The WJC is way overblown, half the guys that have good tournys are hardly ever heard of again...

For every dominate player in that tourny that uses it as a stepping stone to future sucess, there are several others that it has been the peaks of their lives...

The experiance is great, but isn't needed, or huge for thier development... Its their adjustments and abilities to play in the pro game that decides where they go and what they do in their careers...

There are many players that have excellent NHL/KHL/Pro careers that never actually play in that tourny...

The WJC is more about media/fan hype and country's pride than about player development and the game of hockey...

Mika is missing very little by not going, instead he is working with people that will shape and mould his career into what it will be in the future, rather than be treated like a god by his country people, media and other players that will look up to him... And if he succeed's great.... if he fails, does he return with a poor mind set that he stunk on the world stage in a meaningless tourny against players he should be more advanced then....

His development will be grown more for playing several games agaisnt Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Brayden Schenn, Gustav Nyqvist, Martin St. Pierre, Chad Kolarik, Jake Gardiner, Brian Connolly, Garret Stafford, Tim Erixon, Derek Meech, Jacob Markstrom, Curt McElhinney, Dan Ellis, Dustin Tokarski and other excellent pro talent than a couple games vs. top players his age...

It changes with every player's situation... Nugent-Hopkins has nothing to prove in either level, he is just putting in time... and its much safer to play agaisnt the younger players for him than some of the big mean 30 yr old D of the AHL... it like recovery time for him... his development does not grow in either league at this moment...

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Current Roster:

F: H Sedin, Plekanec, Kovalchuck, Perry, Cammalleri, Oshie, Stepan, Anisimov, Kunitz, Justin Williams, Little, Baertchi, Huberdeau, Olli Jokinen, Eberle, Rattie, Alfredsson

D: Boumeester, Green, Carlson, Vlasic, Del Zotto, Myers, Scandella

G: Niemi, Varlamov, Neuvirth, Harding, Ramo, Vasilevski

I actually think players face a higher threat of being injured in the WJC, because it is a short, all or nothing tournament, and opponents will take liberties in the heat of the moment (ie Jenner and Kuznetsov), while players will exert and all-out effort and fight through injuries in order to win.

However, I really can't see the month away from the Baby Sens as anything but a positive. If anything, it will refresh and recharge his drive once he returns to North America. He would be able to see friends and family over the holidays as well. I understand why the Sens would want him to stay over here, but I think there are way too many other positives to keep him from participating in the tournament.

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" You said you don't give a f*ck about hockey. I've never heard anyone say that before."