How the WJC affects my Top 25 Under 25 opinions

Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty ImagesEvery year the WJC gives us a short, statistically insignificant set of games played by prospects against their peers on national teams that are grossly mismatched in skill, depth and quality. Naturally what we do with that is read in way more than we do from the players’ league play.

Usually there is at least one player who really stands out as a “man among boys” and looks like he should be at NHL training camp, not this kids’ game. That’s doubly meaningful this year since the WJC overlaps NHL camp, and there are players who you look at and think should be going right to camp, no hesitation. Last year, Rasmus Sandin had that look to him, along with a few…