With no NHL season in the way, Canada can send their absolute best to the 2013 WJCs. And for that reason, optimism is high that the dominant force of the tournament will return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2009.

Over the past four years, no country has been more decorated at the junior hockey levels than Sweden. See how they rank compared to the other top nations of junior hockey in this world ranking, which includes the two major IIHF junior tournaments.

While the NHL and NHLPA come closer to reaching a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, several national federations could see their top U20 talent removed from the world's top junior hockey tournament.