No two World Junior Championship rosters are the same, and this year’s Team Canada is unique. Now, different doesn’t mean worse. Despite Canada’s tragic loss in the final to Team USA, Team Canada has some stellar players with futures in the NHL.
This tournament is particularly exciting to watch because as young people, we can see ourselves in these players: they are under the age of 20, like many of us at U of T. The team also comprises the future of the NHL — watching the tournament is like glimpsing into the future of the pro league.
So, what members of Team Canada should you look out for in the pro circuit?
Canada’s best players
The roster is studded with 20 first-round NHL picks. The talent is unquestionable.
If you want to talk statistics, Philip Tomasino, Quinton Byfield, and Dylan Cozens were standouts throughout the tournament. All three scored a ton of points, dominating lesser competition scoring as part of the defensive front line. Cozens, signed with the Buffalo Sabres, was second in the entire tournament with 16 points, and Byfield, a prospect for the Los Angeles Kings, had a respectable seven points to his name.
However, Tomasino, signed to the Nashville Predators in 2019 with an entry-level contract, is one to really keep an eye out for. The 19-year-old centre may be 17th in total points but he has played a key role throughout the tournament as a solid team player. As he works to get on the Predators roster, the coaches will definitely take note of his excellent performance at the World Juniors.
Our biggest competitors
Some faces from other nations’ teams may also be of note as they potentially pop up in NHL games. The two best players for Russia are probably Vasili Podkolzin, who is already a Vancouver Canuck, and Rodion Amirov, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first round draft pick.
A real threat to the big leagues, however, is the Russian goalie, Yaroslav Askarov. He was selected 11th overall in the NHL draft by the Nashville Predators and is considered a top goaltender.
Although Canada’s players will surely be forces to be reckoned with in the NHL, the tournament showcased stars from abroad that will bring real talent to the league. Either way, keep an eye out for these names — you can say you knew who they were before they were NHL stars.