Emerging Storylines to Follow at the 2015 IIHF World Championships

The World Hockey Championships are on in Prague and Ostrava, and there's a lot happening on and off the ice. The games have showcased young players who may end up playing a feature role on their respective NHL teams and given free-agent players a stage to display their skills.

Off the ice, trade talk and coaching opportunities are all the rage, meaning the World Hockey Championships are headquarters for the hockey world in a very real way.

Here are some emerging storylines from Prague and Ostrava and how they may impact the NHL.

Canada Can't Stop Scoring

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Six games into the championships, Team Canada has scored 39 goals. They've been dangerous on every shift and are dominant at even strength, scoring 31 goals in that discipline and eight on the power play.

The Specifics: Impact players for Canada include Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, who are playing with Sidney Crosby in this tournament. Also posting good numbers are Matt Duchene and Jason Spezza, along with defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brent Burns.

The Future: Canada will enter the medal round with an enormous advantage offensively, if it can sustain its current level of play. Winning the gold medal at the World Championships has not been easy for the Canadians—they last won in 2007—but their chances to do it this year are increased because of their dynamic offense.

Sidney Crosby Makes a Rare Appearance

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Sidney Crosby doesn't play in the tournament often. In fact, this is just his second trip to represent Canada. 

The Specifics: Crosby was fantastic at the 2006 tournament, scoring eight goals and 16 points in nine games for Canada. He has been less of a factor this time—scoring seven points in six games—but the overall quality of the Canadian team is higher this time. 

The Future: Crosby is a decade into his pro career, and this is only the second time he's appeared for Canada. The success of his NHL team dictates his availability, and chances are the Pittsburgh Penguins will be deep in a playoff run next spring and beyond 2016. Fans in Prague are witnessing a rare sight and are enjoying Crosby's skills in full.

Yevgeni Dadonov Is an Outstanding Player

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Yevgeni Dadonov is a terrific offensive winger in the KHL. He was drafted in 2007 by the Florida Panthers. 

The Specifics: Dadonov leads the tournament forwards in offense and has been outstanding for Russia through six games.

The Future: He is one of the main offensive weapons for St. Petersburg SKA—Ilya Kovalchuk's team—and will likely be playing for them next season. The increased attention from this performance may inspire an NHL team to have another look, and Dadonov could be in the NHL down the line.

Jack Eichel Flourishing for Team USA

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Jack Eichel is 18 and eligible for the 2015 entry draft. A feature role on a strong team for a player that age is unusual. 

The Specifics: In six games for Team USA, Eichel has scored four points and is averaging well over 16 minutes a game.

The Future: Eichel will be drafted—most likely No. 2 overall—and should have a major impact on NHL and international hockey over the next decade and longer. Buffalo Sabres fans should be thrilled with this level of ability from such a young prospect.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson Is an Impact Player for Sweden

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a quality NHL defenseman who plays for a poor Arizona Coyotes team. 

The Specifics: Playing for a much better team than his NHL squad, Ekman-Larsson's talents are on full display. He's playing major minutes and impacting the game at both ends, helping Sweden through the round-robin portion of the tournament. He currently leads the entire tournament in points.

The Future: If the Coyotes can get themselves back to a competitive level, Ekman-Larsson's talents will shine through at the NHL level.

Who in the World Is Connor Hellebuyck?

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Connor Hellebuyck is a goalie for the Winnipeg Jets' AHL affiliate in St. John's, Newfoundland. 

The Specifics: Hellebuyck earned a spot on Team USA for the World Hockey Championships as a backup for Jack Campbell. He has emerged as the No. 1 goalie during the tournament, stopping almost 97 percent of the shots that have been directed toward the U.S. net. 

The Future: The Jets have two NHL goalies ahead of him, but Hellebuyck's performance bodes well for his future. He's a name to keep in mind for next season and beyond as an NHL option, in Winnipeg or another NHL city. 

Is Dean Kukan NHL-Bound?

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

The Overall Story: Dean Kukan is a Swiss two-way defenseman who plays his league hockey for Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League.

The Specifics: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is reporting significant NHL interest in regard to Kukan, who is 22 and played at the World Hockey Championships before getting injured.

The Future: Kukan apparently has several teams interested and may well be in an NHL training camp with a signed contract this fall. Fans can look forward to following the story in the weeks ahead.

Todd McLellan to Coach the Edmonton Oilers?

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

The Overall Story: Todd McLellan is the head coach for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships. 

The Specifics: McLellan is no longer the coach of the San Jose Sharks and is free to speak to other NHL teams. Friedman reported this weekend that the Edmonton Oilers are working on closing a deal with McLellan for their coaching position.

The Future: He has options and may be better off waiting to see the landscape after Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings makes his decision. As for the Oilers, it appears they are all-in on McLellan at this time.