NHL fans typically don’t have much to watch most summers after the draft ends and free agency winds down. But this year is different with the rescheduled junior world championships starting Tuesday in Edmonton.
In late December, multiple positive cases of COVID-19 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., bubbles forced the IIHF to suspend the men’s tournament with a hopeful but uncertain possibility of rescheduling it later in the year . Seven months later, it’s time to drop the puck.
With the rescheduled World Juniors finally starting on Tuesday, here’s a look at the participating players from Canadian NHL teams.
Ottawa Senators
F Ridly Grieg (CAN) F Zack Ostapchuk (CAN) F Roby Jarventie (FIN) D Tomas Hamara (CZE) D Tyler Kleven (USA) G Leevi Merilainen (FIN)
The Ottawa Senators have the most 2022 World Junior prospects among Canadian teams with six, including Brandon Wheat Kings forward Ridly Greig. The 20-year-old from nearby Lethbridge, Alta., was selected No. 28 overall by Ottawa in the 2020 draft and was second on the Wheat Kings with 26 goals and third in points (63) in just 39 games played in last season
He was ranked No. 2 in Ottawa’s system behind Jake Sanderson by TSN director of scouting Craig Button on his list of top Canadian teams prospects from April.
Greig has been playing on a line with fellow Sens prospect Zack Ostapchuk in camp, who joins Canada’s national team as an injury replacement. The Vancouver Giants winger had 26 goals and 43 points in 60 WHL contests last season.
“It took me by surprise when they called, but I was ecstatic,” Ostapchuk, 19, told TSN’s Mark Masters last week.
Montreal Canadiens
F Riley Kidney (CAN) F Joshua Roy (CAN) F Jan Mysak (CZE) F Oliver Kapanen (FIN) D Petteri Nurmi (FIN)
The Montreal Canadiens are close to the Sens, with five of their prospects headed to the Juniors, led by Team Canada right wing Joshua Roy.
The 19-year-old led the QMHJL in scoring last season with 119 points (51 goals, 68 assists) in 66 games with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He was among the final cuts in the original selection camp in December, but now leads Canada’s offensive attack playing on the front line alongside phenom Connor Bedard and 17-year-old Mason McTavish.
Roy told the Masters that the opportunity to make Team Canada this summer was one of the motivating factors heading into his stellar season with Sherbrooke.
“My conditioning is the main thing I had to improve,” he said of his transformation. “He helped me with everything. Backcheck, precheck, finishing my hits, everything.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton Bulldogs center Jan Mysak will serve as Czech captain as they seek their first medal since winning bronze in 2005. He had 34 goals and 30 assists for 64 points in 61 OHL games last season .
Toronto Maple Leafs
F Matthew Knies (USA) F Roni Hirvonen (FIN) D Topi Niemela (FIN)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a trio of prospects suit up in Edmonton.
University of Minnesota star Matthew Knies will help lead the American offense, scoring the USA’s first goal last December with some clever timing.
He had 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 33 games last year in the Big-10. He will return to the Golden Gophers for his second season to continue his development.
Forward Roni Hirvonen and defender Topi Niemela should log big minutes for a Finnish side seeking their sixth title.
Each 20 years old, Hirvonen spent last season with HIFK Helsinki, and Niemela played for Karpat in the Finnish SM-liiga.
Vancouver Canucks
F Jonathan Lekkerimaki (SWE) D Joni Jurmo (FIN) D Jacob Truscott (USA)
Tied with the Leafs for the third-best World Junior prospect among Canadian teams, the Vancouver Canucks will send three players representing three different teams.
15th overall pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki had just nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 26 games last season for Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Elite League, but turned heads at the World Championship 2022 U18, leading Sweden to the gold medal with five goals and 15 points in just six games.
“He has the ability to score goals, but also to make many plays. I think his hockey sense is great. And he’s a threat in a lot of different ways,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said after selecting him in this year’s draft.
Truscott, 20, finished his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, recording two goals and 15 assists in 40 games. Jurmo, 20, had two goals and eight assists in 50 games for Jujurit Mikkeli in the SM-liiga.
Winnipeg Jets
F Brad Lambert (FIN) F Daniel Torgersson (SWE)
Winnipeg Jets fans will get an up-close look at 18-year-old forward Brad Lambert starting this week.
Selected with the team’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, Lambert had just four goals and six assists in 49 SM-liiga games last season, but could put up numbers for a Finnish side that always find a way to be competitive at the World Cup. juniors He played his best hockey in last year’s tournament before being canceled, scoring one goal and assisting four others in two games.
Torgersson played at three different levels last season and also featured in two of Sweden’s games last December. Playing for AIK in Sweden, Torgersson scored seven goals and 10 assists in 40 games. He also appeared in four games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, scoring two goals and adding one assist.
Calgary Flames
F Matt Coronato (USA)
The Calgary Flames’ lone representative at the World Juniors comes in the form of American winger Matt Coronato.
The Harvard product is likely to lead a USA top line alongside Knies and third overall pick Logan Cooley and was with the team in December, recording an assist in his only tournament game.
The Greenlawn, N.Y. native was selected No. 13 overall by the Flames in the 2021 NHL Draft and had 18 goals along with 18 assists in 34 games in his freshman season last year.
Coronato was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in Calgary’s system by Button in April, behind goaltender Dustin Wolf and winger Jakob Pelletier.