World Juniors Predictions

Gold Medal: Canada
This team is too strong, has too many highly touted prospects that have already been drafted, and are solid across the board. They have several offensively talented forwards and defense men. And they also have a good mix of two-way and defensive players. In net they have returning goalie Mark Visentin who is a first round 27th overall pick of the Phoenix Coyotes. And they have Scott Wedgewood who has been one of the best goalies in the CHL this year and can get the job done if Canada calls on him.

Silver Medal: United States of America
Like Canada, the USA has many highly touted prospects on their team, and they have many returning players. Their goaltending is superb, as they have Jack Campbell who has stolen more than a few games as a member of this team the past 2 years. They have a potent first line of Emerson Etem, Nick Bjugstad and Charlie Coyle. And possibley the most defensively sound defense men of all the teams in the tournament.

Bronze Medal: Sweden
This team showed that it had what it takes to win a medal when they beat Canada in a close pre-tournament game.This team has good goaltending, good defense, and fantastic forwards. They have some great draft eligible players in Pontus Aberg, and Filip Forsberg who is touted to go in the top 5 in the 2012 NHL entry draft. They also have a bunch of high picks from last years draft in Mika Zibanejed (6th, Ottawa), Jonas Brodin (10th, Minnesota), Oscar Klefbom (19th, Edmonton), Rickard Rakell (30th, Anaheim), And Victor Rask (42nd, Carolina)

4th Place: Russia
They still have Yevgeni Kuznetsov, who was arguably the best player at the tournament last year when Russia won gold. However, they don't have many returning players, including their captain from last year Vladimir Tarasenko, who was a major factor in Russia winning gold last year. They also don't have Igor Bobkov anymore who backstopped Russia the last 2 years as their goalie. They may have replaced those players with solid other players, but they just don't have enough experience this year.

5th Place: Finland
With Christopher Gibson, who was a second round pick of the LA Kings this past year, as Finland's goalie, they should be in pretty good shape there. They have got some fabulous offensive weapons in the Granlund brothers Mikael and Markus. They have an amazing defense man in Olli Maata. But the thing that will prevent Finland from medalling, will be their lack of depth at both forward and 'D'.

6th Place: Czech Republic
This team is very similar to Finland. They have a couple great players like David Musil, Dmitij Jaskin and Martin Frk, they just have very little depth. Their stars might win them a couple of games, but then teams like Canada or USA that have a very small difference between their best and worst players will beat Czech Republic.


7th Place: Switzerland
This team doesn't have great goaltending, but they have good team defense. They only have one 'star' player in Sven Bartchi who was drafted 13th overall by the Flames last year. If there is a game changer on this team, it's Bartchi. They also have some good two-way players like Alban Rexha. But they just don't have the same quality of players to contest with the top teams.

8th Place: Slovakia
Slovakia is similar to many of the bottom teams in this tournament in the way that it has a couple great players but nothing else. Those players are: Martin Marincin and Tomas Jurco.

9th Place: Denmark
Denmark only has one good player and that is Niklas Jensen. He'll score a couple of goals this tournament, but will be one of few bright spots on this team.

10th: Latvia
I don't even recognize anybody on this team. Latvia is going to be in for a long tournament.