But if nothing else, the IIHF World Junior Championship, our annual glimpse into the future of hockey, is an introduction to the difference makers who will dominate the NHL in short order. With recent American alumni such as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Clayton Keller, there’s a growing buzz in the United States around the world’s largest under-20 international tournament.
This year’s event in Buffalo, N.Y., is more of the same.
MORE: How the 2018 Olympics might’ve looked with NHL players
Over the course of the next two weeks, there will be a great many storylines to follow. Many are watching Rasmus Dahlin, the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft class, to see if he’ll follow in the footsteps of top picks before him and dazzle on the ice for a stacked Sweden team.
Reigning gold medal-winner Team USA is loaded with first-round NHL draft picks and 2018 hopefuls. Last year’s runner-up, Canada, lacks generational talent like McDavid, but returns an experienced roster with a bitter taste in its mouth following a home-ice shootout defeat by the Americans in the 2017 finale.
Below, Sporting News will track the performance from some of the hottest prospects playing in the the 10-team tournament.
This article will be updated through the Jan. 5 gold medal game to reflect current statistics (via IIHF) and storylines as they develop.
WORLD JUNIORS: How to watch, rosters, tournament schedule
United States
Casey Mittelstadt (C)
Drafted: Sabres (eighth overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 4 goals, 6 assists
Kailer Yamamoto (RW)
Drafted: Oilers (22nd overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 2 goals, 2 assist
MORE: Q&A with Kailer Yamamoto on NHL debut, Connor McDavid, more
Brady Tkachuk (LW)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 3 goals, 5 assists
Quinn Hughes (D)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists
MORE: Introducing Quinn Hughes, the NHL’s next hot U.S. defense prospect
Jake Oettinger (G)
Drafted: Stars (26th overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 1-0-0, 2.45 GAA, .870 SV %
Canada
Carter Hart (G)
Drafted: Flyers (48th overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 4-0-1, 1.97 GAA, .917 SV%
Victor Mete (D)
Drafted: Canadiens (100th overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 5 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists
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Sam Steel (C)
Drafted: Ducks (30th overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 4 goals, 4 assists
Cale Makar (D)
Drafted: Avalanche (fourth overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 3 goals, 5 assists
Michael McLeod (C)
Drafted: Devils (12th overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 1 goal, 3 assists
Sweden
Rasmus Dahlin (D)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 17WJC stats: 6 GP, 0 goals, 6 assists
Timothy Liljegren (D)
Drafted: Maple Leafs (17th overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist
Alexander Nylander (RW)
Drafted: Sabres (eighth overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 1 goal, 6 assists
Elias Pettersson (C)
Drafted: Canucks (fifth overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 5 goals, 2 assists
Lias Andersson (C)
Drafted: Rangers, (seventh overall, 2017)Age: 19WJC stats: 6 GP, 6 goals, 1 assist
Russia
Klim Kostin (C)
Drafted: Blues (31st overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 5 GP, 5 goals, 3 assists
Andrei Svechnikov (RW)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 17WJC stats: 5 GP, 0 goals, 5 assists
Finland
Eeli Tolvanen (RW)
Drafted: Predators (30th overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 5 GP, 1 goal, 5 assists
Miro Heiskanen (D)
Drafted: Stars (third overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 5 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists
Rasmus Kupari (C)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 17WJC stats: 5 GP, 0 goals, 0 assists
Olli Juolevi (D)
Drafted: Canucks (fifth overall, 2016)Age: 19WJC stats: 5 GP, 1 goal, 3 assists
Kristian Vesalainen (C)
Drafted: Jets (24th overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 5 GP, 2 goals, 4 assists
Czech Republic
Filip Chytil (C/LW)
Drafted: Rangers (21st overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 2 goals, 2 assists
Filip Zadina (LW)
Drafted: 2018 eligibleAge: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 7 goals, 1 assist
Martin Necas (C/RW)
Drafted: Hurricanes (12th overall, 2017)Age: 18WJC stats: 6 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists
