<p>When Jagger Firkus wasn’t named to Canada’s world junior roster last month, eyebrows were raised.</p>



<p>Sure, it was a difficult training camp for the Seattle Kraken prospect, someone whom many had high hopes for as a potential lock. Not many scouts seemed surprised at the time, but you still had to think they’d find a way to bring one of the CHL’s most prolific point producers to the tournament.</p>



<p>And they did, eventually. But only as an extra forward, and just for two games, as Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Czechia. One of Canada’s biggest issues was its inability to convert on passing plays around the net, something Firkus – on pace for just under 60 goals with the Moose Jaw Warriors – could have easily fixed. </p>



<p>So it’s only fitting that he had a five-point night in his first game back with the Warriors on Jan. 5, followed by two points in a loss to Swift Current. That’s 13 points in five games since returning from Canada’s camp in early December, making him the most dangerous WHLer in that stretch.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="184"></div>



<p>It’ll be interesting to see if Firkus can play himself into Seattle’s lineup next year. He’s a tremendously talented forward who has produced as well as anyone in the WHL the past few years. He might struggle on the physical side of things, but he’s got great hockey sense and one of the best shots of any prospect in the game today.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whl">WHL</h2>



<p>– I still can’t believe <strong>Riley Heidt </strong>wasn’t invited to Canada’s WJC camp. He was the WHL’s top scorer when the roster was named, and he’s second behind teammate Zac Funk with 22 goals and 71 points in 38 games. As a playmaker, you can’t go wrong with a guy on pace for 85 points. Two days after Canada announced its final roster, Heidt had a five-assist effort against the Wenatchee Wild. Just nuts. <strong>Minnesota Wild </strong>fans must be thrilled with the 64th pick from 2023.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="148"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OHL </h2>



<p>– <strong>Paul Ludwinski </strong>was a long shot to make the Canadian WJC team, but he wasted no time heating up after returning from camp. He had nine points in a four-game stretch for Kingston, helping them to a perfect record in that span. Drafted 39th overall by the <strong>Chicago Blackhawks </strong>in 2022, Ludwinski is on pace for nearly 80 points, but it’s his hard-working, two-way nature that makes him intriguing. The Hawks have some quality young stars in their system, but Ludwinski projects to be more of a bottom-six threat, and a good one at that.</p>



<p>– Truthfully, it felt like the only times I noticed<strong>&nbsp;Michael Buchinger </strong>at Canada’s camp was when he made questionable plays in the D-zone. He’s a guy who has come a long way over the past few years, and I felt like he had a good chance to make the team based on his season to date. But Buchinger kept turning the puck over and getting beat consistently, which hurt. Back in the OHL with Guelph, the<strong> St. Louis Blues </strong>prospect is up to 13 points in his past eight games, so he’s back to showing what he’s capable of.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="195"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AHL</h2>



<p>– <strong>Marco Kasper</strong> has struggled trying to adjust to the North American pro game this year, but there’s been some promising signs as of late. Since Dec. 27, the 2022 first-rounder has six points in five games, making up a large chunk of his overall season total of 14 points. The <strong>Detroit Red Wings</strong> pick has played well physically, too, and is starting to understand how to push defenders away and use his skill around the net to create chances. I’m happy with what I’m seeing now.</p>



<p>– <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/could-georgii-merkulov-be-a-hidden-gem-for-the-boston-bruins">In September,</a> I wrote about how <strong>Georgii Merkulov</strong> could be a hidden gem for the <strong>Boston Bruins</strong>. Given he’s third in AHL scoring with 33 points in 33 games with Providence, putting him on a 70-point pace as a sophomore, I stand by it big time. He struggled in his four-game NHL stint with the Bruins, but opportunities were also difficult to come by. Still, all Merkulov has done is prove he can dominate at the AHL level, and I hope he gets a good chance at fighting for a roster spot next fall.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="182"></div>



<p>– With the way <strong>Olivier Rodrigue</strong> is playing, could he earn a call-up to the <strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong> sooner rather than later? Once a highly sought-after prospect, Rodrigue has dealt with inconsistency and a crowded crease in Bakersfield, but he’s having a great year with a 6-2-3 record with a .924 save percentage. It’s by far his best stretch of hockey in his pro career, helping to raise his stock in a year when Jack Campbell has struggled mightily in the AHL. You have to wonder if the Oilers will give the 23-year-old a chance over Calvin Pickard at some point.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCAA</h2>



<p>– I’m a big fan of <strong>Aydar Suniev,</strong> who excelled as a UMass freshman. Suniev had a breakthrough five-point game back on Dec. 8 against Alaska-Anchorage and followed it up with three consecutive single-point efforts. It took him a bit to show the flash and flare that made him dangerous in the BCHL, but it seems like he’s brimming with confidence right now. I thought the <strong>Calgary Flames</strong> got a steal at No. 80 and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being one of the team’s best winger prospects by the time he turns pro.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="197"></div>



<p>– An older forward at 22, <strong>Rhett Pitlick </strong>has played a more significant role in his third year at the University of Minnesota. A fifth-rounder by the <strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong> in 2019, Pitlick has 22 points in 20 games, including a three-point game against Colorado College a few days back – his sixth multi-point game out of the past 10. He really came alive in the second half of his sophomore campaign last year but he’s not far away from topping his career-best of 25 points.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHL</h2>



<p>– <strong>Joel Nyström </strong>is starting to turn heads in a big way. A seventh-round pick by the <strong>Carolina Hurricanes</strong> in 2021, Nyström has already set a career high in points with 17 in 30 games, putting him on pace for 30. His offensive awareness has never been an issue, but trying to package everything together consistently has been a huge sticking point for the 21-year-old. He was drafted as a 5-foot-10 defender, but he’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 174 pounds. With his SHL deal set to expire this spring, you have to wonder if he will make the trip over to North America next year. With the way he’s playing, I hope he does.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="199"></div>



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