The “elk” towers over them all

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10. Adam Fantilli 🇨🇦 (18, University of Michigan)

Not every hockey fan knows his name. But that’s going to change. The Canadian, who has dominated the American collegiate league this season, will almost certainly be picked by the Anaheim Ducks as the No. 2 in the NHL draft this summer behind compatriot Connor Bedard, with whom he won the U20 World Championship in January.

9. Dominik Kubalik 🇨🇿 (27, Detroit Red Wings)

In Switzerland, the mighty Czech has been known since he scored goals on the treadmill at Ambri and became NL top scorer in 2019. In the NHL, he could not repeat his debut season with Chicago (30 goals in 68 games), but still scored 20 goals with Detroit last season.

8. Nino Niederreiter 🇨🇭 (30, Winnipeg Jets)

When the national team calls, Niederreiter immediately packs his bags. In 2010, at the age of 18, de Churer played his first World Cup. Now he is there for the seventh time, after he made an important contribution to the silver medals in 2013 and 2018.

7. Milan Lucic 🇨🇦 (34, Calgary Flames)

A real NHL dinosaur with 1309 games. The best years of the 106-kilogram striker, which he experienced with the Boston Bruins (Stanley Cup victory in 2011), are behind him. At times, he was under the pressure of the 7-year contract, which, by the end of the season, earned him $6 million a year, as he said himself.

6. Lucas Raymond 🇸🇪 (21, Detroit Red Wings)

The penultimate season saw the talented Swedish striker show no sign of starting problems, scoring 23 goals as a rookie. He recently showed against Switzerland that he has lost none of his goal threat.

5. Alex Tuch 🇺🇸 (27, Buffalo Sabres)

Last season, the 1.93 meter tall striker managed to increase his offensive production enormously: 36 goals and 79 points in 74 games. His brother Luke (21, Boston University) is also on the US World Cup team.

4. MacKenzie Weegar 🇨🇦 (29, Calgary Flames)

Last summer, he was sent to Calgary along with Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau in the monster deal for Matthew Tkachuk. The fact that the Panthers are now playing for the title while the Flames missed the playoffs was certainly not due to the defensively strong defender.

3. Tyler Toffoli 🇨🇦 (31, Calgary Flames)

The fact that Calgary coach Darryl Sutter, who has since been fired, did not call up his scorer for the penalty shoot-out against Nashville that ended playoff hopes sparked outrage among fans. It is the second World Cup for Toffoli. The Canadians, with superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, won gold for the first time in 2015.

2. Moritz Seider 🇩🇪 (22, Detroit Red Wings)

Drafted in 2019 by Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman, No. 6, the complete defenseman amazed many in his early years in the NHL with his performance and personality, winning the 2022 Calder Trophy for Freshman of the Year. Already playing his 4th World Cup.

1. Mikko Rantanen 🇫🇮 (26, Colorado Avalanche)

The star spire reigns supreme. No one else at the World Cup this season has NHL scores anywhere near as good as last year’s Stanley Cup winner. Denis Malgin’s huge teammate scored 55 goals and 105 points. In Denver, Rantanen is celebrated with the saying “The Moose Is Loose”.

Source : Blick