Marat Khusnutdinov – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: TRADE DEADLINE – Meet the prospects on the move – Minten, Ostapchuk, Grebenkin, Brisson plus more

Brock Otten — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 17:01:34 +0000

Another NHL trade deadline day has come and gone. It was a fairly active deadline this year with over 40 deals completed. Let’s take a look at ten of the top prospects moved, in addition to what can be expected of said prospects in their new organizations.

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 30: Ottawa Senators Center Zack Ostapchuk (38) applies pressure on the forecheck during first period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 30, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Zach Ostapchuk - Center - San Jose Sharks

A former standout with the Canadian World Junior team, Ostapchuk was part of a rather surprising deal with the San Jose Sharks involving Fabian Zetterlund. He has spent the majority of this year with Ottawa, playing as the team’s fourth line center, although was recently demoted to the AHL to allow him to get more ice time and responsibility to help his offensive game blossom. At the bare minimum, Ostapchuk projects to be a reliable bottom six center who can kill penalties and take on tough defensive assignments. His combination of size, skating ability, and physicality allow him to be effective in that role. The question is, how much more can his offensive game grow as a pro? In the AHL this year, Ostapchuk has played well offensively, excelling as a playmaker with his ability to push pace, create space, and prolong possession. You can see the vision that Mike Grier has here for Ostapchuk, hopefully developing into an elite, third line center who can insulate the high-end skill San Jose is building up. Once that team has matured, someone is going to need to be able to take key draws and take on key defensive assignments late in games and Ostapchuk could end up being that kind of player. I’d expect him to, at some point, receive a call up from the Sharks so that they can get a good look at him in their lineup before the end of the season.

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 30: Fraser Minten (39) of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during the first period of the NHL pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on September 30, 2023, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Fraser Minten - Center/Wing - Boston Bruins

It has been a fairly successful first pro season for Minten, one of the top prospects in the Leafs’ system. A well-rounded player with a mature game, it was not surprising to see him earn ice time in Toronto this year coming out of the WHL. What made Minten attractive to the Bruins is the fact that he projects to be a very versatile NHL player. While not elite in any one category, he is effective because of his ability to make plays in all three zones and get pucks, and or his body to the net. Minten does flash offensive upside as a goal scorer because of a quick release and good hands near the crease. He brings a physical element, although there does appear to be a need for him to bulk up a bit more to be more consistent in this area as an NHL player. While he does not project to be a game breaker for the Bruins, Minten could end up as a very high end third line player who can play on both special teams’ units. Given the big sell off that they had at the deadline, don’t be shocked to see Minten get a strong look to close out this season, with an eye on including him in the team’s main lineup next year.

Chase Stillman - Wing - Pittsburgh Penguins

A former first round selection by the New Jersey Devils, Stillman had a very promising first pro season in their system last year, after a rather disappointing OHL career that saw his offensive production stagnate. It gave some hope that he could, in fact, develop into a useful NHL player. However, in his second pro year in the AHL, Stillman’s taken a step back and that likely led to the trade to Pittsburgh. At this point, Stillman’s NHL upside is pretty limited. He hasn’t developed the offensive tools to be a significant contributor to an NHL lineup. However, there’s still a chance that he could become a high energy, fourth line winger for the Penguins. He’s an intense competitor who can retrieve pucks, get to the net, and bring a physical element. The key for Stillman will be to continue to improve his two-way game so that he can be more trusted in that role, in addition to obviously improving his puck skill and confidence with the puck. A weaker Pens system could offer him an opportunity to earn NHL ice time in the coming years.

William Zellers - Wing - Boston Bruins

Zellers is a player with significant offensive upside as a pro, but there will need to be a lot of patience exhibited by the Bruins. Drafted out of Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep) last year, Zellers opted to play in the USHL this year with Green Bay before heading to North Dakota (NCAA). That decision has paid dividends as Zellers has been one of the USHL’s top performers all season long, leading the league in goals by a significant margin. Coming out of the prep loop, his game needed a lot of refinement and there was some concern that he wasn’t powerful or dynamic enough to carry over his offensive prowess to higher levels. With his strong USHL play this season, that’s the first rung of the ladder checked off. Zellers may not be dynamic in terms of explosiveness, but he’s got quick feet and he’s great at finding gaps in coverage to utilize his excellent shot. Zellers’ hands are also excellent, as he routinely escapes pressure and creates extra time/space for himself to prolong possession or get pucks into the slot. Likely at least a three-year player at UND, the Bruins won’t quite know what they have in Zellers for a few years, but the progress he has shown this year offers hope that he can be a potential top six player in the future for them.

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 20: Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing Nikita Grebenkin (71) reacts during the NHL regular season game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 20, 2024, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

Nikita Grebenkin - Wing - Philadelphia Flyers

A key piece in the Scott Laughton deal, Grebenkin (or Grebyonkin as it is sometimes spelled) is a player Philly fans are likely to really admire. He brings both physicality and skill from the wing and has had a solid start to his pro career in North America this year, following a breakout season in the KHL last year. Grebenkin’s hands are top notch, and he can be a real asset deep in the offensive zone with how he can protect the puck and prolong possession. He’s also a very consistent physical player; a pest if you will, who is active on the forecheck and who has a desire to get to the net and play through the middle. He’s received a few looks from the Leafs this year in a limited role and I’d expect him to get a good look in Philadelphia to close out the year. Interestingly enough, he’s close with top Flyers’ rookie Matvei Michkov. One would expect them to get a look playing alongside each other. The best-case scenario here for Philadelphia would be that Grebenkin develops into a solid middle six option in the near future.

Calum Ritchie - Center - New York Islanders

The top NHL prospect moved this deadline, the Islanders got a good one in Cal Ritchie. A first rounder by the Avs, Ritchie started the year in Colorado before being sent back to Oshawa of the OHL. The big pivot is a naturally talented playmaker; the kind of player who elevates the play of their wingers with how well he sees the ice. He controls the pace of play well thanks to strong skating ability and puck control, and he has worked hard to be more “middle of the ice centric.” He’s terrific at drawing in pressure before dishing off; an expert of the slip pass into the slot. Ritchie has also worked hard to make his two-way game more consistent by upping his physical play and intensity level. While I’m not sure I see Ritchie as a true number one center, he does project as a second line staple who can be a consistent offensive contributor in the future. Depending on how Ritchie’s offseason goes, he could end up playing a middle six role for the Islanders as early as next year, especially if they end up moving one of their higher priced forwards to help with their cap crunch.

Marat Khusnutdinov - Center - Boston Bruins

A full time NHL player since coming over from the KHL, you could definitely make the argument that he’s no longer a prospect. However, I’ve included Khusnutdinov because he’s been used in such a minimal role thus far in Minnesota, that I’m not sure we’ve gotten a great read on his true NHL upside. A competitive two-way pivot, Khusnutdinov projects almost similarly to the recently acquired Fraser Minten; it would be interesting to see them on the same line at some point to close out the year. He skates fairly well and can push pace. He’s active on the forecheck and backcheck. He is aggressive physically. He’s not really a high skill guy, which likely limits his offensive upside. However, he’s probably got a little bit more to offer offensively than what we have seen thus far. A short trip to the AHL (where Khusnutdinov has yet to play) might actually be beneficial to him, allowing him to play a more offensive role to build confidence in his on puck play.

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 22: Vegas Golden Knights center Brendan Brisson (19) looks on during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils on January 22, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Brendan Brisson - Wing - New York Rangers

After it looked like Brisson’s development had stagnated in the Vegas system, a change of scenery could do him well. A former first round selection of the Golden Knights, Brisson is the son of super-agent Pat Brisson. A strong offensive player, Brisson’s point production has dried up this year, his third as a pro. He’s now facing a major crossroads in his career as his ELC ends at the end of the year and his waiver eligibility dries up. With the Rangers, it could be a make-or-break situation. Interestingly enough, Brisson’s bread and butter as a junior and college player was his shot and ability to execute on the powerplay, however, thus far as a pro that hasn’t really been the case. The Rangers would be smart to try to nurture that in Hartford, to get his game back on track. The million-dollar question is, does Brisson have the kind of physical attributes required (dynamic skating, physicality), or the high-end skill required to be a top six NHL player? It’s becoming more and more likely that he settles as more of a tweener, but let’s see how the change of scenery in New York affects him.

Herman Traff - Wing - Anaheim Ducks

One of our draft favourites last year, Traff has had a solid year in Sweden playing a depth role at the pro level (split between the SHL and Allsvenskan). He has really intriguing physical tools; size, speed, and tenacity. He plays a “hard” game. He is really effective as a forechecker and as a net front presence. This was on display at this year’s World Junior Championships, where Traff was a really solid and visible role player for Sweden. Traff’s offensive upside as an NHL player is likely capped; we’re not looking at a top of the lineup player. However, we do love the fit for him in Anaheim where he can operate as a potentially solid, middle of the lineup complement to some of the higher skilled players they’ve accumulated. The question is, where does Traff play next year? Will Anaheim bring him over to play in the AHL or will they let him play another year of pro in Sweden?

Max Wanner - Defense - Boston Bruins

A big right shot defender, Wanner was proving to be one of the most underrated players in the Oilers’ system after a strong pro debut last year. However, his role hasn’t been as concrete this year and he’s taken a step backwards. So, what is Wanner moving forward? The answer to that question remains to be seen. Wanner has solid mobility for a bigger defender. He can be tough to play against physically. He can move the puck effectively and execute a breakout. At the WHL level, he showed an ability to quarterback the powerplay. There are some solid pieces there, but they just haven’t come together. If the Bruins develop him well, there’s a chance that he could develop into a solid third pairing defender for them who can kill penalties and play a reliable game. There aren’t many pro ready blueline prospects in the Bruins’ system so if Wanner can put things together in a new system, he could end up a solid depth option, sooner rather than later.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #8

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:00:05 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 8th (Previous Rank - 5th)
GM: Bill Guerin Hired: August 2019
COACH: John Hynes Hired: November 2023

The Minnesota Wild are saddled with nearly $15 million in dead cap space due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. This financial squeeze only intensifies the need for young, affordable talent to step up.

Despite holding McKeen’s eighth-ranked prospect system, there are limited names ready to make an immediate NHL impact. Marat Khusnutdinov (ranked 99th) is one of the few exceptions, having come over from the KHL and suited up for 16 games in Minnesota last season. Liam Öhgren (98th) also grabbed two points in four NHL games but will likely spend more time in Iowa before securing a full-time spot.

All eyes are on Jesper Wallstedt, the 11th-ranked McKeen’s prospect overall and the second-rated goaltender. Having spent two years in the AHL, Wallstedt will likely remain in Iowa for another season, with Marc-André Fleury signing a one-year extension. But make no mistake about it, Wallstedt is the future between the pipes at the Xcel Energy Centre.

The Wild were fortunate to land one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft when Zeev Buium (ranked 25th) fell to them at 12th overall. Despite being projected as a top 10 pick by most, Buium slipped and instantly became Minnesota’s top defensive prospect. Coming off a stellar freshman season at the University of Denver, which included accolades such as NCAA (NCHC) Best Offensive Defenceman and a U20 WJC Gold Medal, expectations are sky-high in his sophomore year. The hope is that he signs his pro papers by season’s end.

Meanwhile, Danila Yurov (36th) continues to develop well in the KHL. Coming off a historic season, he posted 49 points in 62 games to mark the best season for a second-year player in KHL history. Expected to return to Metallurg Magnitogorsk to defend his championship, Yurov should provide a significant talent boost for the Wild if he makes the jump to North America after the 2024-25 season.

Although the Wild may lack youthful talent ready to make the leap, their core group of young players is already well established. Led by 27-year-old Kirill Kaprizov, the team features youngsters like Matt Boldy (23), Marco Rossi (22), and the recently extended Brock Faber (21), they will hold down the fort until the list of reinforcements are ready to make the jump.

Minnesota Wild Top-15 Prospects

1. Jesper Wallstedt

With the Wild re-upping Marc-Andre Fleury for one final, farewell season it looks likely that Wallstedt will be heading back to the AHL for his third tour of duty there. And really, that’s probably for the best. His game is steadily progressing down there, he’s going to get the lion’s share of the starts for Iowa once again, and the NHL can be utterly vicious to young goalies if they’re not absolutely, completely ready to face it. Wallstedt sure does seem like he’s close to being ready, though. The group of skaters in front of him throughout 2023-24 wasn’t very good, and the club easily could have sunk near the bottom of the league standings if it wasn’t for their star young netminder and team MVP keeping them afloat. Much like many of the world’s best goalies, his large frame, tight technique, and unflappable mindset help him make stopping pucks look simple.

2. Zeev Buium

The top of the 2024 draft was so crowded that Buium easily could have been selected a lot higher than he was, and some other teams surely would have done so if they were the ones picking, but the Wild certainly aren't complaining about how that worked out for them. He wrapped up a true dream season for himself right before that, which included winning both a World Junior gold medal as well as an NCAA Frozen Four championship, the latter of which occurred alongside his older brother, Detroit prospect Shai. His game revolves around doing everything at a high pace, and he's masterfully methodical and precise with how he drives the puck through zones and opens things up offensively. He doesn't quite have the skating of Quinn Hughes or the offensive vision of Adam Fox, but the best-case scenario for him would be to become something of a blend of the two.

3. Danila Yurov

Yurov has finally started to get the ice time in the KHL that he so clearly deserved, and lo and behold, the results so far have been magnificent. He led his entire Magnitogorsk Metallurg team in scoring during the regular season, and not content to stop there, he continued to play a key role for the club as they romped through the playoffs and captured the league championship. There are few forwards out there who can boast having a bag of tricks as deep as his, with smooth hands that can drive possession with care and then extend it through mazes of sticks and skates. The Wild must be thrilled by his progression, because they want to be more competitive as soon as possible, and Yurov, achieving professional success already, might be able to make an impact in the NHL immediately, whenever he crosses the pond.

4. Riley Heidt

The Wild were able to wait all the way until 64th overall in the 2023 draft to pick Heidt, and the organization must still be outright thrilled by that stroke of good fortune, especially with the work he’s done dragging the Cougars from the WHL basement up to being one of the best teams in the league. He's a monstrous offensive threat and point producer, thanks primarily to his exceptional hockey sense and playmaking ability. He's also intensely focused, biding his time patiently to read the play and pick his spots before striking with surgical precision. There's a certain aura about him offensively, where he always seems to be in control and a step or two ahead of his victims. He's also making a lot of necessary progress with his off-puck engagement and resiliency. Prior worries about his ability to translate his game to the NHL level are starting to fall away quickly.

5. Liam Öhgren

Ohgren has had to fight through two straight injury-plagued seasons, so it was a nice gesture when Minnesota called him up late in the year after they were eliminated from the playoffs. And then he returned the favour by scoring his first career NHL goal, which probably felt great for both parties. He is a stocky bulldog of a forward who is great at driving pucks into high-danger areas, and then he also has an aptitude for getting them across the goal in ways both dirty and clean. How he plays takes its toll on his body, but the results speak for themselves. He’s also a born leader who has worn a letter on multiple Tre Kronor sweaters, which he could very likely do again at some point in the future, and his trophy case is already occupied by a number of differently coloured medals.

6. Marat Khusnutdinov

Khusnutdinov had a rather muted opening trial with the Wild, but the franchise is hoping that him getting his feet wet this spring will be a valuable stepping stone that will make him just that much better in the fall when he embarks upon his first full campaign in North America. Make no mistake, though, he showed some flashes of the razzle-dazzle that he was well-known for over in Russia. He can be truly electrifying with how he flies through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick, and once he gets more accustomed to the smaller ice surface of the NHL, he should be able to resume doing this as a regular occurrence. How well will he be able to handle the physical grind of an 82-game season? That’s the big question, and the answer will heavily influence how much value he brings.

7. Ryder Ritchie

Ritchie must feel glad to be done with 2023-24, which was a season riddled with injury issues, inconsistency, and bad puck luck while playing for a bad Raiders team. At least he was able to end his playing time on a high note, walking away with a gold medal from the U18s as a member of the Canadian squad, while scoring at a point-per-game clip. He had entered his draft year as one of the top prospects to watch after a stellar rookie season and impressive showing at the 2023 Hlinka tournament, where he also won a gold medal for Canada, so Minnesota is betting that he can rekindle more of his previous fire moving forward. He's a slippery, skilled winger who loves to attack and can single-handedly create scoring looks for himself or his teammates, while also having a lot of smarts and commitment for his defensive duties.

8. Carson Lambos

Are there any other prospects out there whose stock has fallen as much as Lambos’s has in recent years? Once considered a possible Top 10 pick in the 2021 draft, he ended up sliding down to the 26th selection that year. Things haven’t gone much better since, with stagnated development throughout the remainder of his tenure in the WHL, getting snubbed by Hockey Canada for their 2023 World Juniors roster, and then a wholly pedestrian debut season in the AHL. While he’s certainly not a liability in any of the key areas of the defense position, he doesn’t really excel in any of them either. It’s almost like he’s a player without a clear identity, and that’s always a cause for concern. Luckily for him and for the Wild, there’s still a lot of time left for him to figure things out, and he won’t be rushed along.

9. Daemon Hunt

Hunt is the type of defenceman who has a knack for winning over his coaches, because he seems to always find a way to get the job done, even if it's not always pretty or exciting. If he needs to bear down and defend hard, he can do it. If his team needs a goal and he needs to ramp up the pace, he can do that, too. The best way to describe him might be "low maintenance," and every team needs at least a few guys who fit that description. He’s wise and mature beyond his years, and comes across as someone with natural leadership tendencies, too. It's easy to foresee him repeatedly earning roster spots over more highly-touted peers and grinding out a long and popular NHL career, even if he rarely draws in on a team's top two defensive pairings or becomes any kind of special teams specialist.

10. Charlie Stramel

The 2023-24 season is one that Stramel surely wants to forget. His draft year was strong, strong enough that he got selected 21st overall by the Wild, but he unfortunately followed it up by taking a step backward. His point production slowed down, his overall impact on games waned, his ice time was cut, and he was left off the American roster for the World Juniors despite being included the prior two times. Unsurprisingly, he opted to enter the NCAA transfer portal after it was all said and done, leaving the struggling Wisconsin program for the up-and-coming Michigan State and a reunion with his former coach Adam Nightingale, which might be a career-saving change of scenery for him. There's still enough of a foundation in place for him to eventually become a physical two-way forward in the NHL, but he'll desperately need to find some way to snap out of his funk.

11. Aron Kiviharju

At the start of last season, it would have been unheard of to think that Kiviharju would slide to the 4th round of the draft. However, his progression hit a roadblock, raising questions about his NHL upside. His hockey sense is undeniably great, but for a defenceman of his size, his skating and puck skills might not be as good as they need to be. Many past defenders who resembled him struggled to succeed. Will he be able to buck that trend?

12. Ryan O'Rourke

O’Rourke garnered a lot of fans during his OHL days with his no-nonsense, shutdown brand of defending. The concern that has surfaced, however, is whether his individual tools are good enough to be that kind of player in the pros. He’s not especially big, tough, or athletic, and now he’s much less able to neutralize opponents than he used to be. His character is high and he has experience being a leader, but can those traits help him turn the tide?

13. Hunter Haight

A trade from Barrie to Saginaw in 2022-23 helped provide a short-lived reset for Haight, but overall, he continues to look like a prospect who won't quite live up to his draft status. He plays fast and competes well, but his on-ice impacts and results don't always move the needle as much as they should. At this point it's tricky to envision what kind of role he would fill on an NHL roster.

14. Caeden Bankier

Bankier is a nice find for Minnesota coming out of the 2021 draft, as none of the players in the dozen picks immediately before him or after him are looking as impressive thus far. He protects pucks adeptly with his frame and hands, and he reads the play well enough to get pucks on his stick in offensive situations. There’s NHL potential here as someone who can dress as a checker while also being able to move up the lineup when called upon.

15. Rasmus Kumpulainen

Leaving Finland to go play in the OHL was the best thing for Kumpulainen's career, even though his progression as a player is still moving incrementally. He's a big body who's good at slowing things down and protecting the puck with his reach and strength. Unfortunately, he's a bit of a one-note kind of player. Could he become a 4th-line center who is heavy on the puck down low? Absolutely. Anything more than that, though, is doubtful.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #5 Minnesota Wild – Organizational Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 11:21:26 +0000

A very disappointing season for the Wild, after two 100-point seasons. It led to a coaching change early in the season but did not result in a playoff berth. GM Bill Guerin’s hands have been largely tied by the salary cap and over $15 million dollars in dead cap space for the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter contracts. Those are reduced to less than $2 million following the 2024-25 season and should provide some welcome oxygen to the organization. It is a big reason why they have not been able to make a big splash in free agency, or at the trade deadline to push this team past the first round of the playoffs. They enter the year with less than $6 million in cap space. Any advancement will likely have to come from within. The core has shown they can do it in the past, and they boast some exceptional young talent in Kirill Kaprizov (27-years old), Joel Eriksson Ek (27) and Matthew Boldy (23).

Marco Rossi (22) graduated to the NHL this season and showed glimpses of his potential, firing 21 goals. Brock Faber (21) emerged as a budding star this season and in the Calder Trophy discussion. 24-year-old Filip Gustavsson struggled in 2023-24 after a promising 2022-23, but not unusual for a young goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury has signed for one more year to ease the pressure on the youngster, while the 9th ranked affiliated prospect on our list, Jesper Wallstedt, continues to develop in the AHL, where he has been excellent. In addition to that core, they boast the fifth best prospect pool among NHL teams, giving them hope for further roster additions. Along with Wallstedt, Danila Yurov ranks 25th by McKeens, after a breakout season in the KHL with 49 points in 62 games. He could have an immediate impact if he decides to come to North America. A deep pool and a strong scouting and development team will look for more gems to emerge from that group.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Jesper Wallstedt	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	`21(20th)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
2	Danila Yurov	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`22(24th)	62	21	28	49	35
3	Riley Heidt	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	`23(64th)	66	37	80	117	42
4	Liam Ohgren	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	`22(19th)	26	12	7	19	12
					Minnesota (NHL)	`22(19th)	4	1	1	2	0
5	Marat Khusnutdinov	C	21	5-11/175	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	`20(37th)	55	6	14	20	10
					Minnesota (NHL)	`20(37th)	16	1	3	4	6
6	Carson Lambos	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	`21(26th)	69	4	10	14	64
7	Ryan O'Rourke	D	21	6-0/180	Iowa (AHL)	`20(39th)	70	3	9	12	62
8	Charlie Stramel	C	19	6-3/215	Wisconsin (B1G)	`23(21st)	34	3	5	8	20
9	Caedan Bankier	C	21	6-2/190	Iowa (AHL)	`21(86th)	51	13	10	23	22
10	Daemon Hunt	D	21	6-0/200	Iowa (AHL)	`20(65th)	51	3	26	29	29
				6-0/200	Minnesota (NHL)	`20(65th)	12	0	1	1	0
11	Rasmus Kumpulainen	C	18	6-2/190	Oshawa (OHL)	`23(53rd)	58	28	28	56	48
12	Samuel Walker	RW	24	5-11/160	Iowa (AHL)	`17(200th)	70	14	31	45	24
13	Adam Beckman	LW	22	6-1/170	Iowa (AHL)	`19(75th)	51	19	14	33	24
				6-1/170	Minnesota (NHL)	`19(75th)	11	0	2	2	12
14	Vladislav Firstov	LW	22	6-1/185	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	`19(42nd)	67	17	18	35	68
15	Hunter Haight	C	20	5-10/175	Saginaw (OHL)	`22(47th)	68	25	42	67	28

1. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Iowa Wild (AHL)

With the Wild re-upping Marc-Andre Fleury for one final, farewell season it looks likely that Wallstedt will be heading back to the AHL for his third tour of duty there. And really, that’s probably for the best. His game is steadily progressing down there, he’s going to get the lion’s share of the starts for Iowa once again, and the NHL can be utterly vicious to young goalies if they’re not absolutely, completely ready to face it. Wallstedt sure does seem like he’s close to being ready, though. The group of skaters in front of him throughout 2023-24 wasn’t very good, and the club easily could have sunk near the bottom of the league standings if it wasn’t for their star young netminder and team MVP keeping them afloat. Much like many of the world’s best goalies, his large frame, tight technique and unflappable mindset help him make stopping pucks look simple.

2. Danila Yurov, RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

3. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

The Wild were able to wait all the way to 64th overall in the 2023 draft to pick Heidt, and the organization must still be outright thrilled by that stroke of good fortune, especially with the work he’s done dragging the Cougars from the WHL basement up to being one of the best teams in the league. He's a monstrous offensive threat and point producer, thanks primarily to his exceptional hockey sense and playmaking ability. He's also intensely focused, biding his time patiently to read the play and pick his spots before striking with surgical precision. There's a certain aura about him offensively, where he always seems to be in control and a step or two ahead of his victims. He's also making a lot of necessary progress with his off-puck engagement and resiliency. Prior worries about his ability to translate his game to the NHL level are starting to fall away quickly.

4. Liam Ohgren, LW, Farjestad BK (SHL)

Ohgren has had to fight through two straight injury-plagued seasons, so it was a nice gesture when Minnesota called him up late in the year after they were eliminated from the playoffs. And then he returned the favour by scoring his first career NHL goal, which probably felt great for both parties. He is a stocky, bulldog of a forward who is great at driving pucks into high-danger areas, and then he also has an aptitude for getting them across the goal in ways both dirty and clean. How he plays takes its toll on his body, but the results speak for themselves. He’s also a born leader who has worn a letter on multiple Tre Kronor sweaters, which he could very likely do again at some point in the future, and his trophy case is already occupied by a number of differently coloured medals.

5. Marat Khusnutdinov, C, HK Sochi (KHL)

Khusnutdinov had a rather muted opening trial with the Wild, but the franchise is hoping that him getting his feet wet this spring will be a valuable steppingstone that will make him just that much better in the fall when he embarks upon his first full campaign in North America. Make no mistake, though, he did show some flashes of the razzle-dazzle that he became well-known for over in Russia. He can be truly electrifying with how he flies through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick, and once he gets more accustomed to the smaller ice surface of the NHL he should be able to resume doing this as a regular occurrence. But how well will he be able to handle the physical grind of an 82-game season? That’s the big question, and the answer will heavily influence how much value he brings.

6. Carson Lambos, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Are there any other prospects out there whose stock has fallen as much as Lambos has in recent years? Once considered a possible Top 10 pick in the 2021 draft, he ended up sliding down to the 26th selection that year. Things haven’t gone much better since, with stagnated development throughout the remainder of his tenure in the WHL, getting snubbed by Hockey Canada for their 2023 World Juniors roster, and then a wholly pedestrian debut season in the AHL. While he’s certainly not a liability in any of the key areas of the defense position, he doesn’t really excel in any of them either. It’s almost like he’s a player without a clear identity, and that’s always a cause for concern. Luckily for him and for the Wild, there’s still a lot of time left for him to figure things out, and he won’t be rushed along.

7. Ryan O'Rourke, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

O’Rourke garnered a lot of fans and admirers during his OHL days with his old school, no-nonsense, shutdown brand of defending. The concern about him that is starting to nag now, however, is whether his individual tools are actually good enough to be that kind of player effectively at the professional level. He’s not the biggest of guys, or the toughest of guys, or the most athletic of guys, and now he’s finding himself unable to neutralize opposing forwards like he used to before. There are still things to like about him, though. His character rates highly, his shot is heavy, and he has a lot of experience being a leader. Him becoming an NHLer in the future is far from certain, and if he does carve out a roster spot it will most likely be as a bottom-pair defenseman and secondary penalty killer.

8. Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

9. Caedan Bankier, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Bankier is shaping up to be a very nice find for Minnesota coming out of the 2021 draft, as none of the players in the dozen picks immediately before him or the dozen immediately after him are as valuable as prospects as of this point in time. You can really tell just how great of a job the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers did nurturing his development during his time with them. He protects pucks very adeptly with his frame and smooth hands, and he reads the play well enough to consistently get the puck on his stick in prime offensive situations. He knows how to score points within a tight system. His odds of having a long NHL career are pretty good, because he should be able to hold his own in a checking role while also being able to chip in points and move up the lineup when called upon.

10. Daemon Hunt, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Hunt is the type of defenseman who has a knack for winning over his coaches, because he seems to always find a way to get the job done, even if it's not always pretty or exciting. If he needs to bear down and defend hard, he can do it. If his team needs a goal and he needs to ramp up the pace, he can do that too. The best way to describe him might be "low maintenance," and every team needs at least some guys who fit that description. He’s wise and mature beyond his years, and comes across as someone with natural leadership tendencies, too. It's easy to foresee him repeatedly earning roster spots over more highly touted peers and grinding out a long and popular NHL career, even if he rarely draws in on a team's top two defense pairings or becomes any kind of special teams’ specialist.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

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

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

Risers

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

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

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

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

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

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

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

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

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

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

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

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

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

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

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

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

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

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

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

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

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

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

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

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

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

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

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

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

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

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

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

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

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

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

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

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

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

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

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

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

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

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

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

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

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

Subscribers can link to the listing here

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

NHL PROSPECTS/NHL DRAFT: BELL – 20 Prospect Points – Lekkerimaki, Cowan, Dickinson, Masse & More

Josh Bell — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:00:40 +0000

_{Easton Cowan of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images}

Welcome to 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending news surrounding prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition dives into the surge of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Eason Cowan, the scoring prowess of Vancouver Canucks’ star prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and the impressive play of 2024-eligible Masim Massé and Sam Dickinson.

Drafted Prospects

#1 While it was considered a reach when the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted London Knights’ Easton Cowan 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, he’s been making the Leafs’ scouting department look pretty good this season. Cowan is currently riding a 29-game point streak, dating back to before the World Juniors. He’s racked up 55 points over that time, bringing his season total to 83 (30 goals, 53 assists) in just 47 games. While he sits second on the team in points, he’s tied for the league lead in points per game with 1.77.

#2 With his season in the KHL wrapped up and his contract terminated, Marat Khusnutdinov has signed his entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild. He appears to be en route to the USA, pending the finalization of his visa to do so, where he should go straight into the Wild’s lineup. With the team fighting for a playoff spot, this shows that Minnesota’s brass has a great deal of trust and faith in Khusnutdinov, believing that he will make the roster better to be worth burning a year of his deal. The youth movement continues in Minnesota.

#3 Jonathan Lekkerimäki just keeps scoring. The Vancouver Canucks prospect put up nine goals through February, in as many games. He sits tied for fourth in the league with 19 goals in 42 games. He also sits 11th all-time for goals scored by a teenager in the league. With four games left on his schedule, he could add to that total and continue to climb the history books.

#4 The Washington Capitals made a very smart move recently, signing Prince George Cougars star forward Zac Funk to an entry-level contract. The undrafted prospect has been on fire this season, racking up 103 points (59 goals, 44 assists) through 60 games. His goal total leads the entire Canadian Hockey League, and he’s just one point behind Jagger Firkus for the point lead. He’s an intelligent forward who has a proven ability to put the puck in the net. He’s likely en route to some hardware this season.

#5 Every trade deadline, some interesting prospects get moved. While we’re still a few days away from the deadline, Artyom Grushnikov is an early name on that list. Drafted 48th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars, the Russian defender was moved to the Calgary Flames in the package for Chris Tanev. While you shouldn’t expect him to bring much in terms of offensive production, Grushnikov projects to be a shutdown defender and is well on his way to the NHL. This could work out well for the Flames.

#6 Speaking of the Stars, how about that Logan Stankoven? By now, if you follow hockey even casually, you’ve heard the story. A shorter prospect, Stankoven slid to 47th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. But the skill and the motor were there, and many in the public sphere were sure of it. Well, that’s paying off already, with Stankoven sitting second in the AHL in points - in his rookie season. Then he earned his first call-up, putting up four points (three goals, one assist) in four games. The hype is real.

#7 I’ve talked about Carson Rehkopf a lot this season, and rightfully so. The Seattle Kraken forward was the second CHLer to hit the 50-goal mark this season, now sitting at 50 in just 52 games. Being drafted 50th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, is a remarkable improvement from his 30 goals in 68 games last season. Make sure to keep an eye on him down the stretch and into the playoffs.

#8 It’s been over three months since Captials’ prospect Ryan Leonard went an entire NCAA game without a point. That’s a point streak of 17 games, where he’s collected 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists). The Boston College freshman only has three games this season where he hasn’t recorded a point. And yet, he still sits fourth on the team in points behind Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, and Gabe Perrault. Leonard’s season is being overshadowed by his teammates, but is very much worth the recognition.

#9 When discussing Russian prospects of the Philadelphia Flyers that were drafted in 2023, you likely think of Matvei Michkov (and rightfully so). But goaltender Yegor Zavragin is commanding some attention. He stuck in the VHL for the majority of the season with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, finishing the regular season 13-1-0 with a league-leading .943 save percentage (SV%). That has translated to the playoffs, where he’s 2-1 with a .938 SV%.

#10 Over in North America, another Russian netminder has been turning some heads in Ivan Prosvetov. Drafted way back in 2018, 114th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, he was claimed off waivers at the beginning of this season and has been extremely strong in his AHL play. Through his first nine games, he went undefeated, repping a .944 SV% and two shutouts, although that did just come to an end at the hands of the Calgary Wranglers - a game where he still had a .935 SV%. Goalies take time, and you never know when they might take off in their development. He’s worth keeping an eye on.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 A top prospect on every draft ranking out there, but still, it seems that not enough people are talking about Sam Dickinson. Perhaps it’s because of the historic play of Zayne Parekh this season in the OHL, but Dickinson’s play deserves some recognition. The defender just ended an 11-game point streak that saw him rack up 20 points, bringing his season total to 63 (17 goals, 46 assists) in 60 games. That mark is third among all defenders in the league, behind the ridiculous seasons of Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz.

#12 Maxim Massé appears to be the top prospect in the QMJHL this season, and he’s been proving why as of late. The prospect was one of the most productive draft-eligibles around the globe over the past month, with 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) through 10 games. He’s up to 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists) in 60 games as he looks to solidify his spot as a first-round candidate in the 2024 class.

#13 Some bad news for potential first-rounder Harrison Brunicke, the defenseman is out month-to-month after taking a hard hit on February 19th. The South African-born prospect has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 49 games this season and could be considered a bit of a polarizing prospect, ranked from 21st down to 90th. He might be done for the year at this point.

#14 A player that I keep talking about and coming back to is Ondrej Becher. The Czech prospect has been dominant in his second season with the Prince George Cougars (and his season season in North America at all). He’s up to 75 points (22 goals, 53 assists) in 50 games this season, a significant increase from last year’s results of 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 63 games. He’s currently riding an 11-game point streak where he’s added 19 points to his total.

#15 When scouting in a player’s draft year, it’s important to look at where a player is in their development at the beginning of the season versus the middle and the end. This shows how the player continues to progress and how high their ceiling may be. Henry Mews is an interesting player in this regard as he continues to look better and better as the season rolls on. He’s playing a much smarter, more controlled game now than he was at the start of the year. He should be a riser on boards as the draft approaches.

#16 Alex Zetterberg is making the rare jump from the J20 Nationell this season to the NCAA’s Boston University in the fall. Zetterberg has been having a strong season in Sweden, with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 41 games, while impressing internationally in the Hlinka, World Junior A Challenge, and various other U18 events. He’s a candidate to slide down draft boards though due to his height at 5-foot-8, but is absolutely one to watch.

#17 If the name Vladislav Bryzgalov sounds familiar, it’s likely because it is. Bryzgalov is the son of former NHLer Ilya Bryzgalov. The netminder recently made the move from the NCDC’s Ogden Mustangs, where he was 14-5-3 with a .933 SV%, to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs where he’s been keeping the impressive run going with a .935 SV%. Looking like a late-rounder at this point, the name alone might be enough for an NHL team to bite.

#18 Looking towards the 2025 NHL Draft, Finnish forward Max Westergård has been truly coming into his own as of late in his first season in Sweden. He’s been proving too good for the J18 and he’s fitting in in the J20 Nationell.In the J18 Nationell, he has yet to play a game this season and not record a point, with 19 (six goals, 13 assists) in 10 games. He had a point per game in his first four J20 Nationell games this season, where he should stick next year. What’s the most intriguing though is his late birthday of September 3rd, meaning he’s just days away from being eligible for the 2026 class. Put him on your watchlist for next year.

#19 Moving even further along to the 2026 class, I’ve already discussed Gavin McKenna in previous pieces, but we need to keep coming back to him. The prospect has been setting the WHL on fire with the Medicine Hat Tigers, with 86 points (29 goals, 57 assists) in 54 games. To put it in perspective, Connor Bedard finished his 16-year-old season (DY-1) with 1.61 points per game (100 points in 62 games). McKenna (DY-2) is on pace for 98 points in 62 games - a 1.58 pace.

#20 McKenna isn’t the only 2026-eligible capturing attention though. 15-year-old Viggo Björck has been tearing up the Swedish J18 Region this year, up to 98 points (33 goals, 65 assists) in 35 games - as a 15-year-old. He not only holds the assists and points records for the league but destroyed both. The closest assists total was 48 and the closest points total was 72. In his last six J18 games, he has 31 points, including two nine-point performances. You read that right.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:00:12 +0000

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 10: Austria's David Reinbacher #5 takes a slapshot against Sweden in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on August 10, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Top 20 Montreal Canadiens Prospects

1. David Reinbacher - D

Going 5th overall in this summer’s draft, a world of new expectations has been mounted upon the shoulders of the young Austrian defender who wasn’t even thought of as a surefire second rounder as late as the summer of 2022. This catapulting up the ranks automatically brings along unexpected pressures with it, each now compounded by his being diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, which brings about cartilage and bone fragmentations in the knees. It is fully expected that the medical faculty will be able to get the problem under control, but the inherent risk is now only heightened. Nonetheless, Reinbacher is coming off a season for the ages in Switzerland’s top league where he eclipsed the 20-minute ice time mark in 20 of his 49 games on the season and put up an offensive stat- line that ultimately blew away anything seen from an 18-year old defenseman at any point in Switzerland’s top league history. Mark Streit? Roman Josi? They didn’t even come close at that age. Two WJCs and a strong showing at the men’s World Championships topped off a very busy year in which the swift-skating, offensively adept defender wowed the scouting world. He’ll be in Montreal’s main camp, then we find out where he’ll spend the upcoming season.

2. Lane Hutson - D

Standing at 5-10”, 161 pounds, there have been a large number of doubters when it comes to Hutson. This was despite a greater than point-per-game performance with the USNTDP as a defender in his draft year. Skip forward to last season, and what Hutson did as an NCAA freshman is nothing short of remarkable. Scoring the most points for a defender at his age since Brian Leetch (48 in only 38 games), Hutson was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s an extremely fun player to watch due to how well he sees the game and how light he is on his feet. He can dance along the blue line or storm up in transition, creating chances in the process. His defensive game seems to have improved from his draft year, with excellent positioning, quick attacks, and an active stick getting in lanes. With the path he’s on, the NHL is just a matter of time.

3. Joshua Roy - RW

Coming into the QMJHL in 2019-20 as the first-overall pick in the QMJHL Draft, there was a ton of excitement around the young forward. He played well in his rookie season, setting the stage for a strong draft year. He was good in that season as well but didn’t take the step forward that was hoped for. Still, the Canadiens bet on him, selecting him 150th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. He responded with a 119-point season, leading the league in points and getting a nod as a First-Team All-Star. He followed that up with another dominant QMJHL season last year. Roy is an excellent possession player, protecting the puck well with quick, creative hands. His small-area game is excellent. He has done very well at adjusting his game in the moment. He seems like a safe bet to be a top nine contributor and is a candidate to make the jump next season.

4. Sean Farrell - C

It’s no longer a question of when Farrell will make the jump to the NHL since the young prospect has already made that jump. After a strong season in the USHL, Farrell slid in the 2020 NHL Draft all the way to the Canadiens' 124th pick. He responded with a 101-point season with the Chicago Steel and being honored as both the USHL and the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then made the jump to Harvard University, contributing over one point per game as a freshman. Last season he took another big step forward and was named a Hobey Baker Award Finalist. The Habs rewarded him with an NHL contract, and he made the jump to the league. Farrell is smaller at 5- 9”, 174-pounds, but his offensive intelligence shines every time he hits the ice. He’s well on his way to becoming a top six offensive factor.

5. Owen Beck - C

Selected in the 2022 NHL Draft, 33rd overall, Beck is one of the many OHLers the lost their entire 2020-21 season due to the pandemic. He came back in 2021-22 as an OHL rookie and impressed, being named to the Second All-Rookie Team and as the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. He’s taken another step forward this season, thanks to his drives through the middle of the ice, his blazing speed, and his ability to dictate the pace of play. That resulted in a nod to Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors where he won a gold medal, as well as an emergency call-up to the NHL where he played one game with the Canadiens. Look for Beck to make the move to the AHL next season as he attempts to carve out a role as a strong 3C in the NHL as someone who can play in any situation.

6. Logan Mailloux - D

There’s an asterisk next to Mailloux’s name as a Canadiens prospect due to comments earlier this year from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. He noted that if and when the team wants to bring him to the NHL, they’ll review the situation. But he did leave the door open for “redemption and rehabilitation” so Mailloux’s future remains to be seen*. The defender is a big body at 6-3”, 212 pounds, who plays an extremely confident game. He’s always ready to carry the puck on his own or jump into the rush. He needs to work on his timing though, as he can get caught taking risks and making poor decisions. He has a very hard shot and isn’t afraid to get physical. If all things work out for Mailloux, he has the potential to be a second-line defender, but this story doesn’t seem to be over just yet.

*The NHL has since opened the door for Mailloux to play.

7. Filip Mesar - C

After selecting Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Canadiens continued to look to Slovakia in the first round and nabbed Mesar at 26th overall. The winger already had two seasons of men’s hockey under his belt, playing with HK Poprad in the top-Slovak men’s league. He was immediately signed and came overseas, nearly made the NHL roster, then nearly stuck in the AHL, but ultimately was sent to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers for the season. He’s a very strong skater who excels at getting off the wall and plays with a high level of confidence. He plays hard and fast, enough to help him succeed in the NHL. He might not be an overly offensive player in the league, but he’ll be a consistent contributor able to impact the game on every shift, likely in a middle-six role. He should jump to the AHL - at least - this season.

8. Riley Kidney - C

Kidney just seems to make consistent forward progress in his development. Ever since making the QMJHL in 2019-20, his stock has been rising, leading to back-to-back 100+ point seasons in the league. As is a theme with Canadiens prospects, they selected him 63rd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, just before his first 100-point explosion. While he has shown the ability to bury the puck, it’s his playmaking ability that truly stands out, and he displays excellent vision and a knack for creating chances. He continues to get better and better and creates opportunities for himself as well, getting to the middle of the ice regularly. Kidney is strong off the puck as well, a competitor who always looks to get the puck back. He likely fits as a strong, bottom six forward and a candidate to move up when needed. His transition to the next level will be telling to his future ceiling.

9. Adam Engstrom - D

One of the fastest rising prospects in the Montreal system, Engstrom has gone from a third rounder last year to one of the top defensive prospects in a deep prospect pool because of his strong debut in the SHL. He was fantastic for Rogle, an organization with a reputation for developing high end defenders. An intelligent two-way blueliner, Engstrom does so many things well. He starts the breakout well thanks to great instincts and quick feet. He can quarterback the powerplay. He has great defensive awareness and understands how to use his mobility to help him be aggressive in his own zone. So what are the next steps? Engstrom will return to Rogle of the SHL this year and will look to establish himself as one of the top defenders in all of Sweden. Maybe that takes one year, maybe two. Our guess has Montreal looking to bring him over following this season, especially if his positive progression continues.

10. Jakub Dobes - G

Goaltender Dobes had his eyes set on the NHL and moving up in the hockey world, heading overseas from Czechia two years before his draft year, starting early in AAA and high school hockey. He moved up to the NAHL and then USHL, catching the attention of the Canadiens, who drafted him 136th overall in 2020. After one more season in the USHL, he moved to NCAA Ohio State where he stood out as a rookie. With a strong sophomore season under his belt as well, the Canadiens saw enough, signing him to his entry-level deal. He has good size at 6- 4”, 201 pounds, challenges attackers, and tracks the puck with ease. His movement can be a struggle, especially laterally, where he can get caught. Stepping into the pros this season will help to shed some light on how he projects. For now, he likely looks like a depth, AHL goaltender.

11. Jacob Fowler - G

A 2023 draft selection, Fowler’s 2022-23 season could not have gone any better. He was the USHL’s Goaltender of the Year and captured a USHL championship. He should be the immediate starter for a great Boston College team next year and will be focusing on improving his agility and quickness throughout his college career.

12. Oliver Kapanen - C

As you might expect from the nephew of former NHL’er Sami Kapanen, Oliver is a speedy, two-way center with a chance to develop into a solid middle six option for the Canadiens. He is coming off his best season to date in Liiga and may only need one more year in Finland before making the jump.

13. Emil Heineman - LW

Heineman is a powerful and quick North/South winger with a great shot and scoring touch. He was an immediate impact player at the end of the year for Laval. Hopefully he can keep that going over a full season this year.

14. Mattias Norlinder - D

Norlinder’s development hasn’t exactly gone the way many had anticipated. A strong offensive defender thanks to his excellent mobility and instincts at the point, Norlinder’s had trouble with consistency in the AHL. This is likely a big year for his development.

15. Jan Mysak - C

After a solid few years in the OHL, it feels like Mysak was really hurt by the Covid situation as his development stalled during that difficult 2020-21 season. His first true pro season last year wasn’t great; he needs to find a way to play between the hash marks like he did in the OHL. It’s still too early to give up on the former second rounder.

16. Cayden Primeau - G

It would appear that Montreal has grown tired of Primeau’s inconsistent play at the AHL level and his inability to truly take that next step forward, as they signed Dobes and drafted a few netminders this year. The former top prospect will need to pass through waivers to be sent down so he will need a huge camp to win back admiration.

17. Jayden Struble - D

Even though his offensive game never developed in college (with Northeastern) the way many thought it might, Struble still offers value as a potential defensive defender thanks to his athleticism and physicality. He will play his first pro year with Laval this season.

18. William Trudeau - D

Trudeau, an intelligent two-way defender and puck mover, had a terrific rookie year with Laval last season and really opened some eyes in the organization. If he can continue to improve his skating, he could be an option for the Canadiens in the near future.

19. Xavier Simoneau - C

The odds are stacked against the diminutive pivot, but don’t completely count him out. The talented playmaker has that feisty demeanour and the speed you look for from smaller players. He showed a lot of promise in his first pro season with Laval.

20. Vinzenz Rohrer - C

A feisty and versatile forward, Rohrer can slide up and down the lineup due to his consistent effort and energy. He made a shocking choice to leave the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL for the Swiss men’s league for this upcoming season and it will be interesting to see how he performs at a pro level.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #8

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:27:30 +0000

Jesper Wallstedt.

Top 20 Minnesota Wild Prospects

1. Jesper Wallstedt - C

Wallstedt has all the tools necessary to become a premier starting goaltender in the NHL, and it's only a matter of time until that potential turns into reality. The Iowa Wild were careful with his workload last season, having him split net duties with veteran Zane McIntyre, but the stoic Swede is no stranger to pressure and probably could have handled more responsibility without even breaking a sweat, despite his young age and it being his first season outside of Sweden. He oozes composure and is well beyond his years in terms of technique and ability to read the play. The phrase “work smarter, not harder” fits him like a glove, as he never seems to scramble or panic, and makes a lot of stops look easy, simply by being in the exact position he needs to be in and letting his form and natural size do the work.

2. Marco Rossi - C

Rossi being robbed of an entire year of hockey due to Covid-related illness at one of the most pivotal times of his development is an utter tragedy. He made a laughingstock of opposing OHL teams in his final season in Ottawa and seemed primed and ready to keep that momentum going. However, anyone who is familiar with him knows that his drive to improve is nearly unparalleled and that if he really wants to become one of the best players in the world (and he does), then it's going to happen eventually. Don't read too much into him coming up short in his first attempt to jump to the NHL. He's almost impossible to strip the puck from, which is a rarity for a player his size, and good luck stopping him from sending it where he wants it to go. Minnesota will pry the door wide open for Rossi this season.

3. Danila Yurov - RW

Yurov was a major wildcard in his draft year, being viewed by some scouts as a possible top 10 talent, while also being viewed with scepticism by others due to the quality of development he was receiving in Russia. After two years of splitting time equally between the junior MHL and the professional KHL he spent the vast majority of his 2022-23 season playing in one of the best leagues in the world, albeit with modest results in terms of offensive production. The bad news is that his ice time was lacking, averaging well below 10 minutes per game. Yurov has the potential to become a well-rounded top six scorer and play-driver at the NHL level, with high-end puck skills, shooting talent, and defence-unravelling processing, but his current developmental situation is raising genuine concerns that his growth will remain stunted until he leaves his homeland.

4. Liam Ohgren - LW

Öhgren's 2021-22 season was a tale of two draft years: he absolutely torched Sweden's top junior league to the tune of 33 goals and 25 assists in just 25 games but managed only a meagre one goal and one assist in 25 appearances in the SHL. This statistical discrepancy led to some questions about how translatable his scoring ability is to the professional level. And while the HockeyAllsvenskan is not on the same level as the SHL, he is nevertheless showing how scalable his game can be. He uses his strength and sturdy frame to fight through checks and win positioning in prime areas and has the shot mechanics and scoring touch to fill the back of the net. He isn't the fastest or most elusive forward but knows how to maximize what he does have when attacking off the rush.

5. Brock Faber - D

The Wild had a lot of defensive depth even before Faber's 2022-23 season ended and he signed his entry-level contract, so it speaks volumes that the team insisted on getting him into their lineup before the end of the regular season to better gauge what he can do against NHL competition. He is a local boy through and through, growing up in Maple Grove and then playing his college hockey about a 15-minute drive from the Wild's home arena. And as if that didn't already raise fan expectations enough, he was a star player on one of the best school teams in the country. The good news is that he takes his game to another level under the bright lights. A sublime skater who also thinks as fast as he moves, Faber left an impact in his NHL debut and isn't going to slow down one bit from here.

6. Marat Khusnutdinov - C

It is going to be fascinating to watch how Khusnutdinov transitions to North America and tries to find his way there, whenever he decides to make that leap. On the bigger ice surface in Russia, he is electrifying. His skating is magnificent, his energy never runs out, and his eyes light up every time he gets the chance to touch the puck. There are few prospects who can go for a Globetrotter-like skate through and around opposing players like Khusnutdinov. He is going to have to get a lot more used to getting hit, stick-checked, and angled to the outside once h moves over to play on the smaller ice surfaces in North America. That said, as hard as it is to single-handedly drive possession in that sort of way in the NHL, Khusnutdinov is one of the few rare talents who could actually make it work.

7. Carson Lambos - D

Lambos has spent the past three seasons on a very strong WHL Winnipeg ICE team, and while that might seem like a good thing overall, questions have arisen about whether it might have been a detriment to his individual development in some ways. Once considered one of the best defensemen in the world for his age group, his stock started to fall early in his draft season and hasn't really recovered since. Most notably, he was omitted from Canada's 2023 World Juniors roster despite having represented his country at the tournament in 2022. His game is balanced and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, however he hasn't turned into a genuine difference-making, impact player like was once expected. The ICE are so talented and so deep that some of their players don't get enough of the stress-testing that often leads to growth. Turning pro could be a rude awakening for Lambos.

8. Adam Beckman - LW

Beckman has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL already, and while they haven't yet led to his first NHL goal or a full-time role, both of those things seem inevitable. He is a north-south, goal-scoring winger who applies a lot of power to both his skating stride and his shots. Allow him to generate a head of steam and some space with the puck and it usually leads to a quality scoring chance, and without the puck he can close on opponents quickly on the forecheck. His game undeniably tilts more to the offensive side than the defensive side, but with his reach and how easily he can cover ground in a straight line he can still be a disruptive force. With the right linemates and the right usage Beckman could become a 20-goal scorer in the NHL at his peak.

9. Riley Heidt - C

A player’s stats never tell his full story, but in Heidt’s case they paint a fairly accurate picture. A split of 25 goals and 72 assists last season showcases his proclivity for playmaking, and 43 of his 97 points coming with the man advantage make it obvious where his offense shines the brightest. He’s the type of player that a coach wants to have the puck more than any others. He is a true play driver, with a stellar knack for receiving pucks, getting them under his control, keeping them safe under his guard, and then making sure they get where he wants them to go. His head is constantly up and scanning the ice in front of him, and he can handle, pass or shoot the puck without having to redirect his vision. For a smaller forward he plays with a sneaky amount of bite and pestilence. Getting his skating up a notch or two long term is essential, to consistently gain enough separation space to overcome his lack of strength. Despite some limitations with his game, he still projects comfortably as a second-line NHL center and top-unit powerplay specialist.

10. Charlie Stramel - C

While Stramel would not have been our first choice at 21st overall, we understand why the Wild selected him where they did. Even though we had him ranked 61st heading into the draft, we expected him to be a first-round pick. Entering the NCAA as a freshman with a fair amount of prospect hype, his disappointing season with a disappointing Wisconsin program placed a lot of doubt on his upside. Stramel has a big frame at 6- 3” and 215 pounds, and he started to find out how to use that size to his advantage over the course of the season. With his size and strength, he’s extremely difficult to knock off the puck or even off balance. However, consistency was a major issue last year. Will the coaching change to former Minnesota State bench boss Mike Hastings have a profoundly positive effect on his development?

11. Caeden Bankier - C

A big two-way center, Bankier was excellent in the WHL last year, emerging as one of the top pivots in the league. He looks on track to become a quality middle six option for Minnesota in the future and will turn pro this year.

12. Rasmus Kumpulainen - C

The Wild’s second round pick in 2023, Kumpulainen is a rangy pivot with a penchant for driving the net and playing a power game down low. Recently drafted by Oshawa in the CHL Import Draft, there will be a push to get him there to continue his development. The OHL would be a great place for him to focus on improving his skating.

13. Ryan O’Rourke - D

Thus far, O’Rourke’s offensive game hasn’t translated to the pro level, but he remains a solid prospect because of his defensive acumen. A staunch, physical defender, he should become a serviceable #4-6 for Minnesota if he can continue to improve his skating.

14. Samuel Walker - C

Walker, an undersized scoring forward, was signed by Minnesota after the Lightning failed to come to an agreement with him following his senior year at the University of Minnesota. He is coming off a terrific first year in the AHL with Iowa, even getting into some games for the Wild.

15. Jack Peart - D

A strong two-way defender, Peart had a very good sophomore year at St. Cloud State and he has a chance to be one of the better defenders in the NCAA this year if he continues to progress.

16. Hunter Haight - C

Haight’s game really took off following a trade to Saginaw this year and he will look to be a huge piece of their Memorial Cup push this season. The key for Haight is maintaining his physical intensity. He is at his best when he brings a physical element to match his skill.

17. Daemon Hunt - D

Hunt is a similar player to O’Rourke in the sense that his offensive abilities aren’t likely to translate to the pro level, making him more of a mobile, stay-at-home type. The two are likely on a similar timeline and will be battling for a depth spot soon.

18. Vladislav Firstov - LW

Firstov, a big power winger, left UConn to play in the KHL last season. That move was a good one for his development as he was one of the top rookies in the league. He will now return to North America to play in the AHL this year and expectations are high.

19. Mikey Milne - LW

A relentless competitor and a winger with a unrelenting motor, Milne knows exactly what he is and what he can be for the Wild in the future. He’s not going to be a top six option, but if his offensive game continues to develop, he could end up being a great bottom six forward and penalty killer.

20. David Spacek - D

Spacek is coming off a great season that saw him continue his high level of play in the QMJHL, while also helping Czechia to a Silver medal at the WJC as one of the tournament’s best defenders. He is now focusing his attention on turning pro in the AHL and the key will be improving his footwork and mobility.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #4 Minnesota Wild

Derek Neumeier — Thu, 25 May 2023 17:49:22 +0000

The Wild have put together back-to-back 100 points plus seasons. 113 points in 2021-22, good for fifth in the league, falling back slightly to 103 points and 11^th last season. They are currently built around three critical young pieces, superstar 26-year-old Kirill Kaprizov, Matthew Boldy (22) and Joel Eriksson Ek (26). Goaltender Filip Gustavsson emerged last season as a future star at 24-years-old. In the system, they have another outstanding prospect, ranked as the first goaltender overall by McKeen’s, in Jesper Wallstedt. Both have the ability to emerge as a strong number one in net.

GM Bill Guerin was appointed in August 2020 and has overseen the last two drafts. To date, he has held onto his picks and added through trade. He made four first-round picks in those two drafts netting Liam Ohgren (#19), Danila Yurov (#24) and Carson Lambos (#26) along with Wallstedt (#20). He has made 12 picks in the first four rounds over two years, replenishing an already strong prospect system. He has added at the deadline to improve playoff chances, but they have not been large swings but mainly depth adds, apart from Marc-Andre Fleury last year for a second. Nor has he been particularly active in free agency. Marco Rossi joins Wallstedt ranked with our top 20 prospects, at #16, and should make the leap to the NHL next season with a wide-open opportunity. Guerin’s caution to date will likely hold as he sees how this strong system progresses next season. They are not far away from competing for Stanley Cups, and if he sees things lining up, he has the cards to play.

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

Jesper Wallstedt

Wallstedt has all the tools necessary to become a premier starting goaltender in the NHL, and it's only a matter of time until that potential turns into reality. The Iowa Wild were careful with his workload this season, making him split net duties with veteran Zane McIntyre, but the stoic Swede is no stranger to pressure and probably could have handled more responsibility without even breaking a sweat, despite his young age and it being his first season outside of Sweden. He oozes composure and is well beyond his years in terms of technique and reading the play. The phrase “work smarter, not harder” fits him like a glove, as he never seems to scramble or panic, and makes a lot of stops look easy simply from being in the exact position he needs to be in and letting his form and natural size do the work.

2. Marco Rossi

Rossi being robbed of an entire year of hockey at one of the most pivotal times of his development is an utter tragedy. He made a laughingstock of opposing OHL teams in his final season in Ottawa and seemed primed and ready to keep that momentum going. However, anyone who is familiar with him knows that his drive to improve is nearly unparalleled, and that if he really wants to become one of the best players in the world (and he does), then it's going to happen eventually. Don't read too much into him coming up short in his first attempt to jump to the NHL. He's almost impossible to strip the puck from, which is a rarity for a player his size, and good luck stopping him from sending it where he wants it to go. Minnesota will pry the door wide open for Rossi next season.

3. Danila Yurov

Yurov was a major wildcard in his draft year, being viewed by some scouts as a possible top 10 talent, while being viewed with skepticism by others due to the quality of development he was receiving in Russia. After two years of splitting time equally between the junior MHL and the professional KHL he spent the vast majority of his 2022-23 season playing in one of the best leagues in the world, with modest results in terms of points. The bad news is that his ice time was lacking, averaging well below 10 minutes per game. Yurov has the potential to become a well-rounded top six scorer and play-driver at the NHL level, with high-end puck skills, shooting talent and defense-unravelling processing, but his current developmental situation is raising genuine concerns that he is growing as much as he could and should be.

4. Liam Ohgren

Öhgren's 2021-22 season was a tale of two draft years: he absolutely torched Sweden's top junior league to the tune of 33 goals and 25 assists in just 25 games but managed only a meagre one goal and one assist in 25 appearances in the SHL. This statistical discrepancy led to some questions about how translatable his scoring ability is to the professional level. And while the HockeyAllsvenskan is not on the lame level as the SHL, he is nevertheless showing how scalable his game can be. He uses his strength and sturdy frame to fight through checks and win positioning in prime areas and has the shot mechanics and scoring touch to fill the back of the net. He isn't the fastest or most elusive forward but knows how to maximize what he does have when attacking off the rush.

5. Brock Faber

Minnesota had a lot of defensive depth even before Faber's season ended and he signed his entry-level contract, so it speaks volumes that the team insisted on getting him into their lineup before the end of the regular season to better gauge what he can do against NHL competition. He is a local boy through and through, growing up in Maple Grove and then playing his college hockey about a 15-minute drive from the Wild's home arena. And as if that didn't already raise fan expectations enough, he was a star player on one of the best school teams in the country. The good news is that he uses bright spotlights to take his game to another level. A sublime skater who also thinks as fast as he moves, Faber left an impact in his NHL debut and isn't going to slow down one bit from here.

6. Marat Khusnutdinov

It is going to be absolutely fascinating to watch how Khusnutdinov transitions to North America and tries to find his way there, whenever he decides to make that leap. On the bigger ice surface in Russia, he is electrifying. His skating his magnificent, his energy reserves never run out, and his eyes light up every time he gets the chance to touch the puck. There are few prospects who can go for a Globetrotter-like skate through and around opposing players like he can. On smaller ice surfaces, however, he is going to have to get a lot more used to getting hit, stick-checked, and angled to the outside. That said, as hard as it is to single-handedly drive possession in that sort of way in the NHL, Khusnutdinov is one of the few rare talents who could actually make it work.

7. Carson Lambos

Lambos has spent the past two seasons on a very strong Winnipeg team, and while that might seem like a good thing overall, questions have arisen about whether it might have been a detriment to his individual development in some ways. Once considered one of the best defensemen in the world for his age group, his stock started to fall early in his draft season and hasn't really recovered since. Most notably, he was omitted from Canada's 2023 World Juniors roster despite being there in 2022. His game is balanced and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses; however, he hasn't turned into a genuine difference-making, impact player like was once expected. The Ice are so talented and so deep that some of their players don't get enough of the stress-testing that often leads to growth. Turning pro could be a rude awakening for Lambos.

8. Adam Beckman

Beckman has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL already, and while they haven't yet led to his first NHL goal or a full-time role, both of those things do seem inevitable. He is a north-south, goal-scoring winger who applies a lot of power to both his skating stride and his shots. Allow him to generate a head of steam and some space with the puck and it usually leads to a quality scoring chance, and without the puck he can close on opponents quickly on the forecheck. His game undeniably tilts more to the offensive side than the defensive side, but with his reach and how easily he can cover ground in a straight line he can still be a disruptive force. With the right linemates and the right usage Beckman could become a 20-goal scorer in the NHL when he reaches his peak.

9. Caedan Bankier

Bankier took a huge step forward in his development this season and was rewarded with a spot on Canada's World Juniors roster, leaving his very first international tournament with a gold medal around his neck. He could also add a Memorial Cup to his resume this season as a key member of host Kamloop's strong roster. When he has possession of the puck, he is difficult to contain, using his frame, strength and hands to play keep-away, and he is above average at finishing plays as both a playmaker and a shooter. Those strengths have always been there, and he's rounded out his game with improved conditioning, mobility and off-puck play. The overall package is impressive, and further gains in all areas are still possible. Bankier is a very safe bet to make it as an NHLer because he should be able to fit into a variety of different roles.

10. Ryan O'Rourke

There was never any doubt that O'Rourke would find a way to hold his own at the AHL level, especially after a successful junior career that saw him evolve into a steady, sturdy blueliner who was no fun to play against. The real question, though, has always been about just how much NHL upside he possesses. There are some things to really like about his game: his natural leadership, his smarts, his competitive drive. Unfortunately, not he's the most naturally gifted skater or puck handler, and he has less reach than a lot of top defenders who share his strengths. As effective as he is right now, will he be able to shutdown the biggest or the fastest players in the world? At the very least, O'Rourke should become a trustworthy third-pairing defenseman who sets a positive example for his teammates and is low-maintenance for coaches.

NHL PROSPECTS: TOP FIVE EUROPEAN PROSPECTS

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:23:53 +0000

1 - Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

It’s been a whale of a season for the 21-year-old former Olympian. He’s not only leading SKA in defensive scoring, but the entire KHL. In fact, he’s 6th overall in KHL scoring as we write this. The number of defensemen who collect 52 points in a KHL season can be counted on one hand every season and he’s got just that already in 63 contests. Heck, he’s just 13 points away from the KHL’s single season record for defensemen. All that’s accompanied by a +20 in a league where only a handful of players even have a +20 and he’s a key component of the league’s most prominent power play. His mobility and hockey sense rank him among the best in the KHL and we’ve really got to insist that everyone once again realize that he’s just 21. We all know Carolina has a prospect bin as full as anyone, but Nikishin’s prospect development is something that can change a team’s plans. Now, can Carolina get him over?

This isn’t the best goal Nikishin has scored this season, but we like seeing such mobility from a young man this size. Putting the biscuit in the toy department from that spot isn’t too shabby either.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Alexander_Nikishin_-_2nd_period_34_44_-_34_56.mp4

2 - William Wallinder - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2020

Wallinder already broke through last season and established himself as a top six defenseman for a very potent Rogle club that made its way to the final four in the SHL playoffs. His 20 points in 60 games were an above-average total for a 19-year-old, even if his role was diminished in the playoffs. Enter the 22-23 season. Now he’s manning the point on the first power play unit and is regularly seeing over 20 minutes of ice time a game, having hit the 24-minute mark 11 times this season. To be clear, Rogle is not playing up to expectations and while providing ice time to a myriad of prospects, they’ve spent much of the season outside of a playoff spot. Still a bit lanky, Wallinder has regularly engaged himself in the rush and has seen his blueline play as a puck distributor enhance in leaps and bounds. His six goals and 24 points in 44 games have him way ahead of last season’s pace. He’s also been willing to throw his weight around, although careful to pick the right times to do so. One has to think that he’s in North America next season but expect him to take the reverse-Seider path to the NHL, meaning Rogle -> AHL -> NHL - and not the other way around.

Here’s one of his early season goals this year and it’s been one of his prettiest to date. The hands are there, and we’re excited to see how he makes use of them in North America when there’s generally less time and space to work with.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/William_Wallinder_-_3rd_period_31_27_-_31_39.mp4

3 - Marat Khusnutdinov - C - KHL - Minnesota Wild 2nd rounder in 2020

The season started out with Khusnutdinov playing his typical humble role for powerhouse SKA, but he slowly started building up the stats and has been just en fuego since the calendar flipped to 2023. His role has increased, and he’s not only gotten power play time, but a consistent 16+ minutes of ice time per not. That’s never a given when you’re his age playing for a veteran-laden team that hosts plenty of offensive weapons. After a nice 16-point rookie season (51 total games), Khusnutdinov has blown those stats out of the water having notched 11-30-41 in 62 games this year, adding a respectable +13 in the process. In his 17 games in 2023, he’s accumulated 13 of those points. Despite what looked like injury in his game last Saturday, he promptly returned early this week and collected two assists.

When he was drafted, there were visions of plays like this coming from the small, but crafty forward who was denoted for playmaking skills. This doesn’t result in a goal, but maybe it would if he’s making such passes to players like Kirill Kaprizov.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1-marat_khusnutdinov_-_2nd_period_19_59_-_20_11.mp4

Later in this game we see him darting from deep in his zone right on into the opposition zone. We won’t worry about the poor defensive structure of the opponent leading to this goal as we’re much more enthusiastic about Khusnutdinov accepting this pass and turning it into a rapidly released wrister that left the goaltender with little chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2-marat_khusnutdinov_-_3rd_period_8_17_-_8_29.mp4

4 - Patrik Puistola - W - Liiga - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2019

In his draft year, the average built Puistola was considered a bit of a fan favorite among friends of the draft who are always looking for kids who look like mid-round gems. Five goals at the U18 Worlds coming off a season that saw him take the second tier Mestis by storm with 18 goals and 33 points in 30 total games will certainly do that. Since then, Puistola has slowly but surely established himself as a Liiga level player, with an eight-point WJC performance sprinkled in back in 2020. At the moment, he finds himself at his statistical pinnacle with 15 goals and 36 points in 54 games, considerably topping the 27 points he had in 61 total contests last season. Moreover, he’s his (young) team’s top scorer, leading the way in both the regular season and in Champions Hockey League play (eight points in nine games). What has us a bit excited is that the 22-year-old Finn has an imposing wrist shot. He uses it too seldom, but it’s there and it’s deadly. For that matter, the same can be said about his one-timer. He can let it rip when fed properly. But if Carolina brings him over, they’ll want to be tickling these kinds of shots out of him more often in the smaller rinks. It may be the difference between success and failure in North America.

It goes without saying that top scorer Puistola has got a nice role right on the first power play unit. He assumes the Tim Stützle position that makes use of his lefty shot on the left-hand side of the offensive zone. We see goals like this and that’s exactly the type of sniping we’re envisioning from him with the Hurricanes organization.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/patrik_puistola_-_3rd_period_4_6_-_4_18.mp4

5 - Shakir Mukhamadullin - D - KHL - New Jersey Devils 1st rounder in 2020 - Traded to the San Jose Sharks, February 26th, 2023

His name is surely not the sexiest on this list, much less the easiest to spell, but Mukhamadullin’s steps in development this season simply cannot be overlooked. When drafted, it was never really a question of tools, but all about whether there’d be a toolbox. After some good stints being levied out by more bland periods of play over the past few seasons, things have gone click this year to the tune of six goals, 19 points, and a fantastic +17 in 65 games. More importantly, he’s understanding his big frame better. His body control has been more mature and comfortable. He’s very busy in his zone, placing renewed faith in his breakout abilities, but keeps a ton of pucks in the opposition zone while on the attack. In essence, he’s already showing why New Jersey was so willing to daringly take him where they did back in the truly unique 2020 draft. San Jose had to be impressed with the development and included him as a key piece in a massive package for Timo Meier. There’s no telling what the plan is moving forward as he has not yet signed an ELC and the wave hanging over Russian prospects is considerable.

Part of Mukhamadullin feeling good in his body has been the willingness to check. These are the kind of rush-ending hits we love to see from defensemen his age.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/shakir_mukhamadullin_-_2nd_period_29_12_-_29_24.mp4

At the same time, he’s shown incredible confidence with the puck, even in situations where you’d think he would best be served playing it safe. But how can you not be impressed with moves and results like this?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/shakir_mukhamadullin_-_2nd_period_37_15_-_37_27.mp4

Honorable mention: Emil Andrae (PHI, SHL), Semyon Chistyakov (NAS, KHL), Alex Chmelevski (SJS, KHL), Calle Clang (ANA, SHL), Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD, KHL), Dennis Hildeby (TOR, SHL), Roni Hirvonen (TOR, Liiga), Niko Huuhtanen (TBL, Liiga), Marco Kasper (DET, SHL), Alexei Kolosov (PHI, KHL), Nikolai Kovolenko (COL, KHL), Carl Lindbom (VGK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Leevi Merilainen (OTT, Liiga), Sergei Murashov (PIT, MHL), Zion Nybeck (CAR, HockeyAllsvenskan), Noah Ostlund (BUF, HockeyAllsvenskan), Nikola Pasic (NJD, HockeyAllsvenskan), Dmitri Rashevsky (WIN, KHL), Ilya Safanov (CHI, KHL)