Pouliot and Maatta signed

[André]

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=641286&navid=DL|PIT|home

[mikey287]

Wasn't sure what thread to bump for this...chose one with no replies hoping that it doesn't garner any more...Derick Pouliot (along with some others) have been cut from Team Canada World Juniors roster...

[Gaucho]

Scott Harrington made the team, though.

[mikey287]

Scott Harrington made the team, though.

That's not depressing, nor does it elicit panic. It'll never do. Additionally, I don't think all the cuts are done yet. I mean, Matthew Dumba is still on the roster...

[columbia]

I recall Harrington making it and Morrow not(?)

I don't follow the juniors, but I assume it's about a balanced lineup, more than anything else.

[Gaucho]

Harrington made the team last year and at that age one more year of experience makes a world of difference.

McKenzie believes the guys that sat out today already made the cut.

[mikey287]

Yes, you're correct. I wasn't paying all that much attention, just getting bits and pieces of info without processing...

[tfrizz]

I recall Harrington making it and Morrow not(?)

I don't follow the juniors, but I assume it's about a balanced lineup, more than anything else.

Harrington made the team last year because he's a shut down defenseman. IIRC he also ended up being one of the highest scoring defensemen in the tournament.

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

This brings up a good point though. A post to follow our defense prospects.
Like many, its not like I get to see these guys play so my thoughts and opinions are based on what I read here and there.

I had read earlier that Despres wasnt playing well, after reading through this just curious as to how our others prospects
are coming along. Even if they were cut from the world juniors, personally I would have no idea how that would relate to their development
or chances to making it in the NHL.

[tfrizz]

I'm still a firm believer that Harrington is the best defense prospect the Pens have.

[meecrofilm]

Pouliot has outperformed other OFD-men like Murphy and Dumba during the regular season, and by all accounts has also played much better than both of them during Canada's WJC camp going on right now (Dumba especially has been brutal -- never been a huge fan of his). But due to a variety of factors such as age, handedness, the fact that the coach is also Murphy's coach in juniors, Pouliot was an early cut, and an unpopular one at that, mind you.

I expect him to play a significant role in next year's team, but like others have said, WJC really has no bearings on a prospect's success or lack thereof. You could make a who''s who list of prospects that never played in the WJC but now have NHL careers, and ones who had a significant role in the tourney but never amounted to anything.


But for anyone wondering:

Harrington is a lock of locks to make Canada's team this year and is considered by many to be the best shutdown D-man in the CHL.
Maatta is a lock for Finland's 1st pairing.
2nd round draft pick from this year Teddy Bleugers is a lock for Latvia's 1C position after Buffalo held back Girgensons.
7th rounder Anton Zlobin has a good shot at making Russia's team.

Can't remember the last time we had 4 prospects playing in the WJC at the same time.

[no name]

Wasn't sure what thread to bump for this...chose one with no replies hoping that it doesn't garner any more...Derick Pouliot (along with some others) have been cut from Team Canada World Juniors roster...

Seen Pouliot play in that russian super series, wow what a skater and you can see in every shift his offenisve instinks comming through. But he was a -3 up to the point i saw him and looked lost in the defenisve zone.

[meecrofilm]

To be fair, in that super series game nobody on that team looked good. Griffin Reinhart looked slow and sloppy, and Morgan Reilly was turning the puck over like it was going out of style. Russia totally dominated them.

[DelPen]

Pouliot not making the team speaks to the depth Canada has right now in their junior players than a slight against him.

[tfrizz]

Harrington has been named an alternate captain of the Canadian team, along with Jonathan Huberdeau. RNH has been named captain.