The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is set to kick off on August 5th and run until the 10th in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia. For those of you that are new to the competition, it’s basically the world’s best under-18 players going head-to-head. Canada has won 22 of the last 28 contests and are looking to repeat as champions after winning last year’s edition of the tournament that was played in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Check out @TPEHockey‘s Group A preview here.

Today’s Group B Preview is from Keith Fries (@keithfries)

USA

While the USNTDP kids are off getting ready for their season, it’s the other noteworthy U.S.-born prospects that take center stage at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. This hodgepodge roster features players from the: USHL, USHS, WHL, and OHL, amongst others, with Blake Biondi leading the charge.

But it’s 2021 draft-eligible prospect, Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich that I’ll be keeping a close eye on. The first time I saw Samoskevich was at last season’s U17 5 Nations tournament, where he finished with 7 points (4Gs|3As) in 5 games played and only drew 4 penalty minutes. I wouldn’t put him in my 2021 top-10 (yet), but he’s someone I feel will draw a lot of attention, in a couple of years.

I wouldn’t be quick to write off the USA. I’m not saying they’re going to win it all, or even that they’ll medal, just that I’m expecting a better outcome than middle-of-the-pack and lower.

Sweden

With both Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz participating in the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, a U20 tournament featuring top NHL prospects, and the absence of Noel Gunler, Sweden’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster didn’t sit well with fans who were hoping to see at least one-of-the-three make the cut.

Instead, Sweden will lean on Helge Grans, Zion Nybeck, and Oskar Olausson to carry the load. In net, it’ll be fun to watch Jesper Wallstedt (2021 draft eligible) and see how he’s progressed since last year’s tournament, where he competed as a 15-year-old. Regarded as the best goaltender for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Wallstedt’s name has been seen on various draft boards in the top-5 as a franchise goaltender the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price.

A solid team effort could net the Swedes some bling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O5r-lrG1Vg

Russia

The Russians have some real firepower up front in Daniil Gushchin, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Vasili Ponomaryov; and on the back end, 2021 draft-eligible prospect, Daniil Chayka, could be incredibly dominant returning to a larger European rink, already playing in N.A. for the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

But the story begins and ends in net with Yaroslav Askarov. Askarov is not only the best 2020 draft-eligible goaltender but many, including my colleague Max (TPEHockey), feel he’s worthy of a top-10 selection, next June. At last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Askarov posted a 2.26 GAA and a .913 SV% in 4 appearances. If he takes those impressive stats to the next level, Max’s projection of a top-10 prospect wouldn’t be a reach, at all.

Russia’s success rests on the shoulders of Askarov – who will have to be elite if this team wants to advance to the gold/silver medal game.

Slovakia

Since winning back-to-back bronze medals in 1997 and 1998, Slovakia’s been on a dry spell and has finished: 8^th, 7^th, 6^th, and 8^th in the last four tournaments, respectively. It’s going to be a big mountain to climb, and, while anything’s possible, I don’t think sports betters are going to be laying down money on Slovakia any time soon.

Slovakia’s roster has yet to be made public, but I’m projecting that Samuel Knazko, a defenseman playing in Finland for TPS’ U20 Jr. A club will make the team; as will Martin Chromiak, who tallied 1 assist in 2 appearances in the Slovakia pro-league, this past season.

As I mentioned above, I’m not expecting Slovakia to hit a home run, but finishing in 4^th or 5^th would be a huge coup, and stepping stone, for their program going forward.

About that Third Line Center…

There are basically two things left for Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland to check off his summer list of things to do,

• Sort out the Puljujarvi situation
• Find a centre for the third line

By the way things are being reported on the Pulju front (at least locally), it sounds like Yessa might be coming back to Edmonton to try and work things out. That said, I think there are still lots of teams out there that are trying to get their salary caps in order and the potential for a trade is still quite real. My feeling is that we might be waiting until training camp when the GMs start to get an idea of how their rosters are shaping up.

Now, as for the third line pivot, I’m lead to believe the Oilers are looking for a player with three to five years of experience.

At first, I was under the impression that they were looking for a right-handed centreman until recently when Bob Stauffer said that might not be the case anymore.

Nevertheless, the work I’d previously done was on the right-handers, so here is a list of centers who shoot right, have taken over 2000 faceoffs, have 3-5-ish seasons worth of experience (240-500 games played), and in my opinion, could be had via trade,

• Ryan Strome (NYR)
• Riley Nash (CLB)
• Nick Bjugstad (PIT)
• JG Pageau (OTT)
• Luke Glendening (DET)
• Tyler Johnson (TB)

(Obviously, the list is much larger if you don’t omit the players who couldn’t be had via trade)

If we narrow it down to 1000-2000 faceoffs taken, we can add Rickard Rakell (ANH), Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), and Chris Wagner (BOS) to the list of candidates. Although, I’d probably take Rakell and Marchessault off just because there’s no way that the Ducks and Golden Knights are dealing those guys.

So that leaves is with Strome, Nash, Bjugstad, Pageau, Glendening, Wagner, and Johnson.

I’d probably remove Ryan Strome just because his price point, age, and production are ideal for the Rangers and that boat has sailed for Edmonton. I’m going to strike Bjugstad off of the list because he makes too much money ($4.1M for this year and next). I do think that Tyler Johnson would be of great interest to the Oilers due to his ability to basically play across the board and his close relationship with Kailer Yamamoto, but his contract is problematic as well and Tampa doesn’t exactly have the room to take money back either. My feeling on Pageau is that the Sens really value him and it would really cost to acquire him. I’m talking a 1st rounder plus a good young near NHL-ready prospect at least. For me, that’s not a price I’m willing to pay and Nash is probably just a bit too expensive for a guy coming off of a 3g/9a season.

Now we’re down to Glendening and Wagner as right-hand options.

Wagner is very cheap ($1.25M) and he’s positionally flexible. He plays a really hard-nosed game and his FO% from last year was 49.4%. Last season he scored a career-high 12 goals, but I do believe he was stationed on the wing for the most part though.

Luke Glendening is a guy I’ve been championing for quite a while now. He was 56.1% on the dot last year and he only makes $1.8M for this upcoming campaign and next. For those that are curious, he’s 30 years old and undoubtedly on the final legs of his career. I mean, he’s not going to add that much offense to the Oilers save for around 15-20 points. I do believe, however, that he would really be a great help on the penalty kill and that’s a place where the Oilers new head coach is putting a lot of emphasis on improving. I feel like a line of Markus Granlund, Glendening, and Josh Archibald could really do some damage as a shutdown line of sorts.

What about the left-handed centers? I don’t know if the Oilers really need to go down that road if this is the case. They’ve got players who have experience playing down the middle but shoot left like Khaira and Granlund. Colby Cave is another. I suppose the same could be said for the righties too eh? They’ve got Haas and Brodziak but one is unproven and one is rumored to be heading to Ference Island for the remainder of his contract.

Anyways, we’re getting off track a bit. The left-shot options out there using the same parameters above are as follows:

• Riley Sheahan (UFA)
• Alexander Wennberg (CLB)
• Viktor Rask (MIN)
• Radek Faksa (DAL)
• Johan Larsson (BUF)
• Vladimir Sobotka (BUF)
• Boone Jenner (CLB)
• Zemgus Girgensons (BUF)

Let’s get the players from Buffalo out of the way first. Sobotka is making too much money ($3.5M) for what he produces (13pts in 2018/19) but he’s got a fantastic FO% (56%). Girgensons at $1.5M and 15pts could probably be replaced internally for half of the price and Larsson, I feel, finds himself in the same boat as Girgensons. So no to those guys.

Next, Columbus. I would love to have both Wennberg and Jenner on the Oilers. Unfortunately, the Swede makes $4.9M per year for the next four seasons, so I think we can safely say that unless the Oilers are moving Nugent-Hopkins, Wennberg is staying in Columbus. Jenner on the other hand is a bit cheaper at $3.75M. That’s still probably a bit too rich for Edmonton’s liking unless they can move a contract back to the Blue Jackets. I like Jenner’s 53% faceoff percentage though and he’s only 26 and he plays the kind of game that would endear him to the fanbase very quickly.

Just before moving on, the Oilers could bury Brandon Manning and Kyle Brodziak (if he’s not sunbathing on Ference Island) and open up some cap room that could give them the option to try and pick up one of the more expensive options we’ve gone over today, but I feel like Holland would best be served having that available cap room for the season.

The remaining candidates are free agent Riley Sheahan who I think is unsigned for a reason… Radek Faksa, who Bob Stauffer has suggested might find himself in Calgary at some point should the Flames rid themselves of TJ Brodie, and lastly Viktor Rask.

We’ll start with Rask, $4M is not typically the kind of money a player makes for 9pts of production. Could Edmonton convince MIN to eat 50% and then acquire him? $2M for a 26-year-old with a history of multiple 30pt seasons is a lot easier to tolerate, no? 51.1% on the draw last season too.

I like Radek Faksa and I would definitely welcome him on the Oilers squad. He knows his role on the team and he busts his ass on the ice. He’s getting paid $2.2M this season and then he’s an RFA. He’s good for 30pts per year too and is plus 50% on the faceoff. Being 6’3″ and 220 lbs doesn’t hurt either.

I like Faksa, Jenner, and Glendening the most and I think that Ken Holland’s relationships with Jim Nill and Steve Yzerman could really help out should they be options for Edmonton.

Personally, I don’t know why the Stars would want to move Faksa but if he’s available, Holland has to see what the cost is there. As for Glendening, I don’t think he’s going to make it to the 3rd line as the Red Wings signed Val Filppula this summer and they’ve got Michael Rasmussen in the fold. It might be in Detroit’s best interest to get something for him.

Who do you like best for the Oilers third-line center, and how much would you be willing to pay?

• Radek Faksa (DAL)
• Viktor Rask (MIN)
• Boone Jenner (CLB)
• Luke Glendening (DET)
• Chris Wagner (BOS)

Let us know in the comments below who you like!