The World Juniors are just around the corner, and this is always an exciting opportunity for hockey fans to get to know some of the sport’s youngest stars on their way to greatness.

It’s always a good sign of organizational depth when your favourite team’s prospect pipeline is well-represented at the World Juniors, and this year, the Los Angeles Kings lead all teams with nine players participating in the tournament.

On the Kings roster are three first round picks, including this year’s second overall pick Quinton Byfield (CAN) as well as 2019 first-rounders Alex Turcotte (USA) and Tobias Bjornfot (SWE). They'll be joined by Arthur Kaliyev (USA), Brock Faber (USA), Jordan Spence (CAN), Kasper Simontaival (FIN), Lukas Parik (CZE) and Martin Chromiak (SVK).

Four other teams will have at least six players participating in the World Juniors. If your team makes this list, it certainly bodes well for the future. These players are ordered roughly by draft round:

  • Detroit Red Wings (7): Lucas Raymond (SWE), Theodor Niederbach (SWE), Albert Johansson (SWE), Eemil Viro (FIN), Jan Bednar (CZE), Elmer Soderblom (SWE), Gustav Berglund (SWE)
  • Toronto Maple Leafs (6): Rodion Amirov (RUS), Roni Hirvonen (FIN), Topi Niemela (FIN), Mikko Kokkonen (FIN), Artur Akhtyamov (RUS), Mikhail Abramov (RUS)
  • Anaheim Ducks (6): Jamie Drysdale (CAN), Trevor Zegras (USA), Jackson LaCombe (USA), Sam Colangelo (USA), Henry Thrun (USA), Albin Sundsvik (SWE)
  • New Jersey Devils (6): Dawson Mercer (CAN), Alexander Holtz (SWE), Shakir Mukhamadullin (RUS), Arseny Gritsyuk (RUS), Jaromir Pytlik (CZE), Patrick Moynihan (USA)

As you can see, the Leafs will have the most representation at the World Juniors among Canadian teams. The Flames and the Senators will each have four players participating — including this year’s third and fifth overall picks, Tim Stuetzle and Jake Sanderson, for the Sens — the Canadiens and Jets three each, and the Canucks and Oilers with two.

Interestingly, every single NHL team will have a player at the World Juniors except for one... the St. Louis Blues. But, hey, when you’re a recent Stanley Cup winner, we suppose that takes off some of the pressure on your farm system!