The World Junior Championship is always loaded with high-end NHL drafted talent. While it’s known for being a 19-year-old tournament, there are always performances from players that are younger and getting ready for the NHL draft as well.
A few years ago, there was Connor Bedard‘s masterful performance. Last year, we saw exactly what Macklin Celebrini could do as the first overall pick, as well as Zeev Buium who was fantastic as a draft-eligible player to help Team USA capture gold.
It’s always tough for draft-eligible players to crack the roster given the number of players that can return from the previous year. But, if the talent and skill is there, it’s hard to pass that up and not have them on the roster. These players made their presence felt during camp and deserve the opportunity to represent their country. Here are the 2025 draft-eligible players to watch at the 2025 World Junior Championship.
James Hagens, C – United States
The potential first overall pick in 2025 and despite a strong start with Boston College, James Hagens hasn’t fully solidified that spot. Though, he’s definitely having some competition to start the season. He has five goals and 15 assists in 16 games, which is impressive and he has an opportunity to create some separation with this tournament.
Hagens possesses some of the best hockey sense. He knows exactly where he needs to be in order to open things up, draw players in and create a play when he has the puck. He’s extremely creative and shifty when he has possession, excelling in tight spaces and his agility allows him to easily beat defenders one-on-one. If he’s on a line with teammates and returnees Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, he has that advantage and familiarity to dominate this tournament with his elite playmaking abilities.
Porter Martone, RW – Canada
It’s not surprising that whenever he plays in an international tournament, Porter Martone always stands out in a positive way as a leader. He was an alternate captain for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year and captained Canada at the 2024 World U18 Championship. As a younger player in those tournaments taking on a leadership role, he thrived on it as he was productive offensively, winning a gold medal. At the moment, he’s second in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 54 points in 26 games.
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