Zayne Parekh – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: IMMEDIATE FANTASY IMPACT – Prospects who can make a difference in the next couple of seasons

Peter Harling — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:32:59 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 24: Washington Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson (44) as seen during an NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues on March 24, 2026, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

Aside from winning your fantasy league, one of the best feelings is identifying the next big thing. Having the rookie of the year is a boastful achievement you can hold over your league mates. An impactful rookie that scores 40 goals as Auston Matthews did in 2016-17, or Mathew Barzal and his 85-point rookie campaign on your team can take your team from a contender, to a Championship.

Here are the top prospects coming to the NHL that can have an immediate impact on your fantasy team.

Gavin McKenna, LW - 2026 Draft

McKenna has been forecast as the top prospect for the 2026 Draft for years. He dominated the WHL with 244 points in 133 career games. With the NCAA opening its doors to CHL players, McKenna seized the opportunity to move to Penn State to play against much more challenging competition. The transition was challenging at first, but after a strong performance at the WJC with Canada posting 14 points in seven games, he returned to the NCAA with some swagger. McKenna scored 25 points in the next 12 games, including dropping 10 points in one weekend vs Ohio State. True, his production has dipped at the NCAA level compared to his lofty WHL production. And while he is used to playing older competition, that may be a concern for some. Don’t be fooled, the NCAA is a very high level of hockey that will only better prepare McKenna for hockey at the NHL level. Look for McKenna to break out into the NHL and have an immediate impact as a contender for the Calder Trophy.

Cole Hutson, D - Washington Capitals

Older brother Lane Hutson is the reigning Calder winner, and it is very reasonable to expect Cole to push for his own Calder Trophy season when he signs with the Capitals. Comparing their career stats, Cole is right on pace with his older brother's production and trajectory. Both are undersized, dynamic offensive defenders that have followed identical paths. Given the success his brother has enjoyed, the slightly bigger and drafted slightly higher Cole Hutson should take the NHL by storm like Lane did once he makes the jump to the NHL.

Ivar Stenberg, LW - 2026 Draft

Don’t look now, but the Swedish winger is the number one ranked prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft by several prominent scouting sources. Regardless of where he ends up being drafted, Stenberg has a very NHL ready profile that he brings and should be able to step into an NHL roster in his first training camp. He has good size, plays a complete all-around game and has tremendous offensive upside. Having played prime minutes in a prominent role at the SHL level as an 18-year-old and producing 33 points in 43 games, including 10 points at the WJC, he will be an impact player right out of the gate.

Anton Frondell, C/LW - Chicago Blackhawks

Another Swede playing a prominent role in the SHL as an 18-year-old is Frondell. The 2025 third overall selection scored 28 points in 43 games for Djurgardens. Frondell also played a key role winning the Gold for Sweden at the WJC scoring eight points. The heavy shooting winger has offensive upside, size, and an NHL-ready game. He signed his ELC and was loaned to the SHL for the current season, expect his NHL debut soon and his rookie season to be impactful.

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 09: Anton Frondell #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates after scoring during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 9, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Porter Martone, RW - Philadelphia Flyers

Martone continues to trend quickly towards being an impactful offensive player in the NHL. The Flyers' sixth overall selection from the 2025 NHL Draft dominated the OHL in his draft year, scoring 98 points in 57 games. Like McKenna, he was ready for NCAA competition to challenge his development. The 6-foot-3 winger has proven to be up to the task as he has scored 25 goals and 50 points through the first 28 games with 78 PIM to boot. Martone was a force for Canada as well at the WJC with six goals and nine points in seven games. Still only 19-years-old, it would not be unreasonable for him to play his sophomore season at Michigan State, but he signed his ELC and made an impact in his first seven games in the NHL with three goals and four assists. The big winger will be a fan favorite in Philly for a very long time.

James Hagens, C - Boston Bruins

Drafted seventh overall by the Bruins after he had been ranked as the top prospect in the 2025 Draft heading into his draft season, is going to look like a steal for the Bruins. Since Hagens fell into the Bruins' lap, he has had a brilliant season with Boston College, racking up 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points. He had two points in the Bean Pot Championship victory and scored seven for USA at the WJC. Hagens has only been held off the score sheet five times this season and is a consistent producer as well as a reliable two-way player. The Bruins signed him after his junior season ended with the Eagles, and Hagens quickly secured a top role in Providence with potential to have an impact with the NHL team next season.

Zayne Parekh, D - Calgary Flames

His first year at the pro-level has had some ups and downs. Injuries have limited his games played, but with only four games at the AHL level the rookie defender posted two goals and five points. He was loaned to Canada for the WJC where he dominated with 13 points in seven games. The Flames trade of Rasmus Andersson secures Parekh's role as the team's undisputed top offensive defender and his role with the big team moving forward. Parekh will have played more than 25 games in the 2025-26 season, making him ineligible for the Calder in the coming season. That said, look for Parekh to have a breakout season in the coming year as he finds his footing in the NHL and on the Flames.

Tij Iginla, LW - Utah Mammoth

After climbing the draft rankings to sixth overall in 2024, injuries limited him to just 21 games in his D+1 season, where he still managed to post 32 points. As a senior in the WHL, Iginla delivered a 90-point campaign in just 48 games and is leading the WHL in points per game with a 1.88 PPG pace. Iginla was also one of Canada’s top players at the WJC with eight points. He is the son of Hall of Famer Legend Jarome Iginla, but there is no nepotism here; Tij is legit and could win the Calder in his NHL rookie season.

SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 31: San Jose Sharks left wing Igor Chernyshov (92) skates with the puck during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks on December 31, 2025 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Scott Dinn/Icon Sportswire)

Igor Chernyshov, LW - San Jose Sharks

The Russian power forward may be under the radar in a few fantasy leagues. He was a second-round pick by the Sharks in 2024 from Russia, and his D+1 season was delayed due to injury. He made his North American debut late in the OHL season, playing in the final 23 games for Saginaw, where he posted 19 goals and 55 points. This year, he is making his pro debut and has appeared in at least 25 NHL games, notching 16 points, alongside the young Shark superstars and producing. He has spent a lot of the current season in the AHL, where he scored 33 points in 41 games. The big winger has size and skill and will be a big part of the Sharks' rebuild.

Ilya Protas, LW - Washington Capitals

After being selected in the third round from the USHL by the Washington Capitals in 2024,

Protas has seen his stock skyrocket. His D+1 season was spent in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires, where he posted eye-popping stats to the tune of 50 goals and 124 points through 61 games. After dominating the OHL, he moved up to the AHL as a 19-year-old rookie and produced 28 goals, 62 points in 66 games with the Hershey Bears before making an immediate impression, scoring four points in two games. At 6-foot-5, he is a commanding physical presence, but he could use his size in a more aggressive way. It’s just a matter of time before he joins his big brother Alexei in the NHL, and Ilya could have more offensive upside.

NHL PROSPECTS: Top 10 NHL affiliated performers at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship

Kyle Pereira — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:25:49 +0000

Goaltender Petteri Rimpinen of Finland lets in the 3-2 goal by Zayne Parekh of Canada (not pictured) during the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship bronze medal game between Canada and Finland on January 5, 2026 in Saint Paul.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

The 2026 World Junior Championships in Minnesota have come and gone, with Sweden claiming gold, Czechia taking home silver, and Canada taking home bronze. With the tournament over, it has left some NHL teams happy with the guys that they had previously selected in recent drafts. But these 10 NHL prospects made their teams particularly happy.

#10 Will Zellers, Boston Bruins

The USA’s attempt at a three-peat ended with a disappointing finish, as they lost to Finland in the quarterfinals and were sent packing early. But if there was one bright spot, it was the player they nearly didn’t even bring with them. Zellers played incredibly well, scoring eight total points, including five goals, in five games. His shot was put on display, with several fantastic goals. The best one easily comes in his game against Switzerland, where he snuck a beautiful shot in right by the ear of the Swiss netminder. His ability to attack the high-danger areas was clear all tournament, and he was an electric presence on the ice. He was a clutch performer, scoring three straight game winning goals against Germany, Switzerland, and Slovakia in the group rounds. While his play did slow down in the knock-out games, his tournament was the most impressive on a team with several players who did not meet expectations.

#9 Alfons Freij, Winnipeg Jets

Freij, the first of several Swedes on this list, was fantastic on the back end. He was quarterbacking the Swedish powerplay unit, and it led to him scoring three of his seven total points. He was feeding Anton Frondell one-timer opportunities, drawing defenders in to open up those passing lanes before sliding pucks straight through to Frondell for high-danger opportunities. He controlled play incredibly well from up top, setting up a ton of opportunities throughout the tournament. His skating ability was also on display, showing off smooth edges as he looked to move pucks up ice. While he had some shaky moments in his own end, Freij still popped off the page with his ability to impact the neutral and offensive zones with his skating, passing skill and willingness to play an aggressive offensive style.

#8 Joona Saarelainen, Tampa Bay Lightning

Saarelainen finished with six points, including four goals, across seven games. He largely played second line minutes for Finland, helping them get past the USA in the quarterfinals, before falling just short of a medal. But he stood out in a big way for Finland. Saarelainen played at a fast pace, which especially stood out when Finland was playing a more meticulous, patient style for much of the tournament. He also wound up finishing the tournament as the leader in scoring chances generated. He easily could have scored more goals, but was robbed several times. That includes the bronze medal game against Finland, where he had excellent looks as both a passer and shooter in the low slot. His role as the net-front man on the Finnish powerplay also allowed him to generate some outstanding looks. Saarelainen also stood out in the neutral zone, again due to his skating, generating rushes and chances off those rushes. It wasn’t the best tournament from a point production standpoint, but he generated excellent looks and proved to be an important top-6 piece to a very impressive Finnish squad.

#7 Jack Berglund, Philadelphia Flyers

Berglund, the captain of the gold medal winners, had an incredible tournament. He led a star-studded Swedish team in points, with three goals and seven assists, playing as the third-line center. That’s a testament to just how well he played. He impacted the ice in all three zones, playing a bruising, heavy-weight style which proved incredibly useful against big teams like Finland in the semi-finals and Czechia in the gold medal game. He played a key role on the penalty kill, where he would generate two assists while shorthanded, including the opening goal in the gold medal round. His forechecking was on display all tournament long, forcing teams into mistakes and extending offensive possessions. His three goals came largely from his ability to get to the net-front and win those battles for positioning. He proved to be an absolute workhorse while also putting up points for Sweden en route to gold.

#6 Leo Sahlin Wallenius, San Jose Sharks

Wallenius, yet another Swede on this list, was pivotal in the race to gold. Not only was he an important piece as a puck mover and offensive generator, but he was an important penalty killer as well, throughout the entire tournament. His positioning on the penalty kill, staying in his spots and keeping his assignments in check, helped Sweden to kill off the penalties early against Czechia in the gold medal game. His blocked shot, which led to him hopping off the ice in that game, also showcased how bad he wanted that win. His ability to transport pucks up the ice and chip in with 6 points in this tournament, while playing top pairing minutes, was crucial to a successful tournament.

#5 Anton Frondell, Chicago Blackhawks

Frondell, the Blackhawks third overall pick in 2024, played a crucial role for Sweden as expected. He recorded eight points across the seven games, including five goals. He was using his heavy frame very well all tournament, winning battles along the wall to help extend possessions and skating through stick and body checks. His skating also popped at times, especially through the neutral zone where he helped generate rushes and scoring chances off those rushes. But perhaps the most important thing Frondell brought to the table was his shot and ability to get to the net front. His one-timer was a weapon at times, on a very successful Swedish powerplay. But perhaps his best goal, that didn’t get on the scoresheet, was when he played hero in the semi-final shootout against Finland. He called the game, sending Sweden to the gold medal round, in a contest where it could be argued that Finland played the better game overall. His clutch performance, ability to use his frame to drive offense and create opportunities, and his shot paired with his smarts allowed him to be a key piece for Sweden yet again.

#4 Vojtech Cihar, Los Angeles Kings

Cihar, who helped lead Czechia to the gold medal round and a silver medal finish, recorded 11 points in the tournament. Not only did he produce well, but he played the most minutes on the penalty kill amongst Czech forwards. His skating, positional awareness away from the puck, anticipation, and work ethic was as clear as day, especially in those PK minutes. But perhaps the reason he went on to win tournament MVP came down to some incredible skill plays in key moments. His remarkable goal against Canada to re-take their lead, where he fired the puck just under the crossbar while falling down in tight to the net, was a highlight reel for the ages. His ability to rise to the occasion, especially against Canada in the semi-finals, was the biggest stand out from his game. Unbelievable tournament from the 2025 second rounder.

#3 Michael Hage, Montreal Canadiens

Hage, the first-round selection of the Canadiens in 2024, had an electric tournament, leading the entire crop of players in points with 15 across Canada’s seven games. His passing skills on the powerplay were excellent, part of the reason why the Canadian man advantage looked like a well-oiled machine. His skill on the puck was also evident, with quick, nifty moves to create a new angle to open passing lanes. Hage’s skating was also a positive trait, flying up ice for rushes, generating offensive opportunities flying down the boards and setting things up. He was constantly looking to get the puck in the high-danger areas and did so consistently. He looks like a true difference maker because of his skill, skating and smarts he put on full display in this tournament. He was a constant bright spot for Canada.

#2 Adam Jiricek, St. Louis Blues

Jiricek, who went on to score six points, including five goals, played a pivotal role in his silver medal finish. He won the best defenseman award, voted on by the media in attendance, for a reason. Not only did his five goals tie him with Zayne Parekh for most goals by a defenseman, but he was vital in all three zones. He played very well against rushes, gapping up well and angling plays to the outside. He was also a strong puck transporter, while being a key piece of the Czech attack. Jiricek was completely unafraid to jump up in the play and help out offensively. His highlight reel overtime goal against Finland is a prime example of that, as he stepped up into the play, navigated the zone very well away from the puck, before finding soft space at the net front and scoring a between the legs goal past Petteri Rimpinen.

#1 Zayne Parekh, Calgary Flames

It was tough to choose between the top four names as to who was deserving of the top spot. But Parekh was absolutely incredible for Canada and absolutely earned the top spot. His skating was on full display, with how he jumped up in the rush and helped lead attacks up ice consistently, acting as a fourth forward at times. His work on the power play was remarkable as well, with both his passing and shooting ability on full display at all times. His shot in particular was incredible, with some excellent shots from distance beating goalies with consistency. While his play in the NHL hasn’t popped yet, if this tournament is any indication, he has the ability to be a game-breaking talent on the back-end for years to come. The Flames have a special talent on their blueline, with his ability to walk the blueline and command the play from the point allowing him to be an absolutely dynamic presence for Canada all tournament long. It’s only a matter of time before he figures it out in the NHL.

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- January 5th, 2026 – Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:28:36 +0000

Viggo Björck of Sweden celebrates after winning the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship final game between Sweden and Czech Republic on January 5, 2026 in Saint Paul.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

CANADA V FINLAND

On the final day of the World Juniors 2026 tournament, we get started with the Bronze Medal game between Team Canada and Team Finland. Coming into this game, Finland had taken Sweden all the way to an eight round shootout before falling in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Canada would lose for the third consecutive tournament to the Czechs, ending in a one-goal loss.

The Canadians would get things rolling early, as just over a minute into the contest, Michael Hage would have a burst of speed through the neutral zone, flying up ice and creating a 2-on-1. He would make an excellent move around a sprawling Finnish defender before sliding the puck across to Sam O’Reilly, who scores the opener. Just a few minutes later, Canada would continue a tough trend of allowing quick responses, as Arttu Valila scored off a drop pass from Heikki Ruohonen on the rush, knotting the game at one. Braeden Cootes would score about a minute later, as this game began to look similar to their group stage shoot-out, after Keaton Verhoeff found him at the high slot, where he whipped a shot past Petteri Rimpinen to take the lead right back. Halfway through the first, after things settled down, Zayne Parekh would take a holding penalty, resulting in the Finns taking the man advantage. On that powerplay, the Finns would even the score once again, as Julius Miettinen would fire a heavy shot past Carter George. It all started with Joona Saarelainen holding the zone on an attempted clearance, allowing the Finns to get set-up, with Lasse Boelius setting up Miettinen for the goal. Late in the first, Boelius would take a penalty for cross-checking, giving the Canadians a powerplay. They would not disappoint, as they showcased some outstanding puck movement, resulting in Parekh scoring in what has been a remarkable tournament for the Calgary Flames defender.

Heading into the second period with the lead, Canada would get started early, applying pressure immediately on the Finns. With the Finns getting tired, Parekh would pinch down on a clearance attempt, easily knocking the puck down to Tij Iginla, who would drive towards the net before setting up Porter Martone, who would give Canada the two-goal lead. Finland would make another costly mistake, with Ruohonen taking a slashing penalty and giving the Canadians another man advantage opportunity. Once again, they would exhibit outstanding passing ability, with Gavin McKenna threading the needle on a shot-pass to O’Reilly on the back door for his second of the game. Canada would then transition into a pure shut-down style, not really pushing the pace and instead keeping plays out wide and chipping pucks up and out consistently. The Finns would receive a positive break late in the period, when a Leo Tuuva takeaway led to a breakout, where he set up Ruohonen for the entry, and he walks in and fires it right past George, getting within two ahead of the third.

In the third period, Finland would control much of the play, but couldn’t quite get the dangerous looks they needed. When they did get quality chances, however, George was up for the task and shut the Finns out. But the Finns made one mistake, turning the puck over in their offensive end, leading to a McKenna rush up ice. They would get multiple dangerous looks, completely shut down by Rimpinen, before the puck found McKenna on the doorstep, with Rimpinen scrambling, and he did not miss. Finland once again would keep pushing, but George and the Canadians did not let them get one through, and Canada would be crowned this year's Bronze Medal winners.

MVPs:

Canada: Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh

Finland: Heikki Ruohonen, Julius Miettinen, Joona Saarelainen

SWEDEN V CZECHIA

The first all-European Gold Medal Game since 2016 promised to bring a level of high intensity as both teams looked very heavy in their semifinal matchups from the day prior. The game got underway slowly, both teams defending the other’s chances quite well. No one quite looked offensively dominant but they both have tended to score greasy goals during this tournament. Czechia looked to get the upperhand in terms of advantage, getting two power plays in five minutes during the middle of the period. However, Jack Berglund would pick the puck up on a broken power play and drive the net, almost score, keep the play going and shoved it to Casper Justovaara who tapped it in for the Swedish lead on a shorthanded goal. The remainder of the period went back to the fundamentals for both teams, which consisted of shutting eachother down and using the body heavily.

The second period started with much of the same, but Sweden was playing to their strengths way more. The young guns Viggo Bjorck and Ivar Stenberg were playing excellent, driving play, establishing possession in the offensive zone and even showing up defensively. The Czechs were really showing that their match against Canada was wearing on them, just then, Vojtech Cihar cross-checked Ivar Stenberg in the back to put Sweden up on the powerplay. After some close bending, Victor Eklund finally broke the Czech penalty kill on a clean up goal dished to him by Jack Berglund.

The Swedes fully took control in the possession game from then on, absolutely shutting the door on the Czechs in the second period. Even when Czechia was on a PP, Sweden was shutting everything down. The second period wound down quietly with Sweden looking dominant, with just one period to go before winning their first gold since 2012. The third period started again with the Swedes bringing the pressure heavy, resulting in a quick Ivar Stenberg zone entry that kept going until he set up Sascha Boumedienne for an earth shattering clap bomb from the wall to give the Swedes a 3-0 lead in the third. Time continued to tick down on the Czechs chances but none were converting. Michal Orsulak was pulled with over three minutes remaining and off that 6v5, Adam Jiricek found the back of the net for the first time in this game. The netminder stayed out of the net and the Czechs continued to go to work in their offensive zone, until Matej Kubiesa found a lane to make it 3-2 Sweden with under 24 seconds to go. Some maybe thought Czechia had a slim chance to maybe tie, going back into the offensive zone yet again, but after a blocked shot, Ivar Stenberg rushed to the puck and buried the empty netter to seal the Swedish victory up in a bow. The Swedes finally break their curse and win their first gold medal since 2012, grabbing yet another gold from this 2006 birth year that has been so successful for Sweden.

MVP’s

Sweden: Viggo Bjorck, Jack Berglund, Ivar Stenberg

Czechia: Michal Orsulak, Adam Jiricek, Adam Novotny

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Heikki Ruohonen (FIN) (1G 1A)

After being nails all tournament, Ruohonen showed his more crafty side against Canada when on offense. His usual game was evident throughout the match, throwing the body around and causing general disruption for the Canadians in all three zones, he already looks like a Flyer. Ruohonen shone just as brightly on offense, showing how deadly he can be on rushes, carrying the puck up ice, dropping it to Arttu Valila and screening his shot to help tie the Canadians early in the bronze medal game. Later on, he showed another great rush play, escaping pressure with the puck, getting a ton of space and scoring a tricky goal to shorten the Canadian lead in the second period. Ruohonen has shown a ton of translatable two-way traits in his time at this tournament, his ability to be everywhere in the defensive and neutral zones are fantastic and offensively he had a solid tournament, setting up a great many quality chances that didn’t show up on the stat sheet.

Jack Berglund (SWE) (2A)

Berglund, the Philadelphia Flyers second round selection in the 2024 draft and captain of Team Sweden, had one last year of eligibility left to play in the U20s. Boy did he ever make a statement with it. He battled for the entire tournament, playing physical, going into board battles hard and winning pucks more often than not. He also chipped in plenty of offense, with 10 points in those seven games, including two in the one that mattered most. He was noticeable every single game because of his work ethic and sheer will to lead his team. Berglund did so many of the little things right, and this tournament showed that he can play amongst the best young players in the world, a key step towards his NHL dreams. He looks like the kind of player an NHL team would love to have, but hate to play against, especially come playoff time. The Flyers look to have a very good player for their future in the young leader and, now Gold Medal winner.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Gavin McKenna (CAN) (1G 3A)

Gavin McKenna finished his tournament with 14 points, adding four in the bronze medal game. His offensive zone mastery is the biggest takeaway I had from his entire tournament, he was so crafty with his passes, seeing lanes that you couldn’t even imagine if you had a bird’s eye view. His first two assists were secondary, feeding Michael Hage who’s chemistry with McKenna was crucial for Canada’s offense the entire tournament. His forechecking, though not as consistent against Czechia, was evident against the Finns albeit not as strong as his QF and Group stage games, it was still a strong trait that will give him a great leg up in Penn State when he goes back for his second semester. McKenna’s biggest highlight was his shot pass to Sam O’Reilly to put Canada up 5-2 on the power play. He wired the puck the second he got it to fool the entire Finnish defense, it was truly special, just another crazy pass in his repertoire. His goal later on to even further the lead, started from a great feed through traffic to Michael Hage, whos subsequent shot led to a rebound coming right to him to clean up. McKenna’s tournament, if nothing else, has established him as an insanely talented passer and deadly forward in the offensive zone, something that was already known but emphasized from the past two weeks. However, what was truly refreshing was to see McKenna routinely become a surprising disruptor from time to time, being fully on opponents on the forecheck during spurts of the tournament. If shown just a bit more consistently from this point forward, he will absolutely lock down #1 for himself.

Viggo Bjorck (SWE) (2A)

Bjorck, a projected early selection in the 2026 NHL draft, came into this tournament with minimal expectations in comparison to his teammate and other 2026 eligible, Ivar Stenberg. Yet, it feels no one did more in this tournament to raise their stock than Bjorck, who was active all over the ice, consistently. He officially finished with seven points in six games, including two assists in the most important game to clinch Gold. He dominated in his minutes, easily finishing as one of the best chance generators on the Swedish squad, and in the whole tournament, which is mighty impressive considering just how much talent is on Sweden. That came from his ability to use his strong skating to beat defenders wide, then use his lower center of gravity and lower-body strength to drive hard towards the net. He also showcased his incredible off-puck ability, consistently getting to the net front and finding open ice in dangerous areas all tournament long. Bjorck was also one of the best faceoff takers in the tournament, leading all Swedes with a 57% faceoff win percentage, allowing Sweden opportunities to control pucks in key spots. Not only was he key at driving offense and generating opportunities for possession off draws, but he was a key penalty killer in the gold medal game. His edge work, smarts, strong active stick and motor all shone bright in those spots, as he was able to clog up passing lanes incredibly well, and applied a ton of pressure on puck carriers who came into his area. He was outstanding all tournament long in so many different ways for Sweden. Bjorck certainly created a ton of buzz around his name, as he looks to earn a top-10 bid on draft day. One last note that deserves mention is Bjorck’s incredible character. He was absolutely wonderful to talk to after games and was noticeably loved by his teammates in the room. He’s a young kid that an NHL team surely would love to have.

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 31st, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:27:56 +0000

SLOVAKIA v SWITZERLAND

To open up this game, Switzerland was all over Slovakia. They kept them on their heels, giving them a lot of issues on the forecheck. Michal Pradel played well early, taking on the early pressure from the Swiss. At least, until Tobias Tomik took a very bad penalty, a double minor, that proved to be incredibly costly. Loris Wey opened the scoring on the power play, with Jamiro Reber and Ludvig Johnson getting the helpers. Then a little over a minute later, Mike Aeschlimann scored the second Swiss power play goal, with Daniil Ustinkov and Leon Muggli getting the assists.

The second period was more of a chess match than the first, trading some chances but mostly waiting for someone to make a mistake. It wasn’t until late that the Swiss struck the back of the net again. Kevin Haas was the goal scorer, with Koerbler getting his second point of the game on the assist, while Gian Meier grabbed the other assist.

The Slovaks would push back in the third, as they became more desperate to put one home in a crucial game. Adam Nemec would deflect a brilliant Tomas Chrenko shot-pass past Elijah Neuenschwander to cut the deficit to two. They pulled Pradel with about four minutes remaining, but the Swiss kept throwing themselves in front of shots and holding the Slovaks to the perimeter. With 10 seconds remaining, Luka Radivojevic fired a beautiful shot home off an offensive zone draw, set up by Nemec and Chrenko, but it was too little, too late for Slovakia.

MVPs

Slovakia: Jan Chovan, Adam Nemec, Tomas Chrenko

Switzerland: Leon Muggli, Loris Wey, Lars Steiner

CZECHIA v LATVIA

This crucial Group B matchup started quite even at the outset, seeing both the Czechs and Latvians play their own aggressive styles in the first five minutes. Adam Novotny’s high-sticking early gave Latvia the first advantage, and they made the most of it off a Bruno Osmanis feed to Kristers Ansons' power play goal to go up 1-0 on the Czechs. However, the trailing team gained its confidence shortly after. Tomas Poletin tied it up four minutes later through broken play started by Tomas Galvas, and then just a minute later, a penalty led the Czechs to swing momentum completely in their favor off the stick of, who else? Adam Jiricek. The Czechs would continue to offensively dominate, keeping the puck in their zone going into the second.

That possession battle was still going fully the way of Czechia for the beginning of the second, however, the Latvian’s kept getting in lanes and causing general disruption. Max Psenicka would find a way, though, bouncing one past Maurins off the skate of Harjis Cjunskis to put the Czechs up 3-1 all the way into the end of the second. The third started with the Latvians finding their groove defensively, halting a lot of the Czechs' momentum in the neutral zone. Their luck would continue as the Latvians converted on yet another power play, once again Osmanis with the feeder, this time to Markuss Sieradzkis, who beat Marik short side, cutting the score to 3-2. However, the chances and time all seemed to run out for Latvia as the Czechs walled their last power play and Vaclav Nestrasil shut the door with an empty netter. The Czechs have put themselves in a position to win Group B if Canada loses, a most desirable outcome for them.

Viggo Björck of Sweden and Chase Reid of USA during the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship game between USA and Sweden on December 31, 2025 in Saint Paul.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

USA v SWEDEN

The most anticipated group stage game got underway in Grand Casino with aggressiveness from the United States, with Lee and Stiga creating some solid chances early. The chances went back and forth until Casper Justovaara opened up the scoring by banking a puck off of Logan Hensler’s skate to give the Swedes the lead. The game stayed relatively even for the entire rest of the first with the Swedes gaining momentum off repeated chances to end the period. The second period is where it all went downhill for the hosts. Ryker Lee tripped Harenstam in the crease, and shortly after, Eddie Genborg ripped a shot so hard that he didn’t see it go in initially. Adding to that lead just three minutes later was Lucas Pettersson off his own ripper, putting the Swedes up 3-0 early in the second and silencing the home crowd with the Cole Hutson “I can’t hear you” celly.

Looking for answers, the U.S. was granted a power play from an Eric Nilson tripping call that led to a Chase Reid get-back goal to finally get the Americans some life. The luck seemed to be going in the American direction after Harenstam was called for embellishment, giving the Americans another power play shortly after the Reid goal. However, Lucas Pettersson would score what ended up being the game-winner on another incredible shot off the rush while the Swedes were short-handed. Just minutes later, Eddie Genborg made it even worse, 5-1, as the Swedes, from the passing prowess of Viggo Bjorck, fired a pass to the aforementioned Genborg. Though they were down by four with the second winding down, Hagens, Ziemer, and then Will Zellers combined to create a seemingly hopeful goal for the Americans with Zellers potting his fifth of the tournament on the play to end the second.

The third period saw a change in net for the U.S., with Nick Kempf getting the remaining 20 minutes between the pipes. The chippiness and struggle continued to be as physical as it was petty, leading to a U.S. power play and goal from Teddy Stiga, who was fed by L.J. Mooney, who had by far his best game today. Just as the Americans seemed to have hope after that goal, they would be punished for their lack of discipline against the Swedes, who goaded them at every step, eventually giving their rivals a 5-on-3 advantage on the power play. Though Kempf initially made incredible save after incredible save to stave off most of the two-man advantage, Ivar Stenberg, who whiffed on three backdoor shots, did not miss his fourth shot to put Sweden back again by three, and they never relinquished that advantage. The clock ticked down as the Americans seemingly turned more desperate, but everyone in Grand Casino knew there was no coming back. In a complete reverse of the 2024 World Juniors Gold Medal game, Sweden took this matchup handily, winning 6-3 on their rivals' home ice.

CANADA v FINLAND

In a game of immense importance, with the winner taking on Slovakia and the loser having to face the USA in the Quarter finals, it got off to the most electric start of the tournament. Within the first six minutes of this game, the two teams combined for four goals. It started with Canada getting on the board first, with a goal from Zayne Parekh, who continued his hot tournament with a brilliant shot that beat Rimpinen. Less than three minutes later, Julius Miettinen would tie the game at one, as Matias Vanhanen springs him behind Parekh and Miettinen beats Carter George on the blocker side. About 30 seconds later, Canada would re-claim their lead, with Brady Martin finding the back of the net. It all started with Martin making a great flip pass up ice that Michael Hage skated into, followed up by Hage showing incredible poise with the puck to pull back, force the Finnish defender to skate past him, then setting Martin up on a tee to finish the play he started. Then, just over a minute later, Finland would once again tie the game up, with 2026 draft eligible Oliver Suvanto putting one home, finishing off Roope Vesterinen’s rebound on the back door.

The game would slow down a bit for some time, until a bad penalty was taken by Onni Kalto, with an ugly looking boarding call. The Canadian power play unit went to work very quickly, with Brady Martin putting home his second of the game. It was made possible because of solid initial movement at the point from Parekh and a very savvy play from Hage to throw the puck at Rimpinen for Martin to swat into the net off a rebound. But yet again, the Finns responded quickly, as Canada’s Ethan MacKenzie would take a penalty of his own for hooking two minutes after Canada took the lead. On the ensuing power play, Lasse Boelius would fire home a very well-placed shot from the point through traffic to beat George high. The first period would slow down again, as it became more of a chess match.

In the second period, Finland would take a couple penalties early, and on their second man advantage opportunity of the period, Canada’s power play would make them pay again. This time, it was Tij Iginla putting it home. Parekh would absolutely thread the needle on a beautiful stretch pass to spring Iginla on the breakaway, where he would make no mistake to beat Rimpinen in tight to give Canada their lead back again. That goal gave Canada plenty of momentum, as they really controlled the pace of play for much of that period. It wasn’t until the final few minutes of the period when Canada would take a two-goal lead, as Cole Beaudoin put home a chaotic scramble for the puck at the Finnish net front. Sam O’Reilly won a battle in the corner and sent the puck to the side of the net, where Caleb Desnoyers would drive hard, creating chaos and knocking the puck into space, and Beaudoin would put it away. But the Finns responded quickly yet again, cutting the Canadian lead back to one just 35 seconds later. Suvanto would force a turnover on the dump and chase, applying pressure and finishing a heavy hit in the corner, and Vesterinen would snag the loose puck before roofing it over the shoulder of George.

Going into the third period, it turned into a chess match again early, with both teams clamping down against rushes and preventing long offensive zone sequences. But Canada would strike first, as Beaudoin would score yet again off a beautiful feed from O’Reilly as he drove the net. Canada would completely lock it down after taking the two-goal lead, not allowing Finland to really have any sustained offense. O’Reilly would put the game away with a deserving goal, finding the Finns empty net, and punching their ticket to a date with Slovakia in the Quarter Finals.

MVPs:

Canada: Zayne Parekh, Brady Martin, Sam O’Reilly

Finland: Matias Vanhanen, Roope Vesterinen, Oliver Suvanto

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Sam O’Reilly (CAN) 1G 2A

O’Reilly had his best game of the tournament by far, in a crucial match up with a tough opponent. What makes Finland such a difficult team to play comes down to their details and ability to win physical battles along the boards. O’Reilly played to their strengths and won, time and time again. He was a key part of Canada’s win. It’s especially important to note due to the fact that he was not a popular choice to make the team when the rosters were initially announced, and he has done nothing but prove Team Canada right in their choice to bring him on. He caused issues for Finnish breakouts, forcing turnovers and creating scoring opportunities all game long, and he was rewarded for it on the scoresheet in the most important game of the tournament thus far for a star-studded Canadian team.

Jack Berglund (SWE) 3A

Sweden’s captain had his most important international performance on New Year's Eve. Berglund went to work early in the contest by matching the Americans’ aggression early, throwing his body around in neutral and defensive ice. There were a couple of great stops along the wall to limit the initial American attack, stepping up and showing why he will fit right in as a Philadelphia Flyer when he comes to North America. However, Berglund’s best period was the second alongside winger Lucas Pettersson. His mobility was crucial for both assists in the period, he did a great job of getting to the middle of the ice and in transition, cutting straight through the American defense. On the Pettersson shorthanded goal that put Sweden up 4-1, he put it all together, blocking the shot and supporting his linemate to become an option on the rush. Berglund finished his great night with some nice hands in tight to the net, feeding Stenberg on a rebound dish at the end of a long 5v3 power play. Berglund’s skill set is built for the NHL. Standing at 6-foot-4 and playing like it too, he will be a valuable middle six center for a team that has been desperate for some gritty center play for a long time.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Tomas Chrenko (SVK) 2A

In a disappointing loss for Slovakia, Chrenko continued to shine. He made an impact in all three zones in this game, showing off his relentless motor. He was able to make plays in the defensive end and transition up ice for some offensive looks against the Swiss. What makes that all the more impressive is the fact that the Swiss have done such an excellent job defending against rushes in this tournament with their structure, and Chrenko was still able to find those opportunities to make his impact felt. But it was in the offensive zone where Chrenko would truly stand out. He recorded assists on both goals, including one gorgeous power play set up to the back door on a shot-pass. But he was feeding chances to his teammates all game long but just didn’t convert into goals. He was excellent yet again, and his remarkable tournament continues into the quarterfinals, where he has truly become a core piece of the Slovak roster.

Viggo Bjorck (SWE) (2A)

Sweden’s best performing offensive player has been Viggo Bjorck so far, and the passing game has been the biggest key to that success. His creativity with his stick and space creation has been wonderful for the Swedes in the offensive zone. Bjorck truly came to play against the United States, fully coming alive in the second period, striking right away. His work to transition, enter the zone, and then draw two U.S. defensemen to him to open up space for Eddie Genborg was incredibly smart, a crucial decision to get Sweden up by two early in the second. After tons of other chances that didn’t convert, he showed off his flair by saucing a no-look pass to Genborg again on the power play. Though his size has been and will be a factor when he eventually gets drafted, his talents are evident every time he steps into the offensive zone, and the IQ with which he plays the game makes him more mature than many of his teammates in the neutral and offensive zones. Bjorck’s play against the U.S. last night truly shows the extent to which he has grown in the SHL and hopefully that confidence carries over to the rest of his season.

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 29th, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:16:19 +0000

Day 4 of the World Juniors was jam packed with action from start to finish, with some very fun matchups.

SWEDEN v GERMANY

Early in this game, Sweden faced similar problems that they faced in their game against Switzerland; the forecheck was giving them issues. But a penalty on Germany gave Sweden the first powerplay, where they scored the opening goal. Anton Frondell fired a beautiful one-timer home after the great set-up from Alfons Freij. After some more back-and-forth, with Sweden continuing to struggle against the tight checking Germans, Maxim Schafer would force a huge turnover in the defensive end, springing him and Elias Pul on a 2-on-0 chance, where he would set Pul up with an easy back-door tap-in.

In the second period, it would be Sweden who made key adjustments to control the play far better. Ivar Stenberg really started to dial in as well, playing a key part in an improved second period. It also helped that Germany took a penalty late in the first, allowing Sweden to open on the powerplay, where Viggo Bjorck finished a very pretty pass from Sascha Boumedienne to give Sweden their lead right back. Sweden would then kill off a 3v5 penalty kill, and score shortly thereafter, with Leo Sahlin Wallenius threading the needle to Jack Berglund on the doorstep for a simple tap in. The second would see Viggo Bjorck get his second of the day on the man advantage as well as a Felix Ohrqvist goal to see the Swedes go up 5-1 on the Germans going into the final period.

To start the third, Anton Frondell continued his power play domination with his second goal of the day and third on the PP in this tournament. The Swedish offense was fully awake and still firing on all cylinders towards the end of the game as they added another goal on the power play from Liam Danielsson to get some extra insurance, pushing the lead to 7-1. The game drew to an end with continued domination from the Swedes, as they did not let off the pedal, even scoring a literal last second goal from Berglund.

MVP’s

Sweden: Anton Frondell, Viggo Bjorck, Leo Sahlin Wallenius

Germany: Elias Pul, Maxim Schafer, Lenny Boos

FINLAND v CZECHIA

Radim Mrtka was back in action for the Czechs as they took on red-hot Finland. Early in the first, Veeti Vaisanen was charged with a 5-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking Tomas Poletin on a net-drive. The Czech squad would take advantage quickly, as Matej Kubiesa scored from a drop pass from Tomas Galvas. Finland would take another penalty, and Rimpinen was forced into making a few key saves, including a highlight reel stop on a phenomenal pass to the slot from behind the net. It was all Czechia in the first, but Rimpinen held up his end incredibly well, keeping it a one-goal game.

The second period was very chippy, filled with scrums and a few penalties. But both goaltenders stood tall in net, keeping it a one-goal game. More of the same continued in the third, as the chippiness kept building. A few more penalties, and a few more big stops from both netminders. Orsulak made an excellent stop, in particular, going post to post on a one timer try. Emil Hemming would tie the game up late, off one heck of a one-timer to beat Orsulak high, set up excellently by Leo Tuuva, with about 20 seconds remaining in regulation. While Finland forced overtime, they could not cap off the comeback with a win. Instead, it was Adam Jiricek who scored an incredible, highlight reel, between the legs goal on Rimpinen. It was an electric ending to a very fun game.

MVPs

Czechia: Vaclav Nestrasil, Adam Novotny, Michal Orsulak

Finland: Oliver Suvanto, Petteri Rimpinen, Aron Kiviharju

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 29: Slovakia's Tomas Chrenko #29 celebrates with Andreas Straka #15, Luka Radivojevic #26, Adam Nemec #21, Lukas Tomka #24 and Michal Svrcek #11 after scoring a third period goal against USA during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on December 29, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

SLOVAKIA v USA

The Americans came out hot to start, pressuring the offensive zone with a fire they hadn’t shown in their first two games. However, the Slovaks quickly regained their confidence, dumping and chasing to where the American defense started to wear down. Off a turnover by L.J. Mooney, Tobias Pitka made the defense pay, netting his first of the tournament during a quick rush. Quickly after Kamil Bednarik’s holding call, Tomas Chrenko scored his fourth goal in two games on the power play to put Slovakia up 2-0 early. The Americans looked frustrated as they ended the period with limited success in the neutral and offensive zones.

Entering the second, the Americans went down a man due to a Mooney interference call, but the U.S. PK found some great success when A.J. Spellacy scored a tip-in goal short-handed. The penalty kill continued to fire up the U.S. bench, getting three or four legitimate dangerous chances during the Slovaks power play. However, Slovakia would deliver a similar performance when the US went on their own power play. Adam Belusko drove one home to put the Slovaks back up two, and killed the Americans man advantage, bringing the Red, White and Blue to 0/7 on the PP.

Shortly after the U.S. began to crawl back, Brendan McMorrow buried a bouncing puck for his second point of the night to cut the lead to one. Soon after that, the U.S. finally tied Slovakia off of their first power play goal in the tournament. From a standstill, Ryker Lee ripped the puck over Michal Pradel’s glove side to even the game at three. Like clockwork, Slovakia went on the power play once again, just in time for them to take the lead. Frustrating failed chance after frustrating chance went by for the Americans as the second period ticked down. That was until James Hagens buried his first goal of the tournament to even the Slovaks at four. The second saw six goals all together between the two teams and they were even through two.

The final period would be the true test. Immediately, the United States struck first off Hagens’ stick again, finding an opportunistic bounce on a dump and chase. Just over three minutes later, the American power play found life again. Will Zellers found the back of the net for the fourth time on the back of a tremendous passing play from Brodie Ziemer and Mooney. From that point on, the game devolved into a chippy back and forth that was carefully built by animosity and grit. The game continued to get more aggressive and more desperate as both teams were deadlocked in terms of chances as time wound down. With the net empty, the desperate Slovaks found relief from the stick of Chrenko, who scored his fifth goal of the tournament. The draft eligible is taking command of the spotlight for the plucky Slovaks. Though they showed a ton of struggle, the United States defended and prevailed, giving their home fans a heart attack with this game, evening them with the Swedes at three regulation wins, setting up a very exciting New Years Eve night game.

MVP’s

Slovakia: Adam Belusko, Tomas Chrenko, Tobias Pitka

U.S.A.: A.J. Spellacy, Chase Reid, James Hagens

CANADA v DENMARK

Immediately, Canada sets the pace, owning possession in the Danes zone. When Denmark took a penalty, the Canadians made quick work. Gavin McKenna put his patented shot to work, getting set up at the dot by Michael Hage for an early lead. A few minutes later, Keaton Verhoeff throws up a brilliant stretch pass to Tij Iginla, who curls back up the boards under pressure, draws the defender in, then throws a beautiful backhand pass into the slot for Braeden Cootes, making it 2-0. After some offensive zone time for Denmark, resulting in their first shot on goal, a turnover created a rush the other way for Caleb Desnoyers, who set up Zayne Parekh on a tee, and he would not miss. A brilliant shot from a red-hot Parekh makes it 3-0.

To start the second period, Denmark would strike first. Less than 30 seconds in, Mads Klyvo would snipe one over the short-side shoulder of Carter George. As the period wore on, Denmark would hold up… until they took another penalty. This time, it was Porter Martone on the man advantage putting one in the back of the net, set up by Parekh for the one-timer. After several incredible saves from Patrick Tiedjen, it is once again McKenna off a one-timer that beats him glove side, off a feed from Brady Martin to make it 5-1 late in the second. Canada would open the scoring of the third period less than five minutes in, when Michael Misa found the back of the net to make it 6-1. About a minute later, McKenna would snag the hat trick, extending the lead to 7-1. Then, late in the third, Kashawn Aitcheson would rip an unbelievable shot over Tiedjen’s shoulder to make it 8-1. Then very shortly after, it would be Martone again, another unreal snipe up and over the shoulder to make it 9-1.

MVPs

Canada: Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh, Jett Luchanko

Denmark: Patrick Tiedjen, Mads Klyvø, Markus Jakobsen

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Anton Frondell (SWE) (2G)

We can start to talk about Anton Frondell’s role on the Chicago Blackhawks power play when he inevitably makes their roster next year. The proof is in how automatic he has been for the Swedes in the left circle. Frondell’s shot is crisp, fast off the stick, and, best of all, accurate. He’ll need to show it more consistently at even strength, but he’s had a different role when playing 5-on-5. Frondell’s truculence and overall effort have been quite noticeable in this tournament. His games against Switzerland and Slovakia showed this style consistently throughout and it was no different against the Germans today. Frondell came barreling down on the forecheck to firmly establish, with all 205 pounds of his body mass, the Swedish possession and I have loved every minute of it. Off puck he has been opportunistic, getting open consistently trying to find that first even strength goal. Additionally, Frondell has been adept at finding his teammates for chances abound, I was surprised he didn’t get an assist in this contest against the Germans. Anton Frondell continues to exhibit his well-rounded game at the international level, let’s see how he does under the brightest lights, on New Years Eve against the hosts.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 26: USAÕs James Hagens #10 looks on during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Germany at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on December 26, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

James Hagens (USA) (2G)

Hagens’ second World Juniors Tournament got under way in a slower fashion then his first as the U.S. was struggling to dominate like they had in years past. In the Americans’ toughest games yet, their top center showed up. Hagens was a crucial part of the U.S. turnaround today against Slovakia, starting with being one of the few forwards who could effectively enter the zone and set up an offensive cycle in the wake of a heavy Slovakian team in front of them. Despite setting up and contributing to a couple high danger chances, the Americans were down 3-4 with time winding down in the second. James Hagens went to work attacking the middle of the ice, receiving a pass and burying the game tying goal under Michal Pradel’s right arm.

His tendency to attack the middle has improved his game in the NCAA by leaps and bounds, making him a worlds better scorer than when he was a budding freshman just a season ago. Coming back onto the ice for the third, Hagens delivered the hot start they so desperately needed less than 20 seconds in. Once again attacking the middle, he jumped on a puck that was deflected by a Slovak stick to punch the then-go-ahead goal for the hosts. Hagens was critiqued in last year's tournament for not showing up in big games, then he scored a big goal in the gold medal game, now he has come through for the United States in their most crucial moment. This clutch factor should be a welcome sight for Bruins fans as they will be looking for him to do it again against a tough Sweden team on New Year’s Eve.

Alfons Freij (SWE) 2A

Freij was incredible when it came to moving the puck against the Germans. All game long, he was moving very well with the puck on his stick and dishing beautiful passes to teammates all over the zone. He was very clearly a standout on the back end for Sweden and a large reason they were able to get their game together after a slow start against Germany.

Patrick Tiedjan (DEN) 40/49, .816 SV%

Yes, he gave up a lot of goals. But the team in front of him was getting absolutely caved in. He played admirably well, battling hard on every save and making several impressive ones at that. Not to mention, he looked great from a mechanical standpoint, moving well laterally. He was very impressive despite the outcome and genuinely played his heart out against the Canadians in this contest, and that absolutely deserves a mention.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Tomas Chrenko (SVK) (2G)

The Slovak center has found lightning in a bottle in his last two games, scoring five total goals in two games. Chrenko came alive against the hosts today, blazing by many of their highly touted prospects with his coveted speed and challenging them with his unrelenting energy. Chrenko’s mindset alone when forechecking might be enough for me to consider moving him not only into a first round ranking but potentially a top 20 pick as well. However, his shot has been the talk of the town, finding lanes through heavy traffic for both of his goals. It is clear that this kid has an eye for the net when he slows down his game a bit. Though the Slovaks lost in regulation, Chrenko was one of, if not, the largest sparkplug that kept them in it right until the very end. Chrenko’s wonderful skating and shot, combined with the confidence he’s surely gained with his performance, should set him up nicely for the remainder of his season, playing in the Slovakian Pro league.

Keaton Verhoeff (CAN) 1A

While it wasn’t the cleanest performance, Verhoeff gave a really good taste of the raw talent he possesses. With the puck, he moved so fluidly as a skater and passer, pushing the pace and oozing confidence and swagger. Away from the puck, he slowed down and prevented rushes by Denmark thanks to his excellent skating and just how much space he takes up with his strides and reach. Offensively, he understood where the space was and was completely unafraid to jump right up in the offensive zone. Against a tougher opponent, it’s tough to gauge how much success his style would have, but he really could have produced more simply from how he navigated the zone without the puck. He’s a special talent who, once he really puts it all together, could be a dynamite NHL defender.

Interview with James Hagens

McKeens: I want to take you back to this past off-season. You were drafted by the Bruins obviously. How did the draft experience and going to their development camp help you prepare for the season and this tournament?

JH: Just being able to grow up and see all those guys who have been through it. You’re in the moment there, and to be able to be with my family and friends, it was really special. To be able to go to development camp. It was great going there, meeting all the guys, met a couple players on the team, so that was something that was really cool. Being able to talk to staff, see what I have to do, just make sure I was prepared for the season.

McKeens: Who are some of the guys behind the scenes here who helped build the culture that you guys have developed over the past couple of years where the team has been so successful?

JH: The coaching staff we have here, it starts with them being able to bring us together and then coaches back at NTDP for the guys that were there in this group, Nick Fohr. He had us really close. I know all of us still talk to each other to this day. Even the guys that aren’t here that we played with. So, I think it stems from there and being able to kind of bring these new guys that you haven’t met, new faces, especially once you’re getting here, being able to grow chemistry with them. Build the connection, you want to make sure that everyone feels welcome, everyone’s friendly, and that was what we did.

McKeens: Chase Reid, such a young, talented defenseman on the team, what’s it like having him on the ice at such a young age and having such a big impact?

JH: It’s great. You see how comfortable he feels out there and to be able to have someone like that on your back end, it helps a lot.

McKeens: Sticking with Reid, I asked him who the biggest trash talker was, guys who are really funny behind the scenes. He brought up Brodie Ziemer, would you agree with that statement or is there someone else who deserves their flowers there?

JH: Ha, I think Ziemer is definitely one of them. I think Teddy Stiga is another guy that’s pretty funny too.

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 26th, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:28:45 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 26: Canada's Caleb Desnoyers #25 battles for the puck with Czechia's Vladimir Dravecky #9 in the second period during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

The first day of the 2026 World Junior Championships did not disappoint. Close games, underdogs, prospects playing up to their potential, Boxing Day truly had it all.

SWEDEN (3) v SLOVAKIA (2)

The Swedes were tested by the Slovaks in the opening game of the tournament. The first period set the tone of a defensive, grinding game from both teams, one that did not cater well to the Swedes. However, Anton Frondell starred in the second, putting up a rocket of a goal and a primary assist to Victor Eklund to put Sweden up 2-nil. After the lead, the Swedes came to a halt in play and got lazy, leading to a 3 v 5 PK where Slovakia’s Tomas Pobezal converted to cut the lead in half. Tobias Tomik tied the game at two in the third period of a game that seemed like it was headed to overtime. But then, Ivar Stenberg, the 2026 draft eligible, buried his first goal of the tournament on a rush play. Sweden took the game from there, surviving the defensive-minded Slovaks.

FINLAND (6) v DENMARK (2)

Finland established themselves early, going up 2-0 in the first three minutes, looking offensively dominant. Instead of lying down, Denmark played big and cut the lead in half from a goal from William Bundgaard. However, after that the Finns found their groove, burying four goals, with one more in the first and three more in the second period. Jasper Kuhta gained two of his three primary assists in this four-goal outburst. His skill and passing were on display all game. Finally, Captain Anton Linde buried Denmark's second and final goal of the opening matchup as the game entered the third period. After that, the game grinded to a stop as the clock ran out. Finland showed their offensive might in spurts against a team they probably could have beat by more, if they felt like it.

USA (6) v GERMANY (3)

The Americans came out swinging early in the first period as they showed off their skill and size that was emblematic of the last two championship winning teams. Max Plante, Chase Reid and Will Horcoff put the hosts up 3-0 against the Germans in the first. However, that lead was threatened when Timo Kose cut the lead to two near the end of the first. Germany came back out to really match the Americans off the stick of Simon Seidl, who cut the lead down to one. Nerves were up in Grand Casino Arena when the Germans continued to match the Americans in the second period. They were trading goals in the middle of that period to get to 4-3 off of Will Zellers and Lenny Boos’ goals, respectively. Late in the second, Will Zellers notched his second goal, and then Cole Eiserman got his first to give the U.S. their three-goal lead back. The third period was consumed with energy and hitting, but no goals. The Americans came out of this one with a decisive win. But this game was definitely under serious threat of being too close. The Germans showed a lot of heart against the host team today.

CANADA (7) v CZECHIA (5)

In what can already be called “the game of the tournament,” Canada survives their bout with Czechia in their opening matchup. The back-and-forth affair saw four game-tying goals and three lead changes. Canada’s talent really was the deciding factor here as Zayne Parekh’s two goals to tie and take the lead ended up being the crucial two goals that they needed. Other shining stars for Canada were Michael Hage and Ethan MacKenzie, who each had three-point nights. Gavin McKenna was also notable not only for his two primary assists, but also his two-way play. The Czechs most valuable player was certainly Tomas Poletin who notched two game-tying goals in this game. Vojtech Cihar, Adam Benak, and Tomas Galvas were also crucial to the Czech attack and kept them in this game. Canada has faced true adversity here and will be stronger for it as they get the needed regulation win here. Czechia has done two great things for themselves; they looked dangerous on the rush and exposed Canada’s weakness on defending their rushes. Overall, this was by far the most fun game to watch on day one.

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

WILL ZELLERS (USA) 2G 1A

Will Zellers took advantage of every chance he received from this first game. Where Germany shut down many of the American’s loaded weapons, Zellers was able to use his IQ to weave his way in and score at crucial moments for the United States. From his first electric pass to Chase Reid early in the second, to his game winning goal to kill the German momentum, Zellers was always making the most of his opportunities. Zellers has always had a strength for finding space without the puck, and he made the most of it today. Additionally, Zellers’ shot is very strong, just adding another dangerous level of scoring to a team with Eiserman and Horcoff. His ability to get to the middle of the ice was also on display, especially on his game-winning goal that got the Americans to four goals. People were right to be outraged when Zellers initially didn't make the roster. His performance today solidified his spot as one of the U.S.’s best players.

ANTON FRONDELL (SWE) 1G 1A

Frondell had little to prove coming into this tournament, yet he shone brightly anyways. After a breakaway shot that hit the post in the first period, Frondell fired a patented one-timer past the Slovak netminder in the middle of the second on the power play. His shot was on display a lot, as he shot seven times on net today. Though he is mainly known as a sniper, his prowess as an all-around offensive dynamo was there too when he wired a shot pass to fellow 2025 draftee Victor Eklund. While his game wasn’t excellent in the neutral zone, Frondell looked dominant in the offensive and even defensive zones. There were several booming hits laid throughout the game by the Swede and you shouldn’t expect him to quit that.

ZAYNE PAREKH (CAN) 2G

Parekh, the Flames 9th overall selection in 2024, comes into this tournament with 12 NHL games under his belt and all the expectations that come with it. While he had a very shaky first period, especially in his own end, he completely turned it around in the third. Once he scored his beautiful highlight reel snipe to tie the game at the end of the second, he flipped a switch and began dominating. He then opened the third with another unreal shot to give his team the lead, playing a crucial part in Canada’s third period surge. He and his defensive partner, Cameron Reid, still have work to do in their own end, but both can be absolute game-changers in the offensive end. Parekh was against a very tough Czech team.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

CHASE REID (USA) 1G

While the rest of the American blueline had a tough day, 2026 eligible Chase Reid looked excellent. He scored early after creeping up into the play perfectly for his teammate Will Zellers to feed him a great pass for a goal. Reid’s activation in the offensive zone was crucial and kept the foot on the gas for the U.S. in some tough minutes against a surprisingly gritty German team. His skating was also a highlight today, both his speed and mobility catching my eye many times on backchecks and breakouts alike. During those breakouts, Reid was very successful, especially when regrouping in the neutral zone to keep that aforementioned pressure going. Defensively, he was solid enough, though I would love to see more of the mean streak he shows so often in the Soo.

CARSON CARELS (CAN)

On a loaded Canadian team, Carels played top four minutes early in the tournament, against a tough Czech team. Not only was he playing big minutes early on, but he was as steady as they come on the ice for the Canadians. He was always in the right spot, making plays to keep the puck moving up the ice and away from his end. He battled hard at the net front, playing a balanced game in all three zones. If he can keep up these outstanding performances, Carels could find himself flirting with being the number one defenseman in the draft class.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 26: Czechia’s Vaclav Nestrasil #14 battles with Canada's Carson Carels #5 in the third period during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Interview w/ Carson Carels

McKeens: You and McKenna are draft-eligibles, and these tournaments are usually dominated by older players. What is it like playing with these older guys and also the pressure of it being your draft year?

CC: I mean there is pressure, obviously, but you can’t really think about it. Me and Gav came here to win one thing and that was the Gold. So the pressure kinda goes away once you step on that ice. And you’re doing it as a team, everyone’s got your back. And if you play well here, you’ve got a good shot at going pretty high. But the end result is really about Gold and that’s what we came here to do.

McKeens: Sticking with McKenna here, playing on the back end, what’s it like having a forward like McKenna on the ice with you?

CC: It feels really good. We’ve connected a few times in the pre-tournament on some goals. He’s a really special player. He’s really creative and can find seams. When you have someone like that, it’s so special. You’re gonna have fun, have a chance to get some points put up some good numbers.

McKeens: What do you take from his game, despite playing different positions? What can you learn from how he plays and use it in your game?

CC: Just the way he sees the ice. The way he stops up and uses his poise. I think I could use some of that on the back end a little more. He’s really special, I’m just trying to take as much as I can from him.

McKeens: For you, your hockey IQ jumps off the page. What do you do behind the scenes to improve that hockey IQ and build on the sense you have?

CC: I watch a lot of hockey. I always grew up watching hockey with my family. I went to Price George and Jimmy did such a great job with me. We watched so many clips and always talked about hockey. I’m just in love with the game, so I think my IQ comes from just that and how much I watch.

McKeens: Last question, it’s important to have a tight knit group in a tournament like this. Who are some of the guys who can really get the team together, someone who people gravitate towards?

CC: I think we have a lot, a lot of guys have big roles like that with their club teams. A few guys stick out, like Liam Greentree. He’s awesome, he keeps the guys going, his energy drives our group. He’s the number one guy for sure, when anyone goes to him, but we have a lot of guys and a tight knit group for sure.

2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – TEAM MCKEEN’S PREDICTIONS – Final Medal Standings, Tournament MVP, Top Forward, Top Defense, Top Goaltender, Best 2026 Draft Eligibles and Biggest Surprises

Team McKeens — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:31:31 +0000

USA Celebrating 2025 World Juniors win

The 2026 World Junior Championships are set to kick off on Boxing Day (December 26), with Minnesota and the United States hosting. Can Canada get back on track after two disappointing quarterfinal losses? Can the United States win their first gold on home soil and three-peat? Members of the McKeen’s team have come together to bring you our predictions for the tournament.

Final Medal Standings Predictions

GOLD

Canada - 19

USA - 3

Sweden - 2

SILVER

Sweden - 11

USA - 7

Czechia - 3

Canada - 3

BRONZE

Sweden - 8

Czechia - 7

USA - 6

Canada - 2

Finland - 1

Who Wins Tournament MVP?

Michael Misa - 8 votes

Gavin McKenna - 5 votes

Porter Martone - 3 votes

Anton Frondell - 2 votes

James Hagens - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Max Plante, Carter George, Cole Hutson, Ivar Stenberg

Who Wins Best Forward?

Michael Misa - 7

Gavin McKenna - 5

Porter Martone - 4

Ivar Stenberg - 3

James Hagens - 2

Anton Frondell - 2

Also receiving votes (1): Victor Eklund

Who Wins Best Defender?

Cole Hutson - 10

Zayne Parekh - 5

Radim Mrtka - 2

Adam Jiricek - 2

Also receiving votes (1): Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Harrison Brunicke, Carson Carels, Chase Reid, Kashawn Aitcheson

Who Wins Best Goaltender?

Carter George - 12

Jack Ivankovic - 4

Petteri Rimpinen - 4

Joshua Ravensbergen - 2

Also receiving votes (1): Michal Pradel, Kim Saarinen

Which 2026 NHL Draft Eligible Prospect Has the Best Tournament?

KANATA, ONTARIO - JANUARY 2: Canada's Gavin McKenna #9 shoots the puck during warm-up prior to Quarterfinal Round action against Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 2, 2025 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andr Ringuette/IIHF)

Gavin McKenna

“He feels the need to prove that he's the best player when it comes back to U20 hockey.” - Chase Rochon

“He has been receiving big minutes in practice and the preliminary game against Sweden. I project he will be their top line left wing and that his game will carry over extremely well to this tournament's fast paced style of play.” - Linc Zdancewicz

“McKenna is a generational offensive talent with elite hockey IQ and creativity. He already has high scoring totals in junior leagues and dominated at the U18 level. With Canada’s top offensive role likely entrusted to him, he has the best combination of opportunity and skill to post standout numbers and influence medal outcomes. He plays with a level of confidence and pace rarely seen at his age, allowing him to consistently drive possession and dictate offensive flow. His skating acceleration and ability to separate from defenders should translate extremely well on the bigger WJC stage. He also thrives in clutch situations, often elevating his game late in tight matches. With strong linemates and heavy power-play usage, his points should come both at even strength and on special teams. Altogether, his skill set and expected role make him the clear favorite to be the standout draft-eligible player of the tournament.” - Marek Novotny

“I think this tournament will be a perfect chance for McKenna to show the doubters that he is still the top prospect for this draft. I think he’ll be able to hone his skill and put up big numbers and potentially be the top player of the tournament.” - Mika Burns

“His transition from the WHL to the NCAA hasn't been smooth or easy, but he still possesses all-world talent, he's proven himself to be a big-game performer in the past, and he'll be extra motivated to silence some of the recent criticism of him that has popped up in the public.” - Derek Neumeier

“After being underutilized last year, McKenna returns to the tournament with lofty expectations to lead Canada to gold as Bedard and Lafreniere did before in their draft years. The Wizard from Whitehorse is going to show everyone how dominant he can be at his own age level after sharpening his tools in the NCAA. The line of McKenna-Misa-Martone will be the stuff of legends.” - Kyle Watson

“I think Gavin McKenna will rise to the occasion and explode offensively. He will get more offensive opportunity than last year, he will play with Martone to start which the two were an elite duo at the U18 level and also playing with Misa who has the skills to match his will help him a lot to produce. The experience playing against older guys in the NCAA and coming back playing against his age group will help him be more confident.” - Jeremy Rivet

“He'll be a premier offensive player for Canada and will have all the opportunity to give scouts reassurance of his status as the top prospect in the draft.” - Kyle Dalla Zanna

“Gavin McKenna should finally get to demonstrate at these World Juniors why he is the consensus number one pick for the 2026 NHL draft. Besides being on a stacked Canadian squad, he should be given every opportunity to showcase his skills against the best junior players in the world. The skill set is just too high for him not to succeed.” - Mark Dube

“After a frustrating year in the NCAA where McKenna has been largely smothered offensively and has been a liability in his own end, the stakes have never been higher to have an MVP performance. This is McKenna's opportunity to all but solidify himself as the 1st overall pick should he dominate as we've seen in his WHL days. On a stacked Canada team he finds himself in a position to succeed with nearly any line mates. The circumstances surrounding this tournament are too grand for McKenna to give anything but his absolute best performance and given the amount of skill he possesses, McKenna should be the best overall player in Minnesota.” - Kaeden Ireland

“Gavin shines when the pressure is on, especially when representing his country at International Tournaments. He knows the buzz surrounding his game & all eyes are on him but I predict he will excel at this year's tournament & be a dominant player for Team Canada.” - Liam Staples

FRISCO, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Sweden's Ivar Stenberg #15 skates to the bench with teammates after scoring a first period goal against USA during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on April 26, 2025 in Frisco, Texas, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

Ivar Stenberg

“Not that it will do much to raise his stock but Ivar Stenberg. He’ll be one of the focal points on a dangerous Sweden team and should finish just behind Frondell in the tournament scoring race.” - Jamison Derksen

“Despite currently stringing together the best SHL draft season in history, Stenberg is relatively unknown to fans compared to McKenna, or even Verhoeff. I think he will put together the best performance of the draft eligibles and potentially lead the tournament in scoring. He will be a household name after the tournament.” - Ben Misfeldt

“He was lights out at the U18s, easily the standout for Sweden there. Now, playing against older competition but alongside some of the same teammates, I can see him having another electric tournament. He's also having an excellent season that could push his momentum towards the best tournament.” - Kyle Pereira

“Behind Frondell and Eklund gets to play against top team's 2nd/3rd lines and shine from there.” - Arttu Myllymäki

“Ivar Stenberg will have the best tournament of all players eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He is already playing at a record-breaking pace in the SHL and will demonstrate why he is in the conversation for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. They know they have an elite player in Stenberg with what he has displayed this season so far. He surely will play a lot of minutes to give the best chances to team Sweden to win a medal.” - Jer Tremblay

“I fully believe Stenberg has the talent to be one of the most impactful players for Team Sweden. He’s having a great season in the Swedish top tier league, averaging nearly a point per game. He’s coming in great shape and should have an important role on a team which has the ambition to medal. I think Stenberg will continue in his SHL form and scores at a PPG rate at least.” - Matej Deraj

“Based on the season he’s having in the SHL, being a dominant force on the best team in the nation, and the fact that his form is at its peak just in time for WJC will result in him having the best tournament.” - Viktor Ahlund

Alberts Smits

“Looking from the outside in, the Latvian defenseman may log more minutes than just about any other 2026 draft eligible player in this tournament. His team will need to lean on him perhaps more than any other team will lean on a 2026-eligible player. His stats will likely not reflect how good/important his tournament is as his team is facing a considerable uphill battle against Canada, Czechia, and Finland. It is then damned to defeat Denmark. Surviving is naturally the central goal. He should be asked to be the key figure in this endeavor and that's what will concern the scouts when they're watching Latvia play. They'll want to see him embody the importance of his role in ensuring survival, and hopefully a nice little surprise here or there.” - Chapin Landvogt

Viggo Bjorck

“I can definitely see Viggo Björck driving much of the offense for Team Sweden and reestablishing himself near the top of the 2026 draft projections—though probably not in the top five, more likely in the 8–10 range.” - Joey Fortin Boulay

Carson Carels

“I think Carson Carels will have the best tournament among draft-eligible players. He might be a bit of an unknown commodity to some fans of the tournament, but he truly has been excellent in the WHL this year with the Prince George Cougars. He's incredibly difficult to play against, eats tough minutes against the best the league has to offer, and has a nice offensive touch to complement his rugged defensive game. The spotlight will be on Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff, but Carels has the ability to really impress quite quickly.” - Michael Moroz

“Carson Carels. If he gets the ice time, which I think he should, given how responsible he is while also being useful with the puck, his stock will rise a ton.” - Jeremi Plourde

“Carson Carels might not have the "best" tournament of any draft eligible, but he will open people's eyes to his reliable brand of hockey thanks to his high-end skating and puck moving.” - Felix Sicard

Adam Novotny

“There are so many top draft eligible prospects playing in this year’s tournament. However, I think that Novotny has a chance to be an offensive leader for the Czechs and help carry them to a medal. He’s been one of the better players in the OHL the last few months and he knows what it takes to perform well at this tournament after playing a support role on last year’s bronze medal winning Czech team. Don’t be surprised if he’s the highest scoring draft eligible player at the WJC’s.” - Brock Otten

What is the Biggest Surprise of the Tournament?

“Germany beats Slovakia in the round robin, sending them to the relegation round.” - Chase Rochon

“The Czechs beat Canada on Boxing Day. Canada usually starts the tournament with an easy matchup, but that’s not the case this year as the Czechs will have valuable contributors at each position. This Canadian team is under a ton of pressure and I think they start the tournament with some adversity.” - Jamison Derksen

“USA misses the semi-finals and finishes 5th. After back-to-back Golds, the USA doesn't look quite as strong this season. Their goaltending is a question mark, and the lack of draft pedigree on their roster compared to previous seasons is noticeable.” - Ben Misfeldt

“Julius Miettinen has been a favorite of mine since his draft year in 2024 and he is the first line center that no one is talking about. I predict he is going to be the engine for Finland's offense this tournament. His large frame, high hockey IQ, and grit will make him an unstoppable force.” - Linc Zdancewicz

“Czechia reaching the semifinals would be a major storyline, especially in a field dominated by traditional powerhouses like Canada, the United States, and Sweden, making it a huge achievement for a smaller hockey nation to push that far. In recent years Czechia has shown it can compete with the elite, earning strong finishes and proving its development system is moving forward, but the question remains whether they can repeat this success in 2026. In the past the team’s biggest weakness was defense, but this year the opposite could be true, as they appear to have their strongest blue-line group on paper in years. Many players also arrive with valuable World Junior and professional experience, providing maturity, structure, and stability throughout the lineup. With improved defensive responsibility, reliable puck movement, and goaltending depth behind them, Czechia has the foundation to stay in games against even the most explosive offenses. If their top forwards produce timely scoring and a solid preliminary round sets up a winnable quarterfinal, Czechia has a genuine chance to break into the top four and shock the field once again.” - Marek Novotny

“Jack Ivankovic- He steals the Canadian starting job and has a great end to the tournament. Proven track record at international tournaments and having an excellent season in Michigan, I see him surprising a lot of people, despite me having Canada at bronze.” - Kyle Pereira

“The biggest surprise for me will be the role that draft eligibles play on the top teams. Whether it be McKenna, Carels, McKenkzie on Canada or Stenberg, Björk on Sweden as well as Novotny on Czechia, I believe they will all have major roles on their team as well as some other who were not mentioned.” - Mika Burns

“I think that Harrison Brunicke is really going to open a lot of people's eyes. It's already well-known that he's one of the few prospects who is coming into this tournament with NHL experience, but he's not exactly a household name yet. I predict that he's really going to cement himself as one of the very best under-20 prospects in the world and get a lot of people excited about his future.” - Derek Neumeier

“Team USA missing the gold medal game after two gold medals in a row. I see that in these age groups Canada and Sweden have taken mental advantage from previous tournaments and overall have better players.” - Arttu Myllymäki

“Team Finland struggles to win and gets eliminated in the quarter-finals. The lack of elite players in their lineup will make matches against the best teams quite difficult. I see them struggling to win even in the preliminary round.” - Jer Tremblay

“Sascha Boumedienne bests Axel Sandin-Pelikka's totals of 10 PTS in 7 GP last tournament (most by a Swedish D this century).” - Kyle Watson

“With the desire of wanting to avoid placing an onus on this, this, or that player for this question, I'll be naming Team Switzerland as the tournament's surprise. The Swiss have very good odds of finishing 3rd in Group A play and this is a team built to give squads like Finland and Czechia real (quarterfinal) problems. It is loaded with players playing pro right now, especially on the blueline. It has 2 drafted go-to goalies having strong club seasons. And up front, there are plenty of tough-to-face grinders with a sprinkling of real skill in players like Reber, Steiner, and Neuenschwander. You can't take a day off against this year's edition but a team or two likely will.” - Chapin Landvogt

“I think Sweden being knocked out by Finland in the quarterfinal will be the biggest surprise. In group A, I see USA finishing 1st and Sweden finishing 2nd and in group B, I see Canada 1st, Czechia 2nd and Finland 3rd, which means a game between Sweden and Finland in quarterfinal. Finland learned that Helenius will not join them so it probably puts them out of contention for a gold or silver medal, but they have a lot of returnees with the gold medal game experience from last year. Finland is historically a well prepared team that follows their gameplan and that makes them hard to beat as a team. They have enough offensive threat to be able to score goals and after that they can defend very well. I think Sweden with a newer group with less experience at this tournament might hit a wall against a good defending team like Finland that also has the best goalie returning from last year with Rimpinen.” - Jeremy Rivet

“In general, the number of draft-eligible skaters is a surprise. Names like Casper Justovaara Karlsson and Carson Carels weren't projected to be in the running for their respective rosters at the beginning of the year. There are 30 draft-eligible skaters expected to take part in the WJC this tournament. The previous three WJCs had 20 or less.” - Kyle Dalla Zanna

“It’s hard to pinpoint just one major surprise, as there are several realistic possibilities. First, I wouldn’t be shocked if Team Latvia wins two games in the preliminary round and gives some of the stronger teams a real scare. I also think we’ll be pleasantly surprised by several 2026 NHL Draft eligible players making an impact—most notably Stenberg, Smits, Suvanto, Carels, and Novotny—and contributing significantly to their teams’ success. However, my biggest prediction is Jack Ivankovic winning the starting role (perhaps not on Day 1 of the preliminary round, but later on) and leading Team Canada all the way to the gold medal game.” - Joey Fortin Boulay

“Team Czechia - I think Czechs have one of the strongest teams and I won’t be surprised if they play for gold. They’ve earned a medal in all of the last three tournaments and now they’re bringing their arguably strongest team in recent history. They’ll miss Jakub Milota in net, but the defense is exceptional, and they also have a strong offensive group. Czech ambitions are reasonably high, especially since they beat Canada in quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025 tournaments. I think Czechia makes the finals this year.” - Matej Deraj

“I think the Czechia team will be a big surprise at this tournament. They have a very deep squad, and their defensive core may be one of the best on paper. Also, most of their team already plays in North America so they are used to this style of play and should help them transition easily on Minnesota ice.” - Mark Dube

“As a whole, I think Czechia's roster is going to surprise some people with how well they are going to play. They don't have a Gavin McKenna or Cole Eiserman-level star, but they have a deep roster with lots of NHL draft picks and older bodies that can occupy depth roles. It will be a challenge for them to medal in this tournament, especially because they will have to predominantly compete with Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland, but they have the talent to surprise and I'm really excited to see how they play in Minnesota!” - Michael Moroz

“I think the USA's weaker recent classes will really be exposed. I think they will have a very underwhelming tournament, not looking too good up and down the lineup especially compared to Canada.” - Jeremi Plourde

“I would love to say Mads Kongsbakk Klyvo in Denmark, but as he hasn’t played many games this season so I will say Vladimir Dravecký (in terms of individual performances).” - Viktor Ahlund

“The biggest surprise of this year's World Juniors will be Latvia's performance against bracket mainstays like Czechia in the group stage and even Sweden in the playoff. This Latvian team has its most talented forward group in recent memory headlined by Bruno Osmanis. They also have potential top 10 pick Albert Smits who very well could finish as the most impressive 2026 eligible defenseman in the tournament. This group is no stranger to upsets and I think Latvia takes down Czechia and Denmark in pool play and gives my projected Group A 1 seed Sweden a run for their money in the QF.” - Kaeden Ireland

“The biggest surprise of the tournament will be that I do not think the Czechs or Fins will medal this year with the rosters & goaltending. The Czechs have reached the medal round in the last 4 tournaments while the Fins were the silver medalists a year ago even with the return of LA Kings prospect, Petteri Rimpinen who had a stellar tournament last year. The depth & experience that Canada-Sweden-USA possess throughout their lineups I just cannot see any other teams being able to knock them out until they play each other in the semis & final.” - Liam Staples

“Team USA medals in a supposed "down" year for the team. Their squad is still loaded with talent and there is always a sense that USA plays with an energy and grit that makes them greater than the sum of their parts.” - Felix Sicard

“I have a few surprises…I mean this tournament is always jam packed with them, so why limit it to just one! Firstly, I don’t think the U.S. medals on home soil. I’m just not confident in their goaltending being good enough to help them push through a deep field this year. Plus, the pressure of playing at home is very real, especially when you’re gunning for a third straight gold medal. Secondly, I think that Canada has a poor round robin and has to fight through a tougher route to get to the semifinals. Under Dale Hunter, I think that they will peak later in the tournament and still come home with a medal, despite a rough beginning. Thirdly, I see Switzerland as a team that could actually make the semifinals. In a QF matchup versus either Finland or Canada (if I see Czechia taking top spot in Group B and Switzerland finishing third in Group A), they could play the spoiler.” - Brock Otten

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – CANADA – Team Preview, Key Players and Draft Eligible Profiles

Derek Neumeier — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:08:58 +0000

After back-to-back 5th-place finishes at the World Juniors it’s now fair to say that Canada’s standing within international junior hockey is both dire and precarious.

Seen from a 1,000-foot view that statement might sound harsh and unfair. After all, Canada’s ability to develop elite young hockey talent hasn’t suddenly dried up in recent years. And the argument could easily be made that, on paper, the Canadian roster for this year’s event looks more talented, more balanced, and deeper than anything being put forward by the other competing nations.

However, that same argument was made last year, and the year before that, yet Canada still underperformed and underachieved both times, falling well short in dramatic and stunning fashion. That spoke to underlying issues that go far beyond the individual talents of the names being penciled into the game lineups.

Discovering those issues, and then analyzing the solutions to fix them, was the mission that Hockey Canada began to undertake before last year’s medals were even handed out. A new general manager has since been put in place, along with other key staffers, in the hopes of bringing about more structure and stability. The expectations now are both lofty and immediate: anything less than winning it all this time around would be considered unacceptable.

Will it work? That obviously remains to be seen, but there is a clear history of dramatic national turnarounds happening.

Canada failed to medal from 1979 to 1981, and finished seventh out of eight teams in that 1981 tournament. That led to the “Program of Excellence” and multiple World Junior championships throughout the 1980s. There was also the seven-year stretch from 1998 to 2004 where the nation failed to win gold, which led to another reckoning within Hockey Canada. The response that time was the stuff of legend: rattling off five gold medals in a row, tying the country’s own tournament record from the mid-1990s.

Could another such streak be waiting just around the corner for Canada, beginning with the 2026 tournament?

Key Players to Watch

Harrison Brunicke, Defense (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Brunicke brings a unique kind of advantage to this Canadian roster, as he's the prospect with the most accumulated professional experience up to this point. After a 2024-25 season of enormous growth with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, logging big minutes in all situations as their most trusted defenseman, he joined the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the tail end of their regular season campaign and played so well that he remained in their lineup into the playoffs. And he hasn’t been back to Kamloops, or anywhere else in the WHL, ever since, splitting his time so far this year between the NHL and AHL versions of the Penguins. He’s the type of blueliner who can do a little bit of everything, which will be very useful for the Canadian coaching staff if they feel the need to make adjustments throughout the tournament. If Brunicke isn’t well-known among hockey fans yet, he very well could be after the World Juniors.

Tij Iginla, Center (Utah Mammoth)

There probably won’t be another player on this Canadian roster quite as amped up for the opening puck drop as Iginla will be. He already exudes more exuberance on any given night than most of his peers, which is something that was definitely passed down from his dad, Jarome. Adding on top of that, though, is the fact that he wasn’t invited to Canada’s selection camp roster last winter, and then mere days later suffered a season-ending injury in the WHL. In other words, it’s been more than a full calendar year since he was last able to play any truly high-stakes hockey games, and that must drive a player like him absolutely crazy. Iginla was a two-way, multifaceted force when he helped lead Canada to a championship at the 2024 IIHF U18s, showing off both his power elements and his skill elements, and it won’t be surprising if he’s similarly impactful here.

KANATA, ONTARIO - DECEMBER 26: Canada's Porter Martone #22 during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Finland at 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 26, 2024 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/IIHF)

Porter Martone, Wing (Philadelphia Flyers)

If there's one player on the Canadian roster who shouldn't be hindered by nerves in this tournament, it's Martone. He's represented Canada internationally multiple times in recent years, even playing alongside NHLers at the World Championships this past spring, and has a couple of gold medals on his mantle for his efforts. And after proving himself as one of the best players in the OHL in 2024-25 he seamlessly made the transition to the NCAA this fall, where he is now thriving with Michigan State and leading the team in scoring as a freshman. Nobody on this team will be quite as familiar with the top talent on opposing nations as he will, and his sublime puck-protection abilities down low will be more effective in Minnesota, on the standard North American ice size, than they would have been if the tournament were being held in Europe. Expect Martone to play a significant role on this roster as one of Canada's leaders and go-to offensive contributors.

Michael Misa, Center (San Jose Sharks)

In a way, Misa might be something of an ace up Canada’s sleeve in this tournament. You wouldn’t go so far as to say that he’s a secret weapon, since he’s a former Memorial Cup champion and CHL top scorer and well known for other reasons, but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where his game is at right now because he hasn’t played much this season —only seven low-minute games in the NHL, then two more in the AHL to shake off some injury rust. Luckily for Canada, those two minor-league matches just happened earlier this month, and the hope is that he’ll be fully healthy by the time the tournament kicks off. If he is feeling one hundred percent and is back up to his usual level of play then he will likely be centering Canada’s top line, playing on their top powerplay unit, and contending to be the team’s leading point-getter.

Zayne Parekh, Defense (Calgary Flames)

Parekh is going to have quite a chip on his shoulder this tournament. He was controversially left off of Canada's roster last year, and when the team began to fall apart he took to social media to express his resulting grudge in not-so-subtle ways. He will also probably be extra motivated to shine because he hasn't played a meaningful hockey game since November 7 due to injury, and he'll want to make sure that he's at the top of his form once the World Juniors ends and he heads back to Calgary to resume playing against NHL competition. He'll be Canada's quarterback on their top powerplay unit, where he'll also be reunited with former Saginaw Spirit teammate Michael Misa, which should provide a valuable familiarity boost. This will be Parekh’s first international tournament since the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August of 2023.

Draft Eligible Players to Watch

ALLEN, TEXAS - APRIL 28: Canada's Carson Carels #5 - Canada vs Norway Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 28, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Carson Carels, Defense (2026)

Carels making this roster is something that nobody would have expected or predicted as recently as a few months ago, but anyone who is already familiar with his game completely understands why the Canadian brass wanted to bring him to Minnesota. Mature and poised well beyond his 17 years of age, he is incredibly consistent and reliable across all 200 feet of ice. It seems like he never makes the wrong decision, which is especially remarkable because he plays in all situations and gobbles up a ton of minutes game over game. He was arguably the best defenseman at the recent CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, which wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. While Carels might not take a lot of shifts in this tournament, due to the overall talent and depth of this defensive group, his coaches will know that he's not going to be a weak link any time that he does go over the boards.

KANATA, ONTARIO - JANUARY 2: Canada's Gavin McKenna #9 shoots the puck during Quarterfinal Round action against Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 2, 2025 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andr Ringuette/IIHF)

Gavin McKenna, Wing (2026)

Despite being one of the youngest players on this entire roster it’s likely that McKenna will be facing the most scrutiny and feeling more pressure placed upon him than anyone else. After coming into the season as the consensus, slam-dunk top prospect available for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft his stock has since taken a large hit, enough to even knock him out of that number one slot in the eyes of some scouts. He’s also one of the few returning players on the team, adding another layer to the already-high expectations. All that being said, don’t be surprised if McKenna silences his critics by playing some exceptional hockey in this tournament, because he’s proven multiple times in the past that he can be a dominant, superstar-level player in the games that matter the most. His coaches will give him every opportunity to be the unstoppable offensive catalyst that everyone knows he can be when his game is really humming along.

Keaton Verhoeff, Defense (2026)

A few different prospects have emerged as legitimate contenders to dethrone Gavin McKenna from the highest perch of the 2026 NHL draft class, and Verhoeff is arguably the most dangerous of the potential usurpers. He is one of only three 2008-born players in the entire NCAA right now, and he hasn’t looked out of place at all as a go-to defender for the University of North Dakota. He’s huge, mobile, athletic and versatile, which is a combination of traits that is obviously very appealing to the Canadian coaching staff, giving them options about how they could deploy him and what roles they could try him in if they feel the need to shake things up. A lot of scouts, however, will be hoping that Verhoeff spends more time on the ice than he does sitting on the bench, so that they will get another chance to see him in best-on-best competition after a slightly disappointing showing at this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Ethan MacKenzie, Defense (2026, third year of eligibility)

MacKenzie is, hands-down, the best feel-good story on this roster. After all, it’s pretty uncommon for Hockey Canada to award a roster spot to a skater who has gone undrafted in back-to-back years of eligibility (goalies are a slightly different story). However, anyone who follows the WHL closely every year knows that the Edmonton Oil Kings blueliner fully deserves to be here based on merit. His on-ice impact has improved by leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons, to the point now where he is a fast, feisty difference-maker in all three zones that opposing teams have trouble matching up against. This is the first time that MacKenzie has ever represented Canada in an international tournament — will that be a disadvantage for him, or will it be extra motivation, especially since a strong showing here would help boost his chance of finally getting drafted?

McKeen’s 2025-26 Hockey Pool Yearbook Feature – Fantasy Prospect Rankings

Peter Harling — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:47:09 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 12: Boston defenseman Cole Hutson (44) handles the puck during the championship game of the NCAA D1 Frozen Four between the Boston University Terriers and the Western Michigan Broncos on April 12, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers who read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players who can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects who have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect skaters must be under 26-years-old as of September 15th, 2024, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 career games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

Demidov made his NHL debut with much anticipation and expectations, and he did not disappoint with a two-point showing in his first game. There is a lot of hype surrounding Demidov and if he lives up to the potential, he could very well go down as one of the all-time scoring leaders in Montreal and flirt with 1,000 career points, joining the ranks of legends like Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau, and Henri Richard.

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

The big man on campus was the Hockey East Player of the Year and scoring champion with 49 points in 37 games at Boston College. He also captained Team USA to a WJC Gold Medal and then made his NHL debut in Washington scoring his first career goal. Leonard will be an NHL regular starting in the 2025-26 season and should be a Calder contender in his rookie season. His value in multi-category leagues is even higher.

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

Hot off a Hoby Baker Award winning season as a senior with Michigan State, Howard and the Lightning were at a contract impasse. Rather than lose him as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Lightning traded him to the Oilers. Howard should see an opportunity to crack the Oilers roster in a top six role given their lack of prospect depth. His new ELC will fit in the Oilers budget and playing with either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl could push Howard into the forefront of the Calder race.

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

A late season surge pushed Sennecke up the draft ranking all the way to third overall in his draft season. He has carried that momentum into hi D+1 season scoring 86 points in 56 games for the Generals. Don’t make the same mistake Team Canada made by erroneously omitting him from the 2025 WJC roster, Sennecke is a play driving forward with tremendous hockey sense and skill as well as size at 6-foot-4. Sennecke has another year of junior eligibility but could make the Ducks roster as soon as this season.

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

Drafted second overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Misa has been the first overall selection in all my fantasy drafts and mock drafts. Misa has been a highly anticipated fantasy prospect since becoming the latest OHL exceptional status recipient. He has a Memorial Cup Championship on his resume, is coming off a 134-point campaign and will spend his D+1 season developing in the NCAA against bigger, stronger, faster competition that will only make him more NHL ready for his ETA of 2026-27.

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

After posting 51-points as captain of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and a finalist for the Hoby Baker, Snuggerud made a splash in the NHL with the Blues. Playing in the Blues final seven regular season games, he notched four points and then duplicated that performance in the playoffs. Snuggerud looks to be a lock for a top six role with the Blues and could be a solid Calder sleeper candidate if his early chemistry with Robert Thomas continues.

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

A lot of super-star players have come from the USNTDP, but Perreault holds the single season point record with 132 points in the 2022-23 season. Perreault just completed his sophomore season at Boston College and posted 16 goals and 32 assists in 37 games with the Eagles. He also was a key player in the USA WJC Gold Medal with 10 points in seven games. Perreault is a dynamic playmaker that also has a nose for the net and can finish. He played in five NHL games to close the season and while not a lock to make the Rangers out of training camp, he is their top prospect and a fantasy must own.

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

Catton was the 2024 draft class leading scorer with his 115-points, which puts him in the company of an elite group of players the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard to post such lofty production in their draft year. I am not suggesting that Catton has that kind of NHL and fantasy value, but he is the Krakens most dynamically gifted offensive player and has tremendous upside.

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

When the Capitals drafted Alexei Protas’ younger brother in the third round, it might have appeared to be a pick motivated by nepotism. Then Ilya moved from the USHL to the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and had a breakout season to the tune of 50 goals, and 124 points (second in OHL scoring) and now looks like a steal of a third-round pick. Since he was drafted from the USHL, he can move up to the AHL for the coming season and further his development. Look for the Protas brothers to be a force in the Nations capital for the foreseeable future.

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

The first pick in Utah’s franchise history, Iginla was on pace for a stellar D+1 season with 14 goals and 31 points in 21 games with Kelowna before a hip injury ended his season early. After surgery, the expectation is that he will return to Kelowna for an important season of development in the WHL, and with Canada at the WJC before he joins the NHL. Tij was drafted higher than his father, Hall-Of-Famer and Calgary legend Jarome Iginla, can Tij match his old mans career status?

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Two things stand out with Martone: his dynamic offensive game and his size. However, for all you banger leaguers reading, don’t be fooled to think he is going to rack up hits and PIM’s as that is not really his game. He is a finesse playmaking winger. Martone has committed to take his development to Michigan State in the NCAA for his D+1 season in hopes that playing against older, stronger and better competition will make him NHL ready for the 2026-27 season.

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

The consensus number one ranked prospect heading into the 2025 draft was Hagens. He played his draft year in the NCAA with Boston College and despite posting solid numbers as a freshman, he was unable to keep pace with Macklin Celebrinis’ pace from the previous season, and he fell on draft day to the Bruins. It is quite possible that Hagens ends up being the best fantasy prospect from his draft class, but he will return for at least one more year in the NCAA. Look for a spike in his production and for him to challenge for a Hoby Baker nomination.

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Lindstrom is a unicorn as a 6-foot-4, 214-pound center that scored 46 goals and 46 points in 32 games with Medicine Hat in his draft year. He combines skill, skating, smarts, and size in such a rare and dominant package. A well documented herniated disc back injury that ended his draft season after 32 games and all but eliminated his D+1 season minus a few playoff, and Memorial Cup games is the other side of his story. Lindstrom will play the coming season in the NCAA with Michigan State where he will try to regain his health, conditioning and further his development. If he can realize his massive potential, he has franchise upside and would be a dominant player in multi-category leagues. Or, he could have a set back from his back injury and follow Nolan Patrick’s career path. High risk, but high reward potential.

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

Gritsyuk may be a sleeper prospect, but don’t sleep on the Russian sniper. He is coming in hot from the KHL where he posted 17 goals and 44-points in 49 games. While he was only a fifth-round pick from the 2019, the now 24-year-old is NHL ready and will step into a top six role in New Jersey. He may not have the same offensive upside as some of the players in the range of his ranking but given his advanced development the wait time is zero, which moves the needle.

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

The AHL can be a meatgrinder that chews up and spits out teenage hockey prospects. Despite that, Dvorsky played last year as a 19-year-old and posted 21 goals and 45 points in 61 games with Springfield and was second in league rookie scoring. Dvorsky also shone at the WJC last year with Slovakia, scoring nine points in just five games. His play earned him an NHL cup of coffee, two games but he failed to record any points playing limited minutes. Dvorsky still needs more AHL development, but his promising development suggests the 10^th overall pick from the 2023 draft is well on his way to becoming an NHL regular and a fantasy must own player.

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

His first full season in North America was a success as the Canucks 2022 15^th overall pick split time between the NHL and Abbotsford in the AHL. In the AHL he posted 28 points in 36 games and another seven in 16 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup Championship. In his 24 NHL games the Swedish winger posted six points while averaging 12:30 of ice time. Expect him to be a full time NHL player this year and to see elevated minutes, leading to numbers similar to what he produced in the AHL.

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes must feel like the drafted a top ten player with their 30^th overall pick from 2023. As a freshman in his D+1 season at University of Maine, Nadeau posted 19 goals and 46 points in 37 games. He followed up that with an impressive rookie season in the AHL to the tune of 32 goals and 58 points in 64 games with the Chicago Wolves. His underwhelming production at the WJC with Canada was curious, but the entire team underwhelmed. Nadeau made his NHL debut on April 16^th and earned his first career point against Montreal. Look for his sophomore season to see more NHL opportunities as he plays his way into a top six role with the Canes.

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Drafted third overall by the Hawks in 2025, the Swedish center brings size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, a high-level hockey sense, and skill level to his game. He would be better slotted as a second line center at the NHL level as his two-way game is more his calling card as opposed to a go-to offensive driver. The 18-year-old will likely play two more seasons in the SHL before crossing over to North America, meaning a little more wait time and a limited offensive ceiling compared to his draft status.

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

The 21-year-old Russian saw his production dip from 0.79 to 0.54 points per game in the final year of his KHL contract. Despite the disappointing production, with 209 career KHL games of development he has signed with the Wild and will play in North America to the delight of fantasy managers who roster Yurov. With Yakov Trenin, Vlad Tarasenko, and Kirill Kaprizov providing some fellow Russian support, he should adjust quickly and could play his way into a top six role sooner than later.

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

Desnoyers could be the most underrated player in the 2025 draft, which says a lot sine he was selected fourth overall. A 6-foot-2 center Desnoyers has excellent hockey sense, size, skating, skill and compete. He has played a key role and produced all season starting with a point per game to lead Canada to Gold at the Hlinka. He was the first line center for Team CHL at the Prospects Challenge and was a point per game again. With his club team in Moncton, he posted 84-points in 56 games and lead the Wildcats in playoff scoring with 30-points in 19 games to be named playoff MVP, and a league championship. He is the best two-way player, and that takes nothing away from his offensive game.

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

After being acquired from the Jets for Brayden Yager, McGroarty made his pro debut and impressed, splitting time between the NHL and AHL. In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he played 60 games, notching 14 goals and 39 points. While he only played in eight NHL games, he impressed with three points, playing a physical game as well showing he can have an impact away from the puck. With the Pens looking to rebuild, he is a corner stone player going forward, starting now.

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

Musty had a frustrating season. It began by holding out for a trade from Sudbury in the OHL. A deal never happened so he resumed playing and scored 59 points in 33 games before an injury put him on the shelf until the playoffs. He returned for game two but despite four points, the Wolves were swept in four by Kingston. He will turn pro now and play his rookie season in the AHL. The 6-foot-2 winger has size and played a power game at the OHL; he could be an impactful top six winger with his size and shot.

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

When the Islanders acquired Ritchie at the NHL trade deadline, he instantly became their top prospect. Ritchie started the season in the NHL with the Avalanche where he played seven games and scored his first career goal with his signature shootout move (a spectacular deke as he fakes the shoot like he fanned then quickly backhands it home). He returned to the Oshawa Generals where he dominated with 70 points and 50 PIM in 47 games and led the Generals back to a league championship rematch vs London. Ritchie should be a regular on Long Island this fall.

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers added Savoie in a trade with Buffalo, and he instantly became the Oilers top prospect. Savoie is an undersized forward at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds but he is also a prolific offensive player. He posted some hefty point totals in the WHL and in his first full pro season, he scored 19 goals and 54 points in 66 games in Bakersfield. He made his debut in Edmonton as well, playing in four games and recorded his first career point. He has the skill to play and produce in the NHL, but size is a concern.

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

The big Russian winger made the move to North America after the Sharks selected him with the first pick of round two in the 2024 NHL Draft. His debut was delayed following an off-season shoulder surgery, but when he resumed playing with Saginaw in the OHL he dominated with 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games. Saginaw was eliminated in the first round, and he was called up to play two AHL games with the Barracuda. It is expected he will play the coming season in the AHL, to further his development, but he has NHL top six winger upside with his size, skating and shooting ability.

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leaf's top prospect is poised to bring his game to the NHL for the coming season. In his final year in the OHL with the London Knights, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring (39-points in 17 games), added a second straight league championship, and led the Memorial Cup in soring to lead the Knights to victory. He is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds but he plays a physical game to complement his dynamic skill and vision.

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

A true boom-or-bust player. Cristall is as dynamic an offensive player as you will find. His career WHL point production is off the chart with 412 points in 248 games (1.66 points per game). He finished his WHL career with Spokane in the playoffs where he scored 21 goals and 41 points in 19 games. How could such a dominant player be a bust? He is just 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds as the NHL trends towards size again. Also, his defensive game and compete level is a liability. These factors kept him off the Canada WJC roster. If he plays in the NHL, he will be great, but there have been plenty of prolific junior scorers that never made the NHL.

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

“Goal” Eiserman is a polarizing player. His offensive upside is significant. He is the all-time NTDP goal scoring leader, was a key player for USA winning Gold at the 2025 WJC with seven points. As a freshman at Boston University, he scored 25 goals and 36 points in 39 games. His play away from the puck is where scouts have concerns with his game. Eiserman will return for his sophomore season with the Terriers where he will continue to score goals, and more importantly develop his overall game.

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

Perhaps the player from the 2025 draft class with the most upside is O’Brien. The 6-foot-2 center has tremendous vision and hockey sense, a late June birthday means he has plenty of development road head where his potential can grow. While his physical game is lacking as his slender 176-pound frame needs to fill out, there are very few flaws in his game overall.

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

Ohgren made his North American debut last season and had a tremendously successful rookie season in the AHL scoring 37 points in 41 games on a poor Iowa Wild team. His play earned him an NHL audition of 24 games, but he was limited to an average of 11:06 in ice time and only managed five points. Ohgren should be ready for a bigger role in Minnesota, and his point production should increase with more playing time.

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

Parekh dominated the OHL in his draft year and then returned for his D+1 season and posted 33 goals, 107 points and 96 PIM. He was an egregious omission from the Team Canada WJC roster and made his NHL debut on April 17^th scoring his first career NHL goal in a 5-1 win over LA. Parekh is still junior eligible as a 19-year-old but is almost assured to be a full time NHL player this season. It should not take long for him to secure a top four pairing and first power play role in Calgary. Parekh could have a similar rookie season as Lane Hutson had and be a Calder candidate.

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

Hutson 2.0 is a similar player to his older brother Lane. Cole is developing in the NCAA at Boston University and posted 48 points in 39 games in his freshman season. His real breakout however was on the World stage with USA at the WJC where he led the tournament in scoring with 11 points in seven games. Cole has another season with the Terriers coming up before he is ready to join the Capitals in the NHL. When he arrives, it is not out of the question for him to have the same impact Lane Hutson had, or even better.

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

The top pick from the 2025 Draft class has signed with the Islanders, and all signs point towards him making the Islanders out of training camp and becoming an NHL rookie. A shoulder injury limited him to just 17 games in Erie last season, so a return to the OHL would not be the worst scenario for his long-term development.

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

All Buium does is win. At 19-years-old his trophy case already includes a World Championship, an NCAA Championship, two WJC Golds and a U-18 Gold. Buium made his NHL debut in the playoffs and recorded his first career point playing in four games. Buium is not only a lock to make the Wild roster, but he should also be a top pairing impact player right out of the gate.

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

The 23-year-old Russian blueliner has been one of the most anticipated players to come from the KHL for several years. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defender captained SKA St. Petersburg for two seasons and posted career KHL stats of 54 goals and 177 points in 288 games. He has signed in Carolina and made his NHL debut in the playoffs, earning his first career point in four games. He will have to compete with Shane Gostisbehere and K’Andre Miller for top power play deployment but count on Nikishin playing big minutes in his rookie season.

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

The 2024 second overall pick only played 18 NHL games in his rookie season, but as a 19-year-old he produced 22 points in 52 AHL games with Rockford. Can he breakout as the Hawks top pairing and first power play quarterback in his sophomore season? He will have to outplay Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski to do so, but it is a real possibility as soon as this fall.

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

All Cagnoni is missing to be ranked higher is size and draft pedigree. At 5-foot-9 he comes up short by todays NHL standards, and as a fourth-round pick, he lacks the golden ticket first round picks get. However, his on-ice production speaks volumes, scoring 16 goals and 52 points in 64 games as a AHL rookie with the Barracuda. Cagnoni is the future first power play quarterback in San Jose on a unit that will include Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa. Cagnoni could be a fantasy beast!

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

Where will Dickinson play in the 2025-26 season? He posted 91 points in 55 games, won a second consecutive OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Championship. He has another year of junior eligibility remaining, so the AHL is not an option, but has signed an NHL contract so the NCAA is not an option either. He has nothing left to learn in the OHL, so he looks ready to make the jump to the NHL.

9 - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a rising star and the Wings top prospect. The 5-foot-11 right shot defender has tremendous poise on the ice, sees the ice very well, carries the puck and dictates the play with authority. After a solid SHL career of 52 points in 107 games including an SHL Championship, he made his debut in the AHL to close the season. A full year of AHL development is to be expected under GM Steve Yzerman, but a future blueline anchored by Mo Seider, Simon Edvinsson and ASP sets up the Red Wings for a decade.

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

After injury limited Luneau to just 13 combined AHL and NHL games in his rookie season, he returned in 2024-25 to post near point per game production with the Gulls with 52 points in 59 games. The 6-foot-1 right shot offensive defenceman has great upside, but he also has his work cut out for him to crack the Ducks top four with competition the likes of Jacob Trouba, Jackson Lacombe, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov.

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

There were a lot of skeptics when Ottawa selected the 6-foot-4 right shot offensive defenceman at seven ahead of Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium and Sam Dickinson at the ’24 Draft. A lot of those critics were silenced when Yakemchuk nearly made the Sens roster after a tremendous preseason performance. He was returned to the WHL for his senior year and was slightly underwhelming seeing his point totals dip and failing to be make the Canadian WJC roster. His pro career will begin, likely in Belleville for a season before assuming the top pairing role on the right side in Ottawa next to Jake Sanderson.

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

Rinzel had a breakout season in 2024-25. It was not just his 10-goal, 32-point performance as a sophomore at University of Minnesota, but his nine game NHL audition in which he averaged over 23 minutes of ice time including an average of 2:24 powerplay time on ice where he delivered five points. The 21-year-old is the early favorite to be the first power play quarterback heading into the upcoming season. Don’t sleep on Rinzel, he has some big upside.

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

The 5-foot-10 right shot offensive defenceman had a strong rookie season starting in the NHL with an eight-game run with the Devils where he posted three goals before an AHL assignment. Overall, he racked up 18 points in 30 AHL games and finished the season back in the NHL with New Jersey. With Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemic in the fold, getting ice time, let alone power play time will be difficult barring injury.

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

Acquired from Carolina along with a first and second round pick in the K’Andre Miller trade, Morrow could fill the gap from Miller out of camp behind Adam Fox on the Rangers second pairing. Morrow had a strong rookie season the year prior posting 39 points in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves and had a 14-game NHL run with the Hurricanes scoring six points.

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

Acquired from Montreal for Zac Bolduc this summer, Mailloux is now the top defensive prospect in the Blues system. Mailloux is NHL ready after a second AHL campaign with 80 points and 165 PIM in 135 career games, and five points in eight career NHL games. Mailloux will no longer be considered a prospect as he will make the Blues roster full time, and battle Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler for top power play deployment.

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

The 6-foot-2 Austrian defender made a splash in his AHL debut in 2023-24 when he posted five points in the final 11 games in Laval. Injuries kept him out of action until he returned for the Olympics with Austria and finished the season again in the AHL with Laval. His six points in 13 playoff games with the Rocket are promising but a nearly full season lost to injury suggest he may need a time in the AHL before he is ready for Montreal. The departure of Logan Mailloux improves his stature in Montreal.

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

Widely considered to be a shutdown defender, a red flag in fantasy, Bonk has considerable fantasy value. At 6-foot-2 he has decent size and can play a physical role and contribute hits and blocks. But he has also contributed significant offensive numbers with 150 career regular season points in 189 games with the London Knights. Bonk was deployed as the net front presence on the power play regularly with London and was tried as the first powerplay quarterback for Canada at the WJC. His pro career will begin with a season in the AHL with Lehigh Valley before he becomes a top four NHL regular.

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

Nashville has a strong track record of drafting and developing top quality NHL defencemen. Tanner Molendyk is the latest and he nearly made the Predators out of training camp last year before returning for his final year in the WHL. He was a point per game player with Saskatoon and Medicine Hat and at the Memorial Cup. Molendyk will be an AHL rookie this season, but it likely won’t be long before he is patrolling the Predators blueline in a top four capacity.

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

His fantasy value took a big hit when the Flames drafted Zayne Parekh. Brzustewicz is an offensive defenceman that posted a 92-point season in the OHL, and in his AHL rookie campaign last year impressed with five goals and 32 points in 70 games with the Wranglers. Brzustewicz was a key piece in return from the Elias Lindholm trade so the Flames are invested, he has great offensive and fantasy upside, but the Parekh addition will take some of that critical power play ice time up.

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

After two seasons in the shadow of a Hutson with the Boston University Terriers, Willander may be an underrated fantasy defenceman. With all the top offensive deployment at BU going to the Hutson’s, lane and Cole, Willander still managed to produce 49 points in 77 career games with the Terriers. His play with Sweden at the WJC was impressive as well with five points in seven games. Willander is a strong skating, puck moving two-way defender with offensive upside. Willander was signed by the Canucks and will start his professional career in the AHL with defending Calder Cup Champions Abbotsford.

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are building something special and Askarov should be a key piece of that puzzle. A top ranked goalie prospect for years, the move from Nashville and out from under Juuse Saros, gives Askarov has the opportunity to seize a starting role in San Jose. With the young core and foundations now in place, it’s just a short matter of time before this team becomes a powerhouse, and Askarov is a fantasy star.

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

There is no sugar coating this, Wallstedt had a terrible season posting brutal numbers in both the AHL, and NHL in his third season in North America. Despite the setback, Wallstedt remains an elite goalie prospect and with the Wild building a defence that consist of Brock Faber, Zeev Buium, and David Jiricek the future still remains very bright.

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

It is difficult to understand how Fowler was not the top goalie selected in his draft year. Five other goalies went before he was selected 69^th overall in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has established himself as an elite prospect playing at Boston College in the NCAA. Fowler has won a WJC Gold Medal with USA, a Hockey East Championship, and was named the Goalie of the Year winning the Mike Richter Award. Fowler is trending to be the next great Montreal Canadiens goalie following the likes of Ken Dryden, Patrick, Roy and Carey Price.

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

A late bloomer, Nabokov was drafted in 2024 by the Avalanche after a breakout season in the KHL as a 21-year-old, where Nabokov won a Gagarian Cup and playoff MVP. Nabokov has signed his ELC with Colorado but has been loaned back to play the 2025-26 season in the KHL to ensure he gets playing time. Expect him to finish the season in the AHL as the KHL season ends in March, allowing him a small sample of North American hockey before being full time in 2026-27.

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

The Wings 2021 15^th overall draft pick has now played three full seasons of professional hockey with time in the ECHL, AHL, and he made his NHL debut in December with a 6-foot-5 shootout win over Buffalo. The past two seasons have been consistent and strong for Cossa, playing 40+ games in Grand Rapids and posting 20+ wins. The addition of John Gibson suggests that Detroit thinks he needs a little more development before he becomes their starting goalie.

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

On last years list I suggested Commesso was on track to develop into the Hawks starting goalie for the Connor Bedard glory years. Since then, the Hawks acquired Spencer Knight, and he appears to be the incumbent franchise goalie for the foreseeable future. Commesso had another impressive year of development in the AHL and is still quite capable of being an NHL starting goalie. Where and when are less certain now.

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings added insulation to their goaltending future when they selected Augustine 41^st overall in 2023. Since then, he has been developing with Michigan State U. in the NCAA with a career record of 42-16-6, two Big Ten Championships and two WJC Gold Medals with USA. Augustine will play his junior season with the Spartans and will also need some AHL development time. He is further away than Cossa, but his upside could be higher.

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

Kokko made his North American debut last season, and it was a strong one posting a 20-10-2 record in the AHL with a 2.26 GAA and .913 SV%. His strong play earned him an NHL recall, and he had a rough start coming in to relieve Joey Daccord in a 7-2 loss to the Blues where he allowed two goals on six shots. With Grubauer and Daccord under contract for the next two seasons, the 21-year-old Finnish netminder can continue to develop in the AHL with Coachella. He is a prospect on the rise.

9 - Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

The Devils selected the Russian goalie from the USHL with their second-round pick in 2024 and Yegorov started his D+1 season back in the USHL with Omaha. Committed to Boston University in the NCAA, the Terriers were having goaltending concerns and brought “Big Mike” in just in time for the Bean Pot Tournament where he was outstanding leading the Terriers to victory. Yegorov played in 18 games total with an 11-6-1 record and 2.15 GAA. Still only 19-years-old, the 6-foot-5 netminder is a long way from the NHL, but he is showing tremendous potential.

10 - Hampton Slukynsky – Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps Slukynsky is still a little under the radar and not quite a household name in less deep dynasty leagues, but that is about to change. Selected 118^th overall by the Kings, Slukynsky posted a 19-5-1 record as a freshman at Western Michigan and a sparkling 1.90 GAA. His trophy case includes USHL Goalie of the Year, Championships from the USHL, NCAA National and NCHC, and Gold Medals with USA from the U-18, WJC and World Championship. He is still just 20-years-old and needs a lot of development time before the NHL, but his stock is rising fast!

McKeen’s 2025-26 Calder Trophy Candidates

Brock Otten — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:15:15 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) waits for a face-off during his first NHL debut game during game five of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on May 15, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Ivan Demidov - RW - Montreal Canadiens

At this point, Demidov is the runaway favourite to capture this year’s Calder trophy. One of the top prospects in all of hockey is situated to have a huge offensive role for the Canadiens and obviously has the skill to put up points. The last time an NHL franchise had back-to-back Calder winners? 1967 and 1968 when Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr captured rookie of the year for the Bruins.

Alexander Nikishin - D - Carolina Hurricanes

It must be nice when you’re a competitive team and you have a veteran pro defender that you can slot directly into your lineup as a potential impact player…on an ELC. Nikishin led all defensemen in scoring in the KHL two of the last three seasons and should get immediate ice time and responsibility in Carolina. The last time a defenseman has won the Calder trophy in back-to-back years? 1963 and 1964 when Kent Douglas and Jacques Laperrière won.

Ryan Leonard - RW - Washington Capitals

After signing late last year, Leonard jumped right into the Capitals lineup and played a role into the playoffs for Washington. The offensive production wasn’t significant; a single goal in 17 games including the playoffs. However, Leonard should be able to take on a larger role this year and it’s why the rugged, power winger is an early season Calder favourite.

Jimmy Snuggerud - RW - St. Louis Blues

Like Ryan Leonard, Snuggerud jumped right into St. Louis’ lineup from the NCAA at the end of the year. However, unlike Leonard, Snuggerud was an immediate offensive contributor. You could easily make the argument that he was one of St. Louis’ best players in the playoffs. He should carry that momentum into a prominent role with the Blues this year.

Zeev Buium - D - Minnesota Wild

Another high-profile NCAA player who jumped into the postseason lineup for his team after signing. Buium is likely to not only crack the Minnesota lineup this year but see powerplay time. He’s going to try to replicate what Lane Hutson did in Montreal last year and he has the talent to do it.

Sam Rinzel - D - Chicago Blackhawks

The most underrated Calder candidate heading into the season. Rinzel was exceptional for Chicago after signing late last season. He was seeing over 23 minutes per game, including over two on the powerplay and that led to some solid production. Don’t be surprised if that continues.

Zayne Parekh - D - Calgary Flames

While Parekh isn’t a lock to make the Calgary roster, there’s definitely an opening for him if he has a strong training camp. He’ll need to prove that he can defend at the NHL level, but if Calgary keeps him up, you know that they’ll give him powerplay time. We wrote similar things about Lane Hutson last year.

Maxim Shabanov - C - New York Islanders

Just how will Shabanov’s game translate to the NHL level? That’s the million-dollar question. We’ve seen some great success stories from KHL free agents in the last decade, but also others who don’t last the season. Shabanov will be given every opportunity to showcase his skill on a scoring line this year. What he does with that opportunity remains to be seen.

Michael Misa - C - San Jose Sharks

This is the part of the list where we hit the longer shots. The second overall pick in the 2025 draft is probably looking at a 50/50 chance to crack the Sharks roster full time. But, if he does, he’s going to be put in a scoring line role and have a chance to put up some great numbers.

Yaroslav Askarov - G - San Jose Sharks

Alexander Georgiev is gone, and Alex Nedeljkovic has been brought in to split time with the much-hyped Askarov. He’s plenty talented, but the question is…will the Sharks be good enough for his stat line to be impressive enough to win the Calder? It seems unlikely.

Sam Dickinson - D - San Jose Sharks

San Jose brought in some veteran defenders to help them reach the cap floor this year and that is going to make it more difficult for Dickinson to make the San Jose roster full time. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place; too good for the OHL, but unable to play in the AHL.

Ville Koivunen - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

There’s definitely an opening in Pittsburgh for a younger player to come into camp and capture a role on a scoring line. The best chance at that could be Koivunen, who had a tremendous AHL season last year. If he plays alongside Sidney Crosby, what type of numbers would we be looking at?

Matt Savoie - RW - Edmonton Oilers

What was said about Koivunen goes double for Savoie; there’s a chance that one of Edmonton’s young wingers could get the opportunity to play with either McDavid or Draisaitl. Savoie had a solid first pro year in the AHL and could be ready for such an opportunity.

Artyom Levshunov - D - Chicago Blackhawks

A year ago, it would have seemed crazy to have Rinzel ahead of Levshunov as a Calder candidate for the Hawks, but here we are. Levshunov’s offensive game wasn’t quite as dynamic as expected in his first pro season in the system, and while he should crack Chicago’s roster, it would appear that Rinzel is ahead of him on the depth chart for powerplay time.

Easton Cowan - RW -Toronto Maple Leafs

“Cowboy” Cowan is in a position to battle for a roster spot in Toronto this training camp after a great run with the London Knights. It seems unlikely that he’ll put up the kind of offensive numbers to earn Calder votes, but what happens if he gets slotted beside Matthews or Nylander?

Jani Nyman - RW - Seattle Kraken

A power winger with a big shot, Nyman was terrific in his first pro season in North America last year, even earning an extended look with the Kraken. Will Seattle continue to explore his chemistry with star young pivot Shane Wright?

Scott Morrow - D - New York Rangers

Recently acquired in the K’Andre Miller trade with Carolina, Morrow is a tremendous young offensive defender. He was excellent in his first pro season last year and should have a great chance of making the Rangers this year. While he’s unlikely to supplant Adam Fox from the top powerplay unit, he could earn time on the secondary unit.

Matthew Schaefer - D - New York Islanders

Given how much time Schaefer missed last year between a bout with mono and the broken collarbone, it seems a bit far-fetched to pencil him into an NHL lineup, which is obviously a rarity for recent first overall picks. However, Schaefer is a gamer so don’t count him out completely.

Isaac Howard - LW - Edmonton Oilers

Given his experience at the pro level, it would appear that Matt Savoie would have a leg up on Howard for a prominent roster spot. A new member of the Oilers, Howard needed some time to adjust to the NCAA level and odds are he’ll need time to adjust to the pro level too. But, if he does crack the roster, he too has a chance to play alongside one of the big guns.

Rutger McGroarty - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

It does seem likely that one of Koivunen or McGroarty cracks the Pens opening night lineup. However, we see Koivunen as more likely to put up the points necessary to be a Calder candidate at this point. But, as mentioned with Koivunen, if McGroarty can manage to earn time with Sid the Kid, he could put up some good numbers.

Gabe Perreault - LW - New York Rangers

After a standout two year run at Boston College, Perreault has turned pro and will set his sights on making the Rangers’ opening night roster. There’s an opening or two there, but Perreault will need to prove that his conditioning is up to NHL standards. The upside is obviously high.

Alex Bump - LW - Philadelphia Flyers

A fifth-round pick in 2022 out of high school, few prospects have improved as much as Bump has in recent years. An NCAA champion with Western Michigan this past year, Bump is now turning pro, and he could be a darkhorse candidate to not only earn an immediate NHL roster spot but be a solid contributor for the Flyers too.

Brad Nadeau - LW - Carolina Hurricanes

Based on pedigree, Nadeau should absolutely be higher on this list. He was one of the best players in the AHL in the second half of last year and looks NHL ready. The problem is that Carolina brought in Nik Ehlers this offseason to fill out an already deep forward group, and that likely leaves Nadeau on the outside looking in, barring an injury.

Logan Mailloux - D - St. Louis Blues

Recently acquired from the Canadiens for Zach Bolduc, Mailloux has a good chance of making the Blues in a third pairing role. Given that his ice time is likely to be pretty sheltered initially, it seems far-fetched to assume that he can be a true Calder candidate.

Danila Yurov - RW - Minnesota Wild

After a bit of a down year in the KHL, the former first round selection is finally crossing the pond this year and he has the inside track on a bottom six role with the Wild. Much like Marat Khusnutdinov last year (before the trade), it seems unlikely Yurov plays enough to put up the kind of points necessary to be a Calder candidate.

Beckett Sennecke - RW - Anaheim Ducks

It seems fitting to put a massive wildcard at number 26. Sennecke, the former third overall pick, seems blocked currently thanks to Anaheim’s forward depth. However, what happens with Mason McTavish? Or what happens if Sennecke puts on a show in training camp? He’s the kind of prospect you make room for. Odds are that he ends up back in the OHL for another season, but stranger things have happened.