Players to watch at the men's world junior hockey championship

The world junior hockey championship gets going Friday with plenty of top-end talent set to be on display. Future stars in the NHL to suit up at the men's under-20 tournament in recent years include Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson and Leo Carlsson.

The Canadian Press takes a look at some of the players to watch at this year's event in Minnesota:

Once thought to be the slam-dunk No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL draft, the 18-year-old forward from Whitehorse has struggled to match his point total of last season, registering 18 across 16 games in the NCAA with Penn State after dominating the Western Hockey League as a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna, who put up 129 points in 56 contests in 2024-25 and was part of Canada's fifth-place showing at the world juniors, could still very well go first overall — and will be a key part of his country's attack.

Gavin McKenna wants to lead Canada to world junior gold

The 18-year-old Swedish winger is one of the players challenging McKenna on expert draft boards. Stenberg, a shifty playmaker, has suited the last two seasons in his country's top professional league with Frolunda, registering 24 points in 25 games so far in 2025-26.

Not even invited to Canada's selection camp 12 months ago, the 19-year-old forward has parachuted in from the San Jose Sharks for the tournament. Misa, who was selected No. 2 at June's NHL draft after registering 134 points in 65 contests in 2024-25 with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit, scored his first goal with the Sharks this fall and has a total of three points in seven games with San Jose.

The 18-year-old Swede selected No. 3 by the Chicago Blackhawks in June has played professionally in his homeland with Djurgardens the last