With the World Junior Championship set to bein soon in Edmonton, we had some movement this past week with several players officially joining the squads of their respective home countries, Additionally, goaltender Jacob Ingham kicked off his ECHL season, which will be his first in professional hockey. He had been over in Germany for the past few months; although he was not credit with any official regular season games, he did play for Berlin in the Magenta Cup.
If you missed our previous report, in last week’s tracker, forwards Akil Thomas and Aidan Dudas also returned to North America from Germany. With their junior hockey careers over, they’re looking ahead to training camp in Los Angeles, which is expected to begin in a few weeks.
Forward Carl Grundstrom looks to be the next in a handful of players who will soon begin a similar trip to SoCal. He has left his Allsvenskan team IF Björklöven and will now turn his attention to trying to crack the Kings roster.
The migration to SoCal has begun…
Hearing Carl Grundstrom is on his way back to Los Angeles to begin quarantine, in advance of training camp potentially opening.
Several of the Kings other prospects currently in Europe are expected to play games on Dec 17/18, then head back.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 13, 2020
EUROPE
Lias Andersson: Forward, HV71, SEL (1st round pick in 2017)
Regular season: 6 goals, 6 assists, minus-4, 4 PIM in 18 games played
Amidst a three-game losing streak, Andersson rifled a goal home this past week. It could be his final goal before heading to LA, as he is scheduled to participate in Kings camp next month.
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1337791523992129538
Tobias Björnfot: Defense, Djurgårdens IF, SEL (1st round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-3, 33 PIM in 15 games played
The steady blueliner was selected to wear the blue and gold for Sweden in the WJC. He is also in the running to possibly be named captain.
Martin Chromiak, Forward, HK Dukla Trencin, Slovakia (5th round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 2 goals, 3 assists, plus-0, 0 PIM in 8 games played
The Slovakian sniper has also made his WJC roster. It looks like he could get top line minutes, especially since Maxim Cajkovic was kicked off the team for checking fellow camp attendees from behind.
Here are the lineups:
⚪️ BIELI / TEAM WHITE
– Maxim Čajkovič (#Bolts) played on the first line before being kicked out of the camp.
🇸🇰Names to watch:
G Samuel Hlavaj #Yotes
D Samuel Kňažko #CBJ
D Marko Stacha #2021NHLDraft
F Martin Chromiak #LAKings
F Filip Mešár #2022NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/zUFJcClwQO— Matej Deraj (@MatoDeraj) December 5, 2020
Samuel Fagemo: Forward, Södertälje SK, Allsvenskan (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 6 goals, 5 assists, plus-0, 4 PIM in 18 games played
Sodertalje has not played since December 6, and is expected to hit the ice again this week. Again, Fagemo will be returning to LA in the coming days.
Helge Grans: Defense, Malmö Redhawks, SHL (2nd round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 2 goals, 5 assists, minus-9, 0 PIM in 16 games played
Unfortunately, Grans was the last cut from Team Sweden to attend the WJC. Their blueline is notoriously hard to crack, and him lasting as long as he did with only three years at this position emphasizes the amount of talent he displayed.
Aatu Jämsen: Forward, Pelicans U20, U20 SM-sarja (7th round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 10 goals, 26 assists, plus-12, 28 PIM in 24 games played
Safety over stardom is always wise. Our No. 2 star for November will likely not reach similar accolades this month, as the U20 SM-sarja league has postponed competition until December 31 due to the risk of COVID.
Juho Markkanen: Goalie, Ketterä, Mestis (4th round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 3-2-2, 2.66 GAA, .892 SV%, 1 SO in 7 games played
Originally thought to be a viable candidate to make Finland for the WJC, Markkanen unfortunately never really had the chance. Camp was not held, so he couldn’t play himself onto the team.
Some late night news from Europe..
LA Kings prospect Kasper Simontaival has made the WJC roster for Finland.
Unfortunately, fellow prospect Juho Markkanen not as lucky. Covid prevented 🇫🇮 from holding camp, so the young goalie wasn't able to play himself onto the team.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 12, 2020
Jacob Moverare: Defense, SaiPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2016)
Regular season: 0 goals, 5 assists, minus-1, 29 PIM in 11 games played
SaiPa has not played since the end of November, though they are hopeful to lace them up this week. Expectation is Moverare will leave for Los Angeles as early as this coming weekend.
Kim Nousiainen: Defense, KalPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 4 goals, 2 assists, plus-6, 4 PIM in 16 games played
KalPa also hasn’t played since November 28, and they are not scheduled for their next game for another two weeks. The talented defender could already be on his way to camp with the Kings before that even happens.
Lukáš Pařík: Goalie, Spokane Chiefs, WHL (3rd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 5-3-2, 3.28 GAA, .896 SV%, 0 Shutouts in 10 games played
Parik returns to the WJC for the second straight year, hoping to represent the Czech Republic under better circumstances. While the team still has to make cuts, yet they are set in goal.
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1335672667869831176
Bulat Shafigullin: Forward, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, KHL (3rd round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 3 goals, 6 assists, minus-6, 31 PIM in 23 games played
Shafigullin quietly continues to add to his numbers at the highest level in the KHL, tallying another goal this past week. He has now lit the lamp three times in his last 16 appearances, which is a tremendous growth from being blanked in his first 66 KHL games.
Kasper Simontaival: Forward, Tappara, Liiga (3rd round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 0 goals, 1 assist, plus-1, 4 PIM in 6 games played (Liiga)
3 goals, 4 assists, plus-1, 4 PIM in 5 games played (Mestis)
Simontaival was selected to be part of Finland’s roster; and thus looks forward to donning his blue and white sweater on the world’s stage beginning on Christmas Day.
Johan Sodergran: Forward, Almtuna, Allsvenskan (6th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 1 goal, 2 assists, minus-2, 6 PIM in 12 games played
Sodergran last played on November 4, and has yet to return with the rest of his team.
NCAA + USHL
Braden Doyle: Defense, Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL (6th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 0 goals, 5 assists, plus-0, 4 PIM in 8 games played
The Boston University commit added a pair of helpers this past week, and his five points has him leading his fellow Dubuque blueliners.
Brock Faber: Defense, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Big Ten (2nd round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 1 goal, 0 assists, plus-4, 0 PIM in 6 games played
The Golden Gopher joined Team USA as he made their WJC Roster. He may even end up playing alongside his NCAA defense partner Ryan Johnson.
Dávid Hrenák: Goalie, St. Cloud State University Huskies, NCHC (5th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 3-1-0, 2.77 GAA, .912 SV%, 0 Shutouts in 4 games played
The Slovakia-born netminder rebounded from his first loss of the season with a 33-save performance vs. No. 1 ranked North Dakota. He now owns the school record for netminders with 52 wins. The Huskies also moved up the rankings again, after sitting outside the Top-20 just two weeks ago.
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1338540285001756672
Alex Laferriere: Forward, Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL (3rd round pick in 2020)
Regular season: 1 goals, 0 assists, minus-4, 17 PIM in 6 games played
The season has not started the way Laferriere has hoped. However, he did find himself on the scoreboard and perhaps that will serve as a catalyst for getting back in his groove.
LA Kings prospect Alex Laferriere (2020, RD3) with his first goal of the season — was later named third star of the game too… https://t.co/2cTAFh0rW9
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 13, 2020
Andre Lee: Forward, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (7th round pick in 2019)
Regular Season: 0 goals, 0 assists, plus-0, 2 PIM in 1 game played
The long-awaited season began for Lee, who unfortunately was held off the scoresheet. However, he did earn enough recognition to start his season on the top line.
LA Kings prospect @Andrelee71 up the top line today for Lowell.
Interesting note in goal on the other side of the ice – it's Jaxson Stauber tending net for Providence. Yes, that's son of Robb Stauber. https://t.co/2NuibVSZfN
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 13, 2020
Ben Meehan: Defense, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (6th round pick in 2020)
Regular Season: 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-1, 0 PIM in 1 game played
Meehan finally began his collegiate career, suiting up as the seventh defenseman.
CANADIAN JUNIOR LEAGUES
Quinton Byfield, Forward, Sudbury Wolves, OHL (1st round pick in 2020)
Regular season: NA
Unsurprisingly, the second-overall pick made Team Canada for the WJC. He seems penciled in to be the second line center.
https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1337527276561371137
Arthur Kaliyev: Forward, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: NA
Kaliyev joins a pair of fellow Kings prospects set to don the red, white, and blue for this year’s WJC. It appears his skillset will be put to use, playing alongside some quality linemates.
Team USA GM John Vanbiesbrouck specifically talks about the excitement he has for the power play "featuring Arthur Kaliyev and Cole Caufield, as well as Turcotte and Zegras"#WorldJuniors
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 12, 2020
Jordan Spence: Defense, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 5 goals, 11 assists, minus-4, 14 PIM in 13 games played
As we pointed out in our most recent WJC article, Spence is only one of two skaters on Team Canada who was not a first-round selection at the NHL Draft. He made this team through his merits and talent, and our No. 1 star for the month in November seems to have caught the eye of his native national team, as well.
NOTE: Author David Hofreiter can be found on Twitter @Davidenkness if you’re interested in talking more hockey with him or asking further questions about these players. Davis Green was the lead contributor in the gathering of information used in this article. You can find him on Twitter @davisgreen_.