6 players to watch at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The IIHF World Championship is always an interesting tournament. It’s not a best-on-best tournament like the Olympics or the World Cup of Hockey is, so there’s an assortment of players to make up each team’s roster.
For example, Team USA, last year’s champion, doesn’t have many star players, aside from Matthew Tkachuk. Instead, they’ve loaded up with several young players, including James Hagens, Ryan Leonard, Isaac Howard, and several others.
It’s a fun mix of players that makes for an unpredictable tournament. In this unpredictable competition, there are a few names to look out for. Here are six players to watch at the 2026 World Championship.
Macklin Celebrini, C, Team Canada
It won’t have to take much convincing for someone to tune in to watch Macklin Celebrini. He had an incredible season with the San Jose Sharks in the NHL and elevated his game with Team Canada at the Olympics.
Finishing the 2025-26 season with 115 points and finishing second on Canada with 10 points at the Olympics earned him the captaincy for his country for the World Championship.
Not long after he was named Canada’s captain, it was revealed that Sidney Crosby would join the team. Now there’s the question as to whether Celebrini would give Crosby the captaincy, considering the Pittsburgh Penguins captain has worn the ‘C’ in every competition he’s featured in for Canada dating back to the 2014 Olympics.
Either way, it’ll be fun to see what impression Celebrini can leave on the Canadian team once again.
MORE: You’d Think Sidney Crosby Would Be Too Old (And Too Tired) To Represent Canada At Worlds
Ivar Stenberg, LW, Team Sweden
Ivar Stenberg is a highly projected first-round pick at the upcoming NHL draft, and there’s a chance he’s even selected first overall. Therefore, plenty of eyeballs should be on the 18-year-old Swede.
It’ll be a good indication as to how the young left winger holds up against NHL players and other pros outside of the SHL, the league he played in this past season.
Perhaps, depending on how well he plays in this tournament, his draft stock could increase and convince even more scouts and draft experts that he should be the first-overall pick in the 2026 draft.
He’s coming off a gold medal at the World Junior Championship earlier in the year, while tying for the most points for Sweden, scoring four goals and 10 points.
MORE: Weighing The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Draft Options Between Gavin McKenna And Ivar Stenberg
Aleksander Barkov, C, Team Finland
This upcoming World Championship tournament will be the first time that Aleksander Barkov will be able to take the ice this season. He missed the entire 2025-26 regular season for the Florida Panthers after suffering a torn MCL and ACL injury in training camp.
Not only will it be nice for Panthers fans to see their captain back in action for the first time in a while, but it will also be an important competition for Barkov.
Panthers teammate and 24-year-old Anton Lundell will accompany Barkov in hopes of pushing Finland to their fifth gold medal in this competition.
Imagn Images
James Hagens, C, Team USA
James Hagens made his NHL debut at the tail-end of this past regular season. He made two appearances before featuring in three post-season games for the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There has been a lot to learn for Hagens in such a short time. But for the 19-year-old, the World Championship will be a great experience for him to grow, even if there are very few veterans on Team USA.
The seventh-overall pick in the 2025 draft had a fantastic pair of world junior campaigns in the last two competitions. What can he do when representing the Americans on a slightly more challenging stage?
MORE: Steeves, Hagens Shine For USA In First Exhibition Game
Anton Frondell, C, Team Sweden
Similar to Hagens, Anton Frondell made his NHL debut at the end of the season. He had a bit more time in the league but didn’t get any playoff time, as the Chicago Blackhawks missed the post-season for the sixth straight season.
Nonetheless, he made quite the impression in a short time. The 19-year-old center put up three goals and nine points in just 12 appearances with the Blackhawks.
He hit the ground running in the NHL, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep that forward momentum with the national team at the World Championship.
MORE: “He’s Done An Excellent Job”: Anton Frondell Has Exceeded Initial Expectations
Joseph Woll, G, Team USA
For the past couple of seasons, Joseph Woll has been in a friendly goaltending tandem with Anthony Stolarz for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With previous health concerns and questions around his ability to be ‘the guy’ in Toronto’s crease, a good showing at the World Championship for Team USA could put a chunk of those narratives aside. More importantly, it’ll further prove to himself that he can not only be a starting goalie in the NHL, but an elite starter.
Also, with rumors that the Leafs may consider moving off either Woll or Stolarz, Woll’s presence at this tournament, along with his age, could prove to the front office that he’s the netminder that should remain in the Blue and White.
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