A single Canadian NHL club from each organization to watch at the 2026 World Juniors
With the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship kicking off in Minnesota in just over two weeks, excitement is running high among hockey fans from coast to coast. Since seven NHL clubs based in Canada aren’t realistically contending for the playoffs right now, supporters in those markets are pivoting toward the future and rallying around the next wave of stars. The World Juniors serves as a convenient crossroads where current prospects and 2026 draft-eligible players converge, offering a clear glimpse at the talent pipeline feeding the NHL.
Team Canada naturally dominates discussion this year, coming off back-to-back fifth-place finishes, and many of its prospects will eventually ply their trade in Canada as well. But the seven Canadian-based NHL franchises also bring their own international flavor to the tournament this month. The event begins on Boxing Day and promises to be an entertaining showcase of rising talent.
Below is one standout prospect from each Canadian NHL club heading to the World Juniors later this month.
Calgary Flames: Zayne Parekh, right defenseman, Canada
Among Canadian teams, the Flames appear to have the brightest delegation to the World Juniors. Parekh has faced a rough season in the NHL, missing more than a month with an upper-body injury sustained against the Chicago Blackhawks in early November. Nevertheless, the 19-year-old blue-liner is exceptionally skilled. With the Flames granting him the opportunity, Parekh is expected to play a leading role for Team Canada this year.
A two-time 33-goal scorer with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, Parekh became the first defender in over ten years to surpass 100 points in a season in that league last season. He helped Saginaw win the Memorial Cup in 2024, just weeks before the Flames chose him ninth overall in that year’s draft. Hockey Canada’s decision not to include Parekh on their 2025 World Junior roster drew criticism, a misstep that hurt their results as Canada finished in fifth place. Parekh’s speed and puck-handling ability make him a likely staple on Canada’s top defensive pairing and probably the top unit on their power play. Watching how he anchors Canada’s backend and how the World Juniors might spark his rookie-season development with Calgary will be telling.
Edmonton Oilers: David Lewandowski, left wing, Germany
The Oilers haven’t had heavy representation at World Juniors in recent years, given their penchant for chasing immediate returns via trades. This year is no exception, with Lewandowski as the sole Oilers prospect heading to Minnesota, joined by American defenseman Asher Barnett.
Lewandowski, selected in the fourth round (117th overall) in 2025, is a tall, slender winger (6’2”, 177 lbs) who leads the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades with 32 points in 28 games. Born in Dusseldorf, Germany, he has long been viewed as a strong bet for Team Germany (he played for them as a 17-year-old last season) and is expected to play a prominent role on a side that has typically hovered around the middle of the pack. He’s one of only three NHL-affiliated Germans on the squad, alongside defenseman Carlos Handel and winger Maxim Schäfer.
Lewandowski is a prolific shooter for the Blades, with 79 shots in 28 games so far. He has yet to sign an entry-level contract with the Oilers, but that’s not a major concern given his draft position and age—he won’t turn 19 until February, so he’ll still be eligible for the 2027 World Juniors as well.
Montreal Canadiens: Michael Hage, center, Canada
Hage is shaping up as a top-line center option for Canada this year. He’s enjoying a standout second season at the University of Michigan and is among the older eligible players in this year’s field, born in April 2006. After being excluded from Canada’s 2024 World Juniors roster, Hockey Canada has recalibrated and brought in more well-rounded players this year.
Hage’s draft position—No. 21 overall in 2024—looks even more favorable in hindsight given his size (6’1”, 199 lbs), right-handedness, and position. He posted 34 points in 33 games as an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan in 2024-25 and has 10 goals and 28 points in 20 games for the Wolverines this season.
If Hage eventually joins the Canadiens, he would continue a long line of Chicago Steel alumni reaching the NHL. For now, anticipate him centering a prominent line, potentially with a 2026 No. 1 pick like Gavin McKenna, at this year’s World Juniors.
Ottawa Senators: Logan Hensler, right defenseman, United States
Hensler is one of several returnees from Team USA’s gold-medal squad in 2025. While his scoring total may not make him the leader in the category, his defensive reliability makes him a natural fit for the American squad. The 6’3” right-shot defenseman was a standout for the U.S. National Team Development Program and joined the University of Wisconsin for his draft year, recording 12 points in 32 games as a freshman in 2024-25 and improving to eight points in 15 games with a plus-8 rating in his second college season.
Team USA brings a strong group this year, and Hensler is expected to log significant minutes at 5-on-5 play and on the penalty kill. If Wisconsin teammate Luke Osburn (Buffalo) ends up paired with him, Hensler could form a key line for much of the tournament.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Ben Danford, right defenseman, Canada
Danford, selected 59th overall in the 2024 draft, is expected to be a focal defensive player for Canada this year. The 6’2”, 194-pound right-hander has had a bumpy second post-draft season, changing teams early in the 2025-26 campaign, from the Oshawa Generals (where he was captain) to the Brantford Bulldogs after only eight games.
Unless there’s a roster shift, Danford should get a chance to represent Canada on the world stage for the first time later this month. He’s delivered 11 assists in 14 games for Brantford, earning a plus-7 rating. He’s a natural compliment to a defensively responsible partner such as Cameron Reid (Nashville), but there’s also a lot of competition for extra ice time on a stacked Canadian squad.
Vancouver Canucks: Braeden Cootes, center, Canada
Cootes is the second Canuck-linked prospect on this list who has already skated in the NHL this season. His early NHL exposure came after making the opening roster at age 18 and appearing in three games before returning to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
Though it would be surprising to see him on Canada’s top two lines this time around, he’ll likely take a larger role next year given his February 2007 birthdate. For now, expect him to play on the wing more often, which aligns with Canada’s depth at center.
Cootes is 5’11” and 183 pounds, not the physical threat you might expect, but his versatility and right-handed shot keep him in demand. He’ll be vying for minutes in various situations with players like Cole Reschny (Calgary), Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia), and Carter Bear (Detroit) on Canada’s roster this year.
Winnipeg Jets: Sascha Boumedienne, left defenseman, Sweden
Boumedienne, born in Finland but playing for Sweden, is set to log heavy minutes for his country in Minnesota. Fellow Jets defense prospect Alfons Freij will also wear Sweden’s colors, though they probably won’t play together much since both are left-handed.
Boumedienne is the son of former Capitals defenseman Josef Boumedienne and spent his formative years in North America while his father worked in scouting roles for the Jackets. He starred for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, recording 27 points in 49 games as a 16-year-old in 2023-24, then moved on to Boston University for a notable freshman year in 2024-25. With Sweden lacking a clear-cut blue-chip defenseman this year, Boumedienne could emerge as their top option as the tournament unfolds.
Sweden’s defensive contingent also features players like Leo Sahlin Wallenius (San Jose), Victor Johansson (Toronto), and Viggo Gustafsson (Nashville), alongside the two Jets’ prospects. Boumedienne has a real shot at becoming Sweden’s No. 1 option as the event progresses.
Author’s note: the coverage above reflects current scouting and team-building contexts and may evolve as rosters finalize closer to the tournament start. Think about how each player’s World Juniors performance could influence their club’s decisions at the trade deadline or impact their long-term development trajectory. Which player do you think will surprise most fans in Minnesota, and which prospect is getting overlooked by the national spotlight? Share your thoughts in the comments.
