2023 IIHF World Juniors Odds & Analysis

Halifax is hosting the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time since 2003. Canada has won the gold medal five times in its last 11 turns as host of the tournament. The last time out in Edmonton, Canada won it with a 3-2 overtime win over Finland. Oddsmakers believe Canada could win it again this year. Bodog has the Canadians as a co-favorite to win gold at +250.

Czechia is the dark horse team for the 23 IIHF World Juniors. They finished fourth in 2022, losing the bronze-medal game to Sweden. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect David Jiricek is one of the returnees.

2023 IIHF World Juniors Odds & Analysis. USA (+700). The Americans' poor showing in 2022 has oddsmakers down on the U.S. this time around. Luke Hughes, Cutter Gauthier and Jimmy Snuggerud are stars of the game.

Canada is the heavy favorite in Group A. They have won their group seven times in the last 10 tournaments. Connor Bedard and Shane Wright are the best players in this group.

Sweden has won their group eight times in the last 10 tournaments. The last time Sweden was grouped with Canada in Group A they won it.

USA beat Finland 5-2 in a pre-tournament game. Ryan Ufko had two points in that game and has 13 points this year at the NCAA level.

Connor Bedard is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He will play at his second World Junior Championship. Last time out at the World Juniors, Bedards produced eight points in seven games.

Leo Carlsson is having a great season in his native Sweden with 14 points in 25 games for SHL side Orebro. Carl Sweden is playing in the World Junior Championship. He is projected to go in top five of the 2023 NHL draft.

Dalibor Dvorsky is a 17-year-old from Slovakia. He's playing for AIK in the Swedish Allsvenskan this year. At the U18 level, he put up 25 points in 14 games last year and is expected to do the same at the Under-20 level.

Finland is the co-favorite with Canada at +250. Finland has won the gold medal three times in 10 years. Canada is looking for a fourth gold at this tournament.

Canada has won the World Junior Championship a record 19 times. Sweden is third in terms of medal-winning frequency, winning 20 medals in 49 tournaments for a 41 percent return rate. Czech Republic has the longest gold-medal drought, having last won in 2001.