It’s that time of the year again. The 2024 World Junior Championship is right around the corner, with a diverse crop of young current NHLers and prospects fighting to make the cut to represent the various competing countries.
The Philadelphia Flyers intend to be well represented between U.S.A. and Canada, while distributing their young talent between multiple rosters — In the coming years, expect to see more and more Flyers prospects make their way to the World Juniors. For now, let’s analyze which Flyers are eligible and who those young studs might be:
Cutter Gauthier, USA U20
19 | LW/C | 6’2” / 194 Ibs | Left Handed
Update 12/4/23: To no surprise, Flyers prospect, Cutter Gauthier has officially made Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2024 World Juniors. He is practically a lock.
When mentioning Flyers’ prospects, Cutter Gauthier must be brought up. The 19-year-old will look to make a big splash returning to the WJC for another year. He’ll be asked to take the reins as a leader, especially with the absence of Arizona Coyote, Logan Cooley.
Last year in the Championship, Gauthier had 4 goals, 6 assists in 10 games. In his two years representing the U.S.A. at the World Juniors, he has accumulated 19 points in 13 games. Putting him over a 2.00 point per game pace.
In 2021-22, Cutter Gauthier took home a silver medal and will be hunting for gold this winter with a well-structured U.S.A. team behind him.
Matvei Michkov, Russia U18
18 | RW | 5’10” / 172 Ibs | Left Handed
Unfortunately, Flyers faithful will have to go without the young Russian prodigy in Matvei Michkov at the World Juniors. Until the IIHF and Russia make peace, Russian prospects may not take part in national competition.
The IIHF cited security concerns for players, competition staff and fans — because Russia invaded Ukraine — to extend the exclusion that will stretch beyond two years when the 2023-24 season is over. “It is too soon,” IIHF president Luc Tardif said about letting Russia return. “Too many risks.”
Matvei Michkov could not take part in the WJC since 2020-21, where he put up 16 points in 7 games played. That year, he was very dominant, even beating out a young Connor Bedard for hardware.
- U18 WJC All-Star Team
- U18 WJC Best Forward
- U18 WJC Most Goals (12)
- U18 WJC Most Points (16)
- U18 WJC Most Valuable Player
- U18 WJC Silver Medal
- U18 WJC Top 3 Player on Team
Devin Kaplan, USA U20
19 | RW | 6’2” / 198 Ibs | Right Handed
Flyers’ 2022 third-round draft pick, Devin Kaplan, has seen his fair share of ice time in the blue and red. Playing in the NTDP and USHL, alongside Cutter Gauthier and for Team U.S.A. in 2021-22 — he had five assists, 6 points in 6 games at the WJC.
In the NTDP, 19-year-old Kaplan had 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points in 101 games. Devin Kaplan is eligible to represent his country. The hard part is making the cut. This season at Boston University, Devin has more than earned the right to be in the conversation, with three goals, six assists and 9 points in 12 games.
Oliver Bonk, CAN U18
18 | D | 6’2” / 176 Ibs | Right Handed
One of the handful of Flyers’ Canadian prospects has a great chance at being a solid backend piece to a strong Team Canada this year. Oliver Bonk is off to a more than hot start with the London Knights in the OHL, 16 assists in 19 games, while also tailing three goals.
Oliver Bonk has never been chosen to represent Team Canada at the World Juniors and has only played in the OHL, GOJHL, and HEO (U14-18). The WJC would be a big jump for Bonk and would give him a chance to not only showcase his skills but also use the time as a learning experience.
Denver Barkey, CAN U18
18 | C | 5’9” / 154 Ibs | Left Handed
Another Canadian prospect and London Knight who could make a difference in this year’s Junior Championship is Denver Barkey. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic projects that Denver Barkey will have a fantastic chance at making the team and could be an impact player alongside Owen Beck and teammate Easton Cowan.
Cowan and Barkey have been terrorizing the Ontario Hockey League this season. Both have great chemistry together and would be great paired up together on opposite wings for Team Canada.
The Flyers third-round pick is on pace for 91 points this season (42g, 49a). Currently sitting at 13 goals and 15 assists in 21 games played this season.
Carson Bjarnason, CAN U18
18 | G | 6’3” / 190 Ibs | Left Handed
Carson Bjarnason is the top-ranked netminder from the 2023 NHL Draft and GM Danny Briere traded up to land the Carberry, Manitoba native. The 18-year-old has previously competed in six World Junior games for Team Canada, who took home bronze in 2022-23. Carson’s adjustment to the IIHF was a little difficult, suffering a 3.51 GAA and .849 SV%. Despite that, those 6 games were the most starts by any goaltender in the WJC.
Currently, he is posting a .906 SV% and 3.15 GAA in 16 starts, on an even .500 Brandon Wheat Kings team, that has a shallow defensive core.
He faces some fierce competition this year if he hopes to make the cut. Ex: Winnipeg Jet, Domenic DiVincentiis, Buffalo Sabre, Scott Ratzlaff, and 2024 Draft Eligible, Mathis Rousseau.
Cole Knuble, USA U18
19 | C | 5’11” / 185 Ibs | Right Handed
Cole Knuble has yet to take part or be invited to play for Team U.S.A. but he has played in the NTDP and the USHL. Like his counterparts, Devin Kaplan and Cutter Gauthier.
Knuble is currently attending the University of Notre Dame in the NCAA / Big Ten. Since committing to ND, he has struggled offensively. After a strong year with Fargo Force in the USHL, the Flyers saw promise in the son of former Flyer Mike Knuble. However, making the jump to the NCAA has stunned his production with only 2 points in 13 games.
Although he is eligible, it is unlikely that Cole Knuble will get an offeror make the cut to play for Team U.S.A. at the World Juniors this year.
Alex Ciernik, SVK U20
19 | LW/RW | 5’10” / 179 Ibs | Left Handed
Update 12/1/23: Flyers prospect, Alex Čiernik has officially made Team Slovakia’s preliminary roster for the 2024 World Juniors.
Alex Ciernik has a lot of experience at the International level, playing for Team Slovakia. In 2022-23, Ciernik had 2 goals and 3 points in 5 games for Slovakia.
The 19-year-old has an ample chance at making the Slovakian roster and making his third year appearance at the World Juniors. Besides playing on the international stage, Alex Ciernik has played acceptingly well for a struggling Västerviks IK team.
Ciernik is the only player on Vastervik who has a positive plus/minus at +2. He has 4 goals, 7 assists in 17 games played.
His team is scoring an average of 2 goals per game…and is -29 in goal differential. Ciernik himself has been directly involved in 30% of the team’s goals (goal/assist) on ice for ~50% of the team’s overall goals in games he played.
Carter Sotheran, CAN U18
18 | D | 6’3” / 203 Ibs | Right Handed
The Philadelphia Flyers may have scored a dog in the later rounds of the NHL Draft and Team Canada would be lucky to have his backend support and point production.
Carter Sotheran was the 71st-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, while EliteProspects.com had him as the 55th-best player in the draft, actually a spot ahead of Flyers’ first-round pick Oliver Bonk.
The Sanford, Manitoba native, has a solid right-hand shot and shows shades of a young Travis Sanheim or 2019-20 Ivan Provorov or Shayne Gostisbehere. In which, he plays the body more than the latter three.
On pace for a career year in the WHL, Sotheran has 5 goals, 6 assists in 17 games. He has an unlimited range, finding open areas and not being afraid to shoot from anywhere. Carter is an exceptional two-way defenceman who knows how to use his body at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds. Laying big hits and blocking shots.
Although he has never played at the International level, his production at both ends, along with his size would be very helpful in making a push for a gold in 2024.
Ryan MacPherson, CAN U18
18 | C | 6’0” / 176 Ibs | Left Handed
Another Flyers prospect who is currently exceeding expectations is Ryan MacPherson. Playing in the BCHL which is commonly rated as a weaker league. But MacPherson is playing up to an acceptable level. With 22 points in 19 games, on pace for 23 goals, 40 assists and 63 points in 54 games.
Sadly, it is a long shot that Ryan MacPherson would make the roster or even get invited.
After this season, Ryan MacPherson is committed to the University of New Hampshire in 2024-25. So we could see MacPherson in the World Junior Championship in the parsable future.
Matteo Mann, CAN U18
18 | D | 6’6” / 229 Ibs | Right Handed
Last but not least. Matteo Mann. Despite his height, and big stature, being such a late-round pick basically draws him out of the question. It’s unlikely we see him at the World Juniors anytime soon. Especially with how stacked Team Canada’s roster tends to be and has been over the past few years.
That’s not to say he can’t represent his country in the coming future, it is just not in the cards right now for the 18-year-old.
Once he perfects his defence and learns how to properly use his body both offensively and defensively, then Flyers fans will start to hear his name more and possibly in the World Juniors.
When & Where?!
The 2024 World Juniors will begin on Tuesday, December 25, 2023 – Friday, January 5, 2024. Ten nations will participate in the championship in Sweden. Games will be played in two different arenas: Scandinavium and Frölundaborg. Meaning Sweden will play host to the WJIHC for the seventh time, and Gothenburg will for the first time.
How To Watch:
Stream on TSN+ and TSN with a monthly subscription of $19.99 /mo + tax or annually $119.90 /yr + tax with 40% off 1st year.
By: Dylan Robillard (@DylanRobillard_)
Photo Credit: IIHF/WJC, Erica Perreaux/Hockey Canada Images, OHL/Getty Images
brotherlypuck.com 