Top 15 prospects to watch at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase
If you’re missing hockey, we’ve got your fix.
The World Junior Summer Showcase is set to get underway in Windsor, Ontario on Sunday, with USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden taking part in the week-long event. This is one of the top hockey events 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 2027 World Junior Championship, which is set to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer this winter.
Finland and Sweden already partake in multiple summer U-20 events. That’s why they’re missing some key players, with Finland, in particular, bringing more of a “B” team. Canada and the United States, meanwhile, will use this as their last opportunity to catch up on their talent before the main event, with USA, in particular, entering two teams to start the tournament.
Here’s a look at 15 prospects you need to know heading into the annual summer funfest. Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list, but an opportunity to give fans a glimpse into who’s worth keeping an eye on:
Carson Carels, LHD, Canada (Calgary Flames)
The Notre-Dame-bound defender was one of the best young defenders in the CHL, and scouts love him. Hockey Canada clearly does, too, given they had him in a seventh D spot a year ago. Carels brings that rugged, heavy-lifting mentality he and his family use on the farm right onto the ice. When you combine his elite defensive awareness, seamless two-way game, punishing physique and off-the-charts hockey IQ, you get a truly premium defensive prospect. He showed high-end flashes during the World Juniors, and he possesses every tool necessary to become a top-pairing defender one day. Carels’ well-rounded ability makes him very exciting to watch at a tournament like this.
Cole Reschny, C, Canada (Calgary Flames)
Reschny was one of the most impressive freshmen last season, putting up 35 points in 36 games while playing a leading role on one of the top teams in the country. Reschny’s ability to produce no matter the situation makes him so intriguing. He’s not huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. He’s an outstanding playmaker – legitimately one of the best outside the NHL. Reschny is smart, competitive and has all the makings of a top-six forward in the NHL one day. Look for him to play a big role on Canada’s World Junior team this winter.
Jack Ivankovic, G, Canada (Nashville Predators)
It’s rare for a Canadian goaltender to get two cracks at the can, let alone three. He was the backup to Carter George the past two years, but had a handful of good performances while helping fill the gap. Ivankovic has been a starter at various international events, most notably during the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky in Edmonton. Ivankovic is one of the small goalie prospects I truly believe in. He’s only 5-foot-11, but you’ll have a hard time finding a more competitive goalkeeper. He’s been a high-pedigree goaltender for a long time now, and Hockey Canada absolutely loves him. Furthermore, he’ll also look to chase after a national title and build upon one of the most impressive rookie goaltending campaigns we’ve seen in recent NCAA memory.
Brady Martin, C/RW, Canada (Nashville Predators)
You’re not going to find many guys that work and battle as hard as Martin does, and that was proven with how well he played at the World Juniors. He also started the year in the NHL, which was a bit surprising, yet well-earned. Martin’s numbers were nothing to get excited about in the OHL, but the Greyhounds weren’t entirely deep offensively. And he missed some time due to injury. When he was healthy, he was one of the more fascinating players in major junior. I don’t expect him to be a big point producer, and that’s obviously something you’d probably want out of a fifth overall pick. But he impacts the game in so many ways away from the puck that it makes it challenging to dislike him. Look for Martin to play a top-six role at the main event in December.
Caleb Desnoyers, C, Canada (Utah Mammoth)
Desnoyers will be gunning for a spot on Utah’s NHL roster – but first, he’ll look to secure the top-line center role in Windsor. The 19-year-old has been a powerhouse scoring threat in the QMJHL for a few years now, leading many to believe his next meaningful games will take place in Utah. He’s a strong, 6-foot-2 forward who seems to find scoring lanes out of thin air quite frequently, and he’s a great playmaker, too. After registering six assists in seven games last winter, it would be huge for Canada if they could manage to get Desnoyers back for one last kick at the can.
Caleb Malhotra, C, Canada (Vancouver Canucks)
Malhotra’s steady, intelligent two-way game made him the premier center in the 2026 NHL draft class, and he might end up becoming the No. 1 in Edmonton. While it isn’t the deepest year down the middle, he projects safely as a future top-six threat. He was a driving force behind Brantford’s success last season, especially during the playoffs. He competes relentlessly at both ends of the ice, suffocating opponents and stripping away their time and space. Malhotra has the potential to become a top-line center in the NHL, but it’s up to him to wade through the traffic and steal that job in Windsor. I’ll also give Braeden Cootes a shoutout; I didn’t include him on this because returning players typically don’t get a ton of playing time at the WJSS, and there’s a solid chance he’s in Vancouver full-time in September. If not, look for him to be a solid middle-six player on Canada’s roster in December.
Samu Alalauri, RHD, Finland (Chicago Blackhawks)
Alalauri was outstanding for the Finns at the U-18s a few months ago, and it was easy to understand why. It felt like he played with significant confidence and thrived in the D zone, rarely making a bad pass. Alalauri still needs to improve his ability to make plays in transition because he can be a bit too timid at times. But I like his skating, puck work and general defensive play. The Finns are lacking a true game-changing blueliner on this team, so this will be the perfect opportunity for Alalauri to play a significant role and get the puck moving. I think the Hawks got a good one here, and this will be a great opportunity for him to prove that to the loyal fanbase.
Elton Hermansson, RW, Sweden (Los Angeles Kings)
Hermansson loves generating offense, and he’ll need to do that quite a bit in Windsor. He put up solid numbers in the second-tier Swedish league last year and scored at a goal-per-game pace with the U-18 national team. From an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot to love, especially on the power play. His game away from the puck has improved over the past few months. However, it still feels like he isn’t as impactful as he needs to be when he’s not piling shots on net. I want to see more urgency when attacking opponents to regain possession. The good news: he’s best at the hardest thing to do in hockey, which is scoring goals, and Sweden will need all the help they can get over the next week.
Alexander Command, C, Sweden (New Jersey Devils)
Command isn’t flashy, but he doesn’t have to be. But he has all the makings of a reliable, all-situations center in the NHL. His floor is very high – he fits an archetype that succeeds quite frequently. He’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. Command can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I’ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he’s more of a second/third-liner in the NHL, but one who shouldn’t have many issues being effective. For this tourney, though, look for him to get a boatload of minutes with no Anton Frondell or Viggo Bjorck to contend with.
Malte Gustafsson, LHD, Sweden (New York Islanders)
Gustafsson was one of the most fascinating defenders down the stretch last season. Gustafsson is a 6-foot-4 defender who played well in the SHL, despite having little to show for it on the scoresheet. His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. I also feel like he showed a bit more flash with the puck near the end of the year than we all first thought, especially at the U-18s. Match that with the fact that he’s one of the most competitive defenders you’ll find, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him wiggle his way into a third-pair role to start the NHL season. If not, Gustafsson will likely play a top-pairing role for Sweden at the main event. For now, he’ll be one of the top blueliners in Windsor.
Milton Gästrin, C, Sweden (St. Louis Blues)
Gästrin will be interesting to watch as a proven leader with the Swedish squad. He was outstanding during the 2025 U-18s, helping his team win silver after a 10-point performance. He’s coming off his first year of pro hockey, where he put up a solid 10 goals and 24 points in 39 games in the second-tier Swedish league. I like his hockey sense and general two-way reliability. This will be Gästrin’s first major hockey action after his inclusion in the Jordan Kyrou trade back in June, so he’ll be looking to make a big impression on the Blues’ scouting department.
Ethan Wyttenbach, LW, USA (Calgary Flames)
Wyttenbach wasn’t invited to USA’s World Junior camp last year, and he probably should have. It always felt like he was a long shot given he had no previous ties to USA Hockey in international play. But ultimately, the 2025 fifth-rounder finished first in NCAA scoring with 59 points, which is utterly incredible for a player taken as late as he was just a few months prior. The Roslyn, N.Y., native is an undersized forward but is always moving, carving his way through the ice to get into scoring situations. He has never been a high-end producer at any level – he was more productive as a freshman NCAA forward than he has been at any other point. We’ll see if Wyttenbach can sustain that in college, but I fully expect him to play a big role regardless for the Americans both in Windsor and again in the winter.
L.J. Mooney, RW, USA (Montreal Canadiens)
As one of the smallest players in the 2025 draft class at 5-foot-8, Mooney has had to work even harder to make sure he gets noticed. Between his playmaking and skating on display, Mooney was one of USA’s top forwards every time he hit the ice at the 2026 World Juniors. I love how he exploits open ice and he’s got quick hands to make both great passes and great shots. One question I had heading into 2025-26 was whether the smaller forward could withstand the physical pressures of playing against college kids. In the end, he had 30 points in 34 games while also playing some of the most physical hockey I’ve ever seen from him. I’ve had a soft spot for Mooney and his natural skill for a few years now, and I’m still a believer. I think he’ll be one of the competitive smaller forwards who makes it work, and that includes having a shining role (again) at the WJSS.
Wyatt Cullen, LW, USA (Nashville Predators)
Cullen was the USNTDP’s top player last season and should be counted on heavily in both Windsor and Alberta. His high-end hockey sense and the ability to get any line moving make him so dangerous. His puck-handling – both as a shooter and a passer – is remarkable. Cullen is a high-end skater who seemingly found a whole other gear once he got up to speed this season. Cullen is a constant scoring threat because he’s always scanning lanes for passes, but he has the quick footwork and lateral mobility to blow by most opponents and put himself into dangerous areas.
Chase Reid, RHD, USA (Seattle Kraken)
Many expected Reid to be the first defender off the board, but he ultimately fell a few spots to Seattle. He was excellent at the World Juniors, taking over the No. 1 D gig after Cole Hutson went down with an injury. Reid checks all the boxes you’d want in a potential No. 1 D-man. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, that’s a good frame to work with. He’s also a right-shot defender – you’ve probably heard teams value that. He’s also an outstanding skater – maybe the best of any top defender in the class. He has a remarkable shot, and he seems to think the game at such an advanced level. Reid rarely makes a bad pass, and he’s so elusive when he’s skating around with the puck at speed. So much of his defense is making sure he contains the puck as much as possible, giving opponents so little to work with. USA’s roster doesn’t have a ton of star power, but Reid will be the closest to achieving that this year.
Other Notables: Braeden Cootes, C, Canada (Vancouver Canucks); Marcus Nordmark, RW, Sweden (Anaheim Ducks); Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, USA (Los Angeles Kings); J.P. Hurlbert, RW, USA (Detroit Red Wings); Will Horcoff, RW, USA (Pittsburgh Penguins)
RESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF NEWSLETTER
