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This week, several Los Angeles Kings prospects were named to preliminary rosters for the 2021 World Juniors. Here are the updates:
FABER, KALIYEV AND TURCOTTE NAMED TO USA'S PRELIMINARY WJC ROSTER
Brock Faber, Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Turcotte were all named to USA’s preliminary roster for this year’s World Junior tournament. Kaliyev and Turcotte are both returning players, while this would be Faber’s first year at the tournament.
BJORNFOT AND GRANS NAMED TO SWEDEN’S PRELIMINARY WJC ROSTER
Two defense prospects, Tobias Bjornfot and Helge Grans have been named to Sweden’s preliminary roster for the World Juniors. This would be Grans’ first time representing Sweden at the tournament, should he make the final roster, while Bjornfot was a member of last year’s team.
MARKKANEN AND SIMONTAIVAL NAMED TO FINLAND’S PRELIMINARY WJC ROSTER
Prospects Juho Markkanen and Kasper Simontaival have been named to Finland’s preliminary World Junior roster. Both players each have a year of eligibility remaining for the tournament and neither was a member of last year’s team.
LUKAS PARIK NAMED TO CZECH REPUBLIC’S PRELIMINARY WJC ROSTER
2019 third-round pick Lukas Parik will get a shot at representing the Czech Republic once again. The netminder played two games in last year’s tournament.
MARTIN CHROMIAK NAMED TO SLOVAKIA’S PRELIMINARY WJC ROSTER
Martin Chromiak could get his first chance to play in the World Juniors, as he looks to earn a spot on Team Slovakia. Chromiak is a good bet to be a part of the team’s forward group.
As for this week’s poll questions, here are the results and my thoughts on how they turned out:
QUESTION: Where would you rank the Kings’ prospect pool against all other NHL teams?
(Votes: 119)
Best or second-best in the league: 76%
Third, fourth or fifth in the league: 13%
Top 10 in the league: 10%
Outside the top 10: 2%
The Kings’ prospect pool is hands down one of the deepest in the entire league. The team has high-end prospects at just about every position and the sheer volume of quality prospects is significant as well.
QUESTION: Will Brock Faber make USA’s final roster?
(Votes: 68)
Yes: 74%
No: 26%
The United States only had nine defensemen invited to their camp to start with and we just learned that Alex Vlasic will be out, due to COVID-19 protocols. As a result, there’s a high chance Faber will play in the tournament.
QUESTION: Do you think the Kings will still take on a bad contract, in exchange for draft picks/prospects?
(Votes: 192)
No: 54%
Yes: 46%
Even though we thought the Kings would take on a contract heading into the offseason, it’s looking less likely at this point. Perhaps something materializes but things seem to be pretty quiet right now.
QUESTION: Will Helge Grans make Sweden’s final WJC roster?
(Votes: 40)
Yes: 85%
No: 15%
While Tobias Bjornfot is basically a lock to return, Grans will have to earn his spot. That said, after a hot start this season, it seems quite likely that Grans makes Sweden’s final roster.
QUESTION: Who will make Finland’s final WJC roster?
Kasper Simontaival: 41%
Both: 35%
Neither: 17%
Juho Markkanen: 7%
It’s tough to say who’s making Finland’s team and with some notable players left off the camp roster, it seems like Finland’s roster may be especially hard to predict. That said, I’d also bet on Simontaival being the one to make the team rather than Markkanen.
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OTHER KINGS ARTICLES FROM DECEMBER:
Faber, Kaliyev and Turcotte named to USA’s preliminary WJC roster
Kings have yet to use cap space to acquire future assets
Tobias Bjornfot and Helge Grans named to Sweden’s preliminary WJC roster
Markkanen and Simontaival named to Finland’s preliminary WJC roster 
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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