Injuries and a potential end to the NHL lockout might change a few things, but the depth and talent level of players invited to their national training camps for the world junior hockey championship is breathtaking.

Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing players expected to star in Ufa, Russia, when the tournament begins Dec. 26.

1. Nail Yakupov, Russia. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft (to Edmonton) gets a chance to shine on the international stage after starring for his hometown team — Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk — of the KHL. Through 19 games this season, Yakupov has 10 goals and eight assists. Yakupov had two goals and two assists in six games as Russia beat a series of CHL all-stars 3-2-1 in a six-game series in November.

2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canada. If a shoulder injury and the NHL don’t get in the way, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft (to Edmonton) will get a taste of playing against a future teammate. The missing link in his impressive hockey resumé is an appearance at this tournament. By all rights, Nugent-Hopkins should be in the NHL — he played there last year as an 18-year-old.

3. Nathan MacKinnon, Canada. What’s this? A product of Cole Harbour, N.S., has a chance to go No. 1 in the draft next? MacKinnon won’t play centre — his natural position — but he will get a chance to show scouts his versatility by playing wing. He had five goals and six assists playing within his age group at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer.

4. Seth Jones, United States. The Portland Winterhawks blueliner is another potential first overall pick in the next NHL draft and will go head-to-head for scouts’ attention playing against MacKinnon and Team Canada in the same side of the draw. He’s the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones.

5. Aleksander Barkov Jr., Finland. If there’s a European out there who could challenge MacKinnon and Jones for the top spot in the draft, it’s Barkov, the son of a former Russian hockey player. Barkov returns to Team Finland as the leading scorer for Tappara Tampere of the Finnish top division. At 16 years four months last year, he became the second-youngest player ever to score at the world juniors.

6. Morgan Rielly, Canada. The Maple Leafs blueline prospect (No. 5 in the 2012 draft) wears No. 4 in Moose Jaw and plays a bit like that other famous No. 4. That is to say, he plays all over the ice. At this tournament, his strength will be his skating, and he’s got to rein in his free spirit. He is the logical candidate to take the major minutes that would have gone to Ryan Murray, who’s out with a season-ending shoulder injury.

7. Jakub Vrana, Czech Republic. Vrana is the youngest player in the tournament. He was recently promoted to the senior team of his Swedish club Linköping. He is eligible for the NHL draft in 2014.

8. Mikhail Grigorenko, Russia. The Buffalo Sabres prospect (12th overall in 2012) left for Russia’s camp in second place in goal scoring in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts. He was a force for Russia in its six-game series against CHL all-stars in November.

9. Tyler Biggs, United States. The power forward has 15 goals and 16 assists in 30 games with the Oshawa Generals, proving he’s comfortable at the junior hockey level after leaving NCAA Miami University of Ohio after one year. The Leafs’ first-rounder from 2011

10. Olli Maatta, Finland. The London Knights defenceman missed a good chunk of last season due to a concussion suffered in the first game of the world junior tournament. Still, he played 58 games with a plus-25 rating for the OHL champion Knights. He has 24 points in 30 games this year.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: