{"id":134450,"date":"2023-01-09T15:31:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=134450"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:31:12","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:31:12","slug":"top-10-nhl-players-2013-world-juniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/01\/09\/top-10-nhl-players-2013-world-juniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 NHL Players from the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Juniors provides a sneak peek at the next crop of potential NHL stars<\/a>. Some players will enjoy great careers, while other highly-touted prospects will fail to meet the lofty expectations. Here are the top 10 NHL players to come out of the tournament that was won by Team USA 10 years ago. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 10 Best NHL Players From the 2013 World Juniors<\/span><\/b> \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

1 Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> (Canada)\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

MacKinnon was just 17 years old when he donned the Maple Leaf in a tournament filled with 19-year-olds. While he picked up just one assist in six games, the Colorado Avalanche<\/a> selected him first overall in 2013. He has not disappointed.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia took home the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie in 2013-14, scoring 63 points in 82 games. He was then awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in 2019-20, but one item remained on his bucket list. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last season, MacKinnon led the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup<\/a>. He is approaching 700 points for his career as the Hockey Hall of Fame awaits.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2 Nikita Kucherov<\/a> (Russia)\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Kucherov was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> in the second round of the 2011 Draft and picked up eight points over seven games in 2013. It was his second appearance at the World Junior Hockey Championship.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He then lit up the QMJHL with 63 points in 33 games for the Quebec Remparts and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies before starting his pro career in the AHL. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The slick winger was called up to the Lightning during the 2013-14 season. He steadily improved before winning the Hart, Ted Lindsay<\/a> and Art Ross<\/a> awards in a dominant 2018-19 campaign. Then, he led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles<\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Leon Draisaitl<\/a> (Germany)\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Draisaitl decided to take his talents from Germany to Prince Albert of the WHL in 2012 before suiting up for his country in 2013. He scored six points in six games in the first of his two appearances at the tournament. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was then drafted third overall by the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> in 2014 and is already closing in on 700 points for his career. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2019-200 season has been his best thus far, earning the Hart<\/a>. Ted Lindsay<\/a> and Art Ross<\/a> awards after scoring 110 points in just 71 games. Those numbers are even more impressive when you factor in that teammate Connor McDavid<\/a> missed 18 games that season.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>