The World Juniors are an opportunity for NHL fans to watch their team’s prospects play at a high level on the biggest stage junior hockey has to offer.

All seven Canadian NHL teams have at least one prospect skating at this year’s tournament with many expected to play prominent roles for their respective countries.

Here are seven prospects representing Canada’s NHL teams to watch for, starting on Boxing Day.

F Cole Reschny – Calgary Flames, Canada

Reschny is one of several players who made the move from the CHL to the NCAA in the off-season, going from the Victoria Royals to the University of North Dakota.

The 18-year-old, who was drafted 18th overall by Calgary in June’s draft, has two goals and 18 points in 16 games in his first college season.

“No flash, no dash, all substance,” TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button said of Reschny. “Hockey sense off the charts. Can play any situation in the game and play it well. He knows who he is, what he is, and he just goes about his business.”

Reschny joins fellow Flames prospect Zayne Parekh, who made Button’s Team Canada players to watch list.

F Braeden Cootes – Vancouver Canucks, Canada

Cootes was one of five 2025 draftees to start the season in the NHL, but like Canadian teammate Brady Martin, he was returned to junior hockey after just three games.

Cootes, who was taken 15th overall by Vancouver in June, was held scoreless in his NHL stint but the Seattle Thunderbirds captain has 10 goals and 23 points in 17 games since returning to junior.

“When I watch him play, I just leave so impressed,” said Button. “So good at being able to move from one area of the game to the next area of the game and really being so good and so strong.”

Cootes also captained Canada’s U18 squad to gold in May as he notched six goals and 12 points in seven games.

F David Lewandowski – Edmonton Oilers, Germany

Lewandowski is one of just three NHL prospects on Team Germany this year as the Germans look to avoid playing in the relegation round for a third straight year.

The 18-year-old was selected in the fourth round (117th overall) in June by Edmonton and has eight goals and 32 points in 28 games this season with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.

“David is a good, heavy, hard-nosed winger,” said Button. “Goes to the net, knows how to create offence with some power below the goal line, to the net, along the boards and asserts himself.”

Lewandowski had two goals in five games at last year’s World Juniors.

D Sascha Boumedienne – Winnipeg Jets, Sweden

Defenceman Sascha Boumedienne was taken in the first round (28th overall) of June’s draft by the Winnipeg Jets after notching 13 points in 40 games as a freshman with Boston University last season.

At the U18s, he was named best defenceman at the tournament after scoring one goal with 14 points in seven games as Sweden took home silver.

This season in the NCAA, the 18-year-old has two goals and six points in 17 games.

Button says Boumedienne, who entered college as a 17-year-old, has done a fantastic job learning how to better utilize his skating ability to be more effective for his team.

“I think he’s a top-three defenceman,” said Button. “That type of skating ability, the development he has shown, I think has been tremendous.”

D Victor Johansson – Toronto Maple Leafs, Sweden

Joining Boumedienne on Sweden’s blueline is Toronto Maple Leafs fourth-round pick Victor Johansson.

Johansson has one goal and five points in 13 games with IK Oskarshamn in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan.

“I think Victor is a really good player,” said Button. “I think he’s got lots of potential.

“Excellent skater. His lateral agility and footwork are outstanding. And in the offensive zone he can make stuff happen because his mind is so good that he sees opportunity from his own defensive zone all the way up.

“I think that’s what makes him so unique and intriguing.”

D Logan Hensler – Ottawa Senators, United States

Hensler is a returning player from last year’s American squad that won its second straight World Junior gold medal.

The 19-year-old, who was taken 23rd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2025 draft, has three goals and eight points in 15 games with the University of Wisconsin this season, his second with the team.

“Logan is a player that can do many things,” said Button. “He can move the puck, he can shoot the puck, if you put him in a spot on the power play, he’s not going to be a big offensive player in my view but he’s going to be able to get some movement in the right direction offensively.

“He has the skating ability to get the puck up the ice with his feet. He can move the puck with his stick. He can shut down the play defensively and get you out of having to defend in your own zone. I think those are all really good qualities for a defenceman.”

Hensler helped the United States win gold at the U17s in 2022 and silver at the 2024 U18s.

F Aatos Koivu – Montreal Canadiens, Finland

Koivu is skating in his second SM-Liiga season with TPS Turku, where he has two goals and seven points in 30 games.

The son of former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, Aatos was selected in the third round (70th overall) by Montreal in 2024.

“Aatos has really developed,” said Button. “He’s that scoring, shooting threat. He’s smart, got good hands, he’s got an excellent shot. He’s got a scorer’s mentality. He wants to shoot the puck. He’s got that hunger.”

Finland took home silver at last year’s World Juniors with their most recent gold medal coming in 2019.