Prospect Notes: 2023 Ivan Hlinka Tournament
The Hlinka isn’t as fun as it used to be. In fact, I would go as far to say that it’s borderline depressing, but that’s mostly because it signals the end of my mini post-draft-season vacation. It also doesn’t help that Canada felt compelled to take a Central European “memorial” tournament named after a former NHL coach killed in a car crash and add Wayne Gretzky’s name to it, as if The Great One needed any more recognition north of the border. Making matters worse is the Russia ban. Don’t you think it’s time everyone gets over this? Besides, not having a powerhouse hockey nation like Russia in the tournament delegitimizes it, especially since they were back-to-back champions before getting barred. And for next year, the games move from culturally-rich Slovakia and the Czech Republic to somewhere in Canada. Like I said, depressing.