The world junior championship is unique among international events in that fans really can engage with it on two levels.
First and foremost, you can fly a flag for your country, rooting for the best U-20 kids in the land to capture hockey gold. But even when you’re not painting your face in the national colours, you can view the tournament through the prism of your club allegiances, hoping draft picks made by your favourite NHL squad show out.
The WJC begins on Boxing Day in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. With some final cuts still to come as camps wind down, 30 of the 32 NHL squads could be represented when the event kicks off next week.
Of course, three of the most compelling players to watch don’t belong to any team just yet because they’re eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. When that event happens in June, it’s entirely possible that Canadian winger Gavin McKenna, big Canadian D-man Keaton Verhoeff and Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg will — in some order — be taken 1-2-3.
This is McKenna’s second rip at the WJC and all three of those guys will be giving supporters of lottery-bound NHL squads something to dream about.
The top teams in the WJC are packed with NHL draft picks and some of the lower-tier squads still feature guys who might have a big-league future on the world’s best circuit.
With that in mind, we’re devoting this week’s edition of the power rankings to highlighting WJC participants for every squad that has them.
1. Colorado Avalanche (24-2-7): Czech centre Max Curran was a fifth-rounder for the Avs in 2024 and he’s a third-year WHLer who has a nice six-foot-three frame.
2. Dallas Stars (22-7-5): Of course, Dallas — already driven by Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell — has two Finns to monitor at the WJC. Winger Emil Hemming was picked 29th overall in 2024, while centre Atte Joki was a fifth-rounder last year. The Stars also picked six-foot-six Swedish goalie Mans Goos in Rd. 5 last June.
3. Minnesota Wild (20-9-5): The Wild have a couple players on the slight side to watch. Five-foot-10 Finnish D-man Aron Kiviharju was picked 122nd overall in 2024, while five-foot-eight Czech centre Adam Benák — grabbed 102nd last year — is one of the offensive weapons on a Brantford Bulldogs club that’s tearing up the OHL.
4. Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-2): The Canes don’t figure to be represented at the WJC, in part because their top pick in 2025 was Russian goalie Semyon Frolov at 41st overall. Russia, of course, is still banned from participating in IIHF tournaments.
5. Vegas Golden Knights (16-6-10): Winger Trevor Connelly won gold with Team USA last January, and the 2024 first-rounder is back for one more go.
6. Anaheim Ducks (20-12-2): Eric Nilson — a second-round centre in 2025 — and Lucas Pettersson — a Rd. 2 pick the year prior — are both part of Sweden’s team. Finnish defenceman Lasse Boelius was also a second-round pick last year, while Swiss goalie Elijah Neuenschwander was a fourth-rounder. The final Duck to watch is Latvian blueliner Darels Uljanskis, the 214th-overall selection in 2024.
7. Philadelphia Flyers (17-9-6): Power winger Porter Martone, the sixth-overall pick last June, will be a go-to guy for Canada. Philly’s 2024 first-rounder, forward Jett Luchanko, is also with Canada. Big American winger Shane Vansaghi was the 48th pick last summer, while another big body — Swedish pivot Jack Berglund — was a Rd. 2 pick by the Flyers in ’24. Finally, Philly can keep close tabs on two Finnish forwards: Heikki Ruohonen (107th overall, 2024) and Max Westergard (fifth round, 2025).
8. New York Islanders (19-12-3): Scoring winger Cole Eiserman (20th overall, 2024) will be counted on to provide goals for Team USA, while forwards Kamil Bednarik (second round, 2024) and Jacob Kvasnicka (seventh round, 2025) are also in Stars and Stripes. Defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson, picked 17th overall last year with a selection from the Noah Dobson trade, will bring the pain on the back end for Canada. The other pick New York got in that swap was used at 16th overall last June to take Swedish goal-scorer Victor Eklund. Finally, 2025 fourth-round pivot Tomas Poletin lines up for Czechia.
9. Boston Bruins (20-14-0): Forward James Hagens had nine points in seven games last year for the victorious American squad, and you can bet the No. 7 pick from last June will be at the centre of Team USA’s attack this time out, too. American forward Will Zellers, acquired at the deadline last March in the deal that sent Charlie Coyle to Colorado, is also in the mix. Vashek Blanar, a Czech defenceman, was the 100th pick last year.
10. Washington Capitals (18-11-4): Cole Hutson became the first defenceman to lead the WJC in points last year when he posted 11 on the way to helping Team USA win gold. Think he was a good pick at 43rd overall in 2024? Nick Kempf, a fourth-rounder in 2024, could be the American starter between the pipes. Swedish centre Milton Gästrin (37th overall, 2025), Swiss D-man Leon Muggli (52nd, 2024), German forward Maxim Schäfer (96th, 2025) and Czech forward Petr Sikora (178th, 2024) are four other guys for Caps fans to watch.
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11. Florida Panthers (18-13-2): The Cats’ first pick didn’t come until Rd. 4 last year, when they took Danish goalie Mads Kongsbak Klyvo. Florida’s first pick the year before, in 2024, was second-round Swedish forward Linus Eriksson.
12. Detroit Red Wings (19-13-3): Slovakia has three NHL picks on its roster, two of them belong to the Wings and they’re both named Michal. Michal Pradel is a goalie Detroit snagged in Rd. 3 last June, while Michal Svrcek is a forward it took one round later. Carter Bear (13thoverall, 2025) could bring some sandpaper on the wing for Canada, while American winger Max Plante was a second-rounder in 2024. Eddie Genborg is a Swedish forward the Wings grabbed in Rd. 2 last year.
13. Edmonton Oilers (16-12-6): Forward David Lewandowski (fourth round, 2025) is Leon Draisaitl’s German countryman, while Asher Barnett (131st, 2025) is an American blueliner.
14. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-12-3): When the Bolts traded 2024 WJC hero Ike Howard to the Oilers in the summer, they got Canadian forward Sam O’Reilly in return. Tampa also has American goalie Caleb Heil (seventh round, 2025) and 2024 fifth-round centre Joona Saarelainen of Finland.
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-12-5): The Leafs are watching a pair of D-men. They are Ben Danford (31st overall, 2024) of Canada and Victor Johansson (120th, 2024) of Sweden.
16. New Jersey Devils (19-14-1): Finnish forward Kasper Pikkarainen (third round, 2024) is the lone Devils point of interest at the WJC.
17. Montreal Canadiens (17-12-4): Michael Hage has been a riser for Montreal ever since the Habs took him 21st overall in 2024. He slotted in the middle of Canada’s top line with Gavin McKenna in the team’s first pre-tournament game on Wednesday. Finnish forward Aatos Koivu (third round, 2024) will always be someone Habs fans watch closely thanks to the legacy his dad, Saku Koivu, holds in the city. Undersized forward L.J. Mooney (113th overall in 2025) is trying to show Team USA what he’s got, while Carlos Handel (sixth round, 2025) is a German D-man playing in the QMJHL, which is also where you’ll find Latvian ‘tender Mikus Vecvanags (fifth round, 2024).
18. Los Angeles Kings (14-10-9): The Kings may have up to seven guys to watch at the WJC, including a pair of goalies. Canadian Carter George (Rd. 2, 2024) is back and likely has the inside track on the starter’s job. Last June, L.A. took Finn Petteri Rimpinen — the rare sub-six-foot puckstopper — in the fifth round. George is joined by big Canadian winger Liam Greentree (26th overall, 2024), and the Kings also have Americans Henry Brzustewicz (defenceman, 31stoverall in 2025) and Brendan McMorrow (forward, 196th in 2025) on the scene. Finally, there’s Czech forward Vojtěch Čihař (59th in 2025) and Slovakian forward Jan Chovan (sixth round, 2025).
19. San Jose Sharks (17-14-3): After a slight delay, 2025 second-overall pick Michael Misa is set to land with Canada and big defenceman Sam Dickinson (11th overall, 2024) could yet join his Sharks teammate and play for his old major junior coach, Dale Hunter. Big goalie Joshua Ravensbergen (30th overall, 2025) might not crack Canada this time out, but he seems like a 2027 lock. Another large ‘tender, Switzerland’s Christian Kirsch, was a fourth-rounder in 2024. Forward Cole McKinney (second round, 2025) is in Stars and Stripes, while 2024 Rd. 2 selection Leo Sahlin Wallenius is a part of the Swedish blueline picture.
20. Pittsburgh Penguins (14-9-9): The Penguins have a couple of very interesting prospects to monitor. Canadian defenceman Harrison Brunicke (second round, 2024) has already shown some good things in nine NHL games this year, while six-foot-five American centre Will Horcoff — selected 24th overall last June — might wind up being one of 2025’s best first-round decisions.
21. Utah Mammoth (17-16-3): The Mammoth have a couple of very prominent Canadians to watch at the tourney. Winger Tij Iginla’s dad, Jarome, announced his presence to the broader hockey world with an awesome 1996 WJC in Boston. Tij was the sixth-overall pick in 2024. One year later, Utah landed do-it-all centre Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4, and he’ll be ready to play any role Canada asks of him. The Mammoth also have returning Canadian forward Cole Beaudoin (24th overall, 2024), Czechs Max Psenicka (D-man, Rd. 2 in 2025) and Stepan Hoch (forward, Rd. 3 in 2025), Finnish defenceman Veeti Vaisanen (96th overall, 2024) and Swiss rearguard Ludvig Johnson (sixth round, 2025).
22. Ottawa Senators (15-13-4): Logan Hensler patrolled Team USA’s blueline last year and he’s back for a final WJC in 2026. Hensler was Ottawa’s first-round pick in June.
23. Winnipeg Jets (15-16-2): Two touted Swedish defencemen — Sascha Boumedienne and Alfons Freij — are the focus of Winnipeg’s attention. The former was the Jets’ first-rounder last June, while the latter was a second-rounder the year before.
24. New York Rangers (16-15-4): Defenceman E.J. Emery, the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2024, is hoping to make his WJC debut with Team USA.
25. Buffalo Sabres (14-14-4): The Sabres’ gaze is fixed on three Yanks who were consecutive picks for the team in 2024. They are defenceman Adam Kleber (42nd overall), winger Brodie Ziemer (71st) and blueliner Luke Osburn (108th). The big Buffalo prize — and, at six-foot-six, we definitely mean big — is 2025 ninth-overall pick Radim Mrtka, who lines up on Czechia’s blueline.
26. Nashville Predators (13-16-4): Nashville has a strong Canadian contingent with returning goalie Jack Ivankovic (58th overall, 2025), 2025 fifth-overall selection Brady Martin at forward and D-man Cameron Reid (21st overall, 2025). There are also wingers Teddy Stiga (55th overall, 2024) and Ryker Lee (26th, 2025) wearing red, white and blue. Throw in defencemen Viggo Gustafsson (77th overall, 2024) of Sweden and Daniel Nieminen (Rd. 6, 2025) of Finland, and it’s a big tourney for a Preds club hoping brighter days are ahead.
27. St. Louis Blues (13-15-7): Two Czechs — 2024 first-round defenceman Adam Jiříček and ’24 third-round forward Adam Jecho — are the focus of St. Louis’ attention, along with Swedish stopper Love Harenstam (179th overall, 2025).
28. Calgary Flames (13-17-4): Can Zayne Parekh get his mojo going at the WJC one year after being snubbed for the roster? The ninth-overall pick in 2024 has the kind of all-world talent from the back end that could make him a serious difference-maker for Canada. Also wearing red and white is forward Cole Reschny, a 2025 first-rounder.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets (14-13-6): The Jackets may not be represented in 2026, but big, punishing D-man Jackson Smith — picked 14th overall last June — is a good bet for Canada’s 2027 outfit after getting cut from this year’s camp on Thursday.
30. Vancouver Canucks (13-17-3): After surprising everyone by making the Canucks out of training camp, Braeden Cootes — the 15th pick last June — is on the WJC scene for Canada. Swedish forward Wilson Bjorck (fifth round, 2025) and Swiss D-man Basile Sansonnens (221st, 2024) are also players to watch for Canucks fans.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (13-14-6): The Hawks have high hopes for Swedish forward Anton Frondell, which is why they took him third overall last summer. Chicago’s other first-rounder in June was Czech winger Vaclav Nestrasil (25th overall). American forward A.J. Spellacy was a 2024 third-rounder.
32. Seattle Kraken (12-13-6): Blake Fiddler (36th overall, 2025) is in the Team USA blueline milieu. Two Finns — goalie Kim Saarinen and forward Julius Miettinen — are 2024 Kraken picks, with the former being a third-rounder and the latter a Rd. 2 selection. Two seventh-round picks are also there for Seattle, with D-man Jakub Fibigr (2024) wearing Czechia’s uniform and forward Loke Krantz (2025) donning Sweden’s always-amazing yellow and blue.
