Frank Nazar – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Young players who could have surprising value late in the season like Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault, Jimmy Snuggerud, Michael Misa, Marco Rossi and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, young players who could have surprising value late in the season like Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault, Jimmy Snuggerud, Michael Misa, Marco Rossi and so much more!

#1 Even though the New York Rangers’ season has gone sideways, they are potentially a very interesting team down the stretch, as new players get better opportunities to play big roles. One of the players who is heating up is Alexis Lafreniere, who has 11 points (6 G, 5 A) and 16 shots on goal while averaging more than 19 minutes per game in his past six games. The first overall pick in the 2020 Draft is up to 44 points (19 G, 25 A) in 65 games, giving him a chance to surpass his career high of 57 points, set in 2023-2024. Not only is Lafreniere playing on the top power play unit, but he’s on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and…

#2 Rangers rookie Gabe Perreault, who was a first-round pick in 2023, has spent time in the American Hockey League during his first pro season. He had 17 points (10 G, 7 A) in 20 games with Hartford and Perreault managed a modest eight points in his first 26 games for the Rangers but has started to step into a bigger offensive role, especially once Artemi Panarin was removed from the Rangers lineup. In his past six games, Perreault has nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 15 shots on goal while playing first line and first unit power play for the Blueshirts. This is how it’s supposed to go for a team that is out of the race – they should use the rest of the season to give their skilled young players better offensive opportunities, and it appears that Perreault is ready to make the most of his opportunity.

#3 That’s not unlike what is happening with St. Louis Blues rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud. The 2022 first-round pick has been with the Blues all season, but he is now riding shotgun with Robert Thomas on both the top line and first unit power play. In his past 14 games, Snuggerud has 19 points (8 G, 11 A) and 37 shots on goal and has moved up to fifth in rookie scoring with 34 points (15 G, 19 A) in 53 games. Considering who is available to fill the prime roles in St. Louis, Snuggerud looks like he should stay on the top line for the rest of the season.

#4 The San Jose Sharks have been patient with rookie Michael Misa, the second pick in the 2025 Draft, but as the team continues to push for a playoff spot, the 19-year-old centre is turning into a big contributor. In eight games since the Olympic break, Misa has seven points (4 G, 3 A) and 10 shots on goal. Certainly, the scoring would be more sustainable with a higher shot rate, but he is starting to become a factor while skating on a line with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli and Misa is a highly skilled player who is going to thrive as he gets more ice time with quality linemates.

#5 Coming into season, Matias Maccelli looked like he was getting a good opportunity in Toronto and might have had the chance to play on the top line as a lower-cost replacement for Mitch Marner. While that hasn’t happened as often as might have been hoped, Maccelli has stepped up lately. Since the beginning of February, he has 11 points (7 G, 4 A) with 22 shots on goal in 11 games and he gets second unit power play time while currently skating on a line with Nicholas Robertson and AHL call-up Bo Groulx.

#6 There is a bit of a run of injuries hitting teams late in the season and it could provide opportunities to find value. In Colorado, captain Gabriel Landeskog is out week to week with a lower-body injury after taking a shot in a tender spot from teammate Cale Makar. With Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen out, it appears that the Avs are going to slide Nazem Kadri to left wing on the top line, which is a prime opportunity for Kadri to get going offensively. He had a little slump at the end of his tenure in Calgary, so Kadri has just two points (1 G, 1 A) despite recording 23 shots on goal in his past seven games.

#7 Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews took a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas on Thursday night and Matthews is going to be out for at least a couple of weeks before his status is re-evaluated. The Leafs are 11 points out of a playoff spot, so there is zero incentive to rush Matthews back into the lineup. John Tavares will naturally move up the depth chart, but Max Domi probably needs to slide into the second-line centre role. This shuffling could mean an opening in Toronto’s top six for someone like Nicholas Robertson or Matias Maccelli.

#8 The Ottawa Senators lost defenceman Jake Sanderson on a week-to-week basis after suffering an upper-body injury from a hit by Seattle Kraken defenceman Brandon Montour. Sanderson has been a standout performer on the Senators blueline this season, so it’s going to be a big loss to have him out of the lineup while the Sens are trying to rally for a playoff spot but with Sanderson out, veteran Thomas Chabot will take over the quarterback role on Ottawa’s No. 1 power play. Chabot has six points (1 G, 5 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past six games and played a season-high 28:32 against Montreal on Wednesday.

#9 No team has seen their season crash harder than the Vancouver Canucks, but centre Marco Rossi is getting acclimated to his new squad. He does have six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past five games, but that also comes with just four shots on goal. Even if Rossi isn’t a high-volume shooter, he needs to generate more than that. He gets first unit play time for the Canucks and is skating on a line with Liam Ohgren and Brock Boeser. Given the struggles of Elias Pettersson, the Canucks need a centre to generate offence and Rossi is at least a viable answer to that problem.

#10 Continuing the theme of young players on teams outside the playoff picture, consider Chicago Blackhawks centre Frank Nazar, who has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 12 shots on goal during a five-game point streak. Nazar gets time on PP1 in Chicago while skating between veteran wingers Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, so he is going to get his chances to continue scoring. Nazar is up to 32 points (10 G, 22 A) in 49 games this season, despite scoring on 9.5 percent of his shots on goal, a relatively low rate for a skilled player in a top six role.

#11 As the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to hunt down a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, centre Adam Fantilli is elevating his production. In his past 10 games, he has 11 points (6 G, 5 A) with 25 shots on goal while averaging 19:53 of ice time per game. He has ascended to the role of first line centre in Columbus and currently has Cole Sillinger and Kirill Marchenko on his wings at even strength. For a little extra fantasy appeal, Fantilli has recorded 20 hits in those 10 games, giving him 105 hits in 65 games this season.

#12 Moving to a veteran winger on a top team, the Buffalo Sabres’ Jason Zucker continues to fly under the radar – available in many leagues – largely because he’s in a secondary role with the Sabres, but he’s crushing it. In his past six games, Zucker has seven points (5 G, 2 A) with 18 shots on goal. He has hit 20 goals for the eighth time in his career, and he has a good thing going on a line with Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn.

#13 New Jersey Devils winger Connor Brown is getting a fantastic opportunity late in the season, skating on right wing of a line with Jack Hughes at centre and Jesper Bratt at left wing. In his past six games, Brown has six points (1 G, 5 A) and 11 shots on goal and he’s playing nearly 19 minutes per game, so the opportunities are there for Brown to have a bigger impact down the stretch.

#14 As the Boston Bruins continue to battle for a playoff spot, veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson has shown that he can be a valuable contributor. In his past eight games, he has eight points (4 G, 4 A) with 18 shots on goal. He’s skating on a line with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, a veteran trio that might not attract a lot of attention, but they have been getting the job done. Among lines that have played at least 300 five-on-five minutes, the Bruins’ trio ranks fourth with 69.7 GF%, ranking fifth in both goals for and goals against per 60 minutes.

#15 Getting a shot on the Dallas Stars’ top line, Mavrik Bourque is starting to show that he can be a bona fide scorer in the NHL. Bourque has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) and 31 shots on goal in his past 12 games and getting the chance to skate alongside Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson is a prime opportunity for Bourque to deliver in a primary role that can benefit both the player and team in the long run. With Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz out of the lineup with injuries, the Stars needed someone to step up and Bourque has done it.

#16 The Penguins seem to have found something with their acquisition of Yegor Chinakhov, who they acquired from Columbus for Danton Heinen and a second-round pick. In his past 17 games, Chinakhov has put up 15 points (8 G, 7 A) and 48 shots on goal, which is very encouraging for him being able to contribute long-term for the Penguins. Right now, he’s on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, but the Penguins are still missing an injured Sidney Crosby and suspended Evgeni Malkin.

#17 Back to the theory of young players on non-playoff teams, Matthew Wood is showing some intriguing upside for the Nashville Predators. In his past 11 games, Wood has nine points (6 G, 3 A) and 20 shots on goal. He has moved around the lineup in his first NHL season, including time on the Predators’ top line but, right now, he is working on a line with fellow youngsters Reid Schaefer and Zachary L’Heroux.

#18 Even though he is not the primary scoring option on the blueline for the Buffalo Sabres, a role that is occupied by Rasmus Dahlin, defenceman Bowen Byram continues to provide value for fantasy managers. In his past 10 games, Byram has eight assists and 20 shots on goal and is playing nearly 24 minutes per game, which is not exactly the profile of a second-tier defender.

#19 The New York Rangers were missing Adam Fox for a while – he has since returned to the lineup – but Vladislav Gavrikov moved into a more offensive role, scoring 10 points (4 G, 6 A) with 19 shots on goal in a dozen games. With Fox active again, Gavrikov may not hold quite as much value, but he’s playing 23 minutes a game for a Rangers team that is still relatively productive.

#20 Former Calgary Flames defencemen are struggling. Rasmus Andersson has just a couple of points and 11 shots on goal in his past 10 games and he’s not the primary option on the blueline in Vegas the same way that he was in Calgary. Mackenzie Weegar has been struggling, too. He has just one assist and six shots on goal in his past seven games, the past four of which have been with the Utah Mammoth since he was acquired at the trade deadline. Neither of these ex-Flames defenders is the primary blueline option on their new teams, so their fantasy appeal is not nearly as solid as it was during their best days with the Flames.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – An 18-year-old defenceman who is already a star, goaltenders stepping up, Zegras making an impact in Philadelphia, and more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 17:45:04 +0000

ELMONT, NY - OCTOBER 11: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) warms up before a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders at UBS Arena on October 11, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, an 18-year-old defenceman who is already a star, goaltenders stepping up, Zegras making an impact in Philadelphia, and more!

#1 The first overall pick in the 2025 Draft by the New York Islanders, 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer has been incredibly impressive to start his NHL career, registering eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 31 shots on goal in his first 10 games. The last 18-year-old defenceman to score at a higher rate over a full season was Phil Housley, who had 66 points (19 G, 47 A) in 77 games in 1982-1983. The last 18-year-old defenceman to average more than three shots on goal per game was Bobby Orr, in 1966-1967. It’s very early in Schaefer’s career and 10 games is not a big enough sample to determine a player’s fate, but what if this is only the beginning? What if he improves on what could be historically great production? That is the potential that lurks for the Islanders and fantasy managers alike.

#2 When the Florida Panthers drafted Spencer Knight with the 13th overall pick in 1999, he was one of the top up-and-coming goalie prospects in the game. It has not been a smooth path for him, but the Chicago Blackhawks acquired him last season and he seems to have found his game this season. He has a .914 save percentage and 8.72 Goals Saved Above Expected in all situations, which ranks third behind Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (9.58 GSAx) and Montreal’s Jakub Dobes (8.89 GSAx).

#3 With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was injured in the preseason, the Buffalo Sabres thrust Alex Lyon into the role of starting goaltender and Lyon, who has been a career backup, has responded to the challenge. He has delivered a .912 save percentage and 3.24 GSAx, which could make it difficult for Luukkonen to reclaim the crease. His case was not bolstered by allowing four goals on 23 shots at Toronto in his season debut.

#4 When the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Trevor Zegras in the summer, it was seen as a risk worth taking. Zegras is a highly skilled playmaker but had just 32 points (12 G, 20 A) in 57 games for Anaheim last season. He has had two seasons with more than 60 points, so it’s clear that he can do better, and he is at least off to a productive start in Philadelphia, contributing 12 points (4 G, 8 A) and 16 shots on goal in 10 games. His low shot rate is a concern, but it’s good to see him putting up points early because it will help him stay in a prominent role with the Flyers.

#5 A 27-year-old right winger who had played a total of 95 regular-season games prior to this season, Justin Brazeau is making the most of his opportunity with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s not like he is suddenly playing a ton, though this season’s 13:29 ATOI would be the highest of his career, but he has mostly played a second-line role alongside Evgeni Malkin and Brazeau has 12 points (6 G, 6 A) with 22 shots on goal in 12 games. Brazeau also has 17 hits and 12 blocked shots, which gives him a solid statistical base, but if he could see that ice time creep up a little bit more then there is a better chance for his production to be sustainable. Even if he’s not a point-per-game player over the long haul, if Brazeau scores 20-plus goals that would have to be considered a major step forward in his career.

#6 There is a bigger window for Brazeau to get comfortable in a top six forward role for the Penguins because Rickard Rakell will be out for 6-to-8 weeks following hand surgery. Rakell had eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 17 shots on goal in nine games before getting hurt, and rookie Filip Hallander has moved onto Sidney Crosby’s line in Rakell’s absence. It’s too soon to recommend Hallander, but he does have a couple of assists in the past four games, so he’s worth keeping an eye on for managers in deep leagues.

#7 Chicago Blackhawks centre Frank Nazar had a strong start to the season but that has continued. Nazar has 11 points (5 G, 6 A) in 11 games and is averaging 19:37 of ice time per game, ranking second among Blackhawks forwards behind only Connor Bedard. There is some valid concern about his percentages as he is scoring on 21.7 percent of his shots on goal and has a five-on-five on-ice shooting percentage of 14.8 percent, both of which are quite lofty and highly likely to regress.

#8 The Vancouver Canucks have lost right winger Conor Garland to an undisclosed injury and when Brock Boeser had to leave Thursday’s game against the Blues early, that provided even more ice time for blue collar winger Kiefer Sherwood, who played a career high 24:12 against the Blues and recorded a hat trick, giving him nine goals in 12 games. He’s also a hitting machine, with 54 in 12 games after recording 462 last season, so he is very valuable in fantasy circles.

#9 Columbus Blue Jackets winger Dmitri Voronkov made nice progress last season, going from 34 points as a rookie in 2023-2024 to 47 points (23 G, 24 A) last season, and it looks like he’s on track to continue that upward momentum in his third season. He has 10 points (5 G, 5A) and 21 shots on goal in 10 games and has a spot on Columbus’ top line with Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko as well as getting first unit power play time, good spots for him to remain productive.

#10 The Seattle Kraken are off to a solid start and they are giving 2024 eighth overall pick Berkly Catton a legitimate chance to stick, especially with Kaapo Kakko and Jared McCann both injured. Catton has three assists in five games and is skating at left wing on Seattle’s top line with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle. Catton had 225 points (92 G, 133 A) in 125 games across the past two seasons in the Western Hockey League, so he has strong offensive pedigree, and the Kraken could definitely use more offensive skill.

#11 Veteran winger Marcus Johansson has reached a stage of his career where he can move into a variety of roles. He’s a skilled player who might just fit in near the bottom of the depth chart, but he knows his way around the offensive zone, so if there are openings he can move up and, right now, he is skating on Minnesota’s top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi. Johansson has five points (2 G, 3 A) in his past four games and played more than 22 minutes against San Jose on Sunday.

#12 As the Calgary Flames look for answers, and no easy ones seem to be forthcoming, they are giving Morgan Frost a shot at right wing alongside Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau. Frost has five points (1 G, 4 A) during a five-game point streak, which is a good way to hold onto a spot higher on the depth chart. He has had two seasons with more than 40 points in his career, but never more than 46, so it’s fair to be cautious about just how much he can produce over the long haul.

#13 Knowing primarily for his checking prowess, Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli put up a career-high 59 points (27 G, 32 A) last season and has started strong this season, too. Through 11 games, Cirelli has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and 19 shots on goal. He is scoring on 41.6 percent of his shots, a ridiculously high rate, so that is going to regress, but with Brandon Hagel on his left side, he has a reliable linemate. The right side is more of a revolving door, but Cirelli is a solid source of secondary offence for Tampa Bay.

#14 When the Los Angeles Kings traded defenceman Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators in the offseason, that created more of an opening for Brandt Clarke to have a regular spot on the Kings blueline. Clarke has five points (1 G, 4 A) and 10 shots on goal in his past four games, which is a promising sign for a young offensive defenceman. The challenge will be finding his way to the Kings’ top power play unit, where he can maximize his offensive output, but is currently running with five forwards.

#15 The Pittsburgh Penguins traded to acquire Arturs Silovs in the offseason, desperately hoping that he could help stabilize their goaltending. Incumbent starter Tristan Jarry was coming off a down season, during which he was demoted to the AHL, but now the Jarry and Silovs tandem is giving the Penguins a chance to win almost every night, as the Penguins’ .921 save percentage is best in the league. Silovs, who struggled in Vancouver last season before starring during Abbotsford’s run to the Calder Cup in the AHL, has a .919 save percentage in six games for Pittsburgh, splitting time in the crease with Jarry.

#16 Sometimes, the right partner can help steady goaltending. It’s happening in Columbus, too, as Jeat Greaves has emerged as a quality option for the Blue Jackets, but Elvis Merzlikins also has a .915 save percentage in five games. After three consecutive seasons of below average performance, he is off to a good start in 2025-2026 and it might be a case of less is more. He’s more effective when sharing the crease rather than trying to handle a full starter’s workload.

#17 Veteran left winger Jaden Schwartz has helped the Kraken to a good start this season, contributing nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 19 shots on goal through the first 10 games. He is a six-time 20-goal scorer and last season’s 26 goals was the second highest total of his career, so he has known his way around the net for a long time and on a team without offensive stars, like the Kraken, they need solid veterans like Schwartz to deliver.

#18 Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine suffered a core muscle injury that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for 3-4 months, a tough financial hit for him considering that his contract expires at the end of the season. He wasn’t off to much of a start this season anyway, with one assist and six shots on goal in five games. If looking for sources of secondary scoring in Montreal, maybe Oliver Kapanen will have a chance because he has taken over as the second line centre, between Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov and Kapanen has seven points (4 G, 3 A) in 11 games despite playing just 12:24 per game.

#19 With standout Nashville Predators defenceman Roman Josi considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Brady Skjei moves into his spot on Nashville’s top power play unit. He has just three assists and 17 shots on goal in 12 games, but Skjei is playing more than 23 minutes per game and if he is getting time on PP1, then that’s always worth considering. Skjei had 10 power play points, out of 33 points total, last season, so when the opportunity presents itself, he can contribute with the man advantage.

#20 Staying in Nashville, rookie winger Matthew Wood has landed a spot alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly on the Predators’ top line and he is not playing a lot yet, he does have a goal and an assist with 11 shots on goal in five games. If he proves that he belongs and can lift his ice time from the current 12:40 per game that he is playing, then Wood – the 15th pick in the 2023 Draft – could have a chance to provide value.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:46:45 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 02: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Despite being Connor Bedard’s second season in the NHL and the grand designs management had for taking a big step towards returning to the playoffs, the 2024-25 season couldn’t have been a bigger disappointment all-around for Chicago. The Blackhawks finished with 61 points, a nine-point improvement over 2023-2024, and had the second worst record in the league to San Jose for the second straight season. General manager Kyle Davidson’s plan to surround Bedard and the rest of their younger players with veterans fell flat and stunted their prospects’ growth in ways. Chicago had the league’s worst metrics at five-on-five regarding CorsiFor percentage (44.1) and expected goals for percentage (43.0) and they allowed the most goals (207). Oddly enough, they had the league’s seventh best power play and were middle of the road (14th) in penalty killing. The Blackhawks must show sizable progress this year or else management changes could be on the horizon at a vital time.

What’s Changed?

The Blackhawks will move ahead with new head coach Jeff Blashill. The former Red Wings bench boss comes in after he was an assistant for Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay for the past three seasons and with such a young team to work with, it’ll be up to him to guide Bedard and company into the next level. Changes were kept to a minimum on the ice, however. Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez retired. They brought back Sam Lafferty in a trade with Buffalo and added forward Andre Burakovsky from Seattle for Joseph Veleno to give their top six more speed and skill. In free agency, their biggest moves were retaining and locking up their own guys. Ryan Donato re-signed for four years, $16 million and they extended young star-to-be Frank Nazar for seven years, $46.13 million. What will make this team look different are their own prospects who will get more run. Forwards like Nazar, Oliver Moore and Lukas Reichel will get more play as will defencemen Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov.

What Would Success Look Like?

If things break right for Chicago, they’ll play fast and exciting hockey and allow their younger players to be creative. Blashill’s arrival as head coach comes with a history of developmental success with USA Hockey as well as the lessons learned from coaching in Detroit and assisting in Tampa Bay. If that translates into Bedard living up to his potential and becoming an elite No. 1 center, it’ll be worth the pain they dealt with last season. But it starts with Bedard and has to trickle down to the other young players to take big steps. From Korchinski to Levshunov to Nazar, all of them must improve noticeably and get Chicago out of the Central Division basement and into the wild card picture.

What Could Go Wrong?

The trouble with youth is that they don’t all break through at the same time and sometimes they don’t break through at all. Although last year’s team was built around veterans playing the role of guiding hands, this season will lean heavily on the cadre of top prospects they’ve added over the years. If we’ve learned anything from other teams going through the same thing in the past it’s that not everyone can keep up. If Bedard struggles again this season, it’ll be a crushing turn of events because everything is built around his eventual rise to the level of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid-like ability. Other young guys can go through the motions, but Bedard cannot this season, especially with a big extension due to him soon.

Top Breakout Candidate

Last season, Frank Nazar had 26 points in 53 games upon being called up from the AHL where he had 24 points in 21 games in Rockford. What we saw out of him was a guy who could give some juice to Bedard and allowed Chicago to have a top line that could have some fun playing hockey. He’ll be counted upon to center his own line this season and if he has the same kind of jump to his game, it’ll make the new contract he signed look like a bargain in no time.

FORWARDS

Connor Bedard

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	35	50	85	1.04

The honeymoon phase is over for the former first overall pick. It’s hard to think of a lot of 19-year-olds with two 60+ point seasons in the NHL where the discussion around them is so negative, but the burden of expectations is weighing heavily on Bedard right now. Touted as a generational talent, it’s easy to see why the world is expected of him. He looks like a threat to score whenever he’s on the ice and has vision that even some of the most talented players in the world can only dream of. It just hasn’t resulted in elite results yet for him. His rookie season was promising enough, albeit derailed from a broken jaw, and the feeling was that he has stagnated since. He has a lethal wrist shot but hasn’t been able to score from distance like he did in junior, his defensive play is heavily scrutinized and he’s not a fast skater, so his flaws started to get noticed more. The one thing Bedard is elite at right now is gaining entry with possession, setting up rush chances for his teammates. This can get overlooked because he doesn’t always get on the scoresheet, but the elite skill is there. The Hawks also didn’t generate chances at an elite rate off Bedard’s entries, which is a combination of him not figuring out how to score from distance yet, knowing when to pass after gaining the line and maybe taking the puck to the net more. His defensive play is something that can get better as he gets older but figuring out how to stop leaving so much offence on the table from their star player should be the first priority for Chicago.

Teuvo Teravainen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	16	37	53	0.68

Teravainen’s reunion with the Hawks went nicely, although maybe a little different than how they anticipated. They started the year with him as the primary linemate and setup guy for Connor Bedard and the two barely saw any time together at even strength after October. After the split, Teravainen spent most of his time on a more defensive-oriented line with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. This played to his strengths, as Teravainen is one of the better two-way wingers in hockey with his awareness in the defensive zone and knack for breaking plays up at the last second. Even strength production is his one concern going forward, as almost half of his points came on the power play last season. This is something that could go either way this coming season because if Bedard and the Hawks power play improves, Teravainen will reap the benefits. He has been a power play mainstay for most of his career, acting as the quarterback from the right wall and that should continue into next season. Not needing a lot of puck touches to be effective makes Teravainen an easy player to move around the lineup, so he is going to be a key piece as the Hawks try to break out of what has been a brutal rebuilding period. His late season chemistry with youngster Frank Nazar was encouraging to see if you’re looking for something to build on for the upcoming season.

Ryan Donato

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	25	28	53	0.65

Having a shoot-first mentality has its benefits and Ryan Donato reaped the reward of it. The 31 goals he scored last season awas a career high at any level he has played at and the first time he has ever scored more than 20 in the NHL. He also more than doubled his career high in points. It’s hard to call it a breakout season since he’s 29 years old with almost 500 games under his belt, but you have to give credit where it's due. Donato has always been blessed with great hands and for years he only got to show it during shootouts or penalty shots. Last year things just fell into place for him, getting lots of ice-time with Bedard or other playmakers like Teravainen and consistently finding ways to get open. His own playmaking game also improved, excelling at the give-and-go game and finding the soft spots in the coverage. He might have been Bedard’s best friend by the end of the season because he gave him some form of linemate consistency after months of trial and error early in the season. The Hawks certainly valued it, opting to re-sign him instead of trading him during a career season. The shooting mindset has always been part of his game, having some moderate success with it during his brief stint with the Kraken, but his results last year were somewhat unprecedented. He’s never had a linemate as good as Bedard, with the closest thing possibly being Adam Fox back in his Harvard days. Repeating this now that teams might have more of a book on him is going to be the challenge.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	24	21	45	0.55

Bringing in Tyler Bertuzzi made a lot of sense on paper. A tough, net-front player with some finesse is who most teams want to pair their stars with. The match didn’t go according to plan, mostly because Bertuzzi spent most of the first half of the season with Taylor Hall and an assortment of centers instead of Bedard. The duo only played together on the power play and even then, there wasn’t much chemistry with Bertuzzi playing a stationary role in front of the net and the Hawks having trouble creating any puck movement. He had scored only five goals in his first 21 games but began to turn a corner after the Hawks made a coaching switch. He started to get more regular minutes with Bedard and had a nice run in the middle of the season which helped Bertuzzi hit the 20-goal mark again. His fit with the Hawks outside of the offensive zone was a little awkward because he’s a smart player who knows where to be, but doesn’t skate or pass the puck well while the play is moving forward. It makes automatically putting him with Bedard a quandary because there might be better, less limited options there, but you also don’t want Bertuzzi to be a drag on your second line, as he was for most of the season. In the second year of a four-year contract, the Hawks have some time to figure this out.

Frank Nazar

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	24	32	56	0.73

If you watched any of Nazar’s games and timed his shifts in the AHL, he would be close to 23-25 minutes a night. The Hawks didn’t give him that level of leeway, but the youngster did get regular second line minutes along with time on both special teams units. Nazar showed a little of everything in his prolonged call-up stint. You saw some of the game-breaking skill, especially off the rush. The deception he showed with some of the goals he scored without a pass was impressive and as his playmaking continues to develop, he should be a great dual threat on the Hawks second line. He slowly got more comfortable in the NHL game as the season went on. He was primarily a rush threat early on and getting better at creating off second chances in the offensive zone. Stealing pucks was one of his trademarks both in college and the NHL and he’s still developing strength to do it effectively at the NHL level. He also protects the puck well in open ice, allowing him to create some dangerous shots in tight spaces, but he did have some plays die when defencemen played the body on him. There is a lot of tenacity in Nazar’s game, he’s always the first to loose pucks and wants the play to run through him. It bodes well for his future because he has a lot of skill and has the will to play more of a grinding game, now it’s all about getting stronger so he can do it more effectively against NHLers.

Andre Burakovsky

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	14	26	40	0.53

As the hunt for more scoring continues, the Hawks are taking a small risk by adding Burakovsky for the final two years of his contract. He was arguably the most disappointing of the Kraken’s free agent signings, struggling to stay healthy and produce during his time there. Last year was his first in which he was mostly healthy and he didn’t come close to what they were expecting out of him. Burakovsky’s calling card is his strength in transition, he’s excellent at creating offence off the rush and the challenge has been becoming less of a perimeter player. His skill level with the puck is borderline elite, as he can anticipate plays from the outside better than almost everyone. It’s what makes him lethal and also very frustrating to watch because he tries a lot of plays that are very difficult to execute, and it doesn’t always workout. He almost never drives play well enough to make up for it either, so it’s really up to the team to decide if the positives outweigh the negatives with him. His skillset in transition meshes well with the style the Hawks want to play, so this is a good spot for Burakovsky to turn his career around. He’s never been a top line guy, playing in the 15-16 minute range even during his best years with the Avalanche, so he might be more of what the Hawks already have if his struggles to find the back of the net continue.

Lukas Reichel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
67	9	15	24	0.36

As the new prospects come in, old ones will be phased out and Reichel is dangerously close to the line there. Not producing much in his three NHL seasons, he’s been mostly seen as a disappointment as a former first round pick. Transitioning from being the best player on their AHL club for years to a complementary piece isn’t easy, as he’s used to having the puck on his stick all the time and having everything go through him. This could work for him in the NHL, but Reichel has yet to figure out how to score with any consistency or use his teammates well. The only thing he’s really excelled at is carrying the puck through the neutral zone, which is a good skill to have, but it becomes less of a factor when your defensive game isn’t great, and you aren’t scoring either. Last year was all about finding a role for him and the Hawks couldn’t seem to get him going no matter what they tried. He’s proven in international tournaments that he can be a complementary piece and play well away from the puck, but the NHL is a different animal. With a new wave of prospects coming in, this season is likely Reichel’s last chance to prove he can be part of the solution for the Hawks.

Nick Foligno

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	13	18	31	0.42

Shifting Foligno from Bedard’s linemate to more of a defensive role was the best move for both parties. The veteran enjoyed a small renaissance in his point production with the Hawks but feeding him power play time and minutes on the top line wasn’t working and he was more comfortable forming a checking duo with Jason Dickinson. He actually produced at a better rate at even strength this year than he did the previous season when he was featured on the top line. He was mainly acquired by the Hawks to fill a leadership role, but his ability to play any position is nice to have. You can move him up and down the lineup, but his days of playing on the top line are likely done. His legs aren’t what they used to be, and it has been a long time since he was a high-level offensive player. There isn’t a lot that he does in the offensive zone to help on a top line except retrieve pucks and be a netfront presence, which Chicago signed Bertuzzi for and it made Folgino redundant in that spot. There’s still a lot to like about the player. He did well in a checking role, providing a defensive presence on a forward corps that desperately needed it and showed some flash on the penalty kill with a couple shorthanded goals. Foligno still plays a lot for a defensive forward, especially at his age, so he could be moved higher in the lineup again if the Hawks are looking for a spark.

Ilya Mikheyev

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	14	18	32	0.42

Like most of the Hawks, Mikheyev started slow with only two goals in his first 20 games, yet finished the year with his second 20-goal season. It was somewhat surprising to see him get to that mark because the speedy forward had no problem generating chances, he just couldn’t finish. This has been a recurring trend for him over his career, shooting below 10% in his lone full NHL season, but he debunked that trend as the season went on and finished strong. He was one of the Hawks more trusted players, used heavily on the penalty kill and he was one of the more active players in the league at creating shorthanded entries. While the lack of finish was part of his reputation, his defensive game was another. He anticipates plays well in the defensive zone, has a knack for picking off passes and turning them into breakaway opportunities the other way. His speed keeps defences honest even if his finishing has been inconsistent over the year. It’s why he’s played stretches on the top line if they need a spark or someone to stabilize things. A reliable veteran like Mikheyev is nice to have in the lineup and could be an interesting trade piece this season with some prospects knocking on the door for the Hawks.

DEFENCE

Connor Murphy

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	1	14	15	0.21

The one sign of consistency in what has been an abysmal era of hockey for Chicago is Connor Murphy. He is entering his ninth year with the Hawks and has been a steady top four player for almost his entire tenure. Murphy usually starts most of his shifts in the defensive zone and spends a lot of his minutes eating hits from opposing forecheckers. He’s solid enough with the puck to make the connecting plays out of the zone and join the attack if needed, but it’s mostly an afterthought with him. So much that last year he tied a career high in points with only 19. When he does jump in, though, he usually makes it count, as he doesn’t take a lot of empty calorie wristers from 60 feet away and usually waits until he has a good chance if he’s going to shoot. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s nice when your main shutdown D contributes like that. He’s also adjusted his game to fit the Hawks brand of firewagon hockey, learning how to disrupt plays after the entry rather than stepping up at the blue line. This coming year could be his biggest challenge yet with the departure of Seth Jones. Murphy’s always played top minutes, but he had Duncan Keith in front of him previously and then Seth Jones. He got a taste of it last year, but the Hawks opted top play some of their younger defencemen high in the lineup while keeping Murphy in the same role. We will see if new coach Jeff Blashill continues that trend.

Alex Vlasic

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	7	28	35	0.43

Vlasic’s emergence was a revelation to the Hawks blue line. He’s a tall, mobile defenceman that can handle the demands of playing on the top pair. Sometimes you have to let players sink or swim when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic was one of the few players who kept passing every test. Chicago hasn’t been an easy environment for a young defenceman to thrive in the past few years, and Vlasic’s been able to keep his head above water while logging big minutes. He can skate well for a player of his size and uses his long reach to kill plays. The biggest asset to his game is how good he is at retrieving pucks, killing two birds with one stone by nullifying the forecheck and getting the puck moving in the right direction quickly. The Hawks don’t get a lot of controlled breakouts because of the team’s poor defensive structure, but Vlasic is one of the few who can start them consistently. He can also break the puck out himself if he needs to, using those long strides to go coast-to-coast and flip possession. His offence has also come around nicely, especially for someone who starts so many shifts in his own zone. He was a fixture on the power play for most of the season and saw his minutes increase there after the Seth Jones trade. It’s not always the top picks that fill big roster spots when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic is proof of that.

Wyatt Kaiser

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	5	11	16	0.21

With so many young defencemen battling for roster spots, Kaiser’s seniority might give him an inside edge heading into training camp. He doesn’t have the raw skills that some of their other defencemen possess, but almost 100 games of NHL experience are worth something. He’s smaller but has a complementary skillset with some of their star forwards. He loves joining the attack and activating on the cycle, although he didn’t see much of a reward for it on the scoresheet. He was one of the team’s better defenders at killing the rush, using his low center of gravity well to deliver hits and attack forwards directly. He was also the Hawks best defenceman at carrying the puck into the zone, which is a supplementary skill for someone on the third pair, but something that could give him an edge over the other players competing for his spot. Kaiser’s done enough to warrant more of a look, it’s just a matter of whether the Hawks think they have better options within.

Nolan Allan

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
32	1	4	5	0.16

One of the plethora of high defencemen draft picks in Chicago, Allan got a long look in the NHL before getting sent back to Rockford and it’s tough to say where his future lies right now. He fits the mold of a mobile, defensive defenceman but doesn’t have any real standouts skills. He was good enough as a puck-mover with the Hawks but struggled mightily at defending the rush, playing deep in the zone and struggling to kill the play. He can skate well enough to recover but doing it against NHLers was a big learning curve for the young blue liner. It’s part of his game that he has to fine tune because Allan doesn’t contribute much offensively and it’s hard to see that part of his game changing, whereas he can iron out some of the details in how he defends. It’s going to be a crowded training camp in Chicago this fall, so Allen will need to find some sort of niche to start the year on the big club.

GOAL

Spencer Knight

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
48	16	25	4	1	.901	2.08

At the start of last season, Chicago looked ready to glide through their transition phase on the wings - or rather, the well-worn goalie pads - of veteran journeymen Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit. This time around, in the aftermath of a season-ending surgery for Brossoit last August and a mid-season departure for Petr Mrazek to Detroit (he's now soaking up the sun in Anaheim), Chicago is pawing at the ground in anticipation of finally kicking off the Spencer Knight era. If that's not where we all expected it to be, all's the better for Knight - especially with former USNTDP teammate and fellow American up-and-comer Drew Commesso waiting in the wings.

Knight, who was moved to Chicago in March, fared about as well on paper as any of the other netminders who attempted to stem the bleeding for the Blackhawks last year. No single goaltender finished the year with a .900 save percentage in all situations, including Knight - but hopefully, the fact that he was the only goaltender who managed to produce Quality Starts in more than half of his appearances will bode well for Chicago in the long run. He'll likely partner up with Arvid Söderblom for the time being, waiting for Commesso to fully mature and graduate to full-time NHL action, but all eyes will almost certainly be on Knight himself to see what the formerly unflappable prospect can string together. His ability to chameleon his game to match the defence in front of him had been a huge part of his appeal when he was drafted 13th overall in 2019; it will be intriguing to see if he's able to utilize that behind one of the league's most chaotic rebuilds.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – With the season starting on Tuesday, players are starting to move, and rookies are starting to get noticed

Scott Cullen — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 16:17:49 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. With the season starting on Tuesday, players are starting to move, and rookies are starting to get noticed.

#1 The Edmonton Oilers traded future considerations to the Utah Mammoth for goaltender Connor Ingram. While Ingram is coming off a tough season in Utah, when he had a .882 save percentage in 22 games and ended up in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, he had a .907 save percentage across 77 games in the previous two seasons, so there is a world in which he is capable of handling a starting job, but he’s more like insurance. Ingram is expected to start the season in the American Hockey League and, if he regains his form, he will be an option for the Oilers if Stuart Skinner continues to struggle.

#2 Ingram wasn’t the only goalie moving, as the Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly going to sign former Flyers netminder Carter Hart. As one of the infamous accused in the Hockey Canada trial this summer, Hart was going to come with some controversy and there was a petition to stop the Golden Knights from signing him, but if reports are correct, it looks like Hart will share the crease in Vegas with Adin Hill, which will send Akira Schmid to the American Hockey League. Hart, 27, had a couple of excellent seasons to start his career before dropping off dramatically in his third campaign. In the three seasons that he has played since then, Hart has been a little better than average, so he should be able to fulfill the on-ice expectations. Hart’s arrival probably puts a limit on Hill’s fantasy appeal. He delivers consistently solid results but played in a career-high 50 games last season and Hart’s presence makes it less likely that he will see that many games this season.

#3 Oft-injured centre Josh Norris is looking for a fresh start with the Sabres after last season’s trade from Ottawa and Norris has delivered seven points (3 G, 4 A) in four preseason games. He has managed just four shots on goal, so it’s reasonable to expect that he won’t score on 75 percent of his shots long-term, but Norris is earning a prime opportunity to play with Tage Thompson and Zachary Benson on Buffalo’s top line. Norris scored a career-high 35 goals in 66 games in 2021-2022 with the Senators and managed 21 goals in 56 games last season, so if he manages to stay healthy, a 30-goal season is not out of the question.

#4 With Zach Hyman out until November while he recovers from a wrist injury suffered in last year’s playoffs, the Oilers are naturally taking a look at options to fill his role on the top line and physical winger Trent Frederic is getting a shot alongside Connor McDavid on the top line. Frederic is known much more for his physical play and had just 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 58 games last season, but he is just one season removed from contributing a career-best 40 points (18 G, 22 A) for the Boston Bruins in 2023-2024. Anyone who plays alongside McDavid will generate interest for fantasy managers, but Frederic’s fantasy relevance is going to be closely tied to who his linemates are in Edmonton.

#5 After getting a chance to play late last season and into the playoffs with the Blues, 2022 first-round pick Jimmy Snuggerud is a rookie to watch heading into the 2025-2026 season. He had 51 points (24 G, 27 A) in 40 games as the captain at the University of Minnesota last season and indications in St. Louis are that Snuggerud will start the season on the first line, with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, while also getting a spot on the Blues’ first power play unit. It’s risky to put expectations on rookies but it sure looks like Snuggerud will have a chance to be productive right out of the gate.

#6 Carolina has given 2023 first-rounder Bradly Nadeau a chance in a scoring role and he’s at least offering a good accounting of himself. In five preseason games, Nadeau has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 15 shots on goal, so he’s certainly a credible option if the Hurricanes have a need on the wing in their middle six. That doesn’t look like a huge need, given what they have on the roster already, but Nadeau had 58 points (32 G, 26 A) in 64 games as an AHL rookie last season, so he’s knocking on the door, whether that gets answered at the start of the season or some time in the not-too-distant future.

#7 A rebuilding team like the Pittsburgh Penguins has to hope that they can find some young players that will help take this team into its next era and 2025 first-round pick Ben Kindel has impressed in training camp. He has three points (1 G, 2 A) and 15 shots on goal in six preseason games and might get a nine-game trial at the start of the season. With veteran winger Bryant Rust injured for at least a couple of weeks and Danton Heinen getting waived, that could provide the opportunity. Kindel had 99 points (35 G, 64 A) in 65 games for Calgary of the WHL last season, so he has some offensive chops, and may be worth watching as the season gets underway.

#8 If not Kindel, maybe it will be Filip Hallander getting a shot with the Penguins. The 2018 second-round pick played three games for the Penguins in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons but returned to Sweden, and last season produced 53 points (26 G, 27 A) in 51 games for Timra in the Swedish Hockey League.

#9 A seventh-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2023, Emmitt Finnie has made huge strides since then and is challenging for a roster spot in Detroit to start the season. getting a top line shot in Detroit. A high-energy winger, Finnie was the captain for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League last season, putting up 84 points (37 G, 47 A) in 55 games. He joined Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League at the end of the season and contributed five points (1 G, 4 A) in 13 regular season plus playoff games. It’s entirely possible that Finnie will start the season in the AHL, but he’s seen time on Detroit’s top line, with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, and if he starts the season in that spot, Finnie might have fantasy value early in his NHL career.

#10 A 2022 first-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, defenceman Sam Rinzel played two seasons at the University of Minnesota, putting up 60 points (12 G, 48 A) in 79 games before joining the Blackhawks at the end of last season. He contributed five assists and 22 shots on goal in his first nine games, with three of those points coming on the power play. Rinzel is slated to quarterback Chicago’s top power play unit, so the rookie blueliner has a chance to be productive immediately.

#11 Rinzel’s teammate in Chicago, centre Frank Nazar, signed a seven-year contract extension worth more than $46 million in the summer, a big commitment for a player who has played a total of 56 games in his NHL career. Nazar has 27 points (13 G, 14 A) and 93 shots on goal in those 56 games, which suggests that the Blackhawks are projecting good things for their 2022 first-round pick. Nazar is on PP1 to start the season and is skating between veterans Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi at even strength.

#12 A fifth-round pick in 2019 by the New Jersey Devils, right winger Arseni Gritsyuk has shown some potential in the preseason, chipping in four points (2 G, 2 A) with 12 shots on goal in five games. He doesn’t have an easy path to ice time in New Jersey, but after scoring 44 points (17 G, 27 A) in 49 KHL games last season, he should be NHL-ready.

#13 With injuries hitting the defending Stanley Cup champs hard, look for second-year right winger Mackie Samoskevich to take advantage of the opportunity offered to him. He had 31 points (12 G, 19 A) in 72 games last season and is looking like he could start the season on the Panthers’ first power play unit.

#14 Veteran forward Max Domi is getting the first crack at replacing Mitch Marner on right wing with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the Maple Leafs’ top line. Domi is a solid playmaker, though not in Marner’s class, and he is a couple of years removed from a 56-point season. His inconsistent play does suggest that he might not last the whole season in that spot, and the Leafs have Matias Maccelli available to push Domi for that spot in the lineup.

#15 With all the quality depth that the Devils have on the wings, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Evgenii Dadonov is getting a shot on the top line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. Dadonov had 40 points (20 G, 20 A) in 80 games for Dallas last season, but he is 36, so maybe not the prime candidate to last in that spot.

#16 Acquired from the Montreal Canadiens as part of the return in the Noah Dobson trade, Emil Heineman is getting a look on the Islanders’ top line with Bo Horvat and Jonathan Drouin. Heineman had 18 points (11 G, 7 A) in 62 games as a rookie for the Habs last season but played fewer than 12 minutes per game. If he plays a bigger role with the Islanders, perhaps there is some offensive potential to be unlocked. He has two goals and eight shots on goal in four preseason games.

#17 The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Nikita Grebenkin from the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Scott Laughton trade at least season’s trade deadline and Grebenkin has been impressive in Flyers camp. He has one goal and nine shots on goal in four preseason games, but he also brings a physical presence and is getting a look alongside veterans Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, a decent indication that the Flyers are interested in seeing what he can do for them.

#18 In Vancouver, an injury to Nils Hoglander may help Jonathan Lekkerimaki secure a regular spot in the lineup to start the season. He had a modest six points (3 G, 3 A) in 24 games for the Canucks last season but showed well in the AHL, with 28 points (19 G, 9 A) in 36 games for Abbotsford, so it could be worth watching the 2022 first-round pick.

#19 With a few injuries up front, including to right winger Kaapo Kakko, the Seattle Kraken are giving 2021 third-round pick Ryan Winterton a chance to play. He had 37 points (18 G, 19 A) in 56 games for Coachella Valley of the AHL last season and he has three points (2 G, 1 A) and seven shots on goal in four preseason games, which might be enough to get him a spot on the opening night roster.

#20 Coming off a disappointing 2024-2025 season, the Nashville Predators are naturally open to having new faces challenge for spots in the lineup. James Wood was a first-round pick in 2023 and was in contention for a spot but is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. That could create room for 2025 fifth overall pick Brady Martin, an 18-year-old who has three points (2 G, 1 A) and four shots on goal in three preseason games. If not Martin, maybe it could be 2022 first-round pick Joakim Kemell, who had 40 points (15 G, 25 A) in 65 AHL games for Milwaukee last season.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Avalanche and Hurricanes make blockbuster deal, Flames and Flyers swing four-player swap, the Islanders renovate their blueline, McTavish, Smith, and Slafkovsky are some young forwards picking up steam and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:30:21 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Carolina Hurricanes Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (96) in action prior to the National Hockey League game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers on January 28, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, the Avalanche and Hurricanes made a blockbuster deal, the Flames and Flyers swing a four-player swap, the Islanders renovate their blueline, and Mason McTavish, Will Smith, and Juraj Slafkovsky are some young forwards picking up steam and much more!

Here is this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points:

#1 The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche made a massive trade last week, a rare in-season move involving star players. The Hurricanes landed Mikko Rantanen from the Avalanche and Taylor Hall from the Blackhawks in the three-team deal. Rantanen is one of the league’s premier forwards and since the 2020-2021 season, he has averaged 1.27 points per game, ranking seventh in the league. In his first three games with Carolina, Rantanen has a goal and an assist, but also has 13 shots on goal despite seeing his average time on ice drop to 19:06 per game after averaging 22:30 per game in Colorado. Hall’s ice time was reduced in Chicago this season but his 1.88 points per 60 minutes ranked second on the Blackhawks among forwards to play at least 500 five-on-five minutes (behind Ryan Donato). So, while Rantanen might play less after joining a team with Carolina’s depth of talent, Hall might actually find his way to more ice time with the Hurricanes.

#2 Colorado acquired right winger Martin Necas and centre Jack Drury from Carolina. Necas had 55 points in 49 games with Carolina before getting traded and he has put up four assists in three games. The Avalanche have also taken to giving Necas the same kind of role that Rantanen held, so Necas has averaged 23:08 of ice time per game in his first three games for the Avs after playing 18:05 per game in Carolina. Drury is more of a depth option, though he has scored two goals in his first three games for Colorado.

#3 The Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers are both in the hunt for playoff spots and the teams swapped players Thursday. Calgary acquired winger Joel Farabee and centre Morgan Frost, sending wingers Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier, along with a couple of draft picks, to Philadelphia. Farabee is a solid complementary winger who scored a career-high 50 points (22 G, 28 A) last season, but has just 19 points (8 G, 11 A) through 50 games this season. He could use the fresh start. Frost has had a bit of a tumultuous run in Philadelphia, especially with John Tortorella as head coach. Frost is a talented player but had one assist and seven shots on goal in his last seven games with the Flyers.

#4 Kuzmenko is a 28-year-old winger who tallied 39 goals and 74 points for Vancouver in 2022-2023, his first season in the NHL, but he has just four goals and 15 points in 37 games this season. He did cross paths with Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov back in the KHL, as Kuzmenko was the leading scorer for SKA St. Petersburg in 2022-2023 when Michkov was just getting his feet wet with that team in the KHL. Perhaps Kuzmenko can help shake Michkov from the slump that has seen him produce just seven points (3 G, 4 A) in his past 24 games. Pelletier was a first-round pick in 2019, but it has taken a while for him to show that he belongs in the NHL. He did have six points (3 G, 3 A) in his last nine games for the Flames and the small skilled winger can hope to secure more consistent playing time in Philadelphia.

#5 Injuries have forced the New York Islanders to address their blueline and they have signed Tony DeAngelo, who was playing in the KHL, and acquired Scott Perunovich in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. DeAngelo had 32 points (6 G, 26 A) in 34 games for St. Petersburg in the KHL but still fell out of favor. He has one assist in three games for the Islanders but has averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time per game and is quarterbacking the Islanders top power play unit. Perunovich has recorded an assist in both of his first two games for the Islanders.

#6 Anahiem Ducks centre Mason McTavish started relatively slowly this season, with 19 points (6 G, 13 A) through 40 games. He does have seven points (6 G, 1 A) and 14 shots on goal in his past five games, however, so it’s worth keeping tabs on the 22-year-old. He is skating with Cutter Gauthier and Robby Fabbri at even strength, but McTavish is also getting first-unit power play time.

#7 San Jose Sharks rookie Will Smith has taken some time to find his groove during his first NHL campaign, but it looks like the fourth pick in the 2023 Draft is getting comfortable. He is riding a six-game point streak, during which he has amassed seven points (2 G, 5 A) and is skating on a line with veteran Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund. Granlund has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his past six games, and with 46 points on the season, he looks like a good bet to hit the 60-point plateau for the fifth time in his career.

#8 There have been some uneven moments in the development path for Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky, the first pick in the 2022 Draft. Despite enjoying great success with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield last season, Slafkovsky has been moved down the depth chart at times this season and he scored four goals (plus 19 assists) in the first 40 games of the season. Since then, Slafkovsky has six points (4 G, 2 A) in eight games and looks a lot more like the power forward who finished last season with 35 points (16 G, 19 A) in his last 40 games.

#9 When the Nashville Predators struggled early in the season, there was concern that centre Tommy Novak wasn’t up to the task of providing much-needed secondary scoring, and he managed just nine points (5 G, 4 A) in his first 35 games. After that inauspicious start to the season, Novak has contributed seven points (3 G, 4 A) in his past five games, and is having some success skating with rookies Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux.

#10 Buffalo Sabres left winger JJ Peterka enjoyed a terrific start to the season and then went through a slump in late November and early December, but he has rebounded with 21 points (6 G, 15 A) in his past 20 games, highlighted by his three-goal, one-assist performance in Tuesday’s win over Buffalo. More recently, the Sabres have been running Peterka on a line with rookie Jiri Kulich at centre and Tage Thompson on right wing. Kulich has nine points (5 G, 4 A) in his past 12 games. Thompson, who is more widely rostered than his linemates, has 26 points (14 G, 12 A) in his past 26 games.

#11 Marco Kasper was the eighth pick in the 2022 Draft by the Detroit Red Wings and he was offering an unremarkable rookie season, with seven points (2 G, 5 A) in his first 35 games. Moving up the depth chart has done wonders for the young skilled winger, and he has put up 12 points (7 G, 5 A) and 24 shots on goal in his past 11 games. With Patrick Kane injured, Kasper is skating on the Red Wings’ top line, with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, as well as playing on Detroit’s first power play unit. Given their success, the trio might need to stay together even when Kane returns.

#12 The Toronto Maple Leafs do not get great production out of their defencemen, as Morgan Rielly is Toronto’s highest scoring blueliner with 22 points (3 G, 19 A) in 51 games. Just behind him, though, is veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has six points (1 G, 5 A) in his past five games, giving him 21 points for the season. Just as importantly, Ekman-Larsson is averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time per game in that stretch. The Maple Leafs run five forwards on their top power play unit, with Rielly and Ekman-Larsson on the second unit.

#13 Chicago Blackhawks rookie Frank Nazar was the 13th pick in the 2022 Draft and was tearing up the AHL this season with 24 points (11 G, 13 A) in 21 games and when the Blackhawks made a coaching change, they promoted Nazar shortly thereafter. While he did not have immediate success, there have been signs of progress. He has five points (2 G, 3 A) in his past eight games and is now skating on Connor Bedard’s wing on Chicago’s top line.

#14 Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann has been one their most productive players since the expansion draft, scoring 110 goals and 221 points to lead the franchise. While McCann has been more of a goal scorer as he has emerged as a legitimate offensive threat, he has turned playmaker lately. In his past 13 games, McCann has 12 points (1 G, 11 A) and 17 shots on goal. That low shot total needs to improve because while McCann is not usually a high-volume shooter, 1.3 shots on goal per game is not the stuff of consistent top line scorers.

#15 As the Carolina Hurricanes appear to have pushed their chips all in for this season, there is an opportunity for centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi to fulfill a supporting role. Carolina’s addition of Taylor Hall offers the possibility that Kotkaniemi could have more skill on his wings and Kotkaniemi has produced six points (4 G, 2 A) in his past six games. After scoring 27 points in 79 games last season, Kotkaniemi has already chipped in 25 points (10 G, 15 A) in 52 games this season, so he is developing, even if it might be at a slower pace than the ‘Canes might have initially hoped.

#16 Mammoth Washington Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas is enjoying a breakthrough season and is thriving with a six-game point streak, during which he has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 11 shots on goal. Protas has not been a huge shot generator, so he has been dependent on a shooting percentage of 23.3 percent to score 21 goals in 51 games. His 20 even-strength goals is tied for fifth in the league, behind only Leon Draisaitl (26), Mark Scheifele (22), William Nylander (22), and Tage Thompson (21).

#17 Los Angeles Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper has enjoyed some excellent seasons in his career but he had injury problems when he was with Washington last season, and it was hard to know whether he would be able to bounce back as a 34-year-old goaltender. Saskatoon native Kuemper has been excellent for the Kings, and since the calendar turned to 2025, he has a .938 save percentage in 10 games. Kuemper has 9.65 goals saved above expected this season, which ranks 10th in the NHL, a level of play that the Kings did not have much right to expect.

#18 The Washington Capitals started the season with a goaltending tandem of Charles Lindgren and Logan Thompson and that duo has helped the Capitals to the league’s best record. While there was an even split in the crease for a good portion of the season, Lindgren missed some time with injury, and it allowed Thompson to emerge as the No. 1 option between the pipes for Washington. In his past dozen starts, Thompson has a record of 11-0-1 while posting a .949 save percentage. He earned a six-year, $35.1 million contract extension, nice work for the former USports goaltender.

#19 Veteran Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson is getting a steady diet of starts in the Anaheim net, perhaps showcasing him for a potential trade. Lukas Dostal has played well, establishing himself as the Ducks’ goaltender of the future, and possibly the present, but in his past 11 appearances, Gibson has a .922 save percentage. That kind of performance should help to make Gibson more appealing to a playoff contender that is looking for an upgrade in goal and a move to a team that is more likely to win would certainly improve Gibson’s fantasy value.

#20 Dallas Stars standout defenceman Miro Heiskanen is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury, suffered following an unusual hit from Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. Heiskanen will miss the 4 Nations Face-Off, and his absence from the Stars lineup will be every bit as challenging as it will be for Team Finland to be without the rock steady blueliner. With Heiskanen out, Thomas Harley should see more time on the power play. Only three of Harley’s 23 points this season have come via the man advantage.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – DeBrusk paying off for Canucks, Werenski having best season of his career, changes in Chicago, AHL rookies to watch, Seguin on the shelf, and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:35:42 +0000

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 26: Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) plays the puck up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks on November 26, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I’ll dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Jake DeBrusk is paying off in a big way for the Canucks, Zach Werenski is having the best season of his career, changes in Chicago, AHL rookies to watch, Tyler Seguin is on the shelf, and much more!

Here is this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points:

#1 After a slow start to his first season in Vancouver, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk has picked up his scoring pace in a dramatic way. Since the beginning of November, he `has 16 points (11 G, 5 A) with 40 shots on goal in 15 games. Elias Pettersson has eight points on DeBrusk’s 16 points over that span while Quinn Hughes has seven points. In his first nine games, DeBrusk had just 13 shots on goal, just 1.44 per game, but that average has climbed to 2.67 per game since then.

#2 Usually, we focus on players that are available in more leagues, but sometimes it’s worth paying attention to the production of players that are widely rostered, too. Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski is having the best season of his career. Werenski had a career-high 57 points (11 G, 46 A) in 70 games last season, but he has taken it to another level this season. Through 24 games, Werenski has 26 points (8 G, 18 A) with 90 shots on goal while playing a career-high 26:06 per game. Durability has tended to be an issue for Werenski, who last played more than 70 games in a season in 2018-2019, but if he can stay relatively healthy this season, Werenski should have career-best production.

#3 The Chicago Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson, replacing him with Anders Sorensen, who had been coaching for AHL Rockford. Connor Bedard has found it tough going in his second NHL season, with five goals in 26 games, and Chicago’s leading goal scorer has been journeyman Ryan Donato, who has 10 goals in 24 games. Those are the only two forwards on the Blackhawks roster averaging better than 0.50 points per game, which means the likes of Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Hall, and Philipp Kurashev are not living up to expectations. Can Sorenson draw out better production from this group? If not, could top prospect Frank Nazar be on the verge of a call-up? The 13th pick in the 2022 Draft, Nazar is thriving in the AHL, with 24 points (11 G, 13 A) in 18 games as a rookie pro for Rockford.

#4 Some other rookie pros making an immediate impact in the AHL include defenceman Denton Mateychuk, who has 22 points (7 G, 15 A) in 21 games. He was taken by Columbus with the pick before Nazar in the 2022 Draft. Collin Graf is a 22-year-old who was signed by San Jose as a free agent out of Quinnipiac in the spring. Graf has 22 points (5 G, 17 A) in 19 games and could push for a spot with the improving Sharks later this season. Graf’s teammate, Luca Cagnoni, is undersized, but has delivered 18 points (7 G, 11 A) in 19 games and the 2023 fourth-round pick could force the Sharks to give him a look. Rounding out the top five rookie scorers in the AHL, Justin Hryckowian has 18 points (5 G, 13 A) in 19 games for the Texas Stars. Hryckowian finished last season in the AHL after he was signed as a free agent out of Northeastern University.

#5 Less than a week after noting how productive Tyler Seguin has been for the Dallas Stars, it was announced that the veteran forward needs hip surgery which will keep him sidelined for four-to-six months. If the Stars need an offensive boost in Seguin’s absence, perhaps Hryckowian will get a look in Dallas.

#6 Utah Hockey Club right winger Nick Schmaltz has always been an accomplished playmaker, but he was having a terrible time finding the net this season, going 23 games without a goal to start the 2024-2025 campaign. Schmaltz has scored three goals in the past two games – his first goals of the season – and he does have seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 16 shots on goal in his past six games. Even with his goal-scoring slump, Schmaltz still has 20 points (3 G, 17 A) in 25 games, and he continues to play on the top line with Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton as well as holding a spot on Utah’s top power play unit.

#7 As the San Jose Sharks have become much more competitive over the past month – at least prior to Thursday’s 8-1 shellacking in Tampa Bay – defenceman Jake Walman has become increasingly productive. In his past 15 games, Walman has accumulated 17 points (4 G, 13 A) with 38 shots on goal while playing 22:35 per game. Given the direction Walman and the Sharks have been trending, it does not make sense for him to still be available on the fantasy waiver wire.

#8 Veteran Florida Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad is getting more time on the power play and his production is starting to take off. In his past eight games, Ekblad has seven points, including three on the power play, while playing nearly 25 minutes per game. Ekblad recorded a career-high 57 points (14 G, 43 A) in just 61 games in 2021-2022, and while he is not likely to get back to that level of production, a regular spot on the Panthers’ top power play unit could make him a valuable fantasy contributor in 2024-2025.

#9 Although his track record has been poor to inconsistent through much of his career, Boston Bruins netminder Joonas Korpisalo is making a push for more playing time, especially while starter Jeremy Swayman struggles to find his form. Korpisalo has a .909 save percentage in 10 games and has 1.11 Goals Saved Above Expected. In the long run, Swayman is clearly the guy for the Bruins but, in the short term, when the team needs wins, Korpisalo could see more action.

#10 With Darcy Kuemper injured, David Rittich is again getting a run of starts for the Los Angeles Kings. Rittich surrendered seven goals in a November 25 loss at San Jose, but in the 10 appearances around that disaster start, spread out over the past month, Rittich has a .932 save percentage. Playing behind a Kings team that is among the best in terms of shot suppression, Rittich holds decent value for fantasy managers that might need some short-term help between the pipes.

#11 With the New Jersey Devils upgrading their blueline in the offseason, Luke Hughes missed the start of the season as he recovered from shoulder surgery and, as a result, he is down 2:26 in ice time per game compared to last season. Hughes has six assists and 13 shots on goal in his past six games, suddenly thrusting himself into fantasy relevance after a terribly slow start to the season.

#12 Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry has seven assists and 17 shots on goal in his past five games and has enjoyed success this season when skating with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome at even strength. The trio has a Corsi percentage of 54.2 percent and expected goals percentage of 58.4 percent during five-on-five play. The veteran trio is Anaheim’s only line to have more than 50 minutes together and still be on the right side of those ledgers.

#13 The fourth pick in the 2023 Draft, Will Smith came into his rookie season with great expectations, but he managed just three points (2 G, 1 A) in his first 14 games. The Sharks made him a healthy scratch for some games and then moved him to right wing from centre. In 10 games since, Smith has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 17 shots on goal. That relatively low shot rate is enough reason to pause before adding Smith, but he is making rapid progress after a difficult start to his pro career, so he is worth having on your radar now.

#14 St. Louis Blues winger Jake Neighbours went through a lean period from late October through mid-November, managing just two assists in nine games, but he appears to be moving in the right direction once again. In his past nine games, Neighbours has six points (4 G, 2 A) and 23 shots on goal while playing 16:43 per game. As new head coach Jim Montgomery plays around with line combinations in St. Louis, Neighbours is skating on a line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, a solid opportunity to continue putting up points.

#15 A reliable play-driving winger, Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Seattle Kraken is riding a seven-game point streak, during which he has eight points (3 G, 5 A) with 17 shots on goal. It’s fair to be cautious about adding Bjorkstrand because he skates on Seattle’s second power play unit and at evens he is playing with Shane Wright and Eeli Tolvanen. He’s obviously making it work, but the sustainability of it all seems harder under those circumstances.

#16 Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon has missed some time with injuries, which is not uncommon for him, but the veteran blueliner has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past 10 games. He is quarterbacking Minnesota’s top power play unit, and as long as that is the case, Spurgeon has a chance to provide legitimate fantasy value.

#17 With Wild centre Joel Eriksson Ek considered week-to-week with an injury, opportunity knocks once again for Marco Rossi, who will move up to centre Minnesota’s top line while getting first unit power play time. In 18 games in which he has played at least 16 minutes, Rossi has produced 17 points (6 G, 11 A) and 27 shots on goal.

#18 Early in the season, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was skating on the third line, playing in a supporting role and not producing much. Injuries forced the Islanders to turn to Lee again and he moved back up the depth chart. In his past 16 games, Lee has 17 points (8 G, 9 A) with 40 shots on goal. He is skating on the top line with Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom, but also in his familiar net front spot on the Islanders’ top power play unit.

#19 Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli was named to Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and the noted checking centre is enjoying the best offensive season of his career. Through 24 games, Cirelli has 24 points (11 G, 13 A) with 51 shots on goal. In the past 10 games, Cirelli has 11 points (9 G, 2 A) with 31 shots on goal and while he is not going to keep scoring on 29 percent of his shots, if Cirelli is averaging more than three shots per game, he has a good chance to sustain his offensive production. Barring injury, Cirelli should obliterate his career high of 45 points, which was set last season.

#20 Veteran Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri is finding his name in trade rumours and he is not hurting his value with his production. In his past 10 games, Kadri has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 33 shots on goal. He is on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil. Consistency remains elusive for Huberdeau, but he does have six points (2 G, 4 A) and 16 shots on goal in his past eight contests.

#21 Managers in deep leagues may want to keep tabs on Boston Bruins right winger Justin Brazeau, who is still on the lower end of the depth chart, but he is forcing his way into prominence. In his past seven games, Brazeau has five points (2 G, 3 A) and 14 shots on goal, while playing 13:41 per game. He has moved up the depth chart to the second line with second-unit power play time, so if the 6-foot-5 winger continues to produce, there ought to be more ice time available to him.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.

AHL: Hall – AHL Rookies to Watch – Central Division

Dave Hall — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:00:19 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

We are back with our AHL rookie watch here at Mckeen's, highlighting a few of the American League's fresh skaters among their respective divisions.

We have already covered the Pacific Division, which included names such as Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Jagger Firkurs, and more. Today, we hit the Central Division, which has its own impressive crop of youngsters, some of whom have already kicked off their campaigns with a bang.

Let's dive right in.

Frank Nazar, C, Rockford IceHogs

If you enjoy dynamic, run-and-gun offence, Frank Nazar may just be your guy. Drafted 13th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the American pivot brings a unique and exciting skillset to the Chicago Blackhawks' future top-six. After all, there’s a reason he's earned his place as the Blackhawks' second-rated prospect at McKeen's Hockey.

Backed by showstopping speed and crafty edgework, Nazar excels at weaving through defensive coverage at a high pace. His quick hands make him a constant scoring threat, but it’s his ability to facilitate the play that could truly set him apart in the professional ranks.

Despite being cut short by injury, he made the most of his NCAA career, tallying 48 points in 54 games, 29 of which were assists. Most of that work came in the 2023-24 campaign, picking up 41 points to fire at a point-per-game pace with the Michigan Wolverines.

His impact extended beyond the NCAA; he played a pivotal role for Team USA in the 2024 World Junior Championship, recording eight primary assists en route to capturing gold against host Sweden. To put a cherry on top, his season was capped off by a brief three-game NHL stint, where he netted his first career NHL goal.

Despite the positives in his game, it doesn’t take long to distinguish where the real issues will lie in him realizing his true upside. Standing at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, size remains a potential barrier. Luckily, he hasn’t let that deter him from finding his spot on the ice. Nazar plays like a dog on a bone and isn’t afraid to go to the hard areas of the ice. Despite his smaller frame, he consistently drives to high-danger areas, dropping the shoulder and getting into the middle of the ice.

For now, you’ll find Nazar forming his game among the AHL ranks, but don’t be surprised if he gets the call to Chicago sooner rather than later.

Nate Danielson, C, Grand Rapids Griffins

Nate Danielson, a Red Deer, Alberta native, is fresh from a long-winded 2023-24 season, filled with more firsthand experience in one year than most players see in their careers.

After three and a half years with the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he captained the team for half of that tenure, Danielson was traded to the Portland Winterhawks. There, he thrived during a deep playoff run, finishing with seven goals and 24 points across 18 games—good for fourth in playoff scoring— while posting a plus-13 rating.

A quick four-game sweeping loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors led to a brief two-game stint in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with the Griffins, giving him a first taste of professional hockey. Though only two games, the experience gave him a quick crash course into what to focus on during the offseason.

“That was good experience for me,” Danielson told the media during development camp. “Making that jump to pro next year, I know the speed of the game. Everyone is older, bigger, and stronger, so knowing what to expect definitely helps.”

Danielson also played for Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship, notching a goal and two assists. In all, Danielson suited up for 79 games across three ranks.

Given Detroit’s typical protocol of " slow-cooking” their youngsters, a season with Grand Rapids seems likely for Danielson. While questions remain about his offensive ceiling at the NHL level, his solid fundamentals promise a bright future as a key part of Detroit's center depth and a must-watch prospect within the system during his first official professional campaign.

Bradly Nadeau, W, Chicago Wolves

Don’t look now, but at just 19, Bradly Nadeau nearly made the Carolina Hurricanes roster out of training camp, which is no small feat.

The New Brunswick native has taken an unconventional path. Moving across the country to play Junior-A hockey in the BCHL (Penticton Vees), Nadeau and his older brother, Josh, dominated the league, finishing as the top two scorers in 2023. In his draft-minus-one season, Bradly led the field with 113 points (45 goals, 68 assists), leading to his selection 30th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.

After one season at the University of Maine—where he again led his team with 46 points—Nadeau quickly turned pro and was even rewarded with a one-game “show me” match at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Nadeau is an offensive producer in every sense of the word and a versatile offensive weapon. He can thread passes or unleash a wicked shot off the rush. Now in his first professional season, the question remains whether he can be an instant difference-maker, as he has done at every level. But all signs point to Nadeau being one of the more exciting players in the league this year.

Felix Unger Sörum, RW, Chicago Wolves

Felix Unger Sörum, who made the leap from the Swedish circuit to North America this season, will join Nadeau in the Chicago Wolves lineup.

After a strong 2022-23 campaign in Sweden’s J20 Nationell league, he was promoted to the SHL last season, tallying 15 points in 35 games as an 18-year-old.

A natural playmaker, Unger Sörum excels at manipulating defenders and delivering smart passes, whether in tight spaces or in transition. While most don’t consider him a future high-end producer, there is no questioning his skill set and potential as a future middle-six NHL player.

Interestingly, the Canes brought him into the system this year and gave him an audition up the middle. Considered a natural winger, this adjustment does not come naturally, but one that Head Coach Rod Brind’Armour feels could provide the player with a deeper opportunity within the system.

"We put him at center just to see how camp went," Brind'Amour told The Hockey News. " You've got a special player there, and I think he might be better suited to play center just with the way he's built and the way he thinks the game."

"He's really taken the challenge on," Brind'Amour said. "We think he can be an elite player, so let's see if he can adapt and play that position. We definitely see a skilled player there who sees the ice well and maybe has a good makeup to be a good center. He's going to be a good player so we'll just see how that develops."

The Wolves opened their season with Unger Sörum centring a line alongside Nadeau and Tyson Jost. If that line sticks for an extended period, things could get spicy in Chicago,

Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Manitoba Moose

The Manitoba Moose have a deep roster of intriguing prospects, highlighted by Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov, but this year’s focus shifts to a new crop of rookie skaters, which includes Swedish right-shot defenceman Elias Salomonsson.

At 20, Salomonsson isn’t expected to be a high-end offensive blueliner, but his smooth skating and high hockey IQ make him a valuable asset on Winnipeg's future blue line. In fact, he’s already been turning heads in his first official crack at North American hockey and did not look out of place in either of his four pre-season matches. Now, with the Manitoba Moose, he’s already contributed his first goal and has racked up three points in just two games as a top-four defender.

With injuries continuing to plague Ville Heinola's young career, Salomonsson may soon be considered a potential call-up for the Winnipeg Jets.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #6

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:08 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 6th (Previous Rank - 6th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Luke Richardson Hired: June 2022

It doesn’t take much to change the course of an organization; just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who struck gold by winning the draft lottery and landing generational talent Connor Bedard. After his first full season in the NHL, Bedard is already making an unsurprising impact, revitalizing the franchise. The Blackhawks’ youth movement doesn’t stop there, as they have also seen several youngsters graduate to the big league recently, including Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, and Kevin Korchinski.

That list of graduates may grow further next year, with 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov (ranked 16th) pressing for a spot on the Hawks’ blueline out the gate. Although, recent additions to the backend that include Alec Martinez and T.J Brodie may hint at alternative plans.

On the cusp of turning pro is Frank Nazar (57th), who is fresh off a two-year NCAA stint where he contributed nearly a point-per-game (0.89). He joins current Rockford standouts such as Ethan Del Mastro (95th), Wyatt Kaiser, and goaltender Drew Commesso (118th) in the AHL.

Further down the pipeline, the Blackhawks boast a strong group of prospects developing in various walks of North America, including Oliver Moore (80th), Sacha Boisvert (111th), Marek Vanacker (147th), Sam Rinzel (125th) and Nick Lardis (152nd), who all sit comfortably within our top-200 list here at McKeen’s.

With eight picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (so far), including two first-rounders and two second-rounders, Chicago’s prospect pool is set to grow even further in the near future.

Contrary to the belief that the Blackhawks would take a step back for another season to await further reinforcements, the team has bolstered its lineup with veteran talent to complement Bedard. With additions such as Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teräväinen, they may be more competitive than originally predicted.

While the Blackhawks may still be years away from true Stanley Cup contention, the rebuild is progressing smoothly, and the landing is likely to be much softer than most full rebuilds typically endure.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1. Artyom Levshunov

Chicago wanted to add a franchise-changing defenceman after they were lucky enough to pick a franchise-changing forward in Connor Bedard last year, and they're hoping they found him in Levshunov this summer. He's a complete blueliner who does everything at a high level, albeit arguably one without a truly elite trait. Not only does he thrive in all the various situations throughout a game, he has the necessary conditioning and inner drive to handle the pressure and workload of being a top-pairing defender. Whether up a goal or down a goal at a key juncture in a game, he’s always ready to go over the boards and has what it takes to get the job done. Levshunov will be a foundational piece for the Blackhawks as they seek to transition out of their rebuild toward being a top Stanley Cup contender once again.

2. Frank Nazar

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury, Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

3. Oliver Moore

Moore is one of the fastest hockey players in the world, across all ages and leagues and levels, and him being that good in that specific area makes it easier to adjust to new situations, because he knows he always has that elite trait to lean on. That's the main reason why it took him no time at all to find his bearings in the NCAA, and he'll experience a similar luxury when he goes to the AHL. Well, that’s if he even stops there at all on his way to Chicago, which could very well happen. He's also quite smart about how he uses that speed to be a difference-maker for his team all over the ice, and the more his hands can keep catching up to his feet, the more maddening it's going to be for enemy defenders who are tasked with neutralizing him.

4. Ethan Del Mastro

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defencemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

5. Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert is the kind of top prospect who has more potential than his stats alone would suggest. He's a powerful forward who is strong on the puck and leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, which is a little uncommon for centers, but he makes it work. There are currently some issues with his skating ability and pacing, but what's important to recognize and appeals to scouts is that both of those weaknesses look fixable down the road with the right training and development, and since he's going the college route he'll have plenty of time to work on them. In a different organization there might be more concerns about his eventual effectiveness, especially if he had to do a lot of heavy lifting by himself, but on paper he should fit in very well with Chicago's other forward prospects, who will complement Boisvert's game and help elevate it.

6. Drew Commesso

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are Steady Eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

7. Sam Rinzel

Rinzel has always been seen as a bit of a long-term project, and Chicago’s expectations were undoubtedly centered around reasonable year-over-year growth. He hasn’t needed to be a major difference-maker yet, so long as he kept getting closer and closer to the projected ceiling of him becoming that kind of player one day. So far, so good. This past season was easily his most impressive one yet, finishing with more points than any other defender on his team, while also guarding his own zone admirably well as a college freshman. He’s the type of big, rangy, right-shooting blueliner that all teams highly covet these days, which is why the Blackhawks used a 1st-round draft pick to acquire him even though he was still a long way away from the NHL at the time. Their patience should pay off eventually so long as they are content to stay the course.

8. Marek Vanacker

Vanacker had a standout sophomore season in the OHL, and what made it extra interesting is that he didn't have a lot of support around him and often had to make his success single-handedly. He's an athletic and assertive winger who builds up huge amounts of power and speed skating in a straight line, and it's difficult to contain him because he can still handle and protect the puck when he's driving play forward in his top gear. These tools also help him excel as a penalty killer who can clear his zone and then push for shorthanded opportunities in the other direction. He might not quite have enough vision, creativity, or pure skill to be a major offensive threat at the NHL level, but if he eventually reaches his ceiling he'll be one of the best middle six wingers in the sport.

9. Nick Lardis

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a top six mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he still has a great shot at becoming a speedy middle six option.

10. Ryan Greene

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

11. Adam Gajan

Goaltenders are more difficult to analyze compared to skaters, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most. He was simply stellar at the past two World Juniors, but far less consistent and reliable in the USHL, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still has untapped potential, with ideal size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes, and flexibility. He's heading to college next and will have plenty of time to refine things.

12. Nolan Allan

13. Colton Dach

It must be frustrating to be Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft year and then injuries limited his ice time for the past two seasons. At least he was able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and the 2023 WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds, both of which provided beneficial experience. His brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey is working for him in the AHL, when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

14. Roman Kantserov

Kantserov’s first full season in the KHL was an eventful one, dressing for all of his team’s playoff games and playing on top lines as they won the league championship. And he did all of that while playing through an injury that required summer surgery. For his efforts he was also a finalist for the KHL’s rookie of the year. He sees the ice well and has a killer instinct when the puck hits his stick.

15. Gavin Hayes

Hayes clearly relished his change of scenery going from the struggling Firebirds to the sturdier Greyhounds, exploding in the playoffs. That big leap forward followed a good track record of steady incremental progress before it. He displays respectable amounts of both power and skill, and he doesn't skip out on his defensive duties. There is stiff competition among forwards within Chicago's prospect pipeline, but Hayes is smart and versatile enough that he should be able to plug into their roster somewhere.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Chicago Blackhawks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:55 +0000

ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Frank Nazar III (91) prior to the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Lottery ball luck changed the course of the franchise with the arrival of Connor Bedard last season. They were once again rewarded for cleaning the house in recent years with the number two overall pick. That should net them another elite young player to join an enviable group of prospects that will grow together and be formidable before very long. They have had five first round picks in the last two NHL drafts. They dropped from 19th to third in organizational depth because of the graduations of Connor Bedard (1st overall, 2023), Kevin Korchinski (7th 2022), and Lukas Reichel (17th2020). Oliver Moore (19th, 2023) and Frank Nazar (13th, 2022) own high-end offensive upside and are ranked 43rd and 60th respectively by McKeens on their overall prospect ranking. Sam Rinzel (25th, 2022) is a longer-term project, but has progressed more rapidly than expected.

The Hawks own four first round picks in the next two drafts. In this year’s draft the team have seven picks in the first three rounds. In 2025, they have seven picks in the first four rounds. Following the draft in June of last year Davidson did get busy adding veterans to surround his youngsters in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Josh Bailey and Corey Perry. Foligno is the only one remaining and you can expect the team to spend some of the draft capital they have accumulated to date. Connor Bedard is only turning 19 this season but is not your typical teenager and is ready to be a dominant player very soon. Davidson would be wise to give the future young stars room to succeed by upgrading the supporting cast. He certainly has the tools in cap space and in picks to add some more core younger players and character veterans to teach the kids how to win.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Frank Nazar	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	`22(13th)	41	17	24	41	18
2	Oliver Moore	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	`23(19th)	39	9	24	33	8
3	Ethan Del Mastro	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	`21(105th)	69	7	30	37	54
4	Drew Commesso	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	`20(47th)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
5	Sam Rinzel	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	`22(25th)	39	2	26	28	20
6	Nick Lardis	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	`23(67th)	37	29	21	50	12
7	Ryan Greene	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	`22(57th)	40	12	24	36	6
8	Adam Gajan	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	`23(35th)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
9	Nolan Allan	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	`21(32nd)	60	5	12	17	47
10	Colton Dach	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	`21(62nd)	48	11	15	26	39
11	Gavin Hayes	RW	19	6-1/175	Fln-Soo (OHL)	`22(66th)	55	37	39	76	20
12	Roman Kantserov	RW	19	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`23(44th)	53	8	7	15	10
13	Paul Ludwinski	C	20	5-11/185	Kingston (OHL)	`22(39th)	60	23	46	69	27
14	Landon Slaggert	LW	21	6-0/180	Notre Dame (B1G)	`20(79th)	36	20	11	31	10
					Chicago (NHL)	`20(79th)	16	1	3	4	4
15	Aidan Thompson	C	22	5-11/180	Denver (NCHC)	`22(90th)	44	11	19	30	35

1. Frank Nazar, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and also did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

2. Oliver Moore, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

3. Ethan Del Mastro, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defensemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

4. Drew Commesso, G, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are steady eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

5. Sam Rinzel, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

6. Nick Lardis, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a Top 6 mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he has a great shot at becoming a speedy Middle 6 option.

7. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

8. Adam Gajan, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Goaltenders are historically more enigmatic and difficult to analyze compared to players at other positions, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most of his peers right now. He has put up some stellar performances against elite competition at the past two World Juniors tournaments, but for some reason has been far less consistent and reliable between the pipes for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still appears to have a lot of untapped potential, with ideal NHL size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes and flexibility. He's heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall and will have plenty of time while there to refine his technique, dial in his mental acuity, and cut down the number of weak goals that he currently has a tendency to allow.

9. Nolan Allan, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It’s undeniable that the sport of hockey is getting faster and more purely skilled. However, there will always still be an element of physicality, and that’s where Allan comes in. He’s strong and he’s sturdy, and he’s more than happy to focus on the nitty gritty aspects of the sport, while leaving the more flashy and exciting stuff to others. That said, smarts are more important than violence for modern shutdown defensemen, and he understands this evolution well. His game is more about blocking shots and keeping opposing forwards away from his own net by boxing them out or pinning them to the boards, as opposed to dropping the gloves or chasing thunderous hits. The work he does is still vitally important for team success, especially in the postseason, and there aren’t a lot of other blueliners in his age group who are as good in this particular role.

10. Colton Dach, C, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It must be quite frustrating to have been Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft season and then injuries have limited his number of games played for the past two consecutive seasons. It must also be frustrating for the Blackhawks, who have only gotten to see small portions of dominating play from one of their prized forward prospects, and who surely worry that all of this missed time during such an important period of his development could be hindering his chances of reaching his full potential. At least he’s been able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and helped the Seattle Thunderbirds win the 2023 WHL title, both of which provided beneficial experience for him, and his brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey has already been working for him in the AHL when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

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