Duclair will already join Team Canada on Thursday at the selection camp in Toronto.

“On behalf of Hockey Canada and all Team Canada fans, I would like to thank the New York Rangers for their support of Canada’s National Junior Team,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations/national teams for Hockey Canada.

“We expect that the team will benefit greatly from the addition of Anthony for both his skill and leadership, and we believe this will be a great experience for Anthony, as he embarks on what we expect will be long and successful professional and international playing career.”

The Rangers follow the trend to allow young players get valuable experiences and a responsible role at the World Juniors who otherwise don’t yet get a big role at the start of their NHL careers.

Duclair was signed for this season coming from the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts and made the NHL squad immediately. He appeared in 18 of the Rangers 26 games this season, scored one goal, had six assists, a +4 rating and an average ice time of 12:09. However, in the last three games he has been a healthy scratch.

On Team Canada Duclair is expected to fill a bigger role. It will be his first IIHF tournament although he has represented Canada before in the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup with the U18 team and at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2011 and 2012.

Canada opens the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day when it faces Slovakia in Montreal.