2017 World Juniors: Top NHL draft prospect highlights Switzerland’s roster

Switzerland joined the United States and Latvia in announcing final rosters for the 2017 World Junior Championships on Saturday, bringing us ever closer to knowing which players to keep an eye on next week.

Only the Czech Republic, Sweden and Denmark have yet to make final cuts.

Switzerland dipped heavily into its own pro and junior leagues for this season’s team. 20 players play in Switzerland; only top 2017 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nico Hischier (Canada), Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Calvin Thurkauf (Canada) and Livio Stadler (Sweden) play outside of the country.

So the familiarity might help a team that narrowly avoided relegation (and, thus, exclusion from this year’s tournament) last year.

While he would be a boon for Switzerland, Denis Malgin won’t join the team because he’s having a good rookie season with the Florida Panthers.

The full roster is below, with their current team and NHL draft status listed alongside.

Dominik Diem, GCK Lions Zurich (NLB)

Nando Eggenberger, HC Davos (NLA), 2018 NHL Entry Draft prospect

Fabian Haberstich, EVZ Academy (NLB)

Timo Haussener, EVZ Academy (NLB)

Nico Hischier, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), top 2017 NHL Entry Draft prospect

Loic In Albon, Lausanne HC (NLA)

Nathan Marchon, HC Fribourg-Gotteron (NLA)

Marco Miranda, GCK Lions Zurich (NLB)

Jerome Portmann, HC Davos (NLA)

Raphael Prassl, GCK Lions Zurich (NLB)

Damien Riat, Geneve-Servette HC (NLA), Washington Capitals prospect

Calvin Thurkauf, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), Columbus Blue Jackets prospect

Yannick Zehnder, EVZ Academy (NLB)

Yanik Burren, SC Bern (NLA)

Tobias Geisser, EVZ Academy (NLB), 2017 NHL Entry Draft prospect

Colin Gerber, SC Bern (NLA)

Nico Gross, EVZ Academy (NLB), 2018 NHL Entry Draft prospect

Roger Karrer, ZSC Lions (NLA)

Jonas Siegenthaler (A), ZSC Lions (NLA), Washington Capitals prospect

Livio Stadler, Luleå HF (SHL),

Serge Weber, EHC Kloten (NLA)

Matteo Ritz, Lausanne HC (NLA)

Joren van Pottelberghe, HC Davos (NLA), Detroit Red Wings prospect

Philip Wüthrich, SC Bern (NLA)