Team Canada could have used Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford at the WJC

When Team Canada announced their roster for the IIHF World Junior Championship, one of the more glaring omissions was Montreal Canadiens defenceman prospect Bryce Pickford, who has been tearing up the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Canadiens' 2025 3rd-round pick leads the entire league in goals with 28, which is incredibly impressive considering he is a defenceman. With Canada falling to Czechia for the third consecutive year, largely due to defensive struggles in this tournament, it might have been a mistake not to select Pickford, who has continued to shine since the roster was announced.

Since Team Canada announced their roster on December 25th, Pickford has used the snub as motivation, registering three goals and nine points in five games. Unlike Team Canada, the Canadiens rewarded Pickford for his outstanding play, signing him to his entry-level contract on December 24th. He was also named the WHL Player of the Month for December, scoring 14 goals and adding eight assists in just nine games. He has been making Team Canada regret not taking him for the tournament.  

Canada’s biggest problem during the WJC has been its discipline and defensive game. While Pickford's defensive abilities are not why he has been garnering tons of attention, his ability to move the puck and generate offence would have been a huge addition to Team Canada’s lineup. Especially considering outside of Zayne Parekh and Ethan Mackenzie, Canada received very little offensive production from its blueline. Carson Carels, Ben Danford, and Cameron Reid have combined for three points in the games they played, excluding the bronze medal match against Finland.

It almost feels like, because Pickford was not a “Blue Chip” prospect, he was never really considered as an option to make the team. He went undrafted in his first year of eligibility and declined a training camp invite from the Detroit Red Wings to bet on himself. His bet paid off because in the 2024-25 season, he increased his previous career high point total of 17 to 47. His goal total also skyrocketed, going from two to 20, showing a glimpse of his goal-scoring capabilities.

Some believed his increased point total was partly because he was on a team alongside the potential future first overall pick, Gavin McKenna. Pickford has proved those doubters wrong this season, especially considering McKenna left the Hat Tigers to join Penn State in the NCAA. He has responded with the best offensive season of his career, leading all defencemen in scoring with 53 points, which also puts him fifth in the WHL in scoring. While he might have been disappointed not to make Team Canada, the Canadiens are ecstatic to have him. Who knows, the Canadiens could potentially be looking at a future where they have Lane Hutson and Pickford quarterbacking both power play units for the next decade.