Dec 27, 2014
Hot Button Issues: WJC Day 2
Each day thoughout the World Junior Hockey Championship, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button brings important issues and topics surrounding the tournament to the forefront. Today he looks at Denmark's impressive opener, McDavid vs. Eichel, and US goalie Thatcher Demko.
By Craig Button
Each day thoughout the World Junior Hockey Championship, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button brings important issues and topics surrounding the tournament to the forefront.
HBI 1: DENMARK IMPRESSING
Denmark is sure to be more than cannon fodder in Group B. The Danes are the first team in memory promoted from Division I to come in and demonstrate they can play on an equal footing with incumbent World Junior Pool A teams. Russia had no players better than Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand and were fortunate to escape with a shootout victory.
HBI 2: McDAVID LINE FACING SCRUTINY
Connor McDavid deserved better than zero points vs Slovakia, but was outplayed by 2015 draft rival Jack Eichel on Day 1. The question is, how long will the Ritchie-McDavid-Lazar line be left intact by head coach Benoit Groulx? This will be a moot question if the McDavid averaging nearly three points per game in the OHL emerges today.
HBI 3: THATCHER DEMKO
USA puck stopper Thatcher Demko has been a question mark for me, but I thought he was solid vs. Finland. He surrendered an own goal – the puck went off 2016 uber-prospect Auston Matthews – and stopped two of three shootout attempts. His job will be as much to not lose games as win them for the Americans.