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TSN Director of Scouting

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Each day throughout the World Junior Hockey Championship, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button brings important issues and topics surrounding the tournament to the forefront.

HBI 1: Sweden goalie, Linus Soderstrom was incredible in the Swedish net, making 46 saves en route to a 1-0 victory over the United States in Pool A play. The New York Islanders’ prospect faced almost 15 minutes of power-play time, some of it with his team two men short. Time and again he was a combination of acrobat, contortionist and Gumby doll, never dented despite facing a barrage of quality chances. He was obviously the player of the game for Sweden and if there was a first, second and third star he would have been named all three.

 

 

HBI 2: David Pastrnak suffered a foot injury playing for the Boston Bruins at the end of October. As the calendar year nears its close, the Czechs became beneficiaries of his playing services as the Bruins loaned him for the tournament. After last year’s tourney, Pastrnak returned to the NHL and was a significant contributor for the Bruins. This is a classic win-win. The Czechs add an offensive weapon and the Bruins are hoping for a repeat boost upon his return. Oh, and by the way, he scored the first goal of the game in a 2-0 victory over Slovakia. Talk about immediate dividends.

 

 

HBI 3: The line of Patrik Laine, Sebastian Aho and Jesse Puljujarvi may eventually find a place in Finnish hockey history beside the famed Huey-Dewey-Louie line of Saku Koivu, Ville Peltonen and Jere Lehtinen. Laine and Puljujarvi are highly skilled wingers who are certain to be drafted in the top five picks of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Aho, a second-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, provides a professorial look to the line. Laine and Puljujarvi are both big with tremendous ability. The trio’s ability to skate, execute with their hands, and be creative and imaginative all while playing at a high pace is outstanding. They score in multiple ways and limiting them is the goal because stopping them is next to impossible.