New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: A Devil in the World Juniors

As World Juniors approaches, some players have already been named to rosters. This post looks at one Devil prospect chosen thus far.

Traff to WJC

The World Juniors is set to begin later this month in Ottawa. By all accounts, the Devils will not be as highly represented as in recent years. With Russia not participating due to world events, Devils first round pick Anton Silayev won’t be in the tournament. Neither will goaltender Mikhail Yegurov. Winger Kaspar Pikkarainen may have had a shot for Team Finland, but he was injured in his first game of the year and has not played since. Per this article by Danny Rode on the team’s website, there is no timetable set for his return. Fellow Finn Veeti Louhivaara has only manned the crease three games this season (More on him below). Forwards Matyas Melovsky and Max Graham are too old as overages to attend. That leaves one player left for Devils fans to keep an eye on from this past year’s draft class.

Herman Traff will play for Team Sweden. I wrote earlier this season that Herman Traff had a strong start. While the power forward has slowed down some, his 7 points in 19 games is good enough for 5th amongst U20 players in the SHL. Overall, it’s been a good year for Traff. Dobber Prospects currently has Traff’s PNHLe at 49, which is a little better than that of the potential of a future second line winger. Of course, as with all projections, these things should be taken with a lot of salt.

This article by Daniel Amoia of the HockeyWriters indicates that Herman Traff is unlikely to fill a key offensive role for Team Sweden. I agree. Regardless of the Dobber model, models are models. In the real world, Sweden is loaded with pure offensive talents such as Unger Sorum, Viktor Eklund (William’s younger brother) and David Edstrom, Traff is likely to play a complimentary role that benefits his 6’5 frame. Still, it will be interesting to see how he plays against his peers and Traff does have the talent to provide some secondary scoring even with limited ice.

Around the Pool

• Veeti Louhivaara is finally getting some reps in net for JVP’s junior team. The goaltender is now 0-2 in three appearances with a 2.62 GAA and .921 SV%.
• The Utica Comets dropped two straight since their five game win streak, both by 3-2 margins against Rochester and Providence respectively. For those wondering about Simon Nemec, the defender was pointless in both contests, as was team point leader Seamus Casey. Forward Mike Hardman led the charge against Rochester with two goals, including his 7th. Brian Halonen and Xavier Parent found the net in the loss to Providence. Chase Stillman earned an assist, his third point in sixteen contests.
• Maybe it wasn’t UCONN? Winger Samu Salminen has been in a bit of a rut after a strong start after transferring to the University of Denver and is pacing roughly to the same seventeen points he tallied for UCONN in his freshman and sophomore campaigns. That said, maybe this goal on Saturday against Western Michigan to tie the game late will heat him up again.

• 21-year-old Petr Hauser has six points in nine games on loan to HC Stadion Litomerice in Czechia2. While that sounds positive, unfortunately, the winger failed to stick with HC Plzen in the top league going pointless in nine contests. The clock is ticking for Hauser to break out. I believed when he was drafted that Hauser could have the potential for a grinder role some day, but he would need to show that he can stick with Czech’s top league first and provide some secondary offense. As each season passes, that becomes less likely.
• Injury Updates. Russian defender Daniil Orlov has returned from a brief injury and is back playing for Spartak Moskva in the KHL. Meanwhile, fellow KHLer, defenseman Daniil Karpovich remains out for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Other prospects still injured include winger Kaspar Pikkarainen (WHL) and defenseman Santeri Hatakka (AHL). Goaltender Nico Daws (AHL) suffered what is being categorized as a minor injury at an incident at practice. Per Ben Birnell of the Rome Sentinel, Daws’s injury was a freak accident and there is some disagreement amongst staff as to whether the injury classifies as day-to-day or something a little more. Regardless, Tyler Brennan has been recalled to Utica and backed up Isaac Poulter in Friday’s 3-2 loss.
• Winger Josh Filmon keeps sliding down the lineup for Adirondack.

• After serving a one game suspension for slew footing (his second suspension of the season) QMJHL winger Cam Squires has begun heating up and now has 21 points in 22 games, as well as earning himself a spot in Cape Breton history. With a strong finish and no more suspensions, Squires could end up fourth on the all-time Eagles list.

• Lastly, winger Lenni Hameenaho continues his strong season. Check out this apple.

Your Thoughts

Tell us what you think in the comments below.