Max Curran Can Help Czechia Take Home a Medal at the 2026 World Junior Championship

The Colorado Avalanche prospect pool might not see much talent heading to St. Paul, Minneapolis. Still, one prospect they can expect to represent their country is forward Max Curran, helping represent Czechia. He, along with teammate Adam Jecho (Blues), has already been named to the 26-man roster camp and will push to cement their name in the final roster.

This will be Curran’s second time representing Czechia at the national level; the first was the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023-24, where he finished with one goal and two assists for three points in five games and lost to Canada in the finals.

So far this season, Curran has 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 28 games. He’s fifth in goals, third in assists, and third in points on the team. This is his first season with the team since being traded from the Tri-City Americans this past summer, the team that drafted him 39th overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, and with whom he spent the last two seasons.

At 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds, his frame still has room to grow, but for now, it's a great size to play with, and his ability to contribute while handling the puck can really help Czechia, especially with the talent they can bring in to surround him.

“Give Curran a bit of space, and he’ll find the best play. He spots the quick pass to a teammate with speed, and also stretches possessions to wait for a teammate to get free, deceiving the process. Though he leans playmaking, he knows when to fire, delay, or make a simple play and get open for the return pass. - EliteProspects”

Surrounded by top talent across the league like Adam Jiricek (Blues), Radmin Mrtka (Sabres), Vaclav Nestrasil (Blackhawks), and notable upcoming draft prospect Adam Novotny, Curran could be used as a staple in this offense, but it's going to be interesting to see where they might try to fit him in.

He’s most comfortable as a center, but he has played left wing in his career, which opens up more line possibilities given Czechia’s contract between center and winger depth. Petr Sikora (Capitals) or Jecho have a good chance at being the team's top-line center, so does that push Curran down to the third line as a center for Jecho to take the second line position, or does either spend time on the wing?

Outside of his size, which he uses as a two-way center that the Avalanche hope to grow more into that style for them in the future, it's his playmaking that can really be put on display, and with the talent Czechia is bringing to this tournament, surrounding him can really help shine what he can bring to the team. Setting him with players who can be placed in a slot position or on the hash marks, and having Curran set them up to utilize their shooting potential, might be the best way for him to succeed.

Though he does have an underrated shot that can’t be ignored, it isn't the best on the team or anywhere close to the top of the tournament, but it's something Curran flashes that I wish we saw more of. He finished with 22 goals last season, which isn't anything crazy, but it ranked third on the team and marked a notable jump from his five in his debut season with the Tri-City Americans in 2023-24.

Though it's just speculation right now until we see official training camp lines, we'll see him as a center on the third line or a winger in the top six, but center makes much more sense. He's much more comfortable and being able to headline his own line, they can use the third line as a two-way line, leaning into his size.

With other players like Stepan Hoch (Mammoth), who is 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, and Richard Zemlicka, who is 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. Size, skating, strength, defense, a line that might not be the one to produce the most points, but a line that, if Czechia takes home a medal, can surely be one to look back at for their success.

This is a win-win situation for both the Avalanche and Curran. For the Avalanche, Curran is likely the only prospect going to the World Juniors, as their prospect pool is thin, so seeing someone they took in the fifth round continue to develop and grow on a brighter stage is excellent for their future. 

For Curran, it shows his own growth and the work he's putting in to be a better player. He’s able to play for his country and win a medal while playing against some of the best young talent in the world. Yes, he's not a top-tier prospect, and there are still areas of his game to grow, but he wants to show the Avalanche that he's developing as a player, ready when they want to sign him to his ELC, and that he can continue taking steps toward playing in the NHL one day.

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