The World Juniors is a sneak peek at some top 2026 NHL Draft talent

The World Juniors is widely referred to as a 19-year-old tournament.

So when prospects still 18 months removed from their draft date are set to participate, the scouting community notices.

And, while the expectation might not be too high on some of these 16- and 17-year-olds set to skate at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa this holiday season, there’s a certain intrigue around sneaking a peek at the next wave of draft talent.

One can’t count Gavin McKenna among those with tempered expectations, however. McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in next year’s selection process, will be one of the tournament’s most scrutinized players. Rightfully so.

“McKenna is a complete offensive talent with the natural instincts and creativity that separate the elite from the rest,” FCHockey scout Donesh Mazloum said. “His stickhandling is exceptional, navigating through tight areas with ease, emerging from traffic unscathed with scrambling defenders in his wake. He loves to challenge a defensive structure, probing for weaknesses and creating high danger chances out of thin air. Any thoughts that he may have been brought along slowly in this tournament are likely gone after seeing how the Team Canada brass constructed this roster.

“He is clearly set up to play a major role in Canada’s top six and I expect he will be leaned on as an offensive creator for the team.”

The 17-year-old is second in the Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 30 games, and his international exploits have been equally as impressive. McKenna had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in seven games at the 2024 World Under-18 Championship, and six points (three goals, three assists) in five games at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

“McKenna is the most talented player on the Canadian roster,” FCHockey scout Kareem Elshafey said. “His offensive creativity, ability to make plays in tight spaces and the way he gets pucks to teammates at the perfect time are just some of his strengths and should make him an offensive catalyst for Canada. Connor Bedard had eight points in his D-1 year at the World Juniors, and that can be attainable for McKenna if the coaching staff gives him the chance to.”

Here are some other prospects to watch at the World Juniors who aren’t eligible until the 2026 NHL Draft:

Tobias Tomik | F | Slovakia

Tobias Tomik, who turned 17 a week before the 2025 World Juniors, could play an intriguing role for Slovakia at the showcase should he work himself up the depth chart. The dual-purpose forward has plenty of experience at the men’s level in Slovakia, amassing three points (two goals, one assist) with HK Dukla Trencin. He’s added nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games with their U20 program, and an additional three points (two goals, one assist) in three games with Team Slovakia U18 in the second division.

Tomik, who had two goals in four games at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, is a projected first-round pick in 2026.

“I love Tomik’s game,” FCHockey scout Samuel Tirpak said. “He is a speedy, two-way, responsible and tenacious player with a lot of bite in his game. He can play in a lot of different situations and is a really useful player who loves to engage physically and be a hard-nosed player on the forecheck as well. I don’t really expect him to play much at all in this tournament. I believe he is being kept as a spare player just in case someone higher up in the lineup gets injured and they need a more skilled player inserted in that role, and see him as more of an impact player down the line.”

Adam Novotny | F | Czechia

Adam Novotny might be the most-watched 2026 eligible in the tournament after McKenna. Novotny, who played a top-line role for Czechia at the Hlinka in August and netted five points (two goals, three assists) in the process, has already graduated from Czechia’s U20 ranks with 26 games played on the top men’s league with Mountfield HK.

Novotny is an early candidate to be a top-20 pick in the 2026 draft.

“He’s a highly-skilled winger who plays really well with the puck, plays with a lot of good detail in his game,” Tirpak said. “Good things happen when he is on the ice. His team dominates possession with him out there, which is an excellent sign as he is earning more trust from coaches before his draft year next year. I expect him to play a depth role on this Czech team, not expecting much production, but I expect a lot of good details from him, maybe some powerplay time and his role would really be to distribute pucks to more tenacious linemates for scoring chances.”

Lars Steiner | F | Switzerland

Lars Steiner is one of the most intriguing prospects to come out of Switzerland in recent years. The 17-year-old has been an offensive revelation as a rookie for Rouyn-Noranda in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League this season with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 29 games — tops among freshmen on the circuit.

Steiner could be the highest-selected Swiss-born player since Lian Bichsel was selected by the Dallas Stars with the No. 18 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

“What a player Steiner is turning out to be,” Tirpak said. “He is a highly-skilled offensive player who can do it all. He has a tremendous shot, is fast, creative and really unpredictable in how he creates opportunities all over the offensive zone. His possession game is, frankly, in the top tier of the QMJHL even as a pre-draft prospect. He is really good at creating open lanes to get pucks through to his teammates into scoring chances. I don’t know the kind of role he could potentially play for this Swiss team — there have been a few different looks throughout the pre-tournament phase — but being a creative presence on a line with maybe a couple more hard-nosed, tenacious players who can finish off situations is the kind of role I expect him to play.”

Olivers Murnieks | F | Latvia

Olivers Murnieks could play one of the biggest roles for a 2026 draft-eligible skater at the World Juniors. The 16-year-old — he doesn’t turn 17 until late July — has been an interesting player to watch with Sioux City in the USHL, amassing 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 25 games.

He could be in the top-10 or top-15 of the 2026 draft class when it’s all said and done.

“He’s a two-way center that has all the qualities necessary to be a future shut-down center,” Tirpak said. “He is fast, he is super responsible, detailed, drives play well already and wins a lot of important face-offs. He also plays a lot of penalty killing minutes for his team and he is really good at it. Despite only being 16 years of age, he oozes maturity and I expect Latvia to throw him right into the wolves as their No. 1 center this tournament. He is the type of player NHL teams want long-term.”

Jonah Neuenschwander | F | Switzerland

Jonah Neuenschwander is a bonus player to watch at the World Juniors. The 6-foot-3, 181-pounds 15-year-old isn’t eligible until the 2027 draft, but he’s already turned heads for EHC Biel-Bienne’s U20 program with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 26 games this season. He’s also earned reps in the NL, netting one point — an assist — in five games. He’s the second-youngest player ever to play in the league.

“There is always a player in a tournament that is beyond their years and is super young in their first entry,” Tirpak said. “Neuenschwander is that this year for Switzerland. He is speedy, skilled and really aggressive from the right side of the ice. He forces a lot of mistakes from defenders and pushes his way into the offensive zone, often on a breakaway after which he creates offensive chances from the right side of the ice. Excellent playmaker overall and a player I can see blooming in a correct, easy role at this tournament. He is a 2009-born player that is eligible in 2027 with a way-too-early projection being one of the top players in this class. He reminds me of Juraj Slafkovsky a little bit, who started to show signs of stardom at around this age with similar attributes.”

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