Blackhawks prospects to watch at 2026 World Junior Tournament
Here's what fans need to know about the several Chicago Blackhawks prospects who will be in action at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
With the NHL on holiday break for a few days, most hockey fans will turn to the first few games of the World Junior Championship to see some action.
After all, the future of the NHL will be showcased in the tournament.
For Chicago Blackhawks fans, three players must be followed closely.
Three Chicago Blackhawks Prospects In Action At The 2026 World Junior Championship
AJ Spellacy with Team USA
The Blackhawks' third-round pick in 2024 made this year's lineup and will get to play in the WJC for the first time, in his final year of eligibility.
The 19-year-old center tallied 17 points, including nine goals, with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL this season.
His speed, versatility, and size (six-foot-three, 205 pounds) will be an interesting addition to the Americans' bottom six.
Anton Frondell for Team Sweden
The Hawks third overall pick in 2025 has impressed a lot so far this season in the SHL, tallying 15 points, including 10 goals, in 25 games with Djurgardens IF.
We don't often see young players with such great point production in a men's league, making the 18-year-old center one of the top prospects of the Blackhawks organization.
He is expected to play a massive offensive role for Team Sweden in the tournament, on the top line alongside Ivar Stenberg and Victor Eklund.
Vaclav Nestrasil for Team Czechia
Nestrasil, drafted 25th overall by the Hawks in the last NHL Draft, will be taking part in the WJC for the first time in his career. The six-foot-five winger scored 20 points, including 10 goals, in 18 games with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the NCAA.
"I wasn't selected to Hlinka at 18. That was my motivator throughout the whole last season because I kind of wanted to prove to everybody that I deserved that spot, and I think I accomplished that.
The U18s World came, and I chose to stay in Muskegon because I wanted to help that team win the Clark Cup, which eventually came true. U20, I think I'm in a position.
Obviously, nobody's given anything, but how I've been playing so far, I kind of thought that I would have been given a spot on that team. But as I said, nobody's giving anything. I still got to go there and battle for my spot and hopefully get as far as possible."
Team Czechia, Sweden, and the USA are all in action Friday against Canada, Slovakia, and Germany.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
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