Frozen Fantasy: World Junior Season - The Most Beautiful Time of the Year

It's World Junior time. The best time of the hockey year. The talent is top-tier. And the chaos has already started. Canada, I'm looking at you. 

I may lose my "friendly wager" for the third year in a row. 

Canada is loaded with top talent. But I really don't like the first line of Utah's Tij Iginla (1 percent Yahoo!), San Jose's Michael Misa (8 percent Yahoo!) and Philly's Porter Martone (1 percent Yahoo!). They lack chemistry and connection. And don't argue with me on Martone's antics against Czechia on Boxing Day. He's the Captain. Leaders don't do that. There's zero room for an old boy's approach with Team Canada hockey. Or any hockey. IYKYK. And we ALL should know. 

Canada's second unit of Gavin McKenna (2026 draft eligible), Montreal's Michael Hage (1 percent Yahoo!) and Nashville's Brady Martin (1 percent Yahoo!) has looked solid. Hage might be their best player so far. Calgary's Zayne Parekh (16 percent Yahoo!) is still incredibly raw and his defensive holes still exist. But wow, can he dangle. 

Team USA's Cole Hutson (1 percent Yahoo!; Washington) was stretchered off the ice Saturday night. The 2025 tourney's top scorer and USA's straw that stirs the drink is back with the team, though he took a slap shot to the side of the head. Not the helmet. The head. 

USA was struggling to generate consistent offense even with Hutson. They won't do it without him. He's day-to-day, but why mess with a head injury like that? Concussion rehab has changed a lot over time, and the risk seems too much.

The Islanders' Cole Eiserman (1 percent Yahoo!) and Bruins' James Hagens (2 percent Yahoo!) haven't looked the part yet. Will Zellers (0 percent Yahoo!) has stood out - his shot is NHL-level already - and could end up being more impactful in Boston than Hagens. 

Sweden's (and Chicago's) Anton Frondell (2 percent Yahoo!) has been a man among boys. I can't wait to see him and Connor Bedard (99 percent Yahoo!) on the same power play. The Aleksander Barkov (21 percent Yahoo!) comparison look legit. Ivar Stenberg (2026 draft eligible) has been at times electric and at others, well, simply bad. Winnipeg's Alfons Freij (0 percent Yahoo!) oozes skill and may finally be stepping into his game as Sweden's best D so far. 

And St. Louis' Adam Jiricek (0 percent Yahoo!) has looked good for Czechia and may even have a shot at a better NHL career than his once higher-touted brother David Jiricek (0 percent Yahoo!). 

Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye in the NHL this week. 

Jamie Benn, LW/RW/C, Dallas (16 percent Yahoo!) -- Fading star. Concrete boots. But great hockey sense and a deft touch. Benn is all of the above, yet it's clearly the last part that appeals to me even in limited time. He doesn't waste energy or time on plays that are low-return, and he's had a strong ROI even in very limited ice time this week. Benn had a four-game, five-point streak snapped Saturday, which included three goals and 10 shots. He was especially irritating last Sunday against my Leafs. A goal and assist in under 10 minutes of ice time? That rubbed salt in a wound, even with the state of the blue and white. Overall, Benn has seven goals and seven assists across 20 games. He's doing something right. 

Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo (18 percent Yahoo!) -- Byram heads into Monday on a three-game, five-point run, highlighted by three on Tuesday. He's been a better producer than Owen Power (10 percent Yahoo!), who I've held onto for three full seasons. Yes, masochism is real. Byram can give a short-term boost even when Rasmus Dahlin (99 percent Yahoo!) returns from his break. 

Anthony Cirelli, C, Tampa Bay (38 percent Yahoo!) -- Cirelli saw his modest two-game, three-point stretch end on Sunday. And in a rare feat, he was also flat-out schooled at the dot. That stung as he's been dominant for faceoffs, especially Dec. 18 against the Kings (12-for-16) and Dec. 20 against the Canes (13-for-19). Cirelli was 42-for-72 (58.3 percent) overall going into Sunday, which became a 5-for-15 writeoff courtesy of Nick Suzuki (99 percent Yahoo!). It doesn't happen often. You simply need to be ready to grab another pivot if he continues faltering.

Max Domi, LW/C, Toronto (7 percent Yahoo!) -- Max makes me mental. Thankfully, I resisted the urge to drop him a couple weeks ago when I needed to clear a spot for an injury returnee. On Saturday, Domi went off with three helpers in the way that only he can. He's not his daddy's son. The younger Domi plays a finesse game (until he loses his mind, which may be a touch genetic). And he needs to be in the top-six to see his skills rise. He was held off the scoresheet Sunday, but tallied five points - including four helpers - during the two previous outings. I'm skeptical, though Domi could help. But be ready to jump ship if he slips down the lineup again. 

Samuel Girard, D, Colorado (1 percent Yahoo!) -- I tossed Girard on the scrap heap about two weeks ago. He'd done nothing for me and I needed the roster spot for someone coming off IR. The decision was between him and Max Domi (above). I had to choose. Now heading into Monday night, Girard is riding a three-game, four-point streak that covers two goals with eight points - five of those assists - from his last seven. All after I dropped him. Sigh. Be the manager who takes advantage of my decision. I probably should have kept Girard and dumped Domi given the positional scarcity. But it is what it is. 

Claude Giroux, LW/RW, Ottawa (18 percent Yahoo!) -- Giroux played his 1,300th regular-season NHL game on Saturday. And his two assists that night extended his scoring run to five and eight points, with six of those assists. Giroux is on Ottawa's third line, but hops the boards on PP2. And is flirting with a 60-point pace. Giroux will even win you some extra faceoffs from the flank. There's room for him in a lot more leagues than one-in-five.

Pontus Holmberg, RW, Tampa Bay (0 percent Yahoo!) -- Holmberg is on a four-game, four-point and three-goals-in-three stretch heading into New Year's Eve against the Ducks. He never flourished in Toronto (no surprise, really), but seems to have found a home on Tampa's third trio. Holmberg won't get power-play time, but warm is warm especially in deeper leagues. 

Justin Hryckowian, C, Dallas (0 percent Yahoo!) -- Hryckowian skates into Wednesday on a five-game, five-point streak that contains three goals, eight hits and seven shots. He's skating on the port side of the third line with solid chemistry alongside Jamie Benn (above) and Matt Duchene (45 percent Yahoo!). Hryckowian didn't come out of nowhere as he was the top rookie scorer in the AHL last season with 60 points, which was also good for 15th among all skaters. And he was a Hobey Baker Award nominee the year before. Hryckowian is a solid two-way player who can quietly deliver fantasy value in deep formats, especially when he gets eligibility on the wing. Oh yeah, and it's pronounced Rits-KOH-vee-in. You're welcome. 

Connor Ingram, G, Edmonton (20 percent Yahoo!) -- Calvin Pickard (9 percent Yahoo!) has lost his coach's trust. Enter Ingram, who started three straight the last week and went 2-1-0 with a .913 save percentage. Pickard gets the nod Monday against the Jets, though Ingram will likely be back in the paint Wednesday against Boston. And when Tristan Jarry (57 percent Yahoo!) returns in a couple weeks, you can still carry Ingram as the No. 2. Yep, I think Pickard is AHL-bound. 

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, Buffalo (18 percent Yahoo!) -- The Buffalo crease has belonged to the red-hot Alex Lyon (18 percent Yahoo!) of late, yet Luukkonen has become part of the Sabres' current eight-game winning streak. He beat the Devils on the 21st and Bruins on the 27th while only allowing one goal in each. UPL's pedigree and contract could see him seize the reins on a straight platoon before sliding into the starter's seat. And these Sabres suddenly seem real. So if the current tandem sticks, he could be in net Monday against the Blues and again Saturday against the Blue Jackets. 

Sam Malinski, D, Colorado (13 percent Yahoo!) -- Does your league value 40-45 point defenders, even if their power-play usage is slim-to-none? Then Malinski is your man. He throws down a block every game and averages almost two shots. The output is modest, though he's on a great team and his plus-19 is a definite win for leagues that count that. Malinski is one of those steady-state, foundation blueliners who can provide stability for your high-risk types.

Leevi Merilainen, G, Ottawa (4 percent Yahoo!) -- Run and get him now. I mean it. Linus Ullmark (81 percent Yahoo!) took a leave of absence Sunday afternoon, so Merilainen is now the king of Canada's Capital. He's young and inexperienced, but looked fantastic last season in limited action (8-3-1, 1.99 and .925). Merilainen has struggled this year, though the Sens seem to be getting their feet under them with five wins in their last eight. 

David Rittich, G, NY Islanders (26 percent Yahoo!) -- Rittich is the starter with Ilya Sorokin (96 percent Yahoo!) on the shelf. The latter may return soon, but the backup is proving more than capable. In fact, Rittich was the top-rated netminder this past week - he even threw down a sharp shutout against the arch-rival Rangers on Saturday. And in four straight starts, Rittich went 2-2-0 with only six goals against. He's been one of the best backups in hockey this season, and that means he's perfect in dailies when Sorokin returns. If you don't get him now, then wait for his manager to drop him when Ilya comes back. Rittich was rostered in fewer than 1-in-10 leagues before the starter's IR stint. He'll pop free. 

Fabian Zetterlund, LW/RW, Ottawa (10 percent Yahoo!) -- Don't look now, but Zetterlund suddenly looks like the breakout player he was in San Jose with seven points - including two power-play goals - with 12 shots and eight hits over his last five games heading into Monday. Zetterlund is on the second line with Dylan Cozens (55 percent Yahoo!) and runs the point on PP2. And looks like he's finally warmed up to Ottawa in winter. I'm all in. 

Back to the World Juniors.

By the time we reconnect in a week, we'll know who'll be in the Gold Medal matchup. Or close to it. And by then, we'll have a handle on the tourney's best players. That will be the time to trade your high-flying prospects to that Canadian manager who obsesses over the World Juniors. 

Not me. I learned my lesson with David Jiricek. I should have dealt him when he was named the tournament's top defender. I was pursued, and I said no. Jiricek has gone from being full of potential to someone still trying to break into the NHL, let alone the top-four. 

Remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. And their trade value will never be higher than it is coming out of this tourney. At least for the next few years. 

So I'm praying for Eiserman and Hagens to do well so I can flip them both. I also want Misa to excel as I need to feel good about trading Trevor Zegras (84 percent Yahoo!) for the draft pick last June. 

Yes, it was a calculated risk. I typically don't recommend trading established players for draft picks, especially ones who could get back to star level. Bird in the hand, though I dove into the bush. But it's Misa…

Before I go, I'll share this World Junior All-Time Fantasy Draft. It's hard to argue with any of it, as long as you remember it's about the tourney and not about the pro careers that followed (or didn't). I enjoyed this more than I've enjoyed any of the games so far. 

Until next week.