Ranking the Best Offensive Prospects at 2014 World Junior Hockey Championships

The World Junior Hockey Championships are fun to watch because of the very nature of the men in the under-20 age bracket. No matter which side of the Atlantic they hail from, these young stars play hard. They have everything to prove, with their hockey futures riding on their performances. That usually means lots of wide-open hockey, a healthy share of mistakes and plenty of spectacular goals.

Older players tend to dominate the stats sheet at World Juniors, and this year looks like it will be no exception. Here's a look at the top offensive force from each of the major teams at this year's conclave in Malmo and how he matches up against his competitors from rival nations.

Statistics courtesy of IIHF.com and eliteprospects.com, through December 27.

7. Riley Barber: Team USA

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Status: Drafted in sixth round, 167th overall, by Washington Capitals in 2012

By the Numbers

2013-14 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (Div. 1 NCHC): 18 GP, 11-17-28

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 1-0-1

Why He's Here

Barber is one of just three returning Americans from the squad that won gold in Ufa in 2013. The 19-year-old has been named captain this year and got Team USA off to a strong start in its first game with a bad-angle goal to open the scoring.

Not a hot prospect in his draft year, the right wing's all-round game is evolving. On his college club, he's tied for the team lead in scoring. Barber will be expected to be a meaningful part of the Americans' team-first "score by committee" approach this year in Malmo.

6. Teuvo Teravainen: Team Finland

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Status: Drafted in first round, 18th overall, by Chicago Blackhawks in 2012

By the Numbers 

2013-14 Jokerit (Finland): 29 GP, 3-14-17

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 1-0-1

Why He's Here

With Finland's top offensive prospect, Kasperi Kapanen, shelved due to a shoulder injury, the team will be relying more than ever on captain Teuvo Teravainen to lead the charge. He had just one assist in Finland's opening game against Norway, but Teravainen anchored the first line that did the majority of the damage in the team's 5-1 win.

Finland is looking to bounce back from a poor seventh-place showing at the Ufa tournament in 2013; Teravainen's leadership and offensive skill will need to be in top form to help deliver a better result in Malmo.

5. Leon Draisaitl: Team Germany

Status: Eligible for 2014 NHL draft

By the Numbers

2013-14 WHL Prince Albert Raiders: 33 GP, 18-33-51

2014 World Junior Championship: 2 GP, 0-2-2

Why He's Here

The International Scouting Service (ISS) has Leon Draisaitl ranked seventh overall in their December 16 ranking for the 2014 NHL draft. The big center is having a great year in Prince Albert and has a chance to become the highest-ever draft pick from his native Germany.

The Germans are off to a tough start in Malmo; they're in danger of being relegated following a 7-2 loss to Canada and a 9-2 drubbing by Slovakia. Last year, Draisaitl carried his team on his back with eight points in Ufa. He may not duplicate that feat this year, but his WHL numbers indicate that the 18-year-old will be an offensive force to be reckoned with as his career advances.

4. Mikhail Grigorenko: Team Russia

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Status: Drafted in first round, 12th overall, by Buffalo Sabres in 2012

By the Numbers

2013-14 Buffalo Sabres: 18 GP, 2-1-3

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 1-2-3

Why He's Here

In one World Junior game, Mikhail Grigorenko has equalled his entire season's work with the sorry Buffalo Sabres. The big center has yet to shine at the NHL level but has been a star everywhere else he has played.

The 19-year-old returns for his third World Junior Championship this year. He had six points in Russia's 2013 bronze-medal effort and five points when they won silver in Calgary in 2012. He'd like nothing better than to add a gold to his collection in 2013.

3. Marko Dano: Team Slovakia

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Status: Drafted in first round, 27th overall, by Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013

By the Numbers

2013-14 HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL): 35 GP, 2-2-4

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 2-1-3

Why He's Here

Marko Dano was named first star and player of the game after his prolific gang of Slovaks trounced Germany 9-2 on Friday. He may turn out to have the biggest offensive upside of the talented bunch. Barely turned 19, Dano has yet to make a mark playing against the men of the KHL, but the versatile forward already has an impressive international pedigree.

Malmo marks Dano's third World Juniors. He also suited up for the senior men's squad for Slovakia at the 2013 World Championships.

2. Filip Forsberg: Team Sweden

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Status: Drafted in first round, 11th overall, by Washington Capitals in 2012

By the Numbers 

2013-14 Nashville Predators (NHL): 11 GP, 1-4-5

2013-14 Milwaukee Admirals (AHL): 7 GP, 3-5-8

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 1-2-3

Why He's Here

The captain of a host Swedish team that's expected to challenge for the gold medal, Filip Forsberg is a blue-chip prospect the Washington Capitals let slip away in hopes of getting a playoff push from Martin Erat at the trade deadline last year.

Forsberg missed five weeks of action earlier this season when he suffered a concussion against Pittsburgh on November 15. Once he was deemed fit to play, he had time to squeeze in just three warm-up games with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals before jetting off to join his World Junior team.

Forsberg is playing in his third World Junior Championship. He was also captain last year in Ufa, when Sweden captured the silver medal. He's motivated to win it all on his home turf and got his tournament off to a good start with three points in Sweden's first game against Switzerland.

1. Anthony Mantha: Team Canada

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Status: Drafted in first round, 20th overall, by Detroit Red Wings in 2013

By the Numbers

2013-14 Val D'Or Foreurs (QMJHL): 32 GP, 35-38-73

2014 World Junior Championship: 1 GP, 3-0-3 

Why He's Here

Team Canada may have some questions marks on the back end, but it has plenty of offensive talent up front. In terms of pure goal-scoring skill, Anthony Mantha trumps Jonathan Drouin, Sam Reinhart and Connor McDavid at this moment, as he showed with his hat trick in Canada's 7-2 opening-game win over Germany.

Back at home, the 6'5" winger holds a 17-point lead over the second-best scorer in the Quebec League at the Christmas break. Mantha has been knocked for his work ethic and poor defensive habits but looks like he could prove the doubters wrong under the bright spotlight of the 2014 World Juniors.