NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and LNH.com staff writer Guillaume Lepage predict Canada will win the tournament, while NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale believes the United States will repeat as champions.
No team hasn't won the World Junior champion in back-to-back years since Canada won five straight from 2005-09. The United States never has won consecutive championships.
Kimelman believes Canada will defeat Russia in the championship game, while Lepage believes Canada will win against Sweden. Morreale predicts the United States will defeat Canada in a repeat of the 2021 WJC championship game.
Each writer also made his pick for best goalie, best forward, best defenseman and top 2022 NHL Draft prospect.
The 2022 tournament will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. The 10 teams will play in two groups. Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Germany, Czechia and Austria, and will play its preliminary-round games at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The United States, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland will play in Group B, with its preliminary-round games at WP Centrium in Red Deer.
RELATED: [2022 WJC schedule]
The top four finishes in each group will play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, and the championship and third-place games are Jan. 5 in Edmonton.
All games will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada.
