Team Canada comes into the World Juniors with another loaded roster. There is a lot of chatter that they lack the top-end offensive players of the United States or even Sweden, regardless, they are defending champions and a favorite to win it again.
This special edition series will look at several of Canada’s top fantasy prospects. There isn’t room to cover everyone and I will exclude draft-eligible players. After you get done here please check out the rest of my International NHL Prospects Series.
Rather than waste space on the preamble, let’s dig in.
Fantasy Prospects: Team Canada
Jordan Dumais, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Drafted, 2022, Round 3, 96th Overall
Undersized and super-skilled, summarizes Dumais pretty well.
There isn’t anything left for Dumais to prove in Junior hockey. After putting up 140 points in 64 games, Dumais is ready for a bigger challenge. Unfortunately for him, due to his age, the QMJHL is the only place he can play.
Physically, he isn’t ready for the NHL. Talent-wise, he is too good for Junior. The age paradox of North American skaters not being eligible to play in the AHL until age 20, results in Dumais’ availability to Team Canada.
If 140 points at 18 years old isn’t a big enough coming-out party, then perhaps a strong showing at the World Juniors will be. He likely needs another two years before getting more than a sniff of the NHL. Play the long game with Dumais, but the skill to be an impact offensive player in the NHL is there.
Easton Cowan, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Drafted 2023, Round 1, 28th Overall
He was arguably the biggest surprise pick of the first round. When his name was called there was a collective response of, ‘Who?’ He was projected to go in the middle of the second round.
This season we are seeing why the Maple Leafs fell in love with him. He digs and grinds with a non-stop motor. If you’re looking for a ceiling projection of Cowan, think the Toronto Maple Leafs version of Zach Hyman.
There is a legit top-six upside here, but for him to reach it he will have to maintain his relentless workman-style approach to the game.
He’s a player that could see his ice time increase through the tournament.
Matthew Poitras, C, Boston Bruins
Drafted 2023, Round 2, 54th Overall
Poitras is the way-to-early to declare steal of the NHL draft. It is very rare for a second-round pick to make the NHL in their draft year.
Not only did he make the Bruins out of training camp, but he’s averaging 14:06 over 27 games, including 1:06 on the power play. Even more surprising is his 13 points in those 27 games.
At 19, he was a bit older than most of the other players drafted. He played a responsible, pro-style game in the OHL, which helped him transition to the NHL as quickly as he did.
It is rare for an NHL team to loan their third-line center out for two weeks in the middle of the season. He was originally projected as a middle-six forward. Those projections may need recalibrating based on early returns.
Poitras is also a player that could face a real sophomore slump. Tread carefully over the next two years, but hang on to him if he does struggle. The Bruins stole one here.
Matthew Savoie, C, Buffalo Sabres
Drafted 2022, Round 1, 9th Overall
One of the best prospects in a stuffed Sabres system. Savoie has skill for days and it shows every time he touches the puck. Similar to Dumais, his size will impact his development timeline, but the skill and hockey IQ are all there.
With an ‘undersized’ player speed and mobility are two attributes to look for, Savoie has both. When you combine speed, agility, hockey IQ, puck handling, and a strong defensive awareness, size begins to matter less and less.
He’s likely one to two years away from the NHL. As deep as the Sabres are, they can afford to take their time and let Savoie ‘cook’ in the AHL an extra year or two.
Maveric Lamoureux, D, Arizona Coyotes
Drafted 2022, Round 1, 29th Overall
At 6’7″ he is an imposing defenseman with great mobility. He moves exceptionally well for his size.
He uses his size and physicality well. There is real multi-cat potential here. His offensive game is still a work in progress but there are a lot of raw tools that Arizona should be excited for.
He is on the opposite end of the size spectrum from Savoie, but expect a similar, if not slightly longer timeline to make the NHL. Another long-game fantasy prospect that you will need to be patient with. Even if he makes the NHL quickly, it will be three to four years before he taps into his offensive potential.
That said, there is more than a chance he becomes a Tyler Myers or Jamie Oleksiak than Shea Weber. There is a little bit of buyer beware here, but if he reaches his potential, the toolkit is unique.
Tristan Luneau, D, Anaheim Ducks
Drafted 2022, Round 2, 53rd overall
Maybe it is me, but he seems to be the least talked about of the Ducks reigning CHL defensemen of the year, prospects. Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov hold a lot of the headlines. Lest we forget about Jamie Drysdale, who holds tenure over all three.
It is a loaded blueline and competition for the coveted offensive roles is going to be fierce over the next couple of years.
He is a better two-way defenseman than Zellweger, who is more offensive, all the time, but not as dynamic at both ends as Mintyukov. Few expected him to spend time this early with the Ducks. It just illustrates the maturity of his game already.
Expect him to take a large role with Team Canada in this tournament and then likely return to the AHL with the return of Drysdale to the Ducks lineup.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading
Next up, the United States
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