Replacing our usual content again today, we look at another World Junior Championship summer camp currently in progress in Lake Placid, being that of Team USA. The only Hab prospect in attendance there is 2010 first round choice defenseman Jarred Tinordi.In all, 26 forwards, 14 defensemen, and 4 goaltenders received invites to the camp, and a first round of cuts that will trim the roster to 24 or 25 names is expected today. A year ago, Tinordi was sent home at this point of the camp.
Tinordi was on Team Blue, paired most often with Justin Faulk (Carolina 2nd round pick, 2010), and picked up an assist in his side's win in one of two inter-squad scrimmages before also adding an assist in Team Blue's win over Team Sweden's WJC camp squad on Monday. Considering the leading defenseman scorer amongst all Americans at the camp had 3 points, this is solid production from a primarily defensive player.
The slimmer American roster will have games against Finland on August 11 and Sweden on August 10th and 13th before the camp wraps up.
As a former captain of the American U-18 team, Tinordi has a reasonable chance at making the squad, but the Americans have a deep group of blueliners making for fierce competition. The team will likely begin with the three returning defensemen, Justin Faulk, Derek Forbort, and John Merrill, but beyond them it is a bit of a toss-up. In addition to Tinordi, some strong candidates include Adam Clendening, Scott Mayfield, and Connor Murphy.
While the hype around Tinordi with the Americans hasn't been close to that Brendan Gallagher received at Team Canada's camp, he has managed to make a name for himself through his physicality. Tinordi, 6'7" and 212 lbs., far and away led all USA d-men with 10 penalty minutes in the 3 games he has played (though some in attendance have said some of his penalties were of the "stupid" variety, leaving room for improvement). With this year's tournament being played on a North American ice surface in Alberta, Tinordi's size and toughness may be a needed asset for the American team.
A good blog about the Team U.S.A. camp can be found here:
though there isn't really anything about Tinordi's play unfortunately.
UPDATE: About the same time this post went up, the Team USA cuts were announced, and Tinordi is one of 29 players who remain at camp for the final 3 exhibition contests. Of the 29, there are 9 defensemen remaining, and given that the final roster is likely to include 8, Tinordi's chances look good at this point. If all of Gallagher, Michael Bournival, and Nathan Beaulieu make the Canadian team, an already always exciting WJC tournament will be extra fun for Canadiens fans this holiday season.
The "Final Roster" for the time being can be found here:
Of particular note is that 16 year old defenseman Seth Jones remains on the roster right now, and from a Montreal perspective, a guy that some wanted the Habs to draft in the first round, Tyler Biggs (who ended up being taken by the Leafs) was cut. Another 2011 draftee some Canadiens fans were high on, J.T. Miller, had a solid camp and remains in the mix. Kenny Agostino, a 5th round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010 (and looking like a steal), has been amongst the most impressive players in camp, notching 2 goals and 5 assists in 3 games to remain on the roster.
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