Six Top Blackhawks Prospects Skating at WJC in Sweden

Led by Connor Bedard, five members of Canada’s gold-medal winning squad at the 2023 World Junior Championship were Chicago Blackhawks draftees.

At this year’s WJC in Sweden, four members of Team USA are top Blackhawks prospects. Two on Slovakia’s team are Chicago draft picks. The tournament opens on Dec. 26, 2023 and concludes on Jan. 5, 2024 in Göteborg, the hometown of current Blackhawks goalie Arvid Söderblom.

The Hawks have no one on Team Canada this time, even if the 18-year-old Bedard and 19-year-old defenseman Kevin Korchinski were eligible again for the WJC. Bedard, the NHL's rookie scoring leader, and Korchinski are both making their presence felt with Chicago.

Defensemen Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro, along with forward Colton Dach also were on Canada’s 2023 WJC team. All three are now skating with Rockford of the AHL.

Here’s who to watch at the World Juniors this time. Team USA opens against Norway and Slovakia against Czechia, both on Dec. 26.

Team: University of Michigan. Forward.  Drafted 2022, first round, 13^th overall. Specs: 19 years old, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. From Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Story: Nazar got off to a late start last season with Michigan after hip surgery and settled for two goals and five assists in 13 games. In 2023-24, the speedy, shifty forward has eight goals and 10 assists in 18 games with the Wolverines. 

Team: University of Minnesota. Defenseman. Drafted 2022, first round, 25^th overall. Specs: 19 years old, 6-foot-4, 176 pounds. From Chanhassen, Minnesota. Story: The rangy defenseman is a freshman with the Gophers this season and has one goal and 10 assists in 18 games. 

Team: University of Minnesota. Forward. Drafted 2023, first round, 19^th overall.  Specs: 18 years old (turns 19 on Jan. 22, 2024) 5-foot-11, 194 pounds. From Mounds View, Minnesota. Story:Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson was pumped to pick the speedy Moore in the 19th slot since the forward was expected to go earlier. Also a freshman with Minnesota, Moore rooms with Rinzel and has two goals and 10 assists in 18 games.

Team: Flint Firebirds, OHL. Forward. Drafted 2022, third round, 66^th overall. Specs: 19-years-old, 6-foot-0, 178 pounds. From Westland, Michigan. Story: In his third junior season with Flint, Hayes has 19 goals and 17 assists in 27 games. He broke through last season in juniors with 41 goals and 40 assists in 66 games.

Team: Green Bay Gamblers, USHL. Goaltender. Drafted 2023, second round, 35^th overall. Specs: 19 years old, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. From Poprad, Slovakia. Story: The plan was for Gajan to get a lot of playing time with Green Bay this season and he's been doing just that. He's 14-4-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Gajan has committed to play NCAA Division I next season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Gajan was named best goalie in the WJC last year, appearing in four games for the Slovaks, going 2-2-0 with a 2.40 goals against average and .936 save percentage. He might be best remembered, however, for his reaction after Bedard scored a highlight-reel overtime goal in the quarterfinal.  Bedard stickhandled through three Slovak defenders, then slipped the puck past Gajan who remained on his back after the score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjpz12HYaY

Team: Erie Otters, OHL, Center. Drafted 2023, second round, 55th overall. Specs: 19 years old, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. From Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Story: Misiak played for Slovakia at last year's WJC, then began his transition to North American hockey with 23 games for Youngstown of the USHL. He's upped his junior league and play this season with Erie, a team's that's produced plenty of NHLers from Connor McDavid on down. The man-sized Misiak has 13 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Otters.