5 players to watch in the World Juniors

The World Junior Championship is one of the best times of year as a hockey fan, as the top under-20 youth talent from around the globe face off in International competition. It is a particularly important part of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks, especially in recent seasons, as the team has been going through the depths of its tear-it-down rebuild. This approach has not always provided the most entertaining hockey to watch with respect to the NHL squad, making it imperative to take in what the future has in store.

This year is no different, as there are plenty of players worth keeping tabs on in this tourney if you are a Blackhawks enthusiast. Not only does Chicago have three promising prospects taking part in the tournament, but it also has a few 2026 draft-eligible players who could be added to the Blackhawks' already loaded pipeline one day. These five players should provide must-watch hockey over the next two weeks.

Gavin McKenna

Gavin McKenna is the first and most obvious player who comes to mind as a must-see in this tournament, whether you are a Blackhawks fan or not. McKenna went into this season as the expected number one pick in the 2026 NHL draft. While he has not quite lit up the college ranks at Penn State as was expected, with four goals and 14 assists in 16 games, this tourney will allow him to reclaim his status as the top player in his draft class.

With the Blackhawks currently sitting near the bottom of the standings approaching the halfway point of the season, the squad has a good chance of once again finishing near the basement of the NHL. This will give them a good chance of landing the next Canadian prodigy. McKenna is notably a Blackhawks fan, having supported the team growing up with Patrick Kane being his idol. He is also a distant cousin of Connor Bedard. The thought of what a Bedard-McKenna connection could look like is a tantalizing one for Chicago.

Ivar Stenberg

Right on McKenna's heels, if not in front of him, at this stage of the campaign, is Sweden's Ivar Stenberg. He has absolutely lit up the stage overseas in the SHL with 24 points in 25 games for his Frolunda team. His production is among the best seen amongst draft-eligible players from Sweden in recent memory, giving him a solid chance of going first overall in this upcoming draft.

Of note for Chicago is the chemistry Stenberg has already developed with the Blackhawks' top prospect, Anton Frondell, playing together on the world stage. A future Stenberg-Frondell connection could be a nasty 2nd line pairing for Chicago behind Bedard-Nazar.

Anton Frondell

The first Blackhawks prospect on this list is the team's recent 2025 3rd overall pick. This tournament will provide a showcase for Frondell to show what he can do when the lights are brightest. He will be expected to be a top producer for this Swedish team if they want a chance to win their first gold medal in the WJC since 2012. So far, Frondell has delivered as he delivered the opening goal of the tournament on Friday, displaying his bomb of a one-timer that has to have Bedard salivating over the thought of what the Blackhawks future power play will look like.

Vaclav Nestrasil

The fellow 2025 first-round pick of Chicago is the Czech Vaclav Nestrasil. The 6'5'' tank of a power forward has enjoyed a successful season playing in the NCAA with UMass, amassing over a point per game production. Nestrasil should be one of Czechia's top players for a country that is looking to medal for the 3rd year in a row, having brought home bronze medals in consecutive years. The 25th overall pick has progressed nicely so far. This tourney will be another important step in his developmental journey.

AJ Spellacy

Lastly is Team USA's AJ Spellacy. A surprise addition to the roster of defending back-to-back gold medal winners, Spellacy will be relied upon in an energy 4th-line role, as he brings much-needed grit and tenacity to a speedy, talented group. Spellacy is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Blackhawks system. It is far from a guarantee that the 2024 third-round pick will even make it to the NHL. But if he does, Spellacy could be the perfect beast of a bottom-six forward with the intangibles that every coach dreams of.