5 young guns to watch at the 2018 World Championship

As each NHL season winds down, talented players commit to represent their countries at the IIHF World Championship. This year, a plethora of young, skilled forwards are set to make their mark on one of the biggest stages that hockey can provide.

Here are five young guns to keep an eye on once tournament action begins Friday in Denmark.

Kirill Kaprizov, F - Russia

Kaprizov, Russia's captain at the 2017 World Junior Championship, is already a proven performer on the international stage at only 21 years old. He also finished second in scoring for the Russian squad at PyeongChang 2018 with nine points in six contests, earning a gold medal in the process.

The Minnesota Wild selected the offensively gifted Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, but he's yet to play in the NHL, suiting up instead in the KHL over the last three seasons and registering 117 points in 179 games.

His contract with CSKA Moscow doesn't expire until 2020, so this might be the best chance to witness his tremendous talent and consistent production.

Tage Thompson, F - USA

The St. Louis Blues' first-round selection might have had a hard time adapting to the quickness of the NHL as a rookie, but Thompson has been an effective scorer in the AHL.

What Thompson may lack in foot speed, he makes up for with his soft hands and a wicked-fast release. The latter was on full display in his first NHL goal against Cam Talbot and the Edmonton Oilers:

Thompson is far from the flashiest player on our list, but he's still an exciting young prospect with great potential.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, F - Canada

Dubois has already started to make a name for himself in North American arenas, setting a Columbus Blue Jackets franchise record for goals by a rookie with 20 this season.

The physically gifted center has the versatility and skill set to also play the wing, and he can bring the body when needed.

Those strengths, combined with his superb offensive instincts and nose for the net, should help Dubois light up the worlds - especially if he gets the benefit of playing on a wing with an elite Canadian pivot such as Connor McDavid, Mathew Barzal, or Bo Horvat.

Elias Pettersson, F - Sweden

Potentially the most exciting player in the tournament who's yet to grace an NHL ice surface, Pettersson has been sensational in the Swedish Hockey League this season for the Vaxjo Lakers.

After being drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, he led the SHL in scoring with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games, broke the regular-season record for points by a player under 20 years old, and also set the league record for playoff points by a U20 player.

Elias Pettersson scores the SHL Championship winning goal in style.

( C More) #Canucks @Canucks pic.twitter.com/tGvtioZ15o

- Robert Siderlind (@HockeyWebCast) April 22, 2018

If he keeps scoring goals like the one above, the 2018 World Championship will be Pettersson's coming-out party.

Martin Necas, F - Czech Republic

Necas' dynamic playmaking skills and explosive offensive capability should be enough to entice hockey fans to tune in for the Czech Republic's games over the next week or so. If it's not enough to convince you, though, perhaps his performance from the most recent WJHC is.

Necas tied American forward Casey Mittelstadt for the tournament lead in scoring, registering three goals and seven assists in six games.

After the Carolina Hurricanes drafted him 12th overall last June, Necas cracked their opening-night roster out of training camp. He only played in one game, but went on to tally a respectable 17 points in 24 contests while on loan to HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

Slick hands and sneaky speed make Necas worth keeping an eye on at the 2018 World Championship.

(Pictures courtesy: Getty Images)

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