2025 World Juniors notebook: Scott Wheeler’s thoughts on more than 100 NHL prospects

OTTAWA — After 29 games in 11 days, the 2025 World Juniors are in the books. I was in Ottawa for the full tournament, bouncing between the Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place.

To put a bow on our coverage at The Athletic, I’m opening up my entire notebook. Here’s everything I had written down on the more than 100 drafted and draft-eligible NHL prospects who participated in the tournament.

Team USA 

Oliver Moore (F, Chicago Blackhawks): He made some skill plays and looked really confident with the puck. Finishing and execution aren’t always there, though, which has become a bit of a theme for him. He drew some penalties turning defenders’ heels. His skating is such a differentiator for him. Good on PK, created some offense. Tons of looks just lacked the finishing.

Trey Augustine (G, Detroit Red Wings): His low glove and high glove were both targeted at times. He looked out of sorts against the Germans, which is very rare for Augustine. He dropped some routine glove saves too and gave out big rebounds when he usually swallows them. Rebound control early in the tournament was a bit of an issue as well. He settled in and played really well against Canada and in the semifinal against Czechia as well, though. His athleticism popped a couple of times. The control and stoicism came back for the games that mattered most (though the glove did show up a couple more times as a bit of an issue). I hadn’t identified it as an issue in previous viewings but I’ll keep an eye on it now.

Gabe Perreault (F, New York Rangers): He just sees it. I liked his competitiveness. Hands and puck skill in tight/one-on-one, even off his. first touch. Undressed some players and nearly goalies a couple of times. Multiple breakaways he didn’t convert on. Hit a post in the semifinal as well. Turned some pucks over at times but also made some big plays and was one of the top forwards in the tournament when it was done. Didn’t exceed expectations and blow the doors off the event but his skill and playmaking were still top-of-the-age-group.

Austin Burnevik (F, Anaheim Ducks): He showed some feel off his backhand. Skating is a limiter. Not much of a factor overall.

Paul Fischer (D, Edmonton Oilers): A couple of early-tournament tough turnovers cost him his spot in the lineup.

Aram Minnetian (D, Dallas Stars): He looked a little all over the place at times. Prone to losing his man in coverage. Scratched against Finland and then came back in as the seventh against Canada and played a limited role the rest of the way. A couple of bad turnovers trying to be cute. I thought he’d bring more and prove some people wrong after a so-so summer camp (he was really good late last year with BC and was a gamer at U18 worlds) but he just didn’t rise to it.

Brandon Svoboda (F, San Jose Sharks): In front of the net. Physical. Good on the wall/forecheck. Choppy hands but I was never expecting him to offer more than that and bring offense. Thought A.J. Spellacy (Blackhawks) would have been the better selection for that role but Svoboda did what he was asked to do.

Colin Ralph (D, St. Louis Blues): Some tough moments in his own zone early in the tournament but he did get better as it went along. Even later in the tournament, there were a couple of haphazard shifts/tough one-on-one moments in his own zone in the semifinal and final. It showed that this was the highest level he’d played at internationally at times.

Teddy Stiga (F, Nashville Predators): Started as a scratch and then climbed his way from 13th forward to fourth line and eventually third line, only to score the golden goal on his first shift of overtime. Good on entries. Played with his usual energy and pace and made a couple of important plays beyond just the golden goal. He’ll be a big part of next year’s team.

Brodie Ziemer (F, Buffalo Sabres): Plays hard. Plays honest. Plays the right way. All of the cliches. Great instincts on the penalty kill. Found ways to contribute at five-on-five. Ziemer is one of the most consistently effective forwards in this American cycle and that was true again. I’m not sure what he is in the NHL but wouldn’t bet against him having a nice career. He gets the most out of his game.

Ryan Leonard (F, Washington Capitals): Leonard was named the tournament MVP. He had a team-leading nine shots in the opener against Germany and a high-volume shot generator the rest of the way. His battle level and engine are always revved. Plays at the net. Such a strong, sturdy skater driving down ice and past D. Took a beating in some of the games sticking his nose in every scrum and attacking into contact. Play selection isn’t always great. He was probably owed more (I counted three posts) and was a top forward for the Americans, as expected. His discipline issues kept him off my all-star ballot, though. Way too many unnecessary minor penalties. He needs to find that balance in big moments. It’ll be a learning curve. He nearly cost them several times with his antics.

James Hagens (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Two-goal, four-point opener. Unreal dexterity and reflexes caught my eye and the puck just glues to his stick on first touch. An underrated quality in his game, for sure. Didn’t stand out in the quarter or the semi but then scored USA’s first goal of the gold medal game. Finished the tournament as one of the team’s leading scorers, which by any measure is a strong showing for a draft eligible. Nice to see him put more pucks into the net as well as I know scouts have wanted to see him score more in college.

Zeev Buium (D, Minnesota Wild): Played a ton. I actually thought he was just OK in the opener against Germany and early on in the tournament. Looked frustrated and lost some battles in the first couple of games. Got caught a couple of times and mishandled some pucks, which is very rare for him. He wasn’t at his best and didn’t seem like himself early in the tournament. Really started to dance and look like himself as things progressed though and while he didn’t take over the tournament like I thought he would, he still played 25-30 when it mattered most and impacted play at both ends. He created a ton in the gold medal game that didn’t get converted on as well.

Drew Fortescue (D, New York Rangers): Buium’s partner yet again. He showed some maturity in some important moments in the defensive zone. Some big blocks on PK. Eased pressure in the defensive zone a few times. He’s an effective complementary D at this level.

Logan Hensler (D, 2025 NHL Draft): Found a role on the third pair with Colin Ralph. Didn’t honestly notice him much, which indicates to me that he was told to simplify and not make mistakes (which he can be prone to do). He was OK.

Cole Hutson (D, Washington Capitals): One of the top players in the tournament and a real candidate for MVP. Outstanding with the puck all tournament making things happen with his feet and creating the inches of space he needs to execute. Great release. Wicked wrister multiple times. Head coach David Carle played him with Buium for the second half of the gold medal game to try to create more offense and he delivered one last time in a big moment. He looked like a star-level prospect to me. Very impressive and defended really well all tournament long too.

Trevor Connelly (F, Vegas Golden Knights): The highlight of Connelly’s tournament was a big play he made at a crucial time in the semifinal to find Cole Eiserman cross-ice. Otherwise, he played 12 or so minutes per game but wasn’t used in any high-leverage situations. They didn’t fully trust him after the way he cost them at U18 worlds and they used him more as an offensive utility piece at times, but he got a regular shift right through the third period of the gold medal game. He’ll be a top talent at next year’s tournament.

Cole Eiserman (F, New York Islanders): The hunch in his stride has such a unique look. His playmaking has improved. He was moved to 13th forward against Canada and stayed in that role. Clutch scoring, though. Made the most of his looks, which he has a one-of-one talent for doing. I thought he worked and forechecked quite effectively too, which was actually what I liked most about his play at times. Kept his feet moving off the puck. Scored a couple of big, big goals on the power play and filled his role with a maturity that he couldn’t have a year or two ago. Nice to see. 

Danny Nelson (F, New York Islanders): Really good in the second game against Latvia and good the rest of the tournament. Borderline excellent in some of the games. Wrister had some pop. Good spots. Gets open really well. Thought he ran out of steam a little in the gold medal game, though.

Adam Kleber (D, Buffalo Sabres): Scratched to start but finished on the second pair as Cole Hutson’s partner. He was fine but they tried to protect him and the rest of the non-Buium/Hutson/Fortescue D.

Max Plante (F, Detroit Red Wings): Puts pucks into areas so well for his linemates. Small area skill. One scratch against Finland and then back in against Canada but on the fourth line (after I thought he played well on the third line early in the tournament). Played well in his minutes, for me.

Carey Terrance (F, Anaheim Ducks): Speed and transition game noticeable. Tracking pucks and applying pressure/winning body positioning on the forecheck. That’s his game.

Joey Willis (F, Nashville Predators): Started as the 13th forward, was then scratched, got back in and took a slashing penalty that cost USA a goal and we never saw him again.

Jesse Kiiskinen was one of the players who powered Finland to silver. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Team Finland

Konsta Helenius (F, Buffalo Sabres): Passing on the power play was really the only time he was consistently noticeable. Entries on the power play helped that unit have success as well. Some crafty moments with the puck in traffic. But outside of a four-point game in the semifinal, I thought he was pretty quiet throughout, particularly at five-on-five. I had higher expectations.

Benjamin Rautiainen (F, 2025 NHL Draft): A talented one-on-one player. He was really noticeable in the offensive zone against USA in the round-robin win. Poise and comfort on the puck. Looks like a mid-round pick to me.

Tuomas Uronen (F, Vegas Golden Knights): Passing and vision are both assets at this level. Intentional. Works. Wrister has some pop because of his stocky strength. Good player at this level. A huge 2-1 goal in the gold medal game punctuated a solid tournament.

Petteri Rimpinen (G, 2025 NHL Draft OA): Rimpinen has had a big year between Liiga and the World Juniors as a re-entry into the draft. He was one of the tournament standouts. He’s really good laterally and athletic. Can move a lot but will battle. Good hands/tracking. He saved his best act for the finale in overtime, making several huge saves at three-on-three. He’s going to get picked this year.

Julius Miettinen (F, Seattle Kraken): Quick hands. Played confidently with the puck. Tried things. More noticeable early in the tournament than late.

Emil Pieniniemi (D, Pittsburgh Penguins): Led all players in TOI in Canada-Finland on Boxing Day with 23:59, including 10:31 in the third. Didn’t play in Latvia-Finland on New Year’s Eve as he was nursing something. Some uncharacteristic lack of crispness on his passes at times but also made some big plays (including a huge goal in the gold medal game) and was counted upon to contribute at both ends. He was an important part of their success.

Aron Kiviharju (D, Minnesota Wild): His size and lack of length are noticeable when trying to defend the rush and be disruptive with his stick at times. A few sequences where he just couldn’t get his stick on the puck. But Kiviharju was a big piece of this team and the right choice as captain. Needs to make decisions a little earlier at times but played well and really looks like a leader off-ice for this group. He also had a goal called back for offside in the semifinal. He has always been a top player when he has played against his peers.

Jesse Kiiskinen (F, Detroit Red Wings): Always seems to be lurking around the net but can make a play up high in the zone too and has a good shot/one-timer. Six goals and there was a little bit of everything in them. Calm in big moments. A very likeable player at this level.

Daniel Nieminen (D, 2025 NHL Draft OA): Struggled at times. Closed gaps and played physical at others. Played on the PK.

Kasper Halttunen (F, San Jose Sharks): I wanted to see a little more out of him. He does a really nice job for a big man handling pucks in his feet and pulling them around opposing players and into space. Struggled to get free for that big shot of his and crack open a game like he’s capable of. Pace an issue at times.

Heikki Ruohonen (F, Philadelphia Flyers): He played with good jump and drive.

Veeti Vaisanen (D, Utah Hockey Club): Looked a step slow, or like he wasn’t quite ready for this pace. This hasn’t been a good year for him in my viewings.

Rasmus Kumpulainen (F, Minnesota Wild): He did a good job protecting off his hip and getting off the wall. His lack of pace was noticeable at times, though. He’s got heavy feet still. He was fine but not impactful.

Emil Hemming (F, Dallas Stars): Best looks on the power play where his shot is threatening. He was otherwise pretty quiet for a first-round pick.

Jesse Nurmi (F, New York Islanders): Came and went. Made a few plays with his speed.

Czechia’s Eduard Sale was a standout player for the bronze medalists in Ottawa. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Team Czechia

Eduard Sale (F, Seattle Kraken): He looked dynamic offensively for much of the tournament and made some big plays throughout and into the bronze medal game. Sale was one of the Czechs’ top players and didn’t disappear like he has in the past at times internationally. There were still some moments of careless/turning pucks over, though. But his skill level, his finesse on the puck and that game-breaking quality all flashed.

Adam Novotny (F, 2026 NHL Draft): A stocky kid who can hang at this level already. He has a good feel and smarts on the puck. Knows where to be and go. But also plays a competitive game for a young player. Legit prospect.

Jakub Dvorak (D, Los Angeles Kings): Physical. Strong in contact. Limited offense at this level and won’t have much in the NHL either but he defended well. Not a perfect player but has enough pro traits to have a shot at becoming a bottom-pairing/depth type.

Tomas Galvas (D, 2025 NHL Draft): He’s such an effortless skater and impacts play in so many ways with it. I thought he should have been a late-round pick in last year’s draft and still do. I think he can be a good AHL D and call-up option at minimum.

Adam Jecho (F, St. Louis Blues): Despite playing a third-line role and minutes, Jecho found ways to impact play and had a couple of big moments in the tournament. I still wonder about his pace of play for the next level but he’s a big body who knows what he is and gives a consistent effort and that was the same here. He’ll have a good pro career even if I’m not sure he has the offense to be a full-time NHLer (he might become a fourth-liner).

Jakub Stancl (F, St. Louis Blues): Stancl had a really positive tournament and was one of the better forwards in the event. He scored some big goals and generated a lot. He’s a big, strong player at this level who can hold pucks and push through contact or get open off them. This was the best hockey I’ve seen him play. Hit the post in the bronze medal game, too (in which he also scored his tournament-best seventh goal).

Petr Sikora (F, Washington Capitals): Played with pace and jump. Middle drive. Big goals against Canada and USA when the chips were on the table. He became public enemy No. 1 after drawing penalties in both of those games. More talented than I thought. Good hands. Strong tournament. I haven’t been sure what to make of Sikora but he was on the puck a lot this week, found ways to contribute offensively and made some important plays. I don’t think he was impactful as Stancl or Sale but he was good for them when they needed guys to step up up front.

Jakub Fibigr (D, Seattle Kraken): Fibigr had a quietly very effective tournament, playing to excellent results and chipping in offensively with his heady puck-moving. He’s a smart, efficient, two-way defender at this level. Not sure if he has that same value as a pro. Lacks a defining quality. But he helped

Miroslav Holinka (F, Toronto Maple Leafs): It didn’t maybe show up on the scoresheet in the way that it did for Stancl, Sale and Sikora but Holinka was an important part of this Czech team. Makes his linemates better. He was detailed and smart throughout. I like his reads and his support. Average skill but made some plays, too.

Adam Jiricek (D, St. Louis Blues): It’s been a long year and a half for Jiricek but he has always played well for the national team. This week was a continuation of that, at least as an 18-year-old who has missed the time that he has (stemming from an injury in last year’s tournament at that). He’s capable of involving himself against his peers and hopefully he uses some good puck touches and plays this week to build some momentum in Brantford with the Bulldogs. He’s a good NHL prospect who has length and has had some really strong stretches over the years.  

Jiri Felcman (F, Chicago Blackhawks): Felcman was just OK. He took a bad penalty in the bronze medal game. His role was reduced from pre-tournament through the actual tournament. He was more of a secondary piece for them in the end. I haven’t typically viewed him as an NHL prospect.

Ondrej Kos (F, St. Louis Blues): Limited role. Meh. Don’t see it.

Vojtech Hradec (F, Utah Hockey Club): Sneaky-good tournament without popping. Hradec’s a really good, strong, dependable player at this level. He’s a big, strong kid who puts himself in good spots and consistently gets around chances.

Vojtech Port (D, Anaheim Ducks): I didn’t notice him a lot but he seemed to be driving possession/play nicely when he was on the ice. Stats and underlying numbers look good and he and Fibigr gave the Czechs one of the better third pairings in the tournament. 

Axel Sandin Pellikka was named the tournament’s top defenseman for a second straight year. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Team Sweden

Rasmus Bergqvist (D, Montreal Canadiens): For this being his first international event, and for being asked to play with the team’s No. 1 defenseman, I thought he handled himself well enough. He only played 15 minutes per game so it was a bit of an unconventional role because he didn’t feature on special teams and Theo Lindstein and Tom Willander made up the shutdown pair, but he looked like he belonged more or less. A couple of moments where he looked rushed but nothing to worry about.

Axel Sandin Pellikka (D, Detroit Red Wings): ASP was one of the top players in the tournament and had more of an impact than he did when he won the top D award a year ago for my money, though he wasn’t as impactful in the semi or bronze medal game. He did a really nice job getting shots through, walking the line, finding open teammates cross-ice or in the slot. Defended hard. Looked to make plays and activate but chose his spots well. His shot and skill are evident when he gets open. He’s seeing the ice better and better without sacrificing his shot creation (led all D in shots). Can lose some races in straight lines, skating isn’t explosive from a standstill. One of the top D prospects in hockey.

David Edstrom (F, Nashville Predators): Edstrom has been a top player for this Swedish age group for years and while the numbers didn’t pop, he made some big plays late in the tournament, had a goal disallowed and played a lot (he led all Swedish forwards in average ice time at around 21 minutes). He has size and moves fine (it’s not an asset in my view, though). He’s not a natural playmaker but makes smart play and functions off two longtime linemates who get way more puck touches. His wall game is good and the net-front on PP suits him. Not mean but protects it really well and takes pucks to the net at this level. He was really good in the bronze medal game, scoring twice and creating several other looks.

Felix Unger Sorum (F, Carolina Hurricanes): Clearly one of the more skilled forwards in this Swedish age group for years. Holds. Shifty. Perimeter but in a way that works at this level with his handling and creativity. Stride can be a little hurried/sway a fair amount in straight lines but great on cuts/edges. Problem solver. Superb on zone entries/finding ways into the zone. He over passes and gets too cute at times, though, as well. Not entirely sure how it’ll work in the NHL but he’s a fun, talented player.

Otto Stenberg (F, St. Louis Blues): I like his cycle game/wall play at this level. Has always been a skill player at this level as well, which combines well with his work ethic. Good release. Comfortable one-timer. Will be more of a third-liner/secondary play driver up levels but has been a go-to guy at this one.

Theo Lindstein (D, St. Louis Blues): Lindstein was asked to play against the opposition’s best a year after a breakout tournament in Gothenburg and he played a lot of minutes and handled it all well but certainly didn’t have the standout tournament he had a year ago. Good stick defensively. PP2. Uncharacteristic turnovers at times. I want to see him be a little harder to play against, which would help his defensive game (which is generally strong for his age). An important player for Sweden in back-to-back years. We saw his usual poise in the bronze medal game.

Tom Willander (D, Vancouver Canucks): I thought Willander was better than Lindstein on what was effectively the Swedes’ top pairing defensively. He was also on the power play as part of a two-D unit with ASP and scored twice on it. He led the Swedes in ice time and it was deserved. Got pucks through and seemed to want to be more active and industrious with the puck this year as well which was positive. I thought he had a good tournament.

Felix Nilsson (F, Nashville Predators): Nilsson’s puck game has always been his calling card but I was really impressed with his play off the puck in the tournament. Up and under sticks. Tracking. Good stick on lifts/takebacks. He kept his feet moving without the puck and skated off the puck to get pucks back. A real skill of his that I knew was there but didn’t give enough love in prior evals. On the puck, he’s more passer than shooter but sees the game really well and he’s fast.

Victor Eklund (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Eklund helped his draft stock with his tournament. Works. Feet moving. Wins races. Inside body positioning. Good job on the bumper/goal line on the PP, but can also play the flank. Finishes his checks. Skilled but honest player. Fearlessness serves his attributes well. Rang one off the post on a breakaway in the bronze medal game that would have tied it 2-2. Thought he had a positive tournament and continues to look like a top 10-15 prospect for 2025.

Anton Wahlberg (F, Buffalo Sabres): Good tournament overall without being a standout. Big boy with some presence on the puck. Shoots it hard. Comfortable one-timer. Moves well when he gets going but can look clunky from a standstill.

Viggo Gustafsson (D, Nashville Predators): Wide base to his stance. Strong but not quick. Head up. First pass. Comfortable under pressure side-stepping first layer.

Zeb Forsfjall (F, Seattle Kraken): Plays with pace. Light skater. Good player at this level. Good first touch. Curl and drag wrister into his body to get shots past sticks/through feet. Good through neutral ice. Middle lane drive. They’ve always trusted him and for good reason. Do wonder if he’s more of a middle-six AHLer/SHLer than an NHL prospect though.

Axel Hurtig (D, Calgary Flames): Sloppier than his peers on that blue line.

Linus Eriksson (F, Florida Panthers): Non-factor. Some mistakes. He’ll play higher on next year’s team.

Oskar Vuollet (F, Carolina Hurricanes): I thought he’d give them some depth scoring/skill punch but he barely played.

Herman Traff (F, New Jersey Devils): Limited role but made a couple of plays in the offensive zone. Big kid with some transition game as well.

Noel Nordh (F, Utah Hockey Club): Late call-up. He was fine in a fourth-line role. Plays that role well at this level

Melker Thelin (G, Utah Hockey Club): It felt too often like whenever the opposing team got a good chance it went in. Beat along the ice a lot. Beat from some really bad angles. Clearly has work to do to seal his posts better.

Marcus Gidloff (G, New York Islanders): Only played twice but started the bronze medal game and after giving up a goal on the first shot of his game on a one-timer was very good the rest of the way. Movement down low still looks a little clunky at times but he’s got some real tools and size. He was better than Thelin.

Canada’s Gavin McKenna is in line to be a star at the 2026 World Juniors. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Team Canada

Tanner Howe (F, Pittsburgh Penguins): He made a couple of plays early on Boxing Day and then while I thought he was mostly quiet from there on out, I did think he was good on the penalty kill and one of the only Canadian forwards who regularly cleared the zone. Made good reads in the D-zone. Positive on penalty kill. Very little offense to his game at this level. You’re hoping he becomes a competitive third-liner.

Cole Beaudoin (F, Utah Hockey Club): Drive. Heavy on pucks against D. Battled. One of the only guys finishing checks and planting himself at the front of the net in some of Canada’s games. Good in the faceoff circle even though he primarily played the wing. Limited offensive player at this level but works and gives you something. Future bottom-sixer. Still needs to refine his touch/work on his hands and the first couple of steps.

Ethan Gauthier (F, Tampa Bay Lightning): Worked on PK and at five-on-five. Good spots. Good energy. Work ethic was noticeable game to game more than most for Canada. He just didn’t finish his chances. Potential future third-liner.

Mathieu Cataford (F, Vegas Golden Knights): Limited role. Good on PK. Liked him as the 13th forward in the opener. On pucks. Hustled. I think he has a little more offense to his game than Howe, Beaudoin and Gauthier but he didn’t show it.

Matthew Schaefer (D, 2025 NHL Draft): Three and a half periods as Canada’s best defenseman before getting injured. PP and PK. So good in transition. Used more and more as the first game went on.

Gavin McKenna (F, 2026 NHL Draft): The talent divide is clear, even with top players, but they never used him like he was their top forward. Play creation was evident even when finishing of him/his linemates wasn’t. Best transition/zone entry guy on the team by a wide margin after Schaefer went down. Third on the team in shots with 20 in five games but it was his passing and puck transporting that stood out. I have no doubt he’ll be a star at next year’s tournament. They didn’t fully unlock him. I would have liked to see him on the first line earlier and/or with a shooter like Carson Rehkopf.

Beau Akey (D, Edmonton Oilers): The least-used Canadian player. A couple of nice cross-ice passes in the O-zone. Caught a couple of times early in the tournament and it put him behind in trust but I thought he settled in fine in his limited minutes as the tournament progressed. Skating and mobility noticeable at times in the offensive zone on pinches/with the puck.

Caden Price (D, Seattle Kraken): One of the positives for Team Canada for me. Showed some poise. Made some plays under pressure. Blocked some shots. Pleasant surprise who I think took the final top-six D job from Sawyer Mynio a little unexpectedly based on what I was hearing pre-tournament. One of the only D who looked confident/attacked with the puck. Did set some bad gaps but played his off-side well. Stepped up and closed some gaps, too. Got beat occasionally playing too tight but played his game and thought his poise on the puck in particular was there all tournament long when each of Canada’s other D struggled with that at times.

Andrew Gibson (D, Nashville Predators): Played prominent minutes in a defensive role. Bobbled some pucks/execution. Good stick in zone and size was noticeable in battles but evident skill gap between him and his teammates at times as well. Big, strong right-shot who could someday be a third-pairing PKer type.

Tanner Molendyk (D, Nashville Predators): Some rare sloppiness from him in a couple of the round-robin games. Thought he looked more like himself and really started skating and trying to influence play more as the tournament went on. Noticeable in loss for his activity level. Wonder if coaches encouraged him to free-wheel more once they recognized team needed more offense from the back end. Drew some penalties with his mobility. Needs to be a little stronger on pucks at times and I thought he’d be one of the very best players at the tournament but he remains a top prospect and is expected to play in the NHL next year.

Bradly Nadeau (F, Carolina Hurricanes): Invisible at times but also misused on the power play (was given every opportunity to be high in the lineup at five-on-five). Was at net/bumper on power play instead of downhill on the flanks. Saw his creativity/skill on the puck really for the first time on a chance he set up to Howe in the second period of their third game of the tournament. Scored going to the net in the quarterfinal. Things just never seemed to click for him. A little vanilla for a player with his skill/skating/scoring traditionally. First major Hockey Canada event though, too. 

Calum Ritchie (F, Colorado Avalanche): Laid the body. Has clearly worked hard to get stronger and faster. Caught some D on their heels in transition. Not an ox by any means but strong at this level after putting in some work and even after lost training time to the shoulder surgery. Drew some penalties with his ability to hang onto pucks. Thought he was owed a little more. Very good player. Fine tournament.

Carson Rehkopf (F, Seattle Kraken): Started as a scratch and then was essentially the 13th forward in the two games he played. The best stretch was a brief stint filling in, in the top nine before two penalties pushed him back down. Thought he was noticeable when used, though. He had the first big hit of the Canada-USA game on his first shift. Good look on his next shift with the second line with Berkly Catton. Skating, shot and even forechecking were noticeable in very limited usage. I think he could have really helped them create more offense if they’d used him more.

Easton Cowan (F, Toronto Maple Leafs): Despite leading the team in scoring with three points in five games (tied with Yager), it was a tough week for Cowan. Some good moments and even stretches in games where he was getting to the inside and willing plays when others weren’t, but also a mountain of bone-headed decisions/poor play selection on and off the puck. Bad penalties (drew a couple of well). Perimeter shooting. Forcing plays. Missing teammates. Seemed to miss the net a lot when he was in good spots. Overshooting, too. I think he felt the pressure of needing to be a top guy and some selfishness/bad habits crept in. He’s still a good player who is going to have a good NHL career.

Oliver Bonk (D, Philadelphia Flyers): Really fought the puck at times. Asked to do a lot, though. Average foot speed was noticeable at times as well (the weakest skater on this Canadian blue line). Some big blocks/PKs. Put in a bad spot running power play and immediately helped the power play look better in his normal bumper role. Finished the tournament as Canada’s ice-time leader (almost 22 minutes per game) and with the best goal differential on the team at five-on-five (plus-4) so I wonder if the mistakes/feet were just noticeable at times because he was out there more. He was an important player for this team and projects as a smart NHL D.

Luca Pinelli (F, Columbus Blue Jackets): Made some plays. Played with determination and spark. Chippy (to a fault in the USA game). Gave something when others didn’t at times, though. Used too high in the lineup for my liking but I didn’t have an issue with his play outside of the penalty discipline at times. I know there was criticism of his selection but I thought there were other forwards who looked out of place and I didn’t feel that with him when the tournament was over, frankly.

Berkly Catton (F, Seattle Kraken): Skill and skating noticeable relative to his peers. Play creation was there. Final execution wasn’t. Two bad penalties against Latvia. A couple of bad passes/sloppiness in big moments. Good in pre-tournament play but didn’t have the impact I expected him to have in the tournament. There were semi-regular dashes, though, and I can’t say that about many good forwards.

Sam Dickinson (D, San Jose Sharks): They didn’t seem to trust him early and he didn’t seem to quite look like himself early (it appeared like he’d been told not to play the free-wheeling style he plays in the OHL). They finally moved him into the prominent role a player of his caliber likely warranted on this blue line after the Schaefer injury and he played mostly well the rest of the way and had a couple of good games and a couple of so-so ones. Some bad reads/panicked moments under pressure in the D-zone, which is the area of his game that needs the most attention if he’s going to reach his significant NHL potential. Power play immediately looked better after moving him onto it and sliding Bonk to the bumps, and so did he. Needs to pivot and set his gaps earlier at times. But he’s a big kid who can really skate and involve himself when he’s feeling like himself and I expect him to be a big part of next year’s team if he’s not in the NHL. Still one of the top D prospects in hockey.

Jett Luchanko (F, Philadelphia Flyers): I wanted to see more offense and for him to be more noticeable at five-on-five, where I thought his game was vanilla, but he was Canada’s best penalty killer for me. Excellent routes/skating/pressure points made him a really valuable PKer. Used more late in games with the lead. Overpassing at times when I wanted to see him try to take charge. Skating is a real asset, for sure. Good poise on the puck later in the tournament. His best game was against USA. I wonder how much offense he’s going to bring at the NHL level but there’s a lot of value elsewhere in his game.

Porter Martone (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Non-factor in the opener against Finland. Pace questions in terms of high-end NHL offense limiter? I’m starting to wonder. Scratched against Germany and USA. Returned for quarters. Limited role but drew a couple of penalties, got into the mix, and scored a big goal on a tip when he was reinserted on the power play. Better than he showed early but also thought he could have offered more than some of the depth guys they kept going back to.

Brayden Yager (F, Winnipeg Jets): Mostly positive tournament. Not a star at this level but consistently played well I thought. Smart player who finds ways to get open and supports his linemates well. Skill and skating haven’t taken off over the last couple of years but he’s going to play in the league.

Sawyer Mynio (D, Vancouver Canucks): Started as scratch and then leapfrogged Akey to play on the third pair with Price for the second half of the tournament. Didn’t have much written down. Got beat a couple of times trying to kill a play that he couldn’t close out (more due to timing/read than skating, he’s an excellent skater). Defended well in limited role, though, on the whole.

Jack Ivankovic (G, 2025 NHL Draft): Started the Latvia game and lost 3-2 but both goals were on the power play and he was lights out in the shootout. I thought he played well. Lost his net a couple of times but battled and relied on his feet.

Team Slovakia

Maxim Strbak (D, Buffalo Sabres): Horse at this level. He was last year, even. Played big minutes (23:31 per game) and contributed in all areas of the game/zones of the ice. Has developed his confidence with the puck and activating into the rush over the last couple of years. Not just a sturdy, plays-hard type against his peers. Very involved. Step-up physicality. Kills plays. Not perfectly polished and can misread coverage or timing the odd time but offers a lot and can be relied upon in tough matchups. Still contributed six points in five games despite difficult assignments. Potential third-pairing/No. 7 D someday.

Dalibor Dvorsky (F, St. Louis Blues): Not much more to write/say about Dvorsky at this level. He’s been a top player in the 2005 age group for a long time. He was a top player even when he played with the 2004s. Led the Slovaks in goals (five) and points (nine) in five games. Led the tournament’s forwards in average ice time (over 23 minutes). Strong puck protector and one-touch shooter. Detailed-oriented two-way center at this level. Stick detail off the puck and in the circle. Great saucer passer. Thought he looked like you’d expect him to look. This Slovak age group is weaker than some of the most recent ones before it as well.

Juraj Pekarcik (F, St. Louis Blues): Huge role and minutes, like Dvorsky. Seven points in five games. Good on-ice results. Size-skating-puck protection combo is noticeable at this level. Above-average skill. Would like to see him play a little harder and use his frame a little more off the puck to win positioning and battles, or get to the inside and score/finish a little more than he does. Some pro attributes, though. Going to be a good top-nine AHLer at minimum. Might play.

Luka Radivojevic (D, 2025 NHL Draft): Head is always up and on a swivel. Good, natural edges crossing over on his heels. Runs the umbrella and manages the puck atop the point really smartly. Gaps well going from his heels to his toes. Not a powerful skater, though, and that combines with his size (5-foot-10) to make him vulnerable to getting beat wide with speed and to project ability questions up level. Intellect is there. Want to see him play with a little more ambition at that size. Makes the right play more often than not, though he did make a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes in the event. Mid-rounder at this stage I think, despite a decent track record over the years.

Tomas Pobezal (F, 2025 NHL Draft): I wanted a little bit more out of him. I’ve enjoyed watching him at previous international events and he played almost 17 minutes per game in his first World Juniors and has had a notable season in Slovakia’s pro league this year, but they needed him to be a secondary scorer/play-driver for them and he struggled to get good looks (though he’s 5-foot-10, that has actually been a strength of his prior to this). Still think he’s a mid-rounder.

Tobias Tomik (F, 2026 NHL Draft): Scoreless in a very limited role. He’s a good player/prospect, though, and will be an important part of next year’s team.

Jan Chovan (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Limited role. Smart player. Strong on pucks. Drew a couple of penalties. Positive results. I thought they could have benefitted from moving him up the lineup/using him more. Late rounder.

Miroslav Satan (F, Washington Capitals): Not a fan. Gets pushed around way too much for a big man. I don’t view him as an NHL prospect.

Tomas Kralovic (F, overager): Big, heavy right-shot D who keeps his head up, seems to move well laterally and also moves pucks well. Doesn’t profile as an NHL prospect but I plan to at least make some more time for him.

Team Latvia

Bruno Osmanis (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Osmanis was Latvia’s first-line winger opposite star Eriks Mateiko and had played really, really well, with four points in three games before a high-stick to his left eye in the third period on Dec. 30 took him out of the tournament. He makes his linemates better through his use of them. Average-sized but plays with noticeable feel for the game and what he is. He looked like an NHL prospect, building on what I saw at the U18 worlds in Finland and what he has shown in HockeyAllsvenskan and J20 in Sweden this year. Mid-to-late rounder.

Olivers Murnieks (F, 2026 NHL Draft): One of the youngest players in the tournament but he centered Latvia’s first line and didn’t look the least bit out of place. Led Latvia with a plus-4 goal differential, an incredible feat for a 16-year-old player on a team like Latvia (he’s a July 31 birthday, too). He’s also had a strong season with Sioux City in the USHL. Pro-built, pro-style center who plays a well-rounded, complete game. Looks like a real player/prospect for next year.

Eriks Mateiko (F, Washington Capitals): Mateiko was one of the standouts of the tournament, scoring half of Latvia’s 10 goals (five in five games). Big kid whose skating and coordination have continued to smooth out. He’s made so much progress in the last three years, that it looks average now and above-average for 6-foot-5/6. Competitive. Some skill. Pucks are coming off harder. Protects it well. Plays in the guts of the ice and excels on the wall. Calm in big moments. Looked like a future NHLer.

Darels Uljanskis (F, Anaheim Ducks): One of the last picks of last year’s draft. I thought he struggled to defend the speed of the top players in the tournament, getting caught on his heels and turned at times. He was fine but I don’t view him as an NHL prospect.

Rudolfs Berzkalins (F, 2026 NHL Draft): Boston College commit. Limited role. Big kid who goes to the hard areas and front of the net.

Roberts Naudins (F, 2027 NHL Draft): Shattuck’s 6-foot-6 forward. Harvard commit. Limited minutes. Good spots. Can make little plays on slip passes, etc. for a player his size. Smart. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Team Switzerland 

Leon Muggli (D, Washington Capitals): Muggli led the Swiss in average ice time (20:17) but struggled with the role at times, turning pucks over and not executing like they needed him to in some of the games. Skating looked sharper. Comfortable skating pucks and navigating the ice at this level. Decision-making was suspect when things picked up or caved in, though. He fought it at times. Considering his pro experience, I wanted to see him look a little more polished than he did. This was a weak Swiss group, though.

Basile Sansonnens (D, Vancouver Canucks): Hands aren’t natural with the puck, can bobble and panic under pressure. I thought he had a tough tournament and didn’t quite look at this level at times. Don’t view him as an NHL prospect.

Rico Gredig (F, New York Rangers): Second-line center. Good athlete. Skates well. Don’t see a lot of skill.

Christian Kirsch (G, San Jose Sharks): Starter. Got lit up by USA in the quarters and yanked but played better in the tournament than his .878 save percentage indicated. Made some big saves using his feet. Good size and mobility, just needs to harness it and maintain control and habits a little better.

Jonah Neuenschwander (F, 2027 NHL Draft): The youngest player in the tournament as a rare 15-year-old. Watched the first couple of games as a scratch. Point on PP in debut. Good size for his age (already 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds). Decision-making looked rushed at times, like he was still figuring out this level and not fully confident in himself, but he also showed some know-how and pro attributes in moments. I liked him against the Slovaks (the best of his three games). A name to know.

Lars Steiner (F, 2026 NHL Draft): He’s having a really good rookie season in the QMJHL with Rouyn-Noranda. Physical. Competitive. Moves his feet. Sturdy for his age. Bumper on PP2. Good wrister. He wants the puck. Strong skater through compact crossovers. I’m a fan. Looks like a player already.

Team Germany

Carlos Handel (D, 2025 NHL Draft): Handel led all Germany players in time on ice in the tournament, averaging 22:41 per game. He quarterbacked one of the power-play units and was a prominent piece of the penalty kill. I thought he was just fine defensively in big minutes, but they were asking a lot of a draft-eligible defenseman and this wasn’t a strong German team; they nearly got relegated. Handel’s a right-shot D who impressed at the Hlinka and got off to a good start in Halifax before hitting a bit of a wall. He’s a draft pick but looks like a mid-to-late rounder to me. He does everything well enough without having standout attributes.

David Lewandowski (F, 2025 NHL Draft): Lewandowski had two goals and 13 shots (second on the team) through five games. Physical. Kept his feet moving. Curl and drag helps him shape his shots through. Good size and sense for spots/spacing. Knows where to be. He looks like a mid-round pick.

(Photo of Zeev Buium and Cole Hutson: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)