Jake Virtanen is one of five returning players vying for a spot on Canada’s world junior team.

But whether or not he’s available at Christmastime is up to him — and, ultimately, the Vancouver Canucks.

The Calgary Hitmen forward who captured gold at the IIHF world junior championships in 2015 is eligible and has a legitimate shot of cracking the 2015-16 Canucks roster and, should that happen, the National Hockey League club would have to make a decision to loan Virtanen out.

It’s a nice predicament for Virtanen. However, plenty of pieces have to fall into place first.

“The spot is there for me, but I have to earn it,” said Virtanen following Wednesday’s Team Canada skate at Winsport’s Markin MacPhail arena. “I can’t just go there and expect to get on the team. I have to earn it. It’s going to be a huge summer, training in Vancouver and training camp is coming around soon. Then it’s the Prospects Tournament in Penticton … but I know the best player is going to get the spot, so I just have to work hard.”

Virtanen was Vancouver’s sixth overall pick in 2014 and it isn’t a far stretch to say that he could be on the club’s opening day roster. Bo Horvat, the Canucks’ ninth overall pick from 2013, did so last fall and played 68 NHL games in his rookie campaign.

“He’s a great player,” said Virtanen who played 10 playoff games with the Utica Comets, Vancouver’s American Hockey League affiliate, when Calgary’s WHL post-season ended. “I know the coaches were saying he was kind of in my spot (in 2014) … I think I’m (ready for the professional game). Getting that experience in (Utica) definitely helped me. Coming to the (world junior camp) I feel a lot stronger. I feel ahead of the game a little bit.”

At this week’s world junior camp, it’s showed.

Against the Czech Republic on Tuesday night, the Abbotsford, B.C., native had two goals and three points in a 7-1 victory and was set to test his skills against the Russians on Wednesday (8 p.m., Markin MacPhail Centre), who Canada beat 4-1 on Monday.

Virtanen is seen as a no-brainer addition to the 2016 Canadian world junior team which will be determined in December. But, again, plenty of factors (start to the season, consistency, health, ect.) comes into play.