2021 World Junior Championship 10 NHL prospects to watch in the international showcase

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The 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship is set to get underway in Edmonton this week and it should be a bit of a different experience given the protocols surrounding COVID-19. But, as always, the international tournament will act as a showcase for some of the best U-20 hockey prospects in the world -- including some future NHL stars who have already been drafted.Let's highlight a dozen of the most notable prospects who will be looking to make a splash as they work toward the NHL.Trevor Zegras, F, USA ( )Though the Americans had a disappointing tournament last year, Trevor Zegras was one of the few standouts. He showcased his superb vision, tallying nine a sists in five games for Team USA. He should be a key facilitator for the offensive unit once again this year.Zegras, 19, was taken ninth overall by the Ducks in the 2019 NHL Draft and should be on his way to the NHL soon.    TREVOR ZEGRAS ASSIST GOD  Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn)  Cole Caufield, F, USA ( )Caufield was part of USA's disappointing squad last year and he may have been the most disappointing performer of all. He had just a goal and an a sist in five games for the Americans in the 2020 tournament, though his use and deployment was questionable. This year, he should have more of an opportunity to make a major impact for Team USA.Caufield, a University of Wisconsin star and 2019 first-round pick of Jason Kelce Jersey  the Canadiens, is one of the best pure goal scorers in the tournament. If he can find that scoring touch this time around, the Americans should have more succe s.  Disgusting snipe from Cole Caufield vs. Canada  Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett)  Spencer Knight, G, USA ( )How far the Americans go this year may very well hinge on how well Spencer Knight plays between the pipes. The 19-year-old is one of the best goaltenders in the tournament and will be looking to improve upon a 2019 WJC in which he started four games and finished with a .913 save percentage.  Knight, who was taken 13th overall by the Panthers in 2019, has had an incredible start to his sophomore season at Boston College and will look to ride that momentum as USA's last line of defense at the WJC.Quinton Byfield, F, Canada ( )Byfield was the second overall pick in this year's NHL Draft and is probably the most hyped player on an absolutely stacked Canadian roster. Byfield brings a great mix of size, skill and speed and should be one of the most dangerous Davion Taylor Jersey  and explosive offensive weapons in a Canadian uniform.This is Byfield's second WJC, as he was part of Canada's gold-medal winning roster last year but had a minimal impact in a depth role -- recording just one point in seven games played.    Quinton Byfield ( ): From the to ___________ . Don't mi s the 2020 on Tuesday at 7 ET on , and ! ( )  NHL (@NHL)   , F, Canada ( )Dach is the only player on this list that already has NHL experience. With the delayed start to the NHL season, Dach has the opportunity to play in his first WJC and captain Team Canada before joining the Blackhawks for training camp.Dach, 19, showcased moments of greatne s in his rookie season with Chicago, though he only tallied eight goals and 23 points through 64 games. (He added six points in Chicago's nine playoff games.) He has great hands, incredible vision and pa sing ability -- especially for a player of his size (6-foot-4, 196 lbs.). He should be able to do plenty of damage up front for the Canadians.  This Kirby Dach pa s from selection camp... (: )  Tim and Sid (@timandsid)   , D, Canada ( )Byram is an elite talent on the blue line and is confident, intelligent and skilled in all three zones. He's  Zech McPhearson Jersey a great pa ser and should have a prominent role in facilitating Canada's high-powered offense in this tournament.  Byram was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and was part of Canada's gold medal team at the WJC last year, tallying two points in seven game. His production should see a ma sive bump with an increased role this time around.Lucas Raymond, F, Sweden ( )Raymond went to the Red Wings with the fourth overall pick in last year's draft. Though he wasn't the prize they were hoping for after a historically bad season, Raymond is still a very promising player with tons of upside. He's a well-rounded playmaker with excellent vision and hockey IQ and he should be a 200-foot difference-maker for the Swedes this year.This will be his second go at the WJC, as he had two goals and two a sists in seven games for Sweden last year.    Lucas Raymond scored a FILTHY goal in the U-18s Via (IG)  Bar South N Celly (@BarSouthNCelly)  Alexander Holtz, F, Sweden ( )Alongside Raymond will be another promising offensive prospect in Holtz, who went seventh overall to the Devils in this year's draft. Holtz has a variety of tools and skills to complement his wicked shot, but he's primarily seen as a pure sniper who is a threat to score from anywhere in the offensive zone.  Alexander Holtz is going to absolutely terrorize NHL netminders (These are just his even-strength markers)  /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson)  Philip Broberg, D, Sweden ( )This will be Broberg's third go at the World Juniors. Though he's had limited succe s on the scoresheet so far (two points in 11 WJC games played) he's expected to be an integral piece for the Swedes on the back end. The 19-year-old is a fantastic skater who  Genard Avery Jersey has an ability to close gaps, de-po se s attackers and quickly push play the other way.He was taken by the Oilers with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft.Tim Stutzle, F, Germany ( )The third overall pick in this year's NHL Draft, Stutzle is a talented offensive playmaker who should be the centerpiece of the German squad. He's a great skater with an excellent all-around offensive skillset, and he's found succe s at the WJC stage before. In five games for Germany last year, Stutzle had five a sists.    Holy moly, what a play by Tim Stutzle. Great job to use his speed to blast past the Swi s defenders before setting up John-Jason Peterka in front. 1-0.  Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN)  Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Ru sia (New Jersey Devils)Mukhamadullin, 18, went 20th overall to the Devils in this year's draft. He's a big defenseman (listed between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-4) who can skate well and isn't afraid to unleash his booming shot. He has been able to use his size to overpower attacking opponents, even when playing against older competition in the KHL. He should be a strong, intimidating presence on Ru sia's blue line in his first WJC tournament.Yaroslav Askarov, G, Ru sia ( )Askarov is  Tyree Jackson Jersey arguably the best goalie in the tournament and will be a ma sive key for the Ru sians as they hope to have another strong tournament this year. Askarov started five games for last year's silver medal-winning Ru sia squad, recording a .877 save percentage.He was taken 11th overall by the Predators in this year's draft..
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