Puck Worlds - All PostsDedicated to covering the game worldwidehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/22326/puckworlds-fave.jpg2012-09-20T20:35:00-04:00http://www.puckworlds.com/rss/current/2012-09-20T20:35:00-04:002012-09-20T20:35:00-04:00Puck Worlds Moving To SBNation.com/NHL
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<p>If you're a follower of other sites around the SB Nation network, you are no doubt aware of the changes happening to the platform switch and re-branding of the entire network known as SB Nation United. Puck Worlds is being affected in a different way with these changes. As part of the switchover, Puck Worlds will no longer be a stand alone blog, but rather a section of SBNation.com/NHL. If you enter in http://www.puckworlds.com/ as a url, it will re-direct you to my work at www.sbnation.com/nhl instead. So you won't have to change your links.</p>
<p>I will continue to provide coverage of international hockey events and news about the sport's growth around the world, just in a different format. It's hoped that the change will bring more attention to the issues raised on this blog, making the material here more accessible. However, there will be some substantial changes to the interactions that you the reader can engage in on this website. No longer will FanShots be supported here, or FanPosts. </p>
<p>The nature of this website is a bit different than other ones on the network as a result of the 'big picture' focus I try and bring to the stories I write about. This network is based on the shared attachment between the writers and their readers in their love of their teams, and Puck Worlds has been always an oddball in its focus on writing on disparate yet important events that reflect the global nature of the sport of hockey. I appreciate greatly the regular readership on this website, and look forward to reading your comments after the switchover on the main network. </p>
<p>The next 18 months promises to be an exciting time for international hockey events and professional and junior leagues that aren't part of the NHL's umbrella. This year we will learn who the final three qualifiers are for the men's tournament of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as the two remaining qualifiers for the women's tournament. With the NHL lockout this season, we're seeing a higher quality of competition in every league in the world as part of a trickle down effect. The 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ufa, Russia, could be of a higher quality of play than normal as a result. And if, heaven forbid, the NHL lockout wipes out the entire 2012-13 NHL season, the IIHF World Championships will be the top hockey played in the world this hockey season. I plan on providing you with the highest quality of coverage possible for all of these cherished hockey events. </p>
<p>On a personal note, I too am moving, leaving my work and home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for a year abroad in the much less hockey crazy locale of Melbourne, Australia. As SB Nation United moves my website, I too will be making a big move. I hope to provide some stories up close on the development of the sport in the southern hemisphere, most of which is centered in what will be my new city. </p>
<p>On another note, there is a new Puck Worlds logo, which will be unveiled as part of the move. It's fantastic. </p>
<p>Thank you to all of you for being a part of Puck Worlds' first life. I hope you all continue to follow the news we provide in the new format. </p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/9/20/3365798/puck-worlds-sbnation-united-moveBruce Peter2012-09-07T03:00:08-04:002012-09-07T03:00:08-04:00Lokomotiv and the KHL, A Year Later
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<p><br>Today marks one year since the darkest day in the history of the sport of hockey. The entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team, its coaching staff, video crew, and medical/training staff were killed along with the pilots and crew save for flight engineer Alexander Sizov, was killed in a plane crash upon takeoff for the team's opening game of the 2011-12 season. One player, Alexander Galimov, initially survived the crash but succumbed to his injuries five days later. In total, 44 people were killed in the crash that brought international attention to the state of Russian commercial aircraft. </p>
<p>It halted the start of the KHL season, as the first game of the season was postponed as the news of the crash arrived mid-game. The season's start was delayed across the league for over a week.</p>
<p>Last year, I provided <a href="http://www.puckworlds.com/2011/9/7/2410775/list-of-passengers-on-board-fatal-yak-42-flight" target="_blank">a list of the deceased from the Lokomotiv team</a>. Today, I'm going to provide a different list, one of the roster that suited up with the Lokomotiv logo on their chests at Arena 2000 in Yaroslavl, the scene of the incredibly emotional memorials one year ago. They won in the club's return to the KHL, <a href="http://en.khl.ru/report/222/?idgame=34134" target="_blank">a 5-2 win over Sibir Novosibirsk</a>.</p>
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<table class="zebra" border="0" align="center">
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>#</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Pos.</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Nation</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Vitaly Kolesnik</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">G</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349269/kz.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349269/kz_medium.gif" alt="Kz_medium"></a><br id="1346991857137">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Nikita Lozhkin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">G</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a><br id="1346991869321">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Staffan Kronwall</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349213/se.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349213/se_medium.gif" alt="Se_medium"></a><br id="1346991877658">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Sami Lepisto</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349205/fi.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349205/fi_medium.gif" alt="Fi_medium"></a><br id="1346991885372">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Vitaly Vishnevski</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a><br id="1346991900278">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">63</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Maxim Kondratiev</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mark Flood</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349181/ca.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349181/ca_medium.gif" alt="Ca_medium"></a><br id="1346991957398">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">33</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Mikhail Pashnin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yegor Yakovlev</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">D</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Alexander Chernikov</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">71</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Alexei Kalyuzhny</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349257/by.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349257/by_medium.gif" alt="By_medium"></a><br id="1346991969058">
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</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">40</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Danill Apalkov</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Mikelis Redlihs</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RW</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349261/lv.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349261/lv_medium.gif" alt="Lv_medium"></a><br id="1346991997004">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Alexei Kruchinin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yury Petrov</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yegor Averin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LW</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">88</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Roman Lyuduchin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RW</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Niklas Hagman</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LW</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349205/fi.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349205/fi_medium.gif" alt="Fi_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">80</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Dmitry Maltsev</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Sergei Plotnikov</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">91</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Oleg Yashin</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LW</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">98</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Vladislav Kartayev</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru.gif" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/349189/ru_medium.gif" alt="Ru_medium"></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Scratches included G <span>Curtis Sanford</span> (CAN), D Andrei Konev, D Yevgeni Korolyov, F Emil Galimov (RUS), F <span>Viktor Kozlov</span> (RUS), and F Maxim Trunyov (RUS). </p>
<p>The Head Coach is Tom Rowe, who was the assistant coach of the <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Carolina Hurricanes</a> the past four years. Former NHL players Dmitry Yushkevich and Nikolai Borschevsky are his assistants, with Jorma Valtonen as the goaltending coach.</p>
<p>Side note: I<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iYPBf5U2YSg#!" target="_blank">n the post-game press conference</a>, one of the first questions Tom Rowe was asked was why he started Kolesnik over Sanford. It's safe to say that the media in Yaroslavl is ready to cover hockey games, stirring up goaltender controversies instead of talking about the plane crash. </p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/9/7/3299444/lokomotiv-and-the-khl-a-year-laterBruce Peter2012-08-23T15:22:01-04:002012-08-23T15:22:01-04:00Elitserien Says 'Nej' to Locked Out NHLers
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<img alt="Kids that are fans of HC Linköpings are unlikely to get to spend time with NHL veterans like Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble like they did in 2004-05. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v5OlnYRcnwaFt_swWK7Y9BOw1wg=/0x17:1100x750/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/1312665/51879143_1_.JPG" />
<figcaption>Kids that are fans of HC Linköpings are unlikely to get to spend time with NHL veterans like Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble like they did in 2004-05. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>Your favourite NHL player is unlikely to be suiting up in Europe's second best league this year. The Board of Directors of the Elitserien <a href="http://www.hockeyligan.se/artikel/24754/" target="_blank">voted unanimously to uphold their current stadard of signing contracts for the full season</a>. In the event that a locked out NHL player contacts an Elitserien squad to play there, he must sign on for the full season. That will limit the possible NHL players being signed to current free agents, both unrestricted and restricted, and any of those players that hold out hope of getting a NHL contract once a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is negotiated won't be welcome in Sweden, either.</p>
<p>During the 2004-05 season, Sweden was flooded with NHL talent, and if there had been a resolution to that dispute to save the season a great number of players would have left the league near the end of the regular season and beginning of the playoffs. Such a disruption would be catastrophic for the league and its hopes of having a real champion emerge. The Board of Directors obviously feel that it is best to simply not allow temporary employees this time, especially since few anticipate a fully cancelled NHL season this go around. In 2004, the situation was so dire there were predictions of a NHL lockout of nearly two years.</p>
<p>So far, Sweden is alone in taking this stance. Swiss clubs are ready to pounce on available locked out NHLers, for example. I guess this is a bridge we'll cross when we get there, but there seems to be few reports coming out about NHL players signing contingency contracts in Europe starting September 16th.</p>
<p>Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/puckarinen" target="_blank">Risto Pakarinen on Twitter</a> for the tip.</p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/8/23/3263294/elitserien-says-nej-to-locked-out-nhlersBruce Peter2012-08-22T06:00:15-04:002012-08-22T06:00:15-04:00Laraque Led CHLPA Tries to Unionize Major Junior Players
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<p>Well, it's all over the news now. There is a group, which may have some level of grassroots support but may also be terribly overreaching itself, that is trying to form a players union of Canadian Hockey League players. The CHL is an U21 circuit with three distinct leagues across Canada and the northern United States comprised of the Western Hockey League (22 teams), Ontario Hockey League (20 teams), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (18 teams). Players are offered free room and board, equipment, an optional post-secondary scholarship whose length is based on years of service, and a $50/week stipend (actual amount varied based on age, 20 year olds presumably paid the most).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the CHL draws millions of dollars in revenue through ticket revenue, small local business sponsorship for individual franchises, major nation-wide sponsorships like Mastercard and Home Hardware, a modest amount of television revenue, and money through major events like the Memorial Cup, CHL Top Prospects Game, the Canada-Russia Super Series, and some money through participation via Hockey Canada in the World Junior Championships (U20). Oh yeah, and the recent inclusion of CHL teams, along with player names and likenesses, on EA Sports' popular NHL franchise. The CHL also receives money for developing NHL draft picks from the NHL via the NHL-CHL agreement, which unfortunately has never been made public even though it's a major document with a high interest value for the junior hockey fan.</p>
<p>So, bring on a major junior players union to help fix the disparity between the growth of welfare for the franchises and leagues in the past decade or so and the actual players. It sounds reasonable, but then again, it looks and reads terribly out of the gate. The first details about the CHLPA emerged over the weekend via <a href="http://www.thejuniorhockeynews.com/" target="_blank">The Junior Hockey News</a>, a Las Vegas based website, and it appears everything since then has been a rush to put together. Their <a href="http://chlpa.ca/" target="_blank">website is hilariously under construction</a>, their logo is incredibly bland, and their recently launched Twitter and Facebook pages... well, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CHLPA/424594147576231" target="_blank">their Facebook page</a> has notable factual errors throughout its first post and their Twitter feed announced <span>Georges Laraque</span> as the CHLPA's first Executive Director, and misspelled his first name as George.</p>
<p>There's a joke in here about the union's start reflecting the level of education CHL players do receive I'm sure.</p>
<p>And with that, we've got some kind of movement, or summer distraction... or something. I hope what doesn't get lost here are the actual issues that CHL players really face that deserve a lot more discussion. Whether the players need a union, or junior hockey needs to be professionalized with actual salaries instead of just a benefits based compensation program is a larger issue (and one that would completely revolutionize the CHL as we now know it). Let's look at the non-monetary issues first.</p>
<h4><b>Education</b></h4>
<p>The CHL only started offering post-secondary scholarship programs as a means to take away the major attraction of Canadian and American youth to joining the NCAA over major junior. The program works as follows, from the CHL webpage describing the WHL's program:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a full year guaranteed Scholarship, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice. For example, players graduating from a four-year WHL career are eligible to receive four years of scholarship funding. The WHL Scholarship, combined with additional financial assistance from Universities in Western Canada, makes the WHL - Canada West Universities joint scholarship equivalent to any other offer available in North America today.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are major issues with the program. To access the program, players have 18 months from the end of their career to start drawing from it. The amount of money provided is based on the costs of the university closest to the player's hometown. If they want to go to a more expensive university, they have to make up the added costs for it. If they want to try professional hockey, do mission work in Africa, or find themselves in India for longer than 18 months they lose their scholarship options.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/2012/08/21/junior-hockey-forms-a-union/" target="_blank">Gilles Lupien gave an interview with CBC</a> about the challenges road trips and the current CHL schedule places on the high school performances of players as well. It's a fair point, although Lupien goes off on several tangents later in the interview which are questionable regarding pay scales and the like.</p>
<h4>Opportunity</h4>
<p>Perhaps the weirdest element of the CHL is how they actively deny players from seeking employment opportunities at age 18 and 19 in the American Hockey League. The NHL-CHL Agreement essentially limits the employment opportunities to the super-elite junior player, the ones that can make it in the NHL. If junior hockey is some sort of hockey university, it'd be like saying you couldn't drop out of business school unless you could join a fortune 500 company. If you wanted to join a start-up, too bad. The AHL is the logical league for a lot of good CHL players at these ages, but instead they are limited to simply dominating their CHL affiliate. Players like high scoring blueliner Ryan Murphy can't join the AHL this next year, for example, even if they're amongst the last cut from their NHL training camps.</p>
<p>For the rank and file CHL player, however, this isn't a major concern. Most CHL players can't play at that level even when they're 20 years old. It keeps the level of play at the CHL artificially high, however, and is the only league in the world that has this exception.</p>
<h4>Appeals</h4>
<p>Right now, players are essentially at the will of their league commissioner when it comes to matters of league discipline. This isn't unlike the current NHL model, who have a PA working for them as well, but without any real defence options players are subject to often tougher disciplinary actions than professionals face if they should commit an infraction. In the OHL in recent years, players have effectively had their junior careers ended through suspensions. It might be helpful to have more effective representation for players in order to get a fairer shake in these matters.</p>
<h4>Stipends</h4>
<p>Short of earning salary, the weekly stipend model hasn't been adjusted in recent years and is long overdue for an increase as a result. This isn't 'contamination money' as the CHLPA Facebook page says, players are made ineligible for the NCAA due to the fact that there are players with professional contracts that are in the CHL, first round draft picks of NHL teams that get returned to the CHL by their clubs and have to play against the other players who don't have employment. They aren't earning a salary yet, but they received bonus money and have essentially turned professional with a future contract in place. I'm not sure of the exact payscale, I've heard $35/week brought up by Lupien (likely for 16 year olds) and I've heard $100+ for 20 year olds. $50/week seems to be the standard that keeps being referred to with the most frequency. This is essentially allowance money... it has been kept at the same rate for nearly a generation it seems, while major junior hockey across the country gain in franchise value and revenues.</p>
<p>When one considers that the CHL sold their players' images and names to EA Sports without any compensation forwarded to the players, you realize all is not quite right with the relationship between the ownership and the players right now.</p>
<p>There are a lot of areas for improvement and legitimate issues facing junior hockey players today that aren't being addressed. Forming a union is one way of doing so. But the way this has all come about this past week seems to be wrong-headed. Hopefully these mis-steps don't prove costly for the players long term. I'm afraid of how a lot of reporters following these developments seem eager to let this group become a farce (they sure aren't helping) and these issues don't ever get addressed.</p>
<p>The status quo isn't acceptable right now. The aims of this group are unclear. The end goal may turn out to nothing, or it may completely revolutionize the junior game itself. I fear the former moreso than the latter.</p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/8/22/3259444/laraque-led-chlpa-tries-to-unionize-major-junior-playersBruce Peter2012-08-09T06:00:25-04:002012-08-09T06:00:25-04:00Summer Hockey: Canada U20 vs. Russia U20 Challenge
<figure>
<img alt="Hey Nail, quit enjoying the sun and get in the rink already! (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B-gw8u93ThwQp_pxLnYefSP1sm4=/0x9:1000x676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7534321/146648739.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hey Nail, quit enjoying the sun and get in the rink already! (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Competing for your eyeballs with the Olympics is this rather modest summer series of the forever international hockey rivals, Canada and Russia. To be honest, I'm not quite ready for such a grand occasion in early August, but here it is... some of the best junior hockey talent on a big stage. </p>
<p>Russia enters this as pseudo-favourites... they've been the better team at each of the last two World Junior Championships and boast the incredible Nail Yakupov-<span>Mikhail Grigorenko</span> connection. Well, they are pseudo-favourites until you take a look at Canada's roster and realize last year's bronze medallists can counter that with Jonathan Huberdeau-Ryan Strome and then hide talents like a potential top 5 pick next year in Hunter Shinkaruk in a depth role. And then there's that defence... with three or four players that could potentially be in the NHL this fall.</p>
<p>This one's for glory, and it's also a nice return of top level hockey to the city of Yaroslavl. The players paid tribute to the victims of last year's tragic plane crash and now they'll pay tribute by playing the game. </p>
<p>Hopefully this series goes better than it did five years ago, when a couple of weak Russian U20 years were exposed by a top of their game Canadian squad that routed the Russian team in an eight game yawner. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?id=9684" target="_blank">Canadian Roster</a> <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?id=9693" target="_blank">Russian Roster</a></p>
<p>Puck drop is at 11 AM EST, and is broadcast on TSN2 in Canada. Hopefully I can catch the game at some point tomorrow and offer a good recap. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, in Lake Placid, New York, the USA are having their summer National Junior Evaluation Camp with a Swedish and Finnish team joining them as well. <a href="http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/" target="_blank">The United States of Hockey</a> is definitely your place to follow that action.</p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/8/9/3229716/summer-hockey-canada-u20-vs-russia-u20-challengeBruce Peter2012-07-31T08:00:43-04:002012-07-31T08:00:43-04:00League Equivalencies and NHL Rookies
<figure>
<img alt="Apr 7, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues center Jaden Schwartz (9) warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blues defeated the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rh0HReanONq_7uTA_HHqLR_864g=/0x16:1000x683/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6504635/20120415_kkt_an4_157.jpg" />
<figcaption>Apr 7, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues center Jaden Schwartz (9) warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blues defeated the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>July is obviously quite a dead time for hockey of all disciplines, I'm looking forward to the tournaments upcoming in August that's for sure. We've got a Canada-Russia U20 series, the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial, a Lake Placid U20 tournament featuring the USA, Sweden, and Finland, the European Trophy (starting today for some reason with one game), and the second edition of the World Junior Club Cup. August is positively bumping with hockey action, believe it or not.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I've been expanding on some of the work I did last summer with league equivalencies. I'm working on using Sweden's Elitserien as a standard this time around, with a long term goal of getting a more accurate read on the league ratings with a kind of cross-league index. I'm more and more focused on the ages of players and the improvements that can be expected.</p>
<p>For those that aren't familiar, league equivalencies are a predictive model that tries to see how much of one's offensive output can carry over from one league to the next. It was a concept that <a href="http://www.behindthenet.ca/projecting_to_nhl.php">Gabe Desjardins of Behind the Ne</a>t developed and<a href="http://www.puckworlds.com/2011/8/4/2344313/how-good-is-the-khl"> I did quite a bit of work on last summer by using the KHL as the standard league for the first time.</a> Most of these studies have focused on using the NHL or North American based leagues (such as the NCAA to get a read on the USHL's quality), but the European leagues had kind of been neglected. My findings last year indicated that European offence is not as translatable to the NHL as it used to be, indicating a growing gap between the North American and European leagues.</p>
<p>More importantly, for people wanting to track the growth of NHL prospects, I am starting to be able to assign metrics for European second tier and junior leagues.</p>
<p>I recently did an interview with the Sabermetrics Network that focused on equivalencies and applying them to next year's crop of NHL rookies. In doing this, I decided I'd take a look back at the past four years of NHL rookies to gauge how well the models worked.</p>
<p> </p>
<table class="zebra" border="0" align="center">
<caption>Predicted vs. Actual NHL Rookie Points</caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Age</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Source</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Pts/GP</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Equiv.</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>NHLE Pts/82</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Actual Pts/82</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Diff.</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mikhail Grabovski</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.67</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">60.13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">50.46</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-9.67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Logan Couture</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">60.02</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">58.13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-1.89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jaden Schwartz</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.37</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">53.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Derek Stepan</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.32</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">51.84</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">45</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-6.84</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Taylor Hall</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.86</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">51.72</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">52.98</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+1.26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Bobby Ryan</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.08</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">51.28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">73.03</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+21.76</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Kyle Palmieri</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.05</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">50.15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>John Tavares</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2009-10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">49.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">54</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+4.21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Vladimir Tarasenko</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">KHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.91</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.65*</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48.67</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Luke Adam</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">47.56</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">31.54</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>-16.02</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Justin Schultz</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">46.81</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Steven Stamkos</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">46.20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">47.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+1.55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Artem Anisimov</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2009-10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.97</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">45.90</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-<b>17.90</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Claude Giroux</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2.12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">45.23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">52.71</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+7.48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jakob Silfverberg</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SEL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.49*</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">45.05</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Tyler Ennis</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.94</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">44.80</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">49</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+4.20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Sven Baertschi</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.86</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">44.11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Sean Couturier</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.57</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">43.87</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>-15.1</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">James van Riemsdyk</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2009-10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">43.73</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-6.94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Nail Yakupov</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.54</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">42.98</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Matt Read</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">42.64</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48.78</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+6.14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jonathan Huberdeau</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">42.53</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>T.J. Oshie</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.07</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">42.17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">56.11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+13.94</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41.82</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">68.77</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+26.95</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Roman Cervenka</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">KHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.78</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.65*</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41.78</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jakub Voracek</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41.62</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">38.95</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-2.67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Colin Smith</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.05</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41.28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-0.28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jeff Skinner</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.46</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">40.82</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">63</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+22.18</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Tyler Bozak</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2009-10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.41</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">40.70</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">59.84</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+19.14</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Chris Kreider</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.02</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">40.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Evander Kane</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2009-10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.42</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39.68</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">32.3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-7.38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jordan Eberle</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.86</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39.65</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">51.1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+11.45</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Brandon Saad</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39.49</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jake Gardiner</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.48</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39.36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">32.8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-6.56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Charlie Coyle</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.80</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">38.38</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Kyle Okposo</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.80</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">38.05</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">49.2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+11.15</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mikhail Grigorenko</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">QMJHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.84</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Matt Duchene</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.35</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.53</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">55.68</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+18.15</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Carl Hagelin</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NCAA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.41</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48.69</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+11.25</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mikael Granlund</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SML</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.08</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.42*</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Brayden Schenn</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.74</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27.33</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-9.84</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mark Stone</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2012-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">WHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.74</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37.17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Mikkel Boedker</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.32</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36.72</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29.44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-7.28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Brad Marchand</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.94</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.47</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36.27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">43.66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+7.39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>P.K. Subban</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">35.67</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">40.47</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+4.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Gabriel Landeskog</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.27</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.34</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">35.31</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">52</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+16.69</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>John Carlson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2010-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.74</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.58</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">35.09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">37</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+1.91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Marc-Andre Gragnani</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2011-12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.95</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.44</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">34.36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">21.21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>-13.20</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Kris Versteeg</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2008-09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AHL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.88</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.47</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">34.01</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">55.72</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>+21.71</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>There are a decent amount of guys that produced double digits more or less than predicted. However, that's not just the case with rookies in any given season, either. Circumstance, luck, playing on a top PP, playing with elite linemates right off the bat... these are all factors that contribute to such wild fluctuations.</p>
<p>The metrics I'm using here are all age-adjusted except for the European league ones, which are ones I came up with via my KHLE work last season. I'm not terribly confident in either my SEL or SML number right now, but based on my own research that's the best I can do. <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/7/6/1554759/on-nhl-equivalencies" target="_blank">Scott Reynolds did the legwork on age-adjusted NHLE's</a>, which reward players for having productive seasons at various levels at a younger age. I'd like to be able to do something similar with European league ratings, but for now assume someone like Tarasenko, Silfverberg and Granlund are underestimated right now with their metrics, as that is the overall average for players in those respective leagues. Roman Cervenka, a veteran at over 26 years old, probably has a very accurate rating.</p>
<p>I'm quite bullish on Schwartz, Tarasenko, and Palmieri as NHL rookies this coming season. Schultz is intriguing, that's for sure, but it should be noted that <span>David Rundblad</span> would've had similar projections coming out of Sweden last year but couldn't hack it in the NHL right away, it's very possible that Schultz will be similarly overwhelmed.</p>
<p>For those that missed it, here's my interview, led by Rob Vollman, who himself has done some great work with equivalencies.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oOijeGOou3U" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/7/31/3205754/league-equivalencies-and-nhl-rookiesBruce Peter2012-06-28T06:00:19-04:002012-06-28T06:00:19-04:00Canadian Goaltending Under Focus at CHL Import Draft
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qf74yWvxfSivx5pB3xBdBYLRgMY=/0x98:600x498/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1609066/GYI0062910215.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Buzzing the Net, Yahoo's junior hockey blog, <a href="http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/under-mask-canada-look-mirror-goalie-woes-165319374.html#more-id" target="_blank">had a timely article penned by recent OHL graduate John Cullen</a>, an American goaltender who played four years in the world's most famous junior hockey circuit. Cullen offered his appreciation for the opportunity to play in a highly competitive, professional environment offered by major junior clubs, but he also sounded off on Hockey Canada's apparent desire to close the door for roster spots for goaltenders like him as a means to improve Canadian goaltending as a whole. This is an incredibly controversial plan, but it seems to have reached the point of consensus view amongst Hockey Canada operatives.</p>
<p>A year ago I blasted Kevin Prendergrast and Hockey Canada for his <a href="http://www.puckworlds.com/2011/6/14/2223358/kevin-prendergrast-on-canadian-goaltending" target="_blank">seeming support of a more lackadaisical approach to coaching aspiring young goaltenders</a>. Shortly thereafter, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/08/17/sp-tugnutt.html" target="_blank">Hockey Canada hired Ron Tugnutt as their full-time goaltending coach,</a> an upgrade from a consulting position he had been in for major tournaments while he worked during the season for the Peterborough Petes. It's a positive step in the right direction, and he recently ran a camp for the top 16 U20 goaltenders in the country. A hands on, national approach is more akin to the model we've seen from Sweden and Finland that has been so successful, although it's still quite early to see what direction Tugnutt will take with his new role, or even if Canada is ready for a major change in developing goaltenders. He does believe that Canadian goaltenders today have sacrificed individual style for technique, although that's a little different than believing in 'overcoaching'.</p>
<p>Tugnutt has, however, <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/01/canadian-goalie-stars-on-decline" target="_blank">offered support for the elimination of import goaltenders in major junior hockey</a> that sparked Cullen's article on Yahoo! Prendergrast also supports this view, with both espousing the logic that it's too easy for major junior teams to put an older, more experienced European goaltender in front of a young, developing Canadian goaltender. The question they don't seem to answer is this: Why are they ready for this level of competition at ages 17-18 when Canadian goalies aren't? It's not like Canadian goaltenders playing 20-40 games at age 16 or 17 in major junior has ever been terribly common... they've usually had to compete with a Canadian goalie that was 18-20 years old ahead of them. Now those 16 or 17 year old Canadian kids are competing against an 18-20 year old Czech, American or Swedish goaltender. The relationship between opportunity for advancement in major junior and the state of Canadian goaltending quality doesn't seem to be a strong one.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, CHL teams did what they've grown accustomed to on Wednesday: taking a large amount of goaltenders with picks at the CHL Import Draft, as they aren't enamoured enough with their bantam and midget draft selections in recent years at the goaltending position. If CHL teams were more confident in the quality of those bantam and midget goaltenders they have coming up, perhaps this wouldn't be the case... from following major junior hockey for years it seems those picks are valued quite heavily by clubs with development closely monitored. <a href="http://www.chl.ca/draft/chl" target="_blank">Eight goaltenders were taken in a total of 77 selections overal</a>l. When a team picks an import goaltender, generally they're trying to pick their next starter.</p>
<p>In the meantime, take a quick look at Hockey Canada's website for <a href="http://ccorner-host.coach.ca/hockey/en/index_nav.php" target="_blank">how to become a certified goaltending coach</a>. Oh wait. Well, better luck checking the <a href="http://www.swehockey.se/Hockeyakademin/Kurser/Utbildningsstegen/Malvaktstranarkurser/" target="_blank">Swedish Ice Hockey Association's webpage instead</a> for their three tiered certification program.</p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/6/28/3122628/canadian-goaltending-under-focus-at-chl-import-draftBruce Peter2012-05-20T03:00:10-04:002012-05-20T03:00:10-04:00IIHF Worlds: Russia and Slovakia Square Off for Gold
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/61zhxzbRhC8NoRSE0Lskfv8ZUdg=/19x0:981x641/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7025606/144788222.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bongarts/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The European hockey year started with tragedy in the form of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash, and now two of the nations most affected by the tragedy will be playing for gold with the memories of those lost on their mind. <span>Pavol Demitra</span> is a hero for Slovak hockey, and the team has openly admitted they are <a href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/underdog-slovaks-playing-for-pavol-when-they-play-for-gold-at-worlds--152158265.html" target="_blank">trying to win for him</a>. But first we've got a bronze medal game to take care of.</p>
<p><b>Bronze Medal Game: Finland vs. Czech Republic (3:00 PM CEST, 9:00 AM EST)</b></p>
<p>Saturday was a tough day for the host Finns, who scored first but then proceeded to be dominated by <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> and a Russian attack that scored six unanswered goals. The home ice curse may have waited a bit to claim Finland, but it hit them in pretty embarassing fashion. The Czechs, meanwhile, couldn't buy a goal against the Slovaks and found themselves victim of a few costly mistakes, from the goaltender on out. But both these nations have a proud tradition of bouncing back in order to win a medal, and so this should be a pretty good game. Will the Finns replicate what the Czechs did a year ago by defending their gold medal with a bronze performance? Or can the Czechs win a third straight medal?</p>
<p><b>Gold Medal Game: Russia vs. Slovakia (7:30 PM CEST, 1:30 PM EST)</b></p>
<p>Russia runs a perfect record into the Finals, and Evgeni Malkin continues to be the man leading the demolition of the tournament, posting another ho-hum hat trick performance against Finland in the semifinal. Russia has outscored their opponents 38-12 en route to again claiming the #1 ranking in the world. But it's not over yet, and the Slovaks present a tough challenge. The Slovaks are the best defensive team (outside of Russia) in terms of goals against in the tournament, and with <span>Zdeno Chara</span> on the ice for most of the game, Malkin and company will have their hands full. The Slovaks have also been getting offensive contributions from throughout the lineup, <span>Miroslav Satan</span> being the most recent hero in the semifinals.</p>
<p>So who reigns supreme in 2012? Discuss the games as they happen in the comments. </p>
https://www.puckworlds.com/2012/5/20/3031866/iihf-worlds-russia-and-slovakia-square-off-for-goldBruce Peter