While wait for Training Camp at the Bell Sensplex to start, one thing that can cure us of our hockey sickness is the camps going on for each country participating in the upcoming World Junior Championships in Buffalo, New York. Canada recently hosted their development camp at “The Rock” in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Click “Continue Reading” to see Ottawa Senator prospects who will be in contention to make their respective countries’ team at the 2011 World Juniors.
Jared Cowen did not attend the camp due to a recent bout of mono, and will likely not be on the team unless he does not make the Ottawa Senators out of Camp. Patrick Wiercioch is ineligible to make the team, meaning the Sens will not be represented by Canada at the Juniors for the this year. However, the team will be looking at prospects from other nations when the tourney kicks off.
Robin Lehner kicks off what should be a interesting year in his development with a great performance at the Swedish Development Camp in Malmo, Sweden. Since both Jacob Markstrom and Jhonas Enroth are off to make their respective teams, Lehner is the status quo Number One, and has earned it. What impresses me the most about Robin is his work ethic, and how he lead a weak Sault Ste. Marie team to the OHL Playoffs. Bryan Murray and his scouts should be pegged in on how he will do, especially on the New Year’s Eve Battle against Team Canada.
Andre Petersson broke out last year in Saskatoon and Regina for Team Sweden, including a hat-trick in the bronze-medal game against Switzerland. Petersson will be counted on once again for the Swedes up front. Although some are starting to compare Petersson to a young Daniel Alfredsson, this tournament should show us if last year was really a fluke. You have to love everything about Andre, his size, speed, and his shot. Nobody can also deny his two-way awareness as well. What he’ll have to do to impress the Murrays even more is continue his fine play and show what he can do as a captain, which should be given to him barring a miracle.
Jakob Silfverberg played second fiddle on a talented Swedish team last year, but should be counted on am ore important role this time around. Jakob looks like a guy who could blossom into a Henrik Zetterberg type of player, or bust into a Pat Falloon type. This is the year where he needs to show where he fits. This was a guy who Bryan Murray stole in the second round, and a guy Swedish coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson speaks high praises of. We’ll see how this goes, but it’s possibly an entry-level contract is in the wings for Silfverberg.
Markus Sorensen was a shock pick for Ottawa in the fourth round, but has supposedly made waves at the Swedish Camp. Sorensen is labelled by Hockey’s Future as “A great offensive dynamo who loves the puck but a bit too much for scouts. He needs to develop a better defensive game but overall a project for the Senators”. Although I believe Markus may make the team in the winter, don’t expect anything higher than the third line, likely because those darn Swedes are a stacked team this year and my favourite to win it all. If Sorensen does make it, this is a guy I will be watching.
David Rundblad is yet another Swede who will be looking to make an impression on his new team. Bryan Murray’s premier acquisition at the 2010 NHL Draft, Rundblad was third in defenseman scoring last season while paired with wonder kid Adam Larsson. David has the skills to become a great defensemanin the league, and from what I’ve seen his size and strength is very close to becoming NHL-pedigree. Likely to be the 1A or 1B defenseman with Larsson this season, it will be seen if David is what The Bryan really traded the 16th overall pick for.
Jakub Culek is the only Sens prospect likely going to the World Juniors who will not play for Team Sweden. The first pick for the Ottawa Senators (third round) in the 2010 Draft, Culek has great vision and speed. His shot is one of the most accurate on the Czech team according to Hockey’s Future. We haven’t seen Jakub play live, so watching him in Buffalo should give all of us an idea for what he should become. The Czechs don’t have that great of a team as they have before, but if guys like Culek can step up, you never know.
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