Top 15 NHL prospects to watch at the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase

Credit: Ryan Leonard (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

Hockey is back, baby.

The World Junior Summer Showcase gets underway today in Plymouth, Michigan, with the United States kicking off their training camp ahead of the first game action on Sunday. This is one of the highlights of the summer, giving fans a chance to watch their top prospects – new and returning – represent their country in hopes of making their respective squad for the 2025 World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

This year, USA will have two teams – blue and white – with the roster potentially changing throughout the week. Sweden and Finland are back for another year, while Canada will make its first appearance since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s all for bragging rights, but the players will still put on a show. They want to make the best impression possible ahead of the main event, so it’s a good event to check out if you get a chance.

Here’s a look at 15 of the top NHL prospects to watch as game action runs from July 28 – August 3 at USA Hockey Arena:

Ryan Leonard, RW, USA (Washington Capitals)

With no Will Smith to work alongside him, this is Leonard’s time to shine. Leonard was one of the top scorers in the NCAA this past season. On a dominant Boston College Eagles team that made it to the national championship game, the 19-year-old scored 31 goals and 60 points, tied for fourth in the NCAA in scoring. He was a few points behind Smith, who finished first in the nation with 71 points. Leonard, a USA Hockey National Team Development Program alum, has been a star at almost every international tournament he has played in, and was even part of the senior World Championship team in May. I have full belief he is NHL-ready, but the concept of having him chase a second consecutive gold at the World Juniors and go after a national college title was enough to keep the star prospect back at Boston College, and that’s OK.

Gabe Perreault, LW, USA (New York Rangers)

For what it’s worth, I think Perreault was one of the most improved prospects this year. And it starts with his skating, which isn’t really a concern for me anymore like it was during his draft year. After smashing the single-season USNTDP scoring record, he followed it up with 60 points in 36 games with Boston College and another 10 points in seven games at the World Juniors. Perreault was named to various all-star teams at the end of the college season, but his play at the World Juniors was some of the most impressive action I’ve seen him play in. Perreault is such a force with the puck, and I’m excited to see him play a big role in December.

Oliver Moore, C, USA (Chicago Blackhawks)

Moore played a couple of different roles with USA last year and I thought he looked good when he was promoted to the top line. He was the fastest player in the 2023 NHL Draft class, and someone many who followed the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2022-23 thought was underrated, in a sense. Moore is more than just a quick skater, though: he’s one of the hardest-working forwards you’ll find, and he’s extremely versatile. He has a good shot, but he filled more of a playmaker role as a freshman with the Golden Gophers this past season. Moore’s game is all about being toolsy, and if he doesn’t make it as a top-six forward, he has a realistic chance of being one of the best bottom-six threats in the NHL.

Quentin Musty, LW, USA (San Jose Sharks)

Musty had a great WJSS last year, and he followed it up by being one of the most productive players in the OHL. Still, it wasn’t enough to earn a spot on USA’s roster last year, although it definitely should have. Musty is a play driver who can skate alongside anyone and impress. He has only represented USA at one other tournament – the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup – and I thought he was one of their most effective players. There’s no reason to keep him off the main roster in December because they’ll need his goal-scoring and hard work ethic.

Zeev Buium, LHD, USA (Minnesota Wild)

Buium was one of USA’s top players at this event a year ago, and he’s going to be even more important this time around. Buium became just the second U-19 defenseman to break the 50-point barrier in NCAA history, and it feels like it went under the radar. He won the national championship and the World Juniors in the same year, while Macklin Celebrini even called him the best player in the Frozen Four. Buium is a great skater who loves the puck on his stick, and he never seems to get frazzled, no matter the situation.

Easton Cowan, C, Canada (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Cowan struggled at the 2024 World Juniors, mostly playing a depth-checking role. And, frankly, I didn’t think he was overly good at it. But after winning the OHL’s MVP honors for both the regular season and the playoffs, the 2023 first-rounder is ready for a bigger role in his second go-around. Cowan has given many a reason to believe he will stick around for a while at Leafs’ training camp, and potentially even play a few games with Toronto before going back for another season with London. But at this tournament, it’s a good chance for him to show that he’s ready to play a big role and challenge for a spot high in the lineup.

Calum Ritchie, C, Canada (Colorado Avalanche)

*Cal Ritchie (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Had Ritchie not missed the start of the 2023-24 season with a shoulder injury, I fully believe he would have made Canada’s roster. After a great showing at the 2023 U-18 World Championship was cut short due to a shoulder injury, Ritchie missed time in his third OHL campaign but set a new career-high with 52 assists and 80 points in 50 games played. Ritchie was also a serious contender for OHL playoff MVP with 30 points in 21 games, only for the Generals to fall in four games. Ritchie is a strong, smart, two-way center who can play against anyone and come out on top, and I fully believe he’ll be an impact player for the Avs in the long run. He just does so many things right, whether it be creating high-quality chances or helping out around his own net. I expect big things from Ritchie at the main event in Ottawa.

Bradly Nadeau, RW, Canada (Carolina Hurricanes)

There is the potential that Nadeau won’t be loaned out for the main event if he makes the Hurricanes, but I feel like that’s unlikely. Nadeau is coming off an impressive season in the NCAA, finishing as a Hobey Baker Award nominee after leading Maine with 19 goals and 46 points, edging out his brother, Josh, by a single point. Stylistically, there’s a lot to like. He had one of the best shots of anyone in the draft last year, with many believing he’s a future 30-goal scorer. He’s creative, has quick hands, and has a deceptive release while also showing he can score from just about any angle. When Nadeau has the puck, you know something’s about to happen. I expect him to play a top-six role with Canada.

Zayne Parekh, RHD, Canada (Calgary Flames)

Parekh was a big pickup for the Flames, someone I think has real star potential. With the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, Parekh is coming off the third most productive U-18 season ever by an OHL defender, and he still has at least another year to go in major junior. There’s no reason to doubt that he won’t become the fourth defender in OHL history to break the 120-point barrier next year and become just the second behind Paul Reinhart in 1978-79 to hit 50 goals. We saw him play a limited role at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, but his return to the Hockey Canada system should see him playing a much bigger role. He’s got the toolkit to make everything work at both ends, starting with his skating. Parekh isn’t an explosive skater, but he moves well side-to-side and can start and stop on a dime. He’s a manipulator offensively in how he makes you think he’s doing one thing before doing another, and he’s figured out how to use that to his advantage going the other way, too. I think he’s going to show the world what he’s capable of this winter, but it all starts in Michigan.

Otto Stenberg, C, Sweden (St. Louis Blues)

*Otto Stenberg (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Few junior players tend to rise to the occasion when donning their national team colors as Stenberg does. He had nine points in seven games at the World Juniors last year, marking a more productive output than he put up in 31 SHL games. Stenberg has plenty of pro experience already and you can see that in the way he fights for the puck and hustles around the arena. Stenberg will be one of the top players in the main tournament, so you can expect him to start things off strong here.

Theo Lindstein, LHD, Sweden (St. Louis Blues)

What a showing Lindstein had back on home ice this past winter. Lindstein went from being a late addition to becoming one of the best defensemen in the tournament in almost every facet. He was one of the best puck-movers, he scored and shut guys down defensively. I’d say he started better than he finished, but Lindstein proved he should have been on this team from the get-go. Lindstein is a lock to make Sweden’s roster this winter just based on how well he played last year, but he’ll be able to take things a step further after some time spent in the top Swedish pro league.

Lucas Pettersson, C, Sweden (Anaheim Ducks)

Pettersson was one of Sweden’s best players at the U-18 level last year, playing a variety of roles en route to a bronze medal at the World Championship. As a centerman, Pettersson plays a stout two-way game and has really shown more confidence as the season has worn on. Pettersson can fly around the ice and has gotten better at using that to steal pucks in tight. He’s also a solid penalty killer, too. The good thing about Pettersson is he can do a bit of everything out there, which makes him a versatile option for the Swedes here.

Rasmus Kumpulainen, C, Finland (Minnesota Wild)

Kumpulainen had a quiet showing at the 2024 World Juniors, but he had a nice first season in the OHL with Oshawa. He’s not the flashiest player, but I like how versatile he is and how engaged he is without the puck. The 6-foot-4 center is headed back to Finland for 2024-25, but getting off on the right foot in Plymouth should do well for his confidence before embarking on his first year of pro hockey.

Emil Hemming, RW, Finland (Dallas Stars)

While I’m not sure Hemming has enough high-end upside, there’s still so much to like here. He’s capable of getting creative offensively, but I feel like he’s a future bottom-six forward who can outmuscle players while staying disciplined and grinding it out all game long. His defensive game is nice, too. Hemming showed all of that at the World Juniors last year in a bottom-line role, but I expect to see his ice time levitate a bit as a second-year player. I want to see him become a more explosive skater who can also start and stop on a dime, but, overall, I think there’s still a lot to like about his game. I think he can score close to 40 goals with the Barrie Colts this year, for what it’s worth.

Kim Saarinen, G, Finland (Seattle Kraken)

*Kim Saarinen (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

With Finland’s No. 1 goalie role up in the air, this would be a great opportunity for Saarinen to try and state his case for the job. Saarinen stands tall at 6-foot-4 and lets his body do the talking. He covers so much of the net, but he’s athletic enough to stretch out to make more difficult stops when needed easily. He had some rough goes internationally this year, but he looked great back home, reminding me just how good he can be in the zone. He’s set for full-time Liiga duty this year, but I’m more excited to see what he can do over the next week in Plymouth because I do think he’s a solid young goaltender.

Other notables: Cole Eiserman, LW, USA (New York Islanders), Trey Augustine, G, USA (Detroit Red Wings), Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Finland (Detroit Red Wings), Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, Sweden (San Jose Sharks), Andrew Cristall, LW, Canada (Washington Capitals), Tij Iginla, LW, Canada (Utah), Cayden Lindstrom, C, Canada (Columbus Blue Jackets)