Upcoming Match-ups

Opening Odds to Win 2020-21 IIHF World Junior Championship

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in NHL Hockey

Updated Nov 25, 2020 · 10:09 AM PST

Canada celebrates a goal against Sweden during the second period of the title game of the IIHF world junior hockey championships. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
  • The World Junior Championship begins December 25th, 2020 on Christmas Day
  • The tournament will be held in Edmonton, Canada with the Canadians looking to repeat as champions
  • Here are the odds for each of the 10 teams, along with our best bet for the tournament

The World Junior Championship begins one month from today.

The tournament will be played in Edmonton, Alberta, where the defending champion Canadians are the favorites.

IIHF World Junior Championship Odds

Team Odds
Canada +130
USA +350
Russia +450
Sweden +475
Finland +605
Czech Republic +1800
Switzerland +5500
Slovakia +6000
Germany +8000
Austria +11000

Odds from Nov. 25th

Canada has won three of the last six Gold Medals and 18 overall, which is by far the most in tournament history. Let’s explore their chances of making it back-to-back victories to see if there is value in the +120 being offered.

Canadian Roster Could Get Big Boost

Canada was pleasantly surprised when the Chicago Blackhawks announced forward Kirby Dach would be made available to play. While Dach is sure to be a key contributor, all eyes are now on the New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere. The number one overall pick in the NHL draft won the MVP last year, leading Canada to gold.

He’s still eligible to play this year, and with the NHL schedule pushed back, it’s likely he could join the team yet again. Lafreniere is not with Canada camp in Red Deer, Alberta but, he will be on the roster if he’s made available.

Head coach Alex Tourigny has a loaded lineup to work with. In addition to Lafreniere, Canada has six other top 10 picks from the last two NHL drafts. That includes Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale, and Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti were all top 10 selections this year. Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram and Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens were both top picks last year.

The only real question mark for Canada is in goal. Brett Brochu is one of five goalies in camp vying for the job. He’d be a great choice, but in reality, Canada will be led by their superstar skaters regardless of which goalie wins the spot.

Russia Poses Biggest Threat to Canada

While Canada may not know who will start in goal, the Russians certainly do. They have the best goalie in the tournament in Nashville Predators first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov. He’s 4-3-0 with SKA Saint Petersburg this year with a 0.96 goals against average and .962 save percentage. The numbers aren’t a fluke either. He helped Russia capture the Karjala Cup with wins over Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic while posting a 0.98 goals against average and .962 save percentage.

Russia often wins with speed and skill up front. In fact, only once in the last 25 years has a Russian won the best goalie award at the tournament. This year, the speed and skill are still there, but now they have the most polished prospect between the pipes as well. If any team is going to provide a threat to the Canadians, it’s likely to be their longest standing hockey rival.

Consider Placing Your Wager Soon

Canada is the deserving favorite, and while +130 may not seem like a lot of value it’s the best the price will get. If you favor the Russians, that price likely won’t improve once they begin steamrolling their way through the round-robin stage. Whichever team you settle on, consider placing your wager well in advance of the tournament. It’s the best strategy to maximize your potential return.

The Pick: Canada (+130)

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