World Juniors 2021 primer A team-by-team

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The 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship is officially set to get underway on Christmas Day as 10 countries and 250 of the top junior players in the world get set to hit the ice in Edmonton, Alta.Things will be a little different this year asfans and some of the fanfare will be mi sing from the arena, but that shouldn't stop the action-packed games from having the same intensityas usual  after all, national pride is on the line. The fireof postseason hockey wrapped up in a compact 12-day schedule, the tournament is the premier annual prospect showcase and has the same drama and shining moments as March Madne s.WORLD JUNIORS PREDICTIONS:This year's tournament  Armani Watts Jersey is different for a number of reasons,aside from not havingfans, including the players themselves. As always, the rosters sport some of the biggest names expected to be called in July  and in 2022  and players who have future star potential, but this year's rosters also boast many whowill actually crack an NHL rosterwhen the season gets underway on Jan. 13. It'll be interesting to see which cream rises to the top as many of the players haven't even suited up for a game in nine months.For now, the focus is squarely on leaving Alberta withgolden memories. Who will shine on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights? Which team will playCinderella? Who will leave disappointed? And, at the end, who will reach the podium?Here's a one-stop primer for everything there is to know about thecompeting nations and what to watch.Group A CanadaIt's been more than a decade since Canada won back-to-back gold (2005-09) but Jordan Lucas Jersey  this year's team is stacked and poised to go golden again. Six playersreturn from 2020's gold-medal-winning team (Quinton Byfield,Bowen Byram,Dylan Cozens, Jamie Drysdale,Connor McMichaelandDawson Mercer) and 20 of 25 on the roster were selected in the first round of either the 2019 or 2020 drafts.Strength:    Forwards.  The Canadians' roster po se ses one of the most talented, speedy and flexible group of forwards in the tournament. Head coach Andre Tourigny loves to have guys who can play different positions andlook no further than McMichael, who did just that in 2020 and has spent time at both wing and center since the Patrick Mahomes Jersey  start of selection camp. McMichael and Cozens combined for 16 points last year and will be heavily relied upon in Edmonton.Even with the, who suffered an injury in the squad's exhibition game, this lineup is deep. Highlytouted prospect Philip Tomasino (NSH) didn't even play in the contest and will now slot in as the 13th forward  and that's not a bad addition.WORLD JUNIORS: Weakne s Travis Kelce Jersey :   Goaltending.  The big question mark  which, to be fair, always seems to be the case every year for Canada is the goaltending. As with last year, the squad does not have a bonafide stopper between the pipes compared with the likes of the United States and Ru sia. For now, Devon Levi seems to have the edge as Tourigny's No. 1, and he posted another shutout in the team's exhibition game (after doing the same in the last intrasquad scrimmage).Devon Levi gets the start in net for Canada in tonights exhibition game. SN's spoke earlier today with NHL Network's for a detailed breakdown on the Panthers prospect/Northeastern netminder.  Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) Key player:   Quinton Byfield.  The second-overall pick in October, Byfield was quiet at last year's tournament as a 17-year-old as he only grabbed an a sist in seven games. Fast forward a year later, and his teammates and coaches have been impre sed with how his game has grown. As one player put itin November: "He's Dustin Colquitt Jersey  a man against boys and his shot is just unbelievable." He may be the youngest player on the roster again but his presence will be felt this year.After the exhibition game, Tourigny praised the forward and said "he was one of our best players" in the game.Will they win gold?  There's no doubt that Canada is  the top contender. The team will easily make its way out of the group stage beingin the weaker of the two divisions; however, whetherthat's the best set-up for when the intensity rises in the playoff rounds is to be determined.WORLD JUNIORS: ScheduleDate Opponent Time (TV info) Dec. 26Germany6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 27Slovakia6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 29Switzerland6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 31Finland6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN) FinlandAfter winning gold in 2019, the Finns skated away empty-handed last year after finishing fourth. While they're never in the initial gold-medal chat, they usually work their way into the conversation as the tournament rolls  Larry Johnson Jersey on. Finland doeshave a solid roster that includes Jets prospect Ville Heinola on defense, the return of    two-way centerAnton Lundell, who mi sed last year's tournament with aninjury, and 16-year-old phenom Brad Lambert.Strength:   Defense.  Finland usually has a stingy but skilled defensive group,and this year is no different. Anchored by Heinola, who is playing in his third WJC, Finland has depth on the blue line and should once be involved in low-scoring contests.Weakne s:   Secondary scoring.  The captain Lundell is expected to shoulder the load and was between Roby Jarvetie and Kasper Simontaival for the exhibition game. But beyond that top line, there's not much oomph when it comes to the Finns up front. They do have some offensive-minded defensemen, such asHeinola, whocould provide some support.Key player:   Brad Lambert.  The youngster'sname is already being to sed around as the top guy in 2022. He's got speed, skill and enters the tourney havingposted four goals and three a sists in 18 games for JYP against men in Finland's top profe sional league.Will they win gold?  Tough to Harrison Butker Jersey  say. It's doubtful they get gold but bronze is not out of the question. Asked by TSN's Ryan Rishaug during the team's exhibition game on Tuesday night how this year's team stacks up to his two other WJC Dontae Johnson Jersey  teams, Heinola said,"I think this is the best." Never count the Finns out.ScheduleDate Opponent Time (TV info) Dec. 25Germany6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 27Switzerland2 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 30Slovakia2 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN)Dec. 31Canada6 p.m. ET (NHLN, TSN) SwitzerlandEvery year the prevailing opinion on the Swi s is that they're always good for pulling off at least one upset or giving a scare to a top contender. Last year, they did just that by finishing second in Group A.But that was last year, and this year's team has some major weakne ses that itmay not be able to overcome.Strength:   No pre sure.  With a spot in 2022 guaranteed, the    Swi s won't be grippin