Tanner Molendyk (Getty Images)
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Hockey is set for a hectic schedule over the next few months, particularly with the new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament scheduled in mid-February. However, before we can really dig our teeth into best-on-best hockey for the first time in almost a decade, the U20 Worlds tournament serves a perfect appetizer to stimulate desire among hockey-crazed fans.
The World Juniors are a fixture in the holiday schedule for the most dedicated Canadians. This year's edition, taking place in Ottawa, figures to be another instant classic. After a disappointing performance in 2024, Team Canada looks set to ice the most skilled roster in the competition, which bodes well for their chances of advancing further.
There's a very clear power divide between the medal favourites and the potential spoilers this year. While there is always the possibility of a shock result in a one-off international game, the likes of Czechia, Finland, and Slovakia will have to punch above their weight to knock off the top three squads.
In this article, I'll feed into the anticipation by previewing each of the teams, predicting the knockout rounds, and highlighting the players to watch for the ten participating nations.
GROUP A
1. CANADA
After a disastrous 2024 tournament, Canada is returning with a much more well-rounded roster. Under the guidance of Ottawa 67s coach Dave Cameron, they have committed to their forechecking roots with a few premier talents up front and on the blueline.
The biggest name in this tournament is the hotly tipped Gavin McKenna, who may already be Canada's best puck handler. Despite not being draft eligible until 2026, McKenna is a fantastic offensive talent. Personally, I would temper expectations slightly, especially to those that expect a Connor Bedard-esque tourney. McKenna doesn't yet have the elite shot of Bedard (who happens to be his cousin), nor does he have the defensive pedigree that will see him play in all situations. Nevertheless, he'll post an array of highlight-reel moments and might challenge for the team's scoring lead. Another exciting youngster is Porter Martone, who is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. Frankly, I'm not as high on Martone as some scouts seem to be. I acknowledge that he has the ability to become a Matthew Tkachuk type of player, but I think he needs to tighten up his puck handling and commit to generating chaos via physical play. He's been excellent in the OHL, though, and I think the World Juniors could be the perfect stage for him to put together his tools. Bradly Nadeau is a highly skilled addition to the roster; his movement off the puck and away from the action will complement some of the puck-dominant players around him. For my money, Calum Ritchie is the best player in the OHL, thanks to his world-class hockey sense. Like Nadeau, Ritchie doesn't have to be his team's protagonist to have an impact. Berkly Catton is a high-end offensive talent. Canada doesn't have many players with his mix of skating and playmaking. As a whole, this Canadian forward group is very versatile. It is chock-full of centers that can double as wingers, which should provide Cameron with some more flexibility. Last year, coach Alan Letang was too pragmatic with his lineup mixes; this shouldn't come to fruition this year.
The tides are changing at the top of the 2025 draft. Recently, it seems as if Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer has taken over as the consensus top prospect. I think he's the most exciting player a team could get at #1 by a considerable margin. He has insane wheels and proper skating form, always shifting weight quickly between his feet to stay ahead of opponents. The people that have deemed him a "lesser" first-overall pick are clearly underrating his pace. He's the best skating D prospect I've seen since Quinn Hughes. If there's a trait that suggests NHL superstardom, especially among defensemen, it's the warp speed that Schaefer possesses. He seems to be penned as Canada's power play quarterback, which is a wise decision. I'm also a huge fan of Tanner Molendyk, who could genuinely be improving a limp Predators team already, per my estimation. Similarly to Schaefer, Molendyk could enter the NHL right now and be in the 90th percentile of skaters on the blueline. I maintain that if he played last year, (he was ruled out with an injury) Canada would not have been so toothless. Oliver Bonk, a returnee from last year, was one of a small number that boosted their stocks with solid even-strength play in 2024's tournament.
Though goaltending is rarely a strength for Canadian junior teams, Carter George offers potential stability between the pipes. Though he isn't physically imposing like some netminders at the tournament, his poise stands out, whether it be in the crease or out of it when he plays the puck.
Canada is maybe lacking some offensive talent, namely a goalscorer (which makes Beckett Sennecke's exclusion even more peculiar), but this is a very strong team. On home ice, behind an expectedly raucous Ottawa crowd, this team should be in gold medal contention.
2. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The first thing that stands out about the American roster is the sheer amount of returnees. They've recalled ten players from the reigning gold medal-winning squad. The second thing that stands out is the sheer amount of speed. The Americans have clearly targeted skating in their selection, which makes for a refreshing change of pace at a tournament which can be dominated by politics and intangibles in choosing a roster.
Matthew Schaefer is far from a guarantee to hear his name called first at the upcoming NHL Draft; James Hagens will have something to say about that. I share some of the same concerns that people have previously outlined with Hagens. He doesn't take over games enough for my liking. While he evidently has dynamic skill, he doesn't always run the show, which is admittedly difficult when you are surrounded by Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, two of the presumptive MVP candidates for the World Junior Championship this year. Leonard-Hagens-Perreault is a frightening top line, but I'd like to see Hagens come into his own as a driver to call him a cinch for a team's #1 center spot in the future. As previously mentioned, skating ability is a running theme on this roster. The likes of Oliver Moore and AJ Spellacy, both of whom are Chicago Blackhawks prospects, exemplify that. Moore has a better grasp of skating physics than veterans twice his age; it helps him win puck battles. I'm very excited to see how Moore competes with some of Canada's speedy forecheckers. The ever-polarizing Cole Eiserman is invisible in his worst shifts, but he has a lethal release that no defenseman should ignore. He's a prime candidate to rack up goals if the United States can sort out their power play right away. Trevor Connelly is a very manipulative speedster that can knock defenders off their feet; I'm curious to see if he can show some more NHL-ready two-way instincts in Ottawa.
The USA's defense group is certainly their weakness. Zeev Buium was pinpointed at the 2024 NHL Draft by a Minnesota Wild organization that has become renowned for their defensive scouting. Truthfully, it is not hard to see why the Wild put their faith in Buium. I can only describe him in one word: "cerebral." He always seems in control of the play, which is the biggest compliment I can give to a 19-year-old rearguard. He will be forced to munch big minutes on this team. Cole Hutson, brother of Montreal's Lane, has the same manipulative movement as his older brother. He's enjoying a good year with NCAA Boston University, but Cole isn't a fantastic skater and he still sometimes struggles with defensive reads. Aram Minnetian, another burner, handles the puck well and has a good two-way impact. I saw a clip of Minnetian from last year where he looked almost exactly like Bowen Byram.
Though the USA have a great forward corps and they have Buium anchoring their defensive personnel, Trey Augustine is the main reason for optimism regarding a potential gold medal repeat. Augustine is a veteran of the World Juniors at this rate. He posted the best save percentage of any goaltender at 2024's WJC. He has great net awareness and covers tight angles well, despite his modest 6'1 frame. With no obvious all-situations shutdown defender, Augustine might have a heavy workload against teams like Sweden and Canada, but he has proven he can handle that.
The United States are rightly considered among the favourites for a gold medal. They're going to ice a very strong team, led by Leonard and Perreault. Strangely, the US has never won back-to-back World Juniors. This year, that is a feasible possibility.
3. FINLAND
Aron Kiviharju (Pesi Mennander)
Finland seems to be entering a dark age of hockey development. Ever the bridesmaid, rarely the bride, the Finns are used to being in contention for medals. However, this year's iteration looks quite weak on paper, at least in comparison to the more established competitors.
Konsta Helenius is a real bright spot for Finland. Picked by Buffalo in last year's NHL Draft, Helenius is a strong play-driver. The manner in which he gets body positioning on his opponents has always reminded me of William Nylander. Though he can't take over a game of his own accord, he has a strong shot and excellent playmaking instincts. He's also quite responsible in his own zone. I'm expecting Helenius to play major minutes at both ends of the ice. Outside of Helenius, the Suomi lack elite skill. A player that could possibly help in that department is Jesse Kiiskinen. Kiiskinen is enjoying a solid season in the Finnish Liiga by all accounts. He has a genuinely great wrist shot. If Finland are to go toe-to-toe with the more talented teams around them, Kiiskinen will need to be a legitimate power play weapon. Similarly to Kiiskinen, Kasper Halttunen plays an aggressive game. He has a surprisingly deft touch for a power forward, but I do think he is better suited to playing second fiddle. That can be excused on a loaded London Knights team, but Halttunen's lack of puck handling will hold him back unless he's glued to Helenius. Rasmus Kumpulainen is strong, hard-working, and a great backchecker. He projects as a useful defensive forward. In the same vein as Kiiskinen and Halttunen, Emil Hemming has a deceptive shot that he can get off from anywhere. I'm not his biggest fan, but I do think Hemming is a more dimensional scorer than almost every Finnish forward.
Finland will be led on defense by Aron Kiviharju. Once touted as a phenom, a number of factors have plagued his development, the most damning of which is the fact that he was never realistically the generational talent that Finnish pundits anticipated. On a weak defensive unit, Kiviharju will have to step up in a major way. He's a very skilled passer, which should suit the heavy shooters up front for Finland. Kiviharju's skating has fallen off a cliff since he first broke onto the scene, but he is fairly agile. Emil Pieniniemi is a good safety blanket for Kiviharju. He makes smart plays in the neutral zone, boxes out forwards, and is an effective penalty killer. A Kiviharju-Pieniniemi pivot is hardly game-breaking, but they are both good players in different ways that should help this team. Kalle Kangas plays a passive game, but he is efficient under pressure and rarely makes back-breaking mistakes.
It isn't explicitly obvious which of Finland's three goaltenders will man the crease immediately. Of the trio, I'm most familiar with Kim Saarinen, who has represented his nation on the international stage and has always been a good performer. If it were up to me, he'd be the go-to starter. However, Noa Vali could easily fight his way into that conversation.
Finland have the pedigree to knock off a more talented team in the knockout rounds, but I personally would expect a pretty flat performance from the Finns, especially considering their lack of a clear #1 D-man and any playmakers to accommodate their shooters.
4. GERMANY
After a relegation scare at last year's tourney, Germany is again in danger of falling to Division B because of their limited scoring talent. German games might be a slog to watch and they will need some fantastic defensive performances to stay up this year. However, this team is massive and they'll make games physical for teams that want to play through them.
The obvious standout in the forward group is David Lewandowski of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. As with many of Germany's best forwards, Lewandowski is massive and very physically developed for his age. He absorbs contact with his 6'2 frame and uses it to win positioning. Lewandowski's finishing is very raw. Unless he bangs in a garbage goal, he is not likely to light too many lamps in Oshawa, but he's a good skater for his size and his playmaking is subtly good. Rio Kaiser exemplifies Germany's roster trend of selecting larger players. At 6'7 and 207 pounds, I have a feeling that Canada won't want Gavin McKenna on the ice at the same time as this guy. From QMJHL Moncton, Julius Sumpf is arguably Germany's most gifted offensive player. He can draw in defenders with his close control and take advantage of his playmaking (he's on pace for a very respectable 84 points in the Q this season). Timo Kose is another giant winger that gets up close and personal with goalies.
Germany's trend of size over skill is equally prevalent on D. Paul Mayer and Norman Panocha are shutdown rearguards that will be trusted by the German coaching staff to keep scores low. Panocha, who plays with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, will be used to the smaller ice surface and figures to be one of Germany's better defensemen. The real star on the back end is Carlos Händel, the closest thing that Germany has to an all-situations maestro. He's a fluid skater, which allows him to activate or defend the rush. Händel is likely to play on Germany's top power play unit. I've read concerns about his ability to deal with heavy forechecks, but it's possible that more reps at a high level will be enough to dispel his passive nature.
In goal, forecasts have Nico Pertuch as the last line of defense. I know next to nothing about Pertuch, but he has a perfectly respectable 1.91 goals against average in DEL2, the German equivalent of the AHL.
Germany doesn't have any superstar talents to outscore their woes elsewhere on the roster. Nevertheless, this looks like a team that smaller teams will not want to play, given their plethora of big skaters.
5. LATVIA
Following an impressive 2024 tournament that resulted in a quarterfinal berth, Latvia will hope to replicate that success through their tried and trusted formula: passive offensive play and a very restricting defensive structure. It doesn't always work, but if Latvia can get superhuman goaltending and make life difficult for opponents, it is entirely possible that they sneak into the knockout games.
Most of Latvia's production will probably come from Eriks Mateiko. Mateiko is a generic power forward with a big body and a good eye for a deflection. He does his best work down low in the dirty areas, as he isn't an excellent stickhandler, but I would not be shocked if Mateiko saw some success against a team like the US, given they don't have an obvious body mover on their blueline. Olivers Murnieks is one of the most exciting Latvian talents in some time. At the tender age of 16, he has 9 goals in 25 USHL games. He has a very good shot and makes intelligent offensive reads in real time. Bruno Osmanis is a silky playmaker plying his trade in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Though I usually dislike +/- as a stat, winger Toms Mots was only a -1 at last year's tournament, which is impressive considering Latvia had a -21 goal differential as a whole.
Darels Uljanskis is one of only two NHL draftees representing Latvia (Mateiko being the other). Uljanskis has a decent two-way game about him. He knows when to activate and when to fall back. I'd expect him to take the quarterback role on Latvia's power play by default, but he does genuinely have some offensive tricks up his sleeve. Viktors Kurbaka and Kristers Urbanovics are decent defensemen in their own right. Kurbaka is a relatively quick blueliner, while Urbanovics is a physical, 6'2 defender.
Lindars Feldbergs should be Latvia's starter throughout the tournament. Feldbergs is helping QMJHL Sherbrooke to a pleasantly surprising season. He should be stable enough to keep the Latvians in games if they can get some offense to back him up.
As always, Latvia are going to be in the relegation fight. Their team isn't very deep, but in Mateiko, Ulkanskis, and Feldbergs, they have a few foundational pillars to challenge Germany for 4th place in Group A.
GROUP B
1. SWEDEN
If there's one thing you can count on in life, it would be Sweden finishing atop its WJC preliminary group. After a heartbreaking loss in the gold medal game on their home soil in 2024, the Tre Kronor are returning most of their best players for another run at the ultimate prize. There is not a single team in the tournament that can challenge Sweden's top four on defense. If they can rally around this ultimate strength, it is very possible that Sweden breaks their 12-year championship drought.
Though there may not be an obviously elite forward in this Swedish group, it's a very well-rounded unit with some potential for growth. Nobody fits that description more than Victor Eklund, a 2025 draft eligible prospect, who is a good bet for the lottery. Eklund has a relentless motor and he plays with some bite. Despite his diminutive frame, Eklund doesn't shy away from the highly contested areas of the ice. He's a rapid skater that can carry the puck in transition and will impress fans with his controlled entries. Eklund isn't the only Swedish forward who can play with some snarl. In fact, that's a massive part of this team. Though Sweden's identity is usually rooted in skill and skating ability, there is a lot more size up front this December. Strong center David Edstrom is a very well-rounded pivot that plays a responsible two-way game. He doesn't shy away from contact, but he is also very adept at finding his teammates, both in transition or in stagnant game situations. Anton Wahlberg is of a similar caliber, but he's an even better skater than Edstrom. Felix Unger Sörum is probably Sweden's best forward. He's slowly acclimating to the AHL, but Unger Sörum thinks the game at an unprecedented level. He sees passing lanes before they even reveal themselves. He combines that vision with a genuine ability to make those passes. He's incredibly crafty and may well lead the tournament in assists. I'd be remiss if I didn't shout out Herman Träff, a very underrated winger in the New Jersey Devils organization. Träff is a battler and plays hard hockey. He's already very cognizant of the best route to the net and with his combination of size and skill, I could see him being an NHL contributor someday.
Sweden possesses an embarrassment of riches on defense. Their top three defensemen, Axel Sandin Pellikka, Theo Lindtsein, and Tom Willander could all play up to 25 minutes a night in all situations. Sandin Pellikka is not just performing well in the Swedish league for a young defenseman; he's performing well for a defenseman of any age. He's the most recent winner of the Salming Trophy for the best Swedish-born blueliner in the SHL. ASP has a rocket of a shot and excellent processing speed, whether he's walking the blue line or rushing the puck up the ice. Lindstein was the top-scoring defenseman in the 2024 World Juniors, but his hallmark is the outlet pass. There might be nobody better in Lindstein's age group at breaking the puck out of his own zone with a crisp pass to the sides. He plays a subtle game that coaches love in knockout hockey. Willander is an elite skater; his recovery pace makes up for any potential holes in his defensive game, though he has made big strides in that department.
Sweden will not have the reigning top goalie, Hugo Havelid, but they have a couple of strong options between the posts. While many roster projections are naming Melker Thelin as the guaranteed starter, I'd lean Marcus Gidlöf if I were running the Swedish operation. While I think Gidlöf can refine some of his skills, particularly regarding his extension, he's a big body in the net and he can move like a much shorter man.
At the end of the day, Sweden have a very good team, but they will live or die by their top three blueliners. If Sandin Pellikka, Lindtsein, and Willander can be even better than they were last year, the Tre Kronor will be tough to beat in the medal rounds.
2. CZECHIA
Eduard Sale (Images on Ice)
Czechia has emerged as an underrated force in the hockey world over the past handful of tournaments. However, this isn't a Czechia team that will enter the tourney as a medal favourite. There are a couple of talented veterans, but this team isn't likely to beat any of the medal favourites on sheer talent alone. They're a decent bet to knock off a better team in a one-off, but as mentioned previously, the difference between the top three teams and the field is pretty significant.
Up front, Czechia have assembled a group that fits the qualities that they usually value in their offensive players: big, heavy, and nasty. There isn't an obvious superstar, so filling the net is going to be a collective task. The closest thing that the Czechs have to a skilled player that can take over a game is Eduard Sale. Sale has assuaged some concerns about his skill with a decent start to the AHL season with Seattle's affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. However, the consistency issues that have historically plagued Sale cannot be ignored. Sale is a talented passer with good close control and a wicked shot. But scouts detest his work ethic on a shift-by-shift basis. It'll be interesting to see if Sale can put forth a complete tournament. The rest of Czechia's forward group primarily consists of big, complementary players. Adam Jecho is a 6'5 player with a strong skating stride and an ability to beat defenders from below the goal line. Jakub Stancl is over 200 pounds and he uses that muscle to force plays on the cycle and to challenge opposing defensemen on the forecheck. As a Leafs fan, I'm excited to see Miroslav Holinka in this environment. Holinka is the exact player that Leafs management loves. He can play on the center or wing and on any line. His calling card is a responsible two-way game, but from what I've seen, he's got genuine hands. The wild card to light up the scoresheets for Czechia is Adam Novotný. He's eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, but has been playing pro hockey against men for nearly two seasons already. His offensive game is quite well-rounded, but his puck skills really jump off the page. Novotný could easily stake a claim to being a top-10 pick in 2026.
Czechia doesn't have fantastic defensive depth on their roster. Adam Jiricek is a right-handed shot that can move the puck and move bodies. That will always be valuable to professional hockey teams, but Jiricek is coming back from an injury. It's entirely possible that he lost a step during the recovery process. Undersized defenseman Tomas Galvas is a great skater; his burst of acceleration is up there with some of the more lauded prospects in the tournament. Though he is only 5'10, Galvas plays a solid defensive game and doesn't make silly mistakes with the puck on his stick. He strikes me as a guy who will pop off on the screen if you watch a Czechia game.
At the end of the day, the onus is going to be placed on Michal Hrabal between the posts. Hrabal is exceptionally large and mobile for a goalie. Size is the great equalizer for goalies and Hrabal certainly covers a lot of the net. His legs are very active, but also very long, so he doesn't often give up shots down low. Hrabal was the second goalie selected in the 2023 NHL Draft and he has performed well in college hockey. Though Hrabal's numbers didn't jump off the page at last year's tournament, he's perfectly capable of stealing games and that is likely Czechia's best route to a medal.
Czechia are going to be competitive, as always, but this doesn't strike me as a medal competitor. Hrabal could keep the scores low, but they will need players like Novotný to step up in a big way.
3. SLOVAKIA
Since goalie Denis Godla put forth a superhuman tournament in 2015, Slovakia hasn't made it out of the quarterfinals. Their 2025 team is full of veteran players to grind out close games. While I doubt that Slovakia could legitimately challenge Canada or the USA, there's a fine chance that they sneak past a favoured team, such as Finland or Czechia.
The Slovaks are going to be led by St. Louis Blues prospect Dalibor Dvorský. Dvorský is partaking in the U20 tournament for the fourth consecutive year, which rarely happens anymore. I've never been convinced by Dvorský's upside at the NHL level, but he has a strong frame and he's a good enough skater to get a step and attack the inside. He's enjoying a pretty productive season in the AHL so far. Given his advanced physical development, he's going to be one of the toughest players to play against in Ottawa. Tomas Pobezal could sneak into the first round at next year's NHL Draft. He was one of the best players for Slovakia last year. Pobezal fits the prototype as a middle-six energy winger. He works hard defensively, has some decent playmaking instincts, and possesses a decent shot that works particularly well off the rush. Jan Chovan is a 6'3 center that was one of his country's best players at the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. Chovan isn't quite as dynamic as some of his teammates, but he's an effective penalty killer and can keep an offensive scheme ticking. Juraj Pekarcik is probably the second best Slovakian forward (also a Blues prospect). He ranks in the top-20 in the QMJHL for points so far this season. Pekarcik isn't a very good skater, but he has some legitimate offensive instincts and skill. He's the type of player that could break open a game against a restricting defensive scheme, which is an archetype that the Slovaks are generally lacking.
Similarly to Dvorský, Maxim Strbak is no stranger to the World Juniors. This will be his fourth consecutive year representing his nation at the U20s after finishing third among Slovakian players last year for points. Strbak is going to eat up minutes for this team in all situations. Strbak is a good two-way defenseman; he knows when to join the rush and when to stay back. I wouldn't be shocked if Strbak challenged for the ice time lead at this tournament. Luka Radivojevic is eligible for the 2025 draft after making the Slovakian WJC team last year. Radivojevic is a good puck-moving D-man that skates very well. At 5'10, he gets beaten a little too easily for pucks, but he makes the right play most of the time in the offensive zone. Richard Baran is a 19-year-old playing full-time in the USHL. I imagine he'll be trusted in some defensive zone scenarios. Baran doesn't have the pace of Radivojevic or Strbak, but he's good against the rush and he forces forwards to the outside lane.
The battle for the net will be between Samuel Urban and Michal Pradal. Urban is a bit more experienced and he has sound fundamentals, but Pradal could be a goalie of the future for Slovakia. Most of his hockey this season has been played with the U18 Slovakian team in the second division of Slovakian pro hockey. In that division, Pradal faces 41 shots per game, so he's used to coming under siege. On a weaker team, this could be valuable.
Slovakia lost a lot of skill going into this tournament. While Dvorský and Strbak can play impressive hockey, there aren't too many exciting players on this team. Personally, I could see them finishing closer to the bottom, but they do have some pro-level skill.
4. SWITZERLAND
The Swiss junior team isn't too skilled this year. There is not a Kevin Fiala or a Nico Hischier here, but they do have a couple of interesting pieces to keep them in the hunt for 3rd spot in Group B.
Given they don't have an obvious star, plenty of players are going to have to chip in for Switzerland. Chief among the suspects is Lars Steiner, who isn't draft eligible until 2026. He's currently enjoying a great rookie year with the QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, alongside Bill Zonnon and Antonin Verreault, both of whom are challenging for the league lead in points. Steiner is a fierce competitor and he plays a very physical game. He'll be the #1 option to score for this team, which might be tricky given he is the clear third wheel in Rouyn-Noranda. Nevertheless, he has a decent shot and he is a very smart playmaker who always seems to find his teammates. Rico Gredig is a New York Rangers draftee that can forecheck hard and provide some secondary playmaking. Jan Dorthe is responsible defensively, but he also has some soft skill. Jamiro Reber has been productive in the SHL as an 18-year-old, which is no small feat. I don't think he's dynamic per se, but he does expose gaps and he's rather fleet of foot.
Switzerland has a couple good pieces on their D corps, like Capitals prospect Leon Muggli. A second-round pick in 2024, Muggli could certainly have an NHL future. He plays a good defensive game, skates backwards very well, and is very composed in his own end. Daniil Ustinkov is an interesting talent, who has reportedly not played at his best over the past couple of seasons, but he's a really solid skater. Eric Schneller is fast and can block shots, a combination that is likely to see him play on the penalty kill.
In net, I'd expect to see Christian Kirsch take the starter's role, especially after he looked pretty good against Canada in pre-tournament action. Kirsch will need to be good, especially because goaltending is a strength for Kazakhstan. Kirsch is a fourth-round draft pick that sometimes struggles to extend, but he moves well between the pipes and should keep the games competitive.
At the end of the day, I could see Switzerland getting past Slovakia for that fourth spot, especially if Steiner can really show off. Given Steiner is still young and inexperienced, they'll need a couple of their older forwards to be productive.
5. KAZAKHSTAN
While it's easy to write off Kazakhstan immediately, this team could very easily win a game or two in the preliminary stage. I don't think they ought to be the favourites for relegation this year, which would be a big step forward for the Kazakh program.
Kazakhstan will struggle to generate offense at this tournament. However, they have the defense and goalie to keep the scores low against teams like Slovakia and Switzerland, so if they can get just a few goals, they could be destined for the quarterfinals. Asanali Sarkenov is definitely the most likely player to provide that scoring touch. He's having a pretty good year with WHL Spokane and he is extremely developed for an 18-year-old kid. At 6'4 and 198 pounds, Sarkenov eats up contact from smaller players. He's not afraid to lay players out on the forecheck. However, he's also an excellent net-front battler. He's got the hand-eye coordination to score a deflection goal and as a big body, he's an excellent screener on the power play. Sarkenov is also a pretty decent passer for somebody of his size. Semyon Siminov is another big guy with a heavy shot. Maghzhan Sagadiev will be used to the smaller North American ice, given he plays in the National Collegiate Development Conference in the States. He has some transition threat and is a solid stickhandler.
Beibarys Orazov is playing full-time in the KHL as a right-shot defenseman, which is very impressive. He is clearly Kazakhstan's best defenseman, and given he has a solid shot from the point, he will probably get most of the reps on the power play. Orazov is another strong candidate for 25+ minutes a night if his defensive play translates from the KHL to Ottawa. Mstisvlav Shipilin has been a fixture in Kazakh youth teams. He was a key part in their promotion to this very division. If they are to stay in Division A, he'll be a big part of that effort.
The big reason for optimism regarding this team is their netminder Vladimir Nikitin. An Ottawa Senators draft pick, Nikitin is the only NHL draftee on this roster. He's an insanely athletic goalie and stands at 6'5. Though he lacks some of the fundamentals that could have seen him drafted higher than the 7th round, he's a walking highlight reel and he's bound to frustrate a team like Sweden in the preliminaries.
Kazakhstan will have a lot of built-in team chemistry, given many of their players play with each other in the MHL. I obviously am not setting the expectations very high, but I think Kazakhstan are being underrated by some outlets before the WJC.
KNOCKOUT PREDICTIONS
RELEGATION ROUND
Kazakhstan def. Latvia
QUARTERFINALS
Canada (A1) def. Switzerland (B4)
USA (A2) def. Slovakia (B3)
Sweden (B1) def. Germany (A4)
Finland (A3) def. Czechia (B2)
SEMIFINALS
Canada def. Finland
USA def. Sweden
BRONZE MEDAL GAME
Sweden def. Finland
GOLD MEDAL GAME
Canada def. USA
AWARDS PREDICTIONS
MVP: Ryan Leonard (USA)
Top Forward: Ryan Leonard (USA)
Top Defenseman: Tanner Molendyk (Canada)
Top Goalie: Carter George (Canada)
ALL STAR TEAM:
F Ryan Leonard (USA)
F Felix Unger Sörum (SWE)
F Calum Ritchie (CAN)
D Tanner Molendyk (CAN)
D Zeev Buium (USA)
G Carter George (CAN)
CREDIT TO ELITE PROSPECTS
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