The Hockey News

Get everything you need to know about the 2024 World Junior Championship with our annual preview edition! Inside, you'll find scouting reports for each country and features on key players to watch. Also in the issue: stories on Pettersson, Rantanen, Hintz, Byfield, Bratt, Necas, Karlsson, Zuccarello, Spooner, Flanagan and more, plus an early look at the 2024 free-agent class.

MANY PATHS TO THE TOP

MASTHEAD

USA HOCKEY IS NO. 1

NOT SO CENTRAL SCOUTING • The NHL draft is a special celebration for more than just the youngsters who hear their names called that weekend. At least for now. But that may soon change

BEHIND THE MASK

JERSEY HOUND

DAZZLING DEBUT-O-METER • Connor Bedard made an instant impact in his first NHL game, leading forwards in ice time and chipping in an assist. But while his NHL debut was memorable, it doesn’t leap off the page quite like these other No. 1 overall picks

IN THE CARDS

HAUL OF VERY GOOD • There’s a new open-door policy at the Hall of Fame. If you’re very good, you have a chance

THE COUNTDOWN • Sabres players lead all NHL teams with 131 points at the world juniors. That makes sense given all their young talent. But McDavid’s Oilers in last?

PUCK CULTURE • Prior to their NHL careers, most players have been featured on at least one trading card with their junior, college or minor-pro teams. Here are 10 ‘pre-rookie’ cards of some of the biggest NHL stars from the 2010s

DALLAS MAVERICK • Roope Hintz made it to the NHL his way – from Finland to Florida as a 15-year-old, with help from a former figure skater. Now that he’s arrived as a super Star, his speed, scoring and smarts have Dallas dreaming of a Stanley Cup shot

RANTANEN AND RAVING • The underappreciated Avs star won’t say it, so we will: Mikko Rantanen has quietly transformed into one of the NHL’s most lethal goal-scorers and prolific offensive producers

THE TOTAL PACKAGE • Elias Pettersson’s offensive mastery has been on display since his first shift in the NHL. But the emergence of his two-way game and his willingness to step up as a leader have elevated the Canucks center to truly elite status – and the team is following his example into the league’s upper echelon

RIGHT ON ‘Q’ • Quinton Byfield didn’t become an instant NHL star – as some expected – after being drafted No. 2 overall in 2020. But his star is rising in Los Angeles, and the future looks bright for both the player and the team

EMBRACING THE GRIND • Jesper Bratt arrived in New Jersey to little fanfare and a team on the precipice of a drop-off. With those lean days behind them, Bratt and the Devils are ready to prove the doubters wrong. Again

SUMMER SHOPPING • At this time of year, most people are thinking about holiday gifts. But for NHL GMs, it’s the summer that brings the best presents. And 2024 could have some big ones

WORLD JUNIORS PREVIEW 2024

TRUE SUPERPOWER • The U.S. enters the world juniors as the obvious favorite, and they have the top-end talent and enviable depth to be the country’s best WJC team ever

BEST CASEY SCENARIO • Not many undersized defensemen from Florida make it to the NHL. Seamus Casey looks like he’ll be an exceptional exception to the rule, but, first, there’s the matter of going for gold at the WJC

NEW FACES, SAME GOAL • You can count on one finger the number of returning players for Team Canada – but a third consecutive gold medal is within reach for the perennial powerhouse

HE’LL BE BECK • The Canadiens prospect hit a speed bump in his second go-round at NHL training camp. But he’s got the tenacity – and the responsible game–to be a big-league mainstay

FILIP BYSTEDT • The future Sharks pivot was one of Sweden’s few bright spots last year. He hopes that...