The Athletic Hockey Show: 2026 World Juniors Preview

Episode Date: December 23, 2025
Analysts: Max Bultman (Host), Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of The Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series offers a comprehensive preview of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, focusing on roster selections—particularly Team Canada—strengths, potential vulnerabilities, international contenders (notably Team USA and Sweden), and a look at top prospects, both draft-eligible and otherwise. The analysts also deliver medal and award predictions, discuss narrative storylines heading into the tournament, and assess the broader state of the World Juniors, including its popularity in the United States.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Team Canada’s Final Roster: Cuts and Composition

[02:00 - 07:19]

• Roster Cuts: Jake O’Brien, Merrick Vanacker, Jackson Smith were let go.
  • Scott Wheeler: "Not surprised. Those were the three cuts that I'd kind of highlighted in my Camp Takeaways piece." (02:27)
  • O’Brien—talented, but didn’t fit a bottom-six/PK or clear top-six role.
  • Smith—natural odd man out due to left/right handedness on defense.
• Remaining Roster:
  • Canada viewed as “clear favorite” but defense seen as not quite as strong as forward corps, especially if Sam Dickinson isn’t released.
  • Cutting O’Brien was debated—he may be more skilled than current bottom-six, but lacked defensive/PK utility.
• Depth and Skill:
  • Despite some high-skill cuts, Canada’s bottom six still possesses notable offensive capability.
  • Goaltending (Carter George) described as the best in the tournament.

2. Adding Michael Misa: Impact and Center Depth

[07:19 - 09:45]

• Addition of Michael Misa changes Canada’s outlook:
  • Fills true 1C (top center) role; provides matchup answer for top opposing centers.
  • Previously played mostly wing for Hockey Canada but now steps up at center.
  • Scott: "He just looks like that guy. Like he looks like the typical 1C that you'd want in this tournament…" (07:34)
  • Misa yet to have a true "takeover" performance in international play. (Corey, 09:03)
  • Injury note: Berkeley Catton not available due to wrist injury.

3. Pre-Tournament Canada-Sweden Game: Line Combinations and Standouts

[09:45 - 13:15]

• Canada’s line of Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, Brady Martin identified as best at even strength during pre-tournament games (without Misa).
  • Corey Pronman: "Brady Martin...was the best player in that game...to see him be consistently involved in the offense...was a real good thing to see." (10:05)
• Martin’s disruptive physical play and all-situations usage praised, with caveat about potential for IIHF penalties for physicality.

4. Roster Construction & Blue Line Concerns

[13:15 - 14:12]

• Canada’s defense group lacks high-end puck-movers outside Zayne Parekh.
  • "I do wonder about the skill on this blue line a little bit…there is a little bit of a lack of high end puck moving in this group as a whole and I do wonder how that's going to...affect them in the tough games." (Corey, 13:15)

5. Other Tournament Favorites: USA & Sweden

[16:28 - 22:07]

Team USA

• Not the favorite to three-peat—“down year” narrative due to fewer top-name stars and increased goaltending uncertainty.
  • "It's fair just because of the, the glitz and the shine that the last two teams had." (Scott, 16:51)
  • Several winger talents, but center and goalie depth are question marks.
• Notable names: James Hagens, Cole Hutson.
• Coach Bob Motzko cited as being uncertain about the goalie and center lineup.

Team Sweden

• Strong roster with high-end talent (Anton Frondell, Ivar Stenberg).
• Could lack true “game-breakers” but have great depth; will rely on group scoring and blue-line stability.
  • Goaltending seen as a weakness compared to Canada’s.
    • "They aren't steal a game goaltenders." (Scott, 21:40)

Tournament Parity and Single Elimination

• Upsets possible—"Anything can happen at this tournament...the pressure can get to them." (Scott, 20:25)
• Both Sweden’s recent struggles in exhibition and Canada’s potential vulnerability cited.

6. Fan Interest & Home Ice Factor in the US

[24:37 - 26:50]

• World Juniors in the US not drawing expected attendance.
  • "It seems to be rather easy to get tickets right now." (Corey, 24:37)
• If attendance is notably poor, it could hamper the US’s ability to host the tournament again soon.

7. Draft-Eligible and Young Prospects to Watch (2026)

[29:37 - 33:57]

• Particularly strong crop of 2026 draft eligibles highlighted:
  • "From a scouting...the interest you would have in this tournament is significantly higher than in the last few." (Scott, 30:05)
• Noted players: Stenberg, Verhoff, McKenna, Hawkinson, Bjork, Smits (Latvia), Novotny (Czechia), Suvanto and Rynen (Finland), Nuschwander (Switzerland—2027 eligible), among others.
• Roster role matters: Verhoff, despite talent, may not play a big role for Sweden.
  • "I'll be really interested to see if he even gets a shift at all in this tournament...if McKenna...will probably be a top player...I wonder how that affects perceptions going forward." (Corey, 32:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Canada’s roster construction:
  • "Canada has the clear, clear best goaltending in this tournament. Carter George was excellent against Sweden. It's a good blue line. Like I said, it's just...it is a loaded team. If they don't win gold, it's an upset." (Corey, 05:27)
• On surprising roster storylines:
  • "They don't bring a plan B on the skill front in case their scoring dries up. Last year was Carson Rakoff and I'm not sure how great a plan B that was at times." (Corey, 05:27)
• On attendance issues:
  • "It looks like the upper bowl they're going to have the sides sold, but it doesn't even look like they've opened the upper bowl seats at either end. I don't even think they're trying to sell out for New Year's Eve, which is not what you would expect for this tournament." (Scott, 25:00)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Team Canada Roster Cuts & Analysis:
  [02:00 – 07:19]

• Michael Misa’s Impact:
  [07:19 – 09:45]

• Canada-Sweden Pre-Tournament Recap:
  [09:45 – 13:15]

• Canadian Blue Line Skill Debate:
  [13:15 – 14:12]

• USA “Down Year” Narrative:
  [16:51 – 18:45]

• Sweden’s Strengths/Weaknesses:
  [18:56 – 22:07]

• Tournament Parity & Upset Potential:
  [20:14 – 21:37]

• Attendance & Home Ice in the US:
  [24:37 – 26:50]

• Draft-Eligibles & Future Stars to Watch:
  [29:37 – 33:57]

• Medal & Awards Predictions:
  [34:06 – 40:39]

Medal & Awards Predictions

Medal Predictions

[34:06 – 36:03]

• All three (Corey, Scott, Max) pick: Gold – Canada | Silver – Sweden | Bronze – USA
  • Finland viewed as a potential disruptor; Czechs highlighted for depth on blue line but lacking top offensive talent.

Individual Awards

Best Forward:

• All: Gavin McKenna (Canada)
  • “I think this is Gavin McKenna’s moment. I think we’re going to see Gavin elevate here.” (Scott, 37:38)

Best Defenseman:

• All: Cole Hutson (USA)
  • “He was on the all star team last year. I don’t see any reason why he doesn’t win this award...” (Max, 39:10)

MVP:

• All: Gavin McKenna (Canada)

Best Goalie:

• All: Carter George (Canada) (Though Jack Ivanovic also mentioned as deserving consideration.)
  • “George was really good against Sweden. I guess he's the opening day guy. But I think Ivan Kovic deserves as much opportunity.” (Corey, 40:21)

Tone & Style

Informal and analytical, with quick, insightful banter among the analysts and a mix of optimism (“If they don’t win gold, it’s an upset”) and tempered realism (“Canada lost to both Sweden and Finland at the summer showcase...anything can happen at this tournament”).

Episode Takeaways

• Canada enters the 2026 World Juniors as an overwhelming favorite, especially due to elite depth and goaltending, but with minor question marks on the blue line and roster flexibility.
• USA and Sweden are top contenders but lack the elite star power and certainty that defined recent U.S. teams—Sweden boasting depth but wondering about game-breakers and goaltending.
• Attendance and the fan atmosphere—especially in the U.S.—are emerging as potential issues for the tournament and its future in America.
• This World Juniors is an absolute must-watch for prospect watchers, with an exceptionally strong 2026 draft-eligible presence.
• Predictions are unusually unanimous—analysts all land on Canada, Sweden, and the U.S. as the medalists, with McKenna and Hutson identified as likely tournament standouts.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a candid, in-depth forecast for the 2026 World Juniors, with the consensus that—while Canada are deserved favorites—tournament volatility, team composition, and breakout performances could produce dramatic storylines for fans and scouts alike.