World Juniors 2025: One Prospect To Watch From Every Western Conference NHL Team

Seeing your favorite team’s prospects suit up for their national junior team at the world juniors has become a holiday tradition for NHL fans. This year will be no different in Ottawa.

Whether it’s the team’s top prospect or an intriguing player who has taken big steps developmentally, fans around hockey are always excited to see the game's future.

Aside from the Boston Bruins, every NHL team has a world juniors representative. Every Western Conference club will be represented, and a lot of them will see their top prospects.

From highly drafted players delivering on their promise to late-round swings who look like steals, let’s look at one player to watch from every NHL team in the Western Conference at the World Junior Championship.

Anaheim Ducks: Carey Terrance, C/W, USA

As an alternate for the American squad last year, Terrance didn’t get the chance to impact the team on its way to a gold medal. He is motivated to do that this year and bring his compete level and shooting talent to the squad.

Terrance isn’t the only Ducks prospect at the tournament, but he should be the most prominent. On a loaded American squad, it will be interesting to see just how much of a role Terrance will get.

Calgary Flames: Axel Hurtig, D, Sweden

On a team with plenty of skill, speed, and puck-moving ability, watching Hurtig look to bring a physical element to the game will be fun. The 6-foot-5 WHLer is an aggressive defender who will try and balance the skill of some of the other blueliners. The Flames fans watching the world juniors will be able to create a highlight reel of explosive hits that Hurtig throws by the tournament’s end.

Related: World Juniors: The Lowdown On Sweden And Finland's Rosters

Chicago Blackhawks: Oliver Moore, C, USA

There is so much conversation about the American team, and almost none of it centers on Moore, who could be the team's most important player. Moore will center one of the middle six lines, and his speed and play-driving ability should help provide the Americans with the depth scoring they will need if they plan on repeating as champions at the WJC.

Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie, C, Canada

After starting the season in the NHL, Ritchie returned to the OHL and, unsurprisingly, has been one of the league's best players. The Avalanche’s top prospect will be a key cog in Canada’s plan to get back into gold medal contention. Richie is a fantastic playmaker who can elevate those around him. On Team Canada, where he will be playing with elite talent at nearly all times, Richie should shine.

Dallas Stars: Emil Hemming, RW, Finland

With a fast-paced game, a wicked physical game and a shot that can punish opposing teams on the power play, Hemming should be one of Finland’s most important offensive pieces. The OHLer's willingness to attack at every chance on both sides of the puck will be plenty of fun to watch. If all goes well, Dallas fans will envision Hemming on their power play and playing on their third line in a couple of years, constantly involved in the game.

Edmonton Oilers: Beau Akey, D, Canada

A bit of a surprise addition to the Canadian blueline, Akey has overcome a tough stretch health-wise to get back to form. Now, he could be an interesting addition to the Canadians as he brings mobility and passing from the back end.

Akey has learned to play better defensively while dealing with injuries, and he’s become a better all-around defender. Oilers fans won’t have any other prospects at the world juniors, but seeing Akey back to form and closer to what they thought they were getting when drafted will be an excellent viewing experience.

Related: Canada Announces 2025 World Juniors Roster: Reaction, Full List And Cuts

Los Angeles Kings: Jakub Dvorak, D, Czechia

A defensively responsible blueliner who plays with some physicality, Dvorak will play a big role for Czechia. He’s not an overly exciting player with the puck, but that’s not his job. His job is to make life difficult on the opposing team, which is what Kings fans like from their teams.

Minnesota Wild: Zeev Buium, D, USA

Zeev Buium is one of the favorites to be named the tournament’s top defenseman, and he will play many minutes for the Americans in their quest to repeat. While he is an incredible mobile player with excellent playmaking from the back end, Buium’s best trait is his intelligence at both ends of the ice. Buium was recently named to the team's leadership group, and they’ll lean on him for leadership on and off the ice.

Related: Team USA Releases Preliminary World Juniors Roster: Initial Reaction, Snubs And Battles

Nashville Predators: David Edstrom, C, Sweden

Drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights, traded to San Jose for Tomas Hertl and then traded again to Nashville for Yaroslav Askarov, Edstrom is already part of his third NHL organization. Now, Predators fans will be looking to see their newest prospect at the highest level in junior hockey. Edstrom’s highly efficient game won’t wow anyone, but it won’t be shocking if he’s one of Sweden’s best players on any given night.

San Jose Sharks: Sam Dickinson, D, Canada

Dickinson will look to build off a strong year and bring his high-octane game to the world juniors. Playing on the same blueline as his teammate and occasional D-partner, Oliver Bonk, will also give him some familiarity.

Dickinson has always shone when playing at Hockey Canada events, and the world juniors are his natural next step. What will be most intriguing is what role they ask him to play.

Seattle Kraken: Berkly Catton, C, Canada

Catton is one of the most purely skilled and talented offensive players in junior hockey, and he is poised to be an offensive catalyst for Canada. There aren’t many players who play at the kind of pace mentally that Catton does, and he has the quickness and skill to match it. His playmaking is lethal, and he can beat a goalie cleanly if they cheat on the passing option. Catton will be a threat to lead the team in scoring, which is what Kraken fans are hoping for.

St. Louis Blues: Otto Stenberg, C/W, Sweden

Stenberg is such a fun player to watch because he combines speed, skill and aggressiveness. He always pushes the envelope with his creative play with the puck and his willingness to defend a teammate after the whistle in a scrum.

Stenberg plays with fire and passion, the way that Blues fans will love to see. Stenberg could lead the Swedes in points while playing with an edge that gets under his opponents’ skin the whole time.

Related: World Juniors 2025: 10 NHL Draft-Eligible Prospects Who Should Draw Attention

Utah Hockey Club: Cole Beaudoin, C/W, Canada

The world juniors is where players like Cole Beaudoin need just one moment to become a household name because despite playing a depth role, they score a big goal at a big moment.

Beaudoin is a Hockey Canada-style player through and through. His work ethic, north-south game and simple approach to creating offense are what the Canadians want from him. Keep it simple and step up when the game is on the line. Beaudoin may not be a fixture at the top of the lineup, but he’ll have a shot at some point to make his mark.

Vancouver Canucks: Tom Willander, D, Sweden

Canucks fans have watched Willander with bated breath as he develops into a strong two-way defender at Boston University. His mobility is impressive, and it helps him in all facets of the game, from defense to transitioning the puck up ice to creating some offense. Willander is a true do-it-all defender and should eat plenty of minutes for the Swedes.

Vegas Golden Knights: Trevor Connelly, LW, USA

One of the most dynamically skilled and supremely creative players at the tournament, Golden Knights first-rounder Trevor Connelly is expected to be an offense generator for the U.S. team. His buttery smooth hands, uber-creative passing ability and lightning-quick transition game should give the Americans an entertainment factor whenever he is on the ice.

Winnipeg Jets: Brayden Yager, C/W, Canada

Acquired in the trade for Rutger McGroarty, Jets fans were excited when Yager was named captain of Team Canada, and they will look for him to help right the wrong that was Canada’s quarterfinal exit at last year's tournament.

Yager is a very good passer and an even better shooter offensively, and his development as a more complete player has been noted. It will be interesting to see how Yager takes on the role of captain for a team with plenty of pressure on them.

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