Daniil But – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: WESTERN CONFERENCE – Top 10 First Year Players to Date

Michael Moroz — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:40:12 +0000

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 29: Cleveland Monsters right wing Jordan Dumais (88) and Texas Stars defenseman Trey Taylor (2) battle for the puck during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Texas Stars and Cleveland Monsters on March 29, 2025, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Daniil But - F - Tucson Roadrunners

Daniil But is a big, talented offensive player who has gotten off to an extremely impressive start this season, his first as a pro in North America. Selected by the then Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, But was viewed as a prolific goal scorer who could also use his large frame to make time and space for his teammates. But then spent a couple of seasons with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and had good but not great offensive numbers in the KHL. This year, however, the puck has exploded off But’s stick, where he is currently on pace for a near 40 goal campaign. His defensive game has even been a lot better than anticipated, where he has utilized his size to engage against heavier players in his own zone with relative success. But still needs time to build his strength and adapt to the overall nature of the North American game, and his skating still needs a bit of work, but he’s trending very well this season and should be in the mix for some games with the Mammoth in the new year.

Matvei Gridin - F - Calgary Wranglers

Matvei Gridin has been the best rookie so far this season in the AHL. He has been an absolute force with the puck on his stick, and his play in his own zone has not prevented him from seeing ample opportunity at both ends of the ice. When the puck is on Gridin’s stick, he’s always a huge threat to score. He has a quick release with pinpoint accuracy that can paralyze goalies, but he’s also not a one-trick pony, either. He’s equally as gifted at dishing the puck to other players on his line, and he’s very good at making that perfect pass under pressure. It should be emphasized that Gridin did start the season in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, and while his demotion may have been a bit of a surprise to some, playing quality minutes with Brett Sutter as his coach has really done wonders for Gridin’s game. Look for Gridin to get another opportunity with the big club in the new year and watch for him to receive votes for the AHL’s Red Garrett Memorial Award (rookie of the year).

Quinn Hutson - F - Bakersfield Condors

Quinn Hutson is easily one of the most intelligent players in the AHL. Despite not being the biggest player on the ice, nor necessarily the fastest player, Hutson is always putting himself in a good position to score when he’s on the attack, while also playing responsibly when the puck is in his own zone. From that perspective, it’s very easy to see why he was a top player at Boston University as a collegiate player, and why he has gotten off to such an impressive start as a first-year pro with the Bakersfield Condors. This season, Hutson has really utilized his smarts to make time and space for his teammates. He’s very good at drawing defenders in while he has the puck, and his nice set of hands allows him to make a quick pass to create chances for his teammates in front. He has also been quite effective on the power play, where he has done a nice job as a puck distributor. Hutson still needs time in the AHL to work on his game, but he looks like a real prospect for an Edmonton Oilers club that is in desperate need of young talent.

Viliam Kmec - D - Henderson Silver Knights

Viliam Kmec was signed by the Vegas Golden Knights as an undrafted free agent out of Prince George in the WHL, and he has looked good this season as a rookie defender for the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL. The hallmark of Kmec’s game is his strength; he’s a big defender who is very difficult to knock off the puck, which makes him very difficult to play against when he’s in the defensive zone. Offensively, Kmec can make a strong outlet pass to move the puck away from pressure in his own zone, and he can make simple plays with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. It is highly unlikely that Kmec will translate his junior scoring totals to the pro game, but Kmec can be counted on to deliver quality minutes at both ends of the ice. Look for Kmec to continue his strong play this season with the Silver Knights and be in line for a chance in the NHL with the Golden Knights in the next year or two.

Nick Lardis - F - Rockford IceHogs

In hindsight, Nick Lardis always had more talent than that of a typical third round pick. Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Lardis took a bit of time to really boom offensively at the junior level. Last season, however, Lardis exploded for 71 goals and 117 points in 65 games with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, and he has really built on that campaign this season in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. Hovering at nearly a point per game, Lardis has a fantastic shot that can beat goalies from anywhere in the offensive zone. Lardis’ release is also extremely quick, which really makes him difficult to read as a shooter. In terms of other elements of his game, Lardis is also an effective playmaker but is definitely more of a shoot-first player in the offensive zone. Lardis ultimately projects as a top six forward at the NHL level but needs to round out his game defensively at the AHL level. The offensive tools are clearly there, however, so there’s a player here with a real chance to be a difference maker.

Tanner Molendyk - D - Milwaukee Admirals

Don’t be fooled by Tanner Molendyk’s limited offensive production to start this season with the Milwaukee Admirals; he has played very well this season despite not putting up a lot of points at almost the quarter of the way mark of the season. Part of Molendyk’s lack of offensive numbers has been due to the emergence of Ryan Ufko as a true power play quarterback at the pro level, and part of it has been due to a bit of bad luck. Nevertheless, Molendyk has been using his tools well to defend in his own zone, and it all starts with his skating. Molendyk is an A++ skater who has a combination of great speed and edgework. His skating always allows him to stay in the play, and he can burn opposing forecheckers when he goes back for puck retrievals. Molendyk does have good offensive inclinations as well, which allows him to use his skating to jump into the rush to create scoring chances for his teammates. The points will come as Molendyk gets more opportunity, and the Nashville Predators have a really great prospect here.

Quentin Musty - F - San Jose Barracuda

Quentin Musty has been very good offensively to start his first professional season with the San Jose Barracuda, where he has put his quick release to good use, and in addition, made a series of nice plays to create scoring chances for his linemates. Musty really torched the scoresheet in the OHL as a goalscorer with the Sudbury Wolves, and while he has scored a bit to start the season in the AHL, it is his playmaking that has really gotten Sharks fans excited. Musty is just filthy with the puck, and he can find an open teammate with a cross-seam pass from any corner of the offensive zone. He’s also very shifty with the puck, which allows him to create time and space for a middle forward to drive the net. The goals will increase as Musty continues to figure out the pro game, and his defensive play will become more reliable as he matures against men. Musty will probably spend the full season with the Barracuda, but if he continues to pile up the points, we could potentially see him in a Sharks uniform in the new year.

Isak Posch - G - Colorado Eagles

If you asked a scout about Isak Posch during the 2022-2023 season, they probably would not have suggested that he’d be 8-2-2 as an AHL starter with a 1.91 GAA and a .921 SV% just three seasons later. But give credit where credit is due; Posch has really worked at his game to become an excellent professional goaltender. As far as components in his actual game go, Posch is a good sized goalie who has nice athleticism and some strong edgework. He is never totally out of the play, and he’s sturdy in his crease against players that are looking to create havoc in the offensive zone. One concern with Posch’s game is that he does not have a very long track record of being a number one goalie, especially because he shared the crease at St. Cloud State, but the young netminder has looked really good for the Colorado Eagles this season. If he can keep up his excellent performance under a heavy workload and continue to gain experience at the pro level, there’s a chance he could become an NHL goaltender sooner rather than later.

Trey Taylor - D - Texas Stars

Trey Taylor has followed an upward trajectory over the past couple of seasons and has played very well to begin his pro career with the Texas Stars. Taylor was signed to an NHL contract out of Clarkson University in the NCAA, and while with Clarkson, he exhibited strong play at both ends of the ice as a reliable two-way defender. He’s not particularly an offensive dynamo, but he can make plays and good reads in the offensive zone at the professional level. Taylor’s defensive game is his main bread and butter, where he’s good at using his size and skating to navigate other teams’ players away from his own net. He’s also particularly good in the defensive zone with his stick, which should afford him an opportunity down the line at the NHL level. Taylor will never be playing on an NHL power play, but he could be a player that can turn into a top-four or at the very least, a top-six defender who can play regular minutes and kill penalties. He still needs a bit of time to round out his game at the AHL level, but there’s a real prospect here.

Tim Washe - F - San Diego Gulls

Tim Washe is an older prospect who played five seasons at Western Michigan University in the NCAA before turning pro with the Anaheim Ducks, where he is now playing with their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Washe is not a dynamic prospect by any means in the traditional sense, but he does have interesting qualities in his game, particularly his skill at winning faceoffs and his defensive reliability, that should give him a chance to carve out a long career at the NHL level. Washe has even gotten off to a nice start offensively with the Gulls, so there are offensive elements to his game, such as his grit, that may translate to the NHL level. If Washe is going to make it as an NHL regular, he will need to keep playing strong 200-foot hockey while being a dependable player in his own zone when the game is on the line. Washe may never be more than a fourth line centre at the NHL level, but it is still an extremely impressive story for a player that has had to grind his way to the professional ranks.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – UTAH MAMMOTH – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #5

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:41:49 +0000

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Utah Hockey Club defenseman Maveric Lamoureux (10) waits in warm up before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Utah Hockey Club on November 21, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 5th (May 2025 - 8th)
GM: Bill Armstrong Hired: September 2020
COACH: André Tourigny Hired: July 2021

Fresh off their inaugural 2024-25 season, the freshly minted Utah Mammoth are already building a foundation for long term relevance.

A young NHL core—Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, Josh Doan, Mikhail Sergachev, and Sean Durzi—gives them a competitive starting point, while a strong wave of prospects is set to push them forward.

On defense, two towering blue liners headline the next group. Maveric Lamoureux (6-foot-7) split last season between the NHL and AHL and looks poised for full-time duty in 2025-26. Dmitri Simashev, fresh from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL, brings shutdown ability and is expected to step right into Utah’s lineup. Up front, Daniil But also arrives from Lokomotiv after a breakout KHL season (28 points in 55 games) and could make an immediate impact.

In goal, Michael Hrabal continues to shine at the University of Massachusetts, posting a .924 save percentage in his sophomore season and cementing his status as Utah’s future franchise netminder.

The system also features high-upside forwards working their way toward the NHL. Tij Iginla, despite losing much of his draft-plus-one season to hip surgery, remains a key long term piece. Cole Beaudoin, the 24th-overall pick in 2024, offers a blend of skill and physicality suited for a future middle six role.

Utah’s prospect pool got another boost at the 2025 draft with the addition of fourth-overall pick Caleb Desnoyers. Though he’ll miss the start of 2025-26 following surgery, he projects as one of the franchise’s top players within a few years.

While they haven’t yet added extra selections for next year, the Mammoth still hold a staggering 26 picks over the next three drafts. With a competitive core in place and an injection of NHL-ready talent on the way, Utah’s climb toward playoff contention looks well underway.

Utah Mammoth Top-15 Prospects

1 - Caleb Desnoyers

Caleb Desnoyers was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Utah Mammoth. Not only did he produce an impressive 84 points in 56 games, Desnoyers can do about anything you want in a top six center. The defensive involvement and intelligence is already elite. The physical game was sneakily one of the best in the entire draft. Desnoyers is also an offensive maestro, being able to lead and create offensive chances with his elite level of playmaking. He makes his teammates much better by simplifying their lives. Desnoyers has the hands to execute what he has in mind and can play the penalty kill and the power play as well. With his stat line of 30 points in 19 playoff games, the former first overall in the QMJHL draft has shown to be reliable when it matters the most. He is also one of the most decorated prospects, with gold medals at the U17, U18, and Hlinka-Gretzky, along with a QMJHL championship and playoff MVP. Recently, he underwent wrist surgery and will miss the NHL training camp. On the bright side, he will now almost certainly represent team Canada at the World Juniors to potentially earn another gold medal.

2 - Dmitri Simashev

Dmitri Simashev has emerged as one of the KHL’s top shutdown defenders, showing promise for a long NHL career. In his second full KHL season, he has refined his strengths—using size, footwork, and stickwork to control play on both ends. His agility makes him tough to beat, while improved timing and positioning allow for tighter control in all zones. Simashev’s game looks polished enough for an NHL role right now. His main weakness is on offence, where his numbers dropped this year due to a lack of aggressiveness. Despite having good puck-handling skills and a heavy shot, he needs more confidence to utilize them effectively. Once he gains that, he could become a more dangerous scoring threat. Simashev could fit into Utah’s top four this upcoming season and might be one of the biggest steals from his draft class. He will get a good look after signing with the Mammoth at the beginning of the summer.

3 - Tij Iginla

The Rockets must be devastated that Iginla was limited to just 21 games this season before undergoing hip surgery, because they probably would have been a playoff team if he had been healthy and consistently contributing to their lineup. Just how essential was he to their 2024-25 plans? Not long after it was announced that he was done for the year the team dealt away longtime stars Andrew Cristall and Caden Price, essentially punting on this season. Luckily for Iginla, however, he should be back to normal sometime in 2025-26, and Kelowna will be hosting the Memorial Cup that spring with him as their forefront star player. Tij, the oldest of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla's two sons, is a high-impact forward who can do everything and leaves his mark in a variety of different ways, all of which are fueled and enhanced by his excellent hockey IQ, competitiveness, and leadership abilities.

4 - Daniil But

Daniil But, Utah’s 2023 12th overall pick, made solid progress in his DY+2 season, scoring 28 points in 54 games while taking on a bigger role with Lokomotiv. After adding muscle to his lanky frame, his confidence and ability to compete in battles improved significantly. He now plays with more composure, staying in position and effectively shutting down chances. His biggest asset is net-front play, using his size to create space and capitalize on loose pucks. However, his decision making at the pro level needs more work as he often over handles the puck and forces plays. To secure a role in Utah, he must improve his battle game and become harder to play against. While he shows flashes of elite handling, some moves that work now may not succeed against NHL defenders. But projects as a middle six forward with good potential offensive upside if he continues to develop.

5 - Maveric Lamoureux

Since being a first-round selection by the Arizona/Utah franchise, Lamoureux has developed extremely well; truly a best-case scenario thus far. His offensive game gained confidence at the QMJHL and his overall decision making improved greatly. This helped to transform Lamoureux into a solid two-way defender leaving junior hockey. This past year, as a first-year pro, he was excellent, splitting time between the AHL and the NHL with Utah. His massive frame and solid mobility give him such immense upside as a defensive player. He’s shown absolutely no fear playing physically and taking on NHL forwards head on, a testament to his strength gains. While he may not have significant offensive upside as an NHL player, he should still end up being a quality top four defender and penalty killing anchor for Utah. This could happen as early as next year if the team decides to look for trades for some of their older defenders like Ian Cole.

6 - Michael Hrabal

Standing at 6-foot-6, Michael Hrabal is one of the tallest goalies there is period. Understandably so, he covers the net extremely well, giving him an advantage in a reverse vertical horizontal technique. Hrabal is an excellent goalie on his feet. He has tightened up his stance and gained more control over his body since being drafted. He anticipates passes well, tracks the puck quickly, has impressive athleticism for his size, and when he grabs ice well with his edges, can fly through the crease. The problem is that his edges aren’t always consistent, and he can sometimes just fail to get the needed power on a push. It’s an issue that is seen the most when transitioning to a butterfly slide, or any push made while down. While yes, he can look smooth, he can also look like he’s fighting the ice. He’s also shown a big weakness in his five hole, which has been a source of many goals against. His all-around good skill set gives him a high likelihood of being a solid starter in the NHL, but to be anything more, his edges will have to improve.

7 - Cole Beaudoin

Beaudoin hasn’t quite taken that next step forward offensively like you might expect from a recent first-round selection, but he remains a valuable prospect for the versatility he brings to the ice. One could probably argue that Utah drafted Beaudoin fully understanding that his offensive upside could be limited. Here is a player who plays both sides of the ice equally effectively. Who kills penalties and takes tough defensive assignments. Who works hard on the forecheck and who earns his touches. Who wins faceoffs but also has shown an ability to play the wing. Who blocks shots and competes to no end. Best of all, he’s competitive, but does not lack discipline. Bottom line, Beaudoin is a highly intelligent two-way player who should be able to develop into a high-end third line player for Utah in the near future. That said, Utah will want to see his skating and puck play take another step next season when he takes on a larger offensive role with Barrie (or another OHL club).

8 - Artyom Duda

What horrific adjective could we use to describe Duda’s development path? He basically missed an entire year of development after the NCAA refused to approve his scholarship with Maine due to his KHL time. When the case was finally settled, it left Duda without a place to finish the season, so he joined TMU of USports (Canadian University) for a dozen games. The good news? It doesn’t appear to have affected his development. Duda had a terrific rookie season in the AHL with Tucson that saw him lead the team in plus/minus, in addition to nearly hitting the 30-point mark. The strong skating, two-way rearguard looks like a potential top four option for Utah in the near future; the kind of player who can play in any situation and provide versatility to his coaches.

9 - Will Skahan

Will Skahan is in the process of adjusting to the college level, where the increased pace of play has impacted his consistency, particularly in puck play and making outlet passes. While his execution under pressure fluctuates, he has displayed strong defensive tools, utilizing an active stick and his length effectively to disrupt plays in his own zone. His ability to close gaps and break up plays has been a positive aspect of his game, showing his potential as a reliable defender. He has progressed well down the stretch of the college hockey season. As a two-way, defensive-minded player, Skahan was deployed in a depth role as a freshman. His ability to adapt to the speed and physicality of the college game will be crucial for his development. Continued improvement in his skating efficiency and decision making under pressure will determine his ability to take on greater responsibility. With time and experience, he has the potential to carve out a steady role as an NHL defenceman, particularly if he refines his transitions, passing, and overall poise with the puck.

10 - Max Psenicka

Psenicka is the type of prospect that scouts need to analyze more so on projection than actual results thus far. He didn't have a bad draft year by any means, playing games in the top pro league in Czechia before coming to North America and helping the Portland Winterhawks go on a deep playoff run as one of their go-to defencemen. But the reason why he was picked so high by Utah, even though he currently has some notable issues with his puck management and decision-making, is because he’s still far from a finished product, with a lot of development runway left for him to utilize. He’s a smooth skater with good mechanics, and some of his current balance issues should sort themselves out as he grows into his gangly body more. It’s a similar story with his strength too, as he shouldn’t be scrawny like this for much longer. With the foundation that Psenicka already has to work with the Mammoth could receive quite a return in the future if they’re smart and careful with their investment in him.

11 - Maks Szuber

Szuber is already two seasons into his North American pro career after making the jump from the DEL. Blessed with good size at his position, he can make the simple play with the puck and disrupt opposing chances with his stick. He will battle for NHL duty in camp this fall.

12 - Tomas Lavoie

A solid two-way defenceman with size, Lavoie saw a breakout season offensively in Cape Breton las year and will look to continue to build on that in his final season of major junior with the Eagles.

13 - Vadim Moroz

The aggressive, rangy forward had a breakout offensive season in the KHL last year and followed that up with a solid international showing for Belarus. Utah has not shied away from KHL players, and he could be another talent that could eventually prove them right. He’ll continue to ply his trade for Dinamo Minsk for the foreseeable future.

14 - Noel Nordh

Nordh racked up the frequent flier miles last season, competing for Sweden at the World Juniors, playing for Soo in the OHL, and then finishing off the season in the AHL. He had a strong offensive season in the OHL, finishing over a point per game. He’ll start next season in the AHL for Tucson.

15 - Julian Lutz

A forward with solid size and some playmaking, Lutz didn’t see the offensive numbers he would have liked in his AHL rookie season. However, his strong showing in the USHL the year prior suggests there’s more in the tank for his sophomore season.

NHL: Victor Nuño – DYNASTY STOCK WATCH – Utah Mammoth Edition

Victor Nuño — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:34:56 +0000

McKeen’s Hockey: Dynasty Stock Watch

The Dynasty Stock Watch is designed to go team-by-team across the NHL and evaluate which prospects dynasty managers should be looking to buy and which they should be looking to sell. The goal isn’t to rank prospects in a vacuum, but to assess their current fantasy market value relative to long-term upside. “Buy” candidates are players whose cost is likely lower than their future production potential, creating opportunities to acquire them before their stock rises. “Sell” candidates are players whose value is inflated by pedigree, recent performance, or name recognition, making it a good time to cash out before regression or role limitations set in. Each installment provides dynasty-specific context, helping you navigate short-term hype and long-term sustainability in building your roster.

Utah Mammoth Edition

Team Outlook

The Utah Mammoth narrowly missed the playoffs last season, but with their young core gaining another year of experience, expectations are rising quickly. The roster blends emerging stars with a wave of prospects who are pushing for NHL roles, giving dynasty managers plenty to track. Utah’s system still offers a mix of volatility and upside, with high-end skill near the top and several steady contributors developing underneath, but the organization appears to be turning the corner toward sustained contention.

The Mammoth should be right back in the playoff mix this season, and with more reinforcements on the way, their long-term trajectory looks increasingly promising for both the franchise and fantasy investors.

Buy Candidates

Tij Iginla (F, 19)
Why Buy?

Iginla appeared in just 24 WHL games last season, and that missed time understandably cooled some of the enthusiasm surrounding his breakout. For dynasty managers, that lull represents a clear buying opportunity. Before the injury, he was producing at an impressive clip and showing the shot, compete, and puck-driving ability that made him a top ten draft selection. Despite the limited action, his pNHLe via the NHL Rank King application remains near a point per game, reinforcing that his offensive trajectory is still on track.

There is some risk given the disruption in his development, but his upside remains extremely high. Iginla has the skill set to grow into a top six scorer, and if he earns consistent minutes next to one of Utah’s emerging centers, his production could spike quickly. This is a player whose temporary dip in perceived value might be the best window to buy before his breakout fully resumes.

Michal Hrabal (G, 20)
Why Buy?

Goalies require patience, and Hrabal is a clear example of why waiting can pay off. He has been excellent for UMass in the NCAA and continues to shine for Czechia on the international stage, showing poise well beyond his years. His combination of size, positioning, and calm under pressure continues to impress scouts. For dynasty managers, Hrabal remains under the radar compared to flashier names, which makes him an appealing buy-low candidate before his value climbs.

With Connor Ingram no longer in Utah, Hrabal’s long-term path to the crease looks much clearer. Karel Vejmelka is the only real obstacle between him and a future starting job, and Hrabal has the tools to seize that role within a few seasons. His development has been steady, his track record strong, and his Hockey Prospecting profile shows promising comparables in Filip Gustavsson and Nikolai Khabibulin. Those would be excellent outcomes for the Mammoth, and they highlight just how valuable Hrabal could become as a long-term dynasty stash.

Artyom Duda (D, 21)
Why Buy?

Duda made his North American debut with Tucson in the AHL last season and held his own against older competition. His combination of skating, offensive instincts, and vision on the power play continues to stand out, and his transition game hints at real top four potential. His Fantasy Hockey Life skater card suggests there is still some growth ahead before he reaches his ceiling, which only reinforces his value as a long-term investment.

The uncertainty surrounding his trajectory has created a discount that patient dynasty managers can take advantage of. Duda’s upside as a mobile, two-way defender with power-play utility fits perfectly within Utah’s emerging core. If he earns a larger role or receives a look on the second power-play unit, his fantasy stock could rise quickly. With the hardest transition year behind him, he appears poised to make a steady climb toward becoming an NHL regular.

Sell Candidates

Daniil But (F, 20)
Why Sell?
But’s size and raw skill made him a first-round pick, but his skating and overall pace of play remain areas of concern. The prestige of his draft pedigree continues to buoy his perceived value, yet his development trajectory suggests he may settle into more of a complementary role than a primary scorer. Despite his imposing frame, he is not overly physical, and his production profile raises questions about whether his offense will fully translate to the NHL level. For managers who invested early, this may be an ideal time to explore trade value while expectations remain high.

According to the NHL Rank King application, But projects as a sub-60-point player at his peak, which limits his fantasy appeal without strong peripheral contributions. Since his blocks, shots, and hits contributions are more modest, his real-world effectiveness may not mirror fantasy value. While he appears likely to carve out a steady NHL career, the upside for dynasty formats looks capped. This is a moment to consider selling before his market adjusts to a more modest projection.

Dmitri Simashev (D, 20)
Why Sell?
Simashev is a smooth-skating, defensively reliable blueliner, but his fantasy upside is limited. Across 137 KHL games, he has recorded only 16 points, and he has never shown a consistent scoring touch in any league he has played. His skating and defensive awareness make him a valuable real-world player, yet his offensive instincts and involvement in transition remain muted. Given that he is unlikely to run a power play, his point totals may stall out in a second-pair, shutdown role.

His pedigree as a former high draft pick still gives him perceived value in dynasty formats, which makes this a prime opportunity to sell before expectations recalibrate. Simashev’s long-term NHL future looks solid from a defensive standpoint, but his fantasy utility will be limited unless his offensive game takes a major leap. Without scoring volume or meaningful peripherals, he is better suited to anchoring a blue line than a fantasy roster.

Maveric Lamoureux (D, 21)
Why Sell?
Standing at 6-foot-7 and carrying significant physical presence, Lamoureux draws intrigue. He’s shown flashes of activation in the offensive zone and throws his size around on defense, but his developmental curve is slow. In his first full AHL season he posted 13 points in 42 games with Tucson, plus a brief stint in the NHL for 15 games with Utah. Even so, there is little evidence to suggest he will ever be a reliable fantasy scorer, especially given his lack of history producing offense in prior leagues.

His fantasy upside is extremely limited, since he’s unlikely to ever run a power play, and his point totals may flatten out in a second-pair, defensive role. His peripheral contributions aren’t great (though he does deliver a fair number of hits), which only compounds the risk. Like Simashev, he will probably settle into a shutdown role more than an offensive one. For dynasty managers holding him for upside, this is an ideal window to explore trading him before the opportunity cost of that roster spot becomes too steep.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Tij Iginla	Buy	High-upside scorer whose value dipped due to injury, prime time to buy
Michal Hrabal	Buy	Large, composed goalie still under the radar with starting potential
Artyom Duda	Buy	Skilled defenseman with power-play tools, discounted by uncertainty
Daniil But	Sell	Pedigree inflates value, skating/pacing issues cap long-term upside
Dmitri Simashev	Sell	Reliable defender with low fantasy ceiling, sell while pedigree still sells
Maveric Lamoureux	Sell	Shutdown project with minimal offensive upside, roster spot better used elsewhere

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #8 Utah Mammoth – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 30 May 2025 12:21:50 +0000

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Tij Iginla is drafted by the Utah Hockey Club in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

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Utah 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – UTAH HOCKEY CLUB – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #7

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:00:07 +0000

_{PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Tij Iginla is drafted by the Utah Hockey Club in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 7th (Previous Rank - 3rd)
GM: Bill Armstrong Hired: September 2020
COACH: André Tourigny Hired: July 2021

The Arizona Coyotes have officially relocated and rebranded as the Utah Hockey Club, and new owner Ryan Smith is eager and ready to bring fresh energy and direction to an otherwise disgruntled organization. The team wasted no time in bolstering its roster, both for the present and its future. In a draft podium blockbuster, Utah sent one of their top prospects (Conor Geekie) to Tampa Bay in exchange for Mikhail Sergachev. From there, they went on to inject a total of 11 new prospects into the pipeline.

Headlining that draft list is Tij Iginla, who instantly becomes the club’s top prospect, ranking 15th overall in McKeen’s rankings. Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, will not factor into the club’s immediate plans, but his potential as a future top six fixture in Utah is undeniable. Joining Iginla is Cole Beaudoin (156th), the team’s second first-rounder from 2024, who will return to the Barrie Colts to develop among the Junior system.

Ready to make an impact with the big club, however, is Josh Doan (67th), who already split his 2023-24 campaign between the Arizona Coyotes and the Tucson Roadrunners. After proving his ability at both levels, Doan is poised to take on a larger role. Meanwhile, towering defenceman Maveric Lamoureux (117th) will turn pro to kickstart his career in the AHL, though his size and right-handed shot could fast-track him to NHL games sooner rather than later.

In the pipeline, Russian prospects Dmitri Simashev (23rd) and Daniil But (31st) continue to develop as teammates with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. Fellow Russian Artyom Duda, who spent his 2023-24 among the USport circuit, is expected to transition to the professional ranks with Tucson. In net, Michael Hrabal (129th) continues to showcase a solid ceiling as a University of Massachusetts standout.

The hope is that a fresh rebrand and a revitalized fanbase in Salt Lake City will jumpstart the franchise, which has seen just one playoff appearance in the last 12 years. With a young core featuring Clayton Keller (26), Barrett Hayton (24), Matias Maccelli (23), Mikhail Sergachev (26), Sean Durzi (25), and recent graduates Logan Cooley (20) and Dylan Guenther (21), the organization is eager to seek success to showcase their brand to the people of Salt Lake.

Utah Hockey Club Top-15 Prospects

1. Tij Iginla

The son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, Tij surged up draft boards all throughout the 2023-24 season before finally, and deservedly, ending up as the 6th overall selection. Much like his dad, he is confident and determined, has an incredible knack for putting the puck in the net, and oozes leadership traits. He's played mostly on the wing so far in his WHL tenure, but he'll start getting more looks at center this season, and there's a chance that his NHL future could be at that position because he’s so responsible, smart, well-balanced, hard-working, and can make his linemates better. Iginla is a big-game performer who has already become a huge fan favourite in Kelowna after just one season there, so the NHL's newest organization is surely thrilled to have a player like that as one of their first faces of the franchise.

2. Dmitri Simashev

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenceman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development, he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

3. Daniil But

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling. It’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan

There weren’t a lot of feel-good stories coming out of the desert, even before news of the team’s move to Utah was confirmed, but Doan’s rapid development and immediate impact upon being called up to the NHL certainly count as one. Shane Doan was the face of that franchise for a long time, and despite some lofty expectations, his son has turned out to be the prince who was promised. It’s obvious, and quite impressive, how much he embraced the situation he was in. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit and leadership, and there is little question where he gets those attributes from. Regardless of his team’s new home, he’ll be a huge part of the organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations as a core roster player, and also as someone who can help instill a culture and identity.

5. Maveric Lamoureux

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he’s looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily for Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior, and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he struggled and faltered at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside, and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Cole Beaudoin

Despite being 17 years old for almost all of his draft-eligible season, Beaudoin often looked like a man among boys when he stepped on the ice. Not only does he have a large and stocky frame to work with, he's a gym rat who is exceptionally strong and fit. He's a workhorse who possesses the ability to bully his way around the puck, along with the resilience to do so shift over shift. He turned a lot of heads at the IIHF U18s in the spring, steadily forcing his way up Canada's lineup and playing a leading role in their tournament-winning outcome, including playing a ton of minutes in the championship game. His NHL ceiling might be limited to more of a defensive role due to average levels of natural skill, but he has the potential to become one of the very best shutdown and matchup centers in the sport.

8. Aku Raty

Raty continues to make steady, upwards progress in his development. His stats in the 2023-24 regular season were almost identical to what they were last year, but they are more impressive when you remember that producing points in the AHL is more difficult than doing it in the Liiga or most other European leagues. His success wasn’t quite enough to say that he is clearly ready for permanent NHL duty, but at the rate he keeps getting better and better, that seems like it’s not far out. He’s a well-rounded winger who is impressively smooth, both in the way he moves and the way he moves the puck, and he doesn’t sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to make magic happen offensively. He projects more as a complementary player than the primary driver of a line, but there is value in the NHL for forwards who know how to thrive in that kind of role.

9. Will Skahan

Skahan's game will never be about generating offense or producing points, but that's OK, because he excels instead as an off-puck defender. He has the necessary tools and temperament to go toe-to-toe with the best forwards on opposing teams, and that's not an easy job to do or one that all blueliners are capable of handling. His dad was the strength and conditioning coach for Anaheim for 13 years, which surely provided him with some advantageous experiences and resources not available to other young players. There's really only one development path worth pursuing for Skahan, which is as a stay-at-home defender and penalty killer, but that role will always have a place in the NHL. He's incredibly effective in the way that he plays and he should be able to maintain his success as he continues to move up levels.

10. Julian Lutz

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and limited ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. He’s turning pro and will be heading to the AHL next season, but both he and his club will need to tread carefully about that, after all the missed games and moving around. He needs stability and consistency.

11. Justin Kipkie

The Victoria Royals took a step forward this season, and Kipkie has been a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes right now, and they're not easy minutes, either. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll inflict punishment, too, if challenged.

12. Sam Lipkin

Speaking bluntly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent. Unsurprisingly, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the next season, which he then carried over into two more great campaigns with Quinnipiac, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive athlete who continues to find new ways to round out his game.

13. Artem Duda

Duda's development took an unusual turn last year, when his NCAA eligibility was denied due to prior games played in the KHL, and he opted instead to play at the U Sports level, which is unheard of for a high draft pick his age. Once a well-regarded two-way defender, it will be interesting to see if his development is still on the same pace after a handful of games against relatively weaker competition.

14. Miko Matikka

While Matikka has always been a prospect with intriguing tools, his application of them has been inconsistent. But a 20-goal season in the NCAA last year is no small feat, so the hope is that a new page has been turned. He's a lanky, loose winger who can do damage around the net with both his strength and feel for the puck, and he could become a forceful player if his development breaks just right.

15. Maks Szuber

Hockey in Germany is growing nicely, and Szuber is shaping up to be another example of how well the nation can produce hockey players. His transition to North America this season was so smooth, thanks to all the pro hockey that he played back home, that he earned a callup for his NHL debut. Once seen as a limited defensive defenseman at best, his offensive contributions are improving as he continues to gain experience and confidence.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Utah – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 18:00:12 +0000

TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 30: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Josh Doan (91) follows the play during an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and New York Rangers on March 30, 2024, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

The desert dogs are finally on the move after a tumultuous time in Arizona. The word leaked out the franchise was moving to Utah after the season ended to a surprised hockey world, and the Coyotes players themselves. The state of Utah inherits the third overall prospect pool in the NHL with some prime pieces to build a winner out of. They have graduated two first rounders in Dylan Guenther (9th overall – 2021) and Logan Cooley (3rd – 2022). They own three prospects in the top 20 of McKeen’s prospect ranking including Russian teammates Dimitri Simashev (16th overall), and Daniil But (20th). They are joined by 18th ranked Conor Geekie, who could make the team next season. The fourth prospect at 55th overall is Josh Doan, one of the fastest rising prospects on this list. He has already made a strong impression in scoring nine points in 11 games in an NHL callup. He will also likely graduate next season.

GM Bill Armstrong has largely focused on acquiring picks and prospects in trades over his four years at the helm. He has amassed 14 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds. He also has seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, also in the first three rounds. With new ownership comes a new boss. There was a level of dysfunction in the organization and bringing that to an end will be a benefit. It is an extremely young roster anchored by 25-year-old Clayton Keller. The high draft picks mentioned above are still a couple of years away. It is too early to determine if the philosophy has changed and how impatient the new ownership is to make an impression in Utah. The team has improved in recent seasons, and there are the chips to play if it wants to add more support around the kids.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Dmitri Simashev	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(6th)	63	4	6	10	18
2	Conor Geekie	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	`22(11th)	55	43	56	99	66
3	Daniil But	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(12th)	55	10	11	21	10
4	Josh Doan	RW	22	6-1/183	Tucson (AHL)	`21(37th)	62	26	20	46	32
					Arizona (NHL)	`21(37th)	11	5	4	9	0
5	Maveric Lamoureux	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	`22(29th)	39	9	24	33	53
6	Michael Hrabal	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	`23(38th)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
7	Aku Raty	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	`19(151st)	55	15	29	44	22
8	Julian Lutz	LW	20	6-1/185	Green Bay (USHL)	`22(43rd)	50	24	44	68	71
9	Justin Kipkie	D	18	6-3/195	Victoria (WHL)	`23(160th)	67	16	36	52	35
10	Sam Lipkin	LW	21	6-2/190	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`21(223rd)	39	15	20	35	37
11	Artyom Duda	D	20	6-1/187	Toronto Metro Univ. (Usports)	`22(36th)	12	2	5	7	10
12	Miko Matikka	RW	20	6-3/200	Denver (NCHC)	`22(67th)	43	20	13	33	41
13	Maksymilian Szuber	D	21	6-3/190	Arizona (NHL)	`22(163rd)	1	0	0	0	2
14	Matt Villalta	G	24	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	FA(7/23)	51	31	17	2.54	0.911
15	Nathan Smith	C	25	6-0/177	Tucson (AHL)	T(Wpg-3/22)	60	12	19	31	38

1. Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenseman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

2. Conor Geekie, C, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

It would be hard to overstate just how great of a season Geekie had, especially following his midseason trade to Swift Current. A finalist for WHL Player Of The Year, he was an utterly dominant force since opening night, and provided such a spark for his new Broncos club that they went into the playoffs with red-hot momentum behind them. His puck skills, hands and shot are all high end, and he continues to make essential improvements with his skating ability and how he uses his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time he is incredible to watch. While some time in the AHL might be the best thing for him long-term, it will be very, very hard for the Coyotes to keep him off their roster straight out of training camp.

3. Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling, it’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

5. Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he has looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal, G, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he did struggle and falter at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Aku Raty, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

8. Julian Lutz, LW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and reduced ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. There is a lot to like about him, so he and the new Utah team will need to be careful when figuring out what is the best level for him to play at next season.

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Victoria Royals (WHL)

The Victoria Royals took a nice step forward this season after three straight finishes at the bottom of their division, and Kipkie is a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes on that roster, and they're not exactly easy minutes, either, considering how young that roster is and how frequently they’re playing under siege. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does, which he is more than happy to utilize. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll get emotional and inflict punishment, too, if challenged. His performance faded down the stretch, in lockstep with the rest of his team, but if the Royals are playing meaningful hockey next spring you can expect Kipkie to be a heart-and-soul leader for them.

10. Sam Lipkin, LW, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Speaking bluntly but fairly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable or stand out in any major ways in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is regularly one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent, evidenced in part by them winning the 2021 USHL championship. As such, the now-Utah scouts knew confidently that his growth was in good hands. Quite unsurprisingly, given the environment he was in and the staff he was working with, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the very next season, which he then carried over into two great campaigns with Quinnipiac as well, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive natural athlete who continues to find new ways to round out and elevate his game, which helps open up different NHL pathways for him.

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

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #4

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:00:22 +0000

Top 20 Arizona Coyotes Prospects

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 15: Arizona Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther (11) made his NHL debut during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Arizona Coyotes on October 15, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1. Logan Cooley - C

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of Sidney Crosby's career, and it's almost uncanny how much the former's game has been clearly influenced by the latter. While the former University of Minnesota center doesn't project to become a generational player like Sid has been, Cooley’s game is built around a very similar foundation: ample lower body strength and balance, excellent hockey sense, tenacious competitiveness, sublime puck skill, commitment in all three zones, and an advanced maturity for how he conducts himself. There were some scouts in the industry who argued for him to be the first prospect picked in the 2022 draft, and that argument is even stronger now. Arizona is trying to build things from the ground up (figuratively and literally), and Cooley is about as good as it gets as a foundational piece to build around.

2. Dylan Guenther - RW

Guenther started his 2022-23 season in the NHL and looked right at home, scoring at a nice clip. When Arizona let him go to the World Juniors and then back to the WHL afterwards it wasn't as a punishment — it was to let him stretch his legs a little more, add a gold medal that he didn't already have, maybe get a healthy crack at the Memorial Cup after injuries held him out during the previous year, and finally come back to the NHL as an even better player in 2023-24. It must feel like a punishment to all the junior-aged players he has gone up against though, because he was basically too good for that level already. He lit up the WHL playoffs in Seattle and barely looked like he was breaking a sweat while doing so. He should enjoy the moment, because once he's back in the NHL he won't be leaving again.

3. Dmitri Simashev - D

Simashev is a unicorn of a player, with a tantalizing amount of raw skill contained within a menacing physical package. He is a truly remarkable skater for such a gigantic defenseman. Not only is he explosive in a straight line, with long, flawless strides, but his crossovers and edge work are both essentially perfect. The way that he can pick the puck up behind his own net, reach his top gear within a few steps and then blow down the entire length of the ice without breaking a sweat is simply jaw-dropping. He can also gap up on opponents with ease, and good luck ever dumping the puck into his corner, because he's going to get to it first, quickly pivot, and then use his frame to help him shield the puck. His low point totals might suggest that he's not much of an offensive contributor, but he helps his team enter the attacking zone and set up, and if he sees an opportunity to take the puck all the way to the opposing net himself, he will do so. He also uses his elusive footwork well to control the offensive blueline. All that being said, he probably won't ever be a big point-scorer.

4. Daniil But - LW

When you have a 6’ 5” forward who can skate, shoot, handle the puck, and make plays how do you even begin to describe him? There might not actually be one single trait that But has that is elite, however his overflowing toolbox of very good traits makes him special. It's nearly impossible to miss someone that big during his shifts, yet he makes it even easier to notice him because he covers so much ice all the time with his skyscraper legs and how he works to get them churning to build momentum. He can also create with his hands, whether that's with a long sweeping move to get around a defender or some quick manoeuvring in traffic to maintain possession. He is a major threat on both the rush and in the cycle because he's just so powerful and hard to contain. Sometimes he plays with clever nuance, while at other times he is a bull in a china shop. He's pretty uncoordinated and clumsy right now, although it's obvious that he is still filling out his frame after a big teenage growth spurt. It's almost scary to think of how good But could potentially be when he's done developing.

5. Conor Geekie - C

Geekie did not seem to progress very much last season compared to his draft year, which is concerning when you consider the incredibly favourable situation he has been in, playing on a dominant Winnipeg Ice team. With talented linemates to work with, and opposing defense spread thin with too much to handle, it should have been a feast for a prospect with such an overflowing toolbox. Instead, he blended into the scenery more often than he stood out. Luckily for the Coyotes though, there is still a ton here for their development staff to work with. His puck skills, hands, and shot are all high end, and he should be able to make improvements with his skating ability while using his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time, Geekie is one of the scariest prospects in the country, and getting that to happen more frequently is the long-term focus.

6. Victor Soderstrom - D

After three seasons in North America, Soderstrom has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and questions are beginning to arise about where things are going to go with his career next. It's never a good sign when a player hits a plateau season over season in his early 20s. His mobility and hands are both still assets, but he is having trouble utilizing them in ways that make a positive difference. The offensive production isn't really coming along, and he's struggling with defending and moving pucks out of trouble. At the same time, the whole organization is going through growing pains, so further patience is needed to fully analyse the situation. The Coyotes want Soderstrom to be a key piece on their roster and will likely give him more chances to prove that he can be one.

7. Josh Doan - RW

Doan finds himself in a truly unique situation, not just as the son of a former NHLer who was drafted by the same organization that his father starred for, but also because he is already playing in the same state that his dad helped bring hockey to for the first time. If the built-in expectations and scrutiny created any unwanted pressure, the younger Doan certainly hasn't show that he’s been frightened by its effects. If anything, he seems to relish being a future face of hockey in Arizona. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit, and leadership, and there is little question as to where he gets that from. He'll be a huge part of this organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations, but also as someone that can help instil a positive culture and identity in the locker room.

8. Jan Jenik - C

It's a real shame that Jenik battled through injury issues last season, because if he had stayed healthy, he was on course to have a big breakout season in the NHL. He is one of the most well-rounded and complete players in the Coyotes organization, and it's hard to find any real faults in his game. Coaches love to send him over the boards in various situations because he's always around the puck or involved in the play, battling or thinking his way into earning copious puck touches. When he gets to work in the offensive zone, he is very hard to contain thanks to his size, puck skill, and offensive versatility. Everything about his game just screams long-term professional. Expect him to see a lot of NHL minutes this season if he is healthy.

9. Michael Hrabal - G

Coming up as a dominant, borderline generational netminder in his home country of Czechia, Hrabal is no stranger to expectations. Standing at 6’6”, it doesn’t take much for him to cover the net, even from his knees. His frame covers the twine so well when he’s down in a butterfly that his pads take away the entire bottom of the net. Despite this size, his mobility and footwork are also both big strengths of his. He navigates the crease well, going post-to-post with ease. His feet are very quick, kicking away stray pucks as needed. He has quick hands to match, especially his glove hand. Given his size, he tends to play back in his net too far, so he will need to learn to challenge a bit more to really cut down the amount of net he leaves open, especially when facing better shooters at higher levels. Goaltenders always take a longer path, and he will be no exception. That's not a concern though, as he has all of the tools in place to become a starting netminder in the NHL one day, or at least a likely reliable backup.

10. Maveric Lamoureux - D

Lamoureux missed the first half of last season due to injury, and once he was healthy joined a Voltigeurs team that struggled to climb out of the basement of the league. But what matters most about his profile is that when he was playing, it was in an important role, because he is very much a long-term project who needs as much ice time as possible if he's going to reach his full potential. It's so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and that kind of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skills for success. The hope is that his reach and range will help him eventually grow into a space-dominating player who can log top-four minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders moving around the ice.

11. Artyom Duda - D

In a strange twist of events, Duda has left Russia to pursue a scholarship at the University of Maine. Due to him having played at the KHL level already, there are hurdles to jump through regarding his eligibility, but this move should be great for his development. A smooth skating, two-way defender, Duda was a very high pick in 2022.

12. Julian Lutz - LW

For Lutz, the battle to stay healthy remains his largest hurdle. He has had issues with injuries the last two seasons, and this has prevented him from playing a significant role at the DEL level in Germany. The talent is there. Perhaps a move to North America (like say in the OHL) would be best for his development.

13. Aku Raty - RW

Raty was fantastic in Liiga action last year, finishing among the leading scorers on a strong Ilves team. Now the hard working, complementary winger will be coming to North America to get his first taste of action across the pond. If he has a good camp and performs well in the AHL, he could move through the system quickly.

14. Vladislav Kolyachonok - D

2022-23 was a positive year for Kolyachonok’s development as he emerged as one of Tuscon’s top defensive players. The key to his success remains his strong skating ability and he has a chance to crack the Arizona blueline full time soon.

15. Nathan Smith - C

After starting so well in the NHL after signing at the end of the 2021-22 season, Smith’s first full season in the AHL was a disappointment last year. His upside at the NHL level may be capped, but he needs to become a go-to offensive player with Tuscon first.

16. Sam Lipkin - LW

A former standout with the Chicago Steel, Lipkin had a remarkable freshman year with Quinnipiac. Not only did he capture an NCAA championship, but he was named ECAC rookie of the year. Lipkin is returning to college to continue to improve his skating, but the skill components of his game are progressing nicely.

17. Miko Matikka - RW

Matikka is a big, skilled winger with significant offensive upside. He played in the USHL last year but will be attending the University of Denver this year in hopes of earning a top six role immediately. The question is whether Matikka can improve his off-puck play.

18. Michael Kesselring - D

Acquired from the Oilers in exchange for Nick Bjugstad, Kesselring is a big defender with a surprisingly smooth stride. He saw some time with the big club last year and could be a contender for a permanent roster spot this year.

19. Ilya Fedotov - LW

A competitive winger with skill and upside who finally broke through as a KHL contributor last year. Fedotov has since moved to the SKA organization for next year and is still in Arizona’s long-term plans.

20. Maksymilian Szuber - D

The big German defender improved a lot last year in the DEL, impressing enough to earn both a WC invite and an ELC from the Coyotes. He’ll be loaned back to EHC Munchen again though, where it is hoped that he continues with his rapid progression.

2023 NHL DRAFT: A Review

Chase Rochon — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 14:10:53 +0000

Another long year of amazing hockey has come and passed as we oficially end the 2023 scouting season and shift from the star-studded offensive draft class to the defensive-heavy 2024 NHL draft. This year's class was super fun and had the potential to bring the big stars and deep depth that we saw in the 2015 draft. This makes it very difficult to rank the winners and losers as every team acquired some very talented athletes in their organization that should make an impact for many years to come. Some teams acquired some elite star players at draft positions they didn't think would be possible at lower picks and later rounds. Those picks make the difference between good and great drafting by ﬁnding those diamonds in the rough.

NHL hockey operations departments are made up of the best of the best in the industry and have been through more drafts and different case studies over more years than I have been alive, which creates some hesitation in handing out grades for teams that we felt drafted poorly or passed on talent or upside. It is important to remember that teams take into consideration so many intangibles and factors outside any eye test or analytics can tell us. They have considerable resources and information networks public scouting teams can only dream of.

Most importantly, people need to remember these young athletes are human beings that just had the best week of their lives and treating them disrespectfully and pre-judging a young man that has yet to fully develop mentally and physically is completely unfair. I think every fan base should be showing love and support for the future players that are going to put in blood sweat and tears for the team you cheer for and go to war against the opposition.

With all that in mind, here is how I think all 32 teams performed at the 2023 NHL Draft based on my own rankings as well as the wonderful team at McKeen’s that I have the pleasure working alongside.

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 29: Canada's Connor Bedard #16 backhands the puck while Austria's Tim Geifes #21 defends during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 29, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

#1 Chicago Blackhawks (A+)

1 Connor Bedard (F)

19 Oliver Moore (F)

35 Adam Gajan (G)

44 Roman Kantserov (F)

55 Martin Misiak (F)

67 Nick Lardis (F)

93 Jiri Felcman (F)

99 Alex Pharand (F)

131 Marcel Marcel (F)

167 Milton Oscarson (F)

195 Janne Peltonen (D)

It feels very ﬁtting that the number one ranked team had the number one pick this year in the generational talent of Connor Bedard, who is expected to make an immediate impact. Kyle Davidson clearly agrees by bringing in some veteran support this summer in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno and Corey Perry. This pick was obvious. What makes the Blackhawks stand out is what might be my favourite selection of the entire draft in Oliver Moore at 19th overall, where I, alongside Davidson, was in shock this player was still on the board—followed by selecting one of if not one of the best goaltenders in Adam Gajan. We absolutely loved Nick Lardis at McKeens, and we ﬁnd this to be amazing value in the early third round. Roman Kantserov, Martin Misiak, Alex Pharand and Marcel Marcel are other great pickups to round out the real depth of this draft class for the Blackhawks as they build the next generation in Chicago.

#2 Columbus Blue Jackets (A)

3 Adam Fantilli (F)

34 Gavin Brindley (F)

66 William Whitelaw (F)

98 Andrew Strathmann (D)

114 Luca Pinelli (F)

156 Melvin Strahl (G)

194 Oiva Keskinen (F)

224 Tyler Peddle (F)

The Blue Jackets' dreams came true when Adam Fantilli was still waiting for them at third overall, as the rookie Hobey Baker winner would have been selected ﬁrst overall in any other draft. Followed up by his Michigan teammate Gavin Brindley who we at McKeens had ranked #26. William Whitelaw ranked at #39 by McKeen’s, and Andrew Strathmann, ranked #39 by me, are amazing values. I really like Luca Pinelli at #114 and thought it was a great move to trade for the last pick in the draft and select Tyler Peddle, who was in attendance and should have been selected much higher. This will be the draft that could really put the Blue Jackets over the top to be a future contender in the Metro.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers (A)

7 Matvei Michkov (F)

22 Oliver Bonk (D)

51 Carson Bjarnason (G)

87 Yegor Zavragin (G)

95 Denver Barkey (F)

103 Cole Knuble (F)

120 Alex Ciernik (F)

135 Carter Sotheran (D)

172 Ryan MacPherson (F)

199 Matteo Mann (D)

The Flyers got a player with arguably the highest upside in the class in 7th overall in Matvei Michkov alone, which is enough to rank them this high. Aside from whether there is any truth to rumours that he somehow orchestrated his way to Philadelphia, he was genuinely excited to be drafted by the organization. The possibility that he will be coming to play in North America perhaps sooner rather than later could completely alter the landscape of the rebuild for GM Daniel Briere. They followed up by selecting Oliver Bonk, who our Ontario scouts adore at McKeens, including myself. Bonk will continue to develop in London. The Carson Bjarnson pick could age very well as a good young goaltender with a long road of development ahead. Denver Barkey and Alex Cienik are great value picks at 95th and 120th.

#4 Seattle Kraken (A-)

20 Eduard Sale (F)

50 Carson Rehkopf (F)

52 Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (F)

57 Lukas Dragicevic (D)

84 Caden Price (D)

116 Andrei Loshko (F)

148 Kaden Hammell (D)

168 Visa Vedenpää (G)

180 Zeb Forsfjäll (F)

212 Zaccharya Wisdom (F)

Seattle has been consistently one of the better drafting teams since they entered the league, and they continued that streak in Nashville. Eduard Sale is very much a gamble with questions about his compete lvel and lack of production against pros. However, he possesses elite ﬁnishing ability and was dominant against players his own age. He has a very high ceiling that I believe can be developed properly in the OHL, followed by the development team in Seattle. At the end of the day, with such a great prospect pool, you can take a swing for upside at #20 overall and can add a true top-line ﬁnisher for Shane Wright or Matty Beniers. The Kraken continues to favour the CHL and loaded up with more players in Carson Rehkopf, Lukas Dragicevic and Caden Price in the late second round. They had all been viewed as late ﬁrst/early second round talents. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard has the potential to bring some real energy to the bottom six and PK and become a really good role player for the team. I had him ranked at #30th betting on his high motor and relentless pressure with some ﬁnishing ability.

#5 Carolina Hurricanes (A-)

30 Bradly Nadeau (F)

62 Felix Unger Sörum (F)

94 Jayden Perron (F)

100 Alexander Rykov (F)

126 Stanislav Yarovoy (F)

139 Charles-Alexis Legault (D)

158 Ruslan Khazheyev (G)

163 Timur Mukhanov (F)

190 Michael Emerson (F)

222 Yegor Velmakin (G)

Bradley Nadeau was the highest player selected from the BCHL after having a monster year. He was ranked #27 by McKeens, which makes for a good pick late in the ﬁrst. Where Carolina impressed us was how well they drafted in the later rounds picking up some of the biggest steals of the draft in Jayden Perron who we ranked 34th and Timur Mukhanov ranked 98th. As they typically do, Carolina drafted great to add to the loaded prospect pool.

#6 Buffalo Sabres (A-)

13 Zach Benson (F)

39 Anton Wahlberg (F)

45 Maxim Strbak (D)

86 Gavin McCarthy (D)

109 Ethan Miedema (F)

141 Scott Ratzlaff (G)

173 Sean Keohane (D)

205 Norwin Panocha (D)

Draft after draft Buffalo ﬁnds themselves selecting some great players but I think Zach Benson could be the final elite piece they need to take them back to the playoffs and end the long drought. Benson is the smartest player in the draft after Connor Bedard. They followed up with good picks in Anton Wahlberg and Maxim Strbak. I really like the value of Ethan Miedema and Scott Ratzlaff in rounds 4 and 5.

#7 St. Louis Blues (B+)

10 Dalibor Dvorský (F)

25 Otto Stenberg (F)

29 Theo Lindstein (D)

74 Quinton Burns (D)

76 Juraj Pekarcik (F)

106 Jakub Stancl (F)

138 Paul Fischer (D)

170 Matthew Mayich (D)

202 Nikita Susuyev (F)

Dalibor Dvorský and Otto Stenberg could be an amazing one-two punch down the middle in the near future as the Blues shift towards the future and away from the team that won them the 2019 Stanley Cup. I think Dvorsky and Stenberg both have been underrated as they tend to be looked at as “safe picks” - a term that I sometimes hate because it shouldn’t discount the true skill these players have. Because they are viewed as having lower ceilings than some other top names in the class they fell at the draft, and St. Louis took full advantage and selected the best player available. The rest of the Blues draft was very average, not making any poor selections but also not taking any swings on some big names with upside.

#8 Washington Capitals (B+)

8 Ryan Leonard (F)

40 Andrew Cristall (F)

104 Patrick Thomas (F)

136 Cameron Allen (D)

200 Brett Hyland (F)

206 Antoine Keller (G)

The Capitals may not have had the luck they had hoped for in having Michkov fall to them, but they were very quick to the podium to select the NTDP gritty winger in Ryan Leonard. He brings a hard game and that’s no slight on the raw skill this kid has. After this year’s playoffs, NHL teams are looking to mold their roster after the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights and Leonard ﬁts that profile. Many, including myself, expected Andrew Cristall to fall on draft day but to 40th overall was quite surprising and Washington took full advantage, taking some risk on a junior perimeter player. Going into the draft year we expected Cameron Allen to be the ﬁrst OHL player off the board, but after a brutal season his stock plummeted. It’s hard to believe this talented young player entirely forgot how to play hockey and I think the Caps were willing to take this bet at 136.

#9 Colorado Avalanche (B)

27 Calum Ritchie (F)

31 Mikhail Gulyayev (D)

155 Nikita Ishimnikov (D)

187 Jeremy Hanzel (D)

219 Maros Jedlicka (F)

The Avalanche wouldn’t have expected to select Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev with these very late ﬁrst rounders who we ranked 19th and 24th. This is great value at these picks. I ﬁnd it very interesting that they went with a very smart player who has a low ceiling and a high ﬂoor in Ritchie but then took a bit of a gamble on Gulyayev who is the polar opposite with a high ceiling and low ﬂoor. Not having many picks, and not many high ones, they can consider it a win if Colorado can get a couple NHLers from such minimal selections.

#10 Los Angeles Kings (B)

54 Jakub Dvorak (D)

78 Koehn Ziemmer (F)

118 Hampton Slukynsky (G)

150 Matthew Mania (D)

182 Ryan Conmy (F)

Jakub Dvorak has been such an underrated player all season long because he hasn’t been playing due to injury and is not flashy and doesn’t have much of a highlight reel but he might be the best defensive defenseman to come from this draft class. Big frame players like Dvorak are rare and hard to ﬁnd and are typically viewed as underrated even in the NHL because they are never noticeable with the puck. Dvorak shut down all the top players in the U.S. NTDP top line, Dvorsky, Michkov and even Connor Bedard at international competitions. He makes life so hard for attackers and will be a nightmare for goal scorers in the NHL and people will wonder how he was selected so late. The Kings followed this up with good picks in Koehn Ziemmer and Matthew Mania.

#11 Florida Panthers (B)

63 Gracyn Sawchyn (F)

127 Albert Wikman (D)

159 Olof Glifford (G)

191 Luke Coughlin (D)

198 Stepan Zvyagin (F)

Florida was another team that capitalized on an underrated player who slid on draft day in Gracyn Sawchyn. He played on a star-studded Seattle Thunderbirds team and didn’t get the opportunity to play top minutes but that didn’t stop him from putting up over a point per game. He will continue to grow under a great development program as he gains more ice time and expect him to put up monster numbers in the WHL for the next two seasons.

#12 Dallas Stars (C+)

61 Tristan Bertucci (D)

79 Brad Gardiner (F)

125 Aram Minnetian (D)

157 Arno Tiefensee (G)

189 Angus MacDonell (F)

221 Sebastian Bradshaw (F)

Dallas had very minimal draft capital and made the absolute most of it to no one's surprise as they usually do. Amazing value in Tristan Bertucci and Aram Minnetian.

#13 Vegas Golden Knights (B-)

32 David Edstrom (F)

77 Mathieu Cataford (F)

96 Arttu Kärki (D)

192 Tuomas Uronen (F)

Vegas selecting David Edstrom almost felt destined to happen as the last pick of the first round as we expected him to be selected in the ﬁrst round. Great pick for the Stanley Cup winners. Arttu Karki was also my favorite Finnish defense this year and I think 96 is excellent value for a player of his skill.

#14 San Jose Sharks (B-)

4 Will Smith (F)

26 Quentin Musty (F)

36 Kasper Halttunen (F)

71 Brandon Svoboda (F)

123 Luca Cagnoni (D)

130 Axel Landén (D)

132 Eric Pohlkamp (D)

196 David Klee (F)

203 Yegor Rimashevsky (F)

The Sharks drafted the highly skilled forward Will Smith very high, and I know he has gained some real hype over the past few months to get into the top 5 but personally having him just outside the top 10 makes it very hard to justify so much talent and other options at pick 4. This is a take that really could come back to bite me but I just don't love what Smith and Musty bring to the table outside of the high offensive skill that they clearly both have. In terms of value picks I think Halttunen is the Sharks best pick. If he played in London last season, he would have been called on day one of the draft and still has the opportunity to come over next season and be one of the best players in the league right away. The Sharks drafted very well but 13 other teams just did better.

#15 Calgary Flames (B-)

16 Samuel Honzek (F)

48 Étienne Morin (D)

80 Aydar Suniev (F)

112 Jaden Lipinski (F)

176 Yegor Yegorov (G)

208 Axel Hurtig (D)

The Flames had a solid draft and got a player we can expect the be a safe NHLer in Samuel Honzek that was expected in this range. I think Etienne Mornin could be the steal for them. This is a player that is extremely intelligent, and I personally have a lot of faith will continue to have success in his own development each season and could be viewed as a late ﬁrst rounder in the near future. Aydar Suniev at 80th overall is also great value.

#16 Montréal Canadiens (B-)

5 David Reinbacher (D)

69 Jacob Fowler (G)

101 Florian Xhekaj (F)

110 Bogdan Konyushkov (D)

128 Quentin Miller (G)

133 Sam Harris (F)

144 Yevgeni Volokhin (G)

165 Filip Eriksson (F)

197 Luke Mittelstadt (D)

Montréal might be the most talked about team post draft for all the wrong reasons so being dead in the middle at 16 may come as a surprise to most. The dislike for me comes from picks 101-197 where they took seven guys they could have gotten in rounds 6 or 7, and unfortunately some of those picks were in rounds 4 and 5. Jacob Fowler is a good goalie that could be huge for them, with the organization having such little depth in that department. Now Reinbacher who is the talk of Twitter and unfortunately for terrible reasons. The only argument I can understand against him is that Michkov should have been the pick, but there were many question marks surrounding the Russian and his intentions, leaving the Habs in a situation with lots of uncertainty at pick #5. So, they understandably took a player with a lot of certainty in elite defenseman David Reinbacher. He has been the only player under 18 shutting down grown professional athletes and ex-NHLers for two years. If that's not impressive enough he didn't just defend, he also produced higher than anyone in their DY-2 and DY-1 ever.

David has a good head on his shoulders and will develop all the necessary skills to round out his game to become a high-end defenseman who will eat lots of minutes and make a huge impact. He may not put up great offensive numbers or make highlight reel plays. That's ok, he plays defense for a reason. Leave that for the loads of talented players you already have and let Reinbacher make the other team's life a living hell and win hockey games, because that's what it's all about.

#17 Arizona Coyotes (B-)

6 Dmitri Simashev (D)

12 Daniil But (F)

38 Michael Hrabal (G)

70 Jonathan Castagna (F)

72 Noel Nordh (F)

81 Tanner Ludtke (F)

88 Vadim Moroz (F)

102 Terrell Goldsmith (D)

134 Melker Thelin (G)

160 Justin Kipkie (D)

162 Samu Bau (F)

166 Carsen Musser (G)

Arizona may have not drafted our best player available in their slots, but they took an interesting strategy to this year's draft that might have been the best option based on the current state of the team. Dmitri Simashev was our number one ranked defenseman in the class while Danill But has displayed shades of Evgeni Malkin at times. Both played on the same team this past season. This put Arizona in a safer situation to swing on upside and internally develop them together and could very well be a big payoff. Hrabal is the pick that gives some extra value as my personal favorite goaltender in the class. Drafting all players over 6'0" is another interesting strategy that is hard to disagree with. Middle of the pack supports my mixed feelings on the drafting of the Coyotes.

#18 Winnipeg Jets (C)

18 Colby Barlow (F)

82 Zachary Nehring (F)

146 Jacob Julien (F)

151 Thomas Milic (G)

210 Connor Levis (F)

Winnipeg is facing a lot of potential turnover on their roster this season. Colby Barlow makes an excellent pick for the Jets, bringing in a character Canadian guy, on and off the ice, as a key piece to build upon. You can expect Barlow to score lots of goals in the near future. The rest of the picks are very average, so they receive an average grade.

#19 New York Rangers (C)

23 Gabe Perreault (F)

90 Drew Fortescue (D)

152 Rasmus Larsson (D)

178 Dylan Roobroeck (F)

183 Ty Henricks (F)

Gabe Perreault was good value at 23rd as I thought his production this season would lead to him going much higher than he should have and I think this was a good range for him. A smart player who can be a great complement to some high-end skill just like he did with the NTDP. The rest of the picks were not very average.

#20 Detroit Red Wings (C)

9 Nate Danielson (F)

17 Axel Sandin Pellikka (D)

41 Trey Augustine (G)

42 Andrew Gibson (D)

47 Brady Cleveland (D)

73 Noah Dower Nilsson (F)

117 Larry Keenan (D)

137 Jack Phelan (D)

147 Kevin Bicker (F)

169 Rudy Guimond (G)

201 Emmitt Finnie (F)

Detroit's draft was very interesting to me because I find it hard to criticize Steve Yzerman’s picks which have been excellent in the past with some home runs to show for it. Nate Danielson and Axel-Sandin Pellika are great players who will be NHLers and good ones. They just didn't strike me as the types of players Detroit has recently drafted with some hard nose battlers that are going to be warriors. I think it might take a while for either to become impact playoff players relative to some of the skill still left on the board, such as Oliver Moore at pick #9 and still available at #17. They pass with a C as most other picks were good, but just that they were good and not great, where teams ahead of them made some great picks.

#21 Edmonton Oilers (C)

56 Beau Akey (D)

184 Nathaniel Day (G)

216 Matt Copponi (F)

Beau Akey is a good pick that has a good path in front of him to reﬁne his offensive talents and become a threat from the point for the Colts over the next couple of seasons and get a real chance to make the Oilers. Hard to judge a team with such little options at the draft.

Leo Carlsson of Sweden at a practice session during the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship on May 25, 2023 in Riga.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

#22 Anaheim Ducks (C-)

2 Leo Carlsson (F)

33 Nico Myatovic (F)

59 Carey Terrance (F)

60 Damian Clara (G)

65 Coulson Pitre (F)

85 Yegor Sidorov (F)

97 Konnor Smith (D)

129 Rodwin Dionicio (D)

161 Vojtech Port (D)

I think passing on Fantilli will be something that will haunt Anaheim for a long time and really hurts their grade even though they are getting a great talent in Leo Carlsson. Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing Carlsson being the 2nd best player that comes from this class and when they are a top team in the league soon this selection might be the difference between a contender and a champion. Other than that, Myatovic, Terrance and Pitre are solid picks.

#23 Vancouver Canucks (D+)

11 Tom Willander (D)

75 Hunter Brzustewicz (C-)

89 Sawyer Mynio (D)

105 Ty Mueller (F)

107 Vilmer Alriksson (F)

119 Matthew Perkins (F)

171 Aiden Celebrini (D)

Willander was ranked 23rd by us at McKeens and is a great defenseman who happens to be in a star studded offensive heavy draft. I think the Canuks were guilty of drafting for need rather than best player available and that affected the grade. Other than that, there isn’t too much to like in the class other than Hunter Brzustewicz at 75 was a great selection.

#24 Nashville Predators (C-)

15 Matthew Wood (F)

24 Tanner Molendyk (D)

43 Felix Nilsson (F)

46 Kalan Lind (F)

68 Jesse Kiiskinen (F)

83 Dylan MacKinnon (D)

111 Joseph Willis (F)

121 Juha Jatkola (G)

143 Sutter Muzzatti (F)

175 Austin Roest

218 Aiden Fink

Nashville was the host of this year’s draft and advised by new GM Barry Trotz in an interview to take some swings on high upside to add some high-end skill to the prospect pool. Well, they just didn’t do any of that and delivered a mediocre draft outside of top prospect Matthew Wood. What makes their draft so disappointing is that after 10 consecutive picks, the next best value pick was David Poiles last pick in Aiden Fink in the 7th round. Expectations were high and far from reached.

#25 Tampa Bay Lightning (D)

37 Ethan Gauthier (F)

115 Jayson Shaugabay (F)

179 Warren Clark (D)

193 Jack Harvey (F)

211 Ethan Hay (F)

Tampa will ﬁnd a way to develop these players, especially Ethan Gauthier, because that’s what they do best within their system. I just believe they could have done it with the better options available and left talent on the table with every pick.

#26 New Jersey Devils (D+)

58 Lenni Hämeenaho (F)

122 Cam Squires (F)

154 Chase Cheslock (D)

164 Cole Brown (F)

186 Daniil Karpovich (D)

New Jersey was very inactive and didn’t take many swings this year and they are in a situation where they didn’t need to. Lenni Hameenaho was ranked 84 for us at McKeens and was a bit of a reach.

#27 Ottawa Senators (D)

108 Hoyt Stanley (D)

140 Matthew Andonovski (D)

204 Owen Beckner (F)

207 Vladimir Nikitin (G)

215 Nicholas VanTassell (F)

Ottawa did not have many picks and none very high. Hoyt Stanley is the only pick which has had some hype going into the draft and been noticeable this season. I wouldn’t expect anyone from the class to make the roster.

#28 Pittsburgh Penguins (D-)

14 Brayden Yager (F)

91 Emil Pieniniemi (D)

142 Mikhail Ye. Ilyin (F)

174 Cooper Foster (F)

217 Emil Järventie (F)

223 Kalle Kangas (D)

Another situation where good players were selected but when I look at this class, and Emil Jarventie is the best value pick in the 7th round, that is an issue for me. Yes, Brayden Yager is an excellent player with a deadly shot and a good head on his shoulders. It’s hard to give high grades when top 5-10 talents were still available where he was picked. This strikes me as more of a situation where the Penguins scouting staff were left to make the pick, more so than Dubas, and they went with the guy they targetted going into the draft rather than the best player available.

#29 Toronto Maple Leafs (D-)

28 Easton Cowan (F)

153 Hudson Malinoski (F)

185 Noah Chadwick (D)

The Easton Cowan pick is very difficult to grade because it really could go both ways. I understand the pick because you’re getting, debatably, the hardest working player in the class whose development is skyrocketing at a high pace under the teachings of the Hunters in London. You can expect this growth to continue over the next couple seasons. It woudl appear the Leafs aren’t selecting the 28th best player currently and are banking on Cowan being a ﬁrst round talent in 3-5 years, an approach I agree with. The issue I have with this pick is I really think you could have selected him later, and possibly much later. The 2nd round Is still a reach but at least you’re not leaving talent on the table in this deep draft and getting the maximum value out of each pick. I just think this was some poor asset management and the Leafs just focused on getting their guy. Time will be the true indicator.

#30 New York Islanders (D)

49 Danny Nelson (F)

113 Jesse Nurmi (F)

145 Justin Gill (F)

177 Zach Schulz (D)

209 Dennis Good Bogg (D)

Islanders drafted some good leadership in a pair of Captains in Danny Nelson and Zach Shulz. When that is the best thing to be said about the selections that is an issue.

#31 Boston Bruins (F+)

92 Christopher Pelosi (F)

124 Beckett Hendrickson (F)

188 Ryan Walsh (F)

214 Casper Nässén (F)

220 Kristian Kostadinski (D)

Beckett Hendrickson is the only reason they aren’t ranked 32nd.

#32 Minnesota Wild (F)

21 Charlie Stramel (F)

53 Rasmus Kumpulainen (F)

64 Riley Heidt (F)

149 Aaron Pionk (D)

181 Kalem Parker (D)

213 Jimmy Clark (F)

The Wild are the only team that gets an F grade. It’s not because I don't like the players in Charlie Stramel and Rasmus Kumpulainen because they are prospects I had on my personal board, but it’s very hard to justify these picks with the options still available on the board at the time of the picks. These are just too far off the board to not trade back and still get the player you want. We at McKeens ranked both these players as 3rd round talents.