Fresh Skates: The Top 15 Defensemen To Watch at the World Junior Championships
Let's face it: being a defensemen at the NHL level is hard work. A lot of folks simply aren't cut out for the job and can only make it a couple of seasons.
But in recent years, the influx of young, fresh talent on the blueline have proven invaluable to squads across the country as they build towards a Stanley Cup champion. Just look at last year's Chicago Blackhawks.
Various homegrown talents integrated into an already potent lineup created one of the most solid and menacing defensive corps in recent memory. All 30 NHL teams are attempting to fill the void here, each with its own set of young guns coming up through the system.
As the puck drops on another fantastic World Junior Championship, let us take a look at the Top 15 Defensemen to watch this series and why each is so fantastic.
15. Brian Dumoulin, Team USA
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Current Team: Boston College
What to Watch: At first look, Brian Dumoulin is just another ordinary talent coming out of the always extraordinary BC system. But there's much more to Dumoulin's game than shot blocking and grinding along the corners.
After a fantastic rookie season playing for Boston College ended with a National Championship, Dumoulin began to hone his skills of physical play and mental toughness. He's already one of the top five defensemen in college hockey and could make himself eligible for Hobey Baker honors if he keeps going at his torrid pace.
Carolina fans would be wise to keep tabs on Dumoulin this holiday season given Carolina's current defensive chaos. This kid is a future cornerstone if developed correctly.
14. Tyson Barrie, Team Canada
NHL Team: Colorado Avalanche
Current Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
What to Watch: One of the better overall talents to come out of the WHL in recent memory, Tyson Barrie is flying under the radar thanks to his smaller stature and quiet playmaking ability. Barrie may not be big, but he certainly has more offensive punch than most defenders his age.
He'll get plenty of opportunities to rip his blistering shot from the point and his ice vision is some of the best out there in this tournament. A regular day for Barrie on the blueline consists almost of more offense than defense.
The biggest thing for Barrie, however, is giving him a solid playing partner from which he can feed off of. Barrie's last few seasons for Kelowna included pairings with Luke Schenn and Tyler Myers, both of whom are well on their way to being focal points of their respective defenses.
13. Tommi Kivisto, Team Finland
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Current Team: Jokerit (Sm-Liiga)
What to Watch: Something of a darkhorse selection, a lot of important questions surround the talent and ability of Tommi Kivisto.
On a Finnish team that is sorely lacking in its typical star power, Kivisto is a long-term project who excels offensively and is improving his two-way game. But whether or not those pluses can be carried over to the North American game of hockey remains to be seen.
In his stint in the WHL, Kivisto was laughably lost on several occasions and mustered up only one goal in his last 65 games. That said, Kivisto is still a raw talent with a lot of potential and upside that may well breakout this Winter.
12. Jared Cowen, Team Canada
NHL Team: Ottawa Senators
Current Team: Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
What to Watch: If Nick Bjugstad is big, then Jared Cowen is practically gigantic. Cowen may well be the largest stud playing in the WJC this year, a fact that is only overshadowed by his great play.
He's like a Hal Gill/Zdeno Chara hybrid and is further along from a junior standpoint than most defenders who possess his size. And he's not afraid to use it either, as his massive frame tends to blow opponents away with punishing checks.
Cowen is actually more NHL-ready than most players in this tournament, especially when you consider Ottawa's fledgling chances this season.
11. Roman Josi, Team Switzerland
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Current Team: Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
What to Watch: Exceptional hands and skill have gotten Roman Josi to the AHL-level quite quickly. But the Swiss-born Josi also has deceptive talents that make him an undervalued defensemen in this tournament.
Josi is participating in yet another WJC, and this year, he'll show he's easily one of the most well-rounded blueliners playing. For someone his age to have such poise and confidence in his two-way game is saying something.
This series could easily be his tryout for the big leagues knowing how the Nashville organization does business.
10. Derek Forbort, Team USA
NHL Team: Los Angeles Kings
Current Team: North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA)
What to Watch: In a draft that was littered with exceptional defensemen, Derek Forbort is still coming along slowly but surely was one of the best of the lot. The difference between Forbort and other defenders his age is that he's getting it done the old-fashioned way: without the puck.
Forbort has offensive skills and integrity but prefers to play an almost stay-at-home style that we don't often see in the NHL anymore. Forbort is just as big an tough as anyone around and draws comparisons to Brooks Orpik in regards to his style.
Not a bad comparison considering Orpik's value when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
9. Sami Vatanen, Team Finland
NHL Team: Anaheim Ducks
Current Team: JYP (Finland)
What to Watch: If the KHL is going to rival the NHL at any point, then Sami Vatanen is the KHL-equivalent of Drew Doughty. Interestingly enough, with time, the two may develop some sort of I-5 rivalry if we're lucky.
Vatanen is so incredibly small and fast that you forget he's a defender at all. He moves fluently through the ice and can lead the breakout in an odd-man situation as well as shorthanded. To have a defensemen with those kinds of talents is rare, much less one at this young an age.
8. Simon Despres, Team Canada
NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Current Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
What to Watch: While the Penguins having a young defensive prospect is no surprise, something separates Simon Despres from his peers, namely Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski.
Despres is a larger, more physical specimen with excellent hockey IQ and sense. He's very smart and doesn't get caught by himself too often. He can block shots, take the body and force turnovers quite well.
Few youngsters sound this low risk.
7. Tim Erixon, Team Sweden
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Current Team: Skelleftea AIK (Eliteserien)
What to Watch: As a second generation hockey player, Tim Erixon is the kind of defender who plays his best when he doesn't appear on the score sheet.
This is not to say that Erixon isn't offensively gifted or doesn't have the potential to lead a power play as chaotic as Calgary's, but his overall stability and consistency are truly his biggest assets. The Flames would be wise to give him a few looks if he plays well in Buffalo during the WJC.
That said, Calgary will instead probably find a way to keep him in the minors for the rest of his natural born life.
6. Ryan Ellis, Team Canada
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Current Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
What to Watch: Ryan Ellis is the complete package who, by the time he gets the call-up to the Predators starting squad, will be even better than he already is.
Ellis has gold and silver medals already in his cabinet with more honors coming in the near future. He's fast off the puck and faster on it. He's got great sense and hands and moves seamlessly through the surface.
Perhaps the only thing really holding him back is his physique, which still needs fine tuning. His playing weight is 154 pounds, or the size of your average 14-year-old.
5. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Team Sweden
NHL Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Current Team: San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
What to Watch: As one of the most highly-touted defensive prospects in recent memory, Phoenix fans have been waiting patiently for Oliver Ekman-Larsson to progress to the big leagues. This year's WJC exhibition may be his curtain call in the juniors.
Ekman-Larsson is as NHL ready as it gets. Incredibly mobile and agile, he moves to the puck and will typically fight for every inch of ice he can. He can poke and stick check better than anyone in this tournament and has a certain level of calm and cool that most his age would struggle to develop.
If he gets a little bigger muscle-wise, he's a top line defender. Immediately.
4. John Ramage, Team USA
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Current Team: University of Wisconsin
What to Watch: The recently named captain of Team USA has an incredible amount of pressure riding on his shoulders this year. With Team USA's great success at the WJC the past few years and the impending squad being the best they've ever produced, Ramage has to keep the guys in check if they're going to rise to the top once again.
Son of former NHLer Rob Ramage, John isn't about to drop the ball on this golden opportunity. He's a typical shutdown defender who eats up ice time and minutes with the best of them. If Jay Bouwmeester is an Iron Man, then John Ramage is a War Machine.
3. Nick Leddy, Team USA
NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Current Team: Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL)
What to Watch: Little did the Chicago Blackhawks know what they were getting in return for Cam Barker this past year. Nick Leddy, a former Minnesota first round pick, hasn't been given his fair shot at the NHL...yet. Now, he's on the verge of changing that.
Leddy is incredibly responsible with the puck and is developing from a shoot-first defender into an impressive two-way speedster. Over the past few years, he's added great definition to his upper body to complement his already dynamic speed and movement, and now Leddy is just biding his time until he's full-time in the big leagues.
2. Erik Gudbranson, Team Canada
NHL Team: Florida Panthers
Current Team: Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
What to Watch: 6'3." 200-plus pounds. Taken third overall in the deepest defensive draft in NHL history. Yes, there's a lot to like about Erik Gudbranson, not the least of which is his sheer ability and leadership.
As Team Canada gears up to dethrone Team USA, Gudbranson has had the spotlight thrust his direction in more ways than one. While he can shoot and pass with the best of them, Gudbranson is also a lean and mean machine who has an aggressive assault of grit and toughness.
If he were a movie this holiday season, he'd be True Grit. It is hard to find a player who works harder night-in and night-out.
1. Adam Larsson, Team Sweden
NHL Team: Eligible to be drafted in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Current Team: Skelleftea AIK (Eliteserien)
What to Watch: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best unclaimed defender at the World Junior Championships this season. While all of these other players are at least in one place or another in their careers, Larsson is just starting his. And he's electric.
Larsson may be just another piece of Sweden's superb defense, but depending on who you ask, you'll see that he's got the potential to be the number one pick in 2011. His size and skills are already up to par with several dozen NHLers, making him another one of those into-the-fire sort of players that could light it up immediately.
After playing in the Swedish Elite Leagues, Larsson has already faced the best of the best. He'll continue to do the same this Winter at the WJC, and then, more than likely, will do it in the NHL just a year from now. But who will call his name on Draft Day? The Devils or the Islanders?