Experts Predict Multiple Flyers Prospects Will Star in 2026 World Junior Championships

Jett Luchanko is one of the Flyers expected to take on a big role for Canada. (Photo: David Reginek, Imagn Images)

Building off a strong World Junior Summer Showcase outing, multiple Philadelphia Flyers prospects have been predicted to lead their respective nations during the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championships this winter.

The Athletic prospect experts Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman, and Max Bultman recently released their roster projections for Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia, featuring a total of six Flyers prospects.

To start, the usual suspects will be leading the way for Canada.

Top 2025 draft pick Porter Martone features as Canada's first-line right wing, slotted next to Berkly Catton and the prodigious Gavin McKenna.

Further down the lineup is top center prospect Jett Luchanko, who missed the recent Summer Showcase for injury management. The Athletic's crew has him centering the third line, flanked by fellow 2024 draft picks Tij Iginla and Michael Hage.

Notably absent, but perhaps unsurprisingly so, are Jack Nesbitt and Spencer Gill. The former wasn't even at the Summer Showcase, while the latter is expected to be replaced by superior options in Zayne Parekh, Harrison Brunicke, Keaton Verhoeff, Cam Reid, and Ben Danford.

For the Americans, the pugilistic Shane Vansaghi makes the cut as the fourth-line right wing - the role he's earmarked for at the NHL level as well. Joined by Will Horcoff and A.J. Spellacy, it could make for quite the unit for USA if everything clicks as expected.

Fresh off a dominant showing at the Summer Showcase for Sweden, polarizing Flyers center prospect Jack Berglund figures to center Sweden's second line, ahead of top 2026 draft prospect Viggo Bjorck but behind top 2025 draft pick Anton Frondell.

If Berglund can even remotely sustain his scoring pace from last week's Showcase, he's going to be one scary guy to play against this winter.

Last but certainly not least is Finland, with Heikki Ruohonen and Max Westergard representing the Flyers.

The Athletic has Westergard reprising his Summer Showcase role as the third-line left wing, forming a trio with Markus Loponen and Kasper Pikkarainen.

Ruohonen, unfortunately, gets demoted by default, as fellow 2024 draft pick Konsta Helenius slots in as the top line's center.

But, maybe that makes for more opportunity for Ruohonen with less responsibility and easier matchups on tap.

The Flyers' 2024 fourth-round pick is paired with fellow Summer Showcase star and Montreal Canadiens prospect Aatos Koivu on that unit.

As is, apparently, tradition, the Flyers will have to keep one eye on their prospects at the upcoming World Junior Championships, and the other on their potential top draft pick in 2026.