NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman believes Canada will win after reaching the championship game of the 2021 WJC, while NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale predicts Sweden will win the tournament for the first time since 2012.
In the championship game, Kimelman predicts Canada to defeat Sweden, while Morreale believes Sweden will top the United States, the 2021 champion.
Each writer also made his pick for best goalie, best forward, best defenseman and the top 2023 NHL Draft prospect.
The 2022 WJC will be held Aug. 9-20 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The tournament originally had been scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 but was canceled after four days due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Results from those games will not be included when the tournament restarts.
The 10 teams will play in two groups. Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia and Latvia, and the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
Latvia was added to the tournament to replace Russia, which has been banned from international play because of its invasion of Ukraine.
The top four finishers in each group will play in the quarterfinals on Aug. 17. The semifinals are Aug. 19 and the championship and third-place game are Aug. 20.
All games will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada.
