Harju, Johan

Rumors have been swirling all week that Montreal first round draft pick Louis Leblanc may have already decided to leave Harvard University after one season with the Crimson. Montreal writer Pat Hickey penned a story for the Montreal Gazette on Wednesday claiming the speedy forward might be weighing whether to go to the QMJHL or sign with the Canadiens and play in the AHL for Hamilton. Compounding the intrigue was that Leblanc, whose junior rights were held by Chicoutimi, apparently had a preference to play for the Montreal Juniors in the QMJHL so he could also attend classes at McGill University to continue his education.

Today, at the tail end of the QMJHL Midget Draft, Chicoutimi traded Leblanc's rights to the Montreal Juniors, along with a 3rd round pick, for Guillaume Asselin and a 2011 first round pick. That will only serve to intensify speculation that Leblanc may leave Harvard. If Leblanc leaves, he will add to a list of players not returning to the Crimson that already included graduating seniors Doug Rogers, Chad Morin, Alex Biega, Jack Christian, and Ian Tallett. While only Rogers, Morin, and Biega were serious contributors to Harvard last season, it's important to bear in mind the club has only won 9 games each of the past two seasons. Losing those players and their leading scorer, Leblanc, may be a death sentence for Ted Donato's club next season.

All that begs the question: what about Alex Killorn? Killorn, a 2007 3rd round pick of the Lightning, has been routinely singled out over the past couple of seasons as being one of the team's best young talents in prospect camps but has failed to garner much publicity playing for a sinking Harvard club. If Leblanc leaves, can the Lightning allow one of their ten best prospects to languish through another potential single-digits win season at Harvard? Would it be better for his development to sign Killorn and have him begin his pro career with Norfolk of the AHL? Expect new GM Steve Yzerman to seriously contemplate that option if Killorn impresses him as much at this summer's prospect camp as he has other Hockey Operations people with the Lightning in previous camps.

If Killorn were to be signed, he'd join fellow signees Johan Harju and Mark Barberio from an already strong class of incoming pros. The team could also still sign 2009 2nd round pick Richard Panik, who just completed his first World Championships appearance for Slovakia.

Hat tip to our Chad Schnarr, who has been following this situation closely on BoltProspects' Twitter feed.

Gold Medal Match
Russia 1 @ Czech Republic 2
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP
Tournament totals: 3 GP, 3-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .967 sv%

Tomas Vokoun made 35 saves and held Russia scoreless until a late empty-net goal by Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk as the Czech Republic stunned Russia 2-1 to win World Championships gold. Russian starter Semyon Varlamov had 23 saves in the loss. Russia gets the silver medal. The Lightning must now decide if they want to pursue the services of goaltender Vasily Koshechkin, who was 3-0-0 in the tournament for the Russians.

Bronze Medal Match
Sweden 3 @ Germany 1
Victor Hedman, Sweden, 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 9 GP, 1-1-2, +5, 6 PIM

Johan Harju, 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 4 SOG
Tournament totals: 9 GP, 4-1-5, -1, 4 PIM

Oilers 1st round pick Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson scored his 5th goal of the World Championships and the Leafs' Jonas Gustavsson made 20 saves as Sweden defeated home country Germany 3-1 to secure the bronze medal. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman played 14:28 in the match and took a roughing minor late in the third period. Lightning prospect forward Johan Harju played 17:15, but was on the ice for Germany's lone goal by Alexander Barta. Both Harju and Hedman, obviously, are under contract to the Lightning and will be coming to training camp for the club in the Fall.

Semifinals
Sweden 2 @ Czech Republic 3 (SO)
Johan Harju, Sweden, 1-0-1, -1, 0 PIM, 8 SOG
Tournament totals: 8 GP, 4-1-5, E, 4 PIM

Victor Hedman, 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 8 GP, 1-1-2, +4, 4 PIM

Karel Rachunek scored a goal with 8 second left in regulation to force overtime and Jan Marek scored the winning goal in the shootout to propel the Czech Republic to the World Championships finals over Sweden. Lightning prospect forward Johan Harju had Sweden's opening goal, a power play marker, and led Sweden with 8 shots on goal in 20:02 of ice time, the second highest ice time total of any Swedish forward. Unfortunately, Harju was on the ice for Rachunek's tying goal, which is the lone blemish in an otherwise outstanding game for the big power forward. Harju's goal was his 4th of the World Championships, which actually ties his goal scoring total of the entire regular season for Dynamo Moscow in the KHL. For Harju, who before this tournament was last seen leaving the ice injured in the second-to-last game of a disappointing first round playoff exit for Dynamo, this World Championships has reasserted the big forward's pedigree as a poor-man's Johan Franzen. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman played 20:25 in the match and was on the ice for a Czech goal by Tomas Mojzis. Sweden will play home country Germany in the bronze medal game tomorrow.

Russia 2 @ Germany 1
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, Win, 26/27, 1.00 GAA, .963 sv%
Tournament totals: 3 GP, 3-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .967 sv%

Russian coach Slava Bykov went with Lightning prospect goaltender Vasily Koshechkin in their semifinal match against home country Germany, and the 6'6" netminder did not disappoint as he remained unbeaten and untied in the tournament making 26 saves on 27 shots faced for the win. Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk scored the winning goal for the Russians with just 1:50 left in regulation to punch their ticket for the gold medal game against the Czech Republic. It will be interesting to see if the Lightning make any moves to sign Koshechkin at the end of the tournament, which will come to a close tomorrow. Ex-GM Brian Lawton reportedly had serious interest in bringing in the 2002 8th round pick next season.

Quarterfinals
Sweden 4 @ Denmark 2
Johan Harju, Sweden, 0-1-1, E, 2 PIM, 4 SOG
Tournament totals: 7 GP, 3-1-4, +1, 4 PIM

Victor Hedman, Sweden, 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 7 GP, 1-1-2, +5, 4 PIM

Lightning forward prospect Johan Harju assisted on a goal by longtime linemate Linus Omark in support of Sweden's 4-2 Quarterfinals win over Denmark. Harju played 18:15 in the match and also took a minor for tripping. Lightning blueliner Victor Hedman played 15:00 in the match for the Swedes. He took a minor for slashing in the game. Sweden advances to play the Czech Republic in the semifinals.

Russia 5 @ Canada 2
Steven Stamkos, Canada, 0-0-0, -1, 4 PIM, 4 SOG
Tournament totals: 5 GP, 2-1-3, E, 10 PIM

Steve Downie, Canada, 0-0-0, E, 18 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 7 GP, 2-0-2, +2, 28 PIM

Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP
Tournament totals: 2 GP, 2-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .969 sv%

Russia got a pair of goals by Evgeni Malkin and 3 assists from Ilya Kovalchuk as they stomped Canada 5-2. Lightning star Steven Stamkos played 14:53 in the match and took minors for boarding and hooking. Fellow Lightning forward Steve Downie played 10:47 and took minors for boarding and roughing before a chippy third period when he took minors for roughing, slashing, and a 10 minute misconduct for an altercation with Sergei Fedorov. Russia advances to play home country Germany in the semifinals. Canada's tournament is now over.

Relegation Round
USA 3 @ Italy 2 (SO)
Mike Lundin, USA, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 0-1-1, E, 0 PIM

TJ Oshie scored the winning shootout goal for Team USA to complete a 3-2 win over Italy. USA went 3-0-0 in the Relegation Round, and will avoid relegation. Italy and Kazakhstan will be relegated in lieu of Austria and Slovenia in next year's World Championships. Lightning blueliner played 15:33 in the match for the Americans. Team USA's tournament is now completed. They finished 13th out of the 16 team field.

Qualifying Round
Slovakia 1 @ Germany 2
Richard Panik, Slovakia, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 0-2-2, +3, 6 PIM

Vladimir Mihalik, Slovakia, 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 1-0-1, -1, 4 PIM

Lightning blueline prospect Vladimir Mihalik was on the ice for both German goals as the home team defeated Slovakia 2-1. Mihalik played 17:39 in the match. Lightning forward prospect Richard Panik played 8:51 for the Slovaks, whose only goal came from Marek Svatos. Slovakia's tournament is now over. They finished 12th out of the 16 team field.

Canada 2 @ Czech Republic 3
Steven Stamkos, Canada, 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 4 GP, 2-1-3, +1, 6 PIM

Steve Downie, Canada, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 2-0-2, +2, 10 PIM

The Czech Republic got goals from Lukas Kaspar, Jaromir Jagr, and Jakub Klepis to defeat Canada 3-2. Lightning star forward Steven Stamkos returned from a concussion suffered against Switzerland to play 19:38 for the Canadians. He took minors for roughing and cross-checking in the match. Fellow Lightning forward Steve Downie played just 8:48. Canada will face Russia on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Russia 5 @ Finland 0
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP
Tournament totals: 2 GP, 2-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .969 sv%

Russia got 1 goal and 1 assist from Maxim Afinogenov en route to a 5-0 thumping of Finland. Semyon Varlamov had a 36 save shutout in the match. Lightning prospect goaltender Vasily Koshechkin did not play. Russia will face the Canadians on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Switzerland 0 @ Sweden 5
Victor Hedman, Sweden, 1-0-1, +3, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 1-1-2, +4, 2 PIM

Johan Harju, Sweden, 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 3-0-3, +1, 2 PIM

Sweden got second period goals from Lightning contracted players Johan Harju and Victor Hedman on the way to an easy 5-0 win over Switzerland. Harju played 17:40 in the match while Hedman played 16:12. Harju's goal was his 3rd of the tournament after a disappointing KHL season where he scored just 4 goals all season for Dynamo Moscow. Sweden draws Denmark on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Among other Lightning prospects, Kirill Gotovets' Belarus finished the tournament in 10th and Martins Karsums' Team Latvia finished 11th.