5 players to watch at the 2022 world juniors
The world juniors are upon us once again, with the annual showcase of the world's top young talent set to commence in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, on Boxing Day.
It's an exciting time for hockey fans to get a glimpse of the future, so we've outlined five players to zero in on this holiday season. While every team in the tournament boasts numerous exciting prospects, we've picked one from each of the top five contenders to balance things out.
Shane Wright, Canada
Canada has no shortage of players to pay special attention to as it looks to avenge its 2021 silver-medal result, but we're taking the easy route with the projected No. 1 pick in the next NHL draft. Wright has long been heralded as one of the game's next phenoms, and he's dominated the OHL this season with 30 points in 22 games.
An elite offensive talent with a dangerous release, Wright is expected to be a catalyst for Canada's potent attack. This tournament should make him a household name as he progresses through his draft year.
Matthew Beniers, United States
Beniers is a key returnee from last year's American gold-medal outfit. The Seattle Kraken prospect is expected to play a much bigger role this time around, and he should enter the tournament with plenty of confidence after opening his NCAA campaign with 22 points in 20 games for a Michigan squad with national title hopes.
The 19-year-old is a shoo-in to find the scoresheet with ease throughout the tournament, but Beniers' two-way game is what makes him a special prospect in the eyes of many scouts. It shouldn't be long before he's suiting up for the NHL's newest franchise.
Matvei Michkov, Russia
Michkov is a tantalizing talent expected to be a 2023 lottery pick alongside Canadian 16-year-old Connor Bedard. The Russian sniper appears to be a long way from the NHL, though, as he's signed with KHL's SKA St. Petersburg through 2026. Still, remember the name.
Michkov isn't the most dominant skater but is undeniably a lethal scorer. He ripped off 12 tallies in seven games at the 2021 Under-18 tournament as Russia captured a silver medal. He's bounced between the KHL and MHL in Russia this season, dominating against competition his own age. He's put up five points in 12 KHL games, which is more impressive than it seems considering he's only 16.
Topi Niemela, Finland
Niemela earned top defenseman honors at the 2021 tournament as he helped Finland claim bronze. He returns to the event as the highest-scoring blue-liner in Liiga - his native country's top professional league - with an impressive 24 points in 31 outings this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs 2020 third-round pick is poised to play monster minutes in all situations and has a golden chance to assert himself as one of the top prospects in the tournament. It remains to be seen whether Finland has the firepower to compete with the world's best this year. If it does, Niemela is likely to be one of the primary contributors.
Jesper Wallstedt, Sweden
Wallstedt was widely considered the top goaltending prospect available in the 2021 NHL Draft, and he became the first Swedish-born netminder ever selected in the first round when the Minnesota Wild took him 20th overall. Touted for his poise in the crease, the 6-foot-3 puck-stopper is looking to lead Sweden to its first gold medal since 2012.
Wallstedt made two appearances at last year's tournament, posting a .923 save percentage. He's registered the same clip across 17 appearances with Luela HF in the SHL this season, along with a sparkling 1.82 goals against average. In a short tournament, goaltending can make or break any team's championship hopes; having Wallstedt between the pipes leaves Sweden in great shape at the most important position.