The 2022 World Junior Championship will be one of immense intrigue. Canada is the betting favorite and looks to be the best team on paper, but seeing this tournament enough over the last decade, it’s never a guarantee anymore that the Canadians will walk out with gold.
This year’s field looks to have a number of legitimate gold medal threats, some possibly effective spoilers and an absolutely loaded crop of prospects to watch. We love the tournament because it feels like anything can happen, and that feels oddly truer this year, even though some teams like Sweden and Germany will be missing some of their best age-eligible players.
Since we’ve already tackled Canada and the U.S. at length, while also sharing prospects from all 32 NHL teams to be aware of in the tournament, I wanted to take a chance to share some thoughts on the rest of the field, some X-factor players for the various countries, thoughts on how this tournament will be decided and which players could end up as All-Stars.
Russia
Russia has more than enough talent to put a scare into opponents. Led by new head coach Sergei Zubov, Russia has a very talented, deep forward group that should be very difficult to slow down.
It could be 2023 draft-eligible phenom Matvei Michkov leading the scoring attack, but don’t count out players like Marat Khusnutdinov (Minnesota Wild), Fyodor Svechkov (Nashville Predators) and Nikita Chibrikov (Winnipeg Jets) as others who will make the Russian squad difficult to defend against. On top of that, the Russians have two quality defensemen in Shakir Mukhamadullin (New Jersey Devils) and Kirill Kirsanov (Los Angeles Kings) who can log big minutes and play in all situations, as well as a draft-eligible player who provides a lot of talent in Vladimir Grudinin. Led by this trio, Russia should be able to defend adequately.
The real key for the team, however, is how effective Yaroslav Askarov (Nashville Predators) can be as the goaltender. He’s done well at just about every other international tournament except the World Juniors. He’s going to be playing in his third and final WJC, and if he plays up to his standard, he can steal a gold medal for this team. If he’s not, however, the mountain gets a lot taller to climb for a team that is a lot younger than Russian teams of years past.
Three Key Players: Marat Khusnutdinov, C; Yaroslav Askarov, G; Matvei Michkov, RW
Tournament outlook: Legitimate gold-medal contender
Sweden
Sweden has so often been one of the most consistent teams in this tournament. The Swedes’ preliminary-round winning streak ended last year, and they didn’t end up playing for a medal. It was a very disappointing showing.
Now head coach Tomas Montén will lead the team one last time. He’ll have the benefit of an elite top line, impressive top-pairing on defense and one of the tournament’s best goaltenders in Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild), but there is a valid concern about his team’s depth.
How much difference can the line of Oskar Olausson (Colorado Avalanche), William Eklund (San Jose Sharks) and Alexander Holtz (New Jersey Devils) make? They’re probably going to carry the team offensively, but will they be enough as a trio to make up for the other lines if they don’t score? Those are the questions Sweden will have to answer.
The Swedes will also have Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings) and Helge Grans (Los Angeles Kings) playing massive minutes on the back end, but there’s a pretty good drop-off in quality from them to the next few pairings.
There are plenty of draftees on the roster, including first-rounders Isak Rosén (Buffalo Sabres) and Fabian Lysell (Boston Bruins), but they’ve got an uphill climb against teams with depth like the U.S. and Russia, which will be in Group B with the Swedes.
Three Key Players: William Eklund, C/W; Simon Edvinsson, D; Jesper Wallstedt, G
Tournament outlook: Medal contender but long shot for gold
Finland
Since 2013, Finland has been one of the only three countries to win the gold medal at this tournament, picking up three with the most recent coming in 2019.
The Finns have already been dealt a pretty big blow with projected top center Aatu Räty (New York Islanders) knocked out due to the COVID-19 protocol for his club team in Finland. Others should be able to pick up the slack, including Roni Hirvonen (Toronto Maple Leafs), who will be asked to provide a lot on offense. There’s also much to be expected from two draft-eligible players, as Joakim Kemell and Brad Lambert have some of the best skill on this roster.
When it comes to the blue line, Topi Niemelä (Toronto Maple Leafs) is having a phenomenal year in Liiga and should play a bunch of minutes for this team.
In net, the Finns have very capable goalies with both Joel Blomqvist (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Leevi Meriläinen (Ottawa Senators) ready for the job.
Finland always has a solid team, and even when not as deep as opposing clubs, the Finns find ways to make games difficult for their opponents. If they can do that again here, they’ve got a good chance to put a scare into some of the heavier favorites.
Three Key Players: Topi Niemelä, D; Joakim Kemell, LW; Roni Hirvonen, C
Tournament outlook: Legit medal contender, outside chance at gold
Slovakia
It’s been a long time since we could get excited about a Team Slovakia entry in this tournament, but here we are.
A lot of that has to do with the impressive draft-eligible players that are on this roster, namely defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Juraj Slafkovsky. Both of those players have played in this tournament already and have appeared for Slovakia’s senior national team. They’re going to be leaned on heavily.
So will veteran players like Martin Chromiak (Los Angeles Kings) and Samuel Knazko (Columbus Blue Jackets), who should play substantial roles at forward and defense, respectively.
The big question mark is if the Slovakians will get strong enough goaltending to truly contend. Even if they don’t compete for a medal, this tournament represents a chance for them to take a step back toward relevance. The Slovaks have not finished above seventh place since 2015 when they won the bronze medal. Their expectation should be to do even better this year.
Three Key Players: Simon Nemec, D; Juraj Slafkovsky, LW; Martin Chormiak, RW
Tournament outlook: Advance to playoff round, dark horse to reach semifinal
Czechia
In the midst of three consecutive seventh-place finishes, the Czechs may have a hard time improving on that given that they’re in the same group as Canada and almost assuredly would have to play one of the three powerhouse teams on the other side of the bracket in the medal round.
They’ve got talent in their lineup, but there aren’t enough players in this group who can play at the same level as some of the peers on teams listed above. They do have a big-time prospect on the back end, however, as David Jiricek may be the first defenseman off the board in the 2022 NHL Draft. He should play a ton for this team.
Up front, the Czechs will lean heavily on Jan Mysak (Montreal Canadiens) as he’s one of the more accomplished and experienced forwards in the group.
In net, one would think Jan Bednar (Detroit Red Wings) is likely the go-to goaltender, and if he is at his best, he has the potential to steal a game here or there. They’ll need him to be special to have a big tournament.
Three Key Players: David Jiricek, D; Jan Mysak, C/W; Jan Bednar, G
Tournament outlook: Quarterfinal exit
Germany
Missing the three best age-eligible players in Tim Stützle, Lukas Reichel and J.J. Peterka is quite troubling for Germany. Having those three make a big difference. Now the Germans will have to find a way to stay in the top level. They just have to beat Austria, probably, to stay in the top flight, but it won’t be a walk. The Germans do have two drafted players in goalie Nikita Quapp (Carolina Hurricanes) and defenseman Luca Münzenberger on their roster, but they’ll need a lot of contributions from throughout the lineup. The Germans managed to reach the quarterfinal last year and may yet again this year, but it will be a lot tougher without the guys they leaned on so heavily last year.
Three key players: Florian Elias, C; Luca Münzenberger, D; Nikita Quapp, G
Tournament Outlook: Quarterfinal exit
Switzerland
The Swiss have played the role of spoiler in years past, finishing as high as fourth in the 2019 World Junior Championship. They were ninth last year and have the misfortune of being in the Group of Death. I’m not sure who among the U.S., Russia, Sweden and Slovakia they’d manage to take points from in the preliminary round. It’s a tough draw for them when Germany and Austria are on the same side of the bracket.
With only two NHL draft picks on the roster – Simon Knak (Nashville Predators) and Brian Zanetti (Philadelphia Flyers), there’s not a lot of players who measure up with the rest of the field this year.
Three Key Players: Simon Knak, RW; Lian Bichsel, D (2022 Draft eligible), Noah Meier, D
Tournament Outlook: Relegation Round
Austria
While the hopes for the Austrians to advance or even remain in the tournament beyond this year are pretty slim, they do have a really exciting player in Marco Kasper, who has spent all of this season in the Swedish Hockey League.
The projected first-rounder isn’t as highly touted as Marco Rossi was at the same age, but he’s a projected first-rounder and has the skill to attempt to take over games for the Austrians.
All they have to do is likely find a way to beat Germany to avoid the relegation round, but that’s easier said than done. They’re the least known team in this tournament, but perhaps Kasper helps get them over the hump to stay in the top level.
Three Key Players: Marco Kasper, C; Sebastian Wraneschitz, G; Senna Peeters, C/W
Tournament Outlook: Relegation Round
Tournament predictions
Gold: USA – Why not? I like the value on this U.S. team, and I think the blue line could be a huge difference maker in the tournament. Canada is the best team on paper, but the U.S. is well-coached, deep and disciplined. USA has never gone back-to-back in this tournament, but Nate Leaman might be the coach to help make it happen.
Silver: Canada – This is the best team on paper. I believe in the goaltending, but anything can happen in single-elimination games. We expect Canada’s goaltending and scoring attack to be strong, but my main concern is if the Canadians will face enough adversity until they play a U.S. team that is going to relentlessly attack.
Bronze: Russia – The third deepest team in the tournament, I think Askarov is going to carry them at times when necessary, and Matvei Michkov’s going to really break out in this tournament.
Tournament All-Star Team
Forwards: Cole Perfetti (Canada), Mason McTavish (Canada), Matvei Michkov (Russia)
Defense: Jake Sanderson (USA), Topi Niemela (Finland)
Goaltender: Yaroslav Askarov (Russia)
MVP: Cole Perfetti (Canada)
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
