Red Wings: Who to Watch Today While Enjoying the World Juniors

Today, for hockey fans, and particularly Detroit Red Wings fans, it’s a tremendous day.  The IIHF World Junior tournament begins and what an opener we’ve got today.  It’s USA vs. Canada at 1 pm Eastern.

There is plenty to watch today, but Detroit Red Wings fans need to focus in on four players, in particular, all on team Canada.  In another lost season, this tourney gives us something exciting to watch for a couple of weeks.

6’4 defenseman Mattias Samuelsson will lead team USA from the Western Michigan Broncos.  He will serve as the team’s captain.  He’s a player Ken Holland passed on when selecting Joe Veleno two years ago.

He’s a part of the Buffalo Sabre’s future, as they chose him 32nd overall in the 2018 NHL draft.  Detroit took Veleno with the 30th pick.  Samuelsson has recorded 4 points in 12 games with the Broncos and is a plus 3.  He’s also accumulated 35 penalty minutes, nearly already eclipsing the 37 he produced in 35 games last season.

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The Canadians will be led by Arizona Coyotes prospect Barrett Hayton, who will serve as the teams captain.  Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno is expected to be wearing an ‘A’ for Canada.  He is expected to have a significant impact in this tournament after excelling at the junior level and having himself a solid first season as a professional playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Veleno was Ken Holland‘s final first-round pick as Detroit’s general manager.  He’s a player we should be excited about in Detroit.  He’s projected to be an excellent professional, likely topping out as an NHL second line playmaking center.

This is the type of tournament he should dominate if he fails to take control of the game; we should become concerned.  He’s played against much more robust talent this season with the Griffins and has recorded 12 points in his first 29 games – not horrible for a 19-year old playing against professionals for the first time.

He does own a team-worst minus -22 rating. It shows he needs more time to develop.  Another reason the organization has allowed him to return to the WJ tourney to try and regain some confidence.

Canada will also roll out Red Wings defenseman Jared McIsaac.  McIsaac is just returning from shoulder surgery that has limited him to only 3 games with Halifax this season.  In those three games before heading to the tourney to represent Canada, Jared did record a pair of assists.

The left-handed defenseman is expected to have a role with the Red Wings potentially as early as next season.  Yes, next season. The Wings will have a plethora of defenders coming off the books, including veterans Mike Green, Jonathan Ericsson, Trevor Daley.  With a strong training camp, McIsaac could be the Dennis Cholowski of last season starting right in Detroit.  The 19-year old recorded 62 points, including 16 goals in 53 games last season as a member of the Halifax Mooseheads.

The Red Wings are the odds on favorite to land the first overall pick in next year’s NHL Draft.  Now, the way the lottery works, there is no guarantee this happens, but having the best odds hopefully will work in Detroit’s favor.

The projected number one pick at the moment is 6’1 forward, Alexis Lafreniere.  He’s the perfect mix of size and skill that plays on the wing.  He’s exactly the building block the Red Wings so badly are missing.

Lafreniere, a player that could eventually be Robin to Larkin’s batman.  He’s a left-winger that could slide in as a top-six forward with a struggling Wings team right away as a rookie.  He’d allow for roster flexibility and line shuffling.

He doesn’t solve Detroit’s lack of center depth, but he could slide in and play with Robby Fabbri and whoever emerges as the team’s second-line center next season.  Alexis Lafreniere has scored 23 goals, 47 assists totaling 70 points in just 32 games this season with Rimouski, a member of the QMJHL.

One other player to keep tabs on is forward Quinton Byfield, who is expected to be the second pick in the draft.  He plays for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.  He’s recorded 22 goals, 57 points in 30 games this season.  He’s also a member of Team Canada.

During a bleak season, this gives Red Wings fans something to look forward to for a couple of weeks.