It is not bragging if it is is backed up and no one's paid to be humble. André Burakovsky, the Washington Capitals first-round pick who has 23 goals in a half-season with the OHL's Erie Otters, was not exactly a word-mincer when it came to comparing and contrast world U20 championship Sweden against Canada.

Sweden, of course, has finished ahead of Canada at the world junior for the past two seasons, going gold-silver compared to the Maple Leaf's bronze in 2012 and, uh, antique bronze last season. So Burakovsky isn't completely out of line. He's just confident like any Canadian who might mouth some homily such as "We're going over there and expecting to win the gold."

The gist of it, from Christer Cederlund. Hopefully not much context is lost in the partial quotes and the translation: