Gabe Perreault – 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

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

Aidan Carlson — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:35:09 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 02: Florida Panthers right wing Jack Devine (38) looks on in the first period during a NHL game between the Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on December 02, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire)

Jack Devine, Florida Panthers

If you missed last season’s Calder Cup playoffs, Jack Devine’s surge to the top of AHL scoring this season may be surprising, but in reality, it isn’t. Despite only playing three regular-season games, Devine scored five points in seven during Charlotte’s run to Calder Cup runner-ups. Now, in his first season of professional hockey, Devine has kept up the pace with 12 points in his first 13 games. Although the point totals are impressive, it’s his detailed defensive game that sticks out the most to me. He’s exceptional with his stick and is a proactive defender, often dropping low in the slot to help when he’s the offside wing. It’s not a surprise that Devine was Florida’s call-up after their string of injuries. He should bounce between Florida and Charlotte as long as Florida can’t stay healthy, with more games played for the Checkers.

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 18: Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Alex Bump (21) attempts to shoot as Cleveland Monsters defenseman Corson Ceulemans (4) defends during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Cleveland Monsters on October 18, 2025, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Alex Bump, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Leading the way for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year has been left wing Alex Bump. Bump inked an ELC with the Flyers this offseason after two point-per-game seasons with Western Michigan. He’s scored 13 points in 16 games so far in 2025 and isn’t showing signs of slowing down as Lehigh contends in a strong Atlantic Division. Through almost the first quarter of the season, Bump has consistently flashed his playmaking abilities. He’ll dangle around a defender and then make a creative pass to a teammate. There’s not much defenders can do to defend the pass; he’ll find someone’s tape passing behind his back if he needs to. Leave him open, and he’ll quickly roof the puck. It’s going to be a crowded wing room in Philadelphia next year, and Bump is certainly making his case to be with the main squad.

Denver Barkey, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

No one has found instant chemistry with Alex Bump like fellow rookie Denver Barkey has. The two have combined for 24 points in the first 16 games with Barkey centering Bump. Despite a smaller stature, especially for a center, Barkey has stood up to the challenge and excelled. Like a Steely Dan song, Barkey isn’t afraid to do Bump’s dirty work. Barkey goes full speed into the mix of things and sets up Bump well, who currently leads the league in shots on goal. Despite high point totals with the London Knights in the OHL, because of Barkey’s size and the Knights’ system, his projection to pro hockey was uncertain. In his first handful of AHL games, Barkey has largely put to rest these concerns as one of the league’s top rookies.

Andrew Cristall, Hershey Bears

After torching the WHL in recent seasons, Cristall’s offensive abilities have continued to be evident as his level of competition has increased. As a rookie with the Hershey Bears this season, Cristall has 11 points in his first 16 games. He and right-wing Brett Leason continue to work well off each other in the early part of the season. Cristall’s strength of being a dynamic playmaker has shown through with his eight assists. While his offense has needed less of an adjustment to pro hockey, his defense is still a work in progress. It’s not a surprise for a young winger not to be the best defensively, but Cristall looks engaged in his own end. While his offense comes naturally, the Capitals organization will be looking to see how he improves in his own zone the rest of the year in the AHL.

Gabe Perreault, Hartford Wolf Pack

Through his first 12 games in the AHL, Perreault has shown that he has a nose for the net. He’s averaging 0.5 goals a game right now, which would undoubtedly put him among the top rookie goal scorers if he plays a majority of the year with Hartford and his pace sustains. Even with the obvious skating issues, it’s encouraging that Perreault is still able to amass points. Not being a great skater can kill your chances of making the NHL, which is likely a large reason Perreault hasn’t seen extended looks with the Rangers up to this point. It practically makes it impossible for him to play a depth role. Like Cristall, Perreault is still learning the defensive side of pro hockey, which will take some time, especially with the skating drawbacks.

Joey Larson, Bridgeport Islanders

I don’t think many people were expecting an undrafted free agent who signed an ELC eight months ago to be tied for second among rookie goal scorers in the AHL, but Joey Larson is doing just that. His three years of experience playing NCAA hockey, two of them at Michigan State, really show in his game. Even as a winger, Larson is constantly scanning the ice and communicating with teammates who should be switching to whom. He positions himself and his stick well. He forechecks and backchecks hard. Couple all of that with a shot that is finding the top corners with speed. If he can keep his scorer’s touch throughout the year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the parent team as early as next season in a bottom-six role.

Chase Pietila, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

There’s no doubt that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins would be leading the Atlantic Division without defenseman Chase Pietila. Pietila does everything for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton right now. He is a top four right-shot defenseman and plays both special teams units. He isn’t an overly creative passer, but he is accurate and plays the puck quickly. Pietila’s best skill is the way he closes out attackers. He times his engagements well, using a combination of his stick and shoulder to separate them from the puck. He plays bigger than he is listed at. I was pretty surprised he was listed at only 6’2 and 190 pounds. Pietila has been a key piece so far for the Penguins, as he has been tasked with eating a lot of minutes for the team. He’s a player the team can’t afford to have a bad night and for the most part, he has been on his game to start the season.

Ty Murchison, Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Murchison is the only defenseman in the top-10 for plus-minus among rookie skaters in the AHL. Despite only mustering four points in 18 games, Murchison’s good positioning and no-nonsense defensive style have accumulated a +11. Murchison is not a fast north-south skater, but he makes up for it by being laterally agile and in the right spot. His agility allows him to run some offense from the point and get shots to the net for deflections. Murchison excels at turning guys around in front of the net or along the boards. This leads to him tying up sticks in front of the net to give his goaltenders an easier time and winning board battles with relative ease. Murchison has been yet another integral rookie for Lehigh’s success this season.

Dans Locmelis, Providence Bruins

After finishing up his second season with UMass last season, Locmelis played six games with Providence in the 24-25 season, where he scored 12 points. It was an insane scoring streak for the young Latvian, who has since, expectedly, cooled off this season. Still, Locmelis has 10 points in 17 games and has proven to be a valuable two-way winger for the Bruins. He’s one of five players to have multiple shorthanded goals and the only rookie. Locmelis has used his fluid skating and ridiculous footspeed to full effect in the AHL this season. He accelerates quickly and isn’t afraid to go at the net. He has a good idea of where he needs to be a scoring threat and uses that to set up his sniper-level shot. If Locmelis can continue to show that he is a good player at any strength, he could get called up to Boston sooner rather than later.

Simon Zajicek, Providence Bruins

No team is getting better goaltending in the AHL than the Providence Bruins. A large part of that has been rookie goaltender Simon Zajicek. Following his best year in Czechia’s top league, Extraliga, Zajicek signed a one-year ELC with the Bruins. In the opening months of the season, Zajicek has been one of, if not the best, goaltenders in the AHL. His save percentage is tied for league-leading 0.942 and his goals against average leads the league at 1.70. On any other team, Zajicek would be the clear top goalie, but his tandem partner, Michael DiPietro, has also been playing lights out with a 0.942 save percentage and 1.80 goals against average in 10 games. Zajicek could get more starts eventually if the current Boston backup, Joonas Korpisalo, continues to struggle and DiPietro gets the call-up. For now, he’ll remain the 1B in Providence.

AHL: EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025-26

Aidan Carlson — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:30:08 +0000

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 04: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins center Tristan Broz (26) looks to shoot during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on April 4, 2025, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Tristan Broz - F - Wilkes Barre

In his first season in the AHL last year, Tristan Broz put up 37 points in 59 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was one goal short of a 20-goal season as a rookie. Broz has picked up where he left off last season, scoring at an even faster pace. In his first three games, he’s scored three goals and a total of four points. The Pittsburgh Penguins have one of the oldest forward groups in the league, which may give Broz an opportunity this year if he can keep up the pace. Whether some of the older guys get injured or are not simply living up to expectations, Broz could certainly earn himself a call-up, although Ville Koivunen will likely earn that ahead of Broz. Broz will get every opportunity this year to prove he’s NHL-capable, and if his scoring continues to improve, it’s hard to imagine he won’t get a call sooner rather than later.

Filip Mešár - F - Laval Rocket

Sometimes you can get the best out of a player when their back is against the wall. As a first-round pick in 2022, Filip Mešár didn’t have the production that many anticipated in the AHL last year. In 42 games, Mešár had an underwhelming 18 points. For an AHL rookie, it may not seem like the end of the world, but as a small skill forward in the Montreal system, there aren’t too many spots left. Mešár is a speedy winger with the hands that can easily match the blistering pace he sets with his hands. Unfortunately, Mešár is on the smaller side, so if his point production doesn’t improve, there isn’t a large incentive to bring him up to the NHL. Maybe he’s seen the writing on the wall because in his first four games, he’s notched three points. When his game is going, Mešár is an eye-popping player, and it will be interesting to see what the Canadiens do with him if he starts to live up to his first-round billing.

Jack Devine - F - Charlotte Checkers

From a 2022 seventh-round pick to the NCAA’s leading scorer last season, Jack Devine’s offensive game has taken some major strides in recent seasons. Now in the AHL with the Calder Cup runner-ups, the Charlotte Checkers, Devine has caught fire to start the season. He’s tied for second among all skaters with six points in four games and is tied for first in points among rookies. Getting first-line minutes and being an excellent puck distributor with a quality shot, Devine will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Checkers. Can a full season of Devine being in the lineup get the Checkers over the hump this year? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Radim Mrtka - D - Rochester Americans

For some players, reaching the AHL can take years after they’re drafted. For Radim Mrtka, it was only a couple of months before he was thrown into the fire. But if you asked Mrtka, he’d probably say it was the rest of the AHL that was getting thrown into the fire rather than himself. At 6-foot-6, Mrtka is a towering presence and loves to get involved in every scrum he can. Attackers are lucky when the defenseman uses his reach to disrupt a play because if he gets his body on them consistently, he’s a punishing force. Mrtka has shown he can flash some offense, too, which makes him a threat everywhere on the ice. Expect him to be an exciting and highly involved player in Rochester this year.

Calum Ritchie - F - Bridgeport Islanders

In a trade deadline deal that dealt Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche, the Islanders’ biggest piece of the return was Ritchie. After being drafted by the Avalanche in the first round in 2023, Ritchie has torn up the OHL with Oshawa, scoring 205 points in 139 games. Ritchie is an elite playmaker and facilitator, so when the offense runs through him, that’s when he finds success. He’s poised and excels at finding his teammates under pressure. Each year, for the first three years, Ritchie’s goal totals increased until last year, when his goal total was cut in half in the regular season. He’s a player who should shoot the puck more and play with a bit more urgency in his game. Opening the 25-26 season in Bridgeport, Ritchie has scored a point in each of the first two games. Ritchie should get a full year in the AHL to show his offensive capabilities and work on his defensive game, as the Islanders have no real reason to bring him up to the NHL at this point.

Noah Chadwick - D - Toronto Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has to be ecstatic with the rise of Noah Chadwick since he was drafted in 2022 as a sixth-round pick. For a defenseman with legitimate size, Chadwick is a mobile two-way defenseman. If he continues to improve, it’s not hard to see how he could be a top four, minute-eating defenseman in his prime. Even with the departure of Mitch Marner and a projected rising salary cap, Chadwick will be cost-controlled for the next few years, and getting his value on an ELC contract is a dream for a contender. Last season with Lethbridge of the WHL, Chadwick had 53 points in 66 games and then elevated his scoring in the playoffs with 14 points in 16 games. He’s already accumulated a point and a +5 rating in three games with the Marlies, so he’s off to a good start and should be an important player for the Marlies the whole year.

Ilya Protas - F - Hershey Bears

Five years after his brother, Alexei, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round, Ilya was selected by the same team in the same round. And if Ilya was “made in a lab” like his brother, Metropolitan Division fans' hearts might be in their stomach. In his third full season in the NHL, Alexei has blossomed into a 30-goal scorer, and his brother Ilya has similar goal-scoring qualities. With Windsor of the OHL last year, Ilya netted 50 goals in 61 games en route to 124 points. Like his brother, Ilya is big, plays two ways and has more offense to his game than just filling the net. He also similarly has the skating drawbacks, but it hasn’t seemed to slow down Alexei from producing at the highest level. Ilya will likely spend at least this season with Hershey, but his timetable for playing alongside his brother isn’t too far out.

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 23: St. Louis Blues center Dalibor Dvorsky (54) skates with the puck during a regular season game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Nashville Predators on Saturday March 23, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

Dalibor Dvorsky - F - Springfield Thunder Birds

Fresh off a 21-goal AHL season as a 19-year-old rookie, Dvorsky is primed to have an even better year with Springfield this season. 19-year-olds in the AHL don’t score 20 or more goals too often and Dvorsky was overshadowed a bit last season when fellow 19-year-old Bradly Nadeau scored 32 for Chicago. Some would argue that Dvorsky was more impressive as he played the whole season and found consistent success as a center, unlike Nadeau, who plays on the wing. In his second year in the AHL, the St. Louis Blues will be looking for Dvorsky to play a more complete game. That is getting better at the face-off dot and getting better defensively. It’s likely Dvorsky will be in Springfield another full year, but if he improves faster than expected and the Blues are back in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, Dvorsky could get called up again.

Gabe Perreault - F - Hartford Wolfpack

At the conclusion of his sophomore season at Boston College, Gabe Perreault inked his ELC with the New York Rangers. He played in five regular-season games at the end of the season, where he went without a point. Perreault showed he is an elite offensive playmaker while at BC, notching a 60-point season his freshman year and another 48 points last season. Despite the offensive prowess, he hasn’t played a season of professional hockey and has some skating drawbacks. These are probably significant in newly appointed head coach Mike Sullivan’s reasoning for sending him to Hartford to start the year. Notoriously hard on younger players, it’s not surprising Perreault is starting there, but with his offensive ability and lack of scoring depth on the Rangers, he could get called up at various points this season for a team that will likely be on the fringe of the playoff picture.

Carter Yakemchuk - D - Belleville Senators

There’s no doubt that Yakemchuk has all of the offensive tools to be an elite offensive defenseman; his question marks come in his own end. Although rumored to have been close to making the team right after his draft year, it’s clear going into this year that was probably not the case. While Yakemchuk had one of the best point totals from a defenseman in their draft year in WHL history, he needs to be better defensively and a year in the AHL will help with that. He’ll be getting top-pairing minutes and used in all situations in Belleville, but a year of developing into at least a decent defender at the pro level will be required. Should he make the continued improvements, there will be a spot for him in Ottawa’s top four next year.

NHL: Victor Nuño – DYNASTY STOCK WATCH – New York Rangers Edition

Victor Nuño — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:54:42 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: New York Rangers Defenseman Scott Morrow (60) warms up before the NHL preseason professional men’s hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers on October 2, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire)

McKeen’s Hockey: Dynasty Stock Watch

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

New York Rangers Edition

Team Outlook

The Rangers missed the playoffs in 2024-25, which signaled that the roster can no longer rely solely on a few stars to carry them. They still have elite talent in Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, and re-acquired JT Miller, but the supporting cast has been inconsistent. The organization now needs its young players to step forward, not just as depth options but as impact contributors who can drive play and provide scoring support.

A major franchise question looms around Artemi Panarin’s future, as he is set to become a free agent after the 2025-26 season. If he re-signs, the Rangers can continue to push in a win now direction. If he leaves, the team may be forced to retool around a younger core. Either way, the development and emergence of their prospects will determine how competitive they remain. For dynasty managers, this creates a crucial window to track which young players are positioned to seize larger roles, because opportunity in New York could open up dramatically over the next one to two years.

Buy Candidates

Gabe Perreault (RW, 20)
Why Buy?
After a stellar run with the USNTDP and an immediate impact at Boston College, Perreault is beginning his professional career in the AHL. Some dynasty managers may view this as a step back, but it is more a reflection of the Rangers’ depth than any concern with his development. Perreault’s hockey IQ and playmaking ability are among the best of any prospect in the game. His skating still divides scouts, but his ability to anticipate play, create in tight spaces, and elevate linemates is elite. Once he adjusts to the pace of the pro game, his vision and touch should translate seamlessly.

Because New York’s top six is loaded, his NHL timeline may stretch slightly, which has temporarily kept his fantasy cost reasonable. That creates a perfect buying window for patient managers. His long-term projection still includes top six usage and power-play time, and his upside remains that of a high-end offensive contributor. If anyone in your league believes the AHL assignment lowers his ceiling, this is the time to send a trade offer. Patience now could lead to a major payoff when he becomes a core fantasy asset.

Scott Morrow (D, 22)
Why Buy?

Morrow may never completely replace Adam Fox, but the gap might be smaller than people think. His size, mobility, and offensive instincts make him one of the most intriguing blueliners in the Rangers’ system. Adam Fox’s production has quietly trended downward over the past few seasons, and after his poor performance at the Four Nations Face-Off, there is growing scrutiny about who might eventually take over top offensive duties. Importantly, Morrow’s Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus (RAPM) chart via Evolving Hockey from last season shows that, in limited NHL action, he already drives offense at a high level. He does, however, still need to refine his defensive acumen, which is typical for young offensive defensemen. If the Rangers split power-play units or Fox misses time, Morrow is the most likely candidate to step in.

His demotion to the AHL to start the season was more about his waiver-exempt status than his performance, which creates an ideal buying window. Dynasty managers often overreact to assignments, assuming a player is not ready, when in reality Morrow is close to NHL usage and just needs reps. His transition to pro hockey has been smooth, and his long-term opportunity remains tied to one of the best offensive environments in the league. If anyone in your league views him as blocked or unimpressive, use that to your advantage in trade negotiations. Stashing him now could yield a quick and significant payoff once the opportunity opens up.

Dylan Garand (G, 23)
Why Buy?
Goaltending prospects are always volatile, but Garand has quietly built one of the stronger development curves among young goalies. After a rough adjustment to the professional level in the AHL, he bounced back in a big way last year and became one of Hartford’s most reliable players. His Hockey Prospecting model shows roughly a 34 percent chance of becoming an NHLer, which is a strong projection for a goaltender. One of his top historical comparables is Sam Montembeault, who took a few years to find his footing and earn a real opportunity, but is now thriving as an NHL starter. Garand could follow a similar trajectory. Although he is slightly undersized by modern standards, he has a strong technical foundation, excellent compete level, and a proven winning pedigree, including backstopping Canada to gold at the 2022 World Junior Championship.

With Igor Shesterkin locked in as the starter, Garand profiles as one of the better future backup or 1B options in the league. If Shesterkin ever misses time, Garand could step into a strong Rangers roster and immediately provide wins and quality rate stats. The Rangers do not have many other viable internal candidates at the position, which further boosts his long-term opportunity. His dynasty acquisition cost remains low because he is currently blocked, but that is exactly what makes him a smart stash. Quality insurance goaltenders are incredibly valuable in deep formats, and Garand has both the skill and situation to outperform expectations once he gets his chance. This is the ideal time to buy before his value climbs.

Sell Candidates

Malcolm Spence (LW, 19)
Why Sell?
Spence’s speed, energy, and relentless motor made him an exciting draft pick, and his compete level is one of the best in his class. He plays with pace, tracks well, and does all the little things coaches love. However, from a fantasy perspective, his offensive toolkit is not as refined as other forward prospects, and he profiles more as a middle-six complementary winger than a primary scorer. His fantasy hockey life skater card shows a solid peripheral floor, but without strong point production, that alone will not carry his value in most formats. In short, he is likely to be a better real-life player for the Rangers than a high-end fantasy asset.

Right now, Spence still carries “draft shine,” and his strong start to his NCAA career may cause some managers to overestimate his long-term ceiling. This creates the ideal selling window. His name value and perceived upside may currently outweigh his true offensive projection. Dynasty managers should consider moving him before reality sets in and his value normalizes. If someone in your league believes he has top-six scoring upside, capitalize on that now and sell while the market is still inflated.

Brendan Brisson (LW/RW, 23)
Why Sell?
Brisson’s shot has always been his standout tool, and he built a strong reputation through his draft pedigree and international play. However, he was unable to crack the lineup with the Vegas Golden Knights, which was an early warning sign that his game might not translate as well as hoped. After being traded to the Rangers, he now faces another crowded forward group with limited openings in the top six. His RAPM chart via Evolving Hockey shows that his offensive impact, measured through expected goals, is not above NHL average, and his defensive results are poor. There simply is not enough value away from the puck to offset the inconsistency in his scoring.

Despite these concerns, his name still carries value in many dynasty leagues due to past production and his reputation as a scorer. Though it may be past time to sell, you can and should see what you can get. Someone in your league may still be willing to give him another chance, hoping he can rediscover his offense with a change of scenery. If that opportunity arises, you should make the trade. His long-term projection looks more like a depth winger with limited fantasy upside, and it is better to move him before that becomes obvious to everyone.

EJ Emery (D, 19)
Why Sell?
Emery brings size, reach, and strong defensive instincts, which give him a very clear path to the NHL. He is already advanced as a transition and shutdown defender, and his play at North Dakota reflected that, as seen in his Fantasy Hockey Life skater card. Coaches will love his ability to kill plays early, win battles, and make smart exits under pressure. In real hockey terms, he is the kind of steady, reliable blueliner teams trust in difficult minutes.

However, from a fantasy perspective, his ceiling is extremely limited. He is unlikely to produce many points at the NHL level, and his peripheral contributions are not high enough to offset the lack of offense. While his draft position and defensive reputation may still generate some hype, this is the perfect time to cash out before the fantasy market cools. Emery may become a valuable real-life NHL defenseman, but he is unlikely to ever be a valuable fantasy asset. Dynasty managers should move him now and use the name value while it still holds weight.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Gabe Perreault	Buy	Elite hockey sense and vision, value still muted by NHL timeline
Scott Morrow	Buy	Offensive defender who could climb quickly if given opportunity
Dylan Garand	Buy	Under-the-radar goalie with strong backup/1B potential
Malcolm Spence	Sell	Raw energy forward, ceiling limited to depth role
Brendan Brisson	Sell	Great shot, but crowded depth and inconsistency limit upside
EJ Emery	Sell	Safe NHL projection, but minimal fantasy relevance long-term

McKeen’s 2025-26 Hockey Pool Yearbook Feature – Fantasy Prospect Rankings

Peter Harling — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:47:09 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 12: Boston defenseman Cole Hutson (44) handles the puck during the championship game of the NCAA D1 Frozen Four between the Boston University Terriers and the Western Michigan Broncos on April 12, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers who read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players who can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects who have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect skaters must be under 26-years-old as of September 15th, 2024, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 career games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

Demidov made his NHL debut with much anticipation and expectations, and he did not disappoint with a two-point showing in his first game. There is a lot of hype surrounding Demidov and if he lives up to the potential, he could very well go down as one of the all-time scoring leaders in Montreal and flirt with 1,000 career points, joining the ranks of legends like Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau, and Henri Richard.

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

The big man on campus was the Hockey East Player of the Year and scoring champion with 49 points in 37 games at Boston College. He also captained Team USA to a WJC Gold Medal and then made his NHL debut in Washington scoring his first career goal. Leonard will be an NHL regular starting in the 2025-26 season and should be a Calder contender in his rookie season. His value in multi-category leagues is even higher.

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

Hot off a Hoby Baker Award winning season as a senior with Michigan State, Howard and the Lightning were at a contract impasse. Rather than lose him as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Lightning traded him to the Oilers. Howard should see an opportunity to crack the Oilers roster in a top six role given their lack of prospect depth. His new ELC will fit in the Oilers budget and playing with either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl could push Howard into the forefront of the Calder race.

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

A late season surge pushed Sennecke up the draft ranking all the way to third overall in his draft season. He has carried that momentum into hi D+1 season scoring 86 points in 56 games for the Generals. Don’t make the same mistake Team Canada made by erroneously omitting him from the 2025 WJC roster, Sennecke is a play driving forward with tremendous hockey sense and skill as well as size at 6-foot-4. Sennecke has another year of junior eligibility but could make the Ducks roster as soon as this season.

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

Drafted second overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Misa has been the first overall selection in all my fantasy drafts and mock drafts. Misa has been a highly anticipated fantasy prospect since becoming the latest OHL exceptional status recipient. He has a Memorial Cup Championship on his resume, is coming off a 134-point campaign and will spend his D+1 season developing in the NCAA against bigger, stronger, faster competition that will only make him more NHL ready for his ETA of 2026-27.

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

After posting 51-points as captain of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and a finalist for the Hoby Baker, Snuggerud made a splash in the NHL with the Blues. Playing in the Blues final seven regular season games, he notched four points and then duplicated that performance in the playoffs. Snuggerud looks to be a lock for a top six role with the Blues and could be a solid Calder sleeper candidate if his early chemistry with Robert Thomas continues.

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

A lot of super-star players have come from the USNTDP, but Perreault holds the single season point record with 132 points in the 2022-23 season. Perreault just completed his sophomore season at Boston College and posted 16 goals and 32 assists in 37 games with the Eagles. He also was a key player in the USA WJC Gold Medal with 10 points in seven games. Perreault is a dynamic playmaker that also has a nose for the net and can finish. He played in five NHL games to close the season and while not a lock to make the Rangers out of training camp, he is their top prospect and a fantasy must own.

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

Catton was the 2024 draft class leading scorer with his 115-points, which puts him in the company of an elite group of players the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard to post such lofty production in their draft year. I am not suggesting that Catton has that kind of NHL and fantasy value, but he is the Krakens most dynamically gifted offensive player and has tremendous upside.

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

When the Capitals drafted Alexei Protas’ younger brother in the third round, it might have appeared to be a pick motivated by nepotism. Then Ilya moved from the USHL to the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and had a breakout season to the tune of 50 goals, and 124 points (second in OHL scoring) and now looks like a steal of a third-round pick. Since he was drafted from the USHL, he can move up to the AHL for the coming season and further his development. Look for the Protas brothers to be a force in the Nations capital for the foreseeable future.

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

The first pick in Utah’s franchise history, Iginla was on pace for a stellar D+1 season with 14 goals and 31 points in 21 games with Kelowna before a hip injury ended his season early. After surgery, the expectation is that he will return to Kelowna for an important season of development in the WHL, and with Canada at the WJC before he joins the NHL. Tij was drafted higher than his father, Hall-Of-Famer and Calgary legend Jarome Iginla, can Tij match his old mans career status?

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Two things stand out with Martone: his dynamic offensive game and his size. However, for all you banger leaguers reading, don’t be fooled to think he is going to rack up hits and PIM’s as that is not really his game. He is a finesse playmaking winger. Martone has committed to take his development to Michigan State in the NCAA for his D+1 season in hopes that playing against older, stronger and better competition will make him NHL ready for the 2026-27 season.

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

The consensus number one ranked prospect heading into the 2025 draft was Hagens. He played his draft year in the NCAA with Boston College and despite posting solid numbers as a freshman, he was unable to keep pace with Macklin Celebrinis’ pace from the previous season, and he fell on draft day to the Bruins. It is quite possible that Hagens ends up being the best fantasy prospect from his draft class, but he will return for at least one more year in the NCAA. Look for a spike in his production and for him to challenge for a Hoby Baker nomination.

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Lindstrom is a unicorn as a 6-foot-4, 214-pound center that scored 46 goals and 46 points in 32 games with Medicine Hat in his draft year. He combines skill, skating, smarts, and size in such a rare and dominant package. A well documented herniated disc back injury that ended his draft season after 32 games and all but eliminated his D+1 season minus a few playoff, and Memorial Cup games is the other side of his story. Lindstrom will play the coming season in the NCAA with Michigan State where he will try to regain his health, conditioning and further his development. If he can realize his massive potential, he has franchise upside and would be a dominant player in multi-category leagues. Or, he could have a set back from his back injury and follow Nolan Patrick’s career path. High risk, but high reward potential.

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

Gritsyuk may be a sleeper prospect, but don’t sleep on the Russian sniper. He is coming in hot from the KHL where he posted 17 goals and 44-points in 49 games. While he was only a fifth-round pick from the 2019, the now 24-year-old is NHL ready and will step into a top six role in New Jersey. He may not have the same offensive upside as some of the players in the range of his ranking but given his advanced development the wait time is zero, which moves the needle.

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

The AHL can be a meatgrinder that chews up and spits out teenage hockey prospects. Despite that, Dvorsky played last year as a 19-year-old and posted 21 goals and 45 points in 61 games with Springfield and was second in league rookie scoring. Dvorsky also shone at the WJC last year with Slovakia, scoring nine points in just five games. His play earned him an NHL cup of coffee, two games but he failed to record any points playing limited minutes. Dvorsky still needs more AHL development, but his promising development suggests the 10^th overall pick from the 2023 draft is well on his way to becoming an NHL regular and a fantasy must own player.

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

His first full season in North America was a success as the Canucks 2022 15^th overall pick split time between the NHL and Abbotsford in the AHL. In the AHL he posted 28 points in 36 games and another seven in 16 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup Championship. In his 24 NHL games the Swedish winger posted six points while averaging 12:30 of ice time. Expect him to be a full time NHL player this year and to see elevated minutes, leading to numbers similar to what he produced in the AHL.

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes must feel like the drafted a top ten player with their 30^th overall pick from 2023. As a freshman in his D+1 season at University of Maine, Nadeau posted 19 goals and 46 points in 37 games. He followed up that with an impressive rookie season in the AHL to the tune of 32 goals and 58 points in 64 games with the Chicago Wolves. His underwhelming production at the WJC with Canada was curious, but the entire team underwhelmed. Nadeau made his NHL debut on April 16^th and earned his first career point against Montreal. Look for his sophomore season to see more NHL opportunities as he plays his way into a top six role with the Canes.

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Drafted third overall by the Hawks in 2025, the Swedish center brings size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, a high-level hockey sense, and skill level to his game. He would be better slotted as a second line center at the NHL level as his two-way game is more his calling card as opposed to a go-to offensive driver. The 18-year-old will likely play two more seasons in the SHL before crossing over to North America, meaning a little more wait time and a limited offensive ceiling compared to his draft status.

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

The 21-year-old Russian saw his production dip from 0.79 to 0.54 points per game in the final year of his KHL contract. Despite the disappointing production, with 209 career KHL games of development he has signed with the Wild and will play in North America to the delight of fantasy managers who roster Yurov. With Yakov Trenin, Vlad Tarasenko, and Kirill Kaprizov providing some fellow Russian support, he should adjust quickly and could play his way into a top six role sooner than later.

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

Desnoyers could be the most underrated player in the 2025 draft, which says a lot sine he was selected fourth overall. A 6-foot-2 center Desnoyers has excellent hockey sense, size, skating, skill and compete. He has played a key role and produced all season starting with a point per game to lead Canada to Gold at the Hlinka. He was the first line center for Team CHL at the Prospects Challenge and was a point per game again. With his club team in Moncton, he posted 84-points in 56 games and lead the Wildcats in playoff scoring with 30-points in 19 games to be named playoff MVP, and a league championship. He is the best two-way player, and that takes nothing away from his offensive game.

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

After being acquired from the Jets for Brayden Yager, McGroarty made his pro debut and impressed, splitting time between the NHL and AHL. In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he played 60 games, notching 14 goals and 39 points. While he only played in eight NHL games, he impressed with three points, playing a physical game as well showing he can have an impact away from the puck. With the Pens looking to rebuild, he is a corner stone player going forward, starting now.

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

Musty had a frustrating season. It began by holding out for a trade from Sudbury in the OHL. A deal never happened so he resumed playing and scored 59 points in 33 games before an injury put him on the shelf until the playoffs. He returned for game two but despite four points, the Wolves were swept in four by Kingston. He will turn pro now and play his rookie season in the AHL. The 6-foot-2 winger has size and played a power game at the OHL; he could be an impactful top six winger with his size and shot.

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

When the Islanders acquired Ritchie at the NHL trade deadline, he instantly became their top prospect. Ritchie started the season in the NHL with the Avalanche where he played seven games and scored his first career goal with his signature shootout move (a spectacular deke as he fakes the shoot like he fanned then quickly backhands it home). He returned to the Oshawa Generals where he dominated with 70 points and 50 PIM in 47 games and led the Generals back to a league championship rematch vs London. Ritchie should be a regular on Long Island this fall.

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers added Savoie in a trade with Buffalo, and he instantly became the Oilers top prospect. Savoie is an undersized forward at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds but he is also a prolific offensive player. He posted some hefty point totals in the WHL and in his first full pro season, he scored 19 goals and 54 points in 66 games in Bakersfield. He made his debut in Edmonton as well, playing in four games and recorded his first career point. He has the skill to play and produce in the NHL, but size is a concern.

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

The big Russian winger made the move to North America after the Sharks selected him with the first pick of round two in the 2024 NHL Draft. His debut was delayed following an off-season shoulder surgery, but when he resumed playing with Saginaw in the OHL he dominated with 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games. Saginaw was eliminated in the first round, and he was called up to play two AHL games with the Barracuda. It is expected he will play the coming season in the AHL, to further his development, but he has NHL top six winger upside with his size, skating and shooting ability.

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leaf's top prospect is poised to bring his game to the NHL for the coming season. In his final year in the OHL with the London Knights, Cowan led the OHL in playoff scoring (39-points in 17 games), added a second straight league championship, and led the Memorial Cup in soring to lead the Knights to victory. He is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds but he plays a physical game to complement his dynamic skill and vision.

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

A true boom-or-bust player. Cristall is as dynamic an offensive player as you will find. His career WHL point production is off the chart with 412 points in 248 games (1.66 points per game). He finished his WHL career with Spokane in the playoffs where he scored 21 goals and 41 points in 19 games. How could such a dominant player be a bust? He is just 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds as the NHL trends towards size again. Also, his defensive game and compete level is a liability. These factors kept him off the Canada WJC roster. If he plays in the NHL, he will be great, but there have been plenty of prolific junior scorers that never made the NHL.

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

“Goal” Eiserman is a polarizing player. His offensive upside is significant. He is the all-time NTDP goal scoring leader, was a key player for USA winning Gold at the 2025 WJC with seven points. As a freshman at Boston University, he scored 25 goals and 36 points in 39 games. His play away from the puck is where scouts have concerns with his game. Eiserman will return for his sophomore season with the Terriers where he will continue to score goals, and more importantly develop his overall game.

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

Perhaps the player from the 2025 draft class with the most upside is O’Brien. The 6-foot-2 center has tremendous vision and hockey sense, a late June birthday means he has plenty of development road head where his potential can grow. While his physical game is lacking as his slender 176-pound frame needs to fill out, there are very few flaws in his game overall.

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

Ohgren made his North American debut last season and had a tremendously successful rookie season in the AHL scoring 37 points in 41 games on a poor Iowa Wild team. His play earned him an NHL audition of 24 games, but he was limited to an average of 11:06 in ice time and only managed five points. Ohgren should be ready for a bigger role in Minnesota, and his point production should increase with more playing time.

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

Parekh dominated the OHL in his draft year and then returned for his D+1 season and posted 33 goals, 107 points and 96 PIM. He was an egregious omission from the Team Canada WJC roster and made his NHL debut on April 17^th scoring his first career NHL goal in a 5-1 win over LA. Parekh is still junior eligible as a 19-year-old but is almost assured to be a full time NHL player this season. It should not take long for him to secure a top four pairing and first power play role in Calgary. Parekh could have a similar rookie season as Lane Hutson had and be a Calder candidate.

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

Hutson 2.0 is a similar player to his older brother Lane. Cole is developing in the NCAA at Boston University and posted 48 points in 39 games in his freshman season. His real breakout however was on the World stage with USA at the WJC where he led the tournament in scoring with 11 points in seven games. Cole has another season with the Terriers coming up before he is ready to join the Capitals in the NHL. When he arrives, it is not out of the question for him to have the same impact Lane Hutson had, or even better.

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

The top pick from the 2025 Draft class has signed with the Islanders, and all signs point towards him making the Islanders out of training camp and becoming an NHL rookie. A shoulder injury limited him to just 17 games in Erie last season, so a return to the OHL would not be the worst scenario for his long-term development.

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

All Buium does is win. At 19-years-old his trophy case already includes a World Championship, an NCAA Championship, two WJC Golds and a U-18 Gold. Buium made his NHL debut in the playoffs and recorded his first career point playing in four games. Buium is not only a lock to make the Wild roster, but he should also be a top pairing impact player right out of the gate.

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

The 23-year-old Russian blueliner has been one of the most anticipated players to come from the KHL for several years. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defender captained SKA St. Petersburg for two seasons and posted career KHL stats of 54 goals and 177 points in 288 games. He has signed in Carolina and made his NHL debut in the playoffs, earning his first career point in four games. He will have to compete with Shane Gostisbehere and K’Andre Miller for top power play deployment but count on Nikishin playing big minutes in his rookie season.

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

The 2024 second overall pick only played 18 NHL games in his rookie season, but as a 19-year-old he produced 22 points in 52 AHL games with Rockford. Can he breakout as the Hawks top pairing and first power play quarterback in his sophomore season? He will have to outplay Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski to do so, but it is a real possibility as soon as this fall.

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

All Cagnoni is missing to be ranked higher is size and draft pedigree. At 5-foot-9 he comes up short by todays NHL standards, and as a fourth-round pick, he lacks the golden ticket first round picks get. However, his on-ice production speaks volumes, scoring 16 goals and 52 points in 64 games as a AHL rookie with the Barracuda. Cagnoni is the future first power play quarterback in San Jose on a unit that will include Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa. Cagnoni could be a fantasy beast!

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

Where will Dickinson play in the 2025-26 season? He posted 91 points in 55 games, won a second consecutive OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Championship. He has another year of junior eligibility remaining, so the AHL is not an option, but has signed an NHL contract so the NCAA is not an option either. He has nothing left to learn in the OHL, so he looks ready to make the jump to the NHL.

9 - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a rising star and the Wings top prospect. The 5-foot-11 right shot defender has tremendous poise on the ice, sees the ice very well, carries the puck and dictates the play with authority. After a solid SHL career of 52 points in 107 games including an SHL Championship, he made his debut in the AHL to close the season. A full year of AHL development is to be expected under GM Steve Yzerman, but a future blueline anchored by Mo Seider, Simon Edvinsson and ASP sets up the Red Wings for a decade.

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

After injury limited Luneau to just 13 combined AHL and NHL games in his rookie season, he returned in 2024-25 to post near point per game production with the Gulls with 52 points in 59 games. The 6-foot-1 right shot offensive defenceman has great upside, but he also has his work cut out for him to crack the Ducks top four with competition the likes of Jacob Trouba, Jackson Lacombe, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov.

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

There were a lot of skeptics when Ottawa selected the 6-foot-4 right shot offensive defenceman at seven ahead of Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium and Sam Dickinson at the ’24 Draft. A lot of those critics were silenced when Yakemchuk nearly made the Sens roster after a tremendous preseason performance. He was returned to the WHL for his senior year and was slightly underwhelming seeing his point totals dip and failing to be make the Canadian WJC roster. His pro career will begin, likely in Belleville for a season before assuming the top pairing role on the right side in Ottawa next to Jake Sanderson.

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

Rinzel had a breakout season in 2024-25. It was not just his 10-goal, 32-point performance as a sophomore at University of Minnesota, but his nine game NHL audition in which he averaged over 23 minutes of ice time including an average of 2:24 powerplay time on ice where he delivered five points. The 21-year-old is the early favorite to be the first power play quarterback heading into the upcoming season. Don’t sleep on Rinzel, he has some big upside.

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

The 5-foot-10 right shot offensive defenceman had a strong rookie season starting in the NHL with an eight-game run with the Devils where he posted three goals before an AHL assignment. Overall, he racked up 18 points in 30 AHL games and finished the season back in the NHL with New Jersey. With Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemic in the fold, getting ice time, let alone power play time will be difficult barring injury.

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

Acquired from Carolina along with a first and second round pick in the K’Andre Miller trade, Morrow could fill the gap from Miller out of camp behind Adam Fox on the Rangers second pairing. Morrow had a strong rookie season the year prior posting 39 points in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves and had a 14-game NHL run with the Hurricanes scoring six points.

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

Acquired from Montreal for Zac Bolduc this summer, Mailloux is now the top defensive prospect in the Blues system. Mailloux is NHL ready after a second AHL campaign with 80 points and 165 PIM in 135 career games, and five points in eight career NHL games. Mailloux will no longer be considered a prospect as he will make the Blues roster full time, and battle Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler for top power play deployment.

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

The 6-foot-2 Austrian defender made a splash in his AHL debut in 2023-24 when he posted five points in the final 11 games in Laval. Injuries kept him out of action until he returned for the Olympics with Austria and finished the season again in the AHL with Laval. His six points in 13 playoff games with the Rocket are promising but a nearly full season lost to injury suggest he may need a time in the AHL before he is ready for Montreal. The departure of Logan Mailloux improves his stature in Montreal.

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

Widely considered to be a shutdown defender, a red flag in fantasy, Bonk has considerable fantasy value. At 6-foot-2 he has decent size and can play a physical role and contribute hits and blocks. But he has also contributed significant offensive numbers with 150 career regular season points in 189 games with the London Knights. Bonk was deployed as the net front presence on the power play regularly with London and was tried as the first powerplay quarterback for Canada at the WJC. His pro career will begin with a season in the AHL with Lehigh Valley before he becomes a top four NHL regular.

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

Nashville has a strong track record of drafting and developing top quality NHL defencemen. Tanner Molendyk is the latest and he nearly made the Predators out of training camp last year before returning for his final year in the WHL. He was a point per game player with Saskatoon and Medicine Hat and at the Memorial Cup. Molendyk will be an AHL rookie this season, but it likely won’t be long before he is patrolling the Predators blueline in a top four capacity.

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

His fantasy value took a big hit when the Flames drafted Zayne Parekh. Brzustewicz is an offensive defenceman that posted a 92-point season in the OHL, and in his AHL rookie campaign last year impressed with five goals and 32 points in 70 games with the Wranglers. Brzustewicz was a key piece in return from the Elias Lindholm trade so the Flames are invested, he has great offensive and fantasy upside, but the Parekh addition will take some of that critical power play ice time up.

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

After two seasons in the shadow of a Hutson with the Boston University Terriers, Willander may be an underrated fantasy defenceman. With all the top offensive deployment at BU going to the Hutson’s, lane and Cole, Willander still managed to produce 49 points in 77 career games with the Terriers. His play with Sweden at the WJC was impressive as well with five points in seven games. Willander is a strong skating, puck moving two-way defender with offensive upside. Willander was signed by the Canucks and will start his professional career in the AHL with defending Calder Cup Champions Abbotsford.

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are building something special and Askarov should be a key piece of that puzzle. A top ranked goalie prospect for years, the move from Nashville and out from under Juuse Saros, gives Askarov has the opportunity to seize a starting role in San Jose. With the young core and foundations now in place, it’s just a short matter of time before this team becomes a powerhouse, and Askarov is a fantasy star.

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

There is no sugar coating this, Wallstedt had a terrible season posting brutal numbers in both the AHL, and NHL in his third season in North America. Despite the setback, Wallstedt remains an elite goalie prospect and with the Wild building a defence that consist of Brock Faber, Zeev Buium, and David Jiricek the future still remains very bright.

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

It is difficult to understand how Fowler was not the top goalie selected in his draft year. Five other goalies went before he was selected 69^th overall in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, he has established himself as an elite prospect playing at Boston College in the NCAA. Fowler has won a WJC Gold Medal with USA, a Hockey East Championship, and was named the Goalie of the Year winning the Mike Richter Award. Fowler is trending to be the next great Montreal Canadiens goalie following the likes of Ken Dryden, Patrick, Roy and Carey Price.

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

A late bloomer, Nabokov was drafted in 2024 by the Avalanche after a breakout season in the KHL as a 21-year-old, where Nabokov won a Gagarian Cup and playoff MVP. Nabokov has signed his ELC with Colorado but has been loaned back to play the 2025-26 season in the KHL to ensure he gets playing time. Expect him to finish the season in the AHL as the KHL season ends in March, allowing him a small sample of North American hockey before being full time in 2026-27.

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

The Wings 2021 15^th overall draft pick has now played three full seasons of professional hockey with time in the ECHL, AHL, and he made his NHL debut in December with a 6-foot-5 shootout win over Buffalo. The past two seasons have been consistent and strong for Cossa, playing 40+ games in Grand Rapids and posting 20+ wins. The addition of John Gibson suggests that Detroit thinks he needs a little more development before he becomes their starting goalie.

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

On last years list I suggested Commesso was on track to develop into the Hawks starting goalie for the Connor Bedard glory years. Since then, the Hawks acquired Spencer Knight, and he appears to be the incumbent franchise goalie for the foreseeable future. Commesso had another impressive year of development in the AHL and is still quite capable of being an NHL starting goalie. Where and when are less certain now.

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings added insulation to their goaltending future when they selected Augustine 41^st overall in 2023. Since then, he has been developing with Michigan State U. in the NCAA with a career record of 42-16-6, two Big Ten Championships and two WJC Gold Medals with USA. Augustine will play his junior season with the Spartans and will also need some AHL development time. He is further away than Cossa, but his upside could be higher.

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

Kokko made his North American debut last season, and it was a strong one posting a 20-10-2 record in the AHL with a 2.26 GAA and .913 SV%. His strong play earned him an NHL recall, and he had a rough start coming in to relieve Joey Daccord in a 7-2 loss to the Blues where he allowed two goals on six shots. With Grubauer and Daccord under contract for the next two seasons, the 21-year-old Finnish netminder can continue to develop in the AHL with Coachella. He is a prospect on the rise.

9 - Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

The Devils selected the Russian goalie from the USHL with their second-round pick in 2024 and Yegorov started his D+1 season back in the USHL with Omaha. Committed to Boston University in the NCAA, the Terriers were having goaltending concerns and brought “Big Mike” in just in time for the Bean Pot Tournament where he was outstanding leading the Terriers to victory. Yegorov played in 18 games total with an 11-6-1 record and 2.15 GAA. Still only 19-years-old, the 6-foot-5 netminder is a long way from the NHL, but he is showing tremendous potential.

10 - Hampton Slukynsky – Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps Slukynsky is still a little under the radar and not quite a household name in less deep dynasty leagues, but that is about to change. Selected 118^th overall by the Kings, Slukynsky posted a 19-5-1 record as a freshman at Western Michigan and a sparkling 1.90 GAA. His trophy case includes USHL Goalie of the Year, Championships from the USHL, NCAA National and NCHC, and Gold Medals with USA from the U-18, WJC and World Championship. He is still just 20-years-old and needs a lot of development time before the NHL, but his stock is rising fast!

McKeen’s 2025-26 Calder Trophy Candidates

Brock Otten — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:15:15 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) waits for a face-off during his first NHL debut game during game five of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on May 15, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Ivan Demidov - RW - Montreal Canadiens

At this point, Demidov is the runaway favourite to capture this year’s Calder trophy. One of the top prospects in all of hockey is situated to have a huge offensive role for the Canadiens and obviously has the skill to put up points. The last time an NHL franchise had back-to-back Calder winners? 1967 and 1968 when Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr captured rookie of the year for the Bruins.

Alexander Nikishin - D - Carolina Hurricanes

It must be nice when you’re a competitive team and you have a veteran pro defender that you can slot directly into your lineup as a potential impact player…on an ELC. Nikishin led all defensemen in scoring in the KHL two of the last three seasons and should get immediate ice time and responsibility in Carolina. The last time a defenseman has won the Calder trophy in back-to-back years? 1963 and 1964 when Kent Douglas and Jacques Laperrière won.

Ryan Leonard - RW - Washington Capitals

After signing late last year, Leonard jumped right into the Capitals lineup and played a role into the playoffs for Washington. The offensive production wasn’t significant; a single goal in 17 games including the playoffs. However, Leonard should be able to take on a larger role this year and it’s why the rugged, power winger is an early season Calder favourite.

Jimmy Snuggerud - RW - St. Louis Blues

Like Ryan Leonard, Snuggerud jumped right into St. Louis’ lineup from the NCAA at the end of the year. However, unlike Leonard, Snuggerud was an immediate offensive contributor. You could easily make the argument that he was one of St. Louis’ best players in the playoffs. He should carry that momentum into a prominent role with the Blues this year.

Zeev Buium - D - Minnesota Wild

Another high-profile NCAA player who jumped into the postseason lineup for his team after signing. Buium is likely to not only crack the Minnesota lineup this year but see powerplay time. He’s going to try to replicate what Lane Hutson did in Montreal last year and he has the talent to do it.

Sam Rinzel - D - Chicago Blackhawks

The most underrated Calder candidate heading into the season. Rinzel was exceptional for Chicago after signing late last season. He was seeing over 23 minutes per game, including over two on the powerplay and that led to some solid production. Don’t be surprised if that continues.

Zayne Parekh - D - Calgary Flames

While Parekh isn’t a lock to make the Calgary roster, there’s definitely an opening for him if he has a strong training camp. He’ll need to prove that he can defend at the NHL level, but if Calgary keeps him up, you know that they’ll give him powerplay time. We wrote similar things about Lane Hutson last year.

Maxim Shabanov - C - New York Islanders

Just how will Shabanov’s game translate to the NHL level? That’s the million-dollar question. We’ve seen some great success stories from KHL free agents in the last decade, but also others who don’t last the season. Shabanov will be given every opportunity to showcase his skill on a scoring line this year. What he does with that opportunity remains to be seen.

Michael Misa - C - San Jose Sharks

This is the part of the list where we hit the longer shots. The second overall pick in the 2025 draft is probably looking at a 50/50 chance to crack the Sharks roster full time. But, if he does, he’s going to be put in a scoring line role and have a chance to put up some great numbers.

Yaroslav Askarov - G - San Jose Sharks

Alexander Georgiev is gone, and Alex Nedeljkovic has been brought in to split time with the much-hyped Askarov. He’s plenty talented, but the question is…will the Sharks be good enough for his stat line to be impressive enough to win the Calder? It seems unlikely.

Sam Dickinson - D - San Jose Sharks

San Jose brought in some veteran defenders to help them reach the cap floor this year and that is going to make it more difficult for Dickinson to make the San Jose roster full time. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place; too good for the OHL, but unable to play in the AHL.

Ville Koivunen - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

There’s definitely an opening in Pittsburgh for a younger player to come into camp and capture a role on a scoring line. The best chance at that could be Koivunen, who had a tremendous AHL season last year. If he plays alongside Sidney Crosby, what type of numbers would we be looking at?

Matt Savoie - RW - Edmonton Oilers

What was said about Koivunen goes double for Savoie; there’s a chance that one of Edmonton’s young wingers could get the opportunity to play with either McDavid or Draisaitl. Savoie had a solid first pro year in the AHL and could be ready for such an opportunity.

Artyom Levshunov - D - Chicago Blackhawks

A year ago, it would have seemed crazy to have Rinzel ahead of Levshunov as a Calder candidate for the Hawks, but here we are. Levshunov’s offensive game wasn’t quite as dynamic as expected in his first pro season in the system, and while he should crack Chicago’s roster, it would appear that Rinzel is ahead of him on the depth chart for powerplay time.

Easton Cowan - RW -Toronto Maple Leafs

“Cowboy” Cowan is in a position to battle for a roster spot in Toronto this training camp after a great run with the London Knights. It seems unlikely that he’ll put up the kind of offensive numbers to earn Calder votes, but what happens if he gets slotted beside Matthews or Nylander?

Jani Nyman - RW - Seattle Kraken

A power winger with a big shot, Nyman was terrific in his first pro season in North America last year, even earning an extended look with the Kraken. Will Seattle continue to explore his chemistry with star young pivot Shane Wright?

Scott Morrow - D - New York Rangers

Recently acquired in the K’Andre Miller trade with Carolina, Morrow is a tremendous young offensive defender. He was excellent in his first pro season last year and should have a great chance of making the Rangers this year. While he’s unlikely to supplant Adam Fox from the top powerplay unit, he could earn time on the secondary unit.

Matthew Schaefer - D - New York Islanders

Given how much time Schaefer missed last year between a bout with mono and the broken collarbone, it seems a bit far-fetched to pencil him into an NHL lineup, which is obviously a rarity for recent first overall picks. However, Schaefer is a gamer so don’t count him out completely.

Isaac Howard - LW - Edmonton Oilers

Given his experience at the pro level, it would appear that Matt Savoie would have a leg up on Howard for a prominent roster spot. A new member of the Oilers, Howard needed some time to adjust to the NCAA level and odds are he’ll need time to adjust to the pro level too. But, if he does crack the roster, he too has a chance to play alongside one of the big guns.

Rutger McGroarty - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

It does seem likely that one of Koivunen or McGroarty cracks the Pens opening night lineup. However, we see Koivunen as more likely to put up the points necessary to be a Calder candidate at this point. But, as mentioned with Koivunen, if McGroarty can manage to earn time with Sid the Kid, he could put up some good numbers.

Gabe Perreault - LW - New York Rangers

After a standout two year run at Boston College, Perreault has turned pro and will set his sights on making the Rangers’ opening night roster. There’s an opening or two there, but Perreault will need to prove that his conditioning is up to NHL standards. The upside is obviously high.

Alex Bump - LW - Philadelphia Flyers

A fifth-round pick in 2022 out of high school, few prospects have improved as much as Bump has in recent years. An NCAA champion with Western Michigan this past year, Bump is now turning pro, and he could be a darkhorse candidate to not only earn an immediate NHL roster spot but be a solid contributor for the Flyers too.

Brad Nadeau - LW - Carolina Hurricanes

Based on pedigree, Nadeau should absolutely be higher on this list. He was one of the best players in the AHL in the second half of last year and looks NHL ready. The problem is that Carolina brought in Nik Ehlers this offseason to fill out an already deep forward group, and that likely leaves Nadeau on the outside looking in, barring an injury.

Logan Mailloux - D - St. Louis Blues

Recently acquired from the Canadiens for Zach Bolduc, Mailloux has a good chance of making the Blues in a third pairing role. Given that his ice time is likely to be pretty sheltered initially, it seems far-fetched to assume that he can be a true Calder candidate.

Danila Yurov - RW - Minnesota Wild

After a bit of a down year in the KHL, the former first round selection is finally crossing the pond this year and he has the inside track on a bottom six role with the Wild. Much like Marat Khusnutdinov last year (before the trade), it seems unlikely Yurov plays enough to put up the kind of points necessary to be a Calder candidate.

Beckett Sennecke - RW - Anaheim Ducks

It seems fitting to put a massive wildcard at number 26. Sennecke, the former third overall pick, seems blocked currently thanks to Anaheim’s forward depth. However, what happens with Mason McTavish? Or what happens if Sennecke puts on a show in training camp? He’s the kind of prospect you make room for. Odds are that he ends up back in the OHL for another season, but stranger things have happened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Scott Morrow

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

2 - Gabe Perreault

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

3 - Brennan Othmann

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

4 - EJ Emery

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

5 - Dylan Garand

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

6 - Malcolm Spence

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

7 - Carey Terrance

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

8 - Dylan Roobroeck

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

9 - Drew Fortescue

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

10 - Sean Barnhill

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

11 - Adam Sykora

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

12 - Noah Laba

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

13 - Jaroslav Chmelar

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

14 - Nathan Aspinall

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

15 - Zeb Lindgren

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

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

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

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

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NY Rangers 25 Prospects

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: McKeen’s Medal and Player Predictions

McKeen's Staff — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 22:00:17 +0000

The 2025 World Junior Championships are set to kick off on Boxing Day (December 26), with Ottawa, Ontario hosting. Can Canada get back on the podium on home soil? Can the United States repeat? Members of the McKeen’s team have come together to bring you our predictions for the tournament.

Final Medal Standings Predictions

GOLD

USA - 9 votes
Canada - 8 votes

SILVER

USA - 6 votes
Canada - 6 votes
Sweden - 5 votes

BRONZE

Sweden - 8 votes
Czechia - 4 votes
Canada - 3 votes
USA - 1 vote
Finland - 1 vote

Who Wins Tournament MVP?

Ryan Leonard - 5 votes
Cal Ritchie - 2 votes
Gavin McKenna - 2 votes
Berkly Catton - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Zeev Buium, Easton Cowan, James Hagens, Gabe Perreault, Bradly Nadeau, and Axel Sandin Pellikka

Who Wins Best Forward?

Ryan Leonard - 5 votes
Gavin McKenna - 3 votes
Gabe Perreault - 3 votes
Cal Ritchie - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Dalibor Dvorsky, Berkly Catton, Otto Stenberg, and Easton Cowan

Who Wins Best Defender?

Zeev Buium - 8 votes
Axel Sandin Pellikka - 7 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Sam Dickinson and Tanner Molendyk

Who Wins Best Goaltender?

Trey Augustine - 14 votes
Carter George - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Michael Hrabal

Which 2025 NHL Draft Eligible Prospect Has the Best Tournament?

Matthew Schaefer

“It's a close call between Schaefer and teammate Porter Martone, but I gotta go with my gut. Schaefer is the type of player who lives for big games like this. He'll provide solid defence, stellar and efficient transition play, and highlight-reel offence. He can do everything, and I could see him playing himself into more and more responsibility as the tournament goes on - even with the depth that Canada has on the back end. He'll prove to the world why he's a future 1D in the NHL.” (Felix Robbins)

“I think Matthew Schaefer will have the best tournament out of all the 2025 NHL draft-eligible players. Canada has a good defense corps, but they left off some great offensive players like Zayne Parekh and Carter Yakemchuk, so there's definitely room for Schaefer to see significant minutes at both ends of the ice. With the increased opportunity, Schaefer's tremendous skating ability, and Canada's offensive skill in the tournament, Schaefer really has a chance to thrive.” (Michael Moroz)

“He has met every challenge he's faced and even managed to exceed the very high expectations placed upon him. He's captained multiple gold medal-winning editions of Team Canada at previous age groups and stood out as one of the best players at every tournament or showcase game he's played in. Why would that stop at the World Juniors? Canada will rely on other D more but Schaefer will have a Dahlin 2018-esque tournament.” (Kyle Watson)

“The Canadian points record for a U18 defender at this tournament is 7 by Ryan Ellis. I think Schaefer can threaten that record. He was Canada’s best defender through the exhibition schedule and I think he ends up being the kind of player who rarely leaves the ice by the end of the tournament. Could this be Schaefer’s only WJC tournament for Canada? It seems like he’s the kind of player who rises to tackle any challenge and that could make him an NHL defender as early as next year.” (Brock Otten)

“Matthew Schaefer, even at only 17 years old, plays like a veteran and he is solid defensively with his mobility, in addition to creating offensively. He is the defenseman playing on the first powerplay unit for Canada and could have some ice time on the penalty kill. I was very impressed by his mature game in the first pre-tournament game against Switzerland where he looked like the number one defenseman for Canada that can do it all.” (Jeremy Rivet)

“I truly believe that if Schaefer is going to cement himself as the #1 pick in the draft, it could be here in this tournament. Whether it is U18s or the Hlinka-Gretzky, Schaefer performs and thrives on the big stage. I fully expect Schaefer to quarterback the Canada power play and earn more crucial minutes as the tournament goes on.” (Liam Staples)

“This a close one between Schaefer, Hagens, and Martone. Both Hagens and Martone will have a huge opportunity to repeat their U18 performances from April and claim this honour. However, I think Schaefer impacts his draft stock the most by becoming Canada’s all situations #1D by the end of the tournament and establishes himself as the draft’s #1 player.” (Ben Misfeldt)

“Despite his age, he'll be one of the best players on the Canadian roster and be a huge reason why they're successful. He'll also use the tournament to cement his new status as the frontrunner to go 1st overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Schaefer, I think he has a chance to grab a stranglehold on the #1 spot. Without Parekh on the roster in front of him, Schaefer might be able to push past Molendyk and Bonk onto the top PP unit and rack up some points.” (Jamison Derksen)

James Hagens

“James Hagens is in a great spot to succeed, he should play on the first line along with his Boston College linemates Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. Hagens had been the front-runner for the #1 overall pick for a long time but he seems to be losing the spot to Matthew Schaefer and others. This is a great opportunity for Hagens to prove himself; do not put him out of the debate yet.” (Matej Deraj)

“He’ll be playing alongside Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault on a world stage, with Zeev Buium supporting from the back end, and other NCAA stars joining him on the PP. With an even stronger lineup, Hagens is slated to repeat his historical run at the U18s and catch lightning in a bottle once again.” (Sean Boyd)

“Playing on the big stage and wearing USA colors on a team filled with past and present teammates might just be enough to take Hagens' solid start to the next level. A line with Leonard and Perrault could be the perfect combo to put up record-breaking numbers at the WJC.” (Henry Lawrence)

Porter Martone

“Best position to succeed. His play style is pro and physical.” (Josh Klicka)

Victor Eklund

“For the average well-informed fan, the go-to answer should and would likely be US center James Hagens or perhaps Canadian winger Porter Martone. Due to Group B play and Sweden's probable role therein, I'm answering this question with the name Victor Eklund. Why? Because for anyone who has seen him in the HockeyAllsvenskan the past two years, you'll know we're talking about a winger who has no qualms or hesitation in being an active producer and skilled passer with and against men in a league that features a number of former NHLers and AHLers. His pro team Djurgarden is filled with prominent names in/on the Swedish and international scene, and he's right there contributing in a top 6 role. We love his involvement and sneaky intelligence with simply no back-down in situation where his performance belies his age. Time to go above and beyond against his peers, even if he's a good year younger than most in Ottawa this holiday season. He can do so here without having to be the star, but I'm thinking he will be.” (Chapin Landvogt)

What is the Biggest Surprise of the Tournament?

“I’ll give you two in a tournament that I don’t think has a ton of surprises. The first is that Kazakhstan gives Switzerland a close call in the round-robin and then makes a team sweat in the relegation round. Normally the promoted team from Division A doesn’t have many returning players, but this Kazakhstan team is bringing back a lot of the pieces that helped them earn promotion. It’s not the Nik Antropov era, but it’s still a chance to repeat in the main group. The second is that Sweden falls to Czechia in the round-robin and then loses in the quarterfinals to one of Canada, Finland, or the United States after the crossover. I’m just not sure this Swedish team creates enough offense through the middle of the ice to be a medal contender.” (Brock Otten)

“I guess they can no longer be called a surprise by any stretch of the imagination in light of their overall success in the past 5 WJCs, but expect the Czechs to not only finish top 2 in Group B play but then march right on to a bronze medal on the final day of the tournament. The program has not only caught itself from the developmental fallout of yesteryear (if we can call it that) but features up to 14(!) participants who are currently playing in North America, a clear advantage over just about all other European participants. *From a player standpoint, it shouldn't surprise anyone if 17-year-old David Lewandowski of Team Germany is a player we'll all be talking about and following a lot more after this tournament.” (Chapin Landvogt)

“Slovakia - this 05 group ended up 4th at the U18s two years ago and all the key players will be here. The obvious leader is Dalibor Dvorský, one of the best players of the tournament and an All-Star Team candidate. Dvorský has been great in the AHL and he’ll be ready to put Team Slovakia on his back. The returnees in defense (Maxim Štrbák, Luka Radivojevič) and offense (Juraj Pekarčík) should be able to help as well. Slovakia is also bringing some exciting talent in Tomáš Pobežal and Ján Chovan who should bring some secondary scoring. If this Slovak team is able to find a solid #1 goalie, they are able to make it to the semifinals again.” (Matej Deraj)

“Zeev Buium ties or breaks the record for most points scored by a defenceman in WJC history. Last year, Buium was the lone draft-eligible defenceman on a very offensively inclined blueline (blocked by guys like Lane Hutson and Seamus Casey) and STILL mustered 5 points in 7 games - all at even strength. This year, he's the guy - 1D, PP1 QB, all of it. With the increased role and ice-time, I think it'll be very hard to keep a talent like Buium off the score sheet 14 times.” (Felix Robbins)

“The biggest surprise will be just how big the gap is between Canada and the United States compared to all the other teams. The likes of Sweden, Finland and Czechia won't be true contenders, and there will be no feel-good Cinderella or underdog stories. Early on in the tournament, it will be obvious that it is a two-horse race this year, with those top nations cruising through the round-robin and early elimination games, while everyone else dukes it out to win bronze.” (Derek Neumeier)

“I'm curious to see what kind of performance Sweden will have in this tournament. They have 2 early first-round prospects on the backend, Willinder and Sandin-Pellikka. Can they push Sweden to the medal round? I do not think so. Sweden has the skill, but in my opinion, countries like Czechia and Finland have caught up to them talent-wise in this tournament. I think this will be another year where Sweden fails to win a medal and we see Czechia competing for a medal.” (Liam Staples)

“I think it will be that the USA will lose in the semi-final despite the quality of their roster, the fact that they won last year and that they have about 10 veterans from last year. I think because they are missing grit and leader players like they had last year with McGroarty, Snuggerud and Gauthier they will be missing an element that will make them fall short.” (Jeremy Rivet)

“Victor Eklund. He’s been the significant driving force for one of the best teams in the HockeyAllsvenskan. He’s one of few players at the World Juniors who has the experience of carrying a team to hard-earned wins at the professional level. He and Sandin-Pellikka should put on a show this year for Sweden.” (Sean Boyd)

“I’m gonna say that Tanner Howe scores at least two game-winners for Canada. I know he’ll be a depth forward on this team but it seems like every year there’s a 3rd or 4th liner that steps up when one of the top teams needs it most, and I feel like Howe can certainly be a catalyst for that with Canada.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Finland fails to medal again - they have been the talk of the tournament in years gone by, defying expectations and causing major upsets. This group, while led by talented names in Helenius, Halttunen, and Kumpalainen - doesn't have the depth or the grit to shock anyone this time around.” (Kyle Watson)

“Led by Dalibor Dvorsky, Slovakia makes the semifinals. He might just be the best player in the tournament and is playing very well in the AHL. Outside of him, Slovakia always plays hard and with good goaltending, they can come close to medaling at this year’s WJC.” (Ben Misfeldt)

“Finland. This appears to be one of the strongest rosters from Finland in the past few years. Haltunen, Helenius, Kiviharju might just give Finland enough offensive firepower to pull off an upset or two.” (Henry Lawrence)

“Gavin McKenna dominates and finishes the tournament leading the Canadian team in points, which struggled to score goals due to a lack of high-end veteran talent offensively.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“I think even though people are saying Canada maybe didn't bring their best roster and are, on betting odds, not even favorites, easily win the gold without really ever struggling.” (Jeremi Plourde)

“USA will struggle immensely on defense and have to rely heavily on Augustine more than wanted.” (Josh Klicka)

“Kazakhstan stays alive in the top pool!” (Dave Hall)

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Preview – Team USA

Jamison Derksen — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:00:35 +0000

_{James Hagens}

The United States has to be the definitive favorite heading into the 2025 World Junior Championships. They are coming off a dominant showing through last year's tournament in which they want a gold medal, and they should have about 10 returning players, including veteran World Junior standout goaltender Trey Augustine (DET ‘23). Anything short of a gold medal this year will be viewed as a disappointment for this American squad, as they look for their 7th gold medal of all time in the tournament. The Americans have medalled 15 times in the tournament, including getting on the podium seven of the past nine years.

It looks like the American squad this year will have perhaps the most dangerous forward group in the tournament and the best goaltender in the tournament, and while the blueline will still be good, it is not the intimidating force that the other parts of the American roster are. Up front the line of Perreault/Hagens/Leonard will be driving the bus, just as they do for Boston College. Beyond that top line, there are other dangerous forwards such as all-time USNTDP leading scorer Cole Eiserman (NYI ‘24), Oliver Moore (CHI ‘23), and Trevor Connelly (VGK ‘24), there is no doubt that this team should not have issues in the goal-scoring department. The defense will be led by Zeev Buium (MIN ‘24), who should be in contention for WJC top defenseman honours, and returnee Drew Fortescue (NYR ‘23). Cole Hutson (WSH ‘24) should have plenty of opportunities to step up on the second pairing for this team, and draft-eligible Logan Hensler has an opportunity to boost his draft stock with a strong showing. In net, Trey Augustine returns for his third WJC Tournament, if another goaltender is needed at some point, Sam Hillebrandt returns as Augustine’s very capable backup.

The United States is in Group A for the 2025 World Juniors, so their round-robin opponents will be Germany (Dec. 26), Latvia (Dec. 28), Finland (Dec. 29), and Canada (Dec. 31). Will they be able to repeat as champions?

Key Players

Ryan Leonard, RW

Ryan Leonard appears to be the leader of the American team that is going into this tournament. The Washington Capitals 2023 first-rounder will do it all for the Americans, including likely wearing the “C”. A volume shooter who plays with tenacity and a ton of skill, he is an easy fan favourite. In his second World Junior tournament, Leonard will be a fixture on the top line and the top power-play unit for the United States. He should be counted on to score big goals for USA (he leads the NCAA in game-winners, and scored a dagger in the Gold Medal Game last year to put the game out of reach), as well as draw a ton of penalties. He could end up being the tournament’s MVP.

James Hagens, C

Hagens, the longtime favourite to go 1st overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, seems to have been unseated from that spot by Canadian defender Matthew Schaefer recently. This tournament could turn the tides back in Hagens’ favour as he looks to be a key cog up front for the Americans. Hagens is currently a freshman in the NCAA with Boston College, where he has 20 points in 16 games. Hagens is a stud in virtually every aspect, but he has not been scoring goals at the rate that was expected heading into this season, let’s see if he can get some of that goal-scoring mojo back in this tournament.

Gabe Perreault, LW

The pure playmaker of the Boston College / Team USA top line, Perreault should finish the tournament near or at the top of the scoring race. The 2023 New York Rangers first-rounder had 10 points in 7 games at last year’s tournament and has 23 points in 16 games in the NCAA this season. Perreault’s passing ability and chemistry with Leonard make him an irreplaceable piece of the offense for the United States. With 7 assists in his first World Junior tournament last year, he could make a run at the all-time USA assist record at the WJC, currently held by Trevor Zegras with 20.

Trey Augustine, G

Augustine, who is locked in to be the starter for the United States, has been one of the top netminders in the NCAA for Michigan State this season. The 2023 Red Wings 2nd rounder has been the starter for the Americans at each of the past two World Junior tournaments and was tops in the tournament last year for GAA (1.75) and SV% (.936). Augustine is about as safe of a bet as you can make for good goaltending in this tournament, and he likely won’t need to be relied upon heavily in most games. When it comes down to it against a strong opponent like Canada or Sweden, one of the NHL’s top goaltending prospects should be able to hold down the fort. He is also just two wins shy of the American record for wins at the World Juniors.

Zeev Buium, D

Buium snuck onto the team as a draft-eligible last year and ended up not only being a main contributor but also leading the tournament in plus/minus at +11. The Denver Pioneers standout was the top-scoring blueliner in the NCAA last year, as well as leading the circuit in ice time, all as a freshman. He capped off his tremendous season with being selected 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild in June. This season, it has been more of the same, as he once again paces NCAA blueliners in scoring, while anchoring the blueline for the powerhouse Pioneers. Buium is a dynamic puck-mover who will play all the minutes he can handle for this United States squad, and may leave the tournament as the all-time USA plus/minus leader at WJC (currently Brock Faber, +19).

Cole Eiserman, LW

It seems crazy to only have Eiserman listed at 6th here, the 2024 New York Islanders first-rounder holds the goal-scoring record for the National Team Development Program and has 9 goals in 16 games so far as a freshman for Boston University, but that is just a testament to the high-end players already present on the American roster. Eiserman has always been a standout goal scorer, blessed with an elite shot and elite offensive instincts, he was once thought to be a challenger for first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. His lack of all-around game ended up tumbling him down into the mid-first round, but he can still put the puck in the net with the best. He should be heavily involved in the offense at even strength and on the power play.

Trevor Connelly, LW

Trevor Connelly is among the most talented players on this United States roster and is probably the best skater of the bunch. Off-ice concerns pushed him down draft boards a little bit last summer, but based solely on his play on the ice he could have easily been a top 10 pick. Eventually, the Vegas Golden Knights grabbed him 19th overall, and he currently sits just a shade under a point per game as a freshman with Providence College. Connelly has shown the ability to take over an international tournament for the US before, he led the 2023/24 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in scoring.

Drew Fortescue, D

Drew Fortescue, one of three returnees on the American blueline, should be paired with Zeev Buium on the top defensive pair. The dynamic Buium will certainly be the one pushing the offense, and Fortescue will be the anchor defensively in the pair. He prototypes as a useful stay-at-home defender but is still able to get the puck up the ice to his teammates. Fortescue was a third-round pick by the New York Rangers in 2023 and is in his second season with Boston College.

Oliver Moore, C

University of Minnesota centreman Oliver Moore was barely a factor in last year’s tournament, playing less than 10:00 per game, but it’s safe to say that will not be the case this time around. Moore, the 19th overall pick in 2023 by the Chicago Blackhawks, should slot into a second-line role at his second WJC. He is an elite skater, perhaps the only one on the roster that can rival Connelly in that regard, and his playmaking chops should mesh well with the scorers on the American roster. Moore isn’t a “sleeper” entering this tournament, but he could end up surprising many with the impact he makes on this team.

Cole Hutson, D

Cole Hutson will be counted on to play a crucial role on the back end for the United States on the second pairing. The mobile, offensively-gifted blueliner was selected 43rd overall by the Washington Capitals in June and should be able to take some of the offensive load off of Zeev Buium. Hutson, the USNTDP record holder for points from a defenceman, is the younger brother of former USA WJC standout Lane Hutson and brings a lot of the same qualities in his game. Last year the United States had a nice 1-2 offensive punch with Lane and Buium, maybe it can be replicated this time around with Buium and the younger Hutson.

Sleeper Player

Teddy Stiga, LW

My sleeper pick for a player that can make an impact on this tournament for the United States is Nashville Predators 2024 2nd rounder Teddy Stiga. The Boston College freshman isn’t going to be a dominant force, and will surely be playing as a bottom-six forward for the Americans, but he is a player who works hard and always finds a way to be effective. Checking in at just 5’10, Stiga still plays with an edge and is excellent along the boards, despite his size. He’s an intelligent, energetic guy with skill, a perfect sleeper in a short tournament.