TRAIKOS: From Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli to Shane Wright and Logan Cooley, here are 10 players to watch at the world juniors
Shane Wright #ShaneWright
Despite averaging less than 12 minutes a game for a team that is clearly not going to make the playoffs, Montreal decided against loaning Juraj Slafkovsky to the world juniors this year.
It was an odd decision. But the No. 1 overall pick is not the only player missing.
The senseless invasion of Ukraine prevented not only Russia from hosting this year’s tournament. But also prevented Matvei Michkov, who scouts believe could go in the top-3 in next year’s draft, and draft-eligible defencemen Mikhail Gulyayev and Dimitri Simashev, from participating.
Not that there will be a shortage of star talent on hand in Halifax and Moncton.
From Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli to Shane Wright and Logan Cooley, here are 10 players to watch as Canada attempts to defend its title.
Connor Bedard, Canada
All eyes will once again be on the projected No. 1 overall pick, who had his coming-out party at last year’s tournament when he broke Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record as a 16-year-old. Since then, the Regina Pats forward — who enters the world juniors with 27 goals and 64 points in 28 games — has provided Vancouver, Ottawa and more than half the teams in the NHL more than enough reasons to tank.
Adam Fantilli, Canada
If there’s a player who could challenge Bedard for top billing, it just might be the 6-foot-3 centre, who is ranked No. 2 or No. 3 on most scouts’ draft lists. While Bedard has been terrorizing the WHL this season, Fantilli has arguably been more impressive in the NCAA, where the University of Michigan freshman is already making a strong case for the Hobey Baker Award with 26 points in 16 games.
Shane Wright, Canada
After dropping from the top spot to fourth overall in last year’s draft, this is Wright’s redemption tour — a chance to stick it to the Habs and the other teams that passed on selecting him. But it’s also an opportunity to get into games and produce, something that Wright hadn’t been doing with the Seattle Kraken this year. As Canada’s captain, who is starting the tournament on the top line with Bedard, he should get a chance to do both.
Leo Carlsson, Sweden
For most scouts, the drama around next year’s draft begins at the No. 2 spot, where teams could be deciding between Fantilli and a player who has been holding his own against men in Sweden’s top league. “Carlsson is the guy the general fan doesn’t know about but he’s No. 2 on our list right now,” said North American Central Scouting’s Mark Seidel. “He’s big, he’s fantastic and every bit as dynamic offensively as Fantilli has been.”
Isak Rosen, Sweden
Though the Sabres are once again stuck near the bottom of the standings, players like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power have fans optimistic about the future. You can put Rosen, who was selected 14th overall in 2022, in that group. The undersized winger, who is on loan from Rochester in the AHL, has 15 points in 25 games, as well as tied for fourth overall with four goals in seven games at last summer’s tournament.
Logan Cooley, USA
Chemistry shouldn’t be a problem for the Americans, who will count on five players with ties to the University of Minnesota. Up front, Gophers linemates Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud will be counted on for the bulk of their offence. It’s something that they’ve done all year, having combined for 22 goals and 52 points in 20 games. Though it’s Cooley, who was Arizona’s No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, who has the higher upside.
Luke Hughes, USA
The youngest of the Hughes brothers might also turn out to be the best of the bunch. Considering what Quinn (Vancouver) and Jack (New Jersey) have done so far in the NHL, that’s saying something. A fifth-overall pick of New Jersey, Luke will captain the Americans and will probably carry the offence, something that the University of Michigan defenceman has done this season, with 18 points in 20 games.
Simon Nemec, Slovakia
While Montreal chose not to loan No. 1 pick Jiri Slafkovsky to the world juniors, Slovakia will be well-represented with Nemec, who went second-overall to New Jersey, and Filip Mesar, who was Montreal’s 26th overall pick. Both will be expected to have a strong showing if Slovakia hopes to improve upon its disappointing showing from last summer, where they finished in second-last place.
Brad Lambert, Finland
Finland lost to Canada in last summer’s final. But you wouldn’t know it based on how Lambert performed. In what was his second tournament, the Winnipeg Jets prospect had just one goal and no assists in five games. More will be expected out of the first-rounder, who is on loan from the minors and has a tendency to run hot and cold, if Finland hopes to go as far this year.
David Reinbacher, Austria
The Austrians were the worst team in the summer tournament. Don’t expect that to change now that they are in a group with Canada and Sweden. Still, the draft-eligible Reinbacher has a chance to stand out after picking up a pair of assists last summer. If he hopes to be one of the top defenceman chosen in 2023 — and prevent Austria from being relegated — he’ll have to produce once again.
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