Brennan Othmann – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects – Biggest Risers and Fallers

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:00:37 +0000

Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have improved their stock the most this season.

Adam Jiricek

Adam Jiricek (STL)

Previous Ranking: 97, New Ranking: 24

Jiricek’s first year in North America (in the OHL) was all about adjustment and injury recovery. Now fully healthy, he’s been among the OHL’s best defenders and was named the top defenceman at this year’s WJC’s.

Harrison Brunicke (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 178, New Ranking: 25

Started the year in the NHL with Pittsburgh before being sent back to the WHL post WJC’s. Brunicke is really figuring out how to get the best out of his vast athletic potential.

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 22: Nick Lardis #76 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during a game against the Nashville Predators on March 22, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Nick Lardis (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 102, New Ranking: 26

There was definitely some concern about how Lardis’ skill set would translate to the pro level given his frame. However, he’s been an immediate impact player and is rocketing up Chicago’s depth chart.

Alexander Zharovsky (MTL)

Previous Ranking: 222, New Ranking: 31

Talk about a breakout. Zharovsky took the KHL by storm in his draft plus one year. We knew he had among the highest upside of any forward in last year’s draft due to his creativity and skill, but we didn’t expect him to be fulfilling it so quickly.

Matvei Gridin (CGY)

Previous Ranking: 150, New Ranking: 43

Gridin was viewed as a boom or bust prospect who needed to round out his game to be a successful pro. He’s been terrific in the AHL as a rookie and has adjusted to the pro game way quicker than many expected.

Roman Kantserov (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 136, New Ranking: 47

Kantserov just continues to get better and has emerged as the best offensive player in the KHL. While the recent track record for KHL to NHL success is bleak, Kantserov has to be ranked highly because of the upside he possesses.

Will Horcoff (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 175, New Ranking: 60

Even if the offensive production decreased post World Juniors, Horcoff still had a tremendous year that saw him emerge as one of the most dangerous players in college hockey between the dots.

Vaclav Nestrasil (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 196, New Ranking: 68

Nestrasil was one of the better freshmen in the NCAA this year with UMass. He just keeps getting better and better and with his frame and IQ, he seems like a safe bet to be a quality NHL player so long as his skating continues to improve.

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) makes a save during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild on November 21, 2025, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Sergei Murashov (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 181, New Ranking: 73

Murashov’s growth in his second year in North America has been prolific. He’s been lights out in the AHL and even earned a cup of coffee in the NHL. The future starter for the Penguins in all likelihood.

Stephen Halliday (OTT)

Previous Ranking: 207, New Ranking: 85

Has there been a prospect in hockey more annually underrated than Halliday? He’s the USHL all time leading scorer. He was great in college. He was great in the AHL. And he’s been great in limited NHL action.

Charlie Stramel (MIN)

Previous Ranking: 263, New Ranking: 87

We all owe Stramel an apology for writing him off so early after he initially struggled at Wisconsin. He was one of the best players in college hockey this season for Michigan State and is back on track to be a quality NHL player.

Max Plante (DET)

Previous Ranking: 197, New Ranking: 90

Plante was great as a freshman at UMD, but he was even better as a sophomore, emerging as one of the NCAA’s best forwards and this year’s Hobey Baker winner.

Dean Letourneau (BOS)

Previous Ranking: 254, New Ranking: 96

What a difference a year can make. Letourneau was always going to be a long-term project, but he was written off by many after a rough freshman year. This year, he was one of BC’s best and most consistent players.

Benjamin Rautiainen (TB)

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked, New Ranking: 97

You might be asking yourself how the Lightning keep finding these guys to help keep them relevant. Rautiainen has exploded to be the top player in Liiga, a year after being drafted in the fourth round.

Eddie Genborg (DET)

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked, New Ranking: 102

Drafted for his physical approach, Genborg has improved his on puck play significantly and was an impact player in the SHL this year.

Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have seen their stock fall the most this season.

Mikhail Gulyayev (COL)

Previous Ranking: 62, New Ranking: 147

While the KHL can be tough on young defenders, we keep waiting for Gulyayev’s breakout to happen. Instead, he’s had a regression this year and that has to be concerning to the Avalanche.

Sam Colangelo (ANA)

Previous Ranking: 84, New Ranking: Not Ranked

The only player to go from being ranked inside of our top 100 to being not ranked (outside of our top 200). Colangelo just hasn’t been able to get over the hump and establish himself as an NHL player.

Brennan Othmann (CGY)

Previous Ranking: 90, New Ranking: 177

His third pro season was supposed to be a breakout year for him, where he would finally establish himself as an NHL player. Instead, he’s had his worst year statistically and found himself in a new organization after a trade to Calgary.

Carson Rehkopf (SEA)

Previous Ranking: 106, New Ranking: Not Ranked

Rehkopf had a pretty stagnant year in the OHL last year, but there was some hope that he could turn things around as a first year pro. Instead, a lack of consistency continues to plague him.

Joshua Roy (MTL)

Previous Ranking: 108, New Ranking: 198

It’s starting to look like Roy’s NHL future may come with another organization. He’s seen himself passed by other forward prospects for a role in Montreal and his AHL production has stagnated.

MCKEEN'S HOCKEY TOP 200 NHL-AFFILIATED PROSPECTS

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Michael Misa	SJ	C	19	6-1/185	San Jose (NHL)	45	9	12	21	10
2	Porter Martone	Phi	RW	19	6-3/205	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	25	25	50	78
3	Anton Frondell	Chi	C	19	6-2/205	Djurgardens (SHL)	43	20	8	28	16
4	Caleb Desnoyers	Uta	C	19	6-2/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	45	22	56	78	36
5	Zayne Parekh	Cgy	D	20	6-0/180	Calgary (NHL)	37	4	5	9	8
6	Brady Martin	Nsh	C	19	6-0/185	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	24	8	16	24	37
7	Daniil But	Uta	LW	21	6-6/215	Utah (NHL)	29	3	4	7	8
8	Dmitri Simashev	Uta	D	21	6-5/200	Utah (NHL)	28	0	1	1	23
9	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	21	6-1/215	Laval (AHL)	27	19	7	2.23	0.916
10	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	23	6-6/230	Grand Rapids (AHL)	39	26	8	2.33	0.915
11	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	21	5-11/170	Chicago (AHL)	52	27	29	56	24
12	Jake O'Brien	Sea	C	18	6-2/175	Brantford (OHL)	53	28	65	93	28
13	Tij Iginla	Uta	C	19	6-0/190	Kelowna (WHL)	48	41	49	90	29
14	Radim Mrtka	Buf	D	18	6-6/220	Seattle (WHL)	43	1	33	34	38
15	Igor Chernyshov	SJ	LW	20	6-2/190	San Jose (NHL)	28	9	10	19	6
16	Cole Hutson	Wsh	D	19	5-10/165	Boston University (NCAA)	35	10	22	32	26
17	James Hagens	Bos	C	19	5-11/195	Boston College (NCAA)	34	23	24	47	24
18	Konsta Helenius	Buf	C	20	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	63	21	41	62	22
19	Michael Hage	Mtl	C	20	6-1/190	Michigan (NCAA)	39	13	39	52	14
20	Roger McQueen	Ana	C	19	6-6/195	Providence (NCAA)	36	11	16	27	45
21	Gabe Perreault	NYR	LW	21	5-11/180	NY Rangers (NHL)	49	12	15	27	10
22	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	21	6-4/180	Chicago (NHL)	54	4	10	14	44
23	Carter Yakemchuk	Ott	D	20	6-3/210	Belleville (AHL)	54	10	30	40	36
24	Adam Jiricek	StL	D	19	6-2/180	Brantford (OHL)	55	19	40	59	33
25	Harrison Brunicke	Pit	D	20	6-3/195	Kamloops (WHL)	24	2	22	24	20
26	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	20	5-11/165	Chicago (NHL)	41	10	5	15	10
27	Nate Danielson	Det	C	21	6-2/185	Detroit (NHL)	28	2	5	7	4
28	Yegor Surin	Nsh	C	19	6-1/190	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	57	15	22	37	43
29	Braeden Cootes	Van	C	19	6-0/185	Sea-PA (WHL)	45	24	39	63	8
30	Jackson Smith	CBJ	D	19	6-4/200	Penn State (NCAA)	35	11	15	26	40
31	Alexander Zharovsky	Mtl	RW	19	6-1/165	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)	59	16	26	42	38
32	Victor Eklund	NYI	RW	19	5-11/170	Djurgardens (SHL)	43	6	18	24	22
33	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	21	5-11/170	Abbotsford (AHL)	21	13	7	20	8
34	Scott Morrow	NYR	D	23	6-2/210	NY Rangers (NHL)	29	0	6	6	4
35	Kashawn Aitcheson	NYI	D	19	6-2/200	Barrie (OHL)	56	28	42	70	97
36	Liam Greentree	NYR	RW	20	6-3/215	Windsor (OHL)	52	38	36	74	63
37	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	21	5-11/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	60	4	19	23	14
38	Justin Carbonneau	StL	RW	19	6-2/205	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	60	51	29	80	64
39	Ilya Protas	Wsh	LW	19	6-3/185	Hershey (AHL)	69	29	37	66	40
40	Cole Reschny	Cgy	C	19	5-11/185	North Dakota (NCAA)	36	6	29	35	22
41	Anton Silayev	NJ	D	20	6-7/210	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	61	1	2	3	10
42	Rutger McGroarty	Pit	LW	22	6-1/200	Pittsburgh (NHL)	24	3	3	6	4
43	Matvei Gridin	Cgy	RW	20	6-2/190	Calgary (NHL)	37	6	14	20	2
44	Isak Rosen	Wpg	RW	23	6-0/175	Buf-Wpg (NHL)	37	6	4	10	0
45	Cole Eiserman	NYI	LW	19	6-0/195	Boston University (NCAA)	32	18	10	28	14
46	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	21	5-9/165	Hershey (AHL)	72	20	40	60	24
47	Roman Kantserov	Chi	RW	21	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	63	36	28	64	57
48	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	21	6-3/215	Seattle (NHL)	28	4	3	7	6
49	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	Det	RW	20	6-1/205	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	20	24	44	42
50	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	20	6-2/200	San Jose (AHL)	61	21	24	45	46
51	Jett Luchanko	Phi	C	19	5-11/185	Gue-Bfd (OHL)	38	7	36	43	34
52	Cayden Lindstrom	CBJ	C	20	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	31	3	7	10	94
53	Trevor Connelly	VGK	LW	20	6-1/160	Henderson (AHL)	46	14	35	49	18
54	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	22	5-11/160	Coachella Valley (AHL)	63	21	35	56	18
55	Isaac Howard	Edm	LW	22	5-11/190	Bakersfield (AHL)	47	24	26	50	12
56	Lynden Lakovic	Wsh	LW	19	6-4/200	Moose Jaw (WHL)	22	18	11	29	8
57	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	21	6-2/185	Laval (AHL)	57	5	19	24	56
58	Trey Augustine	Det	G	21	6-1/195	Michigan State (NCAA)	34	24	9	2.11	0.929
59	Yegor Zavragin	Phi	G	20	6-2/185	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	12	5	7	2.63	0.919
60	Will Horcoff	Pit	C	19	6-5/200	Michigan (NCAA)	40	25	14	39	64
61	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	22	6-3/215	Nashville (NHL)	47	6	2	8	17
62	Sam O'Reilly	TB	C	20	6-1/190	Ldn-Kit (OHL)	56	29	42	71	22
63	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	21	5-11/180	St. Louis (NHL)	32	3	7	10	5
64	Brayden Yager	Wpg	C	21	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	68	10	20	30	10
65	Joshua Ravensbergen	SJ	G	19	6-6/190	Prince George (WHL)	46	32	13	2.51	0.919
66	Cole Beaudoin	Uta	C	20	6-2/210	Barrie (OHL)	54	33	56	89	29
67	Michael Hrabal	Uta	G	21	6-7/215	Massachusetts (NCAA)	29	19	9	1.95	0.937
68	Vaclav Nestrasil	Chi	RW	19	6-6/185	Massachusetts (NCAA)	34	13	18	31	8
69	Stian Solberg	Ana	D	20	6-2/205	San Diego (AHL)	71	12	12	24	102
70	Maveric Lamoureux	Uta	D	22	6-7/215	Tucson (AHL)	65	5	15	20	75
71	Sascha Boumedienne	Wpg	D	19	6-2/185	Boston University (NCAA)	35	2	8	10	14
72	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	22	6-2/185	Laval (AHL)	45	10	24	34	18
73	Sergei Murashov	Pit	G	22	6-0/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	38	24	9	2.20	0.919
74	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	22	6-4/180	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	68	7	21	28	28
75	Pyotr Andreyanov	CBJ	G	19	6-0/205	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	26	13	8	2.59	0.919
76	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	21	6-1/185	Winnipeg (NHL)	32	1	4	5	12
77	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	24	6-4/200	San Jose (NHL)	50	5	7	12	22
78	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	22	6-1/195	San Diego (AHL)	70	10	31	41	29
79	Carter Bear	Det	LW	19	6-0/180	Everett (WHL)	53	36	41	77	56
80	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	22	6-4/205	San Jose (AHL)	65	22	38	60	22
81	Sacha Boisvert	Chi	C	20	6-3/190	Boston University (NCAA)	26	3	14	17	28
82	Julius Miettinen	Sea	C	20	6-3/200	Everett (WHL)	52	35	41	76	29
83	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	21	6-0/180	Springfield (AHL)	59	6	8	14	18
84	Cullen Potter	Cgy	C	19	5-10/170	Arizona State (NCAA)	24	12	14	26	16
85	Stephen Halliday	Ott	C	23	6-4/210	Ottawa (NHL)	30	4	7	11	2
86	Marek Vanacker	Chi	LW	20	6-0/175	Brantford (OHL)	60	47	35	82	33
87	Charlie Stramel	Min	C	21	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	37	19	25	44	32
88	Alex Bump	Phi	LW	22	6-0/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	36	11	15	26	22
89	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	21	6-0/165	Coachella Valley (AHL)	49	10	24	34	12
90	Max Plante	Det	LW	20	5-11/175	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	40	25	27	52	23
91	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	22	5-10/165	Utica (AHL)	29	1	18	19	13
92	Jack Nesbitt	Phi	C	19	6-5/185	Windsor (OHL)	55	25	33	58	67
93	Mikhail Yegorov	NJ	G	20	6-5/190	Boston University (NCAA)	35	16	15	2.73	0.904
94	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	22	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	55	22	36	58	2
95	Ilya Nabokov	Col	G	23	6-0/180	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	38	22	7	2.74	0.901
96	Dean Letourneau	Bos	C	20	6-7/215	Boston College (NCAA)	36	22	17	39	22
97	Benjamin Rautiainen	TB	C	20	6-0/175	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	59	25	52	77	20
98	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	23	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	37	13	20	3.08	0.901
99	Bill Zonnon	Pit	RW	19	6-2/185	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	35	14	32	46	6
100	Riley Heidt	Min	C	21	5-10/180	Iowa (AHL)	71	8	17	25	38
101	Juraj Pekarcik	StL	LW	20	6-2/185	Springfield (AHL)	69	11	24	35	10
102	Eddie Genborg	Det	RW	19	6-2/205	Timra (SHL)	43	9	16	25	24
103	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	22	5-11/185	Laval (AHL)	58	13	20	33	28
104	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	21	6-2/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	46	6	13	19	22
105	Luca Cagnoni	SJ	D	21	5-9/180	San Jose (AHL)	67	8	35	43	22
106	Cameron Reid	Nsh	D	19	6-0/190	Kitchener (OHL)	57	15	41	56	29
107	Eric Pohlkamp	SJ	D	22	5-11/205	Denver (NCAA)	43	18	21	39	33
108	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	21	6-0/175	New Jersey (NHL)	33	2	6	8	14
109	Felix Unger Sorum	Car	RW	20	5-11/170	Chicago (AHL)	72	17	49	66	20
110	Milton Gastrin	Wsh	C	18	6-1/195	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	39	10	14	24	4
111	Carter George	LA	G	20	6-1/195	OS-Soo (OHL)	46	23	17	2.73	0.907
112	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	21	6-4/185	Calgary (NHL)	18	2	2	4	2
113	Dmitri Buchelnikov	StL	LW	22	5-10/170	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	44	14	11	25	10
114	Ryker Lee	Nsh	RW	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	15	15	30	26
115	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	21	5-11/185	Calgary (NHL)	34	2	5	7	4
116	Terik Parascak	Wsh	RW	20	6-0/180	Prince George (WHL)	61	33	46	79	53
117	EJ Emery	NYR	D	20	6-3/185	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	3	10	13	32
118	Logan Hensler	Ott	D	19	6-3/195	Wisconsin (NCAA)	23	4	8	12	20
119	Emil Hemming	Dal	RW	19	6-1/205	Barrie (OHL)	46	26	37	63	22
120	Blake Fiddler	Sea	D	18	6-5/220	Edmonton (WHL)	63	11	25	36	38
121	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	VGK	RW	19	6-3/190	Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)	36	9	14	23	12
122	Cameron Lund	SJ	C	21	6-2/195	San Jose (AHL)	37	9	16	25	12
123	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	22	6-0/175	Pittsburgh (NHL)	39	2	5	7	10
124	Artyom Duda	Uta	D	22	6-1/185	Tucson (AHL)	27	2	11	13	22
125	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	22	6-1/185	Hershey (AHL)	41	14	20	34	47
126	Gracyn Sawchyn	Fla	C	21	5-11/160	Charlotte (AHL)	35	6	17	23	12
127	Jack Ivankovic	Nsh	G	19	6-0/175	Michigan (NCAA)	35	25	8	2.15	0.921
128	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	21	5-8/160	Philadelphia (NHL)	43	5	12	17	16
129	Bryce Pickford	Mtl	D	20	6-1/185	Medicine Hat (WHL)	55	45	38	83	56
130	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	SJ	D	20	6-0/180	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	32	3	10	13	14
131	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	22	6-3/185	Coachella Valley (AHL)	35	19	10	3.13	0.901
132	Kieron Walton	Wpg	C	20	6-6/210	Sby-Pbo (OHL)	62	40	48	88	26
133	Ryan Ufko	Nsh	D	23	5-10/180	Milwaukee (AHL)	52	11	33	44	20
134	Tarin Smith	Ana	D	20	6-1/185	Everett (WHL)	65	16	55	71	98
135	Semyon Vyazovoy	Sea	G	23	6-2/170	Salavat Yulayev Ufa (Rus)	53	27	18	2.13	0.931
136	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	20	6-3/195	Rochester (AHL)	68	9	29	38	20
137	Tyson Jugnauth	Sea	D	22	5-11/170	Coachella Valley (AHL)	72	9	36	45	44
138	David Edstrom	Nsh	C	21	6-3/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	53	8	14	22	28
139	David Spacek	Min	D	23	5-11/175	Iowa (AHL)	59	7	29	36	16
140	Carl Lindbom	VGK	G	23	6-1/165	Henderson (AHL)	35	24	5	2.16	0.926
141	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	22	6-0/180	Winnipeg (NHL)	25	3	3	6	6
142	Amadeus Lombardi	Det	C	22	5-10/165	Grand Rapids (AHL)	47	16	26	42	22
143	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	21	5-11/175	Syracuse (AHL)	56	12	15	27	10
144	Henry Mews	Cgy	D	20	6-0/190	Michigan (NCAA)	10	0	9	9	6
145	Eric Nilson	Ana	C	19	6-0/165	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	3	8	11	41
146	Ben Danford	Tor	D	20	6-1/190	Osh-Bfd (OHL)	45	3	17	20	13
147	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	21	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	54	1	2	3	14
148	Henry Brzustewicz	LA	D	19	6-2/200	London (OHL)	59	19	35	54	57
149	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	22	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	48	10	19	29	56
150	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	20	6-3/200	Notre Dame (NCAA)	36	13	16	29	32
151	Luca Marrelli	CBJ	D	20	6-2/185	Cleveland (AHL)	32	4	12	16	10
152	Dylan Duke	TB	LW	23	5-10/180	Syracuse (AHL)	72	32	27	59	42
153	Jack Devine	Fla	RW	22	5-11/175	Charlotte (AHL)	63	18	25	43	57
154	Daniil Prokhorov	NYI	RW	19	6-6/220	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	23	1	0	1	2
155	William Zellers	Bos	LW	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	18	16	34	29
156	Ethan Wyttenbach	Cgy	LW	19	5-10/180	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	40	25	34	59	20
157	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	21	6-1/170	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	13	14	27	14
158	Dmitry Gamzin	NYI	G	23	6-3/175	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	40	22	10	1.49	0.938
159	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	20	6-3/205	San Jose (AHL)	69	16	19	35	45
160	Lukas Fischer	StL	D	19	6-3/180	Sar-Soo (OHL)	65	8	36	44	88
161	Semyon Frolov	Car	G	19	6-3/200	MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)	7	4	1	1.83	0.929
162	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	23	5-11/180	Providence (AHL)	57	17	25	42	51
163	Mason West	Chi	C	18	6-7/220	Fargo (USHL)	38	10	15	25	12
164	Shane Vansaghi	Phi	RW	19	6-3/210	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	4	7	11	28
165	Dominik Badinka	Car	D	20	6-3/185	Chicago (AHL)	68	6	8	14	16
166	Lucas Pettersson	Ana	C	20	6-0/175	Brynas (SHL)	41	10	10	20	0
167	Sawyer Mynio	Van	D	21	6-1/175	Abbotsford (AHL)	58	3	18	21	42
168	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	24	5-11/190	Henderson (AHL)	49	8	39	47	32
169	Quinn Hutson	Edm	RW	24	5-10/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	67	30	33	63	84
170	Vojtech Cihar	LA	LW	19	6-1/180	Kelowna (WHL)	31	12	19	31	14
171	Heikki Ruohonen	Phi	C	19	6-1/205	Harvard (NCAA)	28	6	13	19	18
172	Tristan Broz	Pit	C	23	6-0/180	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	47	16	23	39	41
173	Maksymilian Szuber	Uta	D	23	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	65	11	16	27	67
174	Kirill Kudryavtsev	Van	D	22	5-11/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	44	2	18	20	4
175	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	22	6-3/185	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	33	19	13	2.25	0.908
176	Hampton Slukynsky	LA	G	20	6-1/180	Western Michigan (NCAA)	39	27	11	2.30	0.915
177	Brennan Othmann	Cgy	LW	23	6-0/190	Hfd-Cgy (AHL)	40	9	14	23	62
178	Lasse Boelius	Ana	D	19	6-1/190	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	40	1	7	8	8
179	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	21	6-0/195	Manitoba (AHL)	65	8	8	16	18
180	Charlie Cerrato	Car	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (NCAA)	23	7	20	27	20
181	Cole McKinney	SJ	C	19	6-0/200	Michigan (NCAA)	40	8	12	20	28
182	Michal Postava	Det	G	24	6-2/205	Grand Rapids (AHL)	25	17	6	1.71	0.937
183	Justin Robidas	Car	C	23	5-8/175	Chicago (AHL)	58	23	37	60	14
184	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	22	5-10/195	Coachella Valley (AHL)	63	11	24	35	26
185	Carson Wetsch	SJ	RW	20	6-1/205	Kelowna (WHL)	65	22	50	72	80
186	Vsevolod Komarov	Buf	D	22	6-2/182	Rochester (AHL)	55	4	7	11	60
187	Dylan Roobroeck	NYR	C	21	6-6/190	Hartford (AHL)	72	11	15	26	90
188	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	21	5-9/165	Cleveland (AHL)	68	14	32	46	66
189	Tim Washe	Ana	C	24	6-3/215	Anaheim (NHL)	39	2	3	5	14
190	Aiden Fink	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/160	Penn State (NCAA)	30	10	28	38	20
191	Florian Xhekaj	Mtl	LW	21	6-2/175	Laval (AHL)	64	17	12	29	182
192	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	24	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	16	11	5	16	14
193	Brodie Ziemer	Buf	RW	20	5-11/195	Minnesota (NCAA)	36	23	13	36	26
194	Nathan Behm	Chi	RW	19	6-2/200	Kamloops (WHL)	67	38	48	86	41
195	Ivan Ryabkin	Car	C	19	5-11/205	Chicago (AHL)	31	1	9	10	60
196	Jacob Quillan	Tor	C	24	6-1/205	Toronto (NHL)	23	1	2	3	2
197	Herman Traff	Ana	RW	20	6-3/215	Oskarshamn (Allsvenskan)	51	23	18	41	32
198	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	22	6-0/190	Laval (AHL)	57	23	22	45	32
199	Sandis Vilmanis	Fla	LW	22	6-1/190	Charlotte (AHL)	48	17	21	38	26
200	Miroslav Holinka	Tor	C	20	6-1/185	Edmonton (WHL)	59	37	43	80	24

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #17

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:49:48 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 02: Rookie New York Rangers right wing Gabe Perreault (94) in action prior to the National Hockey League game between the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers on April 2, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 17th (May 2025 - 19th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: May 2025

Once pegged as a Cup contender, New York missed the postseason for the first time in four years. GM Chris Drury stayed aggressive, reacquiring J.T. Miller in a win-now move and making it clear that his focus is still on competing, not retooling. A new head coach will now be tasked with guiding the team back into the playoff picture.

The Rangers entered the 2025 draft without a first-round pick, limiting their ability to add a blue-chip talent. Their biggest splash came via trade, sending K’Andre Miller to Carolina for offensive defenseman Scott Morrow, who immediately steps in as the organization’s top prospect and a candidate to crack the NHL lineup this fall.

Coming in at a close second is Gabe Perreault, who’s fresh off signing his entry-level deal. He capped a brilliant two-year run at Boston College with 35 goals and 108 points in 73 games. While his short NHL debut didn’t produce much offensively, his creativity and scoring instincts suggest he’s not far from locking down a top six role.

Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard both earned NHL cameos this season and are knocking on the door of full-time jobs. Depth options such as Adam Sýkora, newly acquired Brendan Brisson, and goaltender Dylan Garand continue to develop in Hartford, providing additional reinforcements.

With a new and established bench boss in place and Drury extended as GM, the Rangers remain committed to winning with their current core. But after another missed opportunity, the pressure is mounting for this group to deliver—and the next wave of prospects could be key to pushing them over the top.

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Scott Morrow

Scott Morrow is one of the most talented defensive prospects in the NHL. While playing in the AHL last season with the Chicago Wolves, Morrow was a huge presence at both ends of the ice. In the offensive zone, he’s always a threat to shoot. He can beat goalies cleanly with pinpoint accuracy from the point, but he can also use his stickhandling and body positioning to fake out opposing players and find open teammates. Morrow’s game has also really matured in the defensive zone, where he can use his strong frame to tackle heavy minutes on a nightly basis against opposing teams’ top players. Now having wrapped up his first full professional season, and after an offseason trade, Morrow looks ready to make the New York Rangers as a full-time NHLer. Morrow should occupy bottom-pairing minutes to start the year, but don’t be surprised when you see Morrow become a mainstay in the Rangers’ top four. He’s just that talented.

2 - Gabe Perreault

Gabe Perreault is coming off a down year statistically…where he piled up 48 points and finished 11th in NCAA scoring. Not too much to be disappointed about there, except for the fact that he put up 60 points the year before. Perreault is very dangerous offensively thanks to his elite hockey IQ and fantastic playmaking ability, plus he had great puck skills to boot. The biggest knock on Perreault is his skating ability, which is average at best. This season, Perreault likely will develop in a top six role in the AHL while the Rangers work with him to improve his skating. If his skating remains around average, his ability should allow him to contribute in a top six capacity while particularly being a threat on the power play. If he can make strides toward improving his skating, his hockey IQ and skill set are enough that he could be a top-of-the-lineup offensive driver.

3 - Brennan Othmann

Brennan Othmann is a very talented goal scorer with a quick release. Othmann is always a threat to score when the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone, but he’s more than just a goal scorer; he’s a great playmaker who can find open teammates with little time and space. There were moments last season when Othmann looked like a player that was just too good to be playing in the AHL, and he was very deserving of his midseason call-up to the New York Rangers. With that being said, Othmann did have trouble creating consistent offence at the NHL level, but he did have very limited opportunity (mostly playing a fourth-line role). Nevertheless, Othmann’s game looks to be trending in the right direction, and he appears to be on track to have a good shot at earning a roster spot in the Rangers’ top nine this fall. The points will come as he learns to figure out the NHL game, and with a bit more opportunity, we can expect that this season.

4 - EJ Emery

Emery established himself as a physical, defence-first defenceman with solid gap control and effective stick work last season. His skating is serviceable for his size, allowing him to maintain defensive positioning and excel in net-front situations. Early reports highlighted his need to improve decision making and puck management, particularly under pressure. While he has shown flashes of strong puck movement on breakouts, inconsistency remains a concern. Emery’s strengths lie in his defensive awareness, physicality, and penalty-killing ability. He is reliable against rush attacks and uses his size to close off space. However, his limited offensive upside and inconsistent engagement in puck battles have limited his overall impact at the college level thus far. He needs further development in his puck-moving decisions and increased consistency in his defensive reads. His projection remains that of a second or third pairing NHL defenceman, best utilized in shutdown and penalty killing situations.

5 - Dylan Garand

In Dylan Garand's second year as Hartford’s starting goalie, he finally took that big jump. He’s become a top goalie in the AHL, while on a poor Hartford squad. His attention to detail is immaculate. He’s an exceptional skater, a fantastic playreader, and has phenomenal positioning. He’s a calm and reserved goalie playing deep to read and react, rather than aggressively anticipate play. Because he is generally always in position, he rarely displays his sneaky athleticism. While for the most part, his positioning is great, he could be more aggressive. At 6-foot-0, it would be better for him to try to take up more space when possible by gaining ice. While he’s always going to put himself into a position to save the puck, he isn’t necessarily covering as much net as possible. More experience should hopefully develop that area. Even being undersized, the potential of becoming a starting goalie in the NHL is high. We could likely see him in the NHL within the next two years if and when Jonathan Quick retires, allowing Garand to back up Shesterkin.

6 - Malcolm Spence

A second-round selection by the Rangers in 2025, Spence is a detail oriented, but athletic, two-way winger. His skating ability is one of his best assets, as he is explosive and quick skating downhill, allowing him to be an effective offensive player North/South. Spence is also a strong defensive player who is aggressive in puck pursuit and who has an active stick in the neutral and defensive zones. When paired with his strong skating ability, it makes Spence a reliable penalty killing option. The questions regarding Spence revolve around his offensive upside. Through three OHL seasons with the Erie Otters, Spence’s offensive game never reached the height some expected when he was drafted into the OHL second overall. That’s part of why he has altered his course and committed to the Michigan Wolverines next year. A new challenge should help to bring out the best in Spence and the college game fits his skill set well. Even in a worst-case scenario situation, Spence should be able to develop into a quality depth player for the Rangers down the line.

7 - Carey Terrance

For Terrance, it’s all about speed. His quickness is the heart and soul of his game, and it allows him to be a versatile and well-rounded two-way forward. Acquired from Anaheim in the Chris Kreider trade, Terrance’s offensive play did seem to stagnate a bit in the OHL the last few seasons. He’s not going to be a highly creative or skilled offensive contributor at the NHL level. However, he brings value because of his aforementioned versatility. He can play any forward position. He is an outstanding penalty killer. He is aggressive in getting to the net and can operate well as a forechecker, a role that helped the U.S. win gold at the most recent World Junior Championships. Turning pro this year, expect Terrance to need a few years in the AHL before he’s ready to earn a roster spot in the Big Apple. However, he has a good chance of developing into a quality bottom six contributor for the Rangers in time.

8 - Dylan Roobroeck

Dylan Roobroeck was extremely impressive for the Hartford Wolf Pack last season, especially because it was his first season in professional hockey. It was thought that Roobroeck would take more time to adapt his offence to the pro game, and that points would be more difficult to obtain now that he was playing versus men. Roobroeck ultimately proved his critics wrong and was an offensive threat for the Hartford Wolf Pack all season. With Roobroeck, it’s not just his size that allows him to get to the gritty areas to score goals; he also has nice hands and a powerful release. Roobroeck does need to continue to develop his skating at the AHL level, but the path is there for him to become a future NHL player. It’s not hard to envision Roobroeck as an effective third line forward at the NHL level, and he could even become an option as a net front presence on a second-unit power play. If not, becoming a fourth line forward is not out of the question.

9 - Drew Fortescue

After being selected in the third-round of the 2023 draft, 6-foot-2 blueliner Drew Fortescue has shown steady growth in his game. Offensively, there isn’t much to get excited about, with 19 points over two seasons, but Fortescue is a reliable pillar on the back end for Boston College. Fortescue can defend the rush well and is improving with his reads in the defensive zone, as well as getting stronger. In transition, Fortescue is also very dependable, as he moves the puck efficiently and gets it up ice quickly. The two-time World Junior gold medalist was a key shutdown piece in last year’s tournament for the United States, as he was paired with offensive dynamo Zeev Buium and logged top pair minutes. This season, he will head back to Boston College for another year in the NCAA, but down the line Fortescue could be a reliable bottom-pair NHL defender.

10 - Sean Barnhill

“Big Defenceman Fever” hit the New York Rangers again this year when they selected 6-foot-5 defenceman Sean Barnhill. He was THE defensive rock for Dubuque this past season, being both a stay-at-home defenceman and quite mobile and solid as a puck carrier. His skating and his stick-checking are major factors in the solid defence he applies to opponents. Barnhill’s advanced gap control was responsible for quelling many rushes, especially in Dubuque’s Clark Cup run. After originally committing to Northeastern, Barnhill switched his commitment to Michigan State, where he will be seen as a luxury as the biggest RHD on the Spartans roster. It will be tough to get premium minutes on a loaded back end, but Barnhill has the tools to take advantage of this opportunity in front of him.

11 - Adam Sykora

Not many players play with the amount of energy that Adam Sykora does. He’s an unrelenting, unselfish player who teammates and coaches adore. He is a hard forechecker as well as someone who plays on the penalty kill. He had 30 points in 71 games last year with Hartford, and if his point totals continue to grow modestly, he could earn a call-up as purely a fourth-line guy.

12 - Noah Laba

An underrated center prospect, Laba has done well to improve his NHL chances in recent seasons. After a freshman season where he was a -18, Laba turned it around the next season to be a +20 and point-per-game player. He has become a true two-way guy as his first AHL goal came shorthanded. He’ll get a full season in Hartford next season, where he should be instantly impactful in the top six.

13 - Jaroslav Chmelar

Chmelar is a big winger with some good offensive tools. The downside is that he isn’t defensively skilled enough for the pro level. In his first season with Hartford, he was a -37 while only scoring 30 points. He’ll need a significant amount of time in Hartford to improve defensively before he can be trusted in any role in the NHL.

14 - Nathan Aspinall

Standing at a tall 6-foot-7, Aspinall knows he is best utilized at the net front. He’ll park in front of the net using his frame to screen the goalie and his stick to get a deflection on any puck within his gigantic reach. He has a nice passing touch to complement his size, allowing him to find teammates in tight spaces. He’ll return to Flint in the OHL for his fourth year, where point production should be his main focus.

15 - Zeb Lindgren

2025 was the tale of two defencemen for Zeb Lindgren. The first half saw a defenceman who was competitive in his own zone, willing to take it himself in transition, and overall had that competitive two-way attitude. In the second half, that spark was gone. Lindgren can take big steps next year with Skellefteå if he can find ways to overcome his own mental hurdles.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #19 NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sat, 24 May 2025 12:05:34 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: New York Rangers right wing Gabe Perreault (94) skates against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers on April 7, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Subscribers can download the PDF in subscriber downloads.

Please note you can scroll through the PDF document here as well

NY Rangers 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:00:23 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann (78) skates with the puck during a preseason game between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2023 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 23rd (Previous Rank - 18th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Peter Laviolette Hired: June 2023

Chris Drury continues to push the envelope in pursuit of a Stanley Cup, but despite the high expectations, the Rangers continue to fall short of their ultimate playoff goals. As a result, the draft pick column has taken the brunt of the impact, with only nine picks over the last two drafts.

To offset the lack of draft capital, the Rangers have begun to graduate several players who are now contributing nightly. Alexis Lafrenière looks to have broken through the barrier, while Braden Schneider and Zac Jones have become regulars on the team’s defensive rotation. Will Cuylle, too, is developing smoothly into a top nine producer, having just completed his rookie year on Broadway.

Looking deeper into the future, the Rangers’ prospect pool is highlighted by Gabe Perreault, who made the top 30 in our McKeen’s rankings. The 19-year-old is currently marinating in the NCAA, coming off an explosive freshman year at Boston College with 19 goals and 60 points. Perreault has also established himself as a showstopper on the international stage.

Knocking on the NHL door is Brennan Othmann (42nd), who finished fourth in AHL rookie scoring last year with 49 points in 67 games. Additionally, Othmann got a brief taste of NHL action with four games and is expected to be one of the Rangers' primary call-up options for the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Brett Berard (229th) capped off his rookie year in Hartford with 48 points, just one shy of Othmann to finish fifth in rookie scoring.

Rounding out the organization’s remaining crop, the Rangers have three additional prospects within McKeen’s top 300. Recent first-rounder EJ Emery, slated to begin his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, occupies the 94th spot. Meanwhile, Adam Sýkora (284th) and goaltender Dylan Garand (285th) continue to develop their craft with the Wolf Pack but are still considered a few years away from NHL readiness.

In Drury’s view, it’s time to bring a Stanley Cup to Madison Square Garden, and he seems willing to do whatever it takes to get there. With only a first-round pick in the first four rounds of next year’s draft, it may take parting with a prospect or two to formulate a deal at the trade deadline.

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1. Gabe Perreault

During the run of draft coverage last year, it felt like Gabe Perreault was being undervalued as some considered him a third wheel on the NTDP’s terrific first line including Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. As the three of them carried their success over to the NCAA level with Boston College, it has become abundantly clear that Perreault should be considered a terrific NHL prospect in his own right. Not only was he one of the best players in college hockey this past year, but he played a pivotal role for the United States in their gold medal victory at the WJC’s. Perreault is just such a slick and intelligent offensive player. He elevates the play of those around him with how he can manipulate defensive coverage. He has also upgraded his strength and quickness to allow him to be more consistently dangerous, in addition to becoming a better player away from the puck. It would appear that the New York Rangers got a good one here.

2. Brennan Othmann

The Rangers have to be very happy with how Othmann’s first pro season went. He was one of Hartford’s leading scorers and best players right from puck drop last year and, as such, earned a cup of coffee with the Rangers, too. Not only did he score, but his physical approach and strong work away from the puck also transitioned seamlessly. Based on his versatile skill set, it would appear a virtual lock that Othmann becomes an NHL player in some capacity. Facing a bit of a cap crunch, one has to wonder if New York is looking at Othmann as a potential bottom six forward this season. He certainly looks ready and capable. From an upside perspective, the range of outcomes is wide. Othmann could settle into more of a complementary middle six role or he could end up becoming a high end top six forward and point producer. If he’s back in the AHL, look for him to inch closer to the point per game mark.

3. EJ Emery

One of our draft favourites at McKeen’s Hockey this year, we loved his selection by New York at the end of the first round. The size and athleticism combination on the backend makes him such an intriguing player. It really comes down to whether you believe that Emery has offensive upside. He’s not likely to ever develop into a significant point producer, however late last season we saw promising growth in his ability to use his skating to help generate scoring chances while his overall confidence with the puck improved. As is, Emery is a potential defensive workhorse with his ability to smother opposing forwards. Emery admittedly models his game after fellow Rangers defender K’Andre Miller and the hope for New York is that Emery can develop similarly. He’ll head to North Dakota this year for his freshman NCAA season.

4. Brett Berard

Berard was a pleasant surprise for the Rangers last season. Much like Othmann, Berard was terrific for Hartford as an AHL rookie. The difference being that Berard was entering his rookie season with lower expectations after his development at Providence College had appeared to plateau. Instead, he was among the AHL’s top rookie scorers, and he looks the part of a future middle six, high energy guy for New York. The diminutive forward (at 5-foot-9) plays a fearless game. He’s a very aggressive forechecker. He can kill penalties. He drives the net and battles for touches in high traffic areas. He’s not an easy player for defenders to pin down. Is the offensive upside as significant as Othmann? We would say no. However, he looks like a future fan favourite in the Big Apple who can provide a ton of versatility to the coaching staff. That could happen as early as this season if the Rangers are looking to save cap space.

5. Adam Sykora

One of the few U20 players in the AHL last season, Sykora played a checking line role for Hartford, showing flashes of NHL potential. He was drafted with the mantra of being a real “lunch pail” type of player; someone who could do the dirty work on a scoring line and who could be a solid complementary piece in the middle six. Known for his physicality as a draft eligible player in Slovakia, Sykora just wasn’t strong enough or quick enough yet to be just that in the AHL last season. One has to wonder if he would have been better off playing in the CHL as a 20-year-old to help him gain confidence in his offensive abilities. All that said, it’s important to note Sykora’s age when analyzing his offensive production and overall confidence level in the AHL. He’s still a ways away from being an NHL player, but he also still possesses great upside as a high end third line player who can develop into a terrific two-way forward.

6. Dylan Garand

In 2022, Garand was on top of the world. He helped Canada capture a gold medal at the WJC and he was the CHL’s goaltender of the year. Two seasons ago, there were bumps along the road in his first pro season with Hartford, but optimism remained high. Last year, it would be tough to argue that Garand was that much better as a sophomore. Stagnation is never a great sign. Garand is a great play tracker and very technically sound, but is he athletic enough to make a true difference at the pro level given his lack of size? When you look at the smaller netminders excelling today like Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi, they are all exceptional athletes. At this point, Garand needs to do a better job of fighting through traffic to make saves and challenging shooters more aggressively to help him overcome his size deficit. His play in the AHL playoffs showed promise and he’s still the team’s top option in net for the future, but the 2024-25 season will be a big one for his development.

7. Noah Laba

Laba was one of the most improved players in the Rangers’ system this past year after earning a Hobey Baker nomination with Colorado College. He was good as a freshman two years ago, but this past year he carried Colorado College to 20 wins and a top ranking. They ended up barely missing out on earning a spot in the Frozen Four tournament, but the season was a massive success as CC finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Laba is your prototypical, hard working, two-way center. He has good size and length. He skates well. He brings a physical element. He shows great awareness in all three zones. Laba will return to Colorado College for his junior year and this is a great thing for his development. The Rangers will be looking for another jump in production from him as the talent around him improves. He looks like a future middle six candidate.

8. Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson and the Rangers are about to arrive at a crossroads. At this point in his development, after three pro seasons, Robertson is what he is. The offensive game was never going to be his calling card. However, Robertson excels in the defensive end as a physical, shut down type. Next season, Robertson is going to require waivers in order to be sent to Hartford, but after three AHL seasons, he has yet to play a single NHL game as a call-up. Is he ready? That’s a question that will be answered at this season’s training camp where New York will give him a shot to earn a role on the team’s third pairing or as the team’s seventh defender. Can he keep up with the pace of NHL forwards and not be a liability with the puck in the face of an NHL forecheck? As a former high pick who has played decently well as a pro, he should remain fairly highly regarded; he is still a potentially solid #4 who can work well with a more offensively oriented rearguard.

9. Drew Fortescue

It ended up being a terrific post draft year for Fortescue, following former NTDP teammate Gabe Perreault to Boston College. Fortescue ended up playing a key defensive role for BC as a freshman, while also helping the U.S. capture gold at the World Junior Championships. The strong skating, 6-foot-2 defender plays a steady, mature game in the defensive end. His transitional defence is excellent because of his footwork, and he’s worked hard to bulk up to make himself more difficult to play against. At times, his play with the puck and overall decision making can leave some to be desired. He’s going to need to work on his exits and his ability to handle the forecheck, but should that happen, Fortescue has the skill set to become a dependable #4-5 defender for the Rangers in the future. Just don’t expect him any time soon, as he likely spends another couple years in college to help him improve his two-way game and confidence.

10. Bryce McConnell-Barker

The Soo Greyhounds had a really strong season in the OHL last year. You would have figured that would have correlated with BMB (as he’s affectionately known) having a great year individually. That wasn’t really the case as we saw other Greyhounds step up and overtake him in terms of making a consistent impact. McConnell-Barker is still a solid NHL prospect because of his shot/scoring potential, solid skating base, and developing two-way instincts. However, there is concern that his development has plateaued a bit after he failed to crack the point per game mark as a 20-year-old in the CHL, often times the kiss of death for a player’s NHL upside. McConnell-Barker still needs to develop that killer instinct that would take his game to another level. His physical intensity can waver and in order to be an impact pro, that will need to improve. He will turn pro this year with Hartford and will likely be brought along slowly given Hartford’s depth.

11. Matthew Rempe

Is there an NHL prospect who made more headlines last year than Matt Rempe? The big winger took the NHL by storm thanks to his physicality and pugilist activities. Rempe will never be known for his offensive abilities. However, he impressed at times with his energy and work off the puck as part of New York’s fourth line. Is his play sustainable or is he a flash in the pan because of how often he has been fighting? That remains to be seen.

12. Ryder Korczak

Korczak, a crafty, playmaking pivot is coming off his first pro season with Hartford. He played a depth role for the Wolf Pack, helping him adjust to the pace of the pro game. Korczak isn’t the biggest guy in the world, so the focus for him needs to be on bulking up so that he can find greater consistency. The Rangers will be looking for him to take on a larger offensive role with Hartford this coming season.

13. Dylan Roobroeck

The hulking pivot had a breakthrough season with the Oshawa Generals last year, helping them reach the OHL finals. He’s a strong two-way forward because of his length and physicality. Roobroeck also excels at the faceoff circle and should stick down the middle. He’ll turn pro this year with Hartford and the Rangers should gain a better understanding of his offensive upside at that time.

14. Jaroslav Chmelar

Another big forward, Chmelar has turned pro after two years at Providence College. While Chmelar’s offensive production as a sophomore was disappointing, he performed well in the AHL playoffs for Hartford after signing late last year, giving hope that he can develop into a future NHL player.

15. Raoul Boilard

A fourth-round selection by the Rangers in 2024, Boilard is a raw, toolsy pivot that we had ranked in the late second round. Consistency has been an issue, especially in terms of his off-puck involvement, however Boilard has solid offensive upside as a middle six, playmaking center.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:00:54 +0000

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 12: Boston College forward Gabe Perreault (34) eyes a face off during the Beanpot Consolation game between Boston College and Harvard on February 12, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The Presidents Trophy winner with the best record in the NHL, the Rangers remain right in the heart of their window to win the cup. As of this writing the team has fallen to Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference final. After two seasons of being aggressive buyers at the deadline, Chris Drury decided to not mess with a winning formula. He added Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko in 2023, only to bow out in the first-round last year. Largely the same veteran cast is returned for the playoffs, and cap space will continue to be an issue. Therefore, the importance of moving prospects into the line-up becomes that much more important.

The Rangers have had some success in graduating prospects in recent years. This season Braden Schneider, William Cuylle and Zac Jones joined Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko from the last five drafts playing in the lineup. They have largely held onto the first-round picks over the years and nabbed another good one in Gabe Perreault at 19th overall last year. He is currently ranked 19th overall in McKeen’s top 200 list. He is followed closely by Brennan Othmann at 26th overall. While Perreault is still a year away or more, Othmann could be ready now. If a vet is traded for cap space, the infusion of low-priced young blood will help keep the window open a little longer. The emergence of the 2020 first overall pick, Alexis LaFreniere, as a top six threat was exactly what the Rangers needed. He is an RFA following this season, while Kakko is an RFA this year. Having had more muted success, he may look for bigger money down the road and bridge. The roster boasts an impressive balance of vets and emerging youth, which includes Filip Chytil (24-years old). The Rangers are hoping it is the recipe for success as soon as this year.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Gabe Perreault	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	`23(23rd)	36	19	41	60	29
2	Brennan Othmann	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(16th)	67	21	28	49	65
3	Matthew Robertson	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	`19(49th)	68	4	17	21	49
4	Brett Berard	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`20(134th)	71	25	23	48	62
5	Adam Sykora	RW	19	5-10/170	Hartford (AHL)	`22(63rd)	66	8	15	23	4
6	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	19	6-1/195	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	`22(97th)	52	22	29	51	22
7	Dylan Garand	G	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`20(103rd)	39	16	17	3.03	0.898
8	Drew Fortescue	D	19	6-1/175	Boston College (HE)	`23(90th)	40	4	4	8	36
9	Noah Laba	C	20	6-2/190	Colorado College (NCHC)	`22(111th)	36	20	17	37	27
10	Matthew Rempe	C	21	6-8/235	Hartford (AHL)	`20(165th)	43	8	4	12	96
					NY Rangers (NHL)	`20(165th)	17	1	1	2	71
11	Ryder Korczak	C	21	5-11/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(75th)	67	9	11	20	28
12	Karl Henriksson	C	23	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`19(58th)	64	11	12	23	12
13	Dylan Roobroeck	C	19	6-6/190	Oshawa (OHL)	`23(178th)	68	26	46	72	101
14	Brandon Scanlin	D	24	6-4/215	Hartford (AHL)	FA(3/22)	64	8	8	16	39
15	Olof Lindbom	G	23	6-2/185	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`18(39th)	29	10	15	3.56	0.884

1. Gabe Perreault, RW, Boston College (NCAA)

During the run of draft coverage last year, it felt like Gabe Perreault was being undervalued as some considered him a third wheel on the NTDP’s terrific first line including Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. As the three of them have carried their success over to the NCAA level with Boston College, it has become abundantly clear that Perreault should be considered a terrific NHL prospect in his own right. Not only was he one of the best players in college hockey this year, but he played a pivotal role for the United States in their gold medal victory at the WJC’s. He is just such a slick and intelligent offensive player. He elevates the play of those around him with how he can manipulate defensive coverage. He has also upgraded his strength and quickness to allow him to be more consistently dangerous, in addition to becoming a better player away from the puck. It would appear that the Rangers got a good one here.

2. Brennan Othmann, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

The Rangers have to be very happy with how Othmann’s first pro season went. He’s been one of Hartford’s leading scorers and best players right from puck drop this year and, as such, has earned a cup of coffee with the Rangers too. Not only has he been scoring, but his physical approach and strong work away from the puck have also transitioned seamlessly. Based on his versatile skill set, it would appear a virtual lock that he becomes an NHL player in some capacity. Facing a bit of a cap crunch thanks to some high profile RFA’s, one has to wonder if New York trades off a veteran forward or two in order to make room for Othmann as a top nine forward next season. He certainly looks ready and capable. From an upside perspective, the range of outcomes is wide. He could settle into more of a complementary middle six role, or he could end up becoming a high-end top six forward and point producer.

3. Matthew Robertson, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Matthew Robertson and the Rangers are about to arrive at a crossroads. At this point in his development, after three pro seasons, he is what he is. The offensive game was never going to be his calling card. However, he does excel in the defensive end as a physical, shut down type. Next season, it will require waivers to be sent to Hartford, yet after three AHL seasons, he has yet to play a single NHL game. Is he ready? That’s a question that will be answered at next season’s training camp where he will have a shot at a role on the team’s third pairing or as a seventh defender. Can he keep up with the pace of NHL forwards and not be a liability with the puck in the face of an NHL forecheck? As a former high pick who has played fairly well as a pro, he should remain fairly highly regarded; he is still a potentially solid #4 who can work well with a more offensively oriented rearguard.

4. Brett Berard, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Brett Berard has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers this season. Much like Othmann, he has been terrific for Hartford as an AHL rookie. The difference being that Berard was entering his rookie season with lower expectations after his development at Providence College had appeared to have plateaued. Instead, he’s been among the AHL’s top rookie scorers, and he looks the part of a future middle six, high energy guy for New York. The diminutive forward (at 5’ 9”) plays a fearless game. He’s a very aggressive forechecker. He can kill penalties. He drives the net and battles for touches in high traffic areas. He’s not an easy player for defenders to pin down. Is the offensive upside as significant as Othmann? We would say no. However, he looks like a future fan favourite in the Big Apple who can provide a ton of versatility to the coaching staff. That could happen as early as next season if the Rangers are looking to save cap space.

5. Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

One of the few U20 players in the AHL this season, Sykora has played a checking line role for Hartford, showing flashes of NHL potential. He was drafted with the mantra of being a real “lunch pail” type of player; someone who could do the dirty work on a scoring line and who could be a solid complementary piece in the middle six. Known for his physicality as a draft eligible player in Slovakia, he just wasn’t strong enough or quick enough yet to be just that in the AHL this season. One has to wonder if he would have been better off playing in the CHL as a 20-year-old to help him gain confidence in his offensive abilities. All that said, it’s important to note his age when analyzing his offensive production and overall confidence level in the AHL. He’s still a ways away from being an NHL player, but he also still possesses great upside as a high end third line player who can develop into a terrific two-way forward.

6. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The Soo Greyhounds had a really strong season in the OHL this year. You would have figured that would have correlated with BMB (as he’s affectionately known) having a great year individually. That wasn’t really the case as we saw other Greyhounds step up and overtake him in terms of making a consistent impact. McConnell-Barker is still a solid NHL prospect because of his shot/scoring potential, solid skating base, and developing two-way instincts. However, there is concern that his development has plateaued a bit after he failed to crack the point per game mark as a 20-year-old in the CHL, often times the kiss of death for a player’s NHL upside. He still needs to develop that killer instinct that would take his game to another level. His physical intensity can waver and in order to be an impact pro, that will need to improve. He will turn pro next year with Hartford and will likely be brought along slowly given their depth.

7. Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

In 2022, Dylan Garand was on top of the world. He helped Canada capture a gold medal at the WJC and he was the CHL’s goaltender of the year. Last season, there were bumps along the road in his first pro season with Hartford, but optimism remained high. This year, it would be tough to argue that Garand was that much better as a sophomore. Stagnation is never a great sign. He is a great play tracker and very technically sound, but is he athletic enough to be a true difference at the pro level given his lack of size? When you look at the smaller netminders excelling today like Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi, they are all exceptional athletes. At this point, Garand needs to do a better job of fighting through traffic to make saves and challenging shooters more aggressively to help him overcome his size deficit. He’s still the team’s top option in net for the future, but the 2024-25 season will be a big one for his development.

8. Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

It ended up being a terrific post draft year for Drew Fortescue, following former NTDP teammate Gabe Perreault to Boston College. Fortescue ended up playing a key defensive role for BC as a freshman, also helping the U.S. capture gold at the World Junior Championships. The strong skating, 6’ 2” defender plays a steady, mature game in the defensive zone. His transitional defense is excellent because of his footwork, and he’s worked hard to bulk up to make himself more difficult to play against. At times, his play with the puck and overall decision making can leave something to be desired. He’s going to need to work on his exits and his ability to handle the forecheck, but should that happen, Fortescue has the skill set to become a dependable #4-5 defender for the Rangers in the future. Just don’t expect him any time soon, as he likely spends another couple years in college to help him improve his two-way game and confidence.

9. Noah Laba, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

Laba was one of the most improved players in the Rangers’ system this year after earning a Hobey Baker nomination with Colorado College. He was good as a freshman two years ago, but this year he carried Colorado College to 20 wins and a top ranking. They ended up barely missing out on earning a spot in the Frozen Four tournament, but the season was a massive success as CC finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Laba is your prototypical, hardworking, two-way center. He has good size and length. He skates well. He brings a physical element. He shows great awareness in all three zones. It would appear that Laba will return to Colorado College for his junior year, and this is a great thing for his development. The Rangers will be looking for another jump in production from him as the talent around him improves. He looks like a future middle six candidate.

10. Matthew Rempe, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Is there an NHL prospect who has made more headlines this year than Matt Rempe? The big winger has taken the NHL by storm thanks to his physicality and pugilistic activities. Now in his second year of pro hockey after a junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Rempe will never be known for his offensive abilities. His skill set is limited to work near the net, although he has the potential to be a near immovable object from that area with his 6’ 8”, 240 lbs frame. However, he has impressed at times with his energy and work off the puck as part of New York’s fourth line since a call up. Is his play sustainable or is he a flash in the pan because of how often he has been fighting? That remains to be seen. At the very least, he has shown himself to be an intriguing prospect who could have a long career in a depth role, on top of being a fan favourite in the Big Apple.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Coyle thriving in Boston – Rakell emerging from brutal slump – Lyon is king of the crease in Detroit – Kings call up their top prospect and much, much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 20:51:03 +0000

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 04: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) starts up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 4, 2024, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dive into the numbers to help make decisions when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Charlie Coyle is thriving in Boston, Rickard Rakell is emerging from a brutal slump, Alex Lyon is king of the crease in Detroit, the Kings call up their top prospect and much, much more!

#1 One of the more surprising developments of this season has been the production that the Boston Bruins have received from their centres in the wake of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retiring. Charlie Coyle, for example, has exceeded 50 points in a season once in his career and it happened in 2016-2017 when he played for the Minnesota Wild. He has seven points (3 G, 4 A) during a five-game point streak, giving him 28 points (134 G, 15 A) in 37 games. Coyle has a good thing going with linemates Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk. DeBrusk also has a five-game point streak, during which he has scored seven points (3 G, 4 A) and Marchand has eight points (2 G, 6 A) in his past six contests.

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell endured a miserable start to the season, going 19 games without a goal, despite putting 48 shots on net. Since then, Rakell has started to come around, putting up seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 18 shots on goal in the past six games. He has been moved up to the top line, with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, as well as holding down a spot on Pittsburgh’s top power play unit.

#3 When the Detroit Red Wings signed Alex Lyon as a free agent, it appeared that he would be a strong No. 3 option behind Ville Husso and James Reimer. Given the performance of Husso and Reimer, however, Lyon has now claimed the starting job. After stopping 40 of 43 shots in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win at Los Angeles, Lyon has a .919 save percentage in 11 games. A 31-year-old who had made 31 career NHL starts prior to this season Lyon’s performance has earned him his place in the Red Wings crease. His track record can make it uneasy to put too much weight on Lyon’s performance, but if you need a goaltender, adding one that has performed well in a small sample is preferable to those that have struggled in a larger sample and it seems that there are a lot of candidates from the latter category.

#4 Veteran winger Gustav Nyquist remains quietly productive. Now on his fifth team, the Nashville Predators, Nyquist has 10 points (4 G, 6 A) during a seven-game point streak, making the most of his opportunity to skate on the top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly. Since the start of last season, Nyquist has 57 points in 90 games. His 0.63 points per game in that time is the same as Matty Beniers, Phillip Danault, David Perron, and more.

#5 After putting up a goal and an assist in Thursday’s 6-1 rout at Montreal, Buffalo Sabres centre Casey Mittelstadt is riding a hot streak. In his past nine games, the 25-year-old pivot has produced 11 points (5 G, 6 A) with 16 shots on goal. Although he is skating between Jordan Greenway and rookie Zach Benson at even strength, Mittelstadt is still getting top unit power play time and has scored 30 of his 33 points this season at even strength.

#6 The Los Angeles Kings have called up defenceman Brandt Clarke from Ontario of the American Hockey League. Clarke was the eighth overall pick in the 2021 Draft and played nine games for the Kings in 2022-2023 before he was returned to junior. That season, between regular season and playoffs, he compiled 84 points (30 G, 54 A) in just 43 games for Barrie. The 20-year-old right shot defenceman has put up 32 points (7 G, 25 A) in 30 games in the AHL this season, so he is one of the most exciting prospects in the game and it looks like he is going to get his chance soon with the Kings. In dynasty leagues, he is already super valuable, but Clarke might be worth a look in deeper redraft leagues, too. It will depend on how big his role is on the Los Angeles power play.

#7 Clarke’s U16 AAA teammate with the Don Mills Flyers (where they played with Seattle Kraken prospect Shayne Wright), Brennan Othmann, has just been promoted to the NHL by the New York Rangers. Othmann was the 16^th pick in the 2021 Draft and the rangy winger produced 23 points (9 G, 14 A) in 28 games for Hartford in the AHL to earn his call up. With injuries hitting the Rangers forward ranks – Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, and Tyler Pitlick are all out of the lineup – the door was opened for Othmann to make his NHL debut, skating on the fourth line with Nick Bonino and Jonny Brodzinski. Othmann does not have as much immediate appeal as Clarke, so he is more a player to keep an eye on for the future, when he might find a spot higher on the depth chart.

#8 A 27-year-old winger who has never recorded more than 30 points in an NHL season, Warren Foegele has moved up to play with Leon Draisaitl and he dropped a five-point game on the Anaheim Ducks on New Year’s Eve. Foegele has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and, importantly, 17 shots on goal in his past five games. As long as he is getting ice time in Edmonton’s top six, Foegele has fantasy value, but it is also a precarious situation – the moment that Kris Knoblauch removes Foegele from that spot, his fantasy appeal becomes very limited.

#9 Moving up to left wing with Draisaitl, Ryan McLeod has typically been a checking centre for most of his time in Edmonton, but is getting a greater offensive opportunity and has suddenly produced eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 11 shots on goal in his past six games. Like Foegele, McLeod’s value may be closely tied to his role, and having the chance to play with a premier playmaker like Draisaitl, but in the short term it does give him more fantasy value than he has had to this point in his career.

#10 Known more for his sound defensive play, Vancouver Canucks centre Pius Suter is adding some offensive pop to his play, contributing seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 13 shots on goal in his past seven games. The recent opportunity to slide up the depth chart and skate on the wing with highly-skilled forwards like J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser raises Suter’s offensive ceiling and should put him on the radar for fantasy managers.

#11 After struggling in 2022-2023, his first season in Dallas, power forward Mason Marchment has found his form this season while skating on a line with veterans Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin. Marchment had a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on New Year’s Eve and has eight points (4 G, 4 A) in the past three games. It is remarkable that Marchment is producing more this season because he is playing a minute per game less than last season and his shot rate is down from 2.18 per game to 1.89 per game. The big difference is that Marchment is scoring on 18.6 percent of his shots after scoring on just 8.1 percent last season.

#12 While his name has landed in recent trade rumors, Carolina Hurricanes winger Michael Bunting has not been hurting his value any, contributing nine points (3 G, 6 A) with 20 shots on goal in his past nine games. While he is skating with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas at even strength, Bunting is on Carolina’s top power play unit, so six of those nine points have come via the power play. If he does get traded, that may not hurt Bunting’s value too much, as any team that acquires him would presumably like him to do what he does best, agitate the opposition and get to the front of the net as often as possible.

#13 Although he does not score a ton, New York Islanders defenceman Alexander Romanov is contributing in peripheral fantasy categories, especially as he takes on more ice time while several of his fellow Islanders defencemen are injured. In the past 10 games, Romanov has four points (2 G, 2 A) but also has 16 hits and 29 blocked shots while playing more than 23 minutes per game. That is not going to give him universal appeal, but to fill hits, blocked shots, and time on ice categories, Romanov has worked his way into fantasy relevance.

#14 San Jose Sharks defenceman Mario Ferraro brings similar value. He does have six assists in his past seven games, which is a sudden offensive surge, but he has 19 blocked shots in those seven games. Ferraro played more than 21 minutes in six of those seven games, with the only exception coming against Colorado on New Year’s Eve when he suffered an upper-body injury after getting hit by Nathan MacKinnon and left the game early. Even so, Ferraro was recovered enough to eat minutes and block shots in San Jose’s next game.

#15 Known more for his physical play, which includes leading his team with 15 fights over the past three seasons, Bruins centre Trent Frederic is starting to contribute on the scoreboard, too. Frederic has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his past six games. While he only has nine shots on goal in that time, Frederic has recorded 12 hits, which elevates him into being worthy of fantasy consideration in deep or banger leagues. His offensive upside is not huge, but he is scoring enough right now to at least warrant fantasy consideration.

#16 Versatile veteran forward Vladislav Namestnikov started the season on Winnipeg’s fourth line but has found himself playing higher on the depth chart, often centering the Jets’ second line. In his past 21 games, Namestnikov has quietly produced 16 points (3 G, 13 A), though it has come with just 20 shots on goal. Nevertheless, in deep leagues that production makes Namestnikov intriguing, especially if he can fill a position on the wing for fantasy managers.

#17 With Wild starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury, 39-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury is going to see more consistent action in the Minnesota net. Fleury has a .896 save percentage in 15 games this season. That would match his 21-game stint in 2003-2004 for his lowest save percentage in an NHL season. He does have a .918 save percentage in his eight appearances since the beginning of December, so that is moving in the right direction, and getting more consistent starts will at least offer value for fantasy managers.

#18 Having demoted Akira Schmid to the American Hockey League, the New Jersey Devils have turned to 23-year-old netminder Nico Daws in goal. He has won his first two starts of the season for the Devils, managing a respectable .906 save percentage. Daws had offseason hip surgery so he only appeared in three games for the Utica Devils, posting a .929 save percentage, before he got the call to the NHL. That was probably not the original plan for the young goaltender’s development but the struggles of Schmid and Vitek Vanecek forced the Devils to be more aggressive about trying to solve their goaltending woes.

#19 Buffalo Sabres winger J.J. Peterka might be an interesting buy-low candidate as he has gone 10 games without a goal. He does have five assists and 26 shots on goal in that stretch, though, so the 21-year-old is still creating chances and is likely to break through soon. Even though he fills a secondary scoring role in Buffalo, Peterka is on a line with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, a line of talented young players that should not be held down for long.

#20 On the other hand, it might be time to let Pierre-Luc Dubois, so that he can experience the fantasy waiver wire. Even after chipping in a couple of helpers for the Los Angeles Kings in Thursday’s win over Detroit, Dubois has just five points (2 G, 3 A) in his past 16 games, which is abysmal fantasy production, particularly from a player who tallied a career-high 63 points (27 G, 36 A) in Winnipeg last season. The Kings have put Adrian Kempe on the wing with Dubois, and maybe that will jumpstart the centre’s offensive production, but it is getting surprisingly easy to find more productive options on the waiver wire.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:43 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann (78) skates with the puck during a preseason game between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2023 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 New York Rangers Prospects

1. Brennan Othmann

With the game on the line, there are not many prospects that you’d rather have on the ice. Othmann seems to shine when his team is in the thick of things, stepping up his game to the occasion. Selected 16th overall in 2021, he was coming off a season overseas with EHC Olten in the Swiss League, while also winning an Under 18’s gold medal with Canada. The next season, returning to the OHL as the captain of the Flint Firebirds, he popped off with a 97-point performance. He also helped Canada to a World Juniors gold medal - his first of two consecutive golds at the prestigious tournament. His production slowed last year, but there’s no call for panic with the prospect. Othmann has one of the best shots of any prospect, has high-end offensive awareness, and brings a physical presence to the ice. He has top six potential and should be a fan favourite.

2. Zac Jones

It feels like Jones has been around forever with the Rangers. He was drafted in 2019, 68th overall, out of the USHL Tri-City Storm. With the Storm, he was named Rookie of the Year, led all defensemen in assists (45), and was named to the Second All-Star Team. He then jumped to the NCAA with UMass the following season, where he spent two years before turning pro. In his sophomore season, he helped the team to an NCAA title, while being named to the All-Tournament team. He also dressed for Team USA at the World Championship, winning a bronze medal. He signed with the Rangers after that title run and has been on the cusp of breaking into the NHL ever since. Jones is a strong quarterback, leading play from his own end. He’s a very intelligent player that will translate very well to the NHL and should be a successful top four defender.

3. Gabe Perreault

Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel. Just a few of the names that Perreault passed this year as he broke the single season point record as part of the USNTDP U18 team. An average-sized forward without elite physical tools, Perreault is not a dynamic skater. A lack of high-end agility and edgework can limit his ability to evade pressure and work between the hash marks. As his draft year progressed, he underwent a transformation becoming significantly more assertive and finding ways to fight through contact to become less of a perimeter player. Additionally, as you might expect as the son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault, Gabe has high end awareness and vision. His IQ grade was among the highest of any player eligible in 2023. Headed to Boston College with his NTDP linemates (Will Smith and Ryan Leonard), he will be given lots of time to develop physically before he turns pro. He will likely need it too. He can ultimately be a strong complementary scoring line piece with the right physical development.

4. Will Cuylle

It’s been a steady rise for the Rangers’ 60th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft since hearing his name called. He had to make the jump to the AHL during the OHL-cancelled season. He played well at the higher level, but didn’t impact the play too much. He returned to the OHL as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires in 2021-22, putting up an 80-point performance and adding another 31 points in the playoffs. That was enough for the Rangers, who brought him back up to the Hartford Wolf Pack where he has since been the team’s top scorer. Cuylle has an excellent shot and loves to make things happen, always seeming to get involved in the play. He’s strong and knows how to use his strength, which should help him become an impactful third liner in the NHL. He saw some games last season and shouldn’t be too far off now from earning a permanent NHL roster spot.

5. Matthew Robertson

Drafted 49th overall in 2019, Robertson has always been a consistent, reliable defender. His development has then followed suit, steadily rising since his time with the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings. His production steadily rose, and the Rangers bet on that continuing when they called his name. In 2021-22, he made the jump to the AHL and that steady upwards trend has continued. The question will be how high he can continue to rise and where will he flatten out. A sturdy defender who moves well, especially for his 6 -4” height. He can chip in offensively, showing that he knows when to creep up into the play in the offensive zone. Robertson keeps an active stick and does well at breaking plays up. There isn’t anything that screams NHL, but his lack of glaring holes is interesting as well. Unless he surprises, he’s likely en route to a role as a depth defender.

6. Adam Sykora

One of many exciting Slovak prospects in the 2022 Draft-class, the Rangers called Sykora’s name 63rd overall. He had spent the better part of the past two seasons with HK Nitra in the top Slovak professional league, steadily raising his stock each season. His 2021-22 season also impressed at the international level, dressing for Slovakia in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, D1A U18s, WJC, and the World Championships. Sykora is a hard-working prospect, who you can never count out of a play. His hands also stand out, as he seems to catch every puck that comes near him. He could be plugged anywhere into the lineup, in any situation, and you’d be more than happy with his play. He likely carves out a comfortable role for himself as a third liner but could outperform that given his drive.

7. Dylan Garand

It seems to be a quiet fact that Garand is one of the top goaltending prospects out there right now. After a successful WHL career capped off by a dominant final season that saw him win both WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year awards, he has now made the jump to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. A quick glance at his numbers would make it seem like he struggled to adjust, but if you watch him you wouldn’t think that’s the case. He’s an athletic netminder who plays a great technical game, and his positioning is usually excellent. Garand is a calm presence behind a group of players that love his attitude and love playing in front of him, and that’s something that will influence his continued progress. As with most goalies, there’s no rush here and the Rangers can be patient with him in the AHL.

8. Bryce McConnell-Barker

McConnell-Barker headed into his OHL rookie campaign only to have the entire season shut down due to the pandemic. He came into 2021-22, his new rookie season as well as his draft year, and had to get quickly back up to speed. He had a good season but didn’t overly impress and went from a prospect once considered a first rounder to being selected 97th overall. Last season, however, he was named team captain and took a massive step forward. The Rangers noticed this, and rewarded him with an entry-level deal. He has a good wrist shot and plays a very smart, relatively mistake-free game. There’s nothing elite to his game that will carry him forward, but his consistency could see him rise to a bottom six or depth piece.

9. Brett Berard

The players that never quit, always battle hard, and seem to be involved in every play seem to make it more often than not, and Berard falls into that category. After being drafted 134th overall in 2020 from the USNTDP, the winger moved to NCAA Providence College. It took him a season to adjust, but he got very comfortable in 2021-22, being named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team. His production dipped a bit in 2022-23, but the Rangers had seen enough, signing him to his first NHL contract and bringing him up to the AHL. He’s on the smaller side at 5- 9”, but he always has his foot on the gas and has a deceptive amount of skill. His small-area game and ability to win puck battles stands out, as he ends up with the puck far more often than you would otherwise expect. Look for him to carve out a bottom six role in the NHL.

10. Ryder Korczak

Selected 75th overall in the 2021 Draft, Korczak seemed like he was going to steal an AHL roster spot to start the year but couldn’t find his footing and was ultimately sent back to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors where he had a very strong season. In his last season in the league, he stood out as a leader on the team while having great production. His shot really took a step forward as well, as he looked much more comfortable shooting rather than his usual pass-first tendency. He does well at driving the play into the offensive zone and found success on the power play last season. His ceiling isn’t overly high and probably ends up as a depth forward but could be a player always in the conversation to earn a spot at the start of the season.

11. Ty Emberson

A right shot defender with a physical edge, Emberson emerged as one of Hartford’s best blueliners last season. Acquired from Arizona, he has pushed himself close to the top of the Rangers’ call up options and is firmly in their future plans.

12. Drew Fortescue

One of the most improved players on the USNTDP last season, Fortescue parlayed his improved play into a third-round selection. The mobility is a standout quality, but how the rest of his game comes together at Boston College remains a bit of a mystery.

13. Noah Laba

The tenacious two-way center had a great freshman year for Colorado College and subsequently earned a spot on the United States’ world junior team. Laba is a potential third- or fourth-line center for the Rangers after a few more years in College.

14. Bobby Trivigno

A former standout with UMass and a Hobey Baker nominee, Trivigno’s first pro season in Hartford was a disappointment. His lack of size and strength really appeared to hinder his production. Can he improve in his second year?

15. Karl Henriksson

Henriksson does a lot of things well, but one can’t help but wonder if his development has stalled. He showed flashes of effectiveness as a two-way playmaker last year as an AHL rookie, but at his size, what’s the upside?

16. Maxim Barbashev

The younger brother of Vegas standout Ivan Barbashev, Maxim brings a lot of the same things to the table. As he returns to Moncton for his OA year, the focus needs to be on improving his skating.

17. Jaroslav Chmelar

Thus far, Chmelar is the kind of player whose production has yet to match the eye test and his assumed potential. The big winger is plenty skilled and he was apparently a standout at the Rangers development camp, however more will be expected from him at as a sophomore with Providence College.

18. Brandon Scanlin

A free agent signing out of Nebraska-Omaha, Scanlin was adequate as an AHL rookie for Hartford last year. However, the Rangers’ system is quickly getting crowded with similar types of defenders. Can Scanlin pass any on the depth chart?

19. Adam Edstrom

An unmovable object near the crease thanks to his humongous frame, the question will ultimately be, can Edstrom skate well enough to keep pace at the pro level in North America? He will be an AHL rookie with Hartford this season.

20. Lauri Pajuniemi

The Rangers will retain Pajuniemi’s rights as he leaves for the SHL this season. His offensive abilities never truly translated to the AHL level and the Rangers’ pro depth certainly played a role in blocking him. Not a complete write off yet, but close.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK: FANTASY PROSPECT RANKINGS – Top 30 Forwards – Top 20 Defense – top 10 Goalies

Peter Harling — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:10:17 +0000

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers that read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players that can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects that have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect, skaters must be under 26-years-old, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Not much debate to be had here. If you put Bedard in any other draft class from the past ten years, the only time he does not go first overall is the Connor McDavid Draft. Bedard is simply a generational talent that will kick down the front door of the NHL and take the league by storm. To expect him to be a point per game player as a rookie is not out of the question, he could even push for a 90-point year. The sky is the limit.

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

It was looking like Cooley was returning to the NCAA for his sophomore season, but after scoring 60 points as a freshman (second overall in scoring) and little left to gain from a second season, the Coyotes signed him to his ELC. Now that he is show bound, he locks up second forward rank position as the future of the Coyotes. Cooley is a dynamic offensive and highly skilled player that should flirt with 60 points as a rookie and has the upside to be a 90-point player when he hits his prime.

Adam Fantilli, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantilli lead the NCAA in scoring as a freshman which puts him in a class with Jack Eichel and Paul Kariya. He will have the opportunity to center dynamic offensive wingers like Patrik Laine or Johnny Gaudreau or both in Columbus. Fantilli brings the whole package, size, skating, skill, smarts and will deliver in fantasy leagues with points and peripheral stats as well. He could easily have landed second overall on this list.

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

In five years when we revisit this I would not be surprised if Michkov is the second overall player ranked, but the reasons why he is only fourth have more to do with term. Signed in the KHL for three more seasons we will have to wait on Michkov, but when he comes over as a matured 21-year-old on a three-year ELC he will be the best bang for his buck in dynasty capped leagues.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 06: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) skates with the puck during the NHL game between Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins on January 6, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire)

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

Rossi suffered a major setback in his development with a life-threatening bout with COVID. But he now has had two seasons of development in the AHL and after 116 games he has posted 104 points. His NHL production has not materialized through 21 games to date but count on that changing in a big way this year. Rossi is expected to take over the number one spot in Minnesota and if he develops some Chemistry between Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, look out!

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks surprised a lot of people when they selected Carlsson over Fantilli at the second overall selection at the 2023 Draft. The fact of the matter is that Carlsson is a highly skilled and projectable player. The Ducks can be patient with his development, and he could play another year in the SHL before coming to California. With Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson as a one-two punch down the middle, the Ducks have elite center depth for a long time.

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

After two seasons of development in the AHL, Reichel is ready for prime time, and his timing couldn’t be better. While expectations are Taylor Hall will get the first crack at shot gun with Bedard, Reichel could easily win one of the wing roles on the top line and flirt with a 50–60-point season.

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Leaf Nation had some lofty expectations for Knies, and he did not disappoint. He quickly became a key member of the Leafs top six and offense in a playoff series with Tampa. With a cap friendly ELC contract, he is an ideal fit on a top six line in Toronto with their prolific offense. Knies brings some size and physicality in addition to his soft hands and dangerous shot. Knies will be a stud in multi-cat leagues.

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

While it was a struggle in his D+1 year with highs and lows ranging from a regular healthy scratch, to captaining Canada to WJC Gold, and returning to the OHL. When the dust settled, he gained valuable development in the NHL, AHL, OHL and internationally and now Seattle has the option to play Wright full time in the AHL. In time Wright and Beniers will be a formidable one-two punch down the middle for Seattle, but Wright likely needs one more year before he wins a top six role with the Kraken.

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Playing in only 33 NHL games last year barely allows Guenther to remain eligible for this list. His 15 points last year was good, but not enough to stay in the show. He was loaned to Canada for the WJC and posted 10 points before returning to the WHL to help Seattle to a WHL Championship. With Cooley signing it gives an additional boost to Guenther’s value.

SAINT PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 08: Dallas Stars Center Logan Stankoven (57) looks on during the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, on October 8th, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

Stankoven has dominated in the WHL and the international stage alike. He kept pace with Connor Bedard at the WJC showing he can play with elite players and pace. Stankoven will be turning pro this year and could likely skip the AHL on a lot of NHL teams, but Dallas has some depth and can be patient with this stud.

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

It’s has been a long time coming for the 2019 first round pick of the Flames, but after scoring 99 points in 101 career AHL games, the time is now for Pelletier to get a real look at the NHL. The coaching change in Calgary should be another green light for Pelletier to not only make the team but crack the Flames top six.

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

The Boston College commit will likely be a one-and-done player before he signs his ELC. Drawing comparisons to the Tkachuk brothers as he plays a rambunctious game but has high end skill and hockey sense. The Capitals can be patient with their top prospect and slow cook him, but he is more instant noodle than slow cooker and can be an impact player for them next year.

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Eklund nearly cracked the Sharks roster in his D+1 season with a strong nine game showing before he was loaned back to the SHL. Last year he made the move to North America and played mainly in the AHL posting 41 points through 54 games. He could be ready to not only win a roster spot with the Sharks to start the season but will compete for a top six role.

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Nazar missed all but 13 games in his freshman year at Michigan due to injury. He had a strong showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase and is a lock for Team USA. He will return to Michigan and be a star player for the Wolverine and could even finish the year in Chicago if he signs his ELC. His fantasy stock is about to get a massive boost.

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

It is too early to do a redraft of the 2022 draft, but if we do, Jimmy Snuggerud would likely be inside the top ten, well above where the Blues selected him 23^rd overall. A massive freshman season with the University of Minnesota where he scored 50 points in 40 games on arguably the top line in the NCAA with Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies. Cooley and Knies are now gone, can Snuggerud produce the same or better without those two?

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

Speaking of redrafting too soon, Benson fell to Buffalo at pick 13 because he is undersized. I think when we redraft the 2023 class, he will be inside the top ten, closer to top five. He has hands, vision and deception in his game that scream NHL ready. He plays a two-way game and is highly competitive. He is a few years away, but the upside is top six.

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

The big winger had an impressive freshman year at Boston College scoring 37 points in 32 games and ten more points at the WJ and then nine points at the World Championship. He will return to B.C. where the Eagles will add the NTDP trio of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault to the fold. Big things are coming with Gauthier.

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

After posting back-to-back 36-point seasons in the NCAA at Harvard Coronato signed and made his NHL debut last year. He may be short at 5-10, but he is not a small player. He is strong and can play physically but his game is all about scoring goals.

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

The seventh overall pick from the 2020 draft is now starting to trend in the wrong direction. Holtz is a sniper and has had two full seasons of development in North America. It looked like last year was when he would breakout, but he only managed four points in 19 games with the Devils. Still only 21 years old he has time but really needs to address the skating and pace to reach an NHL top six role.

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

Bourque had a good AHL rookie season with 20 goals and 47 points. He has some work to do however before he can compete to crack the Stars roster with their depth.

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

Othmann finished his junior career in the OHL on a playoff run with the Petes that ended with a Championship and a Memorial Cup run. He has size and speed and skill, and scores clutch goals. A year in the AHL is in the cards for Othmann but he has top six upside in a year or two.

Will Smith, C – San Jose Sharks

The slick and skilled center had 127 points in 60 games with the NTDP in his draft year. That was not a typo. Headed to Boston College with the entire NTDP record breaking line with Perreault and Leonard, the trio could have a ridiculous freshman year. Smith has some work to do on his defensive game but should develop into the Sharks number one center with Eklund on his wing.

Jiri Kulich, C – Buffalo Sabres

Kulich scored 24 goals and 46 points as a rookie in the AHL and had nine points for Czechia at the WJC. His game got better as the season went on and in the AHL playoffs he scored 11 points in 12 games. He will have to play another year in the AHL and wait for some contracts to expire on the Sabres roster, but he is very close.

Tyson Foerster, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

His AHL rookie season was a smashing success as he scored 20 goals and 48 points in 66 games. But what was far more impressive was his late season NHL recall where he played eight games with the Flyers and scored seven points. He is NHL ready now.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 28: Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) skates with the puck during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on March 28, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Luke Evangelista, RW – Nashville Predators

Perhaps one of the players with the biggest rise in stock this year was Evangelista. Sure, he scored 111 points in his final 62 career OHL games, but 41 points in 49 AHL games as a rookie was very impressive. Even more spectacular was he earned an NHL recall and scored there too, 15 points in 24 games. He has arrived.

Ridly Greig, C/LW – Ottawa Senators

His breakout performance at the WJC was cut short due to injury, but he picked up where he left off as a rookie in the AHL scoring 29 points in 39 games in Belleville. His play earned him an NHL recall and he did not look out of place posting nine points in 20 NHL games. He is ready.

Matthew Savoie, C – Buffalo Sabres

Savoie is a prolific scorer as he has back-to-back 90-point seasons in the WHL with Winnipeg and went on a tear in the playoffs last year scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 19 games. He is undersized but he can play.

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries have plagued Robertson, who otherwise may have been playing out his ELC inside the Leafs top six. At 21-years-old he has missed a lot of development playing 82 games over the past three seasons. He needs to have a full, healthy year.

Brendan Brisson, LW/RW – Vegas Golden Knights

The Michigan alumni had a good AHL rookie season scoring 37 points in 58 games for the Silver Knights. He will be back in the AHL and should see marked improvement in his production. He is coming.

Defense

Luke Hughes, LD – New Jersey Devils

The youngest of the Huges brothers but the biggest at 6’ 2”, 183 pounds may have the highest upside. He produced at the NCAA, World Junior, and World Championship. He has two points in his two-game debut to end the year in the NHL and will play his rookie season in the NHL in the coming season. The only thing in his way from being the top offensive player right away is Dougie Hamilton.

Brandt Clarke, RD – Los Angeles Kings

Clark started the year in the NHL and after nine games with the Kings and five in the AHL he was loaned to Canada where he dominated the World Junior. Then he was returned to the OHL, and it was ridiculous as he scored 23 points in 12 playoff games. He is ready for the NHL.

Lane Hutson, LD – Montreal Canadiens

His 48-point freshman season was comparable to Cale Makar’s Hobey Baker winning sophomore year. Hutson also played key roles for the USA at the WJC and World Championships. He will return to Boston University to play with his brother and should sign following his sophomore year. Hutson has elite upside.

David Jiricek, RD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek had a tremendous D+1 season as an 18-year-old AHL rookie playing key minutes for the Monsters and scoring 38 points. His play at the WJC helped lead Czechia to a Silver Medal and he looks ready for the NHL now. His point upside may not be as elite, but he is 6’ 3”, mobile and great defensively. He is a franchise defenseman.

ELMONT, NY - OCTOBER 06: New Jersey Devils Defenseman Simon Nemec (5) during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders on October 6, 2022, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Simon Nemec, RD – New Jersey Devils

Nemec is every bit as good as Jiricek, he had a superb D+1 year as an AHL rookie scoring 34 points and was a point per game player at the WJC. His path to a number one NHL defender is harder in New Jersey with Hughes and Hamilton blocking him.

Olen Zellweger, LD – Anaheim Ducks

Zellweger has dominated the WHL to the tune of 183 career points in 180 games and was named the CHL Defenseman of the Year. He has dominated the World Junior with two Gold Medals with 17 points in 14 games. He will take his game to the AHL, and chances are he will dominate there as a rookie. He is still a year or two away from being an impact defenseman in the NHL and the Ducks number one on the blueline.

Simon Edvinsson, LD – Detroit Red Wings

After a great AHL rookie campaign Edvinsson moved up to the NHL for a nine-game audition. He was poised to make the Wings roster out of camp to start the season, but an injury will delay that arrival. He may need a short tour in the AHL to get up to speed, but he will compete with Seider for top minutes in Detroit by years end.

Scott Perunovich, LD – St. Louis Blues

By all accounts the 24-year-old should have graduated from this list by now, but three injury plagued seasons and he has been limited to 19 NHL games. His 42 points in 39 career AHL games demands he gets an opportunity to play meaningful minutes in the NHL, he just needs to stay healthy.

Pavel Mintyukov, LD – Anaheim Ducks

The Russian offensive defender saw his production dip slightly after a mid-season trade to the Ottawa 67’s, but his offensive play should translate to the AHL where he will play his rookie season with the Gulls. He has Drysdale and Zellweger ahead of him for now, but his upside is tremendous.

Denton Mateychuk, LD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Mateychuk has similar offensive upside to Mintyukov, but is a little smaller, and has one more year of junior hockey before he turns pro. The 19-year-old should shootout the lights in the WHL and be a key player for Canada at the World Junior.

Kevin Korchinski, LD – Chicago Blackhawks

His stock got a big boost when the Hawks won the Draft lottery and added Connor Bedard. Korchinski is penciled in to be the Hawks powerplay quarterback in three years or so and it is lining up to be elite. The 6’ 3” defender can skate and play a physical game as well.

Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

Perhaps no defense prospect saw their stock rise more last year than Nikishin. His 55-point breakout in 65 games in the KHL commanded the attention of fantasy owners. He has two more years remaining on his contract so we will have to wait a while for the 21-year-old, 6’ 4” Russian stud to come to North America.

Jordan Spence, RD – Los Angeles Kings

The Kings top defensive prospect is Brandt Clarke, but the gap between him and Spence is getting smaller. Spence was a force in the AHL as a rookie posting 42 points in 46 games and played in 24 NHL games. Last year he spent more time developing in the AHL and is looking ready to secure an NHL job out of training camp.

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 17: Thomas Harley (55) of the Dallas Stars skates during the second period of the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens on March 17, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Thomas Harley, LD – Dallas Stars

The OHL shutdown gave Harley early access to the AHL, and the 21-year-old now has three seasons of professional hockey development under his belt, including 40 NHL career games played. He has NHL ready size, mobility, and offensive acumen. He should be a full-time player in Dallas this year and his role with the team will continue to grow.

Ville Heinola, LD – Winnipeg Jets

The 20^th overall pick from the 2019 draft nearly made the NHL in his D+1 year playing the first eight regular season games with the Jets. Ultimately, he was loaned back to his Liiga club team and since then has split time between the Liiga, AHL, NHL and some international tournaments. His play in the AHL has slowly been improving, but Heinola still has one more year of waiver exemption that likely dictates more AHL time.

Lukas Cormier, LD – Vegas Golden Knights

Cormier was a prolific offensive defenseman in junior and his rookie year in the AHL saw his offensive skill translate to the professional level as he scored 10 goals and 35 points in 62 games for the Silver Knights. Cormier has a rocket of a shot, is a crafty and creative offensive driver but is looking at another year or two in the AHL before he is ready to push for a top pairing role in Vegas.

Henry Thrun, LD – San Jose Sharks

The Ducks 2019 fourth round pick was looking for more opportunity and is assumed was not going to sign in Anaheim as they are loaded with star prospects on defense. He was traded to the Sharks who signed him within a month. The departure of Erik Karlsson has created a massive void on the Sharks roster and Thrun will try to win the job out of training camp as the team’s powerplay quarterback.

Emil Andrae, LD – Philadelphia Flyers

The 5’ 9” defender has been flushing out his resume nicely since his draft leading the J20 in defenseman points and goals, a HockeyAllsvenskan Championship, being named best junior, most goals by a defenseman in the WJC and a Bronze Medal. Last year he had a breakout season in the SHL with 26 points and finished the year in the AHL with a strong showing of six points in 10 games with the Phantoms. He will play a full season in the AHL but is a player on the rise.

Ryker Evans, LD – Seattle Kraken

The Krakens 2021 second round pick had a strong junior career with the Regina Pats, but his stock improved significantly in his rookie AHL season as his role continued to grow all season long. His 44 points in 71 regular season games was great, and it got even better in the playoffs as he produced 26 points in 26 games to help lead Coachella to the finals in their inaugural season. Evans is a prospect on the rise and on the fast track to the NHL.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a play-driving offensive defenseman with a high hockey sense that allows him to see plays two steps ahead. He is a strong skater, perhaps not a burner, but his edge work makes him very elusive. He has the ability to be a power play QB but with Seider and Edvinsson ahead of him on the depth chart, power play minutes may be hard to come by.

Goalies.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

The rise of Devon Levi has been spectacular. The seventh-round selection by the Florida Panthers has rocketed up the rankings by cracking the Canadian WJC roster, then winning the starting role. He dominated the NCAA winning the Mike Richter Award as Best Goalie in the NCAA twice. He made his NHL debut after his junior season and posted a 5-2-0 record with a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Eric Comrie and Ukka-Pekka-Luukkonen are both under contract which should force Levi to the AHL as he is waiver exempt, but Levi could outplay them both and win the starting role out of camp. Buffalo is a team on the rise and Levi is on the cusp of becoming an elite goalie.

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

His first season in the AHL showed plenty of promise as he made the adjustment to North America. After a strong rookie season in Iowa with a 18-15-5 record, he closed the year at the World Championship with Sweden winning all three games with a 0.67 GAA against some of the lesser teams. With one more year remaining on M-A Fleury’s contract, Wallstedt likely has another year of AHL time before he is a full-time NHL goalie.

VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) in net during their preseason NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

You could easily make the argument that Wolf is the number one on this list. The two-time AHL Goalie of the Year winner has been outstanding as a pro goalie. He lacks some international experience and has both Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar signed for two years ahead of him in Calgary, but his performance speaks for itself. The Flames can be patient with the 22-year-old future franchise goalie as he could be one of the teams’ all-time greats.

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

Askarov has been an elite prospect for years now, but my concern with him has been the low volume of games he was playing in Russia. Last year he came to North America and played 48 games for Milwaukee in the AHL and was outstanding as the undisputed starting goalie. His adjustment to North America and a starting goalie workload erased any potential doubt he can and will be an NHL starting goalie. Look for Askarov to get a few more cups of coffee in the NHL this year and be a full time NHL player in 2024-25.

Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues

Hofer has rather quietly assembled a remarkable resume which includes a WHL Championship, Gold Medals at the World Championship and World Junior where he was the Best Goaltender. In his two seasons of AHL development his record is 49-36-13 with a 2.78 GAA and .912 SV%. Hofer is penciled in to start the year in the NHL as the backup to an aging and declining Jordan Binnington. It is just a matter of time before Hofer usurps him as the starting goalie.

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

Commesso showed good development in his three years as the Boston Terriers starting goalie in the NCAA and posted a strong 24-8-0 record in his final year. His path towards an NHL starting role looks promising as he should be the starting goalie as a rookie in the AHL with Rockford and the Hawks goalie depth is very weak outside Commesso and Arvid Soderblom.

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

The wait time on the Wings 2021 first round pick is a little longer. After a dominant career in the WHL, he spent the majority of his rookie season as a pro in the ECHL with Toledo where he got starting minutes. The 6’ 6” netminder will graduate to the AHL and will be mentored by veteran Alex Lyon.

Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

The 6’ 4” Finnish goalie had strong numbers from the Liiga but stumbled in his rookie season in the AHL. He made adjustments in his sophomore season and saw marked improvements across the board. The 23-year-old will play his third season in the AHL and be the first option for an NHL recall if injuries require relief.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

This will be a key year for Dostal to establish himself as an NHL goalie. The Ducks likely go with a three-headed-monster in goal with John Gibson, Alex Stalock, and Dostal to allow Calle Clang to get the starting role in the AHL. Injuries will certainly force Gibson to miss some time and Dostal could seize the starting job in Anaheim sooner than later.

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tarasov has struggled with injuries since coming to North America but put 28 games on the board last year between the AHL and NHL. Both teams were bottom dwellers in the standings, so his numbers were not overly impressive. Tarasov will share the NHL crease this year with Elvis Merzlikins as his backup but could see a healthy number of starts if he plays well.