World Cup of Hockey: 10 unknown players you should know
Canada's Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane of the United States undoubtedly will stand out at next month's World Cup of Hockey. But there are several talented players fans aren't as familiar with that could make an immediate impact.
Tourney could give fans glimpse of NHL's next wave of talent
The names of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Pavel Datsyuk and Victor Hedman will roll off the tongue during next month's World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
Some you'll remember from NHL days gone by, namely Slava Voynov (Los Angeles), Vladimir Sobotka (St. Louis) and Sami Lepisto (Phoenix) while other players have only scratched the surface of their NHL careers.
Here are 10 players who could make an impact at the tournament, and perhaps at an NHL arena near you in the coming years.
Sebastian Aho
- World Cup team: Finland
- NHL team: Carolina Hurricanes
- Position: Right wing
- Age: 19
- Birthplace: Rauma, Finland
- Drafted: 2nd round (35th overall) in 2015
- NHL experience: None
- European club: Karpat Oulu (Liiga)
- Skinny: Had four goals and 11 points in 27 games last season for Karpat Oulu … Aho was an integral part of Finland's gold medal-winning team at the world junior championship in January playing on a line with top NHL prospects Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi. "I'd be shocked if he comes in and can't make our hockey team," said Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters.
Michal Kempny
- World Cup team: Czech Republic
- NHL team: Chicago Blackhawks
- Position: Defence
- Age: 25
- Birthplace: Hodonin, Czech Republic
- Drafted: Undrafted
- NHL experience: None
- European club: Avangard Omsk (KHL)
- Skinny: Signed one-year deal in May with the Blackhawks after posting five goals and 21 points in 59 games for Avangard Omsk last season and quickly acclimated himself as one of the league's top blue-liners … Had two assists in eight games at 2016 world championship and should have a good chance to crack Chicago's opening night roster.
Jakub Nakladal
- World Cup team: Czech Republic
- NHL team: Unrestricted free agent
- Position: Defence
- Age: 28
- Birthplace: Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Drafted: Undrafted
- NHL experience: 27 games, 3 goals, 5 points, minus-5
- Skinny: The six-foot-two, 212-pound rearguard remains an unrestricted free agent after collecting two goals and 14 points in 35 games last season with the Calgary Flames' American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, Calif. … Nakladal led all Czech defencemen with five assists in 10 games at 2015 world championship.
Dmitrij Jaskin
- World Cup team: Czech Republic
- NHL team: St. Louis Blues
- Position: Right wing
- Age: 23
- Birthplace: Omsk, Russia
- Drafted: 2nd round (41st overall) in 2011
- NHL experience: 139 games, 18 goals, 15 points, 33 points, 5 game-winning goals
- Skinny: Blues signed him to two-year, $2-million US extension in June … Jaskin had 13 points in 65 regular-season games a year ago, dropping from 13 goals to four, and added two points in six playoff contests. He notched the winning goal in Game 5 of Western Conference semifinals against Dallas.
Jyrki Jokipakka
- World Cup team: Finland
- NHL team: Calgary Flames
- Position: Defence
- Age: 25
- Birthplace: Tampere, Finland
- Drafted: 7th round (195th overall) by Dallas in 2011
- NHL experience: 109 games, 2 goals, 22 points
- Skinny: Expected to be ready for World Cup following off-season hip surgery … Acquired by Flames from Dallas at 2016 trade deadline in Kris Russell deal and had six assists in 18 games for Calgary … Competed for Finland at the 2011 world junior championship and 2015 world championship.
Mikko Koskinen
- World Cup team: Finland
- NHL team: NY Islanders
- Position: Goaltender
- Age: 28
- Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
- Drafted: 2nd Round (31st overall) in 2009
- NHL experience: 4 games with Islanders in 2010-11 season
- European club: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
- Skinny: Posted a 2.42 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 41 games last season … Named top goalie at 2016 world championship … Honoured Timo Jutila, one of Finland's longest-standing national captains, with a sketched tribute on the side of his goalie mask design.
Joonas Donskoi
- World Cup team: Finland
- NHL team: San Jose Sharks
- Position: Right wing
- Age: 24
- Birthplace: Raahe, Finland
- Drafted: 4th round (99th overall) in 2010
- NHL experience: 76 games, 11 goals, 25 assists, 36 points; six goals, 12 points in 24 playoff games
- Skinny: Scored the winning goal to help the Sharks avoid a 3-0 series deficit to Pittsburgh in last summer's Stanley Cup final … Donskoi also scored the decisive goal in the clinching Game 5 versus Los Angeles to open the post-season. Spent most of his rookie NHL season last year on a line with Logan Couture.
Vadim Shipachyov
- World Cup team: Russia
- NHL team: None
- Position: Centre
- Age: 29
- Birthplace: Cherepovets, Russia
- Drafted: Undrafted
- NHL experience: None
- European club: St. Petersburg (KHL)
- Skinny: The six-foot, 187-pounder raised eyebrows at 2016 world championship, leading the tournament in scoring with 18 points in 10 games, after which he had offers from NHL teams, including Montreal, but chose to stay in the KHL … Has amassed 41 goals and 146 points in 155 contests over last three seasons with St. Petersburg. Shipachyov won gold, silver and bronze medals at past three world championships.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
- World Cup team: Europe
- NHL team: Philadelphia Flyers
- Position: Left wing
- Age: 31
- Birthplace: Le Blanc-Mesnil, France
- Drafted: Undrafted
- NHL experience: 155 games, 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points
- Skinny: Checking forward was a key contributor to the Flyers' penalty kill that finished 20th of 30 teams last season … He was a fixture on the fourth unit, dubbed the "Untouchables" line, that included Ryan White and Chris VandeVelde.
Tobias Rieder
- World Cup team: Europe
- NHL team: Arizona Coyotes
- Position: Right wing
- Age: 23
- Birthplace: Landshut, Germany
- Drafted: 4th round (114th overall) by Edmonton in 2011
- NHL experience: 154 games, 27 goals, 31 assists, 58 points, minus-40
- Skinny: Contract talks have stalled between the restricted free agent and Coyotes, leading to speculation he could play in the KHL after the World Cup … Burgeoning winger racked up 14 goals and 37 points last season, up from 21 in his rookie NHL campaign … Suffered left knee injury in a collision with Canada's Corey Perry at world championship in May.