I took a bit of an unofficial hiatus while the tournament was going on. I am not exactly reinventing the wheel with this comeback, either, given that I anticipate this will be lost in the shuffle among tons of other articles/listicles of its type. However, there are a few people on Earth (primarily located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with another plurality in the Philadelphia metro area) that value my opinion on topics such as this. So I figure, why not share who I enjoyed watching in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship? This is not necessarily a collection of superlatives, just what I found most interesting to watch and can be measured at least somewhat by measurable metrics in some manner.

Isaac Howard raises his profile

One of many US NTDP (a program that has turned into a developmental powerhouse) blue chips on this roster, “Ike” had something of a Paul Henderson-esque arc here. A 31st overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning (2022) who spent last season stuck in the mud on a less than impressive UMD Bulldogs squad, the now MSU Spartan was tied for the goal-scoring lead in the WJC with Sweden’s Jonathan Lekkerimäki and really came to play in the gold medal game, with two highlight reel strikes that need no description. We shall see if him surging in this manner is a launching pad to greater individual success in the coming times for him. It most certainly looks like the Bolts got the sort of prospect who, despite being a somewhat unassuming appearing player, will make the teams that passed on him regret it. Tampa is going to have replace to the “old guard” that won them two Cups fairly soon, but the means by which they will be doing so does feature some decent talent waiting in the wings.

A look at Cutter Gauthier’s all-around prowess

We know the Boston College Eagle/US NTDP product/Philadelphia Flyers 5th overall pick (2022) has the goal scoring touch. This time around, he was not quite as lucky in that respect (a stark contrast with 7 goals in the World Championships playing against pros in his most recent IIHF-sanctioned tournament prior to this one, which was good for tied for second in the tourney). The shot volume was there and even some of the shot quality, but he wasn’t quite as impactful, tallying just two goals (though the latter of the two sent the USA to the gold medal game) in that department as he has come to be identified with. That said, while he cooled off a bit as the tourney entered its final phases, he was on fire in the playmaking department, leading the tournament in assists and being tied with Czechia’s Jiri Kulich for most points and earning the best forward award. According to analytics expert Mike Kelly, he also led the WJC in offensive zone puck possession, cycle chances, and slot pass completions. You could see his ability to make smaller impacts via zone exits, overall transition game, and even retrievals at time, too. Though there are still parts of his game that need to be cleaned up on both ends of the ice, we saw him do more of what a center is supposed to do and his play in the neutral zone was nothing short of fantastic. The Scottsdale, AZ native should have a great NHL career ahead of him.

Lane Hutson is a dawg

With his ability to log 25 minutes of ice time a night while having a meaningful impact on games on display (on a larger ice surface, no less, and playing against the best competition in his age group that the world has to offer) the 62nd overall pick in 2022 (Montreal Canadiens) and Boston University Terrier proved that he has what it takes to be a 1D in the NHL. He exhibited his usual playmaking and facilitation abilities from the blueline, as well as some ability to gather loose pucks and defend. I definitely agree with the assessments that I have seen that his transition D/ability to prevent zone entries is a weakness and the analytics enforce that, but his all-around game is above what he is often given credit for. I expect that he is still likely going to be paired with a more pure DFD throughout his pro career as he is with Sweden’s Tom Willander (Canucks) at BU, but the former US NTDP standout from Michigan showed that he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, more to his arsenal than just offense in a demonstrable manner, and plenty of cardio and reliability. Also, yes, it was fun watching him throw hands, in defense of a BC Eagle (Gauthier), no less. He is a consummate teammate, as well, and would make a great captain for the Habs during his time in the NHL. Can never stress it enough: He was the biggest steal of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki continues his comeback season

It is pretty well documented that the 2022 15th overall pick (Vancouver Canucks) had an unsatisfying D+1 year in the Hockeyallsvenskan with Djurgårdens IF. He was not producing and never really looked “right” out there. This season, he has been playing in the SHL on loan with Örebro HK and has been performing exceptionally well, with 16 points in 24 games to his name. He looked to continue to make a statement as his home nation hosted the WJC and he most certainly did, with his aforementioned tie with Howard for most goals in the tournament in mind, as well as his tie for fourth in points (10) with the USA’s Gavin Brindley (U of Michigan/Blue Jackets). His productivity in the tournament earned him the MVP accolade. It should be entertaining to watch if he continues to ride his recent success and good form forward into the coming times after his missteps in the season after his selection. It should also be interesting to see if the apparent bad vibes between him and Gauthier translate (which was visible in the manner in which Lekkerimäki handled the handshake between the two rivals) into an interconference rivalry between Vancouver and Philadelphia next season.

Dalibor Dvorský’s development move is paying dividends

That was very alliterative, but here’s the point: It is clear that the 2023 10th overall pick (St. Louis Blues) was right to cease playing pros in Europe and move on to the OHL for his development. Neither the Allsvenskan nor SHL were paying off for the Slovak, but he has produced well playing against players closer to his age, putting up 34 points in 20 games with the Sudbury Wolves. We saw some more of what playing with room to sharpen his skills against less watertight defenses facilitated by grown men in the WJC, with the center gathering 6 points in 5 games in his most productive WJC after appearing the previous two years. I agree with Corey Pronman that he needs to sharpen his consistency a bit, but at the top of his game, we saw where his steps have brought the player that Byron Bader determined could be as productive as Jakub Voracek in the NHL. While it does make a statement when skaters his age immediately flourish against pro competition, the assessment Bader made about skaters developing better by excelling in games that allow them to practice their skills more does seem to hold true in the case of the St. Louis prospect. He will further improve if he carries the confidence built up by the better parts of his individual performance in this tournament helps him continue to succeed in the OHL in the final phase of the CHL season.

Jiri Kulich remains on an impressive course

While he has yet to become a mainstay on the Buffalo Sabres’ NHL roster, the Czech center (selected 28th overall in 2022) has been playing quite well in the AHL the last couple of years (with 68 points in 85 games to his name so far). In this year’s WJC, he kept up his impressive form, tying with Gauthier for the tournament lead in points via 6 goals and 6 assists. He made his biggest statement in the bronze medal game against Finland, tallying 2 goals and 2 assists and being the biggest impact player in the Czech Republic’s improbable comeback (though much credit also needs to be given to Ondrej Becher, with the forward from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars netting a hat-trick). It would make for a great story for him to build upon this form to the point of launching himself into a regular lineup spot in the NHL. He most certainly has the potential for it.