Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Abramov Invited to WJC Roster

Columbus Blue Jackets top prospect in the QMJHL has made the preliminary Russian roster for the World Junior Championships.

The World Junior Championships are just around the corner and another one of the Columbus Blue Jackets prospects are getting a chance to head to Buffalo. Vitali Abramov has been invited to try out for the Russian team that will look to build upon its bronze medal from last year. The Russians though are not a favorite to win the tournament.

Vitali is coming off a dominating season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he was the league’s MVP. Abramov is a pure scorer and can skate circles around everyone in the Q. It is a shame that he has to play there another season.

With his scoring ability and pure talent with the puck Vitali should be a shoe in to make the Russian team. But Russia has a history of leaving off players who spend their time in North America.

The Russian hockey federation gets to spend a lot of time scouting their junior players playing in the MHL and have a natural bias toward those players. The World Junior Championships is being held in Buffalo though so on smaller, North American ice. Vitali playing on this surface for two years should help him with the lack of familiarity the federation has with him.

Related Story: Abramov Hype Grows

It would be a surprise if Abramov didn’t make the team at the end of the day. He is just too good at putting the puck in the back of the net. He should be one of the leading scorers for the Russians if he does make the team as well.

Abramov joins Andrew Peeke as Columbus Blue Jackets prospects that have been invited to world junior championship rosters. Peeke, an American defenseman, that should also make the team and play in Buffalo.

Next: Peeke Makes Prelim WJC Roster

Keep up to date at UnionandBlue.com as we keep up with all the CBJ happenings at the World Junior Championships.