The Red Wings will have nine prospects playing in the tournament, the most among NHL teams.
“The last few years we’ve had a lot of draft capital, our amateur scouts have done a great job and it’s been great to work with some of these young guys,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “We’ve got some talented players coming in who should come into their own here in a year, two years, next year.”
Headlining that list are their two first-round picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Sweden defenseman Simon Edvinsson (#6) and Canada goaltender Sebastian Kossa (#15).
Edvinsson had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) and averaged 19:42 of ice time in 44 games with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League last season, and a strong tournament could give the 19-year-old fast start to earning an NHL spot in roster this season.
“Simon is an excellent prospect,” Cleary said. “He’s big (6-foot-4, 198 pounds), skates effortlessly, is confident, has good puck skills. Got off to a great start last year and played great in Frolunda at 19. It’s not an easy league to play in and he played very well for one of the best teams in the league.
“We’ll see what happens in September. Our team is better, but certainly if Simon comes in and plays the way I believe he can play, I see no reason why not.”
Cossa was the No. 3 goaltender for Canada when the tournament took place in December, but could see an increased role after the 19-year-old went 33-9-3 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 46 regular-season games for Edmonton and had a .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 19 playoff games to help Edmonton win the Western Hockey League championship.
“I’m very excited for him,” Cleary said. “His attitude to training was great. After the development camp [July 10-14]he stayed a few weeks later to get some very good prep work with our goalkeeper [development staff]. … You’re just one of the team. That’s the way we want him to go into it and go and just work hard and be a great teammate. Just go in and do your job and let the chips fall where they may. Be willing to do your job and you’ll be on the grid.”
Other Red Wings prospects who will play in the tournament are goalie Jan Bednar (Czech Republic); defenders Donovan Sebrango (Canada), Emil Viro (Finland) and William Wallinder (Sweden); and forwards Carter Mazur (USA), Theodore Niederbach (Sweden), Redmond Savage (USA).
“I think anybody who’s a Red Wings fan, part of our organization, should be really excited, too,” Cleary said.
[RELATED: World Junior Championship schedule | Group A preview | Group B preview]
The Minnesota Wild are second with eight prospects and the New York Rangers are third with seven. Thirty of the 32 teams will have at least one WJC prospect; The Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken will have no one to play.
The tournament will be held August 9-20 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. All games will be televised on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada. The WJC was originally scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5, but was postponed after four days due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
World Junior Championship Rosters
Austria
GoalkeepersThomas Pfarmeier, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd Division (2023 draft eligible) Leon Sommer, Black Wings Linz, AUT (2023 draft eligible) Sebastian Vraneszitz, Tri-City, USHL
DefendersLukas Horl, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Lorenz Lindner, Steel Wings Linz, Austria 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Mateo Mitrovic, HTC Hockey Academy U20, Austria Junior league (2023 draft eligible) Lukas Necesani, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd Division (2023 draft eligible) Maximilian Preiml, Klagenfurt 2, Austria 2nd Division (2023 draft eligible) David Reinbacher , Kloten, SUI (draft eligible 2023) Tobias Sablating, Klagenfurt, AUT (draft eligible 2023) Christoph Thieler , Klagenfurt, AUT (draft eligible 2023) Martin Urbanek, Philach, AUT (draft eligible 2023)
ForwardLuca Auer, Salzburg, AUT (Draft Eligible 2023) Jonas Dobnig, New Jersey Rockets, USPHL (Draft Eligible 2023) Tim Geifes, Philach, AUT (Draft Eligible 2023) Maximilian Hengelmüller, RB Hockey Juniors , Austria 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Nico Kramer, Klagenfurt 2, Austria 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Moritz Lackner, Stanstead College, HIGH-QC (2023 Draft Eligible) Oskar Meier, Salzburg, AUT (2023 draft eligible) Senna Peters, Innsbruck, AUTIan Scherzer, Rogle Jr. , Swedish Junior League (2023 Draft Eligible) Lucas Thaler, Salzburg, AUT (2023 Draft Eligible) Finn Van Ee, Klagenfurt, AUT (2023 Draft Eligible) Leon Wallner, Sodertalle, Sweden 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Yannick Wernicke, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, USPHL (2023 draft eligible)
Canada
GoalkeepersBrett Broschu, London, OHL Sebastian Cossa, Edmonton, WHL (Detroit Red Wings) Dylan Garrand, Kamloops, WHL (New York Rangers)
DefendersLucas Cormier, Charlottetown, QMJHL (Vegas Golden Knights) Ethan Del Mastro, Mississauga, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks) Carson Lambos, Winnipeg, WHL (Minnesota Wild) Ryan O’Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (Minnesota Wild) Donovan Sebrango, Grand Rapids, AHL (Detroit Red Wings) Ronan Sealy, Everett, WHL (Carolina Hurricanes) Jack Thompson, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (Tampa Bay Lightning) Olen Zellweger, Everett, WHL (Anaheim Ducks)
ForwardConnor Bedard, Regina, WHL (draft-eligible 2023) William Kuyle, Windsor, OHL (New York Rangers) Elliot Denoyers, Halifax, QMJHL (Philadelphia Flyers) William Dufour, St. John’s, QMJHL (New York Islanders) Tyson Foerster , Barry, OHL (Philadelphia Flyers) Nathan Gocher, Quebec, QMJHL (Anaheim Ducks) Ridley Greig, Brandon, WHL (Ottawa Senators) Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets Riley Kidney, Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL (Montreal Canadiens) Mason McTavish, Hamilton , OHL (Anaheim Ducks) )Zach Ostapchuk, Vancouver, WHL (Ottawa Senators) Brennan Othman, Flint, OHL (New York Rangers) Joshua Roy, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (Montreal Canadiens) Logan Stankoven, Kamloops, WHL (Dallas Stars)
Czech Republic
GoalkeepersJan Bednar, Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL (Detroit Red Wings) Pavel Kayan, Kitchener, OHL (Columbus Blue Jackets) Tomas Suchanek, Tri-City, WHL (2023 draft eligible)
DefendersAles Cech, Karpat Jr., Finnish Junior League (2023 Draft Eligible) Tomas Hamara, Tapara, FIN (Ottawa Senators) David Jiriček, Pilsen, Czech Extraliga (Columbus Blue Jackets) David Moravec, Halifax, QMJHL (2023 Draft Eligible .) Stepan Nemec, Litomerice, Czech 2nd Division (2023 draft eligible) David Spacek, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (Minnesota Wild) Stanislav Svozil, Regina, WHL (Columbus Blue Jackets) Jiri Tihacek, Kladno, Czech Extraliga ( 2023 draft eligible)
ForwardJaroslav Chmelar, Providence, NCAA (New York Rangers) Michal Gut, Everett, WHL Petr Hauser, Sparta Jr., Czech Junior League (New Jersey Devils) Daniel Hercik, Pardubice, Czech Extraliga (2023 draft eligible) Ivan Ivan, Cape Breton, QMJHLJakob Kos, Ilves, FIN (Florida Panthers) Jiri Kulic, Karlovy Vary, Czech Extraliga (Buffalo Sabers) Adam Mechura, Tri-City, WHL (2023 draft eligible) Matous Mensik, Jiglava, Czech 2nd Division (eligible for 2023 draft) Jan Misak , Hamilton, OHL (Montreal Canadiens) Martin Risavi, Moose Jew, WHL (Columbus Blue Jackets) Matias Sapovaliv, Saginaw, OHL (Vegas Golden Knights) Gabriel Sturk, Kelowna, WHL (2023 draft eligible d.) Tomas Urban, Pardubice, Czech Extraliga (2023 Draft Eligible)
Finland
GoalkeepersJuha Jatkola, Kalpa, Liga (2023 draft eligible) Janni Lampinen, K-Espoo, Finland 2nd divisino (2023 draft eligible) Levi Merilainen, Karpat, Liga (Ottawa Senators)
DefendersAlexi Heimosalmi, Assat, Liiga (Carolina Hurricanes) Johnny Jurmo, Jukurit, Liiga (Vancouver Canucks) Topi Niemela, Karpat, Liiga (Toronto Maple Leafs) Petteri Nurmi, HPK, Liiga (Montreal Canadiens) Kasper Puutio, Kalpa, Liiga (Florida Panthers) )Ruben Rafkin, TPS, League (2023 draft eligible) Mathias Radaniemi, Pelicans, League (New York Islanders) Emile Viro, Grand Rapids, AHL (Detroit Red Wings)
ForwardSamuel Helenius, Ontario, AHL (Los Angeles Kings) Roni Hirvonen, HIFK, League (Toronto Maple Leafs) Robbie Jarventi, Belleville, AHL (Ottawa Senators) Oliver Kapanen, Kalpa, League (Montreal Canadiens) Roni Karvinen, Saipa, League (2023) d.) Draft Eligible) Joakim Kemmel, JYP, League (Nashville Predators) Vile Koivunen, Karpat, League (Carolina Hurricanes) Brad Lambert, Pelicans, League (Winnipeg Jets) Etu Lucas, HPK, League (New York Islanders) Joel Maata , Vermont, NCAA (Edmonton Oilers)Juuso Maenpaa, Kalpa, Liiga (2023 draft eligible)Aatu Raty, Bridgeport, AHL (New York Islanders)Kasper Simontaival, Kalpa, Liiga (Los Angeles Kings)Kalle Vaisanen, TPS, Liiga (New York Rangers)
Germany
GoalkeepersFlorian Bugle, Straubing, Germany (2023 draft eligible) Niklas Lunnemann, Cologne, Germany (2023 draft eligible) Nikita Kuap, Eisbaren Berlin, Germany (Carolina Hurricanes)
DefendersArkadiusz Dziambor, Mannheim, Germany (eligible for recruitment in 2023) Nils Elten, Iserlon, Germany (eligible for recruitment in 2023) Korbinian Geibel, Eisbaren Berlin, Germany (eligible for recruitment in 2023) Maximilian Glotzl, Cologne , Germany (2023 Draft Eligible) Adrian Klein, Straubing, GER (2023 Draft Eligible) Luca Munzenberger, Vermont, NCAA (Edmonton Oilers) Maximilian Schuber, Munich, Germany (Arizona Coyotes) Leon van der Linde, Kaufbeuren, Germany 2nd Division (2023 draft eligible)
ForwardAlexander Blank, Dusseldorf, Germany (2023 Draft Eligible) Ryan Del Monte, Barrie, OHL (2023 Draft Eligible) Josef Eham, Dusseldorf, Germany (2023 Draft Eligible) Haakon Hannelt, Gatineau, QMJHL ( Washington Capitals) Luka Hauf, Edmonton, WHL (2023 Draft Eligible) Nikolaus Hagel, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Thomas Hagel, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd Division ( 2023 Draft Eligible) Danio Leonhard, Nürnberg, Germany (2023 Draft Eligible) Yannick Proske, Iserlohn, GER (2023 Draft Eligible) Benet Rosmi, Eisbaren Berlin, GER (2023 Draft Eligible) Maciej Rutkowski, Iserlohn , GER (2023 Draft Eligible) Joshua Samanski, Straubing, GERMarkus Schweiger, Kaufbeuren, Germany 2nd Division (2023 Draft Eligible) Justin Volek , Augsburg, Germany (2023 Draft…
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