The World Juniors always provides a great stage for drafted and draft-eligible players alike to showcase their skill on an international stage against some of the best competition around and it was no different this year in Calgary and Edmonton.

For me, it was interesting to see the progress of a couple of 2012 Draft Eligibles who are currently playing in the OHL, Olli Maatta and Nail Yakupov. Here’s my review of how I felt they performed during the World Juniors.

D Olli Maatta – Team Finland

Maatta had a tournament to forget. And with the seismic collision he had with Boone Jenner on Boxing Day that probably won’t be too hard to do.

Maatta was victimized for both of Canada’s first two goals, earning himself an early minus two in the first period of preliminary play. Then, before the first period was out, he was absolutely leveled by Canadian wrecking ball Boone Jenner and his tournament was over before he ever really got going. He did not play another game and is currently out of the Knights lineup with a concussion.

Maatta likely remains a first round pick this year, but how long he is out for could hurt his draft stock. He definitely did not impress anyone in the one period of play he had at the WJC.

He told me when I caught up with him following a game against the Spitfires in October that representing his country at the World Juniors was even more important than where he was drafted in the spring. You have to feel bad for a kid who wanted so badly to help his country to gold, but was only able to play a period of hockey for Finland. With Finland down several defensemen and relying on 17-year-old blue liners, they could have used Maatta’s international experience.

RW Nail Yakupov – Team Russia

Yakupov has been sitting comfortably in first place in everyone’s 2012 draft projections all year long.
After getting a chance to see he and Grigorenko on the same ice surface, I may need to re-order the depth chart a little bit.

I’m not saying Yakupov was bad. In fact, far from it. At times, he looked like the best player on the ice in games filled with very talented players. He showed off a very nice playmaking touch throughout the tournament, finishing T-1st with Mikael Granlund in assists with nine.

However, Yakupov didn’t register a single goal in the entire tournament, and for a guy who has scored 70 goals in 91 OHL games, I think that came as a surprise to everyone.

Head-to-head, Grigorenko looked like the better player for much of the tournament. His tournament was derailed with a nasty looking leg injury against Latvia, but when they were both healthy, Grigorenko was much more noticeable.

In fact, it wasn’t until Grigorenko was injured that Yakupov really started lighting it up offensively.
I think Yakupov could easily still go first overall, but for now I think we have a new number one.

Tags: 2012 NHL Draft, 2012 nhl draft prospects, Nail Yakupov, Olli Maatta