Now that the 2020-21 NHL season has an official start date of Jan 13, the 2021 World Junior Championship (WJC) is now an appetizer to a full-course meal of hockey that will be served in just a few short weeks. It’s an exciting time to be a fan, as we look forward to a lot of hockey in the coming months.
Related: THW 2021 Guide to the World Junior Championship
The WJC is one of the most exciting events to watch every year and has become a Christmas tradition for many people around the world. This year’s tournament takes place in Edmonton and features Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Austria, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The annual showcase of talent features 113 prospects from every NHL team except for the St. Louis Blues. That includes 44 first-round picks from the past two NHL Drafts and 16 top-10 picks.
To help guide the allegiances of hockey fans at a time where it might be confusing to determine who to cheer for, we’ve once again created our annual guide to which prospects are representing the various NHL teams at this tournament.
Anaheim Ducks (6)
- D Jamie Drysdale – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (6th)
- D Jackson LaCombe – United States – 2019 second-round pick (39th)
- D Henry Thrun – United States – 2019 fourth-round pick (101st)
- C Albin Sundsvik – Sweden – 2020 sixth-round pick (160th)
- C Trevor Zegras – United States – 2019 first-round pick (9th)
- C/RW Sam Colangelo – United States – 2020 second-round pick (36th)
Arizona Coyotes (3)
- D Victor Söderström – Sweden – 2019 first-round pick (11th)
- C John Farinacci – United States – 2019 third-round pick (76th)
- RW Aku Räty – Finland – 2019 fifth-round pick (151st)
Boston Buins (2)
- D Roman Bychkov – Russia – 2019 fifth-round pick (154th)
- C Matias Mäntykivi – Finland – 2019 sixth-round pick (185th)
Buffalo Sabres (4)
- D Ryan Johnson – United States – 2019 first-round pick (31st)
- C Dylan Cozens – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (7th)
- RW Jack Quinn – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (8th)
- LW John-Jason Peterka – Germany – 2020 second-round pick (34th)
Calgary Flames (4)
- G Dustin Wolf – United States – 2019 seventh-round pick (214th)
- D Yan Kuznetsov – Russia – 2020 second-round pick (50th)
- LW Jakob Pelletier – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (26th)
- C Connor Zary – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (24th)
Carolina Hurricanes (4)
- C Vasili Ponomaryov – Russia – 2020 second-round pick (53rd)
- LW/RW Noel Gunler – Sweden – 2020 second-round pick (41st)
- LW/RW Zion Nybeck – Sweden – 2020 fourth-round pick (115th)
- C Ryan Suzuki – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (28th)
Chicago Blackhawks (3)
- D Michael Krutil – Czech Republic – 2020 fourth-round pick (110th)
- C Landon Slaggert – United States – 2020 third-round pick (79th)
- LW/RW Michal Teplý – Czech Republic – 2019 fourth-round pick (105th)
**Kirby Dach was originally named to Team Canada’s roster but was injured in pre-tournament play. He will be out for the duration of the 2021 WJC.
Colorado Avalanche (4)
- D Justin Barron – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (25th)
- D Bowen Byram – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (4th)
- D Drew Helleson – United States – 2019 second-round pick (47th)
- C Alex Newhook – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (16th)
Columbus Blue Jackets (3)
- D Samuel Knazko – Slovakia – 2020 third-round pick (78th)
- C Mikael Pyyhtiä – Finland – 2020 fourth-round pick (114th)
- RW Yegor Chinakhov – Russia – 2020 first-round pick (21st)
Dallas Stars (1)
- D Thomas Harley – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (18th)
Detroit Red Wings (7)
- G Jan Bednar – Czech Republic – 2020 fourth-round pick (107th)
- D Eemil Viro – Finland – 2020 third-round pick (70th)
- D Gustav Berglund – Sweden – 2019 sixth-round pick (177th)
- D Albert Johansson – Sweden – 2019 second-round pick (60th)
- C/RW Theodor Niederbach – Sweden – 2020 second-round pick (51st)
- LW/RW Elmer Söderblom – Sweden – 2019 sixth-round pick (159th)
- RW Lucas Raymond – Sweden – 2020 first-round pick (4th)
Edmonton Oilers (2)
- D Philip Broberg – Sweden – 2019 first-round pick (8th)
- C/LW Dylan Holloway – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (14th)
Florida Panthers (5)
- G Devon Levi – Canada – 2020 seventh-round pick (212th)
- G Spencer Knight – United States – 2019 first-round pick (13th)
- D Kasper Puutio – Finland – 2020 fifth-round pick (153rd)
- C Anton Lundell – Finland – 2020 first-round pick (12th)
- LW Emil Heineman – Sweden – 2020 second-round pick (43rd)
Los Angeles Kings (9)
- G Lukas Parik – Czech Republic – 2019 third-round pick (87th)
- D Jordan Spence – Canada – 2019 fourth-round pick (95th)
- D Tobias Björnfot – Sweden – 2019 first-round pick (22nd)
- D Brock Faber – United States – 2020 second-round pick (45th)
- C Alex Turcotte – United States – 2019 first-round pick (5th)
- C Quinton Byfield – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (2nd)
- LW Arthur Kaliyev – United States – 2019 second-round pick (33rd)
- RW Kasper Simontaival – Finland – 2020 third-round pick (66th)
- RW Martin Chromiak – Slovakia – 2020 fifth-round pick (128th)
Minnesota Wild (5)
- C Marco Rossi – Austria – 2020 first-round pick (9th)
- C Marat Khusnutdinov – Russia – 2020 second-round pick (37th)
- LW/RW Pavel Novák – Czech Republic – 2020 fifth-round pick (146th)
- LW Vladislav Firstov – Russia – 2019 second-round pick (42nd)
- LW Matthew Boldy – United States – 2019 first-round pick (12th)
Montreal Canadiens (3)
- D Kaiden Guhle – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (16th)
- C/LW Jan Mysak – Czech Republic – 2020 second-round pick (48th)
- RW Cole Caufield – United States – 2019 first-round pick (15th)
Nashville Predators (5)
- G Yaroslav Askarov – Russia – 2020 first-round pick (16th)
- D Semyon Chistyakov – Russia – 2019 fourth-round pick (117th)
- C Philip Tomasino – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (24th)
- C Yegor Afanasyev – Russia – 2019 second-round pick (45th)
- C Juuso Pärssinen – Finland – 2019 seventh-round pick (210th)
New Jersey Devils (6)
- D Shakir Mukhamadullin – Russia – 2020 first-round pick (20th)
- C Patrick Moynihan – United States – 2019 sixth-round pick (158th)
- C Jaromir Pytlik – Czech Republic – 2020 fourth-round pick (99th)
- RW Dawson Mercer – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (18th)
- LW Arseni Gritsyuk – Russia – 2019 fifth-round pick (129th)
- LW Alexander Holtz – Sweden – 2020 first-round pick (7th)
New York Islanders (2)
- D Matias Rajaniemi – Finland – 2020 sixth-round pick (183rd)
- RW Simon Holmström – Sweden – 2019 first-round pick (23rd)
New York Rangers (4)
- G Dylan Garand – Canada – 2020 fourth-round pick (103rd)
- D Braden Schneider – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (19th)
- D Hunter Skinner – United States – 2019 fourth-round pick (112th)
- LW Brett Berard – United States – 2020 fifth-round pick (134th)
Ottawa Senators (4)
- D Jake Sanderson – United States – 2020 first-round pick (5th)
- C/LW Tim Stützle – Germany – 2020 first-round pick (3rd)
- LW Roby Järventie – Finland – 2020 second-round pick (33rd)
- D Tyler Kleven – United States – 2020 second-round pick (44th)
Philadelphia Flyers (3)
- D Cam York – United States – 2019 first-round pick (14th)
- D Emil Andrae – Sweden – 2020 second-round pick (54th)
- RW Bobby Brink – United States – 2019 second-round pick (34th)
Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
- G Calle Clang – Sweden – 2020 third-round pick (77th)
- G Joel Blomqvist – Finland – 2020 second-round pick (52nd)
San Jose Sharks (4)
- D Santeri Hatakka – Finland – 2019 sixth-round pick (148th)
- D Artemi Kniazev – Russia – 2019 second-round pick (48th)
- C/LW Yegor Spiridonov – Russia – 2019 fourth-round pick (108th)
- LW/RW Adam Raska – Czech Republic – 2020 seventh-round pick (201st)
Tampa Bay Lightning (2)
- G Hugo Alnefelt – Sweden – 2019 third-round pick (71st)
- LW/RW Maxim Groshev – Russia – 2020 third-round pick (85th)
Toronto Maple Leafs (6)
- G Artur Akhtyamov – Russia – 2019 fourth-round pick (106th)
- D Topi Niemelä – Finland – 2020 third-round pick (64th)
- D Mikko Kokkonen – Finland – 2019 third-round pick (84th)
- C Roni Hirvonen – Finland – 2020 second-round pick (59th)
- C/RW Mikhail Abramov – Russia – 2019 fourth-round pick (115th)
- LW/RW Rodion Amirov – Russia – 2020 first-round pick (15th)
Vancouver Canucks (2)
- C Arvid Costmar – Sweden – 2019 seventh-round pick (215th)
- RW Vasili Podkolzin – Russia – 2019 first-round pick (10th)
Vegas Golden Knights (3)
- C/LW Peyton Krebs – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (17th)
- C Brendan Brisson – United States – 2020 first-round pick (29th)
- D Kaedan Korczak – Canada – 2019 second-round pick (41st)
Washington Capitals (2)
- D Martin Has – Czech Republic – 2019 fifth-round pick (153rd)
- C Connor McMichael – Canada – 2019 first-round pick (25th)
Winnipeg Jets (3)
- D Ville Heinola – Finland – 2019 first-round pick (20th)
- C Henri Nikkanen – Finland – 2019 fourth-round pick (113th)
- C/LW Cole Perfetti – Canada – 2020 first-round pick (10th)
All the 2021 World Junior Championship Team Information:
Austria — Team Preview — Roster
Canada — Team Preview — Roster
Czech Republic — Team Preview — Roster
Finland — Team Preview — Roster
Germany — Team Preview — Roster
Russia — Team Preview — Roster
Slovakia — Team Preview — Roster
Sweden — Team Preview — Roster
Switzerland — Team Preview — Roster
USA — Team Preview — Roster
Selection Camp Invites by NHL Team
Draft Eligible Players to Watch
One Player to Watch for Each World Junior Team
7 Predictions for the 2021 World Junior Championship