, but that he’s showing a little more sense and creativity with the puck, not to mention PK duty for the Friars, gives him an argument to serve a variety of spots in a potential Team Canada lineup.
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Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (Seattle)
O’Brien would likely need to make Canada in a top-nine/power-play role, and while he had a so-so summer camp, Canada couldn’t ask more from him in terms of his start to the OHL season. He’s been one of the best players in the CHL. His skill and vision are tremendous, and I’ve liked his effort level more than last season, too. He should be squarely in the mix for their team, depending on which skill players Canada gets back from the NHL.
Owen Protz, LHD, Brantford (Montreal)
Protz will be appealing to Canada as a defenseman in a particular role at the bottom of their lineup. He’s a great skater who is extremely physical and will make life difficult for his opponents. His puck play is mediocre, and he may struggle to make plays against the very best junior players in the medal round, but the way he plays will be tough for a coach to leave home.
Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (Chicago)
Vanacker has been on a goal-per-game pace to start his OHL season. He’s a skilled forward who has played the net-front role on Brantford’s dangerous power play, but he’s also a competitive player who has some bite in his game. He’s created an argument to be a potential bottom-six winger for Canada.
Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (Draft eligible)
With the question of whether Canada will get Sam Dickinson or Zayne Parekh back from the NHL still up in the air, it opens a spot for the dynamic Villeneuve. He would need to be protected with limited even-strength minutes at the U20 level, but his tremendous skating, skill and vision would be what Canada needs to run the power play as he’s the best power-play QB in junior.
Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State (Columbus)
After missing nearly two years of hockey, Lindstrom has understandably been off to a bit of a slow start on a loaded Michigan State team. His excellent skating for his size, combined with a high level of physicality, is very exciting, even if the offense hasn’t clicked yet. I still think he will make the team, but my guess is Canada is also looking at him with caution in terms of how big a role he could be expected to play.
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Roger McQueen, C, Providence (Anaheim)
McQueen has been just OK to start his freshman season. The combination of size, speed, hands and physicality is exciting as a pro prospect, but the offense hasn’t been clicking for him to start the year, and he hasn’t made as many plays as I expected he would. I would be mildly surprised if Canada brought him unless he catches fire in the coming weeks.
Carter Bear, LW, Everett (Detroit)
Bear had a so-so camp in Detroit and start to his WHL season, coming off a serious Achilles tear injury last season. He’s a highly likable long-term pro prospect, but it would be tough for Canada to justify bringing him given his performance this fall.
William Horcoff, LW, Michigan (Pittsburgh)
Horcoff has been one of the hottest players in college to start the season, taking him from a possible top-nine role on Team USA to all but being assured of being on the team in a notable role. He’s very skilled, but his size and ability to generate offense in the high-traffic areas gives him versatility in how he can help a team.
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LHD, Michigan (Draft eligible)
After going undrafted last year in a tough freshman season, Rheaume-Mullen has been off to a great start as a top player for Michigan. He’s a high-end skater who has shown much more offense to start the season than some of his bigger advocates likely expected. On a light USA blue line, he has worked his way into the mix.
Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (Calgary)
Potter has played OK to start his sophomore season. His skating and skill are excellent, but his compete level is a minor concern, especially given how often he plays on the perimeter. He would need to be a top-nine forward on Team USA, and my guess is they would look at him as a World Junior candidate next year as opposed to this season.
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Corey Pronman is the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic. Previously, Corey worked in a similar role at ESPN. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman
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