Ranking the top 5 draft-eligible players at the WJHC

The World Junior Championship is typically a tournament dominated by 19-year-olds, but it also presents an opportunity for draft-eligible players to boost their stock with a strong performance.

While the 2023 WJHC was loaded with draft-eligible talent, including four of the eventual top five picks, the 2024 tournament isn't quite as strong in that regard. The United States omitted projected No. 2 pick Cole Eiserman, and Russia's absence from the tournament prevents other potential top-10 selections from showcasing their talents.

However, the projected No. 1 pick is expected to play a huge role again, as Connor Bedard did a year ago. Below, we rank the top five draft-eligible players competing at the world juniors.

1. Macklin Celebrini, Canada 🇨🇦

Position: C
Club team: Boston University (NCAA)
Draft projection: 1st overall

Celebrini doesn't carry the same hype that Bedard did a year ago, but most scouts see him as a comparable prospect to the 2023 draft's No. 2 and 3 selections, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli.

The Vancouver, British Columbia, native was excellent for Boston University before leaving for Canada's camp, producing 10 goals and 15 assists in 15 games - both of which still lead the team.

Celebrini is a highly skilled player with the ability to be both a playmaker and a finisher. Canada is putting a lot on the 17-year-old's plate, too, as he's been playing a middle-six role with a spot on the top power-play unit in pre-tournament action.

2. Adam Jiricek, Czechia 🇨🇿

Position: RD
Club team: Plzen HC (Czechia)
Draft projection: Top 10

Adam's older brother, David - the 2022 No. 6 pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets - was a man among boys at last year's tournament, leading Czechia to a surprising silver medal by racking up seven points in as many games.

Adam will aim to follow suit - but with gold around his neck at tournament's end. Like his brother, he brings good length to the table. He's nearly 6-foot-3, but he could still stand to fill out his 178-pound frame. While he doesn't have the same offensive flair as David - Adam's only mustered one point in 19 games this season - he's a better skater, which was one of the lone knocks on David.

3. Konsta Helenius, Finland 🇫🇮

Position: C
Club team: Jukurit (Liiga)
Draft projection: Top 10

Helenius is listed at just 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but his size hasn't stopped him from being a force in Finland's top professional league this season, tallying 20 points in 28 games. It's possible that going from playing against men to playing against fellow teenagers could help Helenius break out even further.

Helenius plays with high-end pace and has showcased the ability to make skilled plays at top speed. He's considered more of a playmaker than a shooter.

4. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Norway 🇳🇴

Position: RW
Club team: Mora IK (Allsvenskan)
Draft projection: Mid-1st

The next Mats Zuccarello? Brandsegg-Nygard is easily the most promising prospect Norway has ever produced, but whether he can put together a career as good as the nation's greatest player ever - by far - remains to be seen.

Norway's chances of winning the tournament are slim to none. Avoiding relegation would be considered a massive success. While Brandsegg-Nygard's stats in Sweden's second-best professional league this season aren't anything special - six points in 22 games - he possesses a heavy shot that'll be heavily relied on to produce offense.

5. Zeev Buium, United States 🇺🇸

Position: LD
Club team: Denver (NCAA)
Draft projection: Mid-1st

Buium is the second defenseman on this list whose older brother has already been selected in an NHL draft. Shai Buium was taken 36th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021.

At 6-feet, Zeev is three inches shorter than his brother, but he projects to be taken much earlier in the draft. Zeev is much more offensively gifted than his brother. He has excellent offensive instincts, can quarterback a power play, and uses his feet to join the rush. While he impressively sits third on Denver with 25 points in 18 games this season, it remains to be seen what kind of role he'll be able to carve out on a loaded Team USA that already has Lane Hutson to run the top power-play unit.