We’ve already seen several preliminary and selection camp rosters released for the upcoming World Junior Championship, and among them are some top eligible draft picks. Kaapo Kakko and Anttoni Honka are both among the Finnish group, while potential 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere is expected to play a legitimate role on Canada’s squad despite being just 17.
Today, two more hockey powerhouses released their preliminary rosters. Sweden and Russia both have an impressive group dotted with top draft selections from all over the NHL, though as usual the latter leans toward 19-year old players:
Sweden:
F Jacob Olofsson (MTL)
F Lucas Elvenes (VGK)
F Pontus Holmberg (TOR)
F Rickard Hugg (undrafted)
F Filip Hallander (PIT)
F Samuel Fagemo (2019 eligible)
F Johan Sodergran (LAK)
F Oskar Back (DAL)
F Nils Hoglander (2019 eligible)
F Filip Sveningsson (CGY)
F David Gustafsson (WPG)
F Emil Bemstrom (CBJ)
F Fabian Zetterlund (NJD)
F Hugo Leufvenius (undrafted)
D Erik Brannstrom (VGK)
D Timothy Liljegren (TOR)
D Rasmus Sandin (TOR)
D Adam Ginning (PHI)
D Adam Boqvist (CHI)
D Nils Lundkvist (NYR)
D Filip Westerlund (ARI)
D Jacob Ragnarsson (NYR)
G Samuel Ersson (PHI)
G Adam Ahman (undrafted)
G Olle Eriksson Ek (ANA)
Russia (per Corey Pronman of The Athletic):
G Pyotr Kochetkov (undrafted)
G Amir Miftakhov (undrafted)
G Daniil Tarasov (CBJ)
D Daniil Valitov (undrafted)
D Artyom Volkov (undrafted)
D Danila Zhuravlyov (COL)
D Yevgeny Kalabushkin (undrafted)
D Anton Malyshev (undrafted)
D Ilya Morozov (undrafted)
D Saveli Olshansky (undrafted)
D Alexander Romanov (MTL)
D Mark Rubinchik (undrafted)
D Makar Khabarov (undrafted)
F Artyom Galimov (undrafted)
F Grigori Denisenko (FLA)
F Nikolai Kovalenko (COL)
F Kirill Slepets (undrafted)
F Yevgeny Kanitsky (undrafted)
F Vitali Kravtsov (NYR)
F Kirill Marchenko (CBJ)
F Ivan Morozov (VGK)
F Artyom Nikolayev (undrafted)
F Vladislav Tsitsyura (undrafted)
F Ivan Muranov (undrafted)
F Stepan Starkov (undrafted)
F Nikita Shashkov (undrafted)
F Pavel Shen (BOS)
F Alexander Yaremchuk (undrafted)
Expected to join roster at later date:
D Alexander Alexseyev (WSH)
D Dmitri Samorukov (EDM)
F Klim Kostin (STL)
F Alexander Khovanov (MIN)
F Ivan Chekovich (SJS)
The Swedish D could be lethal and that’s not even counting the fact they’re missing Dahlin. I’m interested to see how Olofsson does as I’ve seen some indicate he could be the go-to C for the Swedes this year.
On the Russian side, what a start for Romanov after being a relatively obscure pick in the 2nd round. He’s already seeing top 4 minutes on a powerhouse CSKA Moscow team in the KHL and he had a pretty dominant Canada-Russia series on the defensive side. You’d have to figure he could anchor Russia’s top pair and perhaps can elevate his offensive game. Especially since only him and Ilya Morozov are the only two playing in a pro league rather than a junior league.
Is Podkolzin hurt, or not being released to participate?
Podkolzin is on the roster for Russia’s entry for the World Junior A Challenge which runs from December 9-16 so he’s healthy.