2024 IIHF World Juniors Odds & Analysis

The top U20 players in the world meeting In Gothenburg, Sweden to battle for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada has dominated the tournament, winning the last two. Can they make it a third? They aren't favored to do so. Oddsmakers feel Team USA will win with +175 odds.

2024 World Juniors Odds

Odds as of December 22

Where To Watch/Stream World Juniors

This year the World Juniors tournament is held in Gothenburg, Sweden and begins on boxing day and will run till the final on January 5th.

TV and live stream availability:

2024 World Juniors Favorite: USA

The Americans head to Sweden with a stacked lineup. Ten of their 14 forwards were drafted in the first round of the last two drafts.

Will Smith is the top prospect for the US of A. The San Jose pick is dominating the college scene with 23 points in 17 games on the year so far. Internationally Smith is already showing off. Smith scored two goals against the Swedes during a 5-3 win in pre-tournament play. (He also had a penalty shot stopped.)

Will Smith stole the puck, created his own chance and scored to make it 3-2 USA. #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/HWscFH0zPk

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 21, 2023

The USA has always fielded a strong side when it comes to these tournaments, but none have been quite this deep or quite this talented. 

The USA wants a gold medal, and they've got the roster to get it.

2024 World Juniors Best Bet: Sweden

This is one of the strongest Swedish squads assembled in a long time for the World Juniors. Goalie Hugo Havelid has already averaged a 1.63 GAA and 0.920 SV% in five international games for Sweden this year. So you know he's going to be a wall back there for the three crowns.

2022 15th overall pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki has been exceptional this year with 16 points (10 goals) in 24 SHL games. Remember, this is a 19-year-old playing in a professional men's league. He's going to be their primary offensive weapon.

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 21, 2023

This is a deep squad with a ton of NHL-caliber talent. Nineteen of the 23 players on the roster have been drafted by NHL teams. And they're playing on home ice. 

Anything less than gold will be a disappointment for Sweden. Though, looking at the groups, Sweden is going to have it tough.

2024 World Juniors Groups

Group A

Group B

Group A is going to be a gauntlet. Three of the top five are in this group. I feel bad for Latvia, they've certainly already lost the group before a puck was even dropped.

Group B should be significantly easier with the USA and Czechia battling it out for the group lead.

Last 10 World Junior Champions

Canada became the first back-to-back champion since did it back in 2009. That was their fifth title over the past decade.

Sweden hasn't won it since 2012. You know they desperately want this one. 

World Junior Championships & Appearances

The tournament dates back to 1977. Here’s how each nation has medaled over the past 49 tournaments. 

*Russia and the Soviet Union have been combined

Czechia has the longest gold-medal drought. Their last championship was in 2001 when Pavel Brendl put up a tournament-leading 10 points in seven games and goalie Tomas Duba had a 1.14 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.

Last year, the Czechs surprised everyone by going all the way to the finals where they pushed Canada to overtime. They unfortunately lost 6:22 in the extra frame with a Dylan Guenther goal.