The annual World Junior Championship kicked off on December 26th (or “Boxing Day”, as our Canadian friends call it). With the NHL still in an extended Christmas/Covid outbreak respite, this tournament begins at a perfect time for hockey-starved fans. Like baseball’s Arizona Fall League, the World Juniors provide a platform for prospects to put themselves on the NHL radar (see Troy Terry’s performance in 2017). Last week, I went over some prospects who are on the cusp of playing in the NHL. The World Juniors allows us to look at some of these players, as well as some deeper prospects who will look to stand out against advanced competition. This week, we’ll look who you should be watching here for Dynasty-league purposes, and some names that could stand out.
We’ll start with the USA, looking to repeat as Champions in 2022. The American team has a few returning players, and some other top prospects who will look to replace the production of 2021 leading scorer Trevor Zegras. Jake Sanderson, Ottawa’s first round pick in 2020, will lead this team from the defensive end. Sanderson is a strong, smart defenseman who has future top-pairing potential. Relied on to shut down the opponent’s top weapon, Sanderson has some underrated offensive upside as well, thanks to his elite ice vision (he logged 15 points last season with North Dakota in the NCAA, and already has 19 this year). The Senators expect big things from Sanderson in the NHL, and he shouldn’t be overlooked as a “defense-first” player in dynasty leagues.
Playing alongside Sanderson on the back end will likely be Luke Hughes, younger brother of Jack and Quinn and the Devils’ first round pick in 2021. Unlike Sanderson, the biggest question with Hughes is his defensive acumen. However, there’s no doubt about his offensive talent and ability to generate scoring from the back-end. At the very least, Hughes should be leading the power play for the U.S., and possibly with the Devils next year. It’ll be interesting to see how Hughes holds up defensively against some other top prospects on other teams, which may ultimately determine the type of usage he’ll receive in the NHL.
Offensively, the US will heavily rely on Seattle’s 2021 first round pick, Matty Beniers. A strong two-way center, it’s hard to find any holes in Beniers’ game. As the first pick in team history, the Kraken envision building around Beniers for years to come, thanks to his ability to generate offense with elite skating ability, while also playing a responsible defensive game. Berniers will likely play on a line with a less-heralded prospect in Brett Berard. Berard fell to the Rangers in the 5th round of the 2020 draft, due to his size (5’9”, 150 lbs). Like Beniers, Berard is a presence in all aspects of the game due to his skating and playmaking ability, allowing him to play much “bigger” than his size. Berard put himself on the map thanks to a strong performance on the American third line in the 2021 tournament, and could make an even bigger jump this year, playing on the top unit.
Team Canada, a perennial contender, will look to overtake the American team in this year’s tournament. The Canadiens feature a young team, headlined by Shane Wright and Connor Bedard, likely the top picks in the 2022 and 2023 drafts, respectively. The leading “veteran” for the Canadian team is the first overall pick in 2021, defenseman Owen Powers. It not hard to see why Buffalo chose Powers as the top player in his draft class. At 6’6”, he’s a defensive force who certainly won’t be outmuscled by any opponent. However, it’s Powers’ skating ability and ice vision vaulting him into another tier as a prospect, with tantalizing upside. Expect him to be a standout player in the tournament, and a top option in dynasty leagues. Ultimately, however, Canada’s success in 2022 will likely come down to whether Bedard or Wright can live up to their billing as “generational” offensive talents against some stronger defenses.
The Russians will also be reliant on an ultra-talented newcomer in 17-year-old Matvei Michkov. Despite being one of the youngest players in the tournament, Michkov has already shown an ability to play with higher-level competition in the KHL. Though not eligible until the 2023 draft, Michkov could wind up with more hype than anyone in the tournament if he’s able to demonstrate his highlight-reel playmaking and scoring potential. Russia’s greatest strength this year, however, will be their goaltending. Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville’s first round pick in 2020, is likely to be the best goalie in the tournament. It’s always hard to predict the long-term outlook for goalie prospects, but Askarov seems to be as safe a bet as any to be the next top prospect at the position. Like Michkov, he’s shown he can play against higher level competition in the KHL. In these sorts of tournaments, strong goalie play can get you far, so don’t sleep on this Russian team.
Sweden and Finland are two other teams that could contend for a medal, fielding talented and experienced rosters. Sweden’s top-line duo of Alexander Holtz (discussed in last week’s article) and San Jose’s top prospect William Eklund make up perhaps the most lethal scoring duo in this tournament. Taken 7th overall in 2021, Eklund got a taste of the NHL in nine games with the Sharks earlier this season, before returning to Sweden to continue his development. There’s still some contention as to whether Eklund can become a high-end scoring threat in the NHL, but he’s an excellent skater who plays a well-rounded game that should be a nice complement to the elite finishing ability that Holtz possesses.
Finland, meanwhile, will rely on a strong defensive game, led by Maple Leafs’ prospect Topi Niemela. The 2020 third round pick plays a responsible defensive game, that should allow him to reach the NHL sooner rather than later, while a developing offensive game offers some very intriguing upside. Thanks to strong skating and impressive vision, Niemela is the current point leader amongst defensemen in the Finnish Liiga. The most intriguing forward on the Finnish roster is Joakim Kemell, a top prospect in the 2022 draft who’ll look to boost his draft stock with a strong performance on a global stage. Ultimately, Finland may not have the same star power as other teams in the tournament, but they have an experienced roster of well-rounded players who will look to pull off a medal upset.
With the NHL announcing that their players will be pulling out of the Olympics, the World Juniors should be the premiere international tournament this season. If you’re new to hockey, this tournament is a must-watch. It’s a chance to see the next generation of hockey showcase their talent, while playing with a passion that comes from representing their countries. Team USA and Canada both feature strong rosters again, furthering a rivalry that has produced some of the most entertaining hockey games I’ve watched. Additionally, look for some under-the-radar prospects to break out, and lead some underdogs on potential medal runs.
