The 2026 World Juniors is entering the quarterfinals which will be played today with the relegation game kicking things off. The teams that will face off in the relegation game are Denmark vs. Germany. In the quarterfinals, it’ll be Latvia vs. Sweden then Switzerland vs. Czechia followed by Finland vs. the USA, concluding with Slovakia vs. Canada. The Detroit Red Wings have five prospects playing at the World Juniors. One on Team USA in forward Max Plante, one on Team Canada in forward Carter Bear, one on Team Sweden in forward Eddie Genborg, then two on Slovakia in goalie Michal Pradel and forward Michal Svrcek. So after the preliminary round how did the five prospects perform?

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Max Plante

Plante in three games has a goal and is a minus-three. Team USA is listing him as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury he didn’t play in Team USA’s 6-3 loss to Sweden on Wednesday. The Red Wings drafted Plante 47th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He’s playing at Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA. He leads college hockey in points with 30 on 16 goals and 14 assists. He’s third in goals and is 13th in assists. 

Carter Bear

Bear in two games for Canada has been held pointless and is even in plus/minus. The Red Wings drafted him 13th overall in this past summer’s draft. He has played in the Western Hockey League this season where in 23 games he has 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists. He’s playing with Everett Silvertips and he’s an assistant captain. 

Eddie Genborg

Genborg in four games with Team Sweden has five points on two goals and three assists; he’s a plus-four. The Red Wings drafted him 44th overall in this summer’s draft. He’s playing this season in the Swedish Hockey League where in 26 games for Timrå IK he has 15 points on eight goals and seven assists; he’s a plus-eight.

Michal Pradel

Pradel has three starts in goal going 1-2-0 with a 3.46 goals-against average, and a .894 save percentage. The Red Wings drafted him 75th overall in this summer’s draft. He’s playing for the Tri-City Storm in the USHL. In 23 games he’s 9-9-3 with a 2.46 goals against average, a .916 save percentage, and three shutouts. 

Michal Svrcek

Svrcek in four games has a goal and an assist; he’s even in plus/minus. The Red Wings drafted him 119th overall this past summer. He has played for three different teams this season. Svrcek played in nine games for Brynäs IF U20. He has 14 points on six goals and eight assists; he’s a plus-six. In 12 games in the Swedish Hockey League for Brynäs IF, he’s pointless with them and a minus-two. Svrcek has also been loaned to Västerås IK. In six games for them he is also pointless and a minus-four. 

Wrap Up

Today Genborg can be seen at 2:00 PM EST. Plants likely won’t play for USA today against Finland. Finally, Bear will face off against Svrcek and likely Pradel with that game at 8:30 PM. The winners today advance to the Semifinals on Sunday.

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