Zam Plante

Unlikely Ryan McCleary, D, Canada With a deep pool of talent for Canada, players taken outside of the first three rounds of the NHL draft rarely make the U20 World Junior Championships roster, with the occasional exception for later bloomers. Ryan McCleary, a 2021 seventh round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, likely fails to qualify as a notable exception, currently ranking outside of the top 10 among WHL blueliners in points per game. Better Luck Next Year Sergei Murashov, G, Russia Russia remains suspended from IIHF competition, including the 2023 U20 World Junior Championship tournament. With no Russian goaltenders eligible…