While this summer’s World Junior Championship may be missing some star talent, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t seen prospects increase their NHL Draft value.
As the tournament heads into the bronze- and gold-medal games on Saturday, the number of teams still alive has dwindled from 10 to four. In the process, we have seen sensational individual performances by the NHL’s future.
The four teams playing for a medal — Canada, Finland, Czechia and Sweden — are full of those future contributors. Certain players have stepped up to become big reasons why they are still playing.
But there are always prospects who could have performed better. This year is no different, although the tournament represents a small sample size and is at a weird time of the year in 2022, so take the criticisms with a grain of salt.
MORE: Schedule, scores, results for all 2022 World Juniors games
The Sporting News examines a handful of prospects whose NHL stock has risen or fallen at the 2022 World Juniors:
2022 World Juniors prospect risers
Mason McTavish, F, Canada
Unlike other top-end prospects, McTavish wanted to skate for Canada this summer and win gold. He hasn’t just shown up, he has been Canada’s best player. The no. 3 overall pick in 2021 by the Ducks tied a Canadian World Juniors record with four goals in a game. His 15 points heading into the gold-medal game are not only the most of any player at the World Juniors, but they are also two shy of the Canadian record.
Logan Stankoven, F, Canada
Stankoven has done it all — score, set up plays, force turnovers, hit, win draws. The Canada spark plug not only has nine points in six games, he also has won 76 percent of his faceoffs. The next-best player is at 63 percent. The Stars’ 2021 second-rounder has been centering Kent Johnson and Tyson Foerster, and that line has emerged as the driving force behind Canada’s offense.
Emil Andrae, D, Sweden
Andrae isn’t a well-known prospect, but more people know his name after these World Juniors. The Swedish captain did it all for the team: he was strong in his own zone, his passing was excellent and he came through in clutch moments with goals, most notably the game-winning goal in the third period of Sweden’s quarterfinals win over Latvia. The Flyers 2020 second-rounder is leading the team with eight points.
Jan Mysak, F, Czechia
Mysak, a Canadiens 2020 second-round pick, has been Czechia’s best player in the tournament. The captain has powered the offense with five goals and seven points. He plays in all situations and will be key in the country’s quest to take home bronze.
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Aatu Räty, F, Finland
The Finns’ top line has powered the team all the way to the gold-medal game, and Räty has been a part of that trio. The 2021 Islanders second-rounder has 10 points in six games, tied with Olen Zellweger of Canada for the fourth-most. He has been a go-to guy on offense the entire tournament.
Joakim Kemell, F, Finland
Another member of Finland’s top line with Räty, Kemell is second at the World Juniors with 11 points, all assists. He’s tied with Zellweger for most in the tournament. This has been an opportunity for Kemell to prove to NHL teams that he should not have fallen to No. 17 this summer, and the Preds should be more than happy with what they are seeing from him.
Matt Coronato, F, USA
Coronato had some big games for the United States and ended the tournament with seven points in five games. He and Logan Cooley displayed solid chemistry. It felt like Coronato, the Flames’ 2020 first-round pick, was always in the right place at the right time.
Carter Mazur, F, USA
The gritty forward ended up with five goals and two assists in Edmonton. Mazur constantly got himself to the net and was rewarded with a few greasy goals. He was one of the very few bright spots for the USA in the quarterfinal upset loss to Czechia.
Honorable mentions: Thomas Bordeleau (USA), Roby Järventie (Finland), Roni Hirvonen (Finland), Olen Zellweger (Canada), Ridly Greig (Canada), Kent Johnson (Canada)
2022 World Juniors prospect fallers
Matt Knies, F, USA
The big winger played well in the physical game; the highlight of his tournament was his hit on Sweden’s William Wallinder. He played fairly well against the Swedes but looked lost at times in the other contests and seemed to be a step behind the play. He finished the tournament with three assists.
Brad Lambert, F, Finland
The 2022 World Juniors were Lambert’s first chance to prove that NHL teams made a mistake by letting him slide to No. 30 in the 2022 draft. Instead, the Jets draft pick has disappointed with just one goal in five games. He has been playing bottom-six minutes and was taken off the second power-play unit. Most notably, Lambert was scratched for the semifinal game. It’s unfortunate to see, especially after Lambert had five points in two games at the canceled tournament in December.
Ville Koivunen, F, Finland
Koivunen is another Finn who excelled in the shortened December competition but struggled in the summer. The Hurricanes’ 2020 second-round pick had four points in two games at the canceled tournament but has gone pointless in August. He was scratched for the prelims game against Canada and played less than six minutes in the quarterfinals.
MORE: Why are the World Juniors being played in August?
David Jiricek, D, Czechia
Jiricek didn’t necessarily have a bad tournament, but I expected more out of the Czech defense. The no. 6 pick of the 2022 draft had trouble with the puck in his own zone at times and wasn’t as engaged in the offensive zone. It was particularly noticeable in the two games against Canada, where he should have been tasked with playing top minutes but instead saw three or four other defensemen get more ice time.