Trio of Habs prospects participate in World Juniors

MONTREAL -- Fresh ice, high hopes, a hockey tournament filled with the best prospects in the world, and holiday cheer.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
Well, except for the fruit cake. No one likes fruit cake, except your great uncle, and even he's not a huge fan. He just eats it to be polite to your grandmother.
Canadiens fans watching the 2022 World Junior Championship will be focused on three players; Team Canada defenseman Kaiden Guhle, Team Czechia forward Jan Mysak, and Team Finland forward Oliver Kapanen.
And while there's certainly a lot of talent to go around, the main theme of the Habs' prospect pool at the tournament is leadership, given that both Guhle and Mysak will play prominent roles on their clubs as returning players and team captains.
It's a double homecoming of sorts for Guhle, who grew up in Sherwood Park, a hamlet located a little under half an hour east of Edmonton.
Guhle spent a lot of his free time as a youngster attending Oilers games at Northlands Coliseum and Rogers Place, where his love of hockey grew to the point that he dedicated his life to the sport. The Canadiens' first-round pick in 2020 was also recently traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, one of the top teams in the Canadian Hockey League.
Guhle has registered 18 points in 20 games this season, but more importantly, he's established himself as one of the most dominant defensive and physical presences around.
The Oil Kings paid a handsome price for the bluechip prospect, including two players, two first-round WHL Bantam Draft picks, a sixth-round draft pick, and a conditional third-round draft pick, though you'd be hard-pressed to argue that a player of Guhle's ilk doesn't reserve a king's ransom in return for his services, especially when the Oil Kings are looking to make a major push towards earning a spot in the Memorial Cup.

In the meantime, Guhle is hoping to improve upon his results from last year's tournament, where he finished tied for first among defensemen in goals.
For most, the silver medal that Team Canada won in 2021 is a significant accomplishment, and there's no doubt Guhle is proud of his squad's achievement, but he's the type of player that is never satisfied until the ultimate prize is secured.
"The expectation is the gold medal," explained a stoic Guhle during a recent interview.
Along with playing a major leadership role as a returning player, Guhle should log heavy minutes on the back end. His excellent skating, offensive potential, stalwart defending, and versatility means we're likely to see him play in almost every crucial situation.
If the game is on the line, it's Guhle's time to shine.
And though he's certainly one of the best blueliners in the event, Guhle will have his hands full when defending fellow Canadiens draft pick, Mysak.
Along with amassing 17 goals and 14 assists in 25 games with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs this season, Mysak has continued to build upon his leadership skills, as evidenced by the team naming him an alternate captain this year.
As a consummate gym rat, it's no surprise that the 19-year-old Litvinov native has quickly established a significant level of trust between himself, his coaches, and his teammates.
If he's not on the ice early for practice or scoring goals for the Bulldogs, you'll find him working on his cardio and strength whenever the opportunity arises.
He's also incredibly affable, drawing people in with his wide smile and affinity for cracking jokes.
"He seamlessly fits in because of his infectious personality in and around the room," explained Bulldogs president Steven Staios."He's one of those players who's genuinely happy for his teammates when they do well. He's genuinely happy for the team when we win. He's a selfless young man."
Nevertheless, defensemen would be wise not to misinterpret Mysak's gregarious demeanor.
He's laser-focused once he hits the ice, has a fantastic shot, and has been known to break opposing defenders' ankles once in a while.

Rounding out the trio of Canadiens players at the tournament is Kapanen, the highly-skilled forward who made his Liiga debut with KalPa this season.
He has the ability to fool most goaltenders thanks to a strong shot, great hand-eye coordination, and his natural offensive instincts.
Kapanen has registered 28 goals and 21 assists in 45 games with KalPa's Under-20 team, which bodes quite well for his offensive potential at the upcoming tournament.

It's crucial not to overanalyze short tournaments such as the World Juniors, but it's also a good opportunity to establish a baseline as to where a prospect fits in among his peers.
Context is crucial. Factors such as usage and opponent strength will play a big role in the event, but the 2021 second-round selection is expected to be an impact player for a strong Finnish team that is hungry to medal.
Regardless of whether the Canadiens hopefuls head home with a medal, though, there's one thing that's guaranteed; they'll be gaining the type of invaluable experience that will help set them on the right path toward earning a roster spot with the Habs down the road.
And that's why it's the most beautiful time of the year.
That and the cookies. But, definitely not the fruit cake.