For all those saying they miss hockey, now\u2019s your chance to get back into it.<\/p>\n
The World Junior Summer Showcase is set to get underway in Minnesota on Sunday, with USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden taking part in the week-long event. This is one of the top hockey events of the summer, giving fans a chance to watch their top prospects \u2013 new and returning \u2013 represent their country in hopes of making their respective squad for the 2026 World Junior Championship, which will also be in Minnesota.<\/p>\n
The United States will start with two teams \u2013 USA White and USA Blue \u2013 for two games each before coming together for a single unit on July 30. Canada will also have a dual effort on July 29 before finishing the last three games as a single team. There isn\u2019t a gold medal on the line, as all four programs focus on preparing for the main event in a few months.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at 10 NHL prospects to keep an eye on as the tournament runs from July 27 \u2013 August 2 at Riddler Arena in Minnesota:<\/a><\/p>\n Canada desperately needed goals last year, and Misa was the top scorer in the CHL. So, naturally, he wasn\u2019t invited to selection camp in December. Assuming Misa isn\u2019t in the NHL, he will be on Canada\u2019s World Junior team in December \u2013 and expect a scoring rampage. Misa is an outstanding skater who\u2019ll beat you both in short bursts and with his pure straight-line speed. He\u2019s as good a play-driver as you\u2019ll find from any forward outside of the NHL. It feels like there\u2019s a good chance he\u2019ll be in San Jose\u2019s opening night lineup, but it\u2019s good to see him part of this event, at least.<\/p>\n Parekh is one of the top prospects who could end up playing in the NHL full-time this season. But after getting cut from Canada\u2019s roster back in December, you have to think Parekh wouldn\u2019t mind getting a crack at chasing gold. Parekh is very unique in the way that he can dominate in so many elements of the game. There\u2019s no reason for him to return to the OHL on a full-time basis \u2013\u00a0he has nothing left to prove. But having signed his ELC already, it\u2019s either Calgary or Saginaw. Regardless, Canada would love to have him in Minnesota in December \u2013 and perhaps make up for the mistake they made leaving him off a few months back.<\/p>\n Schaefer\u2019s 2024-25 season ended during Canada\u2019s second game last December, and there\u2019s a good chance he\u2019ll be in the NHL this fall. But for a tournament like this, it\u2019s nice to have him part of it. Schaefer is as good of a puck distributor as you\u2019ll find, too, and it\u2019s only a matter of time until he pops off in the NHL. That\u2019s partly because he thinks the game at such an advanced level for his age, often luring opponents in before pulling off a deceptive deke and getting the puck where it needs to be. If Schaefer is part of Canada\u2019s roster come December, he\u2019s going to unleash a world of damage. I\u2019m just interested to see where his game is after missing so much time.<\/p>\n Emil Hemming, RW, Finland (Dallas Stars<\/a>)<\/p>\n Hemming left Finland for the first time to play in the OHL last year, putting up 18 goals and 48 points with the Colts. Inconsistency seemed to be an issue \u2013 again \u2013 but it\u2019s hard not to love the pro-level skills. He has put those skills on display at the World Juniors the past two years, showing promise as a hard-working, 200-foot player. He has a good 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, and he loves to battle hard in front of the net. Scouts have also liked how much energy he seems to have late in games \u2013\u00a0he\u2019s built for endurance. I like his wrist shot, and I think he plays with a bit more skill than he gets credit for. With no Konsta Helenius, all eyes will be on Hemming to play a big role in Minnesota.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not overly common to see an 18-year-old win top goalie honors at the World Juniors, but that\u2019s what the previously undrafted Rimpinen did in Ottawa. The only goalie with a better save percentage than Rimpinen (.933) with at least three starts was Canada\u2019s Carter George at .936. The best news? This wasn\u2019t a flash-in-the-pan example of a goaltender coming out of nowhere. Rimpinen was good against men in the second-tier Mestis last year and was one of the Finnish Liiga\u2019s top goalies in 2024-25 \u2013 a rare achievement for an 18-year-old. He\u2019s set to be Finland\u2019s starter again in December, and he\u2019ll look to carry the team this summer, too.<\/p>\n Fernstr\u00f6m had an excellent season with \u00d6rebro\u2019s U-20 team in the Swedish league and he was the most productive U-19 player in the top Swedish league, as well. At 6-foot-2, Fernstr\u00f6m has solid size and I like that he can shoot from everywhere. There\u2019s still work to be done to improve his foot speed and overall pace, but he has always been productive at the international level with Sweden. We\u2019ll see if he can have a big impact over the next week.<\/p>\n Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, Sweden (San Jose Sharks)<\/p>\n With Tom Willander and Axel Sandin-Pellikka aging out, it\u2019s LSW time now. Sahlin Wallnius is a mid-sized defender, but he plays with a ton of skill and isn\u2019t afraid to get physical for his size. His mobility is impressive and he can definitely run a power play. Sahlin Wallenius bounced around a few different levels last year, but he always gave a full effort and seemed to play better against tougher competition. I\u2019m excited to see how big a role he takes as a 19-year-old on this team.<\/p>\n Cole Eiserman, LW, USA (New York Islanders)<\/p>\n Eiserman was a menace in Ottawa, registering seven points in seven games while landing some big hits along the way. The competitive winger had a massive year with Boston University, and we know he\u2019s always involved in the offense when he dons his nation\u2019s colors. The former USNTDP star has an incredible shot, and he\u2019d be a perfect candidate to reunite with James Hagens on USA\u2019s top line. Eiserman will spend the next year in college, but don\u2019t be surprised to see him challenging for a top-six role with the Islanders come 2026-27.<\/p>\n Hagens is back to serve as USA\u2019s top center for the second straight year. Hagens has built a reputation for being so deceptive, both with and without the puck, making it difficult for defenders to figure out his next move. He\u2019s always looking up, and his teammates just know to get themselves into a scoring position whenever they can. Hagens has all the makings of a No. 1 center in the next few years for the Bruins, and USA Hockey will hope to see him hit another level as a true difference-maker on home ice in a few months. That all starts now.<\/p>\n Hutson became the first defenseman to lead the World Juniors in scoring after tallying 11 points a year ago. He showed so much swagger and confidence with the puck, and his play reminded some of his brother, Lane Hutson. Cole is the USNTDP\u2019s all-time defensive scoring leader and has led every single IIHF tournament he has participated in in points. He\u2019s a medal magnet, too, with his worst international tournament showing being his silver at the U-18s. Hutson is easily one of the most skilled defenders set to take part in both the WJSS and the main WJC, and it won\u2019t be long until he\u2019s pushing for an NHL roster spot.<\/p>\n Other notables: Sam Dickinson, LHD, Canada (San Jose Sharks); Porter Martone, RW, Canada (Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>); Trevor Connelly, LW, USA (Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>); Cullen Potter, C, USA (Calgary Flames)<\/p>\n SPONSORED BY bet365<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For all those saying they miss hockey, now\u2019s your chance to get back into it. 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