NHL
The World Juniors are fun to watch for fans cheering on their nation, but it is also an event full of future NHL talent. Today, we look at the players in the tournament from the perspective of their NHL projections, and who we think will be the impact pros of tomorrow. The following is an average ranking from The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler.
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Before he left for the World Juniors, McKenna led the CHL in scoring and in shots on goal as a 16-year-old. He’s the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 pick in 2026 and would have been projected to go first in 2025. McKenna’s a dynamic, playmaking winger who is just the eighth player to play for Canada at the World Juniors in their draft-minus-one season.
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Hagens is the U17 and U18 worlds single-tournament points record holder, the highest-scoring U19 player in college hockey this season and one of three real contenders for No. 1 in this year’s draft. He’s a high-end skater and playmaker, can drive a line, has dominated these age groups for years and should be one of the top players at this year’s tournament.
Martone has dominated the OHL this season, entering the World Juniors scoring at a two-point-per-game rate. He’s a big winger with high-end offensive skills and a strong interior game. Despite being a draft-eligible forward, he will likely be asked to play a big role on Canada’s power play.
Schaefer has been exciting scouts all season between his play in multiple international events and the OHL. He’s an excellent skating defenseman with good size and legit offensive skills as well. He makes an impact at both ends of the ice, and despite being a 17-year-old, could play a notable role for Canada. He has the traits to become a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL.
Buium is one of the top D prospects in the sport and one of the top players in college hockey. A year after leading the World Juniors in plus-minus (11) and goals by a defenseman (3), he’s a front-runner to be the top D at this year’s tournament as a returnee. He’s the crown jewel of a Wild system with multiple high-end prospects.
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Catton is expected to be a top-two-line center for Canada. He’s been a top player in the WHL. His skating is dynamic to go with high-end playmaking skills. He’s always played well in international events.
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Dickinson has been excellent this season in the OHL, leading defensemen in most major offensive categories while logging a lot of minutes for London. He’s an excellent skating defenseman with size who can make a lot of stops. There are debates about whether his pure offensive touch and playmaking match his current stats, but he does have a strong skill level, too. Currently, he’s slated to play a limited role for Canada.
Leonard is expected to be the leading forward for Team USA at the tournament. Leonard is a super-skilled winger who plays with an edge and has legit goal-scoring touch.
Perreault is the NTDP’s single-season points record holder and has been one of the top offensive producers in college hockey for the last two years. He projects as a playmaking, power-play winger in the NHL and is a threat to lead this year’s tournament in scoring.
Sandin Pellikka enters his third World Juniors as the tournament’s reigning top defenseman, an SHL champion and the winner of the Salming Trophy (awarded annually to the best Swedish-born defenseman playing in Sweden). He’s a near-point-per-game defenseman in the SHL as a teenager and projects as a competitive, right-shot offensive defenseman in the NHL. He should be one of the top players in this year’s tournament — again.
Helenius is unquestionably the Finns’ top player and NHL prospect in this year’s tournament. He has been a very good player in both the AHL and Liiga as a teenager and projects as a well-rounded top-nine NHLer.
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Ritchie is one of only a small handful of players in this year’s tournament with NHL experience and is firmly in the conversation with Porter Martone and Michael Misa as the top player in the OHL this season. He’s a well-rounded forward with legit puck skill and an NHL release who excels at both center and the wing. He has always shown up for Hockey Canada as well and there’s no reason to believe the World Juniors will be any different.
Eiserman is the NTDP’s all-time leading goal scorer and one of the most prolific pure shooters in this year’s tournament. Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault will be Team USA’s top two wingers but Eiserman should do some damage in the middle six and on the power play. He’s a one-shot game-breaker.
Dvorsky is set to play in his fourth World Junior tournament for Slovakia. He’s been having a great year in the AHL. He’s a center with great hands and vision who is a threat to score from midrange, but his pace isn’t always the best.
Bonk is a returning member for Canada who has been excellent in the OHL for the past few seasons. He’s a big right-shot defender who skates and moves the puck well and is expected to log major minutes.
Connelly is a dynamic individual talent whose high-end puck skills can produce highlight-reel offensive sequences both off the rush and inside the offensive zone. His discipline has burned USA Hockey and been a recurring issue in the NCAA and USHL, but he’s one of the most talented players in his age group and has top-six NHL talent.
Eklund is one of the top draft eligibles in the tournament and the best one from Europe. He’s an excellent skating winger who is both very skilled and highly competitive. He is on the smaller side, though.
Rehkopf is a returnee for Canada and has been one of the top offensive players in the OHL over the last season and a half. He has a lethal wrister, good speed, size, skill and experience playing all three forward positions. He’s expected to start in Canada’s top nine and play on one of their power-play units.
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Edstrom has been traded multiple times since being drafted but continues to be quite good versus men in the SHL. He’s a big, fast center who has shown he can score and play both ways effectively.
Molendyk is arguably the top defenseman in the CHL this year, very nearly made the Predators out of camp and is viewed by Hockey Canada as their No. 1 D at this year’s tournament. He’s an elite skater who can influence the game in all areas of the ice.
Willander is expected to play a ton for Sweden and be asked to shut down top forwards as he did for this age group two years ago. He’s an outstanding skater who can move pucks well enough.
Luchanko made the Flyers briefly out of camp before being sent back to the OHL. He is full of speed and energy and a strong playmaker as well.
Jiricek is a big, mobile defenseman who plays with an edge and can move pucks, too. He’s been hurt a lot lately, but when healthy he’s a legit top defense prospect.
Cowan is the OHL’s reigning regular-season most outstanding player and playoffs MVP. He’s a hardworking, good-skating, multi-faceted forward who is expected to play atop Canada’s forward group as a returnee and projects as a top-nine NHLer who can play up and down a lineup.
Novotny is a 2026 draft eligible and one scouts are very excited about. He is quite skilled and also a good skater with a high compete level.
(Photos of Gavin McKenna and James Hagens: Leila Devlin / Getty Images and Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
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