World Juniors medal round preview

Summary

The Athletic Hockey Show

Episode: World Juniors Medal Round Preview

Date: January 1, 2026

Hosts: Max Bultman, Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman

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Episode Overview

This special, live edition of The Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series previews the World Junior Championship medal round, breaking down the major storylines from the round-robin stage, analyzing each contending team's strengths and weaknesses, and spotlighting standout draft-eligible players. The panel also reacts to freshly announced and projected Olympic rosters for Canada and the USA, debating the surprising omissions of stars like Connor Bedard and Adam Fox. The conversation is honest, detailed, and full of sharp insight into NHL prospects and the future of international hockey.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Canadian & USA Olympic Roster Reactions

Connor Bedard’s Omission from Team Canada

• The hosts react to Bedard not making the initial Olympic roster, despite his strong year.
• Scott notes that GM Doug Armstrong claimed Bedard’s injury wasn’t a factor; Bedard simply wasn’t in the plans prior to the injury ([02:39]).
• Bedard is on the standby list; Sam Bennett and others are also there as potential replacements.
• Corey acknowledges Bedard as a “bubble guy” due to size/physicality concerns, but thinks there was still a case to include him (“there are forwards in this group who aren’t big, who aren’t fast…so I do think there was an argument for him.” – Corey, [04:23]).

Notable Team USA Omissions: Adam Fox & Jason Robertson

• The panel discusses how both Fox and Robertson are likely to miss the Olympic roster.
• Scott: “Wasn’t surprised that Adam Fox was left off… would Adam Fox be on my roster? Yes… but wasn’t surprised, quote, unquote.” ([05:57])
• On Robertson: “I was a little surprised that they took, say, a Tage Thompson over a Jason Robertson. Jason Robertson scored 20 goals in his last 23 NHL games… been one of the most consistent point producers… there was a role for him as a 13th, 14th forward.” – Scott, [06:23]
• Corey emphasizes the skating limitations of both omitted players and USA Hockey’s desire for guys who can “handle the pace at even strength” ([07:47]).
• Notable quote: “He skates like he can barely skate properly—he’s so gangly…it’s obvious, anybody, he’s not a good skater. And it’s not, he’s a great player—his skating has always been awful.” – Corey (on Robertson), [08:41]

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World Juniors Medal Round: Tournament Wide Open

Canada’s Vulnerabilities & Tournament Parity

• The hosts agree the tournament is “wide open”—Canada is 4-0 but none of their wins were convincing ([11:59]).
• Corey compares it to the Vancouver tournament with no clear top team or player, making the knockout rounds unpredictable ([12:20]).
• Scott and Corey both raise major concerns over Canada’s blue line and bottom-six depth; goaltending (Carter George) has been a weakness ([13:24], [13:27]).

Team USA’s Struggles

• USA has been the “worst team in this tournament” among big nations, according to Scott—goaltending is “awful,” blue line diminished after Cole Hutson’s injury, and there’s a lack of center depth ([14:17]).
• “Their goaltending is awful. Their blue line without Cole Hutson… you could tell it was going to be a problem. They can’t keep the puck out of the net… For a team like Team USA to… move so many centers to the wing… they have to try wingers at center because they don’t have depth… Riker Lee has been a huge disappointment… Cole Iserman has been a huge disappointment.” – Scott, [14:17]
• Team injuries—Max Plante and Trevor Connelly out—have compounded lineup issues. The top power play unit features young, less-experienced players ([15:42]).

USA Goaltending Decisions

• Max is surprised by Brady Nolling’s start in the key game, but Corey explains it was a “wide open competition”: neither of the older goalies seized the job, and Nolling, a tall and talented option, was worth a try ([16:34]).

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Standout Teams and Players

Sweden: Rising Favorite

• Sweden impresses the panel, led by Anton Frondell and two top draft eligibles, Stenberg and VGO (Viktor) Bjork ([17:47]).
• Bjork singled out as “the most impressive draft eligible in this tournament”—showing skill, creativity, maturity, and rising draft stock:
  • “Bjork has been good in every single Swedish game for me. He’s playing center in their top-six, takes key faceoffs, showing craft and creativity… he’s been very, very impressive for Sweden.” – Scott, [18:11]
  • Bjork compared to Marco Rossi; could rise to a “top 15” draft pick ([19:14]).
• Stenberg has flashed at even strength; McKenna’s numbers are strong but he has not dominated, per the group ([20:07], [21:02]).

Canada’s Michael Hage & Zayne Parekh

• Hage lauded as the possible front-runner for tournament MVP depending on Canadian results ([23:17]).
• Zayne Parekh: “If anyone’s truly elevated and had defining moments… I think Zayne Parekh is probably the closest.” – Corey, [23:29]
• Media may gravitate toward Hage for overall MVP, but Parekh standing out consistently on the blue line.

Czechia, Finland & Other Standouts

• Czech defenseman Adam Juricek receiving big minutes and Norris-level praise. Scott: “He’s been excellent. He has played more minutes than anybody in this tournament… not just the overtime between the legs goal, he’s been involved offensively, competing defensively.” ([24:49])
• Thomas Galvas, also Czech, described as one of the best skaters of the tournament, despite going undrafted ([25:57]).
• Team USA’s Chase Reid and Latvia’s Albert Šmits both singled out, but Reid more impressive; could be a top-10 draft pick and stepped up after injuries ([26:33]).

Outside the Big Five Hockey Nations

• Scott: “Thomas Černko has been excellent. He’s tied for the tournament scoring lead… the skill level is legit.” ([31:10])
• Corey highlights Czech forward Nastrasil and notes Switzerland’s consistently strong performances in tight games ([32:15]).

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Medal Round Predictions (Post-Pool Play)

Corey Pronman ([33:35])

• Gold: Sweden – “I like the way Sweden’s team is rolling top to bottom... they got some good older players stepping up.”
• Silver: Canada
• Bronze: Czechia

Scott Wheeler ([34:09], [35:47])

• “I would probably still lean Canada… I still think they’ve got the game-breakers.”
• Calls out Canada’s defensive zone issues and missing Sam Dickinson.
• Bronze: Czechia

Max Bultman ([35:26])

• Gold: Sweden
• Silver: Canada
• Bronze: Finland

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Bedard’s Omission:

  • “The injury didn’t play a factor… he wasn’t going to be on the team even prior to the injury.” – Scott Wheeler, [02:39]
  • “You got a 5'10" guy who’s a 20-year-old... not an elite skater… how’d he hold up physically at even strength? I’m sympathetic to that argument.” – Corey Pronman, [03:57]

• On USA’s Roster Choices:

  • “They have a really good mix for Team USA… I do think there was a role for [Robertson]… he’s been one of the most consistent point producers in the league.” – Scott Wheeler, [06:23]
  • “He skates like he can barely skate properly—he’s so gangly… not a good skater... His skating has always been awful.” – Corey Pronman (on Jason Robertson), [08:41]

• On Team USA’s Tournament:

  • “They’ve been the worst team in this tournament… their goaltending is awful… their blue line without Cole Hutson immediately… you could tell it was going to be a problem.” – Scott Wheeler, [14:17]

• On Sweden’s Draft Eligibles:

  • “Bjork has been good in every single Swedish game for me… he’s been very, very impressive for Sweden.” – Scott Wheeler, [18:11]
  • “He’s probably the most impactful player at even strength among all the draft eligibles in a single game.” – Corey Pronman (on Stenberg), [19:42]

• On Canada’s Leaders:

  • “If the media was voting today, I think Hage would be the front runner to win MVP.” – Corey Pronman, [24:12]
  • “If anyone’s truly elevated and had defining moments… I think Zayne Parekh is probably the closest.” – Corey Pronman, [23:29]

• On Czech’s Defensemen:

  • “He has played more minutes than anybody in this tournament… he’s been excellent.” – Scott Wheeler (on Juricek), [24:49]
  • “Galvas has a case as the best skater in this tournament.” – Scott Wheeler, [25:57]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:56] Start of main hockey discussion: Olympic roster talk
• [02:35] Reaction to Connor Bedard missing Team Canada
• [05:57] Adam Fox and Jason Robertson omitted from Team USA
• [11:59] World Juniors medal round focus; tournament parity
• [14:13] Deep dive into Team USA’s struggles and injuries
• [16:34] USA’s goaltending uncertainty and Nolling decision
• [17:47] Sweden’s rise and key player performances
• [18:11] Spotlight: VGO Bjork as draft riser
• [21:02] Assessment of McKenna’s tournament and draft implications
• [23:17] Canada’s Michael Hage and Zayne Parekh for MVP/top D
• [24:49] Czech defensemen Juricek and Galvas highlighted
• [26:33] Chase Reid vs. Albert Šmits: USA/Latvia draft stock
• [30:11] Shoutout to teams and players outside major hockey nations
• [33:35] Post-pool medal round predictions from panel

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Conclusion

This episode delivers an in-depth, energetic breakdown of the World Juniors medal round, with special attention to prospects’ NHL potential and the complexities shaping both Olympic selection and junior international hockey. The roundtable’s honest, evidence-based debates and predictions make this an essential episode for hockey prospect enthusiasts and World Junior followers alike.

Transcript

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[Max Bultman]

This is the athletic hockey show prospect series.

[Scott Wheeler]

Foreign.

[Max Bultman]

Hey everybody. Max Boltman here alongside the Athletics, Scott Wheeler and Corey Prodman for a live episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. We are through the preliminary rounds, guys, at the World Juniors. You are both now on site in Minneapolis. And before we get to that, there's been a lot to talk, a lot to talk about there. I want to start with the Olympic rosters. Canada's Olympic roster is out. USA's is expected tomorrow morning on the Today show. But Mike Russo put together a pretty compelling projection of it. So I think we have a pretty good feel for the conversations we're going to be having about that one too. Let's just start really quick. I think the big omission, Scott, is Connor Bedard getting left off Canada. It's a strong Canadian roster. Nobody's under any illusions that this was.

[Scott Wheeler]

An easy team to make.

[Max Bultman]

But first reaction To Bedard, not on Team Canada.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah, I was at the, the press conference yesterday and Doug Armstrong basically said that the injury didn't play a factor. I thought that was the most sort of important takeaway from the Bedard conversation was that it didn't sound like he was going to be on the team even prior to the injury. So I would imagine that he's on their standby list. They did say that they have a standby list and that it's pretty long. I would imagine all of Seth Jarvis, Mark Scheifele, Sam Bennett are on that list. And depending on who gets injured between now and the tournament, which is likely to happen, I think we're going to see one or two players who aren't on this sort of initial roster make the team. We could still conceivably see Connor Bedard at the tournament. If he gets back and he continues to play well and they have a top six power play guy who goes down with an injury. I think he's, he's in that mix. Wasn't surprised by really any of the decisions that they made. I actually wondered whether Sam Bennett's omission was maybe the bigger one just given he scored the game time goal in the Four nations last year. He, I believe he led that final Four nations game in shots on goal at the that sort of quote unquote gold medal game. And he was the reigning consmic trophy winner. So I would imagine that conversation was a very difficult one for Hockey Canada. But no real surprises. I think it's a really, really good roster. Like, I think it's about the 25 best players, give or take.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah, well, we did the depth chart exercise. I think the dog for me was like a 13th or 14th forward. So I thought he was a bubble guy. And I'm not like surprised or offended that I left him off. And the arguments they would make is that, you know, you got a 5, 10 guy who's a 20 year old, the frame isn't quite physically developed, he's not an elite skater. So I think they would wonder how in the fastest games against Sweden, against us, the hardest games, how he'd hold up physically at even strength. So I'm sympathetic to that argument. That being said, I think you look at Bedard and he's not just having a good year, he's having an outstanding year. And there are forwards in this group who aren't big, who aren't fast, like, like Sam Reinhardt isn't big and fast. Mitch Reiner, Mitch Martyr. Sorry. Isn't big and fast. Nick Suzuki isn't big and fast, so I do think there was an argument for him to be on this team. That being said, you only could have so many guys who are of that profile too. And I think their power play will be more than fine. Even. Even without Bedard.

[Max Bultman]

Yeah, I think it's spot in the lineup.

[Corey Pronman]

Right.

[Max Bultman]

Like, I think if they had a spot probably where Mitch Marner is going to play, you can slot Connor Bedard in right there. I mean, in the same way as we talk about Macklin Celebrini as kind of a baby Sidney Crosby, I still think Connor Bedard is kind of a baby Patrick Kane maybe with a little more goal scoring to him. So if there was a top six spot that we were talking about, it makes a lot of sense. You can quibble like, should he be there over Brad Marchand? That's probably the one that I would, if I was going to make the switch, would be that one. Even with the pace element, I think Bedard brings a little more pace. But you know, there's no question Marchand has a lot of experience in those big games. On the Team USA side of this, again, we don't have the final roster here, but it's seems like it's trending toward both Adam Fox and Jason Robertson not being on Team usa. I think Fox is the one that's going to generate most of the kind of ire there. And Vince Mercagliano had a great story about this on the Athletic on. I don't know if it was Wednesday night or Thursday morning, but some good stuff to read there. But Scott, your thoughts on if, if Robertson and Fox are indeed not on Team usa.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah, not based off the, the way that the conversation went at Four nations last year and just this, this massive talk about Adam Fox. Wasn't surprised that Adam Fox was UL left off. They have Quinn Hughes returning to this lineup. Quinn sort of fills another offensive role for them. Wasn't there at the Four Nations a year ago, would Adam Fox be on my roster? Yes, we've. We've been over that.

[Max Bultman]

We've done that.

[Scott Wheeler]

But wasn't surprised. Quote, unquote. I am a little bit surprised by Jason Robertson, if only because there are some sort of more offensive guys that they brought within that group, whether it's a Clayton Keller, a Tage Thompson, like late additions who just aren't quite as hot right now as Jason Robertson is. Jason Robertson scored 20 goals in his last 23 games in the NHL. He's scored 100 points in the league he's been one of the most consistent point producers in the league and I do think there was a role for him as a 13th, 14th board. Kind of like what Corey was talking about with Connor Bedard, where he can jump in and play on the power play. If a guy goes down and they've got enough penalty killers like they, they, they, they have a really good mix for Team usa. So I was a little surprised that they took say a Tage Thompson over, over a Jason Robertson. Like, I just think Robertson has, has earned this. I, I know the pace and the feet are what holds Robinson back. He's not, he's not that competitive guy that Bill Guerin talks about wanting on his team. But I don't think you have to have 14 forwards who check all of your boxes. If you're Bill Garon, like, you can. I. I think there's room in an event like this for a player like Jason Robertson with. And if they run into trouble scoring against a Sweden or a Czechia or, or obviously a Canada, I, I think people will, people will look to, to Robertson maybe even more than Adam Fox.

[Corey Pronman]

I think the reason both of them get left off is pretty similar skating. They're probably both in the bottom 5 percentile in the league, bottom 10 percentile when it comes to skating. Robertson in particular, and I can see from the management argument why they just want guys who will handle the pace of even strength better. And if they feel like, like it's hard to bring a guy in as like a power play specialist, like that got to be Robertson's role in this team. And I think they just have too many good players to pick from in this player pool. Same thing with Fox. Like, you can't. Those rules are, you know, there's only so many of them. You can't be bringing guys in to be second power play with like five minutes of even strength. That doesn't, just doesn't make sense to me.

[Max Bultman]

Yeah, it's interesting. People are going to hear, people are going to hear Corey say that bottom 10 percentile and they're going to say, well, the NHL Edge data says that he's. I think it's like 78th percentile top speed. He doesn't get to that very often. If you look at the speed versus above 20. I know, I know. I'm just telling you that's what the reaction is going to be.

[Corey Pronman]

He skates like he can't, he can barely skate properly. Like he's so gangly. Like it's like it's obvious anybody he's not a good skater and it's not. He's a great player, high end skill, high end brain, big great scorer. He's a great player. His skating has always been awful. Like, I don't even think he'd dispute that.

[Scott Wheeler]

I don't, I don't love the argument that you can't bring a guy who's going to play seldomly at even strength and on power. Like, isn't that what Tage Thompson to go back to? Tage, isn't that exactly the role that Tage Thompson's going to play if he's in their 12 forwards? Like, he's going to play six or seven minutes.

[Corey Pronman]

I think when you're six, six and you can skate like Taj Kane, I think you can play a more reliable even strength shift and probably not get buried. I think that'd be the argument there. Even though he doesn't have close to the skill, that Robertson does play center.

[Max Bultman]

In a pinch too, if you needed him to. So that helps. I mean, and I don't think they're going to need him to. They brought a lot of guys who can play center, but just it's another factor that goes into it. But there's going to be a lot of time for that. We will get to more of that on Monday's show, I'm sure, especially once the final roster is officially announced.

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[Scott Wheeler]

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[Max Bultman]

Let'S shift to the focus of today's show, which is the World Juniors and Corey if this was a tournament that we went into thinking Canada and then the field, I think we're having a different conversation today, which is weird after Canada goes 40 but none of them are convincing wins and all of a sudden this looks very much like a wide open tournament. Could be one of the most fun knockout rounds that we've seen at the World Juniors in quite some time.

[Corey Pronman]

This reminds me of the I think it was determined in Vancouver where where USA beat and there was no clear top team. The MVP of that tournament was Ryan Paling and like that was one of those where somebody had to win it and we weren't sure who to give it to so so we gave to the guy who got a bunch of points in the round robin and didn't do much in the medal round. It kind of feels like that tournament. I don't think there's been a player that's really stood out and taken over. Zane Parek might be the closest. Michael H. Has an argument but I don't think he's been dominant by any means. I don't think there's been a team that's been dominant. Canada and Sweden probably the two most impressive teams but they've their blips and times against lesser teams on paper where they've been really challenged. So I agree with you. I think this is a wide open tournament. We have a USA Finland matchup going on in the quarterfinals. I think any that's anyone's game and I don't think I think Canada and Sweden are still the likely candidates to win a gold medal, but I do not think either of them are locks. Canada's blue Lines a question. The bottom six of their lineup is a question.

[Scott Wheeler]

Carter George hasn't been good. Nope, not good.

[Corey Pronman]

Not good at all. Sweden's got good players and I don't think they've had a player that's really taken over and like been a high, high end player for them consistently. Czechia lacks that star too. USA is just in all kinds of issues right now with how their lineup is being managed and injuries. Like I said, there's. It's hard to sit here and definitively say we have a gold medal favor currently.

[Max Bultman]

Yeah, I think the injuries for Team USA are a huge story in this because I don't know that we ever were talking about them as a favorite, but you subtract at least one of the two or three best defensemen in this tournament in Cole Hudson due to a scary injury. Max Plant is one of the leading scorers in college hockey. He's not playing right now. The outlook of this team right now, Scott, looks very, very different. And you saw it in their loss to Sweden six to three and it could have been more dramatic than that. As Corey wrote in the takeaways and.

[Corey Pronman]

They lost Trevor Connelly right before the tournament started.

[Scott Wheeler]

They've been, they've been of the sort of big nations. They've been the worst team in this tournament. It's been, it's been, they've frankly been tough to watch at times. Their goaltending is awful. Their blue line without Cole Hudson immediately you could tell that it was, it was going to be a problem. You could tell it even when Cole Hudson was in the, in the lineup in that very first game. I thought him and Cleaver played well, but the rest of that, that group really fought it and they fought it all tournament long. They can't keep the puck out of the net. They can't move pucks up ice for, for a team like Team USA to. We watch Canada in this tournament and at the Olympics move so many centers to the wing. Team USA has had to try two wingers in Max Plant and Teddy Stiga as centers because they don't have center depth. It's James Hagens, their best player who was excellent at last year's tournament, hasn't played well. He had a couple of goals two games ago, but hasn't been consistently impactful in the way that you would expect James Hagens to be at this tournament. They've got some very talented, like Riker Lee has been a huge disappointment in this tournament. Cole Iserman has been a huge disappointment in this tournament. Talented players who should be impact guys at this level who just aren't consistently making plays. So. And frankly I don't think they've been well coached either and I don't think that's harsh. So it's, I think they're in, they're in major, major trouble of a quarterfinal exit on home ice potentially against the fence.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah, I think if I would have told Scott and Umax and Chris Peters that the top power play unit going into the battle round for Team USA would be Luke Osborne, Teddy Stiga, LJ Mooney, Will Zellers and Riker Lee and that's the five guys they're leaning on right now. You would have had several follow up questions.

[Max Bultman]

Zellers was like, I think he was our 12th or 13th forward when we did the depth chart projection. He's been there late, right? That's right. Late out of the actual team. Probably fair to say best player in this tournament for them.

[Scott Wheeler]

Definitely.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah. I think like even strength hasn't been like spectacular. But the school. But this means they're leading the score goals and points and one of the only guys actually making creative plays with the puck while also not being a turnover machine.

[Scott Wheeler]

He's got the three game winning goals in their three wins as well.

[Max Bultman]

Real quick, Corey on the goaltending. I think a lot of people out there will have a similar reaction to what I did. Seeing them go to Brady Noling for their group deciding game on New Year's Eve. You were not surprised by this. You like Brady Noling. Can you just tell people a little bit about Nolan and why they would go to a goal they didn't start in their first three games with the group on the line and why maybe even they go back to him potentially.

[Corey Pronman]

Well, you know, Bob Motsko, their coach had always talked about this being a wide open competition for goal. I don't think the two older goalies, Nick Kemp and Caleb Hyle ever really had a solid grasp on the, on the starting job. I think one of them is going to start in the quarterfinal, but I don't think that was the case coming in. I think they were waiting to figure it out. Neither of them were overly impressive in the round robins. And then they look at Brady Nolling who was a tremendous for USA at the Helena Gretzky at the U18 at the U20 level this season was really good at the CHL NTP series in November and they see a 6, 5 goalie who is by far the toolsiest of the three goalies, by far the best. You know talent, but two years younger than the other two and they decided to give it a shot and see if he could help them. He didn't and thus he's not going to start tomorrow. But I didn't think it was unreasonable. I think he's a good, he's a good goalie. I don't think the other two are really good goalies.

[Max Bultman]

Yeah, my gold medal favorite after the preliminary round is now Sweden, and I don't know if that's overreaction to a big win over usa, but let's talk about the Swedes a little bit. I think Anton Frondell has been good. Maybe he's not like elevated himself to like best player in the tournament quite yet. I think he's shown flashes that he can do that. But it's two draft eligibles that I'm finding myself most intrigued by, particularly VGO Bjork.

[Scott Wheeler]

Scott Bjork, I think, has been the most impressive draft eligible in this tournament so far. Stenberg and McKenna have both had good games. Bjork has been good in every single sweeping game for me. He's playing center in their top six. He takes key face offs. He has shown a ton of craft and sort of creativity on the powerplay, running the half wall on one of their units. He's been impressive. The question with Bjork all season is, okay, you've got a 5, 9, 510 center. Sweden lets him at 510. NHL Central Scouting still lists him at 5, 9. We'll see if that gets updated. You've got a 5, 9,5 10 center who has set records at the J20 and J18 level in Sweden in terms of production. But he's not the fastest player, he's not the biggest player. And you wonder where he slots. I believe Corey has used sort of Marco Rossi as a name that he's sort of tied him to. I had an NHL scout actually also use Marco Rossi. To me a couple of days ago Rossi went top 10, but probably wouldn't in a, in a redraft. But I do wonder now, and talking to several scouts over the course of the last week about ego felt like two or three months ago he was viewed kind of as he was starting to be viewed kind of as a late first, early second. I don't think that's currently the case. Everybody I've spoken to respects him, his competitiveness. Like he seems to have endeared himself over the course of the last few weeks here to a lot of scouts. And I think he's, he's been very Very impressive for Sweden. And if he continues to play well through the medal round here, I think we're talking about maybe like a top 15 teams pick in this draft.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah, I agree with that. I think Stenberg started a little slow in the round robin too. And I know he only had the one goal there against us, but I thought just on a. Just watching his shifts, I thought he was excellent. I thought he was probably the most impactful player I see. I even strength among all the draft elbows in a single game. He hasn't done that all tournament, but I thought he was. He. He brought his A game in that game against the U.S. he's hit some.

[Scott Wheeler]

Crossbars and had some like backdoor tap ins that he just missed on too. Like he could, he could. Not that, not that we need to be doing. Could have, should have, would have for a Swedish star in this tournament, but he could have two or three more here and they.

[Corey Pronman]

McKenna is the same way. He's had a couple, quite a few chances, just barely missed the net and whatnot.

[Max Bultman]

And Stenberg had the game winner, I believe in their opener two against Slovakia. So quieter game, but you find a way in the big moment that, that does a lot. Real quick on Bjork. Scott, I wanted to run something by you. I threw this at Corey earlier this week. You mentioned Rossi as a comp. I think Corey and I both agree Bjork skating would be better than Rossi. Maybe not at the level of Frank Nser, but maybe somewhere in that continuum among the smaller centers, young centers in the league.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah. I just think Nasar is such a, an impressive skater. It's a defining quality in his game, whereas it never will be in VGOs. But yes, that kind of range in the draft. Potentially.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah.

[Max Bultman]

All right, well, let's. You mentioned McKenna. Corey, let's go there next because it's been a good tournament for him. He's among the leading scorers in the tournament. What does it mean for his place in the draft, which we know has been seemingly in flux all throughout the season? No, no bigger microscope on a player than on Gavin McKenna. Yeah.

[Corey Pronman]

For me, if he was going to maintain his place in the first or second overall conversation, given his average first half in college, I thought he needed to come in here and have a dominant tournament, be one of the very best players and be like a true standout. He's kind of in between the two extremes there, I think. I don't think he's been bad. He's been good, if not very good in this tournament. Do I Think he's been dominant? Do I think he's done what La Frontiere did in his turned to. I think what he's done with Bedard did. No, like, I think there have been games on that line, which has been arguably the best line in the tournament. Him in, him on a line with Brady Martin, Michael Hage, there's been times where he's been the third best player on that line. I'd Even strength, particularly, and there's been times where he's been very good. So I think there's still, you know, we'll see how the middle round goes for him. You know, I think there's still a story yet to hear to be written about McKenna's tournament, but I do think if you look at that line, I think it's fair to say that we all agree that Michael Hage has really been the driver of that line and of a. At least a chunk of McKenna's success so far in this tournament. You know, McKenna's been very good. Four of his eight points on the power play. You know, he's been excellent, showing his great skill. I don't think he's been overwhelmed by the moment. He looks like a returning player, but I think, you know, Hayes looks like the guy who's really driving the bus there at even strength.

[Scott Wheeler]

I do think it's notable, too, that McKenna's quietest game of this tournament was the toughest opponent yet against Finland. And the conversation around McKenna, frankly, all year and even dating back to last year in the Memorial cup and parts of that playoff run, though he was tremendous in that playoff run. Lesso in the Memorial cup with. With Medicine Hat has been just that. It's against the toughest opponents that people want to see him play better.

[Corey Pronman]

I thought he was decent against Czechia, though.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yes, yes, he was. Yeah.

[Corey Pronman]

So. But that's what I was saying. We'll see how the middle round goes. Those are gonna be the hardest games, you know. You know, this is a big moment for him right now, and we'll see what happens.

[Max Bultman]

Hage may be the favorite for. For top forward, maybe even mvp, if Canada wins this tournament right now. You can argue too, though, Corey Zane Perek in that same conversation as Canada's best defenseman. Maybe the best defenseman in this tournament.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah. I think whenever we media do these kinds of awards in the NHL, Junior, whatever, we tend to gravitate towards getting a forward the MVP award, because there's a top defenseman award, and Parrick would be the clear favorite to win that right now. But I think you look at this tournament without, like I said, you know, earlier, a clear standout player. I think of anyone who's truly elevated and had defining moments look like high end. A high end player can see consistently. I think Zayn Perek is probably the closest. I think he still had his issues defensively. I mean, he still plays a lot, so he's gonna be on the ice for some goals against just the way it goes, some of it is a little bit on him at times, but I think you look at the level of plays he makes, his goal scoring, his vision, his play with the puck, I think he would probably be the most impressive player I've seen here so far. But I still think if the media was voting today, I think Hage would be the front runner to win the mvp. Just I think he's made so many plays and been, like I said, a driver of what I think most consider to be the best line so far in the tournament.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah.

[Max Bultman]

All right, Scott. You know, Adam Yurichek would be another defenseman who I think would kind of fit into the top D conversation if not for just how successful Canada has been overall. He obviously has the highlight reel goal and that's part of what everyone's going to remember. But what have you seen from your checks play? Outside of the one huge moment in.

[Scott Wheeler]

This tournament, he's been excellent. He has played more minutes than anybody in this tournament. I believe he's just under 25 a night high, 24s a night. That pairing with him and Jacob Fibiger, a prospect of the Seattle Kraken who is also a very solid defenseman at this level, has played a lot. And it's not just the overtime between the legs. Goal like he cranked a one timer on the power play yesterday. He's been involved offensively, he's competed defensively. I think he's been very impressive. I would actually probably argue that after correct that the next two defensemen who would be sort of in the mix for me for my media all star ballot would both be checks in him and Thomas Galves, who's actually undrafted. Galves has been tremendous at this level and internationally, frankly at his U18s. At the U20 level, he's been a very, very good player for them. I had someone at the rink yesterday sort of say, what's the difference between Thomas Galves and Cam Reed, Right? And Cam reed was a first round pick. Galvis is a little bit smaller. He's 5 10, 510 and a half instead of 6ft, but very, very impressive. Mobility.

[Corey Pronman]

I think Reed's a better skater. Come on.

[Scott Wheeler]

I don't know man. I think Galvis has a case as the best skater in this tournament.

[Corey Pronman]

Galvis kind of reminds me of like Sebastian Ajo passed over a couple times, you know, five, ten, three. Defenseman. I, I like him. I think he could play games in NHL. I just don't like. He's not Cam Reed, at least for me.

[Scott Wheeler]

No, I, I agree, I agree. But he's been, he's been excellent here.

[Max Bultman]

Well, let's stick on guys named Reed here then because Chase Reed has I think done himself some favors and draft stock wise one of the few Team USA guys who I think arrow up maybe through this event better tournament. Corey Chase Reed or the Latvian Albert Smith.

[Corey Pronman]

Probably Reed. I think Smith's, Smith has been good. I don't think he's been fantastic though. You know, had his best game against Denmark. But I think you've kind of seen this over the years with, with the top prospects from non traditional countries like David Reinbacher really struggled in his world. Juniors Marco Casper, Marco Rossi that are the Norwegian kids and friends and Nigard and Steon Solberg. I think it's really hard for those guys to, to really elevate when they don't have the puck gol game. I think there's been some, I think there's some stuff you like, really like about Smith. I think you love the hardness in his game, the skating, the big point shot. I think you'd like to see him make more plays. I don't really think he created a lot of chances for his teammates throughout the course of the round robin. Whereas that's what Reed did the entire time. I mean he looks, you know, prolific at times with the puck. He's so creative, smart, skilled moves well defense. Somewhat questionable, but in terms of like the talent, you just see it right there. It's, it's what I think both of them are still, you know, potentially high picks, different types of players, but both in the mix to be top 10 picks in the draft. But I think Reed has been more impressive especially as he stepped up with the ice time needed to be filled in Cole Husson's absence.

[Scott Wheeler]

Reed. Reed wasn't even on their UAT. He was cut by their U18 team just what, five, six months ago too. Like this is, I mean he's now what, he's now one of the only guys that Bob Motsko trusts on that blue line to play a regular shift.

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[Scott Wheeler]

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[Corey Pronman]

Minutes to kill in the pharmacy before my prescription is ready.

[Max Bultman]

Maybe I'll grab some deeply discounted out of season Halloween candy.

[Corey Pronman]

I never had a chocolate pumpkin with raisins before. Those were raisins right?

[Scott Wheeler]

Next time use Amazon Pharmacy. We deliver and no those were not raisins. Amazon Pharmacy Healthcare just got less painful.

[Max Bultman]

We get some comments sometimes that are about how we really focus heavily on usa, Canada, a little bit of Sweden and guys. The answer is because we are an NHL prospects show right? So those are the teams that are the most loaded with NHL prospects. But I did want to open the floor to you here Scott to a make a prediction from one of the outside of one of those teams to make a metal run here. It sounds like Finland Czechia would both strongly be in that mix and b spotlight any players from those teams who you've been really impressed press by I.

[Scott Wheeler]

Think that I mean the checks are going back to a fifth straight. I would I would be wouldn't be shocked if the Swiss beat them. The Swiss have played all four of their games tightly. They won Two games beat the Slovaks and played USA and Sweden to one goal and two goal losses. So I would expect that the Swiss will give the Czechs a good game, but I think that they're still more likely to sort of emerge from that and go on to play in a medal game. It would be the fifth straight year that the Czechs have done that. The Czechs have established themselves as far as I'm concerned as one of the top hockey playing nations at the U20 level. So I like, I like the checks but to. I'll go to a player actually who's not from. From either of any of the sort of five big nations if you will. I think Thomas Chenko has, has been excellent. He's tied for the tournament scoring lead. He's the only player outside one of the big nations who's tied for the tournament scoring lead with eight points. And he's been dynamic on the puck and on their power play and he's got some. He's a smaller guy but he's competitive. Like he's. He's willing to finish checks and get after it on the forward check and that kind of a thing. But the skill level is legit and I'm fascinated to see where he goes. He's playing pro hockey. It's typically tough for 5, 10, 511 wingers who are playing pro hockey over there to, to put up points and to get drafted high. I don't think he's going to be drafted high in the end but he's probably a late. Like he's probably a late first for me. If not for sure.

[Corey Pronman]

I was gonna ask how does he compare to Ike Howard who went right at the end of the first round?

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah, I think, I think that's a good comp.

[Max Bultman]

Cory, how about you?

[Scott Wheeler]

Any.

[Max Bultman]

Any players or countries really standing out that you wanted to spotlight?

[Corey Pronman]

That was gonna be mine that but you keep throwing a Scott first so I keep gotta think of other things to say here. He's the one that definitely has stand out. I think Nastrasil as well from the Czechs has been quite good. I think Chicago fans have to be really happy with his progression with how strong his freshman year has been. A UMass you see a 6, 6 guy who could skate and make plays. I don't think the offense in this game is high end but he competes well. I think you're looking at a guy with legit middle 6 potential in the NHL.

[Max Bultman]

How about Suvanto from Finland? I know he is a more prominent country still so maybe not included but I know he's a guy that you think highly of draft wise.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah, he hasn't been great in this tournament. I think this is still a guy who's I think like a week away from being 20, 27 eligible. I like him a lot. I think he reminds me a lot of Lindell at the same age with the heaviness and the stick and the compete level. The skating is a little heavy though. I don't think he's like a dynamic offensive player, but I think you saw with the U18 level with the Hoenka in the summer, for example, when he gets replaced junior hockey, he's, he could be an excellent offensive player and I still think he's going to be a rather high pick in the draft. So I think, given the circumstances, I think he's been fine, but I don't think he's helped himself in the way that like a Bjork or a Tarenko have. Yeah.

[Max Bultman]

All right, well, let's wrap it up there. Before we go, I want your post preliminary or post pool play metal predictions.

[Corey Pronman]

Corey. I think Sweden and Canada are the, are still the, the cream of the crop here. I could see this go either way. I think Canada's a little bit more dynamic players. Spike, Carter, George is a tough tournament. I still think they have the better goalies overall. I think the depth on their team worries me a little bit. I like the way Sweden's team is rolling top to bottom. It seems like they're getting contributions from everywhere in the lineup. I think they got some good older players that are stepping up too. I like that. So I give them the edge to win the gold over Canada and then I would have Czechia as my bronze medalist.

[Scott Wheeler]

Scott, I, I'm in the same boat, but I would probably still lean Canada. I have been concerned at times by Canada's sort of defensive zone coverage like their defenseman frequently seem to be, get. Get spun around and searching for the puck. And there have been a lot of grade A sort of looks and, and sort of some panicky moments from their blue line. And even Zane Perek, as good as he's been in this tournament, is, is a part of that. They don't really have like they're missing, they're badly, badly missing Sam Dickinson. But I still think they've, they've got the game breakers top to bottom in a, in a, in a, in a sort of do or die game. I think you're going to see a Porter Martone or a Michael Misa be better than they've been. I think you're going to see.

[Corey Pronman]

I was gonna say that if they're gonna win that that line needs to be way better. Yes.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yes. I think George will be better too. Like George.

[Corey Pronman]

Good enough.

[Scott Wheeler]

Yeah, I think George will be better too. Like he. This is the goal. He got a 936 a year ago. Now has an 844. Like this is not the Carter George that I think think we'll see into the medal round here. And do we see him or is.

[Corey Pronman]

There a Vankovic you think they go to?

[Scott Wheeler]

No, I, I think it'll, I think it'll be George. I think if they were going to give Ivankovic a look in the quarterfinal, I think he would have played New Year's Eve.

[Max Bultman]

I'm on Sweden. I'm curious how Canada is going to handle the heavy that Sweden can bring between Genborg, Friendel, Bergland. Like that's a lot of body down low that I think Sweden's been able to use to good effect and I think we'll continue to so deeper team, heavy team. So I'll take Sweden for gold, Canada for, for silver and Finland for the bronze. Did you give your bronze pick, Scott?

[Scott Wheeler]

I've got the checks for bronze.

[Max Bultman]

The checks.

[Corey Pronman]

Yeah.

[Scott Wheeler]

All right.

[Max Bultman]

All right. Well, that is going to do it for us today. Thanks for tuning in with us live here or if you're listening on podcast. We'll be back obviously with the Athletic Hockey show on Monday. And of course, Scott, Corey and I are going to have more reaction throughout the rest of the world. Juniors, happy New Year to everybody. We'll talk to you soon.

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[Scott Wheeler]

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