What's unexpected is often cherished most at this time of the year. And as we approach the annual futures showcase that might be a little short on hype this time around, the same may ring true.
With that in mind, here are three predictions for the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship:
It creates its own hype
Connor McDavid or Patrik Laine are busy, and if there's a future No. 1 overall draft pick to appear in this futures showcase, it'll likely be another 18 months before he's taken off the board.
This is a tournament devoid of certain, unassailable star power. But what it will have is strength in numbers.
Canada, Russia, Sweden, and the United States - picked as the nations best equipped to contend for gold - are loaded with high-quality prospects nearing the end of their junior hockey eligibilities. Canada, in particular, is very deep and remarkably balanced, featuring dominant scorers across four lines - and not one draft-eligible prospect. The U.S., meanwhile, appears designed to outscore deficiencies - and look fully capable of doing it.
There's no headliner, but the tournament boasts the requisites to be incredibly fun, and equally competitive; prepare for it to sneak up on you.
Hart joins select group
It's not the only reason Canada has one gold medal to show for its last seven tournaments, but goaltending has let the nation down, at times, throughout its recent fruitless run. And certainly before that.
Naturally, when Carter Hart stumbled in the final tuneup versus the Swiss, it invoked similar concerns. But the Everett Silvertips starter and first goaltender chosen in the 2016 NHL Draft is as dependable as the country's had over the last decade.
With his remarkable consistency shown throughout his three seasons in junior, and perhaps the best defense in the tournament protecting him, Hart's in a position to thrive and make certain Canada extends its medal streak to 12 on home ice.
He's the most important player for Canada on its way to gold, becoming the first Canadian in nine years to win top goaltending honors, while joining Steve Mason, Carey Price, and Marc-Andre Fleury as the only netminders in red and white to do it this century.
Bracco stars
With a shaky back line, the United States may have to fill the nets in Toronto and Montreal. So no player might be more important to its success than slight attacker Jeremy Bracco - especially considering the cuts of Alex DeBrincat and Logan Brown.
After being a controversial exclusion from last year's squad, the second-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs has won over the coaching staff, and will have the opportunity to make a major impact in a specialty role.
With loads of talent aiding his own, Bracco, one of the most productive junior hockey players in the CHL this season, takes the tournament scoring crown, edging Sweden's Joel Eriksson Ek and Canada's Dylan Strome and Mathieu Joseph.
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