Enroth shines for Sweden in WJC's
If you’re a true Sabres fan, then of course you know that the holidays mean one thing: the World Junior Championships.
This afternoon, or last night if you’re in the Czech Republic reading this, Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 in overtime to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal. (Russia beat the US for the bronze)
Usually the Sabres have good contingent of prospects playing for their respective countries, but the cupboard’s pretty bare right now, so the only Buffalo representative was goaltender Jhonas Enroth of Sweden.
Enroth, who’s being heralded as the best Swedish goaltender since Henrik Lundqvist, was outstanding in the Swedes’ run to the final. With Enroth in net, Sweden went undefeated until falling to Canada.
Ryan Miller shouldn’t be nervous about losing his job quite yet, but all indications are that the Sabres have a stud on their hands. Enroth, while relatively small in stature, seems to have what it takes to be a star goalie.
Judging from what I saw in the two games I watched, Enroth seemed to have good anticipation and sense of where the puck was. Rarely was he caught out of position, but he did have trouble controlling rebounds, which got him into trouble and forced him to make huge saves which could have been avoided (see overtime against Russia). All of Canada’s goals in the final were results of loose pucks around the net. The Swedish defense wasn’t exactly great at clearing the front of the net, so it didn’t appear he got much help at cleaning up the garbage.
With the Sabres intending to have their own AHL affiliate next year, and only Adam Dennis in the pipeline as far as netminders, it would make sense for management to try to bring him overseas. Buffalo doesn’t exactly have a lot behind Ryan Miller for organizational depth in the crease, so it’d be nice if Enroth develops into someone who can challenge for Miller’s job. Adam Dennis hasn’t shown that he could ever be more than an NHL backup. Other than 2007 picks North Dakota’s Brad Eidsness (who does show some promise from what I saw at rookie camp) and Bowling Green’s Nick Eno, who have a few years to pan out, that’s it.
Enroth now goes back to his regular gig, tending net for Södertälje of the Swedish Elite League. You won’t hear much about him now that the tourney is over, but keep the name in your head and check in on him every once in a while. You may see him in blue and gold at some point in the future.
This afternoon, or last night if you’re in the Czech Republic reading this, Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 in overtime to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal. (Russia beat the US for the bronze)
Usually the Sabres have good contingent of prospects playing for their respective countries, but the cupboard’s pretty bare right now, so the only Buffalo representative was goaltender Jhonas Enroth of Sweden.
Enroth, who’s being heralded as the best Swedish goaltender since Henrik Lundqvist, was outstanding in the Swedes’ run to the final. With Enroth in net, Sweden went undefeated until falling to Canada.
Ryan Miller shouldn’t be nervous about losing his job quite yet, but all indications are that the Sabres have a stud on their hands. Enroth, while relatively small in stature, seems to have what it takes to be a star goalie.
Judging from what I saw in the two games I watched, Enroth seemed to have good anticipation and sense of where the puck was. Rarely was he caught out of position, but he did have trouble controlling rebounds, which got him into trouble and forced him to make huge saves which could have been avoided (see overtime against Russia). All of Canada’s goals in the final were results of loose pucks around the net. The Swedish defense wasn’t exactly great at clearing the front of the net, so it didn’t appear he got much help at cleaning up the garbage.
With the Sabres intending to have their own AHL affiliate next year, and only Adam Dennis in the pipeline as far as netminders, it would make sense for management to try to bring him overseas. Buffalo doesn’t exactly have a lot behind Ryan Miller for organizational depth in the crease, so it’d be nice if Enroth develops into someone who can challenge for Miller’s job. Adam Dennis hasn’t shown that he could ever be more than an NHL backup. Other than 2007 picks North Dakota’s Brad Eidsness (who does show some promise from what I saw at rookie camp) and Bowling Green’s Nick Eno, who have a few years to pan out, that’s it.
Enroth now goes back to his regular gig, tending net for Södertälje of the Swedish Elite League. You won’t hear much about him now that the tourney is over, but keep the name in your head and check in on him every once in a while. You may see him in blue and gold at some point in the future.
Labels: JHONAS ENROTH, PROSPECTS, ryan miller, WORLD JUNIORS
posted by eSabre @ 10:28 PM
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