MINNEAPOLIS – The World Junior Summer Showcase is a great opportunity to get a look at some of the top teams as they prepare for December’s World Junior Championship. It also might end up being one of the largest collections of NHL prospects under one roof at any other point this season.
I was in Minneapolis all week, watching every game, speaking with players, coaches and scouts while on the ground at Ridder Arena. The event, as always, delivered some of the best summer hockey you could possibly ask for, with players playing hard and trying to prove themselves for a spot at the World Juniors.
Both Finland and Sweden can leave feeling pretty good about themselves as each won four of five games. USA and Canada maybe won’t feel as thrilled, though both countries carried heavy rosters that often saw their best talents on the sidelines. Canada at least ended on a high note with a 6-2 win over Team USA, while the Americans lost five of six games during their hosted event.
Regardless of the team results, it was a good chance to see some of the best prospects in hockey on the same ice surface.
Many of the players performed at a high level, but I picked the ones that I thought particularly stood out to me throughout the week.
Standout Performers At World Junior Summer Showcase
James Hagens, C, USA (BOS)
In the games he played, it was hard not to notice Hagens. He was a cut above all USA players in this event and often the best player on the ice in the games he appeared in. He did not play in the final two games at the event, but still was among the top scorers with a goal and four assists over three games. He played with pace, had a little bite to him and made things happen with speed and skill. He’ll be USA’s offensive focal point in the tournament.
Aatos Koivu, C, Finland (MTL)
An absolute revelation in this tournament, Koivu made an incredibly strong case to be a key player for Finland when the tournament comes along in December. He led all players in goals, showing an aptitude for scoring on the power play, but also made his share of plays to get to the middle and show remarkable finish on his shots. Koivu played center mostly, showing his two-way ability on top of the offensive prowess. Don’t read a ton into summer results, because they can deceive, but I do think Koivu looked stronger and more confident than I’d seen him previously. I expect him to play a big role for Finland this winter.
Jack Berglund, C, Sweden (PHI)
Berglund wore the C all week at the summer showcase for Sweden and he played with authority. The big power center was making things happen all over the ice. His size makes him so disruptive to the other team, but what I was most impressed by was the hands he displayed in making more plays under pressure and getting to the middle of the ice. He was among Sweden’s most productive forwards as a result, tying for the event lead with seven points in five games. Berglund is expected to be a strong middle-six forward for Sweden at the World Juniors and showed that he’s poised to be an impactful player at the WJC.
Victor Johansson, D, Sweden (TOR)
Perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of this tournament, Johansson is 20 pounds heavier and a lot stronger than he was when Toronto picked him in the fourth round in 2024. On top of that, his offensive game has really come along, with solid hands and an ability to get pucks through. He has deft touch on the puck, making good passes and escaping pressure. Johansson also had several big hits, showing his willingness and eagerness to use his improved strength to make opposing forwards uncomfortable. He said he is motivated to not just be a good defenseman, but to be the best. There’s still a long way to go there, but how can you not like that motivation?
Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Sweden (SJS)
He does a little bit of everything and I see a strong case for him to lead Sweden in minutes at the World Juniors. He killed so many plays for the opposition in the defensive zone with good positioning and smart reads. He anticipates plays well and has tremendous confidence when the puck is on his stick. Sahlin Wallenius plays a relatively simple, mature game that will serve him well. I think he’s going to be a big factor for a Swedish team that has realistic golden expectations this year.
Ryker Lee, RW, USA (NSH)
The amount of skill Ryker Lee has is well known, but seeing him processing the game at the pace these games were played at made him even more impressive. When the puck is on Lee’s stick, there’s a good chance he is going to make something happen with it. Lee’s confidence and willingness to take that extra look and extend the play a bit more makes him more effective. He still needs to get a bit stronger and the foot speed still needs work, but he does not shy away from the physical areas of the game and handles himself well. I think he put himself on the radar to be a top-six wing option for Team USA.
Daniel Miettinen, D, Finland (NSH)
Miettinen finished the event with six assists, leading all players. He ran Finland’s second power play, which was as potent as its first and distributed pucks very well. Miettinen is skilled and fluid, both in his skating and with how he handles the puck. There was an easiness to his game that made him more impactful than previous viewings where he was a bit more frenetic with the puck. As a returning player, I thought Miettinen delivered a strong showing and has carved out a clear top-four role for the WJC.
Cole Reschny, C, Canada (CGY)
There were very, very few bright spots for Canada, but I thought Reschny was among the most consistent players. His hands, his release and his willingness to get inside and make some plays really helps his cause in what will be a very tense battle for roster spots. He was put in a lot of good spots, centering the top line after the returnees left and playing on the power play. He routinely showed the work ethic and the skill that could significantly help his chances if he has to play more of a depth role. I can’t say for sure how good his chances are, but he certainly didn’t hurt himself this week.
Michael Hage, C/W, Canada (MTL)
Hage is another player who can make things happen with speed and skill, but what I like best about how he played during this event is that he was getting pucks to the net and getting his nose dirty a little bit. He ended up scoring four goals in the tournament and had a lot of effective touches. He still has more to prove to make the final roster, but I think he positioned himself pretty well in this opportunity to reintroduce himself to the Hockey Canada brass.
Eric Nilson, C/W Sweden (ANA)
Nilson does a little bit of everything. Want him to kill a penalty? Want him in the bumper on the power play? Need him to block a shot? Need him to forecheck? Need him to score? The versatility he brings to the table is such a critical piece of his value and why I think he’ll play for Sweden at the World Juniors.
Luke Osburn, D, USA (BUF)
I would also put Osburn in the pleasant surprise category. He has been an excellent USHL defenseman over the last two seasons, but he really leveled up. With Cole Hutson not participating this week, Osburn got looks on the power play and handled himself well in that spot. He performed well at both ends, shutting down some plays, while creating a good bit himself at the offensive blue line.
Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Canada (SJS)
After really struggling in this event last year, Ravensbergen put forward a good effort in Canada’s final game against USA. He played all 60 minutes, stopping a barrage of American shots, many of which came from the outside, and handled himself well. He looked much more in control this year, which is a real positive. It is going to be hard for Ravensbergen to unseat incumbents Carter George or Jack Ivankovic, who were each on the team last year, but he is no worse than the No. 3 option.
Petteri Rimpinen, G, Finland (LAK)
After battling a stomach bug early in the WJSS, Petteri Rimpinen ended up playing each of the last two games, saving his best for last. He was stellar in Finland’s WJSS-closing win over Sweden, making 27 saves on 28 shots. “Mr. Showtime” had nothing to prove after winning the directorate award as the WJC’s top goalie last year, but he reminded us why he’s going to be Finland’s No. 1 the whole way in his final World Juniors.
Cullen Potter, C/W, USA (CGY)
Potter’s speed really pops in an event like this where we see the pace of play and the way a superior skater can dictate things at an event like this. He put pressure on defenders with his speed, took a lot of pucks wide effectively and made himself more of a zone-entry weapon. He scored two goals, including one in the comeback bid against Canada and was spotlighted by head coach Bob Motzko as a player that was noticeable in the event.
2026 NHL Draft Prospect Evaluations
Gavin McKenna, LW, Canada
McKenna appeared in just two games before Canada sent home all of the returning players. No one should read too much into a summer showcase event, especially not for the guys who had little to prove. That said, McKenna wasn’t much of a factor in either game he played. It was a little surprising to see considering how dominant he had been down the stretch of the season. Like I said, not terribly worried about what it says or anything like that, but given the standard he usually plays at, he was a fair amount below.
Ivar Stenberg, LW, Sweden
Stenberg is a special talent. Sweden already knows he will be a key player for them at the World Juniors. He had a hat trick in his first game here and used his speed effectively throughout the tournament. He plays the game in a very direct way despite having the skill to do a little more in terms of east-west play. He’s always on the attack and always a threat it seems. While Stenberg isn’t a large man at this point, he is solidly built, uses his frame well and has the ability to play and process the game at a pretty high pace.
Viggo Björck, C, Sweden
The youngest player in Sweden’s camp, the Swedish federation made the decision not to send him to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup so he could play here and get familiar with his teammates. The expectation is that he will make Sweden’s roster and play a role. How big a role that will be remains to be seen, but he handled himself well. Björck is very skilled and can extend plays. He also doesn’t shy away from the hard areas of the ice. His pace will need to improve a bit, especially when it comes to overall foot speed. As a smaller player, being quicker and having a little bit more power in his skating will go a long way. He processes the game at an exceptional level and there’s a lot of faith in what he can do from the coaches here.
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