U18 Men's World Championship: Prospects standing out so far
Tracking prospects for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 drafts
The 2021 World Men’s Under-18 Championship has been an absolute treat to cover. I’ve been stationed in Frisco for the duration of the tournament so far as part of my duties on color commentary with HockeyTV, so I’ve gotten to see every game of Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic and USA, which all advanced out of a highly-competitive group stage. I’ll be getting my first live looks at Sweden and Canada Monday, which I can’t wait for, but I’ve also been watching their games on video.
So with all of that in my brain, I figured I should empty the mental notebook and provide some thoughts on players that have been standing out in this tournament, or at least some of the notable prospects for the next few drafts. We’ve got a ton of top-end prospects here for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 NHL Drafts. It’s a wealth of talent and the scouts are getting some great looks for this draft and beyond.
I’ve been chatting with a lot of the scouts and most have expressed even more excitement for the 2022 and 2023 years based on the early indications from what they’ve seen from players in the future drafts. With so many of the best players in the 2021 draft late 2002 birthdates (Owen Power, Matty Beniers, Kent Johnson, William Eklund, Jesper Wallstedt, etc.) there aren’t as many of the elite players in this class on display here. But we are getting a look at the next tier of first-round players and plenty of players that will dot the middle and late rounds.
There are a lot of draftable players on the ice in Texas, which has been fun. So to give you an idea of what I’ve been seeing, I wanted to provide a summary at the mid-tournament stage. I’ve got some more detailed analysis on the players that were in Frisco than Plano just because one is from live views and the other is from strictly video, but I’ll have a full tournament recap when it’s all over for paid subscribers. So if you’re not already signed up, be sure to do so today. You can also get access to previous draft content including my Spring 2021 NHL Draft Rankings and all of my other premium pieces including daily updates from this tournament which has some game-by-game reports on specific players you might not find on this list.
The following summaries are broken down by draft class and by team to make it easier to follow along. Keep in mind, these reports are specific to this tournament and are not necessarily the full picture of a player’s full skillset or future role. There is going to be a ton of weight put on this tournament when it comes to drafting, but it’s still just a small sample of a player’s overall body of work.
Also, there are a ton of players included here — 35 to be exact. I’m not expecting you to read the whole thing, but there should be more than enough here if you want to pick and choose what to read about. I’d also recommend checking them against my draft rankings for the 2021 players and filing away the 2022 and 2023 names, especially for those of you in fantasy keeper leagues or if you’re just a real prospect nut.
Also, don’t forget that you can catch many of these playoff-round games, especially the ones that are not carried on TSN in Canada or NHL Network in the U.S., on HockeyTV.com. Jim Rich and I will be on the call in Frisco, so join us for a fun broadcast.
Let’s dive in.
2021 NHL Draft
USA
Sasha Pastujuov, RW: With seven points through four games, Pastujov has led the U.S. in scoring so far in the tournament. He’s made a lot of nice plays and sometimes it’s just been as simple as getting pucks to the net to create chances for his teammates in front, or as we saw on his overtime game-winner against Finland, taking on a whole team himself. Pastujov has some of the surest hands in this tournament. Because his skating is average or maybe a little below, he needs to use that superior hockey sense and feel for the game to create and he’s got that. I think he’s one of those players where the numbers don’t lie about the way he impacts a game.
Sean Behrens, D: One of the more dynamic puck-movers for this U.S. team, Behrens has had his ups and downs as so many USA players have in this tournament, but the good far outweighs the bad. He’s smart with his reads and puck decisions. He plays a bit bigger than his size as he does a great job of closing gaps and getting in the way of opposing forwards. He can displace the puck well when he’s in pursuit or defending head on. There have been a few breakdowns that have stood out in goals against, but largely Behrens makes a positive impact.
Dylan Duke, LW: I really enjoy the way Duke plays. He’s a monster below the dots and is so sure-handed at the net front. He makes plays in tight and can get shots and tips with the best of them. He makes his living on top of the crease and it’s caused problems. He has three goals in the tournament and just like so many he’s scored this season, it’s in tight. That’s how you score goals in the NHL. Will he be able to play that way at his size at the next level? I think he can as he has such a strong core and gets under defenders for positioning. He’s figured out what works for him and plays to a T.
Ty Gallagher, D: Gallagher set the NTDP’s record for career goals by a defenseman while playing in this tournament, passing Cam York. His defensive game needs a ton of work, but he has decent mobility, a big shot from the point that he gets off pretty well. His nose for the net is very good. I want to see him play a little meaner defensively and just make better reads in transition. If there’s an area many of USA’s defensemen have struggled with so far this tournament, it’s defending entries. It’s been too easy to get inside against them, but that’s obviously not all on Gallagher. He’s made a lot of positive plays, including a two-goal game against Germany and the dramatic game-tying goal against Finland that are standout moments where he showed he’s much more than just a shooter.
Red Savage, C: Savage didn’t play much of the game against Finland, though he remained on the bench. I think he’s playing through something right now, because he started the tournament like his hair was on fire. He’s a wizard in the faceoff dot when at 100% and plays a style of game that helps the U.S. have some success. He’s an all-out competitor that I think can help you win games. That doesn’t usually mean you get drafted high, but he’s a guy that could play for me any day. He is supremely disruptive to the opposing team in their zone.
Russia
Nikita Chibrikov, C/W: With 10 points including a pair of big goals against the U.S. and a whole mess of assists, Chibrikov has largely been as advertised. He needs to be more disciplined than he’s shown in this tournament with a few ill-timed penalties. Aside from that, he’s played with good pace and creativity and really spots plays well. He’s so dangerous off the rush and in the offensive zone, too.
Fyodor Svechkov, C: I think he’s been Russia’s best player start to finish because he impacts the game in so many ways. He’s heavy, he is physical and his strength has been too much for some of his opponents to handle. Svechkov is a very smart player who is committed to being active in all three zones. He’s a really good transitional player, everywhere defensively and already has seven points in the tournament. He’s a great set-up man, but has good finish around the net, too.
Prokhor Poltapov, RW: You want skill? You want competitiveness? You want some tenacity? You can get all of that with Poltapov, who has grown a bit in the last year. Playing at a listed 5-11, 174, he’s added some thickness while not losing a bit of his hands. He’s one of Russia’s most dynamic players, scoring highlight reel goals, but also extending plays with good battle down low. His toe drags in this tournament have devastated a few opposing players already. I’ve liked Poltapov as a potential first-rounder most of the year and I still believe that is possible for him come July. He just does a lot of things well.
Finland
Samu Tuomaala, LW: One of the real standouts of the tournament so far, having scored at least one goal in each of the four games (plus one in pre-tournament), he is remarkably consistent. He shoots off the pass well, but is also a good stationary shooter, allowing things to open up before he sends a quick, heavy shot past the goaltender. He leads the tournament with 26 shots on goal, too, which is an average of 6.5 shots per game. His quickness has been relevant, too, as he’s shown an ability to lead a transition and gain the zone with options. He’s also shown great vision, passing as well as he’s shooting. I think he’s going to get more first-round buzz after this tournament.
Samu Salminen, C: He hasn’t been exceptional, but he’s been very good. Salminen has six points in the tournament including four goals. He’s been deadly on the power play with a couple of one-timer goals. Salminen has also found himself at the net front often. He has good mobility for a big guy, but he’s going to need to tack some muscle onto his frame here in the next couple of years just to be able to play a heavier style. He has good touch around the net and gets to the middle of the ice very well.
Ville Koivunen, RW: Every single game, Koivunen is making positive plays. He’s tied with Tuomaala for the team lead in scoring with nine points. Koivunen has a good, sturdy frame that allows him to get pucks inside and has done his damage from the middle of the ice. He has scored a goal in each tournament game thus far and had a goal in Finland’s shootout to beat Russia. He has a nice shot, but also makes himself a problem at his opponent’s net-front. I’ve really liked everything he’s done in the tournament so far, playing big minutes and coming up with big play after big play.
Aleksi Heimosalmi, D: One of the more mobile, entertaining defensemen in a Finland blue line that likes to be active, Heimosalmi has the most tools in his toolkit to be successful. He walks the offensive blue line better than anyone on his team and does such a great job extending plays and causing defenses to panic. He’s also been a transitional weapon, getting pucks up ice either on his own or with accurate, quick passing. He has a goal and four assists and has been one of the more entertaining defensemen to watch in this tournament.
Czech Republic
Stanislav Svozil, D: I still can’t quite figure out what Svozil is going to be. I do know he’s got talent. I think his footwork and his puck skills are good, but he lacks the know-how to finish off plays. He’s had some bad luck, too, which has resulted in him having zero points through the tournament so far. I have been waiting to see him break out, especially since he’s gotten better as the tournament has progressed. Defensively, he’s struggled, too. I was very bullish on Svozil based on his play in the professional ranks, despite his low point total, but seeing him fail to finish his chances to make the right pass or score a goal at both the U18s and WJC, I’m starting to think the offense I keep expecting from him based on his skillset just isn’t going to come.
Martin Rysavy, LW: I’ve really liked Rysavy in this tournament. He’s a big, strong forward who is tough to move from the net front, he has some nice power elements in his game and is a quick enough skater at his size to challenge defenders on the forecheck. Rysavy engages enough physically, but I really think he’s best with the puck on his stick down low. He wins a lot of battles and can keep plays alive in the offensive zone, but is disruptive and frustrating to play against in puck pursuit as well.
Jakub Brabenec, C: Brabenec has had his moments in the tournament and has three assists to show for it. He’s one of the more skilled players on a low-skill team and has some decent speed, too. He’s not a top-tier prospect, but he’s a draftable player based on his skating and skill. I think he has a pretty good work ethic in all zones, too. He’s made himself noticeable enough in very difficult circumstances playing in the tournament’s toughest group.
Canada
Brandt Clarke, D: Smart, efficient, effective and creative, Clarke has done it all for Canada so far in this tournament. He has defended well and has been a transition weapon for Team Canada. He can extend plays in the offensive zone and I’ve really liked his footwork. His north-south speed and short-distance quickness remains one of the sticking points in his game, but you can see the impact playing professionally has had on him. He anticipates especially well and rarely finds himself in a bad spot on the ice. He has five points so far, four of which came in Canada’s 12-1 rout of Sweden.
Dylan Guenther, LW: With points in every game so far for Canada, Guenther has handled himself quite well in the tournament to date. He has two goals and three secondary assists, but has displayed many of the qualities that make him one of the top-ranked players in this draft class. His release and ability to finish plays is really solid. He can play with pace and has been a power-play weapon so far. It’s not been an outright dominant effort from him, but Guenther has been effective.
Mason McTavish, C: There are so many pro elements in McTavish’s game. His ability to play with skill, but have a competitive edge. He has five goals and two primary assists so far in the tournament and seems to give Canada a boost when and if they need it. His release has looked particularly deadly and he’s finding creative ways to beat defenses and surprise goalies. He’s making a case for himself to be a top-15 pick in this draft and I have little doubt there’s a team in that range that is going to absolutely love the way McTavish plays. He can make a team better in a lot of different ways.
Francesco Pinelli, C: Pinelli has dropped eight points in the tournament so far, which includes a hat trick against Switzerland and a three-point game against Sweden. Pinelli always seems to find himself in good spots. He does a nice job of pouncing on loose pucks and turning those dead plays into threatening ones. He’s just making good, smart plays and keeping things relatively simple.
Corson Ceulemans, D: I’ve been a fan of Ceulemans’ game in the limited action he saw this year before the tournament and in three games so far, he’s looked about the same. His skating is a key to his success, especially when combined with his size. Ceulemans has great range and has been productive so far in this tournament with five points, each of them primary points. His only goal was on a blistering one-timer on the power play, where he’s also been especially effective. Ceulemans spots plays well and isn’t afraid to take chances. I think his overall game translates very favorably to being a point-producing two-way defenseman.
Sweden
Fabian Lysell, LW: This Swedish team has not scored a lot, but it’s hard to imagine where they’d be without Lysell, whose quickness and skill has been one of the bright spots for this Swedish entry. He has a goal and four assists to lead Sweden in scoring and continues to showcase all of the skills that we’ve come to expect from Lysell. He can get around and through defenses with ease. Makes plays in space well and can create with his quickness and evasiveness. His goal against Belarus was a Lysell special, where he sped through the defenders and flipped a quick backhander past the goalie before anyone knew it was even off his stick. He took over some shifts and has been a leader for a Swedish team that lacks depth.
Simon Edvinsson, D: I’d term Edvinsson’s tournament to date as “fine.” He hasn’t done anything that’s super impressive and hasn’t done anything that’s super concerning aside from that game against Canada. It’s been a relatively quiet tournament for him with two assists, but he’s generated quite a few shot opportunities and still shows good hand skills up near the offensive blue line. He can get pucks out of his zone. I’m still waiting for some wow moment from Edvinsson, but I’m also fine with his steady game right now.
Miscellaneous
Bennet Rossmy, C, Germany: I was impressed with how competitive Germany was in this tournament, playing the Czechs and Americans reasonably tight and challenging them. One of the real standout performers was Rossmy, who has size and strength, a physical edge and a great release on his shot. He was one of the few German players that looked like he could compete on equal footing with a lot of the rest of the tournament. He’s played much of his career in Czech leagues, but moved to Germany’s second division this year and handled himself quite well. I’m going to be reviewing more video on him, but with an August birthday, he’s young for this draft class but very physically advanced. I’m excited to see what else I can learn about him, but if I was judging off of just one tournament, he’s on my list.
Danila Klimovich, RW, Belarus: Scoring six goals through four games is going to turn some heads and that’s what Klimovich is doing so far in this tournament. Belarus is a surprise team with a lot of jump and skill. Klimovich has a killer release and does a nice job of finding holes. He’s scored in a variety of ways, including at the net-front, from distance, off the pass, stationary. The question scouts are asking is how much stock can you put into this short tournament knowing that Klimovich played all season in Belarus’s U20 ranks, which is not often a league you’re going to see legit NHL prospects playing out of. Either way, I think Klimovich is putting his name on some lists.
2022 NHL Draft
Shane Wright, C, Canada: After sitting out two games, you could see that Canada was a different team without their captain. The exceptional player from a year ago in the OHL has looked exceptional in his two games of the tournament so far. He had a hat trick in the first one and had two goals in his last game. Everything that team does when he’s in the lineup runs through him. His shot is elite and he can get inside to make plays, too. From his strength to his puck skills, nothing about his game has shown any signs of rust after he didn’t play a single minute of competitive hockey before this tournament. It’s quite remarkable to see.
Brad Lambert, LW, Finland: Lambert has also sat out two games in this tournament, but made his presence known often in his first two games of action. We expect to see him in the medal round as the Finnish staff said his absence was precautionary. Either way, Lambert has good quickness and skill. He has four assists through his two games thus far. The one thing that concerns me about Lambert is how he can fade in and out of games. When he wants to go, he’s going and it challenges the defense. I just don’t see him take many pucks to the net and try to get to those harder areas. His strength also isn’t at the level to win battles. He relies more on his feet and his hands, but Lambert has excellent vision and I fully expect that he’s got more in the tank for this tournament if he’s healthy enough to come back.
Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Russia: Over the first two games, I thought Miroshnichenko outshined Matvei Michkov who has stolen the spotlight away with his exploits. Even some scouts had said they thought Miroshnichenko would end up being the better pro in North America due to his speed, his size and his heaviness. Miroshnichenko is a beast in transition as he’s hard to contain when he has a head of steam. He can score from distance or he can get inside and wreak havoc. He’s such a hard player to knock off the puck. I think his ability to shoot off the pass is high-end and he has good awareness in the offensive zone. I’m just bummed we couldn’t see him play for Muskegon this year in the USHL because he would have been an absolute treat in that league this year.
Danila Yurov, RW, Russia: With 21 games of KHL service under his belt, you can see the pro influences in Yurov’s game. He already has nine points in the tournament including three goals. He can score off the rush as he did against USA, placing a perfect shot in stride, or he can score from in-tight. What strikes me about Yurov is his sturdiness. He’s so hard to knock off the puck and when he lowers the shoulder, he’s not going to be denied. Getting inside position is pretty easy for him, but then he has touch and vision to make plays. I think we’re going to be hearing an awful lot about him next year as I expect him to be a full-time KHLer with a chance to make a very strong impact for Magnitogorsk.
Jack Hughes, C, USA: Coming off of an injury, Hughes was held out of the team’s first game, but he’s been a full participant ever since. I think the injury may be holding him back a bit as we haven’t seen the Jack Hughes that was one of the most exciting players on last year’s U17 team. The late 2003-born player does have a goal and an assist in the tournament, but I don’t know that his production has met his role yet, through three games. If he can find his top gear, his skill can help change the dynamic of this U.S. roster.
Lane Hutson, D, USA: An absolute dynamo with the puck on his stick, Hutson has incredible puck skills and good quick-twitch skating ability that allows him to change direction in the blink of an eye. His puck work at the offensive blue line has been dazzling and he’s shown the confidence. He’s 5-6, 160 pounds soaking wet, but has made much bigger players look foolish. His vision is high-end, too, as he makes so many quick decisions with the puck under pressure and always seems to find the right play. There’s no fear in his game as he manages to get in the way of opposing forwards. He can’t hit them with any degree of impact, so he just gets under them and disrupts play. He can slither off the walls in board battles, too. His anticipation and jumps up ice have been special. I think he’s going to need to get bigger, maybe gain a few more inches and tack on some weight and he has the time to do that, but my goodness is he fun. He’s an AND1 mixtape type of player from the back end and I can’t wait to see where his career goes from here. Hutson has five assists through four games and has seen his ice time go up as the tournament has worn on.
David Jiricek, D, Czech Republic: A big defenseman who plays the game with physicality and snarl, Jiricek also has really good skills and a big shot. The only problem is, we haven’t seen it as much as the tournament has worn on. I thought he started out really great, but has faded a bit as his discipline has become an issue. He’s taken four minor penalties, each often costly to his team. He’s also made a few questionable decisions, but I wonder how much of that comes from desperation to generate offense. He has no points in the tournament, but you can see a lot of the elements that make him a potential first-round candidate for next season. He has the size, the big right shot, the physical game and solid defensive prowess. If he can find that next level in his offensive game, he’s going to be a heck of a prospect. We just should be seeing that more against his own age group.
Elias Salomonsson, D, Sweden: There is excitement for the upside Salomonsson has. He’s young for next year’s draft class, with a late August birthday. He’s big, he has range and he can move. We haven’t seen him at his best at this tournament, however. He’s a young player and at times has looked it. He hasn’t hit the scoresheet and has seen his ice time drop in closer games. His defending is going to need some work, but as I’ve talked to scouts that have seen him, they remain excited to see what’s next for the young defenseman. He has a lot of tools and plenty of time to put it all together.
2023 NHL Draft
Matvei Michkov, RW, Russia: Well, when you score nine goals as a U17 player in four games, people are going to notice. The talented sniper has scored every which way you could ask. He scored with The Michigan/Svech move, has a goal between his legs, one-timers, wrist shots, net-front. All he does is score goals. He doesn’t do a ton else, to be quite frank. His skating is a little suspect for a player his size and there’s very little defensive value, which would matter a lot more to me if he wasn’t so good at scoring. His skill level is high-end, his release is elite. What is truly special, though, is his net sense. He can score from anywhere because he’s anticipated everything before he shoots it. When there’s an opening, he’s taking it. He’s scored on 46% of the shots he’s taken in this tournament.
Connor Bedard, C, Canada: The bar for Bedard was set so remarkably high coming into this tournament and even though he hasn’t been outright dominant, he’s been very good. According to EliteProspects, Bedard is one of 41 U16 players to appear in this tournament all-time. Through four games, he already is tied for fifth among age camparables historically with four points. John Tavares had five points in his first U18s. Connor McDavid set the standard with 14 points, which was freakish of course. Bedard is doing all the things you want to see him do. He’s playing with pace, he’s getting to the middle. He’s producing at a high enough rate given his role and the balance of the offense Canada has had so far. I’ve liked his game overall and expect him to continue to make a positive impact.
Charlie Stramel, C, USA: I’d seen Stramel a little bit before. The size jumps out at you right away. He’s 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds and he’s the youngest player on Team USA. A late 2004 birthdate, Stramel has been pressed into a larger role than I think many expected for him in this tournament. He’s essentially become a utility player, who takes big faceoffs and provides good, strong shifts whenever USA needs them. His ice time has gone up late in the tournament and he’s rewarded USA with two goals and two assists so far. One of the things that’s so impressive is that he’s this massive human, but he can skate and has great soft-touch skills including a killer release. Then he’s impossible to move off the puck. The only time I’ve seen a player truly plant him was with a trip. There was one play where a German player attempted to hit him and bounced right off of Stramel, who barely moved. The Minnesota native still hasn’t picked his NCAA destination, but this guy is one of the most unique prospects I have seen come through the NTDP.
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Great update!