WJC Camp Report

Much like Angelo Esposito two seasons ago, the media has been quick to anoint John Tavares as the "can't miss number one prospect" for the 2009 NHL draft. Ever since his eye-opening 70-goal OHL campaign as a 16-year-old, and before that when he entered the OHL as a 15-year-old, scouts and journalists alike have assumed Tavares would be the top pick next June.

Apparently someone forgot to tell Nazem Kadri.

The London Knights forward was clearly the more dangerous player at the recent Canadian World Junior Development Camp, and scouts were starting to whisper the unthinkable by the end of camp - that Tavares may not be the favorite to be selected first overall in 2009.

"Kadri was the better player at the camp," noted one NHL team's senior scout. "He showed a lot more intensity, was more dangerous, and obviously has superior skating speed. Tavares is going to have to pick up his game or the big guy from Sweden (towering Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman) will be picked ahead of him, perhaps even Kadri."

It's not the first time the Toronto native has been accused of lacking intensity, and following a 32-goal dip in production and a disappointing playoff performance last season, not everyone is convinced that Tavares is the consensus top draft-eligible prospect.

"Tavares' biggest problem is a lack of foot speed, but he's also inconsistent," said one scout. "He doesn't show a lot of jam in his game on many nights."

All that said, scouts aren't ready to write off Tavares by any means.

"How many prospects have more than 150 goals entering their draft year?" asked one scout. "His hands are special, and skating speed and intensity are things you can work on. Tavares will have to learn to dedicate himself more passionately to a fitness regimen and he'll be fine.

"Sometimes when things come to you early on in life you have a tendency not to work as hard as your peers as you don't have to; he'll need to figure out that even the great ones need to work hard," added the scout. "Wayne Gretzky worked as hard as anybody at practice, and was always trying to improve his game. Look at how hard Sidney Crosby works in the offseason."

Kadri has no such criticisms concerning his fitness levels and intensity.

"Kadri brings his 'A' game pretty much every night," noted a scout who watched Kadri wow the spectators at the three intersquad games held in Ottawa July 27-29. Kadri's quickness, stickhandling prowess, and passing skills were evident while competing with Canada's top junior players, and assuming he continues his improvement this season, the former Kitchener Rangers' center will be a very high pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

Among the other forwards competing for positions on Canada's 2009 world junior team, Josh Bailey (New York Islanders' ninth overall pick 2008 draft) made the most favorable impression at the camp, impressing scouts with his smart, two-way play, vision and passing skills.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he wins a spot on the Islanders this season," opined a scout. "It's not like they've got great options down the middle. You have to love his passing skills, there's not a better passer at the camp."

With only four returnees from last year's Canadian junior team attending the camp (Steven Stamkos was at a Tampa Bay rookie camp and Zach Boychuk was injured), the door was open for several forwards to leave a good first impression on the Canadian coaching staff. Among the forwards vying for first-time appearances on Canada's junior team, Kadri, Eric O'Dell, Nicolas Deschamps, Jamie Benn, Riley Nash, Greg Nemisz and Corey Trivino left positive impressions with some scouts, and will more than likely be invited back to the main camp this December.

Cody Hodgson and Logan Couture were strong defensively and didn't play poorly by any means, but their lack of speed was evident on offensive rushes, and both will have to show more quickness in December's camp if they hope to crack the lineup.

Mind you, both may win positions by default if potential centers Brandon Sutter, Josh Bailey, Kyle Turris and Steven Stamkos remain with their NHL teams all season. It doesn't hurt that the Canadian team has a host of natural centers playing on the wing at the camp however, and even if all four of those centers are not available in December, players such as Trivino, Jordan Eberle, Patrice Cormier and Max Sauve could join O'Dell, Couture and Hodgson in an interesting battle for the four center positions on the team.

It may also open up a spot for 17-year-old centers Matt Duchene and Brayden Schenn, who many scouts thought should have been invited to this summer's camp.

On defence, P.K. Subban, Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty did nothing to jeopardize their chances of returning for the 2009 championship. In fact, the only thing that will keep those three from competing in Ottawa will be the NHL. Schenn and Doughty are expected to compete hard for spots in Toronto's and Los Angeles' lineups respectively this fall.

While Schenn and Doughty played conservatively and looked sound in their own ends, Subban created more offence with his speed and intensity than any other defenceman at the camp.

Tyler Cuma, Tyler Myers, Colten Teubert, Nick Ross, Keith Aulie and Alex Pietrangelo all made strong cases for invites in December and a really long look. Cuma and Teubert were perhaps the steadiest defenders while both providing a physical presence, and will be strong bets to make the team, especially if Doughty and Schenn end up playing in the NHL this season. Pietrangelo will also be given an opportunity to crack the Blues' lineup given his already impressive physical skills even if he needs work on his decision making.

Chet Pickard and Jake Allen are the early favourites to win the goaltending battle in December, but neither was spectacular at the camp, letting in a few goals of the questionable variety. Tyson Sexsmith and Dustin Tokarski had strong performances even if they also showed inconsistency, and are the eldest and most accomplished (each having won a Memorial Cup) of the quartet. It should be an interesting battle in December.