MONTREAL -- After a 2016 IHHF World Junior Championship that was a showcase for 2016 NHL draft prospects, we were back to the standard team makeup for the most part at the 2017 event, where the vast majority of players have already been secured by NHL teams. The final between the United States and Canada was an epic battle that came down to a shootout, but there were notable performances throughout the event from players on every team. Fans of every NHL team got an early glimpse at players who could be lacing 'em up at the highest level in the very near future.
In particular, the Minnesota Wild were very well represented at this year's tournament. From the perspective of projecting ahead to the NHL, the Wild's prospect group was the clear No. 1 story in my book, especially when you consider that none of their four players was a top-10 pick (and two of them weren't even first-round picks), yet they were all top players.
So without any further preamble, here are my thoughts on the standouts, surprises and disappointments from this year's WJC, including one of last year's standouts who wound up in the disappointments category one year later.
Note: Players are listed alphabetically within each group.
The Wild Quartet
Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild
Eriksson Ek was a do-everything player for Sweden, seemingly out there every other shift during the critical games. His skill level doesn't blow you away, but he does everything at an above-average level. He skates well for a big man, wins a lot of battles, see the ice well and can finish chances. He projects as a center at the NHL level due to the well-rounded quality of his game and his ability to take tough defensive assignments.
Jordan Greenway, LW, Minnesota Wild
We mentioned Greenway as a riser during the U.S. summer camp, and he has only continued to impress during the course of the season. He was a critical part of Team USA's offense, being the big-man component to complement skilled players like Clayton Keller and Jeremy Bracco. Greenway made a lot of nice touch plays himself, looking equally comfortable battling for space and winning pucks as he did saucering a pass or making an open-ice play.
Kirill Kaprizov, RW, Minnesota Wild
Kaprizov was everything you imagined he would be for his Russian team and more, arguably being one of the best players, if not the best player at the World Juniors. He was instantly noticeable every time he was on the ice. Kaprizov has a well-rounded skill set. His puck skills are elite. He makes quick reads, can finish chances from a distance and has good, albeit not great, speed. He's a small guy, but what stood out, on top of his talent, was how well he battles for pucks and got chances from within 2 feet of the crease.
Luke Kunin, C, Minnesota Wild
Kunin was USA's go-to player for tough minutes. In the semifinals, he effectively nullified Russia's top line, which had been dangerous all tournament. He was first over the boards to kill penalties and was on the first power-play unit; from a statistical standpoint, he was among the leaders in shots on goal for the tournament. He's a complete hockey player who can outsmart opponents, make a nice touch pass or make plays with his power game. Kunin looks ready to turn pro next season.
Standouts
Rasmus Asplund, C, Buffalo Sabres
Asplund wasn't a top-three player for Sweden, but I took away positive impressions on him from each game. He looks a little quicker than when I saw him last season, which adds a lot to his game. He sees the ice very well and is able to make pro-level reads. On the Swedish power play, Alex Nylander, Oliver Kylington and Asplund were relied on to be the primary creators, and he excelled in that type of setup role.
Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders
It was hard to watch Barzal and not fall in love with what he could do out there. He's arguably the best playmaker outside the NHL. The way he slows down the play and makes high-end reads is second to none, and when you combine his tremendous agility and hands, it makes him a handful to check. I also liked how he battled for pucks, showing a little more edge than I've previously seen in his game. I expect he will be a full-time NHL player in 2017-18.
Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators
Chabot was fantastic during the World Juniors, being named not only the top defenseman at the event, but the tournament MVP after his insane workload in the semifinal and final. He's a ridiculously good skater for a tall player, makes high-level plays with consistency and can dominate the transition game. I probably still wouldn't qualify him as a top-end shutdown guy, but with his feet and skill, his team often has the puck anyway. Bulking up and continuing to refine his positional play will go a long way to helping him be a regular with Ottawa next season.
Rasmus Dahlin, D, 2018 draft eligible
I've seen a lot of prospects over the years. You know special when you see it. Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, John Tavares, Ekblad. Dahlin is that kind of special at the same age (16). Relative to the rest of the field, he didn't play particularly well. In fact, the later games were a struggle for him at times. But the bar of excellence is a bit lower for 16-year-old players at this tournament, and he cleared it by a longshot. His mobility is special. His skill level is special. His hockey sense is special. You see him read the game in a unique way and make plays that you never see from other players. I'm excited for where he could be this time next season.
Martins Dzierkals, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
It's rare for a player on a relegated team to stand out, but Dzierkals did everything he could to keep that fate from befalling Latvia. He's a great skater who has the ability to push defensemen back, and the skill/IQ combination helps him slow down the play and look for his options. He hasn't been amazing in the QMJHL this season for a 19-year-old, but through the years we've seen flashes of great upside on top of a solid work ethic. We'll see if he can raise his game to the same level he did at this tournament when he joins the AHL Marlies next season.
Julien Gauthier, RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Gauthier got better as the tournament went along. His great athleticism can make him tough to check when he's on his game, as few players his size can skate and handle the puck like he can. Gauthier could go long stretches without doing much when he wasn't engaging physically or anticipating the play, but when he was clicking, he created a lot of chances for Canada. His game has stagnated a little this season, but there's still a lot to like.
Carl Grundstrom, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Grundstrom was a go-to player all tournament for Sweden. He was a great penalty killer, often a shorthanded threat, and was leaned on to create offense as well. He has a good skill level and above-average speed, while also having the grind in his game to win battles and get in front of shots. He's had a very good season to date, and while he wasn't quite elite at the World Juniors, I think Toronto fans can be generally pleased with his development.
Denis Guryanov, RW, Dallas Stars
Guryanov started the tournament very slowly, but he was electric in the medal round. His speed is exceptional given his size, and he had more than a few clear breaks at the net due to how easily he can turn defenders around. His east-west game is somewhat concerning in his pro projection, but there are certainly pro elements to his game that Dallas can help develop. His ability to pressure, win battles and burn through center ice makes him valuable.
Nico Hischier, C, 2017 draft eligible
Hischier showed why hes in the conversation as a potential top-3 pick for the 2017 NHL draft. He's highly skilled, he battles for pucks at both ends, makes a ton of plays, and he's a very shifty skater (though admittedly not a blazer). He was huge for Switzerland, playing over 20 minutes per game and looking as good as you could as a 17-year-old at this level.
Filip Hronek, D, Detroit Red Wings
Aside from one particularly bad moment when Hronek got turned inside out by Blackhawks prospect Mathias From in Denmark's overtime win, Hronek was a very steady puck mover for the Czechs. He's not a very strong skater, but he's quite skilled with the puck and sees the ice at a high-end level. He'll need time to get quicker and stronger, but he has an NHL future in Detroit due to his hockey sense.
Caleb Jones, D, Edmonton Oilers
On a thin USA blue line, Jones was leaned on to provide key minutes, especially since the USA couldn't clone Charlie McAvoy and play him and the clone on a 60-minute shift. Jones is a legitimate NHL prospect and has continued to impress whenever I've seen him during the past few seasons. He can skate and create offense at an above-average level. He'll win puck battles too, despite subpar size for a defender, and can be relied on to face good forwards.
Clayton Keller, LW, Arizona Coyotes
Keller was in the discussion for top forward at the tournament. I've written so much about him in the last 12 months that there's very little left to say. He's a high-end skater, puck handler and distributor who is as dynamic as any drafted player outside the NHL. Keller will be in the mix for the title of No. 1 overall prospect when I release my new rankings in a few weeks.
Oliver Kylington, D, Calgary Flames
If you watch Kylington on any given shift, you would think either "duh" to his being a standout, or think I'm out of my mind. He has a lot of variance to his game and lives life on the edge. While he occasionally tips over the edge with an errant read or brutal giveaway, most of the time he's creating offense and keeping the puck out of his zone. Kylington's point totals weren't gaudy, but he was in on a ton of scoring chances and could have easily had 10 points. His skill/skating combo is elite.
Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins
One stat that explains what McAvoy meant to Team USA: He played 32 minutes in the semifinal against Russia. While he didn't generate a ton of chances for himself, the puck would have been hemmed in the U.S. zone for most of the game if he hadn't been on the roster. He's a good skater with great offensive instincts and the frame to win and control pucks. That's not to say he was perfect, as he had the occasional bad moment or read. However, of the mountain of events he was a part of on the ice, the overwhelming majority of them were positive, and it's why I voted him as one of the top two defensemen at the event.
Philippe Myers, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Myers was unfortunately injured midway through the tournament, but when healthy, he was outstanding. His skating is ridiculously good for a tall defenseman, but it was the way he used his skating that was the most impressive. Myers made great reads to support his team on the rush and was a dangerous offensive force. Big men who can skate and dangle are a rare asset in the NHL, and Flyers fans should be excited by Myers' promise.
Alexander Nylander, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Nylander's skill set distinguished him in this tournament. The plays he can make in tight spaces and the creative ways he generates offense are second to none among this group of players, and it's why he projects to play toward the top of an NHL lineup one day. I'm a little worried by his lack of a separation gear in his skating, and his body has a long way to go before he can win puck battles versus 200-plus-pound giants on a nightly basis. That being said, he puts up points -- and they're not flukes.
Yegor Rykov, D, New Jersey Devils
Longtime readers know I've been a Rykov fan for a few years, and I wasn't too surprised by how he carried the Russian blue line. He's a very good puck-moving defenseman, particularly for a guy with a pro frame. His game is quiet, yet steady. Rykov makes a lot of good, quick decisions at both ends of the ice, and while he's not a dynamic skater he can get up into the attack.
Ilya Samsonov, G, Washington Capitals
"Sammy" was about as dynamic as a goalie could be here. His explosiveness is incredible for a goalie his size, but it's the unique reads he makes that really make him stand out. The way he plays his angles is gutsy, but he reads passing lanes and shot opportunities so well that his aggressiveness rarely comes back to bite him. He still has technical flaws, but his game has so many next-level elements that you can clearly see him being an NHL starter one day.
Felix Sandstrom, G, Philadelphia Flyers
Sweden's head coach, Tomas Monten, called Sandstrom the team's best player at the tournament, as he carried over his excellent play in the SHL this season. He's a big goalie but moves relatively well for a tall player and plays a very refined game. Sandstrom took away net like a pro from shooters, and he was able to anticipate chances very well.
Jonas Siegenthaler, D, Washington Capitals
Siegenthaler played an average of 25 minutes per game, and they were hard-fought minutes. He was always the first man over the boards to shadow the opponent's best players and on the first power-play and penalty-killing units for Switzerland. He wins a ton of battles and skates well, and while his offense will never be high-end in the NHL, he's a competent puck mover. He was one of the top defensemen at the tournament.
Dylan Strome, C, Arizona Coyotes
While Strome was not as good as he was in last year's event, he was still among the tournament leaders in scoring and shot generation. Some of it I put on his linemates, some of it on the fact that his skating continues to be problematic. However, he remains a very skilled big man that makes plays and can finish and played like a top prospect, albeit not the top prospect.
Yakov Trenin, C, Nashville Predators
Trenin was technically a third-line player for Russia on the lineup sheets, but he was their most leaned-on forward all tournament in terms of ice time. He killed penalties well, won a ton of draws and was on the top power-play unit. Trenin isn't the smoothest skater, but he wins a ton of battles, has solid puck skills and was a nuisance to deal with around the crease for opponents.
Colin White, C, Ottawa Senators
White was the No. 1 center for the USA and a critical part of his team's long run at the tournament. White doesn't have elite speed or hands, but his brain is elite. He's always around the puck making a good play, and he doesn't tend to hurt his team. He's a very capable scorer on top of being a great defensive center. He drives the play forward as well as any center in college hockey, and he should be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
Surprises
Lucas Carlsson, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Sweden's coach Tomas Monten heaped praise on Carlsson: "He had a big tournament. He stood out as one of our top defensemen." Chicago selected Carlsson in the fourth round as a re-entry after going undrafted in 2015. He's not the quickest skater and is a little lean, the latter of which has contributed to him often getting dinged up. However, he's a skilled player who alleviates pressure and makes things happen offensively. Defensively, I thought he was solid here, making enough stops to complement his skill.
Joe Cecconi, D, Dallas Stars
When USA's defense started to struggle in the middle of the tournament, Cecconi really stepped up his game. He moved from the seventh defenseman into the top-four rotation, particularly being of great value in the medal round. He's no Erik Karlsson, but he wins a ton of battles, is a great penalty killer and doesn't make a lot of dumb turnovers.
Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles Kings
After Philippe Myers went down with an injury midway through the tournament, it was Clague who was asked to step in and fill that top-pairing role with Chabot, and he did so effectively. Clague is a very good skater, with impressive two-way hockey sense. While he wasn't dominant, he was quite impressive for an 18-year-old. After what seemed to be a small stagnation last season, Clague looks like the top prospect he was projected to be as a 15- and 16-year-old.
Jonathan Dahlen, LW, Ottawa Senators
I expected Dahlen to be a decent player for Sweden, but he ended up being one of its top five forwards. His speed is improved, but still not great. He doesn't dangle defenders, but he's a gritty, versatile forward who can make a skilled pass or bulldoze his way to the net. Dahlen got a ton of shots on goal, and the coaching staff trusted him to be useful in any situation.
Fredrik Karlstrom, LW, Dallas Stars
Karlstrom started the tournament as Sweden's 13th forward, but he steadily earned more ice time, even jumping ahead of older players (he has a 1998 birth date, so he'll be eligible to play again next season) when Sweden shortened its bench. Karlstrom skates and handles the puck well, and while he got caught behind the pace from time to time, he showed that he's able to transition the puck like a pro. He's been very good in the Allsvenskan league this season, and I expect him to be a top player for Sweden next season.
Nikolaj Krag, LW, St. Louis Blues
Krag, who was the third-to-last pick at the 2016 NHL draft, was a big part of Denmark's surprise performance at the tournament. For a 6-foot-3 forward, he has a very high skill level with a decent shot as well. I don't love his skating, and that has hampered his play in Sweden this season. He's certainly a long-term developmental player, but the IQ and skill are evident in his game; considering his size, that puts him much more on my radar than he was before.
Taylor Raddysh, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Raddysh excelled in a support role for Canada, often being the player who won battles and fed the puck to Barzal. For a 1998 birth-year player, he looked very advanced in how he handled the World Junior pace and was a fixture all tournament on Canada's first power-play unit. Raddysh is a player whose stock has risen considerably in my eyes during the past few weeks.
Aapeli Rasanen, C, Edmonton Oilers
Rasanen started the tournament further down the lineup for Finland, as he hasn't really lit up the USHL this season, and his role was expected to be limited as an underage player. However, he kept playing well and was named one of Finland's top three players by the coaches. "Rasanen is a good two-way guy. He had a great tournament. When a tough situation came up, we knew he could score a goal or win a big draw," said Finland's Jussi Ahokas, who was the second head coach for them at the tournament after Jukka Rautakorpi was fired.
Damien Riat, RW, Washington Capitals
I didn't come into the tournament thinking much about Riat in terms of being an NHL prospect, but his performance here was persuasive. Riat was one of the better forwards during the round robin portion. He skates well, can flash above-average skill and finishes chances from a distance. He was an all-situations player for Switzerland and a short-handed threat at times. I wouldn't call him a potential top-six NHL forward right now, but he looks to have at least some NHL projection in him.
Troy Terry, RW, Anaheim Ducks
I'd like to go on the record saying I was ready to write up Terry before his three-goal performance in the shootout in the semifinal and his tournament-winning shootout goal in the final. While true, nobody will likely believe me. Regardless, Terry turned several scouts' heads (including mine) even prior to the shootout heroics. He's a good skater whose frame has developed well during the past few years. While he's not an elite puck handler, he steadily earned more offensive responsibility as the tournament went along. He thinks the game well and has a solid touch with the puck. Terry has been a key part of a dangerous Denver team in college hockey this season and helped to deepen the USA lineup.
Mikhail Vorobyov, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Vorobyov led the tournament in assists -- albeit with zero goals -- and he was the first to do that with double-digit helpers. The offense wasn't surprising; he was projected to lead Russia's first line. It was more about the degree of effectiveness he showed. Vorobyov made some really difficult distributions seem easy, and he has the ability to slow the game down. Centers with size and good offensive IQ are valuable, and while he may not be a blazing fast skater or a physical force, he's on the NHL radar now for me.
Disappointments
Canada's goaltending (Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers, and Connor Ingram, Tampa Bay Lightning)
Prior to the event, it looked like this was the year Canada's goaltending would be a strength rather than a weakness -- and it wasn't, though Hart did look better after taking over in the semifinal. That said, goaltending fluctuates wildly in samples of less than 10 games, so I don't think it's a giant concern for either Hart or Ingram. I still think highly of both as prospects, although Ingram's tendency for soft goals here was mildly concerning.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
The No. 3 overall pick from 2016 did better in the medal round, but given his expected role on the team, he was somewhat below expectations. He did well physically and was able to generate some chances, but he was inconsistent in that regard. Canada ended up trimming his ice time from the top-line role, where he started the tournament. It's been a disappointing season overall for Dubois. I still believe in him as a prospect, but he needs to show a little more of a dynamic element.
Olli Juolevi, D, Vancouver Canucks
The feedback on Juolevi was largely negative in this tournament, and to a degree during his time in the OHL too, but he was still second in the team in shots on goal, and I thought he played a little better in the second half of the event. "You always wanted more [from him]," said one NHL executive. "I wish he had more intensity to his game."
Another executive echoed concerns, but with optimism: "He's been better than he has been lately. I believe he'll rebound though. He's too smart and too talented not to." I think reasonable concern is warranted, while at the same time that doesn't mean we need to hit the panic button yet. Juolevi is still a great skater who moves the puck well and remains a top prospect, but he needs to get his game back on track.
Noah Juulsen, D, Montreal Canadiens
Maybe my expectations were slightly too for high for Juulsen, but I kept thinking throughout the tournament, "Where's the sizzle?" He would make some nice defensive plays, be it a hit or closing a gap on his man. He skates fine, but for a first-round pick used in a top-four role, I just never saw his game get to that next level.
Jacob Larsson, D, Anaheim Ducks
Considering how well Larsson started the season, making the Ducks out of training camp, I expected a lot from him. He wasn't horrible. In fact, I thought he was solid. But there was a "wow" factor missing from his game. I see a guy who can dictate the play due to his size, skating and vision, but there are a few too many bad decisions and a little lack of bite to his game that I'd like to see corrected. That being said, I still expect him to compete for ice time with the Ducks next season.