-
Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The vacations are right here, and for hockey followers, meaning it’s time to settle in on the sofa and make sweeping judgments about prospects based mostly on their efficiency on the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Going down in Ottawa, Canada, this yr, the event is bound to be a very good one. With out the likes of Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini — who’re nonetheless eligible to play however are sticking with their NHL groups for apparent causes — this is a chance for different prospects to shine.
Each staff has medal hopes, and 5 or 6 groups have official photographs at gold. Canada and america all the time have golden expectations, Sweden and Finland might be within the hunt, and Czechia and Slovakia are, as all the time, upset threats.
The event is loaded with first-round picks and gamers anticipated to be drafted within the high 5 of upcoming drafts. There might be no scarcity of highlight-reels performs, errors, heartbreak and jubilant moments.
Making an attempt to foretell a extremely unpredictable event is all the time a idiot’s errand, that’s why we’ve by no means had an ideal March Insanity bracket. Yearly, there’s a Cinderella, a staff that disappoints and gamers who announce themselves as potential stars of their sport.
That’s no completely different this yr, as many hockey followers might be launched to the likes of James Hagens (U.S., 2025 draft-eligible), Matthew Schaefer (Canada, 2025) and Gavin McKenna (Canada, 2026). They are going to be reacquainted with drafted gamers resembling Dalibor Dvorsky, Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium, Konsta Helenius and Brayden Yager.
Group A on this yr’s event contains Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and america. Group B is Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Right here’s a take a look at what every staff is bringing to the ice, offered in reverse order of every staff’s competitiveness:
Kazakhstan
The Kazakhs might be in a tricky spot at this event and are prone to discover themselves within the relegation spherical.
Kazakhstan has loads of continuity, as a lot of its gamers are centralized on one staff for the season. Asanali Sarkenov is the lone Canadian Hockey League (CHL) participant for Kazakhstan, taking part in for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.
Latvia
Latvia brings two NHL draftees to the event, Darels Uljanskis (Anaheim) and Eriks Mateiko (Washington) and 9 returnees from final yr’s staff in Sweden. The Latvians have continuity of their lineup with the returnees however lack a real standout expertise. Nevertheless, they’re all the time a scrappy, hard-working staff able to stunning a standard energy.
Latvia’s most essential sport will come in opposition to Germany and can doubtless decide which staff makes the quarterfinal and which performs within the relegation spherical.
Germany
Germany brings a really younger staff to the event and lacks the eye-popping expertise it has loved in recent times with Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka and Florian Elias. Germany’s solely NHL draftee, Norwin Panocha (Buffalo), might be relied upon to play large minutes in a shutdown function on the blue line.
The truth is, the energy of the staff is on the blue line with Paul Mayer and Lua Niehus returning, and whereas they’re undrafted, they’ve expertise and will play themselves right into a growth camp invite subsequent summer time.
The Germans are lacking their most harmful ahead in Kevin Bicker (Detroit), a significant loss to the offense. The Germans should depend on David Lewandowski (2025), Julius Sumpf and Lenny Boos to drive the offensive engine. The sport in opposition to Latvia ought to decide whether or not the Germans qualify for the medal spherical, and so they have just a few extra offensive weapons than the Latvians do.
A stable exhibiting in a quarterfinal, with a younger staff that may return a lot of its gamers subsequent yr, can be thought-about a hit.
Switzerland
Yearly, one staff goes on a Cinderella run. This yr, the candidate to do this is Switzerland on the again of Ewan Huet, son of Stanley Cup champion Cristobal Huet.
On paper, the Swiss lack the expertise to get previous the quarterfinal, however that hasn’t stopped them previously. Huet has struggled to search out constant taking part in time within the WHL this season, however that is doubtless his internet, and everyone knows what Huets are able to after they really feel assured of their sport. That is the right alternative for Huet to showcase his skills and backstop Switzerland on a Cinderella run.
Leon Muggli (Washington) and Ludvig Johnson will play key roles on the Swiss blue line, with Muggli anticipated to play in all conditions and log large minutes. The Swiss blue line has succesful defenders who skate effectively and trigger turnovers in video games the place flashiness will get one of the best of some gamers. They are going to be bodily, block photographs and make life troublesome on the internet entrance.
Up entrance, Lars Steiner is a talented playmaker who isn’t draft-eligible till 2026, however he will certainly draw consideration from scouts and will produce just a few highlight-reel performs. Jamiro Reber and Jan Dorthe are having productive seasons for his or her respective groups and might be leaned on to provide the majority of the offense.
If Switzerland goes to ruffle feathers in a weaker Group B, the sport in opposition to Czechia could also be their spot to make noise.
Czechia
Czechia is all the time an attention-grabbing staff at this event because of proficient gamers and inconsistent goaltending (jaw-dropping or devastating). Seemingly all the time on the verge of an upset, this yr feels prefer it might have extra ups and downs than a curler coaster. After stunning Sweden to win bronze final yr, many imagine the Czechs have probably the most unstable projection this yr.
Michael Hrabal (Utah) is the clear starter in purpose, and whereas he’s extraordinarily proficient, he has struggled to carry out when he wears his nation’s colours. He’s able to greater than he has proven on the WJC stage, and the Czechs are hoping they see that model of him over the subsequent two weeks.
All eyes might be on Adam Jiricek (St. Louis), the 2024 first-rounder who has been riddled with accidents over the previous few seasons. The Czechs inexplicably left Dominik Badinka (Carolina) off their roster, making their blue line even thinner. That locations the strain squarely on the shoulders of Jiricek and AHL Ontario’s Jakub Dvorak (Los Angeles) to hold the load. Each are able to impacting the sport and might want to maintain one of the best opposing gamers at bay whereas producing offense.
Up entrance, the Czechs lack a real game-breaking expertise. Eduard Sale (Seattle), Miroslav Holinka (Toronto) and Adam Jecho (St. Louis) might be relied upon to guide the cost offensively. Sale is on a tear with Coachella Valley within the AHL, whereas Holinka and Jecho are scoring almost some extent per sport with the Edmonton Oil Kings within the WHL. The Czech ahead group is greater and can play a tighter checking model to frustrate groups, whereas hoping to capitalize on power-play alternatives or turnovers generated from their defensive play.
The underside line is that if Hrabal is at his greatest, the Czechs are prone to end second in Group B, which means they’d get considered one of Canada, USA or Finland within the quarterfinal. That’s a tricky activity, however the Czechs have proved they’re able to irritating extra proficient groups and getting key saves from their goaltender in an upset.
Slovakia
Slovakia misplaced a heartbreaker in additional time of final yr’s quarterfinal after a wonderful run of group play. The Slovaks have had excellent goaltending lately, and that’s unlikely to vary this yr.
The Slovaks return fairly just a few key gamers to the event. Maxim Strbak (Buffalo), Luka Radivojevic and Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis) will play main roles, with Dvorsky anticipated to be one of many stars of the event. This age group has loved success on the under-18 stage, and will ship Canada, USA or Finland dwelling within the quarterfinal.
Samuel City effectively have a tendency the purpose, and has been a key piece of that current Slovakian success on the under-18 stage. The undrafted goaltender is greater than able to backstopping Slovakia by means of the medal spherical, and earn himself some draft consideration as a re-entry within the 2025 draft.
Strbak is taking part in in his fourth WJC (!) and might be an important defenseman for the Slovaks. He’s able to producing offensively and shutting down one of the best gamers on different groups. Dvorsky joins Strbak returning for his fourth go-round, and may contend for numerous event awards. He might be appointment tv at this event, able to producing highlight-reel performs with dazzling talent.
Lastly, Radivojevic will draw loads of consideration from scouts on the event after final yr’s efficiency and a stable first half with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. The extremely expert defenseman might discover himself within the first-round dialog with a standout efficiency in Ottawa.
Slovakia can’t be thought-about a Cinderella due to expectations and former success, however there’s motive to imagine it might medal with its game-breaking expertise and glorious goaltending.
Finland
Finland finds itself in Group A with Canada and america after a bitterly disappointing end on the 2024 WJC. Given the expertise in Group A, the Finns might be hard-pressed to complete larger than third, however the proverbial group of loss of life means Finland avoids each Canada and the USA within the quarterfinals and is prone to face Slovakia or Czechia.
By way of the roster make-up, Finland lacks famous person expertise however has glorious depth at each place.
Finland repeatedly will get glorious goaltending on the event, and this yr must be no completely different. Petteri Rimpinen, Kim Saarinen (Seattle) and Noa Vali are all choices, with Rimpinen projected to begin. Not one of the three are anticipated to be NHL stars, however given the goaltending manufacturing unit that Finland is, it’s extra doubtless than not that Finland’s goaltending performs effectively sufficient to see it by means of to a semifinal look.
Finland has glorious depth on the blue line, with 5 NHL draftees, led by Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota). The extremely expert defender could possibly be the distinction between a medal and never on this event. He’s able to taking up video games and will discover himself within the dialog for event’s greatest defender if he performs to his capabilities.
Each considered one of Finland’s defenders can play high quality minutes, which means there’s room for error if one of many high six choices falters. In a really perfect scenario, Finland doesn’t should overplay any of their defenders, and may run Kiviharju out in conditions that enable him to showcase his super expertise.
Konsta Helenius (Buffalo) is the participant to look at up entrance for the Finns, and he might be anticipated to play a significant offensive and defensive function. He’s not Aleksander Barkov, however anticipate the Finnish teaching workers to deploy him in an analogous method to Paul Maurice’s deployment of Barkov in Florida. He’ll play in each key scenario and be anticipated to guide the cost offensively.
Jesse Kiiskinen (Detroit) together with the London Knights duo of Jesse Nurmi (New York Islanders) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose) might be relied upon to carry out offensively for Finland in opposition to powerful competitors. Emil Hemming (Dallas) is a high quality two-way participant whose playmaking capability has developed this season. He might be a key participant within the center six who can forecheck, produce offense and maintain high gamers off the scoresheet.
Given Finland’s expertise and depth, its particular groups must be among the many greatest within the event, making it a official menace to medal.
Sweden
Sweden is the prohibitive favourite to high Group B, with something much less seen as a disappointment. After a heartbreaking loss within the gold medal sport on dwelling ice finally yr’s WJC, Sweden returns key gamers at each place, seeking to enhance upon its silver medal efficiency.
It’s uncommon {that a} staff’s high defensive pairing returns — as they’re often 19-year-olds. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit) and Theo Lindstein (St. Louis) will play big roles on Sweden’s blue line, with slick puck-moving capability and stable two-way play.
Tom Willander (Vancouver) is one other puck mover who will log key minutes in a second-pair function for Sweden, balancing the bodily depth the Swedes have on the third pair.
Otto Stenberg (St. Louis), David Edstrom (Nashville) and Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina) will characteristic prominently for the Swedes. Stenberg was excellent in final yr’s event and is off to nice begin within the SHL this season. He has a knack for elevating his play when carrying his nation’s colours and might be a key participant in all conditions.
Projected top-15 choose Viktor Eklund will draw the eye from scouts and executives, and is anticipated to play a outstanding function in Sweden’s high six.
With Sweden’s stable depth and returning gamers, it’s a menace to win gold, which might finish a drought that has spanned greater than a dozen years.
United States
America is bringing again just a few gamers to defend its gold medal, a feat it has not been in a position to accomplish within the event by means of the years. The People had been excellent in 2024 and so they stay among the many high gold medal contenders.
Goaltending is locked and loaded, with Trey Augustine (Detroit) returning because the starter for the third consecutive yr, and the prohibitive favourite to be the event’s high goaltender.
Zeev Buium (Minnesota) returns and can paved the way for the People on protection. He began because the seventh defenseman in final yr’s event, and ended as considered one of their greatest, scoring an important purpose within the third interval of the gold medal sport. He’ll log main minutes alongside Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers), one other returnee who is superb in transition and enhances Buium’s skillset.
Cole Hutson (Washington) is prone to lead the second power-play unit together with his glorious puck motion and dynamic skating capability. The power to pair each Buium and Hutson, two dynamic offensive gamers, with high quality defense-minded companions is a luxurious for the People, and gives steadiness to among the best blue strains within the event.
The People went with a standard top-six, bottom-six ahead orientation for the event: a high-octane, productive high six, and a backside six with physicality and power.
Three of the highest six come from Boston Faculty, and might be anticipated to provide the majority of the scoring output for the U.S. James Hagens, a 2025 high prospect, tremendous sniper Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and captain Ryan Leonard (Washington) are greater than able to filling the online, and might be a harmful trio.
Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders) and Trevor Connelly (Vegas) had been sizzling subjects on the 2024 draft, and each possess game-breaking offensive talent. Search for Eiserman to be a power-play triggerman together with his glorious taking pictures capability.
The underside six options stable two-way gamers who might be relied upon in matchup roles and to play a heavier model to put on down opponents. The U.S. left some talent off the roster in favor of a extra balanced staff, however the People have a high quality roster able to profitable gold.
The U.S. won’t be the favourite, but it surely has high quality goaltending and game-breaking expertise, which implies the staff is all the time harmful.
Canada
Canada is a staff seeking to bounce again from a poor exhibiting finally yr’s WJC that noticed it depart with out a medal. Something lower than gold will fall in need of expectations at each WJC, and though the Canadians are lacking Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, they’ve the expertise depth to win gold at dwelling.
Calum Ritchie (Colorado) and Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia) deliver NHL expertise to the roster. These two, together with Brayden Yager (Winnipeg), Bradly Nadeau (Carolina), Berkly Catton (Seattle) and Easton Cowan (Toronto) might be anticipated to offer pace, talent and a ton of offense.
Gavin McKenna, the favourite to be picked No. 1 within the 2026 NHL draft, possesses unimaginable expertise, and if utilized correctly, could possibly be an X issue for Canada.
On protection, Tanner Molendyk (Nashville) and Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia) will play main roles for Canada. Bonk will log key minutes in opposition to high strains and on the penalty kill, and Molendyk might be anticipated to drive and produce offense from the again finish. Matthew Schaefer, a projected top-three choose in 2025, possesses elite hockey sense, high quality skating and glorious transition play. Whilst a draft-eligible participant, he’ll most likely play a key function on Canada’s blue line and could possibly be a difference-maker by event’s finish.
Canada will want its particular groups to be good to win gold, and far of that may depend on Molendyk’s power-play proficiency and a penalty kill that ought to characteristic Bonk, Andrew Gibson (Nashville) and Caden Value (Seattle).
Canada’s difficulty has by no means been expertise, it has been getting in its personal manner. Whether or not it’s undisciplined penalties, shaky goaltending, head-scratching teaching selections or ill-timed turnovers, Canada will want everybody pulling the rope in the identical path to get again on high of the rostrum.
The final time that Ottawa hosted this event, it produced one of the vital iconic Canadian hockey moments: Jordan Eberle‘s tying purpose in opposition to Russia with 5.4 seconds to go. The Canadians are hoping that extra of that magic nonetheless lies inside the partitions of the Canadian Tire Centre.
Canada and the U.S. enter the event with gold medal expectations. There have been some slightly stunning cuts by each groups, and each ought to hope that slicing EJ Emery (U.S., New York Rangers) and Zayne Parekh (Canada, Calgary) or Andrew Cristall (Canada, Washington) don’t come again to hang-out them.
Mark your calendars: the New Yr’s Eve showdown between the 2 golf equipment is prone to decide who tops the group. One can solely hope it’s a basic just like the final time these groups performed in Ottawa on New Yr’s Eve in 2008.
Tournaments with younger gamers are unpredictable due to feelings, extremely expert gamers making an attempt to perform a little an excessive amount of and the occasional mind cramp. That’s what makes this my favourite event yearly.
We’re certain to see performs that make our jaws drop, that makes us pull our hair out and even, chuckle. This event doesn’t make or break a participant’s profession. In any case, these are children who’re nonetheless creating bodily and emotionally. The one prediction you may take to the financial institution: We’re certain to be entertained.
