GOTHENBURG, Sweden — After 29 games in 11 days, the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship is in the books. I was in Gothenburg for the full tournament, bouncing between the two host rinks, Scandinavium and Frolundaborg, to take in 19 live games (and have now watched most of the other 10 on tape).
To cap off our coverage, I’m opening up my entire notebook again this year. 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
Gavin Brindley (F, Columbus Blue Jackets): When the Americans came out flat against Norway on Boxing Day, Brindley was one of the constants, scoring twice and registering six shots on goal. He stirred the drink for USA throughout the tournament. That’s what he does. He was USA’s best player in multiple games. He was making things happen at even strength. He scored a beautiful coast-to-coast goal shorthanded. With his high-end skating, tenacity, maneuverability, and skill on the puck, there’s just so much to like about his game. Takes his first touch in stride so well. He looks like he’s going to be an NHLer to me and certainly doesn’t play small.
Cutter Gauthier (F, Philadelphia Flyers): Despite leading the tournament in scoring, Gauthier was actually snakebitten. He hit some posts and was robbed multiple times. Still, he found a way to impact games, was excellent in the faceoff circle, and showed up in some big moments. Engaged off puck to get to battles and win body positioning/possession. He was excellent (oddly enough, his quietest game of the tournament was actually the finale).
GO DEEPER
World Juniors standouts and disappointments: Lekkerimaki is MVP, Canada’s forwards underwhelm
Isaac Howard (F, Tampa Bay Lightning): Liked the jump he played with. Skating and crossovers look really clean. He was getting to loose pucks and moving his feet off the puck to get off the wall and to the slot/net. Above pucks defensively. Supporting play in the offensive zone. His game has really come along nicely this year. The ‘Ice Man’ came through when it mattered most in the gold medal game, too, scoring two huge goals.
Frank Nazar (F, Chicago Blackhawks): Nazar’s best skill — his ability to get out and go in transition — was on display all tournament long. He was extremely impressive creating off the rush, especially as a passer, where he executed some beautiful cross-ice passes from out wide. It still came with the odd time where he was too far in front of the play trying to get open down ice, but it was really clicking more often than not. Impressive touch on the puck. He was one of the better American forwards.
Rutger McGroarty (F, Winnipeg Jets): Has always been a sneaky-excellent facilitator and it showed at this level. Passes the puck really well. Can shoot it and hold. Can play off of it and get open. Took him some time to re-find his game following his injury, but he played well against the Slovaks in the most important game of the round robin and in the semifinal even though he didn’t find his way onto the scoresheet. Set the tone in the gold medal game, too.
Jimmy Snuggerud (F, St. Louis Blues): Around it. Sticking with plays. Going to scoring areas. Wrister coming off of his blade hard and quickly. Stronger than his opponents on pucks/stick lifts. Showed great touch as a passer. Missed preliminary round finale with bug, and while he was placed on the fourth line when he got back for a couple of games because Oliver Moore had played well in his absence, he was back on that unit for the second half of the semi and the gold medal game.
Danny Nelson (F, New York Islanders): Made some small area plays off the cycle. Good stick on lifts/retrievals.
Ryan Leonard (F, Washington Capitals): Flashed one-on-one skill pulling pucks through his feet and around defenders. Was tremendous in the opener when others weren’t. Played with his usual drive/interior game. Hard not to like Leonard.
Will Smith (F, San Jose Sharks): Smith’s vision and creativity flashed, as they always do, but he wasn’t making plays, particularly at five-on-five, at the clip that he typically has for USA internationally (though he did come on later in the tournament after a slower start). He still needs to play with a little more jam but I mostly liked his tracking and effort level off of the puck. Had his best shift of the tournament on the game-tying second period goal in the semi, tracking back hard and then applying pressure back the other way to twice be disruptive before getting free at the backdoor to take a pass from Gabe Perreault. He returned the favour to Perreault, who got free for him to hit with a beautiful slap-pass, in the gold medal game, too. Breakaway to nearly make it 2-0 in the second period, too. Hit a couple of posts and could have had more on the scoresheet than he got, even though he was only playing 13-14 minutes a game on a deep team. If he doesn’t turn pro at the end of this year, he’ll be a star on next year’s team.
Quinn Finley (F, New York Islanders): Skating. Reliable defensively. Good habits off of the puck on offense and defense. Played to the U.S. structure. Thought he filled his role well and I know Team USA was happy with his selection, which wasn’t promised.
Gabe Perreault (F, New York Rangers): Seemed to be waiting too long to make his plays at times early in the tournament. Ran kind of hot and cold by his standards. Did his thing on the puck in spurts, finding guys in open space and showing some real craft and puck skill in possession. And made some big plays in important times in the medal round, none bigger than getting free to score the first goal of the gold medal game (a game he had three points in and was excellent in). Big believer.
Gavin Hayes (F, Chicago Blackhawks): After picking up a first-period assist against Slovakia, he was ejected for kneeing and then returned to the lineup and became the team’s 13th forward instead of a fourth-liner. Thought he was just OK when he did play, which wasn’t much.
Oliver Moore (F, Chicago Blackhawks): Bounced between 13th forward and the first line as a bug went through the team. Thought he looked like he belonged up top for the most part, playing with his usual speed and tenacity, and flashing his shot and quick hands as well. Two great looks in the second period of the semi that he couldn’t finish, though, and when Snuggerud scored on the power play he moved back down. Does still need to think the game a little better with the puck at times.
Seamus Casey (D, New Jersey Devils): Stops and cuts back on a dime to easily lose tracking forwards. Does a good job gaining inside positioning in nose-to-nose battles for pucks defensively. Skates so well, though better on his edges than in a straight race. Never going to be the strongest even though he’s a good athlete. Did lose some physical engagements but engaged willingly. Thought his best game was the semifinal when they needed him to step up.
Sam Rinzel (D, Chicago Blackhawks): Still a little haywire. You can see it. The tools. But the play selection needs some buttoning up, too. Ugly turnover on the 1-0 goal in the semifinal and really struggled throughout the game.
Zeev Buium (D, 2024 NHL Draft): Head always on a swivel. Opens up and walks the line to create lanes for his shot and pass so well, even when working off of his off-side. So-so shift. Shakes past opposing players with ease. Great hands, but most of it is in his inside edges and shoulder fakes. Looked dynamic in the offensive zone at times.
Drew Fortescue (D, New York Rangers): Needs to develop a little more touch off of his backhand. Tried to feather a couple of passes and mishandled pucks. I thought he struggled on the whole and USA’s defense lacked the depth we feared it might in multiple games because of it. High-sticking penalty in the first period of the gold medal game.
Ryan Chesley (D, Washington Capitals): Good stick and positioning on blocks and breaking up plays. Does need to release from his spots with a little more urgency to get to pucks though. Lost some races he should have had the jump on. Played his role alongside Hutson well, though, and was engaged in all three zones in big minutes.
Lane Hutson (D, Montreal Canadiens): Hutson didn’t blow the doors off the tournament offensively but he made a statement with his play defensively and his competitiveness, right to the final buzzer. Huge minutes and he handled them like a pro, which I expect he’ll be this spring when BU’s season is over!
Eric Pohlkamp (D, San Jose Sharks): Didn’t play when the games matter, but used his booming (understatement, he probably has the heaviest point shot in the event) shot early in the tournament and played his typically aggressive and competitive style.
Trey Augustine (G, Detroit Red Wings): So controlled in his movements. Always seems to be in the right spots and ready for shots. As good a goalie down low as there is at this level. Kicks absolutely everything out.
Team Sweden
Anton Wahlberg (F, Buffalo Sabres): Good job at the net-front on PP. Blocking shots. Showed comfort carrying pucks into and through coverage. Wasn’t a standout but he was good for an 18-year-old.
Filip Bystedt (F, San Jose Sharks): Skated well north-south once he got going but isn’t a very adjustable skater in tight/against coverage. One-timer popped a couple of times. Reach, length, size make him so strong in puck protection at this age.
Felix Unger Sorum (F, Carolina Hurricanes): Skating, in particular his ability to weave and cut in control, was very noticeable. Drew multiple penalties. Made plays to the middle and through layers. Will go to the net. And just so, so slippery with the puck on his stick. Defensemen have a hard time staying with him inside the offensive zone (he’s smooth in open ice too but it’s the changes of direction in coverage that really stand out).
Liam Ohgren (F, Minnesota Wild): Stronger on pucks than his opponents. Holds them off with relative ease. Drew a couple of penalties staying on pucks. Releases quickly and goes and gets pucks/wins races. Some great cycle shifts. Despite plenty of looks (he was second on Sweden in shots on goal), though, he wasn’t nearly as productive as I expected he’d be as a 19-year-old.
Zeb Forsfjall (F, Seattle Kraken): I like Forsfjall at this level. He skates. He works. He’s got some craft.
Noah Ostlund (F, Buffalo Sabres): Had and held the puck a lot. So shifty in possession on little cuts through gaps in coverage or side-stepping defenders. Didn’t always produce something out of it (still missing the strength to be able to finish on some of his creation) but he was noticeable offensively and skated off the puck (as always). Stops and starts extremely quickly/tightly. Escapes on the cycle so well. Was a driver all tournament for the Swedes.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki (F, Vancouver Canucks): Skating and tight turns in particular looking quicker. Drew a penalty and then immediately scored shelf on the power play he created against Latvia after a trigger-happy first half game to that point. Dancing one-on-one sequences. Playing with a little more fight. Generated as many individual looks in the tournament as any player for my money. He has made some important progress this season. Can just crank it. Gets them off so quickly, too. One-timer has legit pop. Getting better at sticking with plays and creating offense at five-on-five. Impressive tournament and season for Lekkerimaki so far. He’s figuring out how to be more consistent and how to make his talent work. Never stopped getting looks, either. Had several in the gold medal game, and scored his tournament-leading seventh.
Oskar Pettersson (F, Ottawa Senators): Wore an ‘A’ but began as the 13th forward before finishing on the second line. Wasn’t noticeable after a good tournament a year ago.
Fabian Wagner (F, Winnipeg Jets): Nothing really to add to his eval. Playing to be an AHL call-up someday. Likeable player at this level.
David Edstrom (F, Vegas Golden Knights): Was a little quiet playing on that line with Stenberg and Unger Sorum, who both stood out. Had a few moments where he created entries and held up across the line to wait for one of them, but that was about it.
Otto Stenberg (F, St. Louis Blues): Stenberg only played 14 minutes a game in a third-line role but he still found ways to manufacture offense, spend his shifts in the offensive zone, and contribute on special teams. Everybody loves a worker with skill. That’s his game and he plays to his identity to a tee. Doesn’t try to do too much but makes things happen and is opportunistic. A model of consistency (point in every game to show for it).
Mattias Havelid (D, San Jose Sharks): Looked comfortable atop the offensive zone blue line, adjusting his way across the line and feathering passes off of his forehand and backhand. Heady. Shoulder checks. Carrying pucks up ice and creating entries. Didn’t play well against Finland but was otherwise good. I think he can be a little too busy at times, but he’s a good prospect and a top player at this level.
Elias Salomonsson (D, Winnipeg Jets): After getting a one-game suspension on his first shift of the tournament, Salomonsson returned against Canada and fit back in right away alongside Sandin Pellikka. Closes gaps and funnels opposing carriers wide so well. Tracks back easily when he joins or leads the rush. Thought he’d chip in more offensively than he did, but he was asked to be more of a two-way guy on that pairing.
Anton Johansson (D, Detroit Red Wings): Physical. Strong. Seldom used, though, after losing his top-six job to Theo Lindstein early.
Axel Sandin Pellikka (D, Detroit Red Wings): His usual eager self putting pucks on net from the point. Got better as the tournament went on and became a real go-to guy for the Swedes. Hard to believe he was still their youngest D for the second year in a row.
Theo Lindstein (D, St. Louis Blues): Lindstein was a late addition to injuries to Calle Odelius and Jakob Noren on Sweden’s backend, and he didn’t just not look out of place, he was tremendous on a pairing with Tom Willander. He has typically been a steady two-way type for the Swedes but he showed some real creativity and offense throughout without sacrificing his reliable game defensively. Very impressive for an 18-year-old.
Elias Pettersson (D, Vancouver Canucks): Effective. Efficient. Physical. Big boy and he plays like it. Blocked shots. Made some little plays. Saw some of his deficiencies in terms of sloppiness/play-reading against Finland, though.
Tom Willander (D, Vancouver Canucks): Willander defends and skates at a high enough level that he rarely has bad games. He didn’t dominate this tournament in the same way he did under-18 worlds in the spring, but he was still solid. Takes away the space of opposing carriers so well in neutral ice. Activated when he could, too. His only real down moment of the tournament was the gold medal game, when he played a part in two goals against.
Team Finland
Lenni Hameenaho (F, New Jersey Devils): Nice to see him flashing some skill in one-on-one sequences and playing with some real confidence. He danced a handful of defenders over the course of the tournament. He has built a successful track record at the pro level playing a very well-rounded game, but he’s got talent and it was on display back against his peer group. Finland’s best forward against Canada and probably against Slovakia and in the bronze medal game, too. Around it, as usual. Was particularly impressed by his vision. He made some NHL-level passes. Teammates didn’t connect on some of the plays he made for them. Smart around the net.
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki (F, St. Louis Blues): Scored a couple of big goals, including a huge one in the final minutes to give the Finns the 3-2 lead and the win in the quarters.
Jani Nyman (F, Seattle Kraken): Comfortable one-timer. Getting his looks, even when they weren’t falling early (they did late). A lot to handle when he drops that shoulder and bullies his way to the net at this level. So strong. Handles the puck well, too, which allows him to go outside-in on some of those drives and also play-make off of the cycle. Show some nice small area skill as a handler/passer.
Konsta Helenius (F, 2024 NHL Draft): A little snakebitten (crossbar, couldn’t get a couple others across the line, etc.). Drew a couple of penalties. Had a couple of games where he was one of Finland’s best forwards and a couple of others where he was less impactful. Good on the forecheck. Smart. Works. Understands spacing. Better than his stat line in the tournament.
Kasper Halttunen (F, San Jose Sharks): Got ahold of some one-timers/heavy wristers. He’s going to be able to play on an NHL power play because of his shot, even if he’s more of a second unit guy. Really strong on pucks. Sheds bumps to drive past his man well. Wins most 50/50 engagements at this level.
Oivan Keskinen (F, Columbus Blue Jackets): Works. Gets to the net. Like him at this level.
Samu Bau (F, Arizona Coyotes): Beyond the size, don’t see much there.
Rasmus Kumpulainen (F, Minnesota Wild): Thirteenth forward until he was moved to the fourth line for the semis, scoring immediately on a redirect in the first period against USA and then again on a great drive to the slot into a perfectly-placed shot in the bronze medal game. The big man made some plays under sticks and showed some nice poise. He’ll be an important returnee for them next year.
Emil Hemming (F, 2024 NHL Draft): Plays the bumper spot on the power play well, popping out into pockets and getting his shots off quickly. Needs to be more responsible with the puck in his own zone and force it less with the puck in the offensive zone. Can frustrate. Thirteenth forward for the bronze medal game and didn’t take a shift. He’s a first-rounder for me, but has some things to work on.
Kasper Kulonummi (D, Nashville Predators): Walks the line well. Head always up. Managed the umbrella on the second unit smartly. Passes are well timed. Clearly has confidence and presence at this level.
Otto Salin (D, Los Angeles Kings): Alternate captain. Active skating pucks through neutral ice. Liked him sharing the point on the PP with Arttu Karki. Attacking off of the point looking for his shot. Eager shooter from the point. Hard wrister and slapshot. Connects on one-timers comfortably/balanced.
Jesse Pulkkinen (D, 2024 NHL Draft): Handles the puck uniquely well for a D his size, and plays the game with a ton of confidence. Game could use a little more control at times. Physical in man-to-man coverage. Looks to get a piece. Some buzz as an overager this year.
Arttu Karki (D, Vegas Golden Knights): Gets his shots through. Head always up. Good job side-stepping the first layer of pressure to get into better areas, too.
Kalle Kangas (D, Pittsburgh Penguins): In a depth role, Kangas was mostly unremarkable. Beyond his huge size, I don’t see much there in terms of NHL upside. Will get stops at this level but has some obvious deficiencies too.
Emil Pieniniemi (D, Pittsburgh Penguins): I thought there were times where Pieniniemi struggled, like he was being asked to do too much for where he’s at in his development. Has been a solid defender in the ’05 age group for Finland and will but will likely be more up to the task in next year’s tournament.
Niklas Kokko (G, Seattle Kraken): Kokko looked small in the net for a 6-foot-4 goalie, allowed too many goals through his body, and didn’t move well on some one-on-one sequences. He had some moments but struggled on the whole.
Team Czechia
Jiri Kulich (F, Buffalo Sabres): Kulich did his thing and looked the part of a top player. I actually liked him a little more a year ago than this year. I wasn’t going to have him on my all-star team ballot until his two-goal, two-assist bronze medal game performance led the Czechs, who trailed 5-2 late in the second period of the bronze medal game, to six unanswered goals in the come-from-behind bronze medal win. He was brilliant in the bronze medal game and in the end the led the Czechs in scoring, got his looks, pounded that one-timer of his (boy oh boy is it a weapon) and played his game. This level isn’t really much of a measuring stick for him anymore. He’s beyond it.
Matyas Sapovaliv (F, Vegas Golden Knights): Sapovaliv was fine. He had a couple of noteworthy games. I like the player and the prospect. I really like the way he controls and shields pucks. But I’m still waiting for him to find another level and my expectations were higher for him in the OHL and here. He’s a better player than his numbers, but the numbers need to start to take a step.
Eduard Sale (F, Seattle Kraken): After his early-tournament hat-trick, Sale slowly began to fall down the lineup before rising back up it (was back on the first line for the bronze medal game). That’s becoming a bit of a theme for him. The skill on the puck, the passing, the shot, the skating, it’s all there. The consistency and willingness to involve himself in the play shift-to-shift remains a concern.
Tomas Hamara (D, Ottawa Senators): Huge minutes. Head always up. More than one big play. Hamara had a tough go of it in Kitchener but has begun to look more like the calculating, mobile, smart defender he had prior both with Brantford following a trade in the OHL and in Gothenburg. He saved his best for last, too. Was excellent in the bronze medal game.
Tomas Galvas (D, 2024 NHL Draft): Galvas replaced the injured Adam Jiricek in the lineup. Looks taller than I thought/he’s listed (5-foot-10), though some of that may be his upright posture. Tried to push and involve himself where he could. It cost him against Sweden when they were trailing, but I liked the opportunity he saw to join up ice at that scoreline/moment in the game. Handles puck well. Good backwards skater. Mid-to-late round pick for me.
Marek Alscher (D, Florida Panthers): I was a little surprised when Alscher was named one of Czechia’s top three players of the tournament, because I’d hardly noticed him at all. Maybe that’s the point though? Alscher’s job has always been to play no-fuss defensive hockey and he does it well at this level. I don’t see NHL upside but he’s signed, so the Panthers must.
Michael Hrabal (G, Arizona Coyotes): Glove hand still needs some work. It’s something he has talked about publicly in the past and it got exposed on a bunch of the goals he gave up in this tournament. Thought he was otherwise fine (his best game was definitely against Canada) but there were some catchable pucks that he just … didn’t catch. I believe the finally tally was that 11/20 goals he surrendered were scored high glove. Pulled in the bronze medal game after giving up two early. His tracking looks like it needs some work, too.
Team Canada
Owen Beck (F, Montreal Canadiens): Tone-setter physically and in work ethic. Thought he really struggled in execution with the puck and am concerned about that more and more in terms of his NHL projection.
Nate Danielson (F, Detroit Red Wings): Scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament and set up its second. Was good later in the tournament, too. Thought he was just OK through the middle of it. Played with intention and consistency. Simplified his game but did so effectively. Did show some skill/skating in a depth role. Minutes rose in some important moments. When others sat, he kept getting shifts.
Carson Rehkopf (F, Seattle Kraken): Finished all of his checks, including some hard ones. Thought he changed his game and played to the role they asked of him well. Does need to tighten up with the pucks at times. A little too careless. Created a ton of looks for himself given his minutes/usage, but was a little snakebitten/seemed to grip the stick a little too tightly around the slot (had some chances that he’d normally pot that he didn’t get good looks on). Skating, skill and shot definitely still noticeable. Should be a top-six player/PP regular at next year’s tournament. When he started to skate and play hard and got rewarded with an elevation in the lineup, his natural tools did begin to show.
Macklin Celebrini (F, 2024 NHL Draft): His skating through neutral ice and ability to giddy up and drive through the middle is outstanding. The threat of his one-timer opened up a go-to set play on a shot-pass to Conor Geekie at the backdoor on the power play, repeatedly (though teams seemed to adjust to it late in the tournament). Thought he made good choices about when to rip it and when to take something off and hit Geekie, too. Hit a crossbar against the Finns and could have had more than his team-leading eight points in five games. When he had the puck, he looked confident and aggressive, like he wanted to take rather than give. Finds open ice off of the puck so well. Sees open ice with the puck so well. Skating on turns makes him hard to track and get a hold of in-zone. He was as advertised. A cut above his Canadian teammates.
Conor Geekie (F, Arizona Coyotes): Impressed by how quickly he processes the game offensively earlier in the tournament/pre-tournament. Knows where he wants to go early, if not right away, when he gets the puck. Speaks to his surveying. Showed clear talent on the puck one-on-one as well, though again mostly earlier in the tournament. Unique player with his skill and vision at that size. Always knows where his options are with the puck. Ultimately didn’t have the impact scouts, or Hockey Canada, were expecting, though. Noticeable lack of pace on the bigger sheet. Think that’ll be less of a barrier for him in North America. He’s not a bad skater but he’s average or slightly below.
Brayden Yager (F, Pittsburgh Penguins): Liked his ability to push pace north-south and his skating, generally. He was getting to loose pucks that many of his teammates weren’t. Good instincts and stick on the PK (broke up a lot of plays). Didn’t star but was consistently good shift-to-shift and game-to-game when many of Canada’s forwards weren’t. He was Canada’s best 18-year-old for me.
Denton Mateychuk (F, Columbus Blue Jackets): There were times when he needed to move the puck quicker. Flashed some of his high-end creativity and vision as well though, which helps you live with the fact that he outwaited himself at times. Played huge minutes successfully when he was asked to do a lot on Canada’s top pairing. Its best defenseman moving the puck and most involved in the play in the offensive zone while playing hard defensively. A positive on a team with few.
Matthew Poitras (F, Boston Bruins): Team Canada’s only NHL loan didn’t rise to the challenge from pre-tournament right through to the quarterfinal. Some of that, given the late addition, jet lag and the rest, was to be expected. But I wanted to watch him intently when the puck dropped and the lights were on for real, and Poitras only made a positive impression in parts of the first two wins, really.
He set up Canada’s first scoring chance of the tournament with a nice hold into a low-to-high play and then got open into the slot for a Grade-A chance of his own and Canada’s second good look. He drew a couple of penalties. But while he showed his patience on the puck, it devolved into bad play selection and skating into coverage (and turnovers) far too often as the tournament ran on. He was also Canada’s biggest culprit of overpassing, which was a major problem for this team. There were some times when he found ways to take pucks off of the perimeter and to the middle on international ice more than most other Canadian forwards. He found some guys on the weak side of coverage, too. But he was generally waiting way too long to make his plays and trying to do too much. It was frustrating to watch at times.
Jordan Dumais (F, Columbus Blue Jackets): Hit a post on a partial break against the Finns. Had a couple of Grade-A looks against Latvia that just didn’t go in. As the tournament progressed, he started to find ways to snake through traffic and draw attention to himself, drawing a few penalties in doing so. But after impressing in camp and pre-tournament, for a player who plies his trade as a playmaker who sees the ice and processes the game at an extremely high level, Dumais struggled with this moment/the pace on international ice. He couldn’t get from A to B to get onto as many pucks as he needed to. Had some moments when he did get pucks and showed in the later games more of a commitment to go to the net, but was hemmed in defensively at times and just didn’t make the finishing plays a player like him has to make. Ice time took a hit at times as a result, too.
Owen Allard (F, undrafted): One of the better skaters on the team, or at least right there with Savoie. Allard’s a big, athletic kid who uses his tools to get after it. I liked the way he made himself available on outlets on the international ice (a problem for some of his teammates). He consistently got open to receive the first pass and then either carried through neutral zone or built speed into a chip and chase. His lack of skill/offense did eventually reveal itself and made him hard for Alan Letang to employ whenever Canada trailed in games, though.
Matthew Wood (F, Nashville Predators): Found ways to get his looks in a limited role, whether that was getting to pucks as the 13th forward or contributing on the second power-play unit with his shot. There were times when his skating on the international ice held him back, though. He had some positive stretches, though, as well, and will feature more prominently on next year’s team.
Matt Savoie (F, Buffalo Sabres): Savoie seems to jump onto so many pucks when they squirt into holes in coverage. Had his share of looks/chances, but couldn’t get the big plays to fall for himself when they were there and was a culprit of missing the net. His tournament kind of reminded me of Shane Wright’s a year ago. Wright was fine. He didn’t play to his pedigree though and he was snakebitten. Only Wright was excellent in the gold medal game when the chips were on the table and his tournament was redeemed. Savoie never had that big game when they needed it. Wonder how much of that was him being a little banged up throughout.
Easton Cowan (F, Toronto Maple Leafs): Quiet outside of a few moments where his skating ability with the puck allowed him to get some steps on D. His best period was the first period against Sweden when he had Canada’s two best looks early. Doesn’t take great roots/read spacing all that well, often stacking with his linemates. Weird that he was brought but seldom used on the PK. Drew a couple penalties and did work, but there were times when his effort level looked ineffective. Plays a little too much on instinct, I think.
Fraser Minten (F, Toronto Maple Leafs): Played high in the lineup basically from start to finish and looked like he couldn’t hang offensively with Canada’s more talented players, and also like his ability to forecheck and be the worker/retrieval type wasn’t as effective on the larger sheet as it would have been on North American ice. Saw some of his know-how to get to pucks and get open, but lacked the skill/dexterity to finish off the plays others made to him. Think he would have been a better fit in a bottom-six role.
Noah Warren (D, Anaheim Ducks): Sloppy with the puck. When it lands on his blade under pressure, it just doesn’t seem to stick. Really slow to react defensively, too. I don’t love using “urgency” to describe a player, because it can be kind of ambiguous, but he lacks it. Just doesn’t release from the net to pucks quickly enough, so he’s always late on his coverage and to battles. Thought he struggled from selection camp right through the tournament outside of a few moments where he slid down the wall to try to involve himself offensively and made a couple of passes to the net front.
Oliver Bonk (D, Philadelphia Flyers): Bonk didn’t look like he was the youngest D on Team Canada. When others were caught out of position, he was there to bail them out. He won races back to pucks in his own zone. He settled the play down and moved it along. Was seeing the ice well as a passer inside the offensive zone. I thought he was fine in a third-pairing role, though a little lacking in ambition on the power play (he seemed to simplify it a little too much and it dulled PP2 at times). Tough break on the final goal against Czechia that will haunt him, but he should be proud of how he played for his age.
Ty Nelson (D, Seattle Kraken): Jumped right in and played with confidence and presence. Step-up physicality. Closing gaps. Good stick, made some diving plays defensively. Plays with a self-assuredness that many on this Canadian team lacked. I liked Nelson in a No. 7 role and thought there were times when Warren and Jorian Donovan struggled that they could have gone to Nelson a little more than they did.
Maveric Lamoureux (D, Arizona Coyotes): Thought he handled the moment and the pace of games really well. Played quickly when he needed to and with poise when he could. Disciplined when others weren’t (which has been a problem of his in the past). Played big minutes well and stepped up in Tristan Luneau’s absence.
Jorian Donovan (D, Ottawa Senators): Played well in his first game after getting the call. Thought he had a tough go the rest of the way both positionally and in tempo.
Jake Furlong (D, San Jose Sharks): Lacks acceleration, which can hurt him going back to get chipped pucks. Thought he was mostly solid though for Canada and certainly played in line with who he is as a prospect.
Mathis Rousseau (G, undrafted): Wouldn’t call him explosive, but his reads are great and he’s quick. He’s more athletic than I gave him credit for, too. Made some massive lateral saves in key moments. There were a few times where he got a little lucky after pulling off of his line (and when you pull off of your line at his size, there’s a lot of net to shoot at) though and others where his lack of size was apparent on goals against that a bigger goalie would have gotten to.
Team Slovakia
Dalibor Dvorsky (F, St. Louis Blues): Controls and protects the puck so well. Shot flashed in moments. Good in the faceoff circle. A go-to player as the third-youngest and a fourth-timer on the team. Skating still missing a step, but the rest of a talented middle-sixer is there. Dangerous on the PP with his shot/feel on the puck as a passer.
Juraj Pekarcik (F, St. Louis Blues): Noticeable in puck protection, both on the perimeter and in holding pucks to attack into the slot off his hip. Noticeable off the rush with his speed, gaining a step on defenders. I thought he was Slovakia’s best forward against USA to close out the preliminary round and he caught my eye consistently for an 18-year-old. Has some tools to work with.
Filip Mesar (F, Montreal Canadiens): Big-game, big-moment player for Slovakia throughout. Dangerous on the flank on the power play. Playing to the interior more consistently at five-on-five, while still making plays out wide and off the rush. Working on and off the puck. I thought Mesar was excellent, as you’d expect out of a 19-year-old first-round pick. Still positive, though. Had a strong case to be named one of their top three players of the tournament, even though he wasn’t. Best player on the ice in their quarterfinal loss to Finland. Could have been in the media all-star/tournament MVP conversation had they managed to win that game.
Adam Sykora (F, New York Rangers): Pest. Likes to chirp and get under guys’ skins. Stays around pucks and in battles. Skates and works. Wanted to see a little more out of him offensively, especially considering how noticeable his linemates were and how much he played as the team’s captain (outside of a huge dying-seconds play in the quarter, obviously).
Adam Zlnka (F, Arizona Coyotes): Showed some outside speed at times but played a limited role and there isn’t a lot there.
Servác Petrovsky (F, Minnesota Wild): Petrovsky was excellent early in the tournament and one of the biggest reasons they beat the Czechs in the preliminary round. He wasn’t as impactful later in the tournament, but still finished with a team-high 22 shots on goal and nine points in five games (tied with Mesar). Good hands in tight to his body/traffic. Good speed. Consistently noticeable attacking the net. Not the biggest player but he goes to scoring areas and has touch around the net. Very good junior player. Not sure what it looks like in terms of NHL player (a lot would have to go right, I think) but I’d like to see him get signed and get an opportunity to climb through the AHL.
Alex Ciernik (F, Philadelphia Flyers): I thought Ciernik’s skating was noticeable on the puck before he was injured late in their third game against Norway and sidelined for the rest of the tournament.
Martin Misiak (F, Chicago Blackhawks): Really didn’t love his play off the puck. Wasn’t committing to races/helping out. Looked lazy at times despite starting the tournament in a top-six role. Saw his ice time cut as things progressed and deservedly so.
Samuel Honzek (F, Calgary Flames): Assistant captain. On pucks. Tracking. Winning battles. Holding pucks. Going to the front of the net consistently. There are times when he’s holding it with his back turned to the defender inside the offensive zone where I’d like to see him keep his feet moving instead of coming to a glide with it. Excellent on the PK. Drew a penalty shot short-handed. Thought he was their best forward on the PK throughout. Good positioning/awareness. Because of his ability to hold pucks when he gets them, he can kill time against smaller opposition. Wanted more from him offensively late in the tournament, though (he was much better in the early games than against USA and Finland).
Maxim Strbak (D, Buffalo Sabres): Made a statement in the opener with a goal, an assist, five shots, and a plus-2 rating in a team-high 23:32. Joining the play more offensively than he does at MSU. Good stick on puck, wasn’t just relying on his physical advantage to defend. It’s clear he felt he could impose himself at this level and wanted to be a difference maker on a strong Slovak team but thin Slovak blue line, and he was. Physically strong, even against the bigger players in the tournament. Two tough moments in the quarterfinal which cost them when it mattered most, but he had a strong tournament right up until that point and he was asked to do a lot for an 18-year-old.
Luka Radivojevic (D, 2025 NHL Draft): Used mostly in a sheltered role for offensive zone draws. Not explosive forward or backward yet, but excellent edges and adjustability. Flat and hard outlet passer. Absorbs pressure well. The stage didn’t look too big for him. Walks the line really well. Head always up. Thought he was fine-to-good for his age.
Adam Gajan (G, Chicago Blackhawks): Has always had the athletic ability and the skill, but he’s tracking and finding pucks better. Really good down low but stays up just long enough to make shoulder/high-blocker saves. Outstanding going left-to-right and one-on-one with shooters on breakaways. Fights for pucks on scrambles and holds his pads down when he’s splayed out. Big fan.
Team Switzerland
Rodwin Dionicio (D, Anaheim Ducks): A cut above, certainly with the puck, at this level. Maneuvers across the line and shapes shots through so well. Side-steps pressure well carrying pucks through neutral ice (though he did turn some pucks over trying to force entries at times). Navigated his way through traffic in the offensive zone with ease. Four points in five games, but maybe more impressive were his 16 shots and plus-1 rating. It’s hard to finish as a plus player on a team like Switzerland (which won only one game against Norway), especially when you’re playing tough minutes. When he did get caught, skates well enough to track back into the right spots more often than not.
Leon Muggli (D, 2024 NHL Draft): Fairly comfortable at this level, including under pressure (drew a couple of penalties moving his feet with the puck). Ran PP2 behind Dionicio. Crisp outlets. Will block shots. Did struggle at times with his in-zone positioning and box-outs, though, and was ejected against Norway for a cross-check from behind (was then suspended for their preliminary round finale against Czechia before returning to play a leading role in a tight quarterfinal loss to Sweden in overtime). Thought his last game was his best when the chips were on the table. Not convinced he’s a second-rounder type, but a mid-round pick for sure.
Daniil Ustinkov (D, 2024 NHL Draft): He plays the game with a simplicity, but his reads are good — knows where to be. Good stick. Has some work to do to get harder on box-outs/net-front D. Good edges. Wants to make a difference and be involved. Competitive. Mid-round pick. In the same boat on him as I am on Muggli. Both summer birthdays, too, which helps.
Team Latvia
Dans Locmelis (F, Boston Bruins): I thought Locmelis, who captained this Latvian team and finished as its leading scorer with five points in five games (which included scoring both of their goals in the quarters against USA), played well throughout. He showed some confidence in attacking at good defenders. He always seems to play to the middle third and shows a real desire to gain inside territory in battles. He works. He hunts.
Sandis Vilmanis (F, Florida Panthers): Alternate captain. Taking pucks to the middle. Led Latvia with 19 shots on goal through four games and was clearly the team’s most able shot creator both at five-on-five and on the power play, where they tried to funnel looks to him. I don’t see NHL upside, but he’s been a good junior player internationally and in Sarnia. He may get traded at some point here to a more competitive OHL club.
Eriks Mateiko (F, 2024 NHL Draft): Some good looks from scoring areas. Skating better and better. Drew a couple of penalties. Physical himself. Committed player defensively and off the puck, even when the points weren’t coming. With Locmelis and Vilmanis both aging out, expect Mateiko to be the go-to guy on next year’s team. Late-round pick.
Team Germany
Julian Lutz (F, Arizona Coyotes): Skating is noticeable at this level, especially on cuts where he attacks on angles to slash to the middle. Scored a big goal against Canada going downhill from the flank into his wrister. Good off the rush. Was clearly a catalyst on this German team, but it’s hard to produce offense with an age group as weak as this one. Thought he made his fair share of looks happen. Has the athletic tools.
Kevin Bicker (F, Detroit Red Wings): Skated well. Liked him in the relegation game, and not just because he opened the scoring (was on the puck more, moving his feet on and off the puck, holding it, and involved in play creation). Wasn’t otherwise super noticeable (that goal, in what was his fifth game, was on just his fourth shot of the tournament), though he did show some nice vision/on-puck play at times. Don’t view him as much of an NHL prospect, though, honestly. Had a nice run of play on a tour of North America last year and it got him picked, but his profile and play since haven’t necessarily reflected that. Will be a good mid-tier pro. Not sure I see more than that.
Team Norway
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (F, 2024 NHL Draft): Work rate and commitment to staying on pucks and getting them. Tracks back hard. Scrappy. Supports pucks in offensive and defensive zone well. Finishes checks. Long stick and he uses it to protect pucks well out wide to his body. Like his shot (comfortable in catch-and-release, straight with goalies, one-timer, etc.). Two goals and an assist against a good Slovak team. Forced it at times, but that comes with the territory when you don’t have a ton of talent around you. Showed good straight-line skating. Named one of their top three players of the tournament and finished as their leading scorer with five points (three goals, two assists) in five games. First-rounder. Undecided on whether he’s a front-half or back-half guy though.
Stian Solberg (D, 2024 NHL Draft): Heavily relied upon. Played a team-high 24:40 against USA and wasn’t a minus, which built some buzz. Plays really hard and firm on both sides of the puck. Physical in man-to-man coverage, sometimes even too much so. Mean and strong, pushing players around even as a draft eligible (though an older one). Tough to take him one-on-one and then he can skate the other way, though he can also be a little too eager on that front (got caught a couple of times). Reads/decision-making will need some real tightening. Can be sloppy/turnover-prone. Some see a second-round pick due to how hard he is, but looks more like a mid-rounder to me.
(Top photo of Macklin Celebrini: Bjorn Larsson Rosvall / TT News Agency / AFP via Getty Images)