After providing scouting notes on the Team Canada and Team USA rosters for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship, it's time for a look at the rest of the field.
For the sake of brevity, I won't profile every player, so I'm going to select prospects I feel are notable for one reason or another; typically, this means top prospects and/or top recent draft picks.
I'll also reveal my picks for all-tournament team, most valuable player and the medals. Spoiler Alert: One of the teams whose players are scouted here finishes in my top 3.
Players are listed alphabetically within their respective country, and are presented along with the NHL team that owns each player's rights, while draft prospects are denoted as such.
Sweden
Gabriel Carlsson, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
I haven't been a huge Carlsson fan, and still am skeptical of his returning the value of being a first-round pick (he went No. 29 overall in 2015), but I know others who disagree. "He looks calm out there. He transitions the puck quickly out of his zone, and breaks up a lot of plays," said one NHL scout. Carlsson has shown improvements this season, getting decent minutes for his SHL team as the season has progressed, but we'll see how well he can create plays as an underage player at this tourney.
Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild
Eriksson Ek is a pretty well-rounded center (although he may line up on the wing at this tournament). He skates fine, can make a decent amount of puck plays and battles hard. His hockey sense is his best trait, as he shows offensive imagination, quick decisions and solid defensive awareness.
Gustav Forsling, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Forsling was one of the top scorers at last years' tournament, and is expected to fill a similar, power-play specialist type of role for Sweden this time around. His puck movement is quick and smart, and rarely does Forsling hurt his team. His defense is still a work in progress in terms of how he angles off opponents as well as his struggles to win battles.
Axel Holmstrom, C, Detroit Red Wings
Holmstrom has played pretty well (albeit not amazing) this season in the SHL, after a historically good postseason (as a teenage player) last spring. He's a gifted playmaker who sees the ice at a top-end level, is able to make plays off the puck, and create in open ice. Holmstrom has added a gear to his skating; it remains his weakness, although it isn't as glaring now.
Adrian Kempe, LW, Los Angeles Kings
Kempe has been very impressive this season, as the 19-year-old has been one of the best players on his AHL team (Ontario) in terms of scoring and shot creation. His skating is fantastic, he's able to make skill plays, and has an above-average shot too. Kempe was one of the youngest players in his draft class (early September birth date) and as he's physically matured, his game has really grown.
Jacob Larsson, D, Anaheim Ducks
Larsson is a player that excites scouts. "He's a great skater, he has good hockey IQ and works hard," said one scout. "It's hard to not like that package." Larsson has been decent in the SHL this season, moving the puck well for a teenager, but could still stand to bulk up and sharpen his defensive play.
Oskar Lindblom, LW, Philadelphia Flyers
Lindblom has been very good for Brynas this season in the SHL, being one of the team's top overall players. He plays a pro-style game, with good two-way hockey sense, fine hands, and an ability to make plays in the contested areas. His skating has improved significantly since his draft season (2014), allowing him to make the most of his hockey IQ.
Alexander Nylander, RW, 2016 draft eligible
Another Nylander! Alex has been extremely impressive in the OHL this season, moving in my mind from a pretty good prospect to an elite one. His skill and vision are off-the-charts good, and he's also a pretty good finisher. Alex is slightly taller than William, but could stand to bulk up and be grittier in the corners. He's expected to play on a line with his brother at this tourney.
William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Speaking of William, he has been atop the AHL scoring race for a good chunk of the season, and is probably going to be in the NHL in the near future. His speed, puck skills, and vision all earn high-end grades or better, and he's made notable efforts to improve his defensive play (although that area could still use work). William is expected to be one of the best players at the tournament.
Finland
Sebastian Aho, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
Aho has been one of the most productive players in the Liiga this season as an 18-year-old, regularly playing around 20 minutes per game in the past two months. He brings above-average speed and hands to the table. Despite being undersized, he's also quite good defensively, and should be one of Finland's top penalty killers.
Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
I've seen Kapanen a few times this season, and I can think of several moments where he brought the crowd out of their seats with a dynamic play. However, when he doesn't have the puck, and can't utilize his speed or hands, and there are glaring issues in his game. "He looks timid," said one NHL scout. "When he goes into the corners, he doesn't engage. He doesn't take his checks well, either." Kapanen is looking to put an exclamation point on his under-20 years after a disappointing 2015 tournament.
Patrik Laine, LW, 2016 draft eligible
Laine has been outstanding for his Liiga team this season, and has firmly placed himself in the conversation of the best prospects in his draft class. He's a truck at 6-4, 209 pounds, and is incredibly difficult for players at the pro level to handle, nevermind under-20 foes at this tournament. He is very creative, has a big-time shot, and can make unique plays happen on the ice. His speed and physicality aren't the best, but Laine has proven this season he has all the necessary tools to play and succeed versus men.
Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, 2016 draft eligible
Last year, Puljujarvi had one of the best performances by a 16-year-old at a WJC that I can remember, creating a ton of offense for Finland. He's a big winger (6-foot-3, 196 pounds) with plus-speed, skill and finishing abilities who has played well versus men for the past two seasons in Finland's top league. Puljujarvi is expected to be a go-to weapon for Finland, and is a potential top-five pick in June.
Mikko Rantanen, LW, Colorado Avalanche
Rantanen is expected to have a big tournament after a strong showing last year and at Lake Placid this summer. He's been unusually good for a 19-year-old prospect in the AHL so far. He's a big winger with high-end puck skills and vision who can create scoring chances in bunches. His skating is still not the greatest, but he thinks the game so quickly that he overcomes for that liability quite easily.
Villi Saarijarvi, D, Detroit Red Wings
Saarijarvi has been one of the top defensemen in the OHL, being a high-end offensive defender. He's really fun to scout because of how smart and creative he is moving the puck around. On the power play, he has a large arsenal of moves he uses to open up lanes and keep penalty killers guessing. His defense isn't great, partly due to his small stature, but he's OK in his own end, which is all he needs to be given his offensive talent.
Czech Republic
Pavel Zacha, C, New Jersey Devils
Zacha is such an exciting player to watch. It's no surprise he nearly made the Devils at age 18, as his combination of skill, speed and shot for a man his size (6-3, 209 pounds) is something you don't often see. Once per game, he'll make a "wow" play that makes you marvel at his raw abilities. His game isn't perfectly well-rounded yet, but at the under-20 level, he should be able to dominate. Expect him to have a big impact for the Czech Republic.
Jakub Zboril, D, Boston Bruins
Zboril was the 13th overall pick last summer, but he's underwhelmed somewhat this season. His skating is high-end and he has above-average hands, and some shifts he looks like a guy who can take over. He's just quite inconsistent in terms of those moments. I'm not sold on his hockey IQ at the moment. This tournament could be an opportunity for him to right the ship a bit, and get his confidence back.
Russia
Denis Guryanov, LW, Dallas Stars
Guryanov's ice time has been very limited in the KHL this season, so he'll be looking forward to playing versus his peers and getting regular repetitions. He's an elite skater who plays a power game and makes plays at both ends. Guryanov didn't do much in the summer under-20 tournament vs. Canada, but he was great last spring at the world under-18 championship.
Vladislav Kamenev, C, Nashville Predators
Kamenev has been one of Milwaukee's better players in the AHL this season, playing on their power play and penalty kill. He's a hard-working and highly-skilled center who was an effective top-six forward for Russia last year. He is expected to be one of the better forwards at this year's tournament.
Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
Kaprizov has had an eye-opening season as an 18-year-old in the world's second-best league. His scoring totals are on par with some of the best ever by a teenager in the KHL. He is quick, skilled and has great vision. He processes the game so well for such a young player, being able to outsmart and outpace pro defensemen. His body still needs a ton of bulk, though.
Ivan Provorov, D, Philadelphia Flyers
In his second WJC, Provorov should be playing in all situations for Russia after playing a limited role in 2015. His skating is fantastic, he's shifty, explosive and good on his edges. He has impressive stick skills and has a solid defensive game in terms of his positioning and physical play.
Ilya Samsonov, G, Washington Capitals
Samsonov's playing time in the KHL has been sparse, but he's been unusually good for an 18-year-old when he has played. In fact, goalies his age almost never get a game in that league, nevermind find success. He's a very athletic and smart goaltender who has the ability to steal a game, and will be in the mix for the Russian starting job.
Evgeni Svechnikov, C, Detroit Red Wings
Svechnikov has been one of the top QMJHL players this season. His skill level is high-end, especially relative to most players with his frame (6-3, 205 pounds). He can be tenacious on the puck, and set up a ton of scoring chances. His skating is the major flaw in his game, and we'll see how he fares on large ice, but he should be a top scorer for Russia.
Switzerland
Timo Meier, LW, San Jose Sharks
I've steadily become a big Timo Meier fan; previously, I criticized the Sharks for taking him ninth overall (2015), but now see it as reasonable. He's a good skater, his stick skills are impressive and he plays a hard-nosed style. Meier's shot generation in the QMJHL has been off-the-charts good during the past 18 months, with very few recent statistical comparable players in that area. Switzerland won't be that strong in this tournament, but if they are to pull off an upset against one of the top teams, Meier will be a huge part of it.
Predictions
All-star team
F: Mitchell Marner, Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs
F: Auston Matthews, USA, 2016 draft-eligible
F: William Nylander, Sweden, Toronto Maple Leafs
D: Zach Werenski, USA, Columbus Blue Jackets
D: Ivan Provorov, Russia, Philadelphia Flyers
G: Mackenzie Blackwood, Canada, New Jersey Devils
MVP: Mitchell Marner, Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs
Medals
Gold: Canada
Silver: United States
Bronze: Sweden