International Notes: Schaefer, Jarvis, Vaakanainen, Hutson
Although he was ultimately left off Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer will have an opportunity to play if needed. Earlier today, Andrew Gross of Newsday reported that Schaefer is on Team Canada’s standby list and will play if the team runs into injury trouble.
Even being on the standby list is a testament to how the recent first overall pick has played for the New York Islanders this season. He’s leading the team in defensive scoring by a significant margin, recording nine goals and 25 points in 40 games while averaging nearly 24 minutes of action per game. Furthermore, his defensive metrics are notably mature for his age, with a 50.7% CorsiFor at even strength and 90.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength.
Still, it’s curious that Hockey Canada has opted for Schaefer being the next man up rather than Washington Capitals blueliner Jakob Chychrun. The former 16th overall pick has been one of the most underrated defensemen in the league this season, scoring 15 goals and 30 points in 40 games while managing a 23:16 ATOI. Additionally, Chychrun’s underlying metrics are better than Schaefer’s, with a 56.0% CF% and 91.8% oiSV% at even strength.
Other international notes:
- Schaefer isn’t the only skater from the Metropolitan Division to find himself on Team Canada’s standby list. Seth Jarvis, who skated for Team Canada in last year’s Four Nations Face-Off, is also on Team Canada’s standby list, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels. Although arguments could be made for other forwards, it’s difficult to say Jarvis hasn’t earned it with 19 goals and 29 points in 34 games this season for the Carolina Hurricanes.
- Moving to Group B of the upcoming international tournament, the New York Rangers will have a defenseman on the standby list — this time for Team Finland. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, Urho Vaakanainen will be available for Team Finland if they run into injury trouble. Vaakanainen played in three games for Finland last season at the Four Nations Face-Off, going scoreless with a -5 rating.
- In the World Juniors Championship, the United States is expected to return an important defenseman for their upcoming quarterfinal matchup against Finland. This afternoon, Mike G. Morreale of the NHL wrote that Cole Hutson, who hasn’t played since being hit in the head with a puck in the round robin matchup against Team Switzerland, is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow. The Capitals prospect has already registered two assists in two games with a +5 rating.
Latest On Cole Hutson
9:30 p.m.: Instead of waiting until tomorrow, USA Hockey has provided an official update on Hutson already. It appears the injury looked worse than it actually was, with USA Hockey sharing that Hutson is only considered day-to-day. Given that Team USA doesn’t play again until Monday, there’s a legitimate chance Hutson could return for that game.
9:10 p.m.: Before much of the NHL action had kicked off tonight, there was a scary moment in the World Junior Championship matchup between Team USA and Team Switzerland. Defenseman Cole Hutson (USA), brother of Montreal Canadien Lane Hutson, was stretchered off the ice after being hit by a puck in the back of the head.
Shortly after he game had restarted following the injury, the NHL’s Jon Morosi reported that Hutson had been taken to a hospital and was being evaluated. Morosi added in his initial report that Hutson never lost consciousness while on the ice and appeared alert when he exited the stadium.
Fortunately, Morosi shared the best news of the evening, that Hutson had been discharged from the hospital and had rejoined his teammates in St. Paul. Team USA’s staff is expected to continue evaluating Hutson through the evening, and his status for the remainder of the tournament will be decided then.
Regardless of the potential on-ice ramifications for Team USA without a defenseman of Hutson’s caliber, it’s objectively positive that he was able to leave the hospital on his own accord only a few short hours after the injury. Including today’s contest against Team Switzerland, Hutson has registered two assists in two games already, with a +5 rating.
His status as a top-tier defensive prospect began last year after a standout freshman performance at Boston University and an incredible showing at last year’s World Junior Championships. He scored 14 goals and 48 points in 39 games for the Terriers throughout the 2024-25 NCAA season. Furthermore, he added three goals and 11 points in seven games, helping Team USA to its second consecutive gold medal.
Finishing with the most points in last year’s tournament, the Washington Capitals prospect was expected to deliver a similar punch to Team USA’s lineup this year. Despite the fortunate news that he’s left the hospital, his status for the rest of the tournament is certainly in question.
Atlantic Injury Notes: Zucker, Jeannot, Samoskevich, Mrtka
The hottest team in the Eastern Conference should be getting a boost to its forward core relatively soon. Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald reported in a recent article that forward Jason Zucker has returned to practice with the Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that he’ll return during Buffalo’s upcoming three-game road trip, which begins on Monday.
Zucker, 33, has missed the Sabres’ last seven games with both lower and upper body injuries. Still, given that he may not return until after Buffalo returns from their upcoming road trip, that number may reach 11 games. Fortunately, the Sabres haven’t missed a beat since Zucker exited the lineup, winning all seven games and climbing to two points back of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
In the article, Zucker expressed his frustration with not being included in the team’s recent hot streak, saying, “It’s been terrible watching, but it’s been great to see everyone playing well throughout the lineup.” He remains seventh on the team in scoring with nine goals and 18 points in 21 games, averaging 15:36 of ice time per game.
Other injury notes from the Atlantic Division:
- The Sabres’ opponent tonight, the Boston Bruins, will be playing somewhat shorthanded up front. The NHL’s Heather Engel shared earlier that forward Tanner Jeannot will miss tonight’s game with an undisclosed injury, and there’s no word on how long he’s expected to miss. Jeannot, who signed a five-year, $17MM contract with the Bruins last summer, has played surprisingly well this season, scoring four goals and 15 points in 38 games while throwing 113 hits.
- In a different Atlantic Division matchup, the Florida Panthers may also be down a regular forward for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning this evening. Team reporter Jameson Olive noted that Mackie Samoskevich will be a game-time decision. Still, head coach Paul Maurice, via Olive, suggested that Samoskevich is trending toward playing and chose to wait to name a potential replacement.
- Aside from the NHL returning to action tonight, the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships are underway, with games commencing yesterday. Team Czechia, which lost a tightly contested opening matchup to Team Canada, could be getting a boost to its defensive core by the end of the weekend. According to Chris Peters of FloHockey, defenseman Radim Mrtka is expected to return against Team Finland on Monday. Mrtka was drafted with the ninth overall pick last summer by the Sabres and has scored one goal and 16 points in 14 games for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds this year.
Players On 2026 World Juniors Rosters By NHL Team
This year’s World Juniors kick off in just over an hour with a Group A clash between Sweden and Slovakia in St. Paul. With all 10 countries’ rosters locked in, it’s time to look at which prospects each NHL team will see representing them on the world’s biggest stage for under-20 players.
Only three teams – the Blue Jackets, Golden Knights, and Hurricanes – do not have a representative on an opening roster. The Mammoth and Predators lead the way with seven prospects each, while the Canadiens, Capitals, Ducks, Flyers, Islanders, Red Wings, and Sharks are other teams with five-plus.
Anaheim Ducks
- D Lasse Boelius (Finland)
- G Elijah Neuenschwander (Switzerland)
- C Eric Nilson (Sweden)
- C Lucas Pettersson (Sweden)
- D Darels Uljanskis (Latvia)
Boston Bruins
- D Vashek Blanár (Czechia) not registered for opener
- C James Hagens (USA)
- LW Will Zellers (USA)
Buffalo Sabres
- D Adam Kleber (USA)
- D Radim Mrtka (Czechia) not registered for opener (injury)
- D Luke Osburn (USA)
- RW Brodie Ziemer (USA)
Calgary Flames
- D Zayne Parekh (Canada)
- C Cole Reschny (Canada)
Carolina Hurricanes
none
Chicago Blackhawks
- C Anton Frondell (Sweden)
- RW Vaclav Nestrasil (Czechia)
- RW A.J. Spellacy (USA)
Czechia Announces Roster For 2026 World Juniors
The 2026 World Juniors get underway today in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The Czechs are one of the teams opening their tournament schedule with a high-powered Group B clash against Canada. However, injuries have prevented them from releasing an official tournament roster as compared to their preliminary list that exceeded the 25-player maximum.
Below are the players they’ve registered for today’s opener – a bare-bones roster of 12 forwards, six defenders, and three goalies. There are four spots the Czechs can fill from now until the medal games if players become available to return.
F Adam Benák (Wild, 2025, 4-102)
F Vojtech Cihar (Kings, 2025, 2-59)
F Max Curran (Avalanche, 2024, 5-161)
F Stepan Hoch (Mammoth, 2025, 3-78)
F Jiří Klíma (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Matej Kubiesa (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Vaclav Nestrasil (Blackhawks, 2025, 1-25)
F Adam Novotny (2026 draft-eligible)
F Tomas Poletin (Islanders, 2025, 4-106)
F Petr Sikora (Capitals, 2024, 6-178)
F Adam Titlbach (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Richard Zemlicka (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Vladimír Dravecký (2026 draft-eligible)
D Jakub Fibigr (Kraken, 2024, 7-202)
D Tomas Galvas (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Adam Jiříček (Blues, 2024, 1-16)
D Matyas Man (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Max Psenicka (Mammoth, 2025, 2-46)
G Matyas Marik (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
G Michal Orsulak (undrafted in 2025)
G Ondrej Stebetak (undrafted in 2025)
Most notably absent is Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka. The reigning No. 9 overall pick, who was jockeying for position as their No. 1 right-shot defenseman, sustained an injury in a pre-tournament game and won’t dress tonight. He’s not been ruled out for Saturday’s tilt against Denmark, but he’s a big loss against their toughest group-stage opponent.
Another notable name listed on the preliminary roster but not here is Blues 2024 third-rounder Adam Jecho. The 6’4″ center also left a pre-tournament game – this time with a hand injury – and will not be available after recording seven points in seven games last year in Czechia’s march to a bronze medal, their third straight year coming home with hardware.
The four open spots will be filled with Mrtka, undrafted center Samuel Drancak, Bruins fourth-rounder Vashek Blanár, and 2026 draft-eligible defenseman Jakub Vanecek as they become available or are needed.
Without Mrtka, Jiříček will be the Czech’s unquestioned top defender and minutes-eater. Rostered for the third straight year, the mobile puck-mover has exploded for 29 points and a +17 rating in 25 games for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs this season.
Offensively, they’re nearly at full strength aside from Jecho, who was ticketed to be a top-six piece. Instead, the headliners will be Nestrasil and Novotny, an 18-year-old winger who should be a top-20 pick – if not top 15 – next June with 35 points in 29 OHL games for the Peterborough Petes. The undersized Benák was left off the roster last year but enters the tournament tied for fifth in OHL scoring with 43 points in 26 games alongside Jiříček in Brantford.
The goaltending should be a bit of a competition. Marik is the oldest and carries by far the least impressive resume heading into this season, but has been spectacular in the Czech junior circuit, recording a .954 SV% in 20 games. Orsulak and Stebetak have faced much tougher competition in the WHL this year. Orsulak, with his .908 SV% in 16 games for Prince Albert, likely gets the nod.
USA Hockey Announces Roster For World Juniors
Dec. 24th: The United States team has gotten its roster down to 25 players. The back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medalists announced the group of players they’ll be bringing to Minneapolis and St. Paul in the next few days. Trevor Connelly (injury), Jacob Kvasnicka, Henry Brzustewicz, Blake Fiddler, are the four that didn’t make it from the preliminary roster, while Will Zellers (Bruins, 2024, 3-76) was a late addition.
Dec. 1st: USA Hockey has announced its 28-player preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They only need to make three cuts by the time final rosters are due Dec. 24, two days before round-robin action begins. They’ll do so over the course of their selection camp, which they’ll hold a few hours north of the Twin Cities in Duluth. That will begin on Dec. 15 and run for a week, including two pre-tournament friendlies against Finland and Germany. The initial squad is as follows:
F Kamil Bednarik (Islanders, 2024, 2-61)
F Trevor Connelly (Golden Knights, 2024, 1-19)
F Cole Eiserman (Islanders, 2024, 1-20)
F James Hagens (Bruins, 2025, 1-7)
F Will Horcoff (Penguins, 2025, 1-24)
F Jacob Kvasnicka (Islanders, 2025, 7-202)
F Ryker Lee (Predators, 2025, 1-26)
F Cole McKinney (Sharks, 2025, 2-53)
F Brendan McMorrow (Kings, 2025, 7-196)
F L.J. Mooney (Canadiens, 2025, 4-113)
F Max Plante (Red Wings, 2024, 2-47)
F A.J. Spellacy (Blackhawks, 2024, 3-72)
F Teddy Stiga (Predators, 2024, 2-55)
F Shane Vansaghi (Flyers, 2025, 2-48)
F Brodie Ziemer (Sabres, 2024, 3-71)
D Asher Barnett (Oilers, 2025, 5-131)
D Henry Brzustewicz (Kings, 2025, 1-31)
D E.J. Emery (Rangers, 2024, 2024, 1-30)
D Blake Fiddler (Kraken, 2025, 2-36)
D Logan Hensler (Senators, 2025, 1-23)
D Cole Hutson (Capitals, 2024, 2-43)
D Adam Kleber (Sabres, 2024, 2-42)
D Luke Osburn (Sabres, 2024, 4-108)
D Chase Reid (2026 draft-eligible)
D Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen (undrafted in 2025)
G Caleb Heil (Lightning, 2025, 7-193)
G Nick Kempf (Capitals, 2024, 4-114)
G A.J. Reyelts (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
The contingent will have University of Minnesota bench boss Bob Motzko as its head coach as they aim for their third straight gold medal. It’s a rather star-studded contingent – particularly up front, where five of the 15 forwards selected were first-round picks.
Perhaps the most dynamic player among the group is neither a forward nor a first-round pick. Hutson, much like his older brother Lane Hutson, has quickly outpaced his second-round billing and will be one of the league’s most anticipated prospects when he makes his arrival with Washington, presumably next spring. The 5’11” lefty was instrumental in the United States’ win at this tournament last year, leading the circuit with 11 points in seven games. After taking home NCAA top rookie honors in 2024-25, he’s rattled off seven goals and 18 points through his first 15 games at Boston University.
Alongside Hutson, seven others – Connelly, Eiserman, Hagens, Hensler, Kleber, Plante, Stiga, and Ziemer – are returning from last year’s squad.
While it’s an established skater group, it’s the most questionable group of goaltenders they’ve brought to the event since 2022. Kempf, a sophomore at Notre Dame who’s sporting a .902 SV% and 4-9-1 record in 14 games this year, is the likely No. 1. Reyelts, also 19 years old, has no previous national team experience and has a .901 SV% in 19 games for WHL Penticton this season. Heil previously suited up for the U.S. at the U18 World Juniors but has struggled with a .891 SV% in 16 games this season for USHL Madison.
Evening Notes: Dickinson, Catton, O’Reilly, Maple Leafs
The Team Canada World Juniors roster appears set, with two final dominos falling: San Jose will not loan defenseman Sam Dickinson, per Frank Seravalli, and Seattle won’t loan forward Berkly Catton either, also noted by Seravalli.
Dickinson was a real candidate, as he would have brought key experience to Team Canada’s back end, as the only returning defenseman on the team. The 19-year-old has the distinction of being the only d-man under 20 to not be loaned out, other than Matthew Schaefer, which is to no surprise. Dickinson has not made quite the same impact as last summer’s first overall pick, as he has just three points in 27 games. Although helping lead Team Canada in a push for gold for a final time could have been a breath of fresh air for the exciting two-way defender, San Jose opts to hold onto Dickinson and not lose a true lineup contributor who continues to develop.
Similar to Dickinson, Catton has not exactly had a Schaefer-like impact yet either, with five points in 21 games, all assists. However, as emphasized by Seravalli, Catton is set to return from injury soon, and with Mason Marchment traded to Columbus, he will have a larger role on the Kraken once healthy, enough to keep the skilled forward from a Team Canada return.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Despite rumblings, Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly is not open to being moved at this time, as shared by Pierre LeBrun in an article for The Athletic. The respected veteran center is a pending free agent on an affordable ($4.5MM) contract, so naturally the appeal is there. However, although he has no such trade protection, O’Reilly and Nashville have a mutual agreement to treat it as if so, and for now, the 34-year-old will stay put. O’Reilly has 28 points in 34 games, continuing to play at a high level on both ends. However, GM Barry Trotz brought him in prior to 2023-24, when the Predators appeared firmly in a rebuild, before their attempted revival. Therefore, while on paper it would be wise to bring in a haul, O’Reilly’s impact in the locker room was always a major focus. Things could be revisited closer to the Trade Deadline, but O’Reilly simply playing out the deal is a real possibility, especially as the Ontario native has already won a Stanley Cup.
- Ahead of tonight’s game, Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube told reporters, including David Alter of The Hockey News, that Easton Cowan and Calle Jarnkrok would be scratched, while Max Domi and Steven Lorentz entered the lineup in Dallas. Cowan’s designation comes as a bit of a surprise as he was in the starting lineup on the first line last night in Nashville, notching 16:17 of ice time, with an assist. The 20-year-old has 11 points in 26 games, but according to Berube, a reset is needed. Jarnkrok has been a solid third liner for years, but at 34, he has just four goals on the season and his scratching is less of a surprise. Meanwhile, Domi jumps right into Cowan’s slot on the first line, eager to find his game in a bid to extend his Leafs tenure. Finally, Lorentz returns to a fourth line deployment, a role familiar for the 29-year-old.
Canada Cuts Jake O’Brien, Jackson Smith, Marek Vanacker From WJC
Hockey Canada announced Thursday that they’ve cut center Jake O’Brien (Kraken), defenseman Jackson Smith (Blue Jackets), and winger Marek Vanacker (Blackhawks) from their preliminary roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship.
All three dressed in yesterday’s 2-1 pre-tournament exhibition win over Sweden, played in Kitchener, Ontario. That’s par for the course for the Canadian staff to get a look at their bubble players in friendly action before making their final roster submission, which is due before the preliminary round begins on Dec. 26.
Canada announced its preliminary roster back on Dec. 8, needing to cut two names before the tournament started. That number jumped to three when they added Vanacker to their training camp roster last weekend. Today’s cuts get them down to 14 forwards and eight defensemen, satisfying the IIHF’s 22-skater roster limit. They’ve also indicated they’ll only carry two goalies to the event, so one of Carter George (Kings), Jack Ivankovic (Predators), and Joshua Ravensbergen (Sharks) will likely be heading back to their club team in the next week as well.
O’Brien is the most surprising cut of the three. He won gold with the under-18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last season as a draft-eligible on his way toward becoming the eighth overall pick by Seattle.
This season, he’s been named captain of the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs and leads the league with 35 assists in 27 games, adding 11 goals for 46 points. His 1.70 points per game also lead the league, and his +20 rating is in the top 10.
Smith is a similarly eyebrow-raising omission, but Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff relays that he had a tough showing against Sweden that hurt his stock. Still, he won gold with the under-18s last year at both the Hlinka Gretzky and the U-18 World Juniors, scoring four goals in seven games from the blue line. He’s averaged well north of 20 minutes per game for Penn State this season and has a 3-6–9 scoring line in 14 games for the Nittany Lions.
Vanacker’s late inclusion was more of an insurance policy if the Sharks opted not to loan Michael Misa to them as expected. However, that doubt was erased when San Jose officially cleared Misa to participate yesterday. He’ll head back to Brantford alongside his linemate, O’Brien. Vanacker’s goal-per-game pace so far has him in the OHL lead with 26, one year removed from a late first-round selection by Chicago.
Flames Activate Zayne Parekh From IR, Recall Dryden Hunt
The Flames announced a pair of roster moves on Friday. Rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh was activated from injured reserve and subsequently loaned to Canada’s national junior team ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship, which begins on Boxing Day in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They also added forward Dryden Hunt back to the active roster after reassigning him to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers yesterday – something they’re eligible to do because he played for the minor-league club last night.
Parekh, 19, is still finding his way in his first professional season. It’s unclear whether he’ll be added back to Calgary’s roster after the tournament or if they’ll opt to have him finish the season with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. He’s ineligible for a full-time AHL assignment this season as a teenage player under the NHL-CHL transfer agreement.
His underwhelming first few games in the NHL don’t change his stature as the Flames’ top prospect, though. Selected ninth overall in the 2024 draft, Parekh led the OHL in points by a defenseman in back-to-back seasons before making Calgary’s roster out of camp this fall. Last year, he became just the 15th defender in OHL history to record a 100-point season and the first since Ryan Ellis hit 101 in 2010-11. But through 11 appearances in Calgary after scoring in his debut in Game 82 last season, he was limited to one assist and only averaged 14:46 of ice time per game.
Whatever momentum Parekh had ground to a halt on Nov. 7 against the Blackhawks when he sustained an upper-body injury. He hasn’t played since. Instead of an AHL conditioning stint or a direct reinstatement, he’ll get his feet wet again in Canada’s WJC training camp over the next couple of weeks after he was one of the most notable tournament snubs in recent memory last year.
As for Hunt, the 30-year-old is settling into a role as Calgary’s 13th forward with Samuel Honzek out for the season and Martin Pospisil still stuck on injured reserve. The journeyman has found some stability in the Flames organization, now in his third year there after he was initially acquired from the Maple Leafs in 2023. He’s got an 18-36–54 scoring line in 237 games for his NHL career, but has suited up just seven times for the Flames since the beginning of 2024-25.
Nonetheless, he remains a reliable, no-fuss press box option who lights up the minors when he’s there. He had a two-assist performance with the Wranglers last night against Coachella Valley to give him 18 points in 16 games on the year, looking to lock in his second straight season at or above a point per game. While more intriguing names long-term, like Matvei Gridin and Rory Kerins, are also lighting up the AHL circuit, Hunt’s development isn’t going to be interrupted by long spells in the press box if he’s not needed in the lineup.
Canada Announces Roster For 2026 World Juniors
Team Canada has become the latest to announce their preliminary roster for the 2025-26 World Junior Championships. Team USA and Team Sweden were the other two nations to announce their rosters earlier this month. Hockey Canada currently has 27 names on their list, meaning two players will eventually be on the outside looking in before the tournament kicks off on December 26th.
F Carter Bear (Red Wings, 2025, 1-13)
F Cole Beaudoin (Mammoth, 2024, 1-24)
F Braeden Cootes (Canucks, 2025, 1-15)
F Caleb Desnoyers (Mammoth, 2025, 1-4)
F Liam Greentree (Kings, 2024, 1-26)
F Michael Hage (Canadiens, 2024, 1-21)
F Tij Iginla (Mammoth, 2024, 1-6)
F Jett Luchanko (Flyers, 2024, 1-13)
F Brady Martin (Predators, 2025, 1-5)
F Porter Martone (Flyers, 2025, 1-6)
F Gavin McKenna (2026 draft eligible)
F Michael Misa (Sharks, 2025, 1-2)
F Jake O’Brien (Kraken, 2025, 1-8)
F Sam O’Reilly (Lightning, 2024, 1-32)
F Cole Reschny (Flames, 2025, 1-18)
D Kashawn Aitcheson (Islanders, 2025, 1-17)
D Harrison Brunicke (Penguins, 2024, 2-44)
D Carson Carels (2026 draft eligible)
D Ben Danford (Maple Leafs, 2024, 1-31)
D Ethan Mackenzie (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Zayne Parekh (Flames, 2024, 1-9)
D Cameron Reid (Predators, 2025, 1-21)
D Jackson Smith (Blue Jackets, 2025, 1-14)
D Keaton Verhoeff (2026 draft eligible)
G Carter George (Kings, 2024, 2-57)
G Jack Ivankovic (Predators, 2025, 2-58)
G Joshua Ravensbergen (Sharks, 2025, 1-30)
Outside of having 20 former first-round selections on their roster and a trio that are projected, Team Canada boasts 42 games of NHL experience. Comparatively, the reigning back-to-back champions from the United States don’t have any.
The firepower that Canada has on offense may be insurmountable for opposing teams. Every forward on the roster was drafted in the first round of their respective draft years, with McKenna being the presumptive first overall pick in next year’s draft. Hage, at the University of Michigan, is currently in a four-way tie for the NCAA’s league lead in points, while Martone is following closely behind at Michigan State University. Meanwhile, O’Brien and Beaudoin are pacing the CHL with 45 points and 41 points, respectively.
On defense, the roster is again composed of mostly first-round talents, with Brunicke and Mackenzie being the exceptions. Although Brunicke didn’t have the honor of being selected in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, he’s already competed in nine games with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season and has 15 games of AHL experience from the last two seasons. Verhoeff, who is the most prominent challenger to McKenna’s billing as next summer’s first overall pick, has scored four goals and 11 points in 16 games at the University of North Dakota this season.
Lastly, Canada will bring two of the hottest goaltenders in their respective leagues to this year’s World Junior Championship. Ravensbergen has compiled a 16-6-0 record with a .921 SV% and 2.50 GAA in 22 games for the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, whereas Ivankovic has collected 16 wins in 20 games at the University of Michigan with a .927 SV% and 1.90 GAA.
Outside of a few eligible players that are remaining with their respective NHL organizations the rest of the way, the biggest surprise exclusion from Team Canada’s roster is undoubtedly defenseman Landon Dupont. Dupont, 16, is the odds-on favorite to be the first overall selection of the 2027 NHL Draft, scoring 20 goals and 79 points in 88 games over the last two years with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips with a +45 rating. He was likely left off this year’s roster due to some mild injury concerns he has had throughout the season.