The winner of the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships will be either Canada or Sweden, according to two NHL.com writers.
NHL.com associate editor-in-chief Adam Kimelman thinks Canada will win the 2021 WJC championship game, while NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale predicts Sweden will win for the first time since 2012.
In the championship game, Kimelman predicts Canada will beat Sweden, while Morreale believes Sweden will overtake the United States as the 2021 champion.
Each writer also selected the best goalie, best forward, best defensive player and 2023 NHL draft forward.
WJC 2022 will take place August 9-20 at Rogers Square in Edmonton. The race was originally scheduled to run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, but was canceled four days later due to concerns over the coronavirus. The results of these matches will not be included when matches resume.
10 teams will play in two groups. Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Latvia, as well as the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
Latvia was added to the competition to replace Russia, which was banned from international competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine.
The top four in each group will play in the quarterfinals on August 17. The semi-final is on August 19, and the championship and third place match is on August 20.
All games will be broadcast live on the NHL network in the US and TSN and RDS in Canada.
Kimmelman forecast
Group A champions: Canada
Group B champions: Sweden
champion: Canada
second: Sweden
third: U.S.
Surprise star: Logan Stankoven, F, Canada
Best Goalkeeper: Jesper Wallstedt, Sweden
Best defender: Luke Hughes, USA
Best striker: Mason McTavish, Canada
Top 2023 NHL Draft Eligible Players: Connor Bedard, F, Canada
Moreial’s prediction
Group A champions: Canada
Group B champions: U.S.
champion: Sweden
second: U.S.
third: Canada
Surprise star: Jiri Kulich, striker, Czech Republic
Best Goalkeeper: Jesper Wallstedt, Sweden
Best defender: Simon Edvinson of Sweden
Best striker: Logan Cooley
Top 2023 NHL Draft Eligible Players: Connor Bedard, F, Canada
