2013 Draft Blog: Curtis Lazar Pt.2

Back on September 17th Edmonton Oil Kings forward Curtis Lazar contributed his first blog post of the season. If you missed it you can find it HERE. Since then the WHL season began and the team has played 23 games. The Subway Super Series has come and gone and NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings have been released. 

Offering his thoughts on the last two months, The Pipeline Show is pleased to be able to bring you the second chapter in the 2013 Draft Blog by Curtis Lazar of the Edmonton Oil Kings.

From Russia with Love & Campbell has Hound Power

Tuesday night on TPS our CHL insider Sam Cosentino hinted about the Russian roster for the upcoming Subway Series with the CHL. It gets started on November 7th in Victoriaville and wraps up 10 days later in Moose Jaw.

Team World 2010 - OHL

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The Subway Super Series is getting closer every day and like I did with the QMJHL on Tuesday, today I'm revealing 'Team World' that, if I were King, would play the Canadians in the OHL leg of the 6-game event.

Team World 2010 - QMJHL

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It's that time of year where I offer up a better version of the Subway Super Series. Rather than re-hash an argument several years in the making, I will refer you back to this piece from last year. While I'd still argue that my 'World' opposition would be more entertaining for fans, more revealing and beneficial for scouts and more relevant for the CHL... I'm aware that I'm probably on an island in my beliefs.

Fair enough. My understanding is that the CHL is moving the dates around for the series so as to better match the European break schedule. That should allow for better Russian players to come over and that's a good thing. Perhaps it also opens the door to a different country once in a while being the opposition, that would interest me as a fan.

But enough... here is my roster for Team World made of import and American players in the QMJHL that would take on Team Canada in the two QMJHL dates of the Subway Super Series...

This n' That - Early July '10

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A surprisingly busy start to the NHL off-season has provided plenty of fodder for fans around the league. There have also been other rumblings from the major junior, minor pro and NCAA ranks as well, some of which has gone largely unnoticed by the mainstream media. As always, when it affects the future of hockey, it attracts the attention of The Pipeline Show.

Sam's Super Series Synopsis

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One of the guests that we were pleased to speak with on the program last night was an old favorite of ours, Sam Cosentino. You know him from Rogers Sportsnet where he's on both the baseball and junior hockey broadcast teams and obviously we were speaking with him about the latter.

Cosentino has a passion for junior hockey just like we do but has the advantage of covering all three CHL leagues on a first hand basis. That's why we enjoy having him on as much as we do (which is still not frequently enough for us or for him). Yesterday we were able to pick his brain about the ongoing Subway Super Series and got his scouting reports on CHL players, the Russians who made it over, the Mike Liambas suspension and what the difference is in the case of Zac Rinaldo plus... I got to throw my alternative to today's Super Series at him.

We started by asking Sam to offer up the names of some of the players that have caught his eye over the first four games of the series (QMJHL and OHL). He started with the Russians and offered some comments on a few of the imports who are actually playing in the CHL including Dmitri Kostromitin who was an invite to Oilers rookie camp in September. However, it was 2010 eligible Maxim Kitsin that scored the best praise from the TV colour analyst.

"I think he's been fantastic, probably their most consistent goal scoring threat."

Cosentino continued to comment on Pavel Lukin and Dmitri Kugryshev.

On the CHL side of things, Cosentino suggests that Taylor Hall and Nazem Kadri were two key guys for him to watch. Out of the QMJHL he made special mention of Luke Adam and Gabriel Bourque. From the WHL the guys he says he is looking forward to seeing in action include TPS Guest Player Blogger Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars, Edmonton Oil King Mark Pysyk and Jordan Eberle who wowed him earlier in the day at practice.

"[Eberle] was tearing apart the shootout portion of the practice."

Dean then brought up something he has noticed over the first few games of the series in that the CHL clubs have featured a couple of interesting lines. In the Q games we saw an all-Rimouski combination in Jordan Caron, Patrice Cormier and former Oceanic winger Philippe Cornet (#15 above). There was an all-Spitfires line in the OHL games with Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz. Millard asked Cosentino if he felt this was something that might carry over to WJC camp.

"When you look at the chemistry that those two lines have had you can't help but look and say 'boy, if we bring these guys to the camp and they can compete in the red/white events and on an individual basis maybe it is plausible that we keep these guys together come tournament time."

That led into a question on Oilers prospect Philippe Cornet who, despite a pile of points and an impressive Super Series, both Dean and I get the impression from Hockey Canada that they might be look warm to him. Cosentino had a different perspective.

"Smart player. Really smart player and I don't necessarily think I agree with [our] assessment. I've been sneaking around with coaches and scouts and I think they were particularly happy with his game. I thought Cornet played both ends of the ice extremely well, positioned himself great, had some good back tracking and defensive plays coming back into the neutral zone. I liked his game and I think [Hockey Canada] is probably a little more than 'luke warm' based on some of the people I've talked to."

I asked Sam if there was a player he felt had earned a camp invite with the way he performed during the series and he suggested a player from the QMJHL fit the bill.

"I think Gabriel Bourque is that guy for me right now. He was awesome in the two games; great energy, has no issue at all getting involved physically, able to put up points but able to be the pain in the rear end guy."

Sam offered up a few other names as well during the first segment of our conversation.

We then directed an email question Sam's way which asked about suspended London Knight Zac Rinaldo who was somehow eligible to still partake in the Super Series. We ended the first segment with that question and when we came back from a commercial break we picked up right where we left off and asked Sam to comment on Rinaldo's history of suspensions in light of the career ending suspension handed out recently to Mike Liambas.

"I'll be perfectly honest with you guys... I think the [Liambas] suspension was too long."

Sam went on to clarify his position on that incident and what he would have liked to have seen as the penalty and made a solid explanation as to why he's taken the stance that he has.

Dean made a great point that, with just two goalies playing for the WHL in the next two games of the Super Series, it's clearly Martin Jones VS Calvin Pickard (above) for Hockey Canada in terms of a camp invite. Cosentino agreed and went on to describe how he envisions the goaltending battle shaking down in advance of the World Junior Camp.

"Jake Allen - invite. After that it kind of breaks down a bit. The next guy I have on my list is Matt Hackett of the Plymouth Whalers. The last two camp spots if they go with four goalies... is a fight between the two WHL guys, Pickard and Jones, and I would throw Louie Domngue of the Moncton Wildcats in that group based on how well he played at the Ivan Hlinka tournament."

Edmonton fans will notice that summer camp invitee Olivier Roy doesn't make the cut for Cosentino (nor for Dean or I as far as that goes) based on a weaker season than the others on the list.

"He's a guy that I really thought going into this year, would be a cinch to make one of those four spots but I'm not so certain of that now."

We then brought up the name of Kyle Beach and whether Sam was surprised that the power forward isn't playing for the WHL after finally getting that chance last year.

"Yeah a little bit, I mean, he's lighting it up right now. This is a guy that, let's face it, they are very familiar with."

Cody Eakin has been a scoring machine this year and Dean wondered if the Swift Current sniper might be this year's Jamie Benn or Brett Sonne.

"I think he can be that guy to play the role where he's needed to go out and create an opportunity or get a couple of good shots but also to play a defensive posture."

Finally, I pitched my idea to Sam about having the Russian component in the Super Series changed to a European/American squad from the CHL. Although he liked the idea in theory, Sam pointed out that in the end, it's money that dictates the structure of the event.

"To this point guys, it's selling. Would you like to see better competition if you're Hockey Canada? Yes. For Television? Yes."

Sam's point was that because the advertising around the event is sold out, there is not indication that a change is needed and that in fact, removing the Russian aspect from the Series might have a negative effect on sponsorship.

"I love the idea of the international [roster] event but it would take a huge marketing endeavor to try and sell that. Believe it or not, when you go around, Canada vs Russia still sells."

Sam's counter proposal would be to have a series that would pit the QMJHL against one of the Eastern based NCAA Conferences like the ECAC. The OHL could play the CCHA and the WHL would square off against the WCHA. I am not sure that NCAA regulations would even allow such an exhibition though.

It was a very informative and entertaining double-length interview with Sam which you can hear by clicking HERE.

Meet Team OHL-International

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As the Subway Super Series moves from the QMJHL in OHL territory, the touring Russians carry a 0-2 record and have been out shot 99-48 and outscored 12-4. Game 3 of the Series goes tonight in Barrie, Ontario with the Russians having traveled from Shawinigan after their game against the QMJHL last night.

Last week I made the argument that the event should feature the Canadian CHLers playing against their European and American counterparts from the same league. You can find my reasons for feeling that way by clicking HERE. Prior to the two games against the QMJHL I released the roster of the team I would have preferred to see play. You can see the make up of Team Q-International HERE.

Following suit, here is the roster for Team OHL-International that I wish we were seeing play tonight and Monday instead of the extremely disadvantaged Russians...

Goalies

WHile it was slim pickings in the QMJHL for American or Euro goalies, that's not the case with the OHL. By my count there are 9 goalies with the required passport to play for my team and I finally narrowed it down to a quartet, they can all play a period and a half.

Brandon Maxwell of the Kitchener Rangers was a 6th round pick of the Colorado Avalanche last June. In 13 games with the Rangers this year he has a .916 save percentage and a 3.04 GAA. I'd have him sharing the Barrie game (tonight) with German Philipp Grubauer who plays for the Belleville Bulls. Grubauer was recently recognized as one of the top goalies available in 2010. Thus far he's played in 21 games for the Bulls and boasts a .912 save percentage and .327 GAA.

In the other game I would send out London Knights goalie Michael Houser, eligible for the 2010 draft by a mere two days. Houser has the third best GAA in the OHL at 2.48 but he's only appeared in 8 games. Still, his .917 save percentage suggests he's on the same pace as most of the top starters in the league. His partner on Monday night would be Robin Lehner (pictured), the Swede was taken in the 2nd by the Ottawa Senators last June. Lehner plays for the Soo Greyhounds and is in the OHL top 10 for both save percentage and GAA.

Defence

There are a few obvious choices for the blueline starting with 2010 marquee prospect Cam Fowler. The American plays for the powerful Windsor Spitfires and leads the OHL in scoring by defencemen with 29 points in 25 games. Fowler (pictured below) is listed a 6'2 and 190 lbs and is a surefire top 5 pick this June.

2009 guest blogger John Moore made the move from the USHL to the OHL this summer and now plays for the Kitchener Rangers. After arriving late from Columbus Blue Jackets camp (1st round pick, 2009) Moore finally got into action and has collected 12 points in 19 games.

Adam Comrie was a 2008 selection of the Florida Panthers. The Virginia born blueliners is now a member of the Guelph Storm after two seasons in Saginaw. HIs 17 points in 22 games with the Storm have Comrie ranked 10th in D-men scoring in the league this year. At 6'4 and 213 lbs, Comrie is definitely an interesting player to watch for in the future.

Another 2008 draftee is Michal Jordan of the Plymouth Whalers. Carolina chose the Czech native in the 4th round that year and he responded by nearly doubling his statistical output to a total of 42 points last season. Jordan has international experience with his country's junior team and even made my proposed team last year in this same exercise.

Undrafted Brian Lashoff gets a nod here as a 6'3, 204 lb two-way defender. Lashoff plays for the Kingston Frontenacs but also appeared in 6 AHL games last year with the Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) where he managed to pick up 5 points. Lashoff has 10 points so far this year with the Frontenacs.

Another undrafted player that caught my eye is Tony DeHart of the Oshawa Generals. With 21 points in 22 games, DeHart has already almost equaled his output from all 67 games last season. He is in his fourth OHL campaign but his first two years in London saw him play sparingly and contribute just 9 points over 72 games. The Missouri product easily eclipse that mark last year playing with the Generals and is well on his way to having a banner season.

The first of my two spares on my team are going to be Sarnia Sting defender Joe Rogalski, a late '91 born player from Lancaster, New York who has 14 points in 23 games this year. The second is native Pennsylvanian Tyler Hostetter who plays in his home State for the Erie Otters. Hostetter has is a bit undersized, went undrafted last year but has 14 points in 20 games this season for the Otters.

Left Wing

As we often see with "All-Star" teams, I'm going to have excess centers where one or two will have to move to the wing. For that reason, I only have 3 natural left wingers on my list. The first is Mississauga's Swedish import William Wallen. The tiny forward has 20 points, just two back of his total from last year when he was a rookie with the Majors. He's 5'8 and 170 lbs so I don't know how much of a pro future he has... just another reason why an event like I'm proposing is an interesting one for these types of players.

Rookie Jeremy Morin of the Kitchener Rangers is someone most people will recognize as a 2nd round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers at last June's NHL draft. Morin has an impressive 27 points in 21 games, third best on the strong Kitchener team. The New York product was a standout on the US-NTDP for the past two years.

A.J. Jenks was a 2008 draft pick of the Florida Panthers. The forward is now playing in his fourth season as a member of the Plymouth Whalers in his home State of Michigan. Jenks has had back-to-back 20 goals campaigns and is on pace to make it a third. The 6'2, 200 lb power forward is projected to be a solid checker at the pro level.

Right Wing

A recent guest on The Pipeline Show, Austin Watson is definitely a player of interest of for the 2010 NHL draft. He's only 9th in scoring on his own team but when that club is the Windsor Spitfires... you have to realize that 17 points is still pretty darn good.

NCAA deserter Kenny Ryan found his way North to the Spitfires after leaving Boston College on the eve of their regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs chose Ryan in the 2nd round in the 2009 draft and so far this year he has compiled 11 points in 12 contests.

Brampton forward Philip Lane is a 2010 eligible rookie who makes my proposed roster. The Rochester, NY native has 11 points for the Battalion so far this year after 23 games played.

rounding out the right side is another Kitchener player in Gabriel Landeskog. The Swede comes recommended by OHL Prospects writer Brock Otten who suggests the 6'1, 200lb forward was overlooked by me on my initial roster I sent his way. Landeskog has 12 points in 22 games for the Rangers. As a late '92, Landeskog isn't NHL draft eligible until 2011.

Center

So with only 7 wingers on my roster, I'll add five centers and a couple of spares who also happen to be middlemen on their OHL club team. First off are two players who will actually be taking part in the real life Subway Super Series - Russians Alex Burmistrov and Ivan Telegin.


Burmistrov (pictured) is third in scoring for the Barrie Colts with 27 points but has quickly made a name for himself with scouts for the 2010 NHL draft. The dynamic pivot has a team high 18 assists to go with his 9 goals. Telegin plays for the Saginaw Spirit and has 29 points this year including 17 goals. The Saginaw forward stands 6'3 and is listed at 185 lbs.

Richard Panik is another European that was drafted last June. A product of Slovakia, the skilled center currently plays for the Windsor Spitfires and has contributed 12 points in 23 games, arguably a little disappointing considering a certain amount of hype leading into the season. The Tampa Bay Lighting took Panik in the 2nd round in 2009.

London Knights forwards Phil McRae and Jared Knight make the squad although I think the latter will have to be one of the spares considering his sluggish start to the season. McRae, a St. Louis Blues prospect, is just off a point-per-game pace with the Knights whereas his Michigan born teammate has just 15 points in 22 outings.

Erie forward Andrew Yogan has bounced back from serious injury late last season to have 24 points in 22 games so far in 2009-10. He's a late '91 so eligible this June and at 6'3 and 202 lbs you know he'll have plenty of eyes on him.

Finally, I've decided to include 2011 eligible Vincent Trochek of the Saginaw Sprit simply because I think he's earned it. The Pittsburgh native has 15 points as a 16-year-old rookie. Perhaps it's just a gesture for the youngster but he's the last player on my team.

Breakdown

Nationality: USA (18), Sweden (3), Russia (2), Czech (1), Slovakia (1), Germany (1).
NHL Drafted: 10
2010 Eligible: 9

Thanks to Brock Otten from OHL Prospects for his input.

Meet Team Q-International

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As promised, today is the day that I release my roster of European and American players that make up the International roster that I would prefer play in the Subway Super Series. If you're wondering why I'm proposing this, then I assume you missed yesterday's opening argument which you can find HERE.

I'll be honest and say up front that I had a pretty tough time making up the team from the Q. In my opinion, it's a particularly down year for imports in the QMJHL especially on the blueline and between the pipes. There is no Timo Pielmeier available in net, no Dmitri Kulikov for the defence. There is a pretty interesting crop of forwards though.

Would my team be good enough to beat the Canadian QMJHL side of the Subway Super Series? I highly doubt it, but that's not the point. The point is that my team would beat the selection of Russians who are actually going to play the games. My international team is better than the Russians and therefore, they'd be the better opponent for Canada's Q-league boys.

Maybe you will disagree and if so, please tell me why in the comments section below. One more piece of business to get to before the unveiling; my thanks to Kevin Forbes of Hockey's Future and Future Considerations for his input in helping me fill out the depth of the line up.

Goalies

My two picks in net are Chris Holden of Cape Breton and Chicoutimi's Christopher Gibson. Holden is the back up to Olivier Roy with the Eagles and this year has a 5-2-1 record with a 2.74 GAA and .893 save percentage. The 19-year-old from new Hampshire is undrafted and playing in his second season in the QMJHL. Gibson is a Finnish born netminder that is splitting time for the Sagueneens this season as a rookie. The 16-year-old has a 5-4-1 record and 3.09 GAA but a .900 save percentage while playing for the sub-.500 club. Gibson is the one pictured while he played with the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, SK.

Admittedly, neither are stud netminders like the Canadian guys they will face and probably are not on par with Russian Igor Bobkov who is accompanying the Russians. However, they are the best of a short list of imports who are wearing the pillows in the Q this season.

Defence

Rookie Adam Janosik makes the team as his 14 points with Gatineau this year is second best amongst first year defencemen. The 17-year-old from Slovakia has helped the purple and orange to s pretty decent start to year.

Also on the list is Konrad Abeltshauser from the last place Halifax Mooseheads. The 6'3, 200 lb German rearguard has 10 points so far this year, his first in North America. Abeltshauser turned 17 in September.

[*Edit] Dillon Donnelly is a 16-year-old American from New York who is plying his trade with the Moncton Wildcats. He would have been on my roster but Forbsey tells me that he's playing for Quebec at the U17 so I'm going to make a late edit to my roster....

You'll notice in the comments section that Brock Otten, my OHL input giver, asked about PEI rookie Adam Polasek. He's off to a strong start with the Rocket and deserves a spot on this squad in the first place and so gets the nod as Donnelly's replacement. Polasek stands 6'2 and is nearly 190 lbs so the nearly 18-year-old will have eyes on him this winter for the 2010 draft.

One guy who was on my suggested team last year that makes it again this time around is David Stitch, now with the Montreal Juniors. The veteran of the group, Stitch is playing in his fourth season in the Q but in new surroundings since being dealt from Saint John. Stitch played 4 games in the AHL last spring with the Hartford Wolfpack.

Lauri Tokoi makes the team on the recommendation of Mr. Forbes. I admittedly know nothing of the Finn aside from his age (18) and his point total (2). Then again, if Mr. forbes suggests he's on of the top 6 Euro or American blueliners in the Q... that's good enough for me.

Rounding out my starting 6 is Russian Dmitri Kostromitin. The 6'5, 19-year-old has 16 points this year with Rouyn-Noranda which is 11th best in the league. We saw him first hand during Oilers rookie camp in September and the big man didn't disappoint. He didn't really stand apart from the crowd either but the fact that he didn't look out of place was a positive for him. He's seen above in his Montreal garb from last season.

The two blueliners getting voted in as replacements are Dominik Schlumpf of Shawinigan and Riku Dufva from Lewiston. Schlumpf is a 18-year-old Swiss product in his second Q season and has 10 points under his belt this year. Dufva hails from Finland and is 20 games into his debut campaign in North America.

Left Wing

Ryan Bourque makes the grade as a point-per-game forward in his first Q season. The son of the Hall of Fame Bruins defenceman is playing for another Hall of Famer in Patrick Roy with the Remparts.

Russian Kirill Kabanov and Stanislav Galiev are obvious selections to the team. Both are potential top-10 NHL picks in 2010 and are big contributors to the Wildcats and Sea Dogs respectively. I know that Kabanov is out with a new injury but for the sake of this exercise... he's on the list.

Drummondville is one of the top teams in the again this season and Czech rookie Ondraj Palat is part of the reason why. He has 18 points so far but the 18-year-old forward is still getting used to the league.

Rimouski Oceanic forward Petr Straka is scoring at a point-per-game pace and has 13 goals in 23 games. At 6'1 and 180 lbs, Straka has decent size and the 17-year-old is eligible in June of 2010.

Centers

Baie-Comeau pivot Simon Olsson is having a solid season. He played two seasons in the USHL before coming north to the Q and now the 20-year-old swede is having a career year with 27 points in 20 games. He's a tiny 5'6 so an event like this might be the highlight of his junior career.

Back to Gatineau in order to add 17-year-old rookie center Denis Kindl. The first year Czech native is 4th on his team in scoring with 17 points.

I'm a bit surprised but the last place Halifax Mooseheads have another player on my roster in Tomas Knotek. The 19-year-old is in his 3rd Q-league campaign, all with Halifax, and is on pace to set new career highs. He had 66 points as a rookie but has 21 already this year.

Jakub Culek is a big 6'4 center pictured above. Originally from the Czech Republic, he's lighting it up this year for the Oceanic. Culek's 25 points are third best on the squad and he just turned 17 in September. He's barely a week old enough for the 2010 draft which will make him a player of interest this June.

The last center on my list is Tomas Kubalik from Victoriaville. The Tigres middleman has racked up 30 points in 21 games as a 19-year-old rookie and at 6'2 and 189 lbs, has the size that gets him drafted. He was, by Columbus in the 5th round of 2008.

Right Wing

Andrej Nestrasil (DET, 2009) has 28 points for Victoriaville giving the Tigres a 1-2 import punch with Kubalik. The 18-year-old is reportedly playing inspired hockey this year and is on pace to shatter his 57 point mark from his rookie year in the league.

Another addition from the Quebec Remparts is also a player who appears on the Russian list as well; Dmitri Kugryshev. The winger was a 2nd round pick by Washington back in 2008 and is having a point-per-game season with Quebec which is off his pace from last season.

German Toni Ritter is now with Shawinigan after being dealt from Montreal earlier this year. I actually thought Ritter would get drafted late last June but he went unselected and remains on the market. Ritter turns 20 later this winter.

Last but certainly not least is Mikhail Stefanovich. The third Quebec Rempart on my team is also one of the most talented as the Toronto Maple Leafs decided when they picked him in the 3rd round last June. The Belorussian has 10 points in 9 games after a late start to the season.

Breakdown

Nationality: Czech Republic (9), Russia (4), USA (2), Finland (3), Germany (2), Slovakia (1), Belarus (1), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1)
NHL Drafted: 5
2010 Eligible: 8

Subway Super Series... Made Better!

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Next week the CHL will open their doors to a traveling Russian squad for a 6-game exhibition series that, to date, has proven to be far from competitive.

Recently on The Pipeline Show one of our Bad Ass Trivia questions asked listeners "How many of the 36 games have the Russians won in the annual exhibition series?". We got guesses like 14, 17, 12, 15... all WAY off.

The overall Canada/Russia record is currently in favour of the CHL to the tune of 30-4-0-2. The OHL is a perfect 12-0-0-0, the WHL is 11-1-0-0, and QMJHL is 7-3-0-2. So some quick match has the Russians sporting a 6-30-0-0... with two of those six victories coming after regulation time.

If the purpose of the series was to provide an interesting clash between traditional hockey powers... well the cyber-phrase "Epic Fail!" would apply.

It's hardly fair to ask the Russians to be competitive; most of their best players are playing in the KHL and if they're contributing at all, those teams aren't going to free them up for this exhibition - it's NOT the World Junior Championship we're talking about here but a friendly 6-game set. So right off the hop, the Russians are at a disadvantage. Factor in that they have to travel across the planet and then play 6 road games in 10 days spanning the 2nd biggest country in the world... and you can imagine that fatigue has got to be a huge issue for the visitors.

Considering all of that, is it really a surprise to see that 5 of Russia's wins have come against the Q, where the first two games are played?

Hockey Canada uses the series as a final audition for players who hope to earn an invite to the December World Junior camp. You'll see players who were not involved at the August sessions but who have gotten off to strong starts during the CHL season. Looking at the WHL roster that will take on the Russians this year and you'll notice 21 players who have been drafted by NHL clubs (including 6 who were 1st rounders) as well as 4 other players who were signed as free agents.

The Russians? Well they have just 3 players who were drafted, only one of whom was a 1st round pick.

I have spoken with scouts over the years who have told me that they really don't know what to make of the event. There aren't many undrafted players on the Canadian team and for the most part, the Russians who come over are not really on the radar. I know a few who have told me they don't even both taking the games in because they could better spend that game night in a different rink.

The games are nationally televised on Rogers Sportsnet but I have no idea what the ratings are for it. I do not hear many fans or media discussing the event so I do not get the impression that, outside of prospect junkies like Sportsnet duo Peter Loubardias and Sam Cosentino (above), Dean Millard and myself, the games don't register very high with general fans or media.

With all that said... I still believe that this is a valuable opportunity for Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League, the QMJHL, the OHL and the WHL and should not be scrapped. It should be changed.

It's something I've talked about before and I still feel the same way. The team that the Canadians from the Q, OHL and 'Dub should be playing against is not a 'B' squad (or 'C' squad) from Russian; it should be an international team consisting of the import players who have made the commitment to play Major Junior in Canada.

It would be better for the CHL.

It's a chance for the leagues to showcase the international talent that is playing in their circuit. Wouldn't that help the leagues attract more of the top European talent through the CHL import draft or in recruiting efforts for American players South of the border? CHL team GM to player and his agent:

"Look, not only will you get to play in what we feel is the best development league in the world for players your age but you'll also have a great opportunity to play in the Top Prospects game and another showcase event."

Obviously, draft eligible players who are in the CHL may also get invited to the Top Prospects game so the Canada/Russia series would just be another carrot for imports considering the CHL route.

It would be better for Hockey Canada (and other countries).

The Canadian roster wouldn't change at all but the quality of their competition would go up drastically which would give Hockey Canada a better measuring stick for the players they are still evaluating. The added bonus would be for the national team scouts for USA Hockey and the European countries. The Americans would get to see their non-NCAA talent in a much more WJC-like setting just prior to the naming of their team. The same would hold true for the Euros.

It would be better for the fans and for the media.

Instead of a visiting team consisting almost entirely of players no one has heard of (and possibly never will), the media could play up the cross-border rivalry and also focus their attention on stories that have built up over the first few months of the regular season.

Fans will be watching a game where players on both teams are guys that they can follow before and after the series. While the Russians this year will bring perhaps half a dozen notable players, my international teams would have three times that amount.

The series would be much more competitive because it eliminates the aspect of one team being disadvantaged by travel. The international Q team would play the two games against their Canadian counterparts and that's it; no cross-country journey needed.

The international players are also familiar with the North American rinks and style of play so you wouldn't have one team completely out of their element.

A more competitive game equates to a better showcase for the CHL, a better tool for Hockey Canada, a more interesting story for the media and more entertainment for the fans.

With my scenario, everyone wins. If you can think of a reason why the status quo is better, I'd be interested to read it in the comments section below.

Over the next bunch of days I will release my annual International rosters that would play in my version of the Subway Super Series. It all starts Saturday with the International team from the QMJHL.