The dog days of summer have finally been relieved by the start of the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase. It’s one of the top junior tournaments of the year, bringing together the top players from USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland for a four-game face-off. The group features two squads from both North American countries, and is often the first chance for top 18-year-olds to play after being drafted into the NHL.
That sentiment is truer than ever in this year’s tournament as it will mark the first games of the calendar year for reigning first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer. He’ll be joined by a heap of NHL talent of both present and future. Let’s break down the players currently in NHL pipelines, or on top of the 2026 draft class, participating in this year’s showcase.
2026 NHL Draft
Gavin McKenna (F, Canada); Viggo Bjorck (F, Sweden); Ivar Stenberg (F, Sweden)
Anaheim Ducks
Lucas Pettersson (F, Sweden, 2024 #35); Eric Nilson (F, Sweden, 2025 #45); Lasse Boelius (D, Finland, 2025 #60); Tarin Smith (D, Canada, 2024 #79)
Boston Bruins
James Hagens (F, USA, 2025 #7); William Moore (F, USA, 2025 #51); Elliott Groenewold (D, USA, 2024 #110); Kristian Kostadinski (D, Sweden, 2023 #220)
Buffalo Sabres
Adam Kleber (D, USA, 2024 #42); Brodie Ziemer (F, USA, 2024 #71); Luke Osburn (D, USA, 2024 #108)
Carolina Hurricanes
Filip Ekberg (F, Sweden, 2025 #221); Viggo Nordlund (F, Sweden, 2025 #183)
Calgary Flames
Cole Reschny (F, Canada, 2025 #18); Cullen Potter (F, USA, 2025 #32); Henry Mews (D, Canada, 2024 #74)
Chicago Blackhawks
Sacha Boisvert (F, Canada, 2024 #18); Marek Vanacker (F, Canada, 2024 #27); A.J. Spellacy (F, USA, 2024 #72)
Colorado Avalanche
Will Zellers (F, USA, 2024 #76)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cayden Lindstrom (F, Canada, 2024 #4); Charlie Elick (D, Canada, 2024 #36); Evan Gardner (G, Canada, 2024 #60); Tanner Henricks (D, USA, 2024 #101)
Dallas Stars
Emil Hemming (F, Finland, 2024 #29); Atte Joki (F, Finland, 2025 #146)
Detroit Red Wings
Eddie Genborg (F, Sweden, 2025 #44); Max Plante (F, USA, 2024 #47); John Whipple (D, USA, 2024 #144)
Edmonton Oilers
Aidan Park (F, USA, 2025 #223)
Florida Panthers
Linus Eriksson (F, Sweden, 2024 #58)
Los Angeles Kings
Henry Brzustewicz (D, USA, 2025 #31); Carter George (G, Canada, 2024 #57); Kristian Epperson (F, USA, 2025 #88); Caeden Herrington (D, USA, 2025 #120)
Montreal Canadiens
Michael Hage (F, Canada, 2024 #21); Aatos Koivu (F, Finland, 2024 #70); Owen Protz (D, Canada, 2024 #102); L.J. Mooney (F, USA, 2025 #113)
Minnesota Wild
Ryder Ritchie (F, Canada, 2024 #45); Aron Kiviharju (D, Finland, 2024 #122); Sebastian Soini (D, Finland, 2024 #140)
Nashville Predators
Brady Martin (F, Canada, 2025 #5); Cameron Reid (D, Canada, 2025 #21); Ryker Lee (F, USA, 2025 #26); Jacob Rombach (D, USA, 2025 #35); Teddy Stiga (F, USA, 2024 #55); Jack Ivankovic (G, Canada, 2025 #58); Viggo Gustafsson (D, Sweden, 2024 #77)
New Jersey Devils
Benjamin Kevan (F, USA, 2025 #63); Kasper Pikkarainen (F, Finland, 2024 #85); Mason Moe (F, USA, 2025 #90); Daniel Nieminen (D, Finland, 2025 #163)
New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer (D, Canada, 2025 #1); Kashawn Aitcheson (D, Canada, 2025 #17); Cole Eiserman (F, USA, 2024 #20); Kamil Bednarik (F, USA, 2024 #61); Jacob Kvasnicka (F, USA, 2025 #202)
New York Rangers
E.J. Emery (D, USA, 2024 #30); Malcolm Spence (F, Canada, 2025 #43)
Ottawa Senators
Logan Hensler (D, USA, 2025 #23); Gabriel Eliasson (D, Sweden, 2024 #39)
Philadelphia Flyers
Porter Martone (F, Canada, 2025 #6); Jack Murtagh (F, USA, 2025 #40); Shane Vansaghi (F, USA, 2025 #48); Jack Berglund (F, Sweden, 2024 #51); Spencer Gill (D, Canada, 2024 #59); Heikki Ruohonen (F, Finland, 2024 #107); Max Westergård (F, Finland, 2025 #132)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Benjamin Kindel (F, Canada, 2025 #11); William Horcoff (F, USA, 2025 #24); Harrison Brunicke (D, Canada, 2024 #44); Mac Swanson (F, USA, 2024 #207)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Joona Saarelainen (F, Finland, 2024 #149); Caleb Heil (G, USA, 2025 #193)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Victor Johansson (D, Sweden, 2024 #120)
San Jose Sharks
Michael Misa (F, Canada, 2025 #2); Sam Dickinson (D, Canada, 2024 #11); Joshua Ravensbergen (G, Canada, 2025 #30); Leo Sahlin Wallenius (D, Sweden, 2024 #53); Cole McKinney (F, USA, 2025 #53); Carson Wetsch (F, Canada, 2024 #82)
Seattle Kraken
Berkly Catton (F, Canada, 2024 #8); Jake O’Brien (F, Canada, 2025 #8); Blake Fiddler (D, USA, 2025 #36); Kim Saarinen (G, Finland, 2024 #88); Ollie Josephson (F, Canada, 2024 #105)
St. Louis Blues
Justin Carbonneau (F, Canada, 2025 #19); Love Härenstam (G, Sweden, 2025 #179)
Utah Mammoth
Cole Beaudoin (F, Canada, 2024 #24); Will Skahan (D, USA, 2024 #65)
Vancouver Canucks
Braeden Cootes (F, Canada, 2025 #15); Melvin Fernstrom (F, Sweden, 2024 #93); Wilson Björck (F, Sweden, 2025 #143)
Vegas Golden Knights
Trevor Connelly (F, USA, 2024 #19)
Washington Capitals
Cole Hutson (D, USA, 2024 #43); Nick Kempf (G, USA, 2024 #114)
Winnipeg Jets
Sascha Boumedienne (D, Sweden, 2025 #28); Alfons Freij (D, Sweden, 2024 #37)
Melvin fernstrom is a penguin.
You’re missing Ben Danford at Canada’s camp from the Leafs, and generally T comes after S.
Zellers is with the Bruins.. Not Colorado