With the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship officially underway up in Edmonton, let's take a look at 20 names to keep tabs on during the annual tournament. Even though the Bruins only have two prospects participating in the much-anticipated showcase, there is still plenty of elite talent worth watching over the next two weeks — especially with a large contingent on Team USA boasting New England ties.
G Yaroslav Askarov, Russia: Russia enters as one of the favorites in this tournament thanks to plenty of depth up front and some high-end skill, but their biggest strength lies in a generational talent in net in Askarov. Askarov, drafted 11th overall by Nashville in the 2020 NHL Draft, can very well carry a club to a Gold Medal based on his play alone. After dropping the ball during the 2020 World Juniors (.877 save percentage), Askarov is poised to dominate up in Edmonton. Prior to the tournament, Askarov was a force in the KHL as an 18-year-old netminder, posting a 0.96 GAA and a .962 save percentage in seven games with SKA St. Petersburg.
https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1321793408462213126
C/LW Tim Stutzle, Germany: With Lukas Reichel ruled out of the tournament due to COVID-19 and defenseman Moritz Seider not given the green light to play by the Red Wings, it remains to be seen just how far a team like Germany can really go in this tournament. The Germans might be lacking in depth, but Stutzle — taken third overall by Ottawa in the 2020 Draft — should be appointment viewing for any hockey fan whenever he's out on the ice. The gifted playmaker should rack up some points this tournament, especially with John-Jason Peterka skating on his line.
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1285644526053396480
C Marco Rossi, Austria: Making their first WJC appearance in 11 years, Austria has little chance of going far in this tournament, but Rossi should still be a treat to watch out on the ice. Rossi was taken ninth overall by the Wild in the 2020 NHL Draft after leading the CHL in scoring last season — racking up 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) in just 56 games with the Ottawa 67's. He might be a bit undersized (5-foot-9), but Rossi complements his great hockey sense by being relentless on the puck. Minnesota has a good one here.
https://twitter.com/DimFilipovic/status/1313589295517560832
F Brad Lambert, Finland: One of the three-headed monsters at the top of an absolutely loaded 2022 draft class, Lambert is a phenom on track for NHL stardom in the coming years. The skilled forward has already impressed against much older competition, recording nine points in 22 Finnish Liiga games at just 16 years old, and seems destined to make the highlight reel at some point in this tournament. Expect to see Lambert's name in the hockey sphere for the foreseeable future.
https://twitter.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1319700892233289728
C Matt Beniers, USA: The Hingham native has seen his stock soar over the last few months, with the 18-year-old forward impressing as part of a loaded freshmen class at Michigan this season. After tallying six points through his first six games in the NCAA ranks, Beniers should establish himself as top-six regular on this USA squad by the end of the tournament. At this point, all signs are pointing to Beniers being selected with a top-10 selection in the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft.
https://twitter.com/JoshTessler_/status/1332505373929050112
F Trevor Zegras, USA: A dynamic offensive force who very well could find himself up in the NHL ranks later this year, Zegras stands out whenever he hops over the boards. A skilled passer with a rocket of a shot, Zegras was one of the few bright spots for Team USA during the 2020 World Juniors — recording nine assists in just five games. Don't be surprised if the Boston University product — and ninth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft — carves out a role with the Anaheim Ducks in the coming months.
https://twitter.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1342694561613717506
C Quinton Byfield, Canada: Even with Canada's captain (and Blackhawks regular) Kirby Dach ruled out for the entire WJC due to injury, Canada is still regarded by many as favorites to repeat as Gold-Medal champions in the tournament thanks to a loaded roster — with Byfield expected to dominate down the middle. Byfield, taken by the Kings with the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has both the skill and size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) to dominate whenever he has the puck on his stick.
https://twitter.com/theTonyFerrari/status/1305953154756939778
LW Matt Boldy, USA: After recording 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in his last 19 games as a freshman with BC, Boldy has been on an absolute tear — with the Millis native tallying eight points through four games with the Eagles in 2020 before heading up to Canada as one of the centerpieces of a loaded USA forward corps. Selected 12th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Wild, Boldy routinely lights the lamp thanks to a heavy shot, but the winger is already a well-rounded, two-way prospect on track for a regular role up in the NHL ranks.
https://twitter.com/Buccigross/status/1332490315224276992
RW Cole Caufield, USA: Don't be fooled by Caufield's unimposing profile (5-foot-7, 165 pounds), because the Canadiens prospect is a wizard in the offensive zone — capable of burying goals from just about any angle and leaving blueliners in the dust thanks to his puck-handling ability. After recording just one goal during the 2020 tournament, Caufield will be looking to establish himself as Team USA's go-to sniper up in Edmonton.
https://twitter.com/BradyTrett/status/1341588236670361603
RW Vasili Podkolzin, Russia: The captain of this talented Russian squad, Podkolzin is set to make his mark in what stands as his third World Junior tournament by playing his trademark physical, north-south game. Podkolzin's numbers overseas in the KHL may not pop, but the 10th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft (Vancouver) often complements his smash-mouth style of playing with some scoring touch thanks to his silky mitts.
https://twitter.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1334666730904305665
F Lucas Raymond, Sweden: Sweden's top strength lies in its loaded defense headlined by the likes of Philip Broberg, Victor Soderstrom and Tobias Bjornfot, but Raymond is expected to serve as a playmaking conduit up front for his club. Raymond, taken fourth overall by Detroit in the 2020 NHL Draft, sees the ice extremely well off the wing and should pile on points over the next few weeks — especially if paired alongside the next forward on our list...
https://twitter.com/TheReplayGuy/status/1315734149660061698
RW Alexander Holtz, Sweden: Raymond might be the playmaker, but Holtz is the definitive finisher of this Swedish squad, as the Devils winger (selected seventh overall in the 2020 Draft) has a wicked release that has allowed him to bury six goals in 19 games against much older competition in the Swedish Hockey League this season. Opposing defenses are going to have their hands full keeping both Raymond and Holtz off the scoresheet whenever the duo is out on a shift.
https://twitter.com/Hockey_Robinson/status/1265345229101494272
F Jan Mysak, Czech Republic: A straight-line, north-south skater with gifted playmaking ability, Mysak would have been a good fit in Boston's prospect pool, but was snagged 10 picks ahead of the B's in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Canadiens. Mysak's motor has allowed him to pile on points over in North America, scoring 15 goals in 22 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2019-20.
https://twitter.com/scottmatla/status/1342915272458592257
G Spencer Knight, USA: Knight is coming off of a brutal showing against Russia on Christmas night (four goals allowed on 12 shots), but the BC sophomore and Darien, Conn. native is still regarded as one of the best young netminders of his generation — and, much like Askarov, could lead USA to a title game if he settles into a groove. USA head coach Nate Leaman said Dustin Wolf will get the start in net against Austria on Saturday, but expect Knight to be given every opportunity to right the ship later this tournament.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1211356943316668416
D Bowen Byram, Canada: Canada's loaded forward corps is often regarded as the key reason why this roster seems destined to contend for another WJC gold medal this winter, but Byram and this Canadian blue line also can't be overlooked. The fourth overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, Byram fits the mold of a prototypical, two-way, franchise defenseman — capable of logging heavy minutes and regularly contributing offensively. Expect him to join a loaded Avalanche D corps alongside the likes of Cale Makar in the near future. Scary stuff.
https://twitter.com/AdamZHerman/status/1177955667648421889
D Ville Heinola, Finland: Finland has considerable talent up front in the form of Lambert and Anton Lundell, but this club is going to go as far as their D corps can take it — and with Heinola leading the way, there's a good chance the Finns can go far. A talented blueliner that already logged eight games up in the NHL last season with the Jets, Heinola is a poised and steady presence whenever his name is called — and, like Podkolzin, is taking part in his third World Junior tournament.
https://twitter.com/ICdave/status/1330286656528797698
C Alex Newhook, Canada: We could pretty much list any of Canada's forwards on this list, but we'll go with the Hockey East angle and give Newhook some props — especially after we tabbed the BC sophomore as our top player to watch in college hockey this season. A spark plug that dominated against NCAA competition as a freshman last season, Newhook can make something out of nothing in a hurry thanks to his speed and nose for the net.
https://twitter.com/Avalanche/status/1144782627951513600
D Jake Sanderson, USA: If there's one thing that could doom Team USA, it's a relatively unproven D corps, with Cam York and Sanderson expected to log heavy minutes over the next couple of weeks. Sanderson, the top defenseman taken in the 2020 NHL Draft (fifth overall by Ottawa) could be in line for a breakthrough showing up in Edmonton, with the University of North Dakota freshman capable of doing a little bit of everything when he's locked in.
https://twitter.com/SensProspects/status/1342692604216020992
C Matias Mantykivi, Finland: With Bruins' 2019 first-rounder Johnny Beecher unable to play with Team USA at World Juniors due to COVID protocols, fans only have two prospects to keep tabs on in Matias Mantykivi and Roman Bychkov. Mantykivi, ranked by BSJ as the No. 14 prospect in Boston’s system, served as Finland's 13th forward during his country's victory over Germany on Friday.
D Roman Bychkov, Russia: Bychkov, tabbed No. 22 overall in our prospect rankings, will likely be utilized as depth on a loaded Russian team during this tournament. Taken in the fifth round (No. 154) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Bychkov has impressed overseas while playing with Buran Voronezh of the VHL — Russia’s second-tier league behind the KHL.
There will also be plenty other New England and Hockey East ties present in this roster. Drew Helleson is another BC product that will skate on Team USA's blue line, while another Millis product in Providence’s Patrick Moynihan will skate on the wing. Moynihan will be joined be a fellow Providence Friar in Brett Berard (East Greenwich, R.I.), while Stoneham native and Northeastern freshman Sam Colangelo and Southborough’s Henry Thrun will also skate for Team USA.
As for the remainder of the tournament schedule, here's what we have ...
Saturday, Dec. 26
Canada vs. Germany, 6 p.m. ET
Austria vs. United States, 9:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 27
Switzerland vs. Finland, 2 p.m. ET
Canada vs. Slovakia, 6 p.m. ET
Russia vs. Czech Republic, 9:30 p.m. ET
Monday, Dec. 28
Sweden vs. Austria, 6 p.m. ET
Germany vs. Slovakia, 9:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Czech Republic vs. United States, 2 p.m. ET
Switzerland vs. Canada, 6 p.m. ET
Russia vs. Austria, 9:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Slovakia vs. Finland, 2 p.m. ET
Germany vs. Switzerland, 6 p.m. ET
Sweden vs. Russia, 9:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 31
Austria vs. Czech Republic, 2 p.m. ET
Finland vs. Canada, 6 p.m. ET
United States vs. Sweden, 9:30 p.m. ET
Once the preliminary games wrap up, the quarterfinals will be played on Saturday, January 2. Two semifinal contests will be played on Monday, January 4 — while the bronze- and gold-medal games will be held on Tuesday, January 5.
