Today we continue our 2024 World Junior Championships preview by giving NHL fans a look at the best prospects for this year's tournament. This is not a ranking of who we think will be the best performers at the start of the tournament. Rather, this is a direct ranking of players based on their NHL projections, regardless of their expected role in the tournament. Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler evaluated the player pool from this perspective and averaged their rankings to create a list of the top 25 NHL upcoming junior prospects in the world.
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1. Macklin Celebrini, C, 2024 NHL Draft eligible (Canada)
Celebrini is the clear top candidate for this year's event. On a Canadian team lacking the usual star power and looking for its first three-peat since 2009, he could also be the player to keep an eye on. Canada will likely need him not only as a good player but also as a star.
2. Will Smith, C, San Jose (USA)
In three international events last season, Smith scored 19 goals and 37 points in 14 games for Team USA. Can he do it again as an 18-year-old in an event for 19-year-olds, on a team where Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud, Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley are all returning starters? He definitely has the talent.
3. Cutter Gauthier, C, Philadelphia (USA)
Gauthier still hasn't won an international gold medal in his USA Hockey career, but he did score seven goals in 10 games at the men's world championship last spring. He should be a strength at this level and is one of the main reasons the Americans enter the tournament as favorites.
4. Gabe Perreault, LW, New York Rangers (USA)
Perreault's unique O-zone intuition, handle and sixth sense as a passer have typically made him one of the best offensive players in the 2005 age group. He just produces.
5. Konsta Helenius, C, 2024 NHL Draft eligible (Finland)
This is a weaker Finnish group than usual and will rely on the talent and versatility of Helenius, even as a minor – and probably even as a top-six center.
6. Jiri Kulich, LW, Buffalo (Czech Republic)
Kulich's pro experience (and success) should make this level a clear step down for him. We know his one-timer will come on the power play. But he will need to be strong at five-on-five if the Czechs – who on paper are not as strong as they were when the team won silver a year ago – want to win a medal again. He should be up to the task.
7. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington (USA)
Leonard plans to play alongside Smith and Perreault, as he has for some time. Leonard is a hard-nosed winger with plenty of skill and natural finishing. He doesn't have the playing technique of his teammates, but his style complements them very well. He is having a good freshman season at Boston College.
8. Lane Hutson, LHD, Montreal (USA)
Like Gauthier, Hutson has played and achieved success with Team USA at the men's level. This tournament, with the U.S. in the weaker of the two groups, sets him up well to potentially break the all-time points record in a single tournament for a defenseman with 14 points.
9. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis (USA)
Snuggerud finished third in the tournament standings a year ago and, as a returner and the USA's first right winger, should be one of the tournament's best strikers.
10. Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD, Detroit (Sweden)
Sandin Pellikka played a big role in Sweden's World Junior team last year and is expected to be aiming for the tournament's all-star team this year as an 18-year-old.
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11. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, St. Louis (Slovakia)
Dvorsky's international pedigree is impressive. As a minor, he led the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in goals. Last year he was named to the U18 World Cup All-Star team. Now, with another year of tournament eligibility left after this year, he becomes the man for a Slovak team that has high hopes this year.
12. Adam Jiricek, RHD, 2024 NHL Draft eligible (Czech Republic)
Jiricek is considered a top-four defender for the Czech Republic who can play on both special teams. He's a big, agile right-shot defenseman who can move pucks well and make a lot of stops, although his offensive technique isn't particularly high-quality.
13. Matthew Savoie, RW, Buffalo (Canada)
He has been one of the top contenders in the 2004 age group since he was a young boy. This is Savoy's first international event at U18 or U20 level. Canada will need him as a 19-year-old to become a top forward, and his combination of speed, skill and work ethic should make that possible.
14. Matt Poitras, C, Boston (Canada)
As a teenager, Poitras was an active part of a top Boston Bruins team in the NHL. He's not particularly big or fast, but he's super skilled and smart and competes pretty hard. He will be a very important part of Team Canada.
15. Zeev Buium, LHD, 2024 NHL Draft eligible (USA)
Buium is in the midst of one of the best freshmen seasons ever for a draft-eligible defenseman. He is super smart and creative with the puck and aspires to play at the world junior level. Buium is a strong skater, but the defensive parts of his game are not as polished as his offense.
16. Samuel Honzek, LW, Calgary (Slovakia)
Honzek has had injury problems recently, including at last year's Junior World Championships. However, when healthy, he is a big, powerful forward who can skate, has real skill and competes well. He should make the difference for Slovakia.
17. Filip Bystedt, C, San Jose (Sweden)
Bystedt was a top player for Sweden at last year's tournament and performed solidly compared to the pros. Bystedt is a tall, quick striker who can play in the middle and has continually improved his performance and offensive ability.
18. Brayden Yager, C, Pittsburgh (Canada)
Yager is a projected top-3 line center for Canada who is having another strong year in junior. He is very competitive, has a great shot and can create offense with pace despite lacking size.
19. Tom Willander, RHD, Vancouver (Sweden)
Willander's last international appearance at the U18 World Cup was fantastic. He showed he can be a great two-way defender with excellent skating. Sweden hopes that the player will show up in Gothenburg.
20. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Vancouver (Sweden)
Lekkerimaki is in the midst of a great bounce-back season in Sweden after a mediocre post-draft season. He is extremely talented and has a top-notch shot, which has led to a lot of goals at the SHL level. His play away from the puck and sometimes his play at the rim leave a little to be desired, but he should score for Sweden.
21. Rutger McGroarty, LW, Winnipeg (USA)
McGroarty has an asterisk here because it's not 100% clear that he will be healthy. However, the trend is that way and he would be a great asset to Team USA. He is an elite competitor who can score and make plays, although his foot speed is an issue.
22. Nate Danielson, C, Detroit (Canada)
Danielson hasn't had a great offensive season in the WHL, but is still a skilled forward with strong skating and two-way play. He could potentially be a goalscorer in the NHL, but he's expected to be a bottom-six forward for Canada in this tournament.
23. David Edstrom, C, Vegas (Sweden)
Edstrom has been very good for Frolunda in the SHL this season and was a top player for Sweden's U18 team last season. He's not the flashiest player in the world, but he's a big, quick two-way center who has shown over time that he can score and create offensive opportunities.
24. Tristan Luneau, RHD, Anaheim (Canada)
Luneau was loaned from the NHL, where he performed well in Anaheim and at the AHL level. He is very skilled and moves pucks like a pro. His defense has never been stronger in the past, but he will be trusted with heavy minutes for Canada and will look to show he can be a true two-way player.
25. Denton Mateychuk, LHD, Columbus (Canada)
Mateychuk has been a top defenseman in the CHL this season. Mateychuk is an excellent skater with real playing skills. He's not that big, but he competes well enough to keep up with all the puck possessions he generates.
(Top photos of Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini and Cutter Gauthier: Jari Pestelacci / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images, Johan Nilsson / TT News Agency via AP and Pavel Golovkin / AP Photo)