As the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championships begin today, the Winnipeg Jets have three prospects taking part in the tournament.
Defenceman Elias Salomonsson (2022, 2nd round) and forward Fabian Wagner (2022, 6th round) will attempt to help Sweden win gold on home ice. Forward Rutger McGroarty (2022, 1st round) is part of a loaded USA squad, who is the favourite to come out of Group B.
Salomonsson is one of five right-handed defencemen on Sweden and his role could be more five-on-five than special teams says editor in chief Måns Karlsson at Hockey Sverige.
“I think he kind of will have the same role that he has with Skelleftea (SHL). He won’t play on the first power play, maybe the second at best,” said Karlsson.
“But I think he is more of a guy that they can lean on playing a solid game. Maybe he has the same ice time that he has in Skelleftea, more five-on-five and less special teams.”
Meanwhile, Wagner has four points (1G, 3A) in 26 games with Linkoping HC and will be playing in his second World Junior tournament.
“When I put together my team for the tournament, I thought he would be put in the fourth line centre role. But he has been playing on the second line with Filip Bystedt (San Jose, 2022 1st round) and Liam Ohgren (Minnesota, 2022 1st round) instead as a winger,” said Karlsson.
“It feels like they see him as kind of this grinder in a top six role who can create space for the star guys. They lean on him as well. He played in this tournament last year and someone the coach really likes.”
Rutger McGroarty was hurt in a game between Michigan and Penn State and there were concerns that he might not make it to Sweden. But not only is he going to Sweden, he has been named captain of the Americans.
Chris Peters of Flo Hockey believes there’s a good chance that he plays in the US tournament opener against Norway.
“We don’t have it definitively stated yet that he’s cleared (to play). But by them naming him captain, it’s clear that they expect him to play. I would now be more surprised than not if he doesn’t play in the first game,” said Peters.
“It’ll be five to six weeks post injury when he gets there for the actual tournament, but he looks fine. I think he’ll be playing a very significant role for the team. One thing I’ve noticed is that they don’t have him as a net front guy on the power play and I believe that’s because you don’t want him getting cross checked all the time.”
Before McGroarty got hurt, Peters believed that the Jets prospect was playing so well that he could have been in the Hobey Baker conversation at the end of the season. Whether or not, McGroarty is at 100 per cent, the US still has a great shot at winning the tournament.
“He is viewed as a critical piece for this team. For his leadership, for the role that he plays, for how he is in the dressing room, for the fact that he can score goals,” said Peters.
“And the fact that he’s got experience and was on the team last year. Played a pretty substantial role last year despite being one of the younger guys. They gave him a lot of run last year. He was on the top power play last year. I’ve said it before and I think most of his teammates agree with me, that he is the heart and soul of this team.”
