The best NHL drafts can look into their destination

Denver – the world’s youth in August?

It’s going to be weird, “said Shein Wright of Kingston Frontenac, who is forecast to be number one in next month’s NHL draft.

Wright was part of the Canadian junior team in December, when the tournament ended after two games and was beaten due to the proliferation of Covid-19 in Red Deer and Edmonton.

“I remember a lot of frustration, a lot of sadness – but also pride, you know?” said the 18-year-old Burlington citizen. “We’re proud to say, ‘You created this team, you were part of this team.’ “It simply came to our notice then. It ended much sooner than we would have liked. ”

The tournament has been postponed from August 9 to 20 in Edmonton, less than five months before the next tournament: it will start on December 26 in Moncton and Halifax. There could be a lot on the schedule for elite teen hockey players, although the draft – in Montreal on July 7 and 8 – will largely determine their immediate future.

“He’s obviously watched” about the possibility of the world’s youth returning, Wright said. “You can play for your country at any time” It’s something that can’t be easily missed. Let’s see what happens. “

Wright, Center Connor Jake, Matthew Savoy of the WHL Winnipeg Ice, and winger Kather Gotty of the American Development Program were invited to the 2nd stage of the Stanley Cup final between the Avalanche in Colorado and Lightning in Tampa on Saturday.

“You’re working to make it to the Stanley Cup final and you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup,” Wright said. “It was definitely inspiring to see these guys here, see how hard they work, and know what it takes to reach that level.”

Jackie and Savoy have been invited to the Canadian U-18 National Summer Development Camp, which begins July 25 near Calgary. There will be joint training and group games with the national junior team on August 2 and 3. With two world junior championships in the coming months, Jickey hopes to take part in one of them.

“It’s definitely on the list of the best,” he said. “Sitting with your family at Christmas is everyone’s goal: to be able to play for their family and to play for the Canadian national team.”

Canada won the canceled tournament in both of their games, with defender Ouens Powers (last year’s Buffalo Sabers last year) and defender Connor Bedards (probably number 1 next year) carrying out a number of attacks. Wright was unhappy with one help. He has been expected since the age of 16, although he played infrequently last year due to the pandemic and started the season slowly. Some scouts are now wondering if Wright will be the first.

NHL Central Scouting is Logan Cooley Center of the American Development Program in second place after Wright, third in Gotty, fourth in Savoy and fifth in Gickey. Finnish winger Juraj Slavkovsky is Europe’s best player and potential No. 1 player.

Wright eventually scored a respectable 32 goals and 96 points, finishing eighth in the OHL.

“I have my own opinion on what I mean and where I should go, but in the end it’s out of my control now,” Wright said.

It was Montreal’s first choice for the Canadiens, and General Manager Kent Hughes took Wright to dinner at the Last Horizons Group in Buffalo.

“I really enjoyed the dinner, I really enjoyed getting to know their management and staff.” They’ll build a successful franchise, and I’d love to be a part of it, “said Wright.

The world’s youth in August will start from scratch without Russia, which is banned after the invasion of Ukraine. It will be open to players of the same age group (players born in 2002 or later). Canada will play in Group B with Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Latvia.

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