This is the first edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021 season. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we identify one holiday gift each team could use for this upcoming campaign or the future.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

🎁A speedy recovery for Kucherov. For most of the offseason, the Lightning's biggest concern was whether they'd get all of their free agents signed under the salary cap. In a cruel twist of fate, that now appears feasible in the wake of Nikita Kucherov's nagging hip injury. Tampa Bay isn't expecting him back during the regular season, but what a gift an early return would be.

2. Colorado Avalanche

🎁 A horseshoe for better injury luck. The Avalanche may have been able to get their hands on the Stanley Cup if they hadn't hit injury trouble last season. Injuries to top players like Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog during the regular season and goaltenders Phillipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz in the postseason derailed hopes of winning it all. However, the team will surely be a top threat if players can stay healthy this year.

3. Vegas Golden Knights

🎁 A trade partner. The Golden Knights arguably received the greatest gift of the offseason when Alex Pietrangelo chose Sin City, but Vegas needs to offload some salary to become cap compliant before puck drop.

4. Boston Bruins

🎁 Depth scoring. The Bruins will likely begin the year without superstar forwards David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. The early-season omissions wouldn't warrant alarm bells under normal circumstances, but Boston's realigned East Division is deep and the Bruins can't afford for their offense to dry up and fall behind early in the standings with far less room for error in a 56-game schedule.

5. Dallas Stars

🎁 Healthy recoveries. The Stars had a long list of injuries after their grueling run to the Stanley Cup Final. The club expects Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop to miss the start of the campaign - two integral parts of the club's quest to return to the postseason in a competitive Central Division.

6. St. Louis Blues

🎁 An experienced backup goalie. Going from Pietrangelo to Torey Krug has worked out better than it could have for the Blues and they may ultimately be more vulnerable in the crease than on the blue line. St. Louis traded reliable No. 2 netminder Jake Allen away in the offseason, entrusting backup duties to the unproven Ville Husso. If Jordan Binnington keeps regressing or gets hurt, it could be a long season in Missouri without a battle-tested backup.

7. Washington Capitals

🎁 An extension for Ovi. The Capitals are entering unknown territory this season. Alex Ovechkin has just one season remaining on his contract - the same one he inked back in 2008 after his rookie deal expired. The sniper continues to be the heart and soul of the Capitals. Although the 35-year-old has indicated he has absolutely no desire to play for another NHL team at any point, the threat of him leaving to play in Russia always looms.

8. Carolina Hurricanes

🎁 An extension for Rod Brind'Amour. The Hurricanes bench boss is in the final season of his contract and a new deal would be a perfect holiday bonus. Brind'Amour's crew is 84-52-12 since he's taken over in Carolina.

9. Philadelphia Flyers

🎁 A healthy Nolan Patrick: The 2017 second overall pick lost a year in his development after missing the entire 2019-20 campaign due to a migraine disorder. The Flyers' forward core is already deep and Patrick's return would add even more offensive grit to possibly take Philadelphia up another level.

10. Toronto Maple Leafs

🎁A hot start for Frederik Andersen. The Maple Leafs netminder is a notoriously slow starter, which isn't ideal in a 56-game campaign. We know Toronto will score and the defense is vastly improved, so if Andersen bounces back after a down season in 2019-20, Toronto should win the North Division.

11. New York Islanders

🎁 A way to get Mathew Barzal signed. The Islanders are in a bit of a cap crunch thanks to several of Lou Lamoriello's questionable deals. Worse still, the squad's most exciting player still needs a new contract. On the bright side, New York has about $4 million of wiggle room, but it'll take more than that to get Barzal's signature on the dotted line.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

🎁 The Neuralyzer from Men in Black. The Penguins were one of the league's best teams last year but fell flat against the Montreal Canadiens in the league's return to play and ultimately failed to make the playoffs. With Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang still producing at elite levels, the franchise needs to quickly erase its memory of the summer and set its eyes on nabbing another Cup to add to the collection.

13. Calgary Flames

🎁 A time machine. The Flames are poised to contend in the North Division, but a gift that could return Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to their 2018-19 forms may send Calgary to the top.

14. Edmonton Oilers

🎁 Jesse Puljujarvi: The missing ingredient. It's no secret the Oilers are still in need of scoring depth, so if Puljujarvi can emerge as the lottery pick Edmonton thought he was when the team selected him in 2016, look out. The dynamic winger led Karpat of the Finnish League with 24 goals and 53 points in 56 games last season and hopes his improved game translates to the NHL this time around.

15. Vancouver Canucks

🎁 A way to bury Loui Eriksson's contract. Even Santa probably doesn't have enough magic to make this come true, but making Eriksson's contract miraculously disappear would make it much easier to extend Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.

16. Montreal Canadiens

🎁 A true contender in front of Carey Price. The Canadiens have long boasted one of the NHL's best goaltenders, but Price can't do it all himself. Montreal made some key additions in the offseason after showing promise in 2019-20, but the new faces will need to jell quickly with the core amid a shortened schedule.

17. New York Rangers

🎁 A flawless transition for Alexis Lafreniere. We've seen just how hard it can be for young players to make the jump to the NHL after lackluster performances from top picks Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko last season. The Rangers possess a roster ready to make some noise and a dominant rookie season by this year's No. 1 pick would go a long way.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets

🎁Long-term security for Pierre-Luc Dubois. With the season fast approaching, the Blue Jackets have one major piece of business still to take care of: signing their leading scorer. The sooner the better.

19. Nashville Predators

🎁 The Mikael Granlund they traded for. The Predators clearly still believe the Finnish forward can be an important piece after bringing him back on a one-year, $3.75-million deal Wednesday. Granlund has averaged just 0.43 points per game since joining Nashville at the 2019 trade deadline after mustering 0.83 per contest over his previous three seasons with the Wild.

20. Buffalo Sabres

🎁 A Rasmus Dahlin emergence. This is not a slight to the 2018 first overall pick. Dahlin's been excellent as a teenager in his first two NHL seasons, but the Sabres are going to need a bit of a miracle to contend in the loaded East Division - even with the addition of Taylor Hall. A Josh Allen-style rapid development from Dahlin into a Norris Trophy contender would be huge.

21. Winnipeg Jets

🎁 A healthy defense. One of the biggest reasons Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy last season was his standout performance despite the departures and injuries that decimated the Jets' blue line. Winnipeg could use some good luck with the latter to save their star puck-stopper from being bombarded again.

22. Florida Panthers

🎁 A scientist to ensure instant chemistry. The Panthers added quite a few new faces this offseason - Patric Hornqvist, Alex Wennberg, Anthony Duclair, and Vinnie Hinostroza, to name a few. The club has the pieces and talent to be a legitimate contender but will need to gain chemistry quickly - especially in a shortened season.

23. Minnesota Wild

🎁 A smooth transition for Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild have waited years for the Russian dynamo to come to North America after drafting him in 2015. The 23-year-old sniper could be a huge addition to Minnesota's offense if he lives up to the hype.

24. New Jersey Devils

🎁 Major leap from Jack Hughes. The 2019 first overall pick had a pedestrian rookie campaign during a rather tumultuous season with the Devils. However, New Jersey enters 2020-21 with a clean slate, and Hughes will look to take a massive step in his sophomore campaign with new head coach Lindy Ruff at the helm.

25. Arizona Coyotes

🎁 An offensive catalyst. We know the Coyotes are good at keeping goals out, but they've always struggled to score them. Whether Phil Kessel has a bounce-back season or Clayton Keller shows some serious progression, this club needs someone to step up and carry the offensive load. The fourth playoff spot in the West Division is very much there for the taking.

26. Los Angeles Kings

🎁 A reprieve on Jonathan Quick's contract. The organization will never admit it, but the Kings would surely prefer to get Quick's deal off their books, considering they'll be forced to absorb the 34-year-old's $5.8-million cap hit over the next three seasons. Buying him out would be embarrassing, but parting with him in any capacity would significantly aid the club's retooling efforts.

27. Chicago Blackhawks

🎁 A "Goaltending for Dummies" book. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman made a bold move this offseason, parting ways with longtime veteran Corey Crawford and entrusting the team's crease to the tandem of Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia - who have 84 games of NHL experience between them. The two goalies have to learn the starting netminder role quickly as Chicago transitions into rebuild mode while also trying to remain competitive with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane still chugging along.

28. San Jose Sharks

🎁 A garbage can. Put all memories and remnants of the Sharks' disastrous 2019-20 season inside and light them on fire. A fresh start is all San Jose can ask for this holiday season.

29. Ottawa Senators

🎁 A successful world juniors for Tim Stuetzle. The Senators selected the German phenom third overall at this year's draft, and they hope to see him thrive on the international stage while staying healthy at the world juniors.

30. Anaheim Ducks

🎁 Lottery luck. The Ducks are building a strong farm system, but landing the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft would help speed up the rebuild.

31. Detroit Red Wings

🎁 Patience. The Red Wings were truly horrible last season and likely won't be much better in 2020-21. However, with Steve Yzerman overseeing the front office and some promising prospects coming down the pipe, Detroit's rebuild is now on track. It just might be a while before the team starts to yield results at the highest level.

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Colorado Avalanche prospect Bowen Byram and Buffalo Sabres draft pick Dylan Cozens will take turns wearing the "C" for Canada during the World Junior Championship in games, with Washington Capitals selection Connor McMichael donning the "A" for every contest.

Kirby Dach will remain the team's captain. He suffered a wrist injury in an exhibition game against Russia on Wednesday and was ruled out for the tourney the following day. The Chicago Blackhawks forward reportedly won't be ready to start his second NHL season when the league begins its 2020-21 campaign on Jan. 13.

Byram and Cozens helped Canada win gold at the 2020 event in the Czech Republic. Cozens poured in two goals and seven assists over seven games, while Byram collecetd a pair of assists in the same number of contests.

Dach didn't play in the previous world junior tournament because he made the Blackhawks' roster in October. He was named Canada's captain and was able to take part this time around because of the NHL's delayed start.

The Canadian squad will begin round-robin play Saturday versus Germany.

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Former Washington Capitals forward Ilya Kovalchuk inked a two-year deal with the KHL's Avangard Omsk, the league announced Saturday.

Kovalchuk, 37, returned to the NHL on a three-year pact with the Los Angeles Kings in 2018-19, but he endured a roller-coaster season in 2019-20.

The Kings terminated the 6-foot-3 veteran's contract in December before Kovalchuk signed with the Montreal Canadiens in January. After rediscovering his game during a strong stint in Montreal, the Canadiens sent Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline.

He tallied 10 goals and 26 points over 46 games spread among the three clubs, adding one assist in eight playoff contests for the Capitals.

The 2001 first overall pick has amassed 433 goals and 423 assists across 926 NHL games. He earned the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2003-04 and is the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise leader in goals (328), and Kovalchuk ranks second in points (615).

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The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Carl Soderberg on a one-year, $1-million deal, the club announced Saturday.

Soderberg was an unrestricted free agent.

More to come.

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The Edmonton Oilers have inked defenseman Slater Koekkoek to a one-year contract, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

Koekkoek's pact is worth less than $1 million, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.

The 26-year-old, who was an unrestricted free agent, produced 10 points over 42 games while averaging 16:45 of ice time with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Koekkoek played with the Tampa Bay Lightning for his first four full campaigns and part of another before the club traded him to Chicago in January 2019.

The Lightning drafted him 10th overall in 2012.

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Russia defeated the United States 5-3 to conclude the opening day of this year's preliminary round at the world juniors.

The Russians got off to a hot start, dominating the Americans early on before Vasili Ponomaryov netted the first goal. Soon after, U.S. captain Cam York flicked a shot through traffic from the point that trickled past netminder Yaroslav Askarov to tie things up before the intermission.

However, things got out of hand for the Americans in the second frame. Zakhar Bardakov netted a goal on a breakaway just under four minutes into the period. Then, Ponomaryov picked up defenseman Jake Sanderson's errant pass into the slot and sniped his second goal of the game to take a 3-1 lead.

Minutes later, U.S. goaltender Spencer Knight allowed his fourth goal on 12 shots after misplaying the puck. As a result, Dustin Wolf replaced Knight.

The U.S showed some fight in the third, dominating possession and peppering the Russians with shots. John Farinacci cut the deficit to 4-2 midway through the final frame before Trevor Zegras brought the Americans within a goal with just over two minutes remaining. However, it proved to be too little too late, as Russia scored an empty-netter and held on for the win.

Wolf stopped all 11 shots he faced after relieving Knight in the second period. York was named the player of the game for the American side while Ponomaryov earned the honor for Russia.

The U.S. will next take on Austria at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Russians will face the Czech Republic at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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The 2021 World Junior Championship is finally upon us. The tournament is taking place under unique circumstances but will surely be can't-miss TV once the puck is dropped.

Team Canada captured gold at the 2020 world juniors, defeating Russia 4-3 in a thrilling final. Which nation will climb to the top of the podium in 2021?

Here are five key storylines to watch for heading into this year's annual holiday event.

Navigating the pandemic

We can't ignore the obvious. This year's pandemic-altered tournament is going to be different in various ways, and everyone involved must do their best to ensure the event can be completed with integrity.

With the added layer of COVID-19 protocols, things can change in an instant, as Germany quickly learned one week ago. Eight players on the German roster tested positive upon arriving in the Edmonton bubble, so the team had to quarantine until Thursday and forgo their tuneup games. With the tournament being played over a short period of time, a positive test would spell the end of the event for a player and potentially for the entire team.

However, the Edmonton bubble worked seamlessly during the NHL playoffs, as no positive tests were returned. As was the case then, players at the world juniors will receive daily testing and be subject to several other protective measures in an attempt to prevent exposure.

Another effect of the pandemic will be the lack of fans in attendance. The world juniors - especially in Canada - usually draw electric crowds to create some of the most intense environments in all of sports.

NHL's delay brings increased talent pool

Two favorable quirks resulting from the pandemic are the expanded rosters and the volume of star talent that would otherwise be playing in the NHL during the tournament.

Unfortunately for Team Canada, captain Kirby Dach is reportedly out for the tournament after suffering an injury during exhibition play. Dylan Cozens and No. 2 pick Quinton Byfield, however, are two other premier talents who are available for Canada due to the NHL delay. For Team USA, Cole Caufield, Trevor Zegras, and several other former lottery picks would've had a strong chance to crack their respective NHL clubs.

Perhaps the biggest win for world junior fans will be the chance to watch 2020 No. 3 selection Tim Stuetzle suit up for Germany. The Senators' blue-chip prospect recorded five points in five games at least year's event and likely wouldn't have returned had the NHL season begun in the fall.

Sweden's remarkable unbeaten streak in jeopardy

Dec. 31, 2006 - that's the last time Sweden dropped a game during the preliminary round, losing in overtime to Team USA. Tre Kronor have won a remarkable 51 consecutive round-robin contests, but that world junior record could be at risk this year after the team suffered a few key last-minute setbacks.

Four Swedish players - including a trio of NHL prospects in William Wallinder, Karl Henriksson, and Albin Grewe - along with head coach Tomas Monten were deemed ineligible to participate last week after returning positive COVID-19 tests. Sweden also faces a tough schedule with matchups against the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, and the United States.

The nation's round-robin dominance hasn't quite translated to the medal rounds. Sweden has just one gold medal (2012) since the streak began and has lost in the championship game five times.

3 nations look to continue domination

For the last several decades, the big five at the world juniors has included Canada, Team USA, Russia, Sweden, and Finland, but only three have experienced sustained success in recent years. Either the Canadians, Americans, or Finns have won the last eight tournaments and 15 of the last 17, largely thanks to Canada's five straight golds in the second half of the 2000s.

Russia and Sweden have each enjoyed a ton of success during the preliminary stage, but neither has been able to get it done when the lights shine brightest. The nations have combined for six silver medals and five bronzes since the last time either won gold (Sweden, 2012). Russia, which has finished on the podium on all but two occasions since 2005, has just one championship (2011) over that span.

Goaltenders poised to put on clinics

The world juniors typically present a strong crop of young netminders, but this year's group is elite.

Yaroslav Askarov became Russia's highest-drafted netminder ever when the Nashville Predators selected him 11th overall in October, and he's good enough to single-handedly lift the country to the top of the podium. The 18-year-old phenom owns a .962 save percentage and has allowed just six goals through seven games with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg. He'll be aiming to bounce back after his shaky world juniors debut in 2020.

Team USA's tandem of Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf may be the best one-two punch the program has ever had. Knight is one of just three netminders (with Askarov) to be selected with a top-15 pick in the last 10 years. The Florida Panthers prospect owned a .931 save percentage through 33 games in his freshman season at Boston College, while Wolf was named CHL goaltender of the year for his phenomenal 2019-20 campaign with the WHL's Everett Silvertips.

Finland's Joel Blomqvist has also shown boatloads of promise during his young career overseas. The Pittsburgh Penguins' 2020 second-rounder is incredibly athletic and impressed during a pair of starts this season in Finland's top league.

Swedish youngster Jesper Wallstedt is unlikely to start but is currently the top-ranked goaltending prospect for the 2021 NHL Draft and could be Sweden's next big netminder on the international stage. The starting role will likely be Hugo Alnefelt's to lose, however. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was one of the top puck-stoppers at last year's world juniors, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.12 goals-against average over six starts.

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Team USA is well-equipped to get back on the podium at the world juniors after a disappointing sixth-place finish in 2020. With eight players returning to seek redemption, the club is loaded with budding talent and one of the most experienced groups the Americans have ever iced.

The roster features nine first-round selections - including seven lottery picks -and players from 14 different states. The lineup is balanced and highlighted by elite talent up front, on the blue line, and between the pipes.

The Americans medaled six times last decade, with the latest of their two golds coming on Canadian ice in 2017. Team USA will look to repeat that success in Edmonton to capture its fourth title at the world juniors.

Forwards

*Denotes returning player
All ages are as of the start of the tournament

Top talents

Turcotte and Caufield are two of five returning forwards and will play key roles. The pair will look to bring their chemistry back to the international stage after spending the 2019-20 campaign as freshmen with Wisconsin. Caufield put his elite scoring ability on display during his first NCAA season, registering a point per game with 19 goals in 36 outings, while Turcotte impressed with 26 points in 29 contests.

Zegras, who led Team USA in scoring with nine points (all assists) in 2020, hasn't played a ton of hockey as of late after forgoing his sophomore year at Boston University to sign with the Anaheim Ducks last spring. The crafty pivot has elite vision and is arguably the team's best playmaker. Zegras put his talents on full display with an incredible helper against the Czech Republic in 2020:

Boldy, who failed to make the squad last year after a slow start to his freshman season with Boston College, could also make a serious impact. The 6-foot-2 winger posted 24 points in his final 20 games in 2019-20 and carried that momentum into his sophomore campaign, amassing three goals and eight points in four outings.

X-factors

Kaliyev has established himself as a bona fide goal-scorer throughout his career in junior, and his game-breaking ability could make a significant impact for the Americans at any moment. The 6-foot-2 sniper was on pace to hit the 50-goal mark for the second straight campaign with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs and has lit the lamp 126 times in 192 games during three seasons with the club.

He led Team USA with four goals through fives games at last year's world juniors and will be relied upon to carry much of the scoring load with Nick Robertson out of the picture. He flanked the wing alongside Zegras last year - who picked up a helper on all of Kaliyev's tallies - and the dynamic duo will likely make up two-thirds of the Americans' top line this holiday season.

Brink, an undersized but talented winger, could also prove to be a difference-maker. His advanced vision and playmaking ability make those around him better, and he'll likely be surrounded by elite talent while playing in the team's top six.

Another under-the-radar player is Beniers, who's the youngest on the team and is pegged to be a lottery pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He'll likely slot in further down the lineup, but he played both special teams as a freshman with Boston University and could be called upon in either of those situations. He's also the only yet-to-be-drafted player on the team, so the chance to boost his draft stock should serve as extra motivation.

Biggest strength/weakness

Team USA is loaded with firepower up front. The roster has a solid combination of playmakers and finishers, and it shouldn't have any problems finding the back of the net. It's an experienced group that will rely on a handful of elite second-year forwards to lead the way.

The only weakness with this unit is its size. Kaliyev, Boldy, and Colangelo are the team's biggest forwards at 6-foot-2, while six of the 13 are under 6-foot. The larger ice could allow the undersized Americans to benefit against inferior opponents, but their lack of bulk could be an issue when they match up with the likes of Russia or Canada later on in the tournament.

Defense

*Denotes returning player
All ages are as of the start of the tournament

Top talents

York is the lone returning defenseman and may also be the club's most important. The Michigan product has five points in eight games during his sophomore year and is an elite skater who can be relied upon in all three zones. York's ability to read the play and join the rush when appropriate - as he does in the clip below - should only be enhanced by the larger ice.

Sanderson was the highest-selected defenseman at the 2020 draft, and the fifth overall pick has the potential to make a serious impact for Team USA. The 6-foot-2 blue-liner is still developing his offensive game, but his decision-making is advanced and his defensive side is as sound as it comes for a player his age. Look for Sanderson to eat some big minutes as the tournament goes on, especially when the Americans match up against one of the other top nations.

X-factors

Kleven was a late addition to the roster after a trio of players - including 6-foot-6 defenseman Alex Vlasic - were deemed unavailable to participate. Vlasic would have been one of the most physically imposing players in the tournament, and at 6-foot-4, Kleven will play a key role in replacing that lost grit and size on the back end. The North Dakota freshman likely won't make an impact offensively, but his shutdown ability could prove vital during the deeper stages of the tournament.

Johnson is another intriguing player whose name doesn't necessarily jump off the paper. The California native is a strong puck-carrier who's capable of moving the play efficiently, and he'll allow the Americans' loaded forward group to go to work. Johnson's tallied four assists through six games with Minnesota this season and will look to carry his strong play to Edmonton.

Biggest strength/weakness

The defense certainly isn't flashy, but it shouldn't be overlooked. Team USA's blue line has a ton of strength and size; six of the club's nine rearguards are 6-foot-2 or taller. They all patrol the ice relatively well, too, and opposing teams may have a difficult time establishing extended periods of possession in the offensive zone.

As steady as the blue line is, it's rather inexperienced at the international level. Eight of the nine are playing in their first world juniors and some of their opponents will offer the stiffest competition they've ever faced. Team USA's defense isn't all that dynamic, either. Outside of York and Sanderson, there aren't a ton of players who can be effective in multiple roles or situations.

Goaltenders

*Denotes returning player
All ages are as of the start of the tournament

As potent as the Americans' top offensive talent is, the club's biggest strength may be between the pipes. Both Knight and Wolf played on the club in 2019 and the undrafted Stein has an extra something to prove.

Knight, who's just one of three goaltenders to be selected with a top-15 pick over the last decade, is making a rare third appearance at the world juniors and is elite enough to steal the tournament on his own. The 6-foot-3 puck-stopper followed up his All-Star rookie season at Boston College with a sensational start to his sophomore campaign. Knight owns a .955 save percentage and has recorded a pair of shutouts through four games.

Wolf will likely serve as the backup, but he could be the starter on most teams. The California native was named CHL goaltender of the year in 2019-20 after authoring a 34-10-2 record with a .935 save percentage and 1.88 goals-against average for the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips.

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Canada enters the 2021 world juniors in Edmonton as the defending champion and favorite to claim gold again. It brings back six members from last year's championship outfit and features a remarkable 20 first-round picks.

The Canadians have medalled 11 of 12 times when hosting the event, including six golds. The only time they failed to secure a spot on the podium was in 2019.

Below, we break down each position for a Canadian team looking to claim the country's 19th gold medal at the event.

Forwards

*Denotes returning player
All ages are as of the start of the tournament

Top talents

Canada's forward corps consists solely of first-round picks, all of whom are high-end NHL prospects. But a couple stand above the rest.

After earning a limited role as a 17-year-old last tournament, all eyes will be on an older, stronger Byfield. This year's No. 2 overall pick is set to be heavily featured in Canada's attack and has a great chance to show the world what he can do while gaining some confidence and momentum before diving into his debut NHL campaign.

X-factors

Zary is a talented scoring forward whom many felt slid too far to the Calgary Flames in the draft. The Kamloops Blazers product put up 86 points in 57 WHL games last season and projects to play on a line with Byfield. Zary is primed to establish a bigger name for himself on a grand stage.

Another player who brings an important skill set to Canada's potential success is Quinn. He's a pure goal-scorer - he netted a whopping 52 tallies in 62 games in the OHL in 2019-20 - who can make a significant impact with his shot at even strength and on the power play. Canada has an embarrassment of riches up front but every team needs a finisher. Quinn could very well be that guy.

Biggest strength/weakness

The unmatchable depth of Canada's forward group is its greatest strength. Andre Tourigny's attack can roll four speedy, skilled lines capable of filling the net and dominating puck possession. It's nearly impossible to identify any weaknesses within this group.

Defense

Top talents

Canada has a pair of dynamic, mobile, high-profile blue-liners in Byram and Drysdale. The duo has been paired together in practice, and both players should be able to establish their dominance by pushing the pace offensively with strong first passes. Each is capable of quarterbacking the power play, too, and likely to shine even brighter with another year of experience under their belts.

X-factors

Harley is much less talked about compared to Byram and Drysdale, but he's a player of a similar ilk who can make a considerable difference in any given game. He missed out on the team last year but didn't let the setback slow down his development, posting 57 points in 59 games with OHL Mississauga before being called up to the Dallas Stars for the NHL's return to play. He appeared in only one game, but that's valuable experience for a player set to compete against peers his own age.

Biggest strength/weakness

Much like the forward group, the blue line is a star-studded unit. The players assigned with big minutes should be up to the task and feature a combination of size, mobility, and game-breaking talents.

If there is one negative about Canada's back end, it's that the group features five right shots and three left shots. That could create some imbalance if Canada runs into injury trouble, but it hardly seems like a real disadvantage for a club poised to challenge for gold.

Goalies

If Canada's roster has a weakness, it's between the pipes. None of the three goaltenders are highly touted prospects, but one of them will need to rise to the occasion in a pressure-packed environment. Gauthier, who posted a .917 save percentage in 50 games with WHL Prince George last season, appears to have earned the starting job to open the tournament.

On the bright side, it's unlikely any of them will have to steal games. Canada's skaters are so strong that its goalies will just need to come up with timely saves for the club to find success.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets inked veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a professional tryout contract, the club announced Friday.

Del Zotto, who was an unrestricted free agent, produced 15 points in 49 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.

The 30-year-old split the 2018-19 campaign between the Vancouver Canucks, the Ducks, and the St. Louis Blues. Anaheim traded him to St. Louis at that trade deadline before re-signing him in July 2019.

Del Zotto has also suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers during his 11-year career.

The Ontario-born rearguard has collected 236 points in 657 games.

The Rangers selected him 20th overall in 2008.

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