2017 World Juniors: Team Russia unveils fresh roster full of NHL prospects

When the 2017 World Junior Championships kick off next week from Toronto, Team Russia will field a pretty heady group of NHL prospects to contend for another medal.

Russia released its final roster for the tournament on Friday. They didn’t name captains yet, but you can probably count on one of those older NHL prospects to get the honors.

Particularly the returning ones. Russia returns some important names from the team that narrowly lost the gold medal game to Finland last year like forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Alexander Polunin, defensemen Yegor Voronkov and Yegor Rykov, and goalie Ilya Samsonov.

The rest of the roster has seen a lot of turnover, but not without potential. The reins are now in the hands of World Juniors first-timers Yakov Trenin, Pavel Karnaukhov, and Mikhail Sergachev; all talented NHL prospects worth watching all tournament.

The rest of Russia’s roster follows, along with their current junior teams and their NHL teams.

Kirill Kaprizov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL), Minnesota Wild prospect

Kirill Urakov, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Danila Kvartalnov, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Alexander Polunin, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Kirill Belyaev, Yugra (MHL)

German Rubtsov, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL), Philadelphia Flyers prospect

Pavel Karnaukhov, CSKA Moscow (KHL), Calgary Flames prospect

Denis Alexeev, Admiral Vladivostok (MHL)

Danil Yurtaykin, HC Ryazan (VHL)

Mikhail Vorobyov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL), Philadelphia Flyers prospect

Yakov Trenin, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), Nashville Predators prospect

Denis Guryanov, Texas Stars (AHL), Dallas Stars prospect

Vadim Kudako, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

Mikhail Sidorov, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

Sergei Zborovsky, Regina Pats (WHL), New York Rangers prospect

Yegor Voronkov, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Grigory Dronov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Mikhail Sergachyov, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), Montreal Canadiens prospect

Yegor Rykov, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL), New Jersey Devils prospect

Artyom Volkov, Dynamo Balashikha (VHL)

Ilya Samsonov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL), Washington Capitals prospect

Anton Krasotkin, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)

Connor Ingram, Vladislav Sukhachyov, Chelmet Chelyabinsk (MHL)