LATEST | The Athletic lists four Canucks prospects for 2024 World Junior roster spots
On Monday, The Athletic released their roster predictions for Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
In their predictions, The Athletic included three Canucks prospects they think that will definitely make their respective team's roster, while the other name they mentioned is 'in the mix'.
Starting off with the hosts, Sweden. The Athletic think that 2022 first-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki will be their first-line right winger. Lekkerimaki, who is almost a lock to be on Sweden's roster, has already played at two previous World Junior tournaments. Last summer, he had three assists in seven games, following that up with four points in seven games in Halifax in December.
2023 first-round pick Tom Willander is also listed on their roster prediction on the third defensive pair. Willander represented Sweden at the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship, helping them to a silver medal, while putting up eight points and 27 penalty minutes in seven games.
Despite being on their roster for the 2023 tournament and playing quite well (three assists in seven games), The Athletic has defenceman Elias Pettersson as 'in the mix' and not on the team's roster as of right now. Things can change however, depending on how he plays with Orebro HK to start the 2023-24 season.
Finally, for the United States, 2023 third-round pick Hunter Brzustewicz is listed as an extra, but could very well play himself into the team's lineup with a strong start to the new campaign in Kitchener (OHL). Brzustewicz played for the United States at the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship where he had two assists in five games.
The 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is set to get underway on December 26th in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Source: The Athletic
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