Jan Levine: Should Lafreniere and Kakko play in the World Junior Championships? Plus K'Andre Miller as well....

Really should depend on the start date of the NHL. If the WJC is a month before, sure, let them all play.

Sure, let them get warmed up, why not.

Really should depend on the start date of the NHL. If the WJC is a month before, sure, let them all play.
- mdw7413

Agreed here. Kid may have nothing left to prove but he needs to play some high level games to keep his skill up

I say Pass, Laf has nothing to prove there. Would only be risking injury. Let him get to New York and train with his new teammates instead

No

It’s pretty impressive we have 4 players on that Team Canada depth chart (LaF, Schneider, Robertson, and Garand). I would say if the season hasn’t started by that point let them all play. That confidence could carry over into the start of the season

I say Pass, Laf has nothing to prove there. Would only be risking injury. Let him get to New York and train with his new teammates instead
- TPC

It has nothing to do with him proving himself, its just a matter of if the kid wants to play hockey, let the kid play hockey.

I'm on the other side of this argument.
Can;t see the Rangers letting their star property play in a tournament that means nothing to the team. Be it the risk of infection or injury, they aren't going to take a chance. They will be in training camp.

I'm on the other side of this argument.
Can;t see the Rangers letting their star property play in a tournament that means nothing to the team. Be it the risk of infection or injury, they aren't going to take a chance. They will be in training camp.
- Fenrir

Thats true, totally not thinking about the COVID thing. That will probably be the driving force behind them probably not letting any of the rostered kids to go.

Agreed here. Kid may have nothing left to prove but he needs to play some high level games to keep his skill up
- MeltingPlastic

Yup, I know people worry about injuries, but really how many times does that happen?

Yup, I know people worry about injuries, but really how many times does that happen?
- mdw7413

I dont think about it, thats why I was quick to say let them go. Totally wasnt thinking about COVID though.

I dont think about it, thats why I was quick to say let them go. Totally wasnt thinking about COVID though.
- aecliptic

If they set it up like the playoffs, nothing to worry about

It has nothing to do with him proving himself, its just a matter of if the kid wants to play hockey, let the kid play hockey.
- aecliptic

He can play with the players that are in New York prepping for the season

Yup, I know people worry about injuries, but really how many times does that happen?
- mdw7413

I agree for the most part but Laf literally got hurt in the tournament last year. It ended up not being very serious but still. I wouldn't send him or Kakko. The others I would let play. I don't see any benefit to Laf and Kakko playing down in competition

I agree for the most part but Laf literally got hurt in the tournament last year. It ended up not being very serious but still. I wouldn't send him or Kakko. The others I would let play. I don't see any benefit to Laf and Kakko playing down in competition
- SkjeiStadium

Yea since they are both expected to play a major role with the Rangers this year, I just want no part of it

LaFranchise : NO
Kakko : NO
Miller : NO

All others: Have fun and make us proud!

I agree for the most part but Laf literally got hurt in the tournament last year. It ended up not being very serious but still. I wouldn't send him or Kakko. The others I would let play. I don't see any benefit to Laf and Kakko playing down in competition
- SkjeiStadium

Its better than just training imo. You are still playing against other countries best. I see no reason not to, they have more of a chance getting hurt in camp or a preseason game, when you have young players playing all out to make the team and would love nothing better to lay a huge hit on the #1 overall.

Its better than just training imo. You are still playing against other countries best. I see no reason not to, they have more of a chance getting hurt in camp or a preseason game, when you have young players playing all out to make the team and would love nothing better to lay a huge hit on the #1 overall.
- mdw7413

Yea I mean him getting hurt last year is anecdotal and you're right that he can get hurt in camp too, although I'd say that the players at the tournament would target the #1 pick just as much as people in camp would, however frequent that would be.

The argument against it, at least from me, is that he has nothing left to accomplish there, so it's almost pointless. The same reason he isn't going back to Rimouski until they figure out the NHL schedule. He won MVP of the tournament last year, there is nowhere to go but down from there. If he repeats, great, if not he has to deal with the media saying that his game has slipped, etc.

With Kakko, he's played a full year in the NHL where he was just getting used to the size and speed of the league by the time he got to the bubble. Sending him to play with a bunch of 18 year olds I think has a better shot to regress him.

Either way I don't think it's detrimental if they go, I just don't see the benefit

Yea I mean him getting hurt last year is anecdotal and you're right that he can get hurt in camp too, although I'd say that the players at the tournament would target the #1 pick just as much as people in camp would, however frequent that would be.

The argument against it, at least from me, is that he has nothing left to accomplish there, so it's almost pointless. The same reason he isn't going back to Rimouski until they figure out the NHL schedule. He won MVP of the tournament last year, there is nowhere to go but down from there. If he repeats, great, if not he has to deal with the media saying that his game has slipped, etc.

With Kakko, he's played a full year in the NHL where he was just getting used to the size and speed of the league by the time he got to the bubble. Sending him to play with a bunch of 18 year olds I think has a better shot to regress him.

Either way I don't think it's detrimental if they go, I just don't see the benefit
- SkjeiStadium

Yeah, its not a big deal one way or the other. I'm just thinking of it as a warm up before camp. Get to play some games against competition, keep those legs fresh and come into camp in somewhat game shape

Plus these young guys just love to play. Maybe not Andersson, but most of them

Yeah, its not a big deal one way or the other. I'm just thinking of it as a warm up before camp. Get to play some games against competition, keep those legs fresh and come into camp in somewhat game shape

Plus these young guys just love to play. Maybe not Andersson, but most of them
- mdw7413

Fair enough. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it if they send them and frankly I'd like to see them play

Fair enough. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it if they send them and frankly I'd like to see them play
- SkjeiStadium

Yeah for selfish reasons I would too. So used to getting all jacked for the start of the season in October.

To have one or both of them go right from the tournament to training camp to the season without any break is risky due to the lack of rest in between.

What? They're 19-year-old professional athletes. They're not over exerting themselves playing in a two week tournament with zero travel.

If anything, it lowers the risk since they'll be much closer to game shape when they get to camp.

Im curious how they set up the regular season.

I was thinking of a similar situation like they had during the playoffs and set up a sort of bubble system. They could set up 2 rinks in each division (doesnt have to be at the actual stadium) to play out series'. They could split the arenas 4 x 4. Minimize traveling. Try to make road trips concise, a road trip would involve playing the 4 teams that play in that building. etc. etc... I dunno rough thought.

Since Lafreniere has been there done that, why jeopardize his health? He should get ready for the next steps with the Rangers.