Which Canadian World Junior-eligible players are still in the NHL?

Dec 3, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 3, 2025, 10:37 EST

Which Canadian World Junior-eligible players are still in the NHL?

Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Canada’s junior hockey development has been heavily criticized in recent years following two early quarterfinal exits. And, fair enough – people expect more from the 20-time champions.

But there’s one thing Canada has to deal with more than anyone: their top talent is often already in the NHL. Of the 13 U-20 players who have skated in at least one game this season, only one – Matvei Gridin – isn’t from Canada (and Russia is currently banned). Just think about the high-end talent they’re missing on, while every other country only really gets affected by injuries.

A few days ago, we looked at what Canada’s roster would look like if it could assemble the ultimate U-20 roster with no NHL interference. Today, we’re going to check in on the players still in the NHL (or the AHL on a conditioning stint, in Brunicke’s case) and whether or not we could see them in Canada’s lineup when they open the tournament against Czechia on Dec. 26 in Minnesota:

Beckett Sennecke, RW (Anaheim Ducks)

Sennecke has been one of the NHL’s top rookies this season, fitting in perfectly alongside Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier on Anaheim’s top line. He has the size and skill the team craves, and he continues to improve and grow more confident with every passing week. Sennecke was cut from Canada’s camp a year ago (after becoming a late add due to injury), so it’s a shame we’ll never get to see what he can do on the world stage. But he probably doesn’t mind – he’s a top five Calder candidate right now.

Zayne Parekh, D (Calgary Flames)

We already know Parekh is expected to be loaned out to Canada once he’s fully healthy. He’s currently out with an upper-body injury, but sources indicate that they hope he’s ready in time for the team’s pre-tournament action against either Sweden or Denmark. Parekh has collected just one assist with the Flames through 11 games while averaging 14:46 of ice time per night. The team has had a downright ugly season, and it felt like Parekh wasn’t getting the opportunities needed to thrive. Fortunately, he’s as confident as they come, and he’ll be looking to prove himself after Hockey Canada elected to keep him at home last year (when they clearly could have used him).

Matthew Schaefer, D (New York Islanders)

In perhaps the most shocking update ever recorded in hockey history, the Islanders aren’t sending Schaefer to the World Juniors. The former Erie Otters star has 15 points in 23 games with the Islanders after going first overall back in June, putting him firmly in the Calder Trophy race lead. Schaefer represented Canada twice internationally in 2024-25, winning gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup before putting up two points in his World Junior debut on Dec. 26. The next time he wears the Canadian colors internationally? Look for him to make the Olympic team.

Benjamin Kindel, RW (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Teams typically don’t loan out players tracking for 20 goals in their rookie season. There are still some who believe Kindel could join Canada if he continues to struggle on the scoresheet (he had just five points in November). But for the most part, he’s still a key part of the team’s attack, and has gelled with just about everyone he has skated with. Kindel entered the season looking like a longshot to make Canada’s roster – let alone Pittsburgh. But everything he has done since the start of the Buffalo Prospects Challenge has shown that the Penguins did their due diligence in finding someone so impactful.

Harrison Brunicke, D (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Brunicke was outstanding during the preseason, resulting in the South African-born defender sticking with the big club. But while most others on this list got into the regular rotation, Brunicke skated in just nine games before getting sent down to the AHL on a conditioning stint. He only played twice in November and wasn’t particularly good in either of them. That being said, you still see his raw confidence and high-end hockey sense. A trip to Minnesota could do wonders for his game – he’ll get back to eating minutes as he did back in Kamloops.

Macklin Celebrini, C (San Jose Sharks)

There won’t be many U-20 players at the 2026 Winter Olympics – but Celebrini will be. There’s no way Hockey Canada elects to keep Celebrini home with the way he’s playing. And because of there, there’s absolutely zero reason to believe he’s headed to Minnesota over the holidays.

Sam Dickinson, D (San Jose Sharks)

Even though Dickinson’s ice time has fallen a bit and his production has been lackluster, many believe the Sharks will keep him around. It’s been a learning experience all around, as expected. The Sharks made it clear early this season that they didn’t want to send Dickinson down to the OHL – but could a trip to the World Juniors be in the cards? He just needs to keep playing, and he could see his ice time nearly double in his second go-around with Canada, if loaned out. But if you asked him, I bet he’d rather stay with his teammates and continue adjusting to the pro lifestyle.

Michael Misa, C (San Jose Sharks)

Misa has missed significant time due to a lower-body injury, resulting in just three points in seven games. It felt like the Sharks would look to ease him into full-time duty throughout the year, but the injury could mean it makes the most sense to send him to the World Juniors to chase heavy minutes instead. Misa wasn’t even invited to camp last year despite eventually becoming the CHL’s MVP – and once he made the Sharks out of training camp, most expected him to remain there. Could the circumstances result in Canada getting one of the best junior-aged players in the world? It’s looking more likely every week, but far from a done deal.

Berkly Catton, C (Seattle Kraken)

Catton made his NHL debut earlier this season and has stuck with the big club ever since. But the 5-foot-10 forward has averaged just under 12 minutes a night this season with only a handful of assists to show for. He has played decently enough, but there’s an argument to be made that he’d benefit from leading the Canadians as their No. 1 center more than limiting his ice time on the Kraken’s third line. Catton had a quiet showing last year but has typically shone bright against his own age group. I think this would be great for him, but we’ll see if the Kraken agree. Seattle could bring him back to the NHL once the WJC is over – but letting him run free and play important minutes could prove favorable for his development.

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