Matthew Savoie – McKeen's Hockey

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

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

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

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

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

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

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

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

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

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

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

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

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

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

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

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

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

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

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

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

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

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

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

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

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

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

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

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

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

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

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

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

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

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

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

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

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

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

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

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

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

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

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

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

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

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

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

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

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

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

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

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

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

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

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

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

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

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

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

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

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

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

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

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

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

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

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

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

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

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

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

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

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

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

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

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

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

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

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

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

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

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

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

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

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

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

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

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

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

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

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

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

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

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

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

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

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

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

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

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

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

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

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

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

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

9 - Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

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

10 - Hampton Slukynsky – Los Angeles Kings

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

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #26

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:44:25 +0000

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 05: Boston University Terriers forward Quinn Hutson (17) looks on during the Dunkin’ Beanpot semifinal game between the Boston College Eagles and the Boston University Terriers on February 5, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 26th (May 2025 - 30th)
GM: Stan Bowman Hired: July 2024
COACH: Kris Knoblauch Hired: November 2023

While the Edmonton Oilers remain near the bottom of McKeen’s prospect rankings, they continue to make efforts aimed at supporting their championship ambitions.

Their latest move involved a prospect swap, acquiring disgruntled NHL-ready forward Isaac Howard in exchange for Sam O’Reilly, a prospect better suited to contribute down the line. Howard now slots in alongside Matthew Savoie as the top of the Oilers' prospect food chain, with both sitting on the cusp of cracking Edmonton’s NHL roster.

Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last summer, Savoie finished fifth among AHL rookies with 54 points in 66 games after a dominant WHL career, where he posted a 1.41 points-per-game average. He’s not only the team’s top prospect but also their best internal option for immediate secondary scoring.

Below them are Beau Akey and Dalyn Wakely, both of whom enjoyed strong OHL campaigns. Akey, the Oilers’ top blueline prospect, returned to health and provided steady two-way play for the Barrie Colts. Now 20, he’s expected to transition to the pro level this season. Wakely has joined the NCAA rush, committing to UMass for the 2025-26 season.

Speaking of college, GM Stan Bowman has made a point of adding NCAA talent to the mix, zeroing in on two Boston University forwards: Quinn Hutson—brother of Lane and Cole—and Matt Copponi. Hutson joins and instantly slots in as our third-ranked prospect within the system and should find a home in Bakersfield in 2025-26.

Emil Venni, despite limited starts in 2024-25, remains a high-upside long-term option in the crease.

With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still in their primes, Edmonton has no choice but to think in the now. For the Oilers, the goal remains clear: keep stacking talent around their stars in hopes of finally bringing Lord Stanley's cup back to Alberta’s capital.

Edmonton Oilers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Matthew Savoie

The Matthew Savoie trade will be a fun one to look back on in a few years when all the dust has settled, especially given Buffalo's long history of giving up future breakout stars. His first full AHL season was very promising, adjusting quickly and producing at a high rate, hovering around 0.80 points per game. Savoie’s shot had a lot of success against AHL goalies, with goals coming from a variety of locations and releases, but his ability to knock loose pucks home with a quick release stood out the most. As a playmaker, he’s made some slick plays by using his shiftiness to open up passing lanes and hit teammates in the slot. It’s very possible Savoie could make the jump to the NHL soon, even if he’s not quite ready. The Oilers are always tight against the cap and looking for secondary scoring, so he could be a strong fit in their bottom six, should they give him an opportunity.

2 - Isaac Howard

Edmonton’s newest prospect addition, Isaac Howard, joins the organization with a pedigree that should excite Oilers fans. The 2022 31st overall pick was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning this offseason in exchange for fellow first rounder Sam O’Reilly. His game took off in 2024-25 as he jumped up to 52 points, a 16-point improvement on his previous best, en route to a Hobey Baker Award. Howard led the NCAA in points per game with Michigan State and even suited up for the United States at the World Championship in the spring. Howard plays with a ton of pace and is sneakily dangerous with his ability to identify and slip into soft spots in coverage and pounce on loose pucks. This skill set was huge in his emergence as a goal scorer last season, and will be invaluable in the Oilers lineup given the attention-grabbing weapons they already have offensively. It is not hard to imagine Howard being a fixture in Edmonton’s top six forward group and on the power play for years to come.

3 - Quinn Hutson

Quinn Hutson, older brother of Canadiens blueliner Lane and Capitals prospect Cole, was an undrafted free agent that signed an entry level contract with the Oilers this past spring. Hutson emerged as an offensive threat last season with Boston University, reaching the 50-point mark. Though not as elusive of a skater as his brothers, Quinn still is an above average skater and has a much better shot than either of them. His standout trait is his ability to find open ice, where he can either get dangerous shots off or find a nearby teammate with a short pass. Quinn will need to get stronger and focus on developing his defensive game before he will be able to stick as an NHL regular. Hutson may one day develop into a middle six scoring winger. For this season, it’s expected that he will be continuing his development in Bakersfield.

4 - Beau Akey

After missing the majority of last year with a shoulder injury, Akey returned to the Barrie lineup this season with fairly high expectations. The incredibly smooth skating defender ended up having an OK year, which can often be the case for players returning from serious shoulder injuries; it takes time to build up that confidence again. Unfortunately for Akey, he also lost his role as the lead offensive defender due to the emergence of Kashawn Aitcheson. However, he did make the Canadian World Junior team in a depth role, although the team did greatly underperform. The concern with Akey might be that the shoulder injury negatively impacted his development as an offensive facilitator. Does he profile as a defensive first player at the pro level? In order to be an NHL defender, he’s going to need to find that mojo again as a puck carrier, using his terrific skating ability to be a difference maker at both ends. He’ll turn pro next year and will probably need to be brought along slowly in Bakersfield.

5 - Maxim Berezyokin

Maxim Beryozkin has come a long way since being drafted by Edmonton in 2020, evolving into one of the KHL’s top two-way forwards. His high compete level stands out as he pressures opponents relentlessly and forces countless turnovers. Offensively, he’s gained confidence as a play driver, consistently creating chances with smart, patient passing. He protects the puck well using his size and smooth hands, showing a more polished, controlled game overall. While his pace might be a concern at the NHL level, he’s become a reliable, hard-working forward who could thrive in a bottom six/fourth-line role. With his KHL contract set to expire this season, a move to Edmonton could come soon. He will likely need some time in the AHL, but his work ethic and development give him a real chance at an NHL future.

6 - Samuel Jonsson

Coming into the 2024-25 season, no one would have had Jonsson touted as a guy to look out for. But after a great campaign in the Allsvenskan, seemingly out of nowhere, Jonsson should now find himself in a tandem role with Bakersfield. Jonsson is a big, technical goalie, who has some athletic ability but typically opts for a reserved playstyle. He frames a great stance, keeping it very stable, he uses calm precise shuffles with smart routes through the crease, and has shown to have a very quick glove. He also tracks play pretty well too, and has good attention to detail in his movement, moving as a full connected unit. But he does struggle to set his feet for a shot with quick change of direction and has a tendency to open up the five hole if making a butterfly slide/adjustment. Given the goalie situation in Edmonton and no true third string goalie as of yet, Jonsson could find himself in an Oilers uniform relatively soon if he adjusts to the AHL well and potentially end up as a backup.

7 - Roby Jarventie

Roby’s time in North America has not been smooth sailing by any means. He missed much of the 2023-24 season with a lingering knee injury and then played just two games in the 2024-25 season with his new team following his departure from the Senators organization. It was announced he’d miss the rest of the year due to more knee issues. After it looked like he would return to his home country, Edmonton re-signed Roby on a one-year deal, giving him a last chance in North America to have a healthy, productive season. Roby reads the play well and has the skill to be effective in transition. He was regularly winning pucks on the forecheck and picked up a pair of assists in his season debut. He also chipped in defensively, picking off passes and turning the play back up ice. It will be interesting to see Roby fight for a spot with the Oilers in potentially his last opportunity. It all hinges on his lower-body issues.

8 - Tommy Lafrenière

When a player gets to be part of a roster that features generational talents, like the Edmonton Oilers currently have with both Connor McDavid and Leaon Draisaitl, sometimes the most important thing to learn is how to support those superstars and make their jobs easier. For Lafrenière, if he ever reaches that point in his career his coaches probably won’t have to teach him much, because he already is that kind of player. It’s impossible to not like and respect what he brings, because he’s just so focused and determined and fearless, and he brings that mentality every single shift. The Blazers were a WHL bottom-feeder for all of 2024-25, yet that didn’t stop him from playing like every game was a big one, and with that mentality he just kept taking on more and more responsibility on his team, offensively and defensively. Lafrenière will never be the best player on an NHL team — or probably even an WHL or AHL team — but he should be a great glue guy to keep around in an organization.

9 - William Nicholl

Nicholl was, hands down, one of the most improved players in the OHL this past year. In true London Knights fashion, the Edmonton seventh rounder went from being a fourth line afterthought to a top six difference maker in a matter of a year. The Oilers have to be ecstatic about his progress. On a lot of nights last season, Nicholl was the most impressive forward for the Knights and that includes top picks like Easton Cowan, Kasper Halttunen, and former Oiler Sam O’Reilly. Nicholl’s game is all about using his speed to be effective. He loves to push pace, and he has the work rate to match that pace; which has endeared him to Dale Hunter. He flashes significant offensive upside thanks to improving hands and we’ll get a much better read of said upside next year when he becomes a go-to offensive player for London. At this point, it looks like the Oilers have found a nice little gem late in the draft last year.

10 - Paul Fischer

Paul Fischer had a great season as a sophomore at Notre Dame, developing as a two-way defenceman with a strong defensive presence and moderate offensive awareness. His physical play is a standout trait, as he actively engages in puck battles and clears the net front effectively. Under pressure, he demonstrates solid puck movement, though he struggles at times with routine passes. His positioning and defensive awareness started off shaky but improved as the games progressed, highlighting his adaptability. Skating remains average, and decision making is an area for further growth, requiring patience in his development. Fischer has been deployed on the second unit for special teams, showcasing his ability to contribute in various situations. Looking ahead, Fischer’s ability to refine his passing consistency and decision-making will be crucial in maximizing his two-way potential. With continued development, he has the tools to become a reliable, second or third-line pairing defenceman who can contribute on both ends of the ice.

11 - David Lewandowski

We’ve seen several versions of Lewandowski to date and at his best, it can be a glorious thing to watch. And when not, then take cover. Inconsistency has haunted him every step of the way but his jump to the WHL last season after seven scoreless DEL contests was a very good sign of what he has in the tank. We found out he’s more physical than we previously knew but there are skating issues here for Edmonton to clean up. Sidenote: He’s a fan of countryman Draisaitl!

12 - Eemil Vinni

Vinni’s draft year was terribly exciting due to his starting role for a Mestis team with whom he was able to put up big numbers. However, the aftermath of back surgery in the summer of 2024 pretty much led to his 2024-25 season getting washed out. Ultimately, he only started 8 pro contests this past season and his last game was at the end of December. Now it’s all about seeing if and when the rather well-schooled goalie will play again.

13 - Matvey Petrov

With two straight seasons of basically identical lower line AHL stats, Petrov’s stellar 93-point regular season and 22-point playoff run in the OHL during the 2022-23 season feels like a very long time ago. As an AHLer, Petrov hasn’t been able to escape a bottom four role, having at least emerged as a penalty killing option. Time for him to show more wherewithal with the puck, better usage of time and space, and a lot more shots. Chases the game too much.

14 - Viljami Marjala

A 2021 Buffalo Sabres draft pick, Marjala unexpectedly went unsigned this past summer, and Edmonton swiftly moved in to give him an ELC. After two decent but not overwhelming seasons in the QMJHL, Marjala has spent the past three seasons in Finland crafting himself into a verified offensive force in Liiga play, finishing this past season fifth overall in assists and 14th overall in scoring. The AHL beckons and we’re certainly excited about his unpredictable puck play.

15 - Connor Clattenburg

Drafted as a big, rugged winger always willing to throw his weight around, Clattenburg not only spent this past season as the captain of his Firebirds team but became a player coaches across the OHL respected for his extremely hard work and defensive play. Throw in his career high offensive production and the fact that Edmonton has already inked him to an ELC, and it’s evident that the organization believes in his possibilities as a future fourth line NHLer.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: EDMONTON OILERS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 16 May 2025 18:37:53 +0000

Sam O'Reilly of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

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Edmonton 25 Prospects

AHL: HALL – AHL Rookies to Watch – Pacific Division

Dave Hall — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:54:43 +0000

The American Hockey League season is officially upon us, and the NHL affiliates aim to reclaim their spot as the best development system in North America. With unique and perhaps unpopular league rules, including a veteran cap and required age minimum, the AHL offers an interesting balance between competitive and developmental rosters.

However, each year, the league receives a healthy injection of 20-year-olds, typically considered high-pedigreed prospects within their respective systems. This year is no different. Here at Mckeens, we will look at a few rookie skaters to watch this year within each Division.

First up: the Pacific Division.

Jagger Firkus, RW, Coachella Valley Firebirds

Seattle Kraken's 2022 second-round draft pick, Jagger Firkus, is coming off an explosive final season in the WHL and is now ready to take that firepower to the professional ranks. The 2023-24 season was a banner year for the undersized winger, as he racked up an exhausting list of accolades, including:

CHL Player of the Year
CHL Top Scorer Award (126 points)
WHL (East) First All-Star Team
WHL Champion
Bobby Clarke Trophy (Most Points in WHL)
Four Broncos Trophy (WHL Player of the Year)
WHL Playoffs Most Points (32 points)

Firkus led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 126 points, wrapping up a 310-point (144 goals, 166 assists) junior career across 230 games, all with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Despite his smaller size at 5-foot-11, Firkus continues to find new creative ways to light up the scoreboard with his incredible release and fluid offensive creativity.

Now in his third-year post-draft, he will look to translate that dynamic scoring ability to the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who will aim to make an appearance in the Calder Cup finals for a third consecutive season.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks

After a challenging draft-plus-one year that was riddled with health setbacks, Jonathan Lekkerimäki burst onto the scene in 2023-24 with an incredible rookie performance in the SHL. He led all SHL rookies with 19 goals and led that same field, along with his team, with 31 points. His dominant offensive play extended to the World Juniors, where he led the tournament in goals (7) and won the MVP award, contributing to Sweden's Silver Medal on home soil.

Lekkerimäki will now look to bring his scoring prowess to the Abbotsford Canucks, where he will be a central figure on the team's offence. Known for his elite-level release from the perimeter, he will be tasked with handling all of Abbotsford’s heavy lifting in the offensive zone, grabbing the keys to the team’s top-line minutes while being a key piece on the power play. Assuming a strong start doesn’t earn him an NHL call-up sooner rather than later, he’ll be a must-see prospect within this Pacific Division.

Luca Cagnoni, LD, San Jose Barracuda

Luca Cagnoni’s ability to produce offensively as a defenceman has been nothing short of impressive. After a stellar 2023-24 season that saw him notch 90 points with the Portland Winterhawks, he says goodbye to a near-point-per-game WHL career with 193 points in 205 games. Now set to embark on his pro career with the San Jose Barracuda, Cagnoni will focus on adapting his high-octane offensive game to the AHL level as a go-to option in all necessary scoring situations.

Standing at just 5-foot-9, Cagnoni's size continues to raise questions about his ability to handle professional hockey's physical demands. However, as one of the more underrated and dynamic offensive defenders within the prospect circuit, his pedigree continues to hold merit as a future NHL hopeful and is certainly worth keeping an eye on as he looks to make his mark in the Pacific Division.

Matt Savoie, C, Bakersfield Condors

The Edmonton Oilers are pushing for a Stanley Cup, but that pursuit has left their farm system lacking in young offensive talent—until they traded for Matt Savoie. The very moment the deal was finalized, the 20-year-old inherited the responsibility as the organization’s top prospect and will immediately be one of the Bakersfield Condors' primary offensive weapons.

Savoie, fresh off a fruitful WHL career, recording 263 points in just 183 WHL games, has already shown he can handle professional play. Although a small sample size, he already posted five points (two goals, three assists) in a six-game AHL stint with the Rochester Americans last season.

Though his smaller frame at 5-foot-9 might pose challenges as he levels up through the pro ranks, his speed and creativity should allow him to thrive at the AHL level, making him one of the most exciting players to watch not only in Bakersfield but the entire AHL, this season.

Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Calgary Wranglers

It’s not every day that an NHL organization trades one of their newly minted prospects on the verge of flirting with 100 points as an OHL defenceman. Yet, that’s exactly what the Canucks did, sending Hunter Brzustewicz to the Calgary Flames organizations at last year’s NHL deadline in exchange for a rental asset. With that in his rearview, pushing for an NHL spot in Alberta is on the menu, and although he has yet to play a game at the pro level, it doesn’t feel too far away.

After turning heads during his first NHL preseason with Calgary, Brzustewicz looked strong enough to battle for a spot on the Flames' roster, eventually falling just short. Now that reality has set, Brzustewicz will naturally kick off his pro career deployed on the Wranglers’ defensive corps but will do so as the team’s top right-handed option.

His poised, polished two-way game is defined by his high hockey IQ, excellent edgework, and smooth transitions. He may not play at the fastest pace, but his ability to dictate play, quarterback the power play, and ability to consistently make smart decisions has made him a key addition to the Wranglers.

Now, following a year in which he finished second among OHL defenders in scoring with a whopping 92 points, he’ll be looking to show why he should have been taken well above his eventual 75th overall landing spot.

Filip Bystedt, C, San Jose Barracuda

Filip Bystedt may not garner as much attention as some of his fellow Sharks’ prospects. Still, he has quietly been developing into an impressive two-way player and an important piece to this system’s future while overseas. Joining the Barracuda late in the 2023-24 season, Bystedt kicked the door down immediately, commanding the respect of Sharks fans, scoring seven points (four goals, three assists) in eight games, including a standout three-point debut.

The 2022 first-round pick carries a unique combination of size (6-foot-4) and skill, which he compliments with an elegant skating stride and ability to play two-way hockey. While fulfilling a top-line role at the NHL level may not be in the cards, he feels destined to play meaningful middle-six minutes for the Sharks somewhere down the road.

For now, he brings an exciting mix of responsible yet skilled game to the Barracuda and should formulate part of this team’s top-six forward group as they look to improve on their spot in the basement of the Pacific Division from last year.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 13:00:29 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Edmonton Oilers forward Raphael Lavoie (62) during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 30, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 28th (Previous Rank - 32nd)
GM: Stan Bowman Hired: July 2024
COACH: Kris Knoblauch Hired: November 2023

How does a team jump five spots from McKeen’s bottom-ranked prospect system to 28th, you ask? Simple: you trade for a top 40 prospect. Sitting 38th overall in McKeen’s rankings, Matthew Savoie heads to Northern Alberta following a deal that sent 24-year-old Ryan McLeod to Buffalo. Once regarded as a top-flight prospect and top 10 draft pick, Savoie is coming off a fruitful WHL career, where he notched 263 points (103G, 160A) in just 183 games—an impressive 1.44 points-per-game average across four seasons. He’s set to take his talents to the AHL, where he’s already shown promise, registering two goals and five points during a brief six-game stint. The local Alberta native not only stands as the Oilers' highest-rated prospect but also represents their best hope for bolstering secondary offensive production in the near future.

But Savoie wasn’t the only prospect the Oilers acquired this summer. Moving on from their 2021 first-rounder, Xavier Bourgault, the club brought in McKeen’s 233rd-ranked prospect, Roby Järventie, from the Ottawa Senators. With three seasons of AHL experience in Belleville under his belt, Järventie is tracking nicely and could see NHL action in the not-so-distant future. If his development continues to trend accordingly, the Oilers might consider him as a call-up option as early as the 2024-25 campaign.

In addition to these trades, the Oilers had their busiest NHL Draft since 2017, selecting seven players in total. Under the guidance of (former) Interim GM Jeff Jackson, they made a bold move to trade up and select Sam O’Reilly (158th) and added some depth in goal with Eemil Vinni.

Speaking of goaltending, Olivier Rodrigue is coming off his best statistical season in the AHL, posting a winning record behind Jack Campbell of 19-12-5. He may not be ready to take on NHL duties quite yet, but you have to respect the progression.

Despite relying heavily on their dynamic core—Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard—the Oilers managed to graduate two key players in Dylan Holloway and defenceman Philip Broberg. Of course, both have successfully signed offer sheets and will head to St. Louis after an aggressive move by Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong. To counter the loss, the Oilers brought in Vasily Podkolzin, a Canucks graduate who has struggled to find his footing in Vancouver.

Now under the leadership of the reinstated Stan Bowman, the Oilers will look to keep their championship window open.

Edmonton Oilers Top-15 Prospects

1. Matthew Savoie

Recently acquired by the Oilers in the Ryan McLeod trade with Buffalo, Savoie immediately becomes Edmonton’s top prospect. The former 9th overall pick (in 2022) has done nothing but dominate the WHL since being drafted. He helped Winnipeg reach a WHL final two years ago and helped Moose Jaw win one this past season. He loves to play the game at a feverish pace, consistently attacking the offensive zone with speed. He is both creative and skilled and he possesses significant offensive upside. Taking a chance on him had to be a no-brainer for Edmonton, a team that has had difficulty developing a home-grown winger to play alongside Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl. That said, there are some concerns over Savoie’s projectability. He struggled at both this past year’s World Juniors and Memorial Cup, suggesting that he could have difficulty scoring consistently in higher intensity matchups. As an undersized forward, can he make adjustments to adapt at the next level? Ironically, the Oilers just chose not to qualify his brother Carter, over similar concerns. Savoie’s first year of pro hockey this season will be an interesting measuring stick.

2. Sam O’Reilly

The Oilers’ first round selection this year was a steady riser throughout his draft year. Playing for the London Knights, O’Reilly slowly earned more ice time under Dale Hunter, eventually becoming an integral component of their run to an OHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance. O’Reilly is a competitive two-way forward who brings a ton of versatility to the table. He was one of the draft’s most polished defensive forwards and he brings a consistent physical element to every shift. However, O’Reilly’s confidence as a playmaker grew substantially over the course of the season, pointing to the fact that he may have the upside to be a solid and dependable middle six piece at the NHL level. O’Reilly will return to London this coming season and could be part of a dominant first line for the Knights, featuring him, Easton Cowan, and Denver Barkey. Expect O’Reilly to have a major breakout season, as is the tradition for major prospects coming out of London in their draft plus one year.

3. Roby Jarventie

Sometimes a change of scenery can do a prospect well. Acquired from Ottawa, Jarventie just needs to stay healthy. He’s battled injuries the last two seasons in Belleville; he lost most of last year after knee surgery. The good news is that the knee has apparently been the source of his issues the last two years. This could be the permanent fix, allowing him to develop uninterrupted. The big power winger excels playing a North/South game thanks to his speed and skill when driving wide. His upside as a goal scorer was what likely attracted Edmonton, as he could end up as a consistent 25 goal guy with the Oilers in the future. Just when is that future? It will depend on his rehab following the knee surgery. It seems safe to assume that Edmonton will want him in the AHL again when he returns to try to ease him back in and that delays his timeline. But good things come to those who are patient.

4. Raphael Lavoie

It’s not too often that a player who has passed through waivers remains this high on a team’s prospect list, but that’s the reality of the Oilers’ prospect pool right now. Lavoie has continued to score at the AHL level, having led Bakersfield in goal scoring the last two seasons. He’s even found a way to be more consistently physically engaged, a knock against him previously. But in limited NHL action, he’s been a virtual non-factor. The strong North/South attacker still has NHL upside as a middle six scorer. He received a qualifying offer from the Oilers because of their lack of system depth. They still have hope that he can find his way. However, after bringing in Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, is there even an opportunity for Lavoie to break in? It is fair to say that this year’s training camp will be his last chance at prospect relevance. It’s do or die time for him.

5. Beau Akey

Unfortunately, Akey essentially had a lost season of development after his dislocated shoulder required season ending surgery in November. The Oilers’ top pick in the 2023 draft will return to Barrie this year and will aim to be one of the top defenders in the OHL, on what should be a strong Colts team. He’ll also have his eyes set on a potential spot on Team Canada for the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Akey remains an incredibly intriguing blueline prospect because of his high-end mobility. As he gains confidence in his puck carrying ability and improves his physical strength, he could be a solid two-way defender as a pro cut from the same cloth as a guy like TJ Brodie. With a strong season in 2024-25, he has a chance to vault closer to the top of Edmonton’s prospect pool.

6. Matvey Petrov

The Condors had a pretty veteran laden roster last year and that made it difficult for Petrov to get significant ice time in his rookie AHL season. The former North Bay Battalion standout has a well-rounded offensive game thanks to a terrific release and strong puck skill and creativity. The key for him moving forward is to continue to find consistency in his off puck play to help him earn touches. He is at his best when he plays with a bit of an edge and if he can find that at the pro level, he may just have the highest offensive upside of any player in the Oilers’ system outside of Savoie. Hopefully, this season, he can earn more ice time and power play time with Bakersfield and really build up confidence at the pro level. He’s probably still a few years away from making a potential impact in Edmonton.

7. Olivier Rodrigue

It has taken a while, but Rodrigue has finally turned the corner as a prospect. He was one of the better goaltenders in the AHL last year, in his fourth pro season. Facing waivers this coming year, it seems likely that Edmonton will give him an opportunity to beat out Calvin Pickard to be Stuart Skinner’s back-up, a fantastic opportunity for Rodrigue to prove his worth. However, given Pickard’s performance last year, that may be a tall task. The hyper athletic, butterfly netminder has improved the technical components of his game under Dustin Schwartz and his father Sylvain in Bakersfield. With improved positioning, play tracking, and rebound control, Rodrigue has been able to improve his consistency. What’s the ultimate upside here? That remains to be seen. At the very least, Rodrigue looks like a potential back up option for Edmonton, both now and in the future.

8. Eemil Vinni

One of the first goaltenders off the board in 2024, Vinni gives Edmonton much better organizational depth at the position. At first glance, his numbers last year don’t inspire a ton of confidence, however it’s important to note that Vinni was tasked with being the starting netminder on a pro team (in the second Finnish men’s league), a difficult task for an 18 year old. Vinni’s combination of size and athleticism gives him the upside to develop into an NHL netminder. He’s aggressive in his crease but needs to refine his play reading and positioning to improve his consistency. This coming season, Vinni will move up to Liiga, the top men’s league, with HIFK. Expect him to be the back-up to Roope Taponen, who has started for HIFK the last few years. This will allow Vinni to slowly build confidence at the highest level. Patience will be key here.

9. Max Wanner

Wanner put a year to forget behind him with a very solid freshman campaign in the AHL with Bakersfield. Wanner was limited to only 44 WHL games the previous year after being suspended indefinitely for an off-ice incident. However, his play on the ice has been largely positive, as the former seventh round pick has progressed incredibly well since being selected by Edmonton. The 6-foot-3, right-shot defender brings strong mobility, physicality, and great defensive instincts to the blueline. At the very least, he has excellent defensive upside at the NHL level as more of a steady, stay-at-home type. But he does have some offensive upside built around his ability to get pucks on net and his ability to make quick outlets to start the breakout. With another strong year in Bakersfield, Wanner likely puts himself in the conversation for a roster spot in Edmonton.

10. Jayden Grubbe

The former New York Rangers draft pick was acquired by the Oilers and subsequently signed last year. Grubbe, a former captain of the Red Deer Rebels, is your prototypical bottom six forward prospect. The big centerman is physical. He’s got great two-way instincts. He can play in a variety of different roles. His puck skill is fairly limited and he’s not a high-end scoring threat, but there’s upside there as a future third or fourth line pivot. The key for Grubbe, just as it was when he was drafted, is improving his skating. A knee injury suffered in his draft year definitely hindered the development of his explosiveness and speed. It seems like he’s been playing catch-up ever since and it’s part of the reason why the Rangers moved on from their former third rounder. The Oilers are going to need to be patient with Grubbe as he finds a way to adjust to the pace of the pro game, while also continuing to work on improving his feet so that he can play that shut down defensive role well at the NHL level.

11. Shane LaChance

Bigger forwards simply take longer to develop and LaChance is the perfect example of that. It’s been a long road for the son of former NHL’er Scott LaChance. He was drafted out of the Boston Jr. Bruins program back in 2021, then he played two years in the USHL after being drafted. His offensive explosion with Youngstown has proved to be no fluke after LaChance was fantastic for Boston University last year as a freshman. Can LaChance take on more offensive responsibility and drive play more individually?

12. Matt Copponi

After three years at Merrimack College, including two as a top scorer, Copponi has transferred to Boston University for his senior year (where he will play with fellow Oilers’ prospect Shane LaChance). A strong two-way forward and versatile player, it will be interesting to see how this affects his development.

13. Maxim Berezkin

The hulking winger is coming off his best KHL season to date, helping Lokomotiv reach the KHL finals. He is a creative and skilled handler, but the question has always been whether his skating could improve enough to make him a pro option. He has one more year left on his KHL deal and one would assume Edmonton will try to bring him over after that.

14. Nikita Yevseyev

A step back for Yevseyev this past season as he went from a KHL regular to splitting the season between the KHL and the VHL (Russia’s second league). The strong skating rearguard projects best as a defensive first type in the NHL and the hope is that he can return to the KHL full time this coming year.

15. James Stefan

The son of former first overall pick Patrick Stefan, James used a strong overage season with Portland of the WHL to earn an entry level contract from the Oilers. Stefan has long been on the scouting radar, so it seemed inevitable that someone would take a chance on his offensive upside.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #2 Buffalo Sabres – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Josh Bell — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:48:29 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 28:Buffalo Sabres center Jiri Kulich (20) skates with the puck during the second period in the NHL preseason game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 28, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

There is genuine excitement building in Buffalo. It has one of the best young cores in the NHL, built around draftees Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Jack Quinn, John-Jason Peterka, Dylan Cozens, Zach Benson, and Devon Levi. There’s also Peyton Krebs, acquired in the Jack Eichel trade, and Bowen Byram, acquired in a swap for Casey Mittelstadt. At the 2023 NHL Draft, the team added Benson 13th overall who made the immediate jump to the NHL. The fact that this team still has Matthew Savoie (10th ranked prospect by McKeen’s), Jiri Kulich (22nd), Noah Ostlund (72nd), and Isak Rosen (93rd) and still rank this highly in organizational depth is a testament to their scouts and development team.

General manager Kevyn Adams took over in June 2020, right before the draft, and has drawn good reviews as a steady hand. He was proactive in signing his two franchise centerman Tage Thompson (25 years old) and Dylan Cozens (22) to long-term deals at a reasonable AAV of $7.1 million that will benefit the team for years, followed up by locking down his two core defenders in Owen Power (seven years, $8.35 million) and Rasmus Dahlin (eight years, $11 million). His biggest trade was moving Jack Eichel for a first and a second, hometown hero Alex Tuch, who is thriving, along with the former 17th overall pick, Peyton Krebs. Adams brought in a lot of futures and changed the culture seemingly overnight in a high-pressure transaction. Eichel has gone on to thrive in Vegas, but the pieces Adams extracted are already fixtures in the line-up and Ostlund is a promising prospect. The Sabres will be competitive as soon as next season and will only get better as this group hits their prime. A reward to Buffalo fans who have been waiting 13 years for a playoff appearance and have seen their share of dysfunction.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Matthew Savoie	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	`22(9th)	34	30	41	71	10
2	Devon Levi	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	T(Fla-7/21)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
3	Jiri Kulich	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	`22(28th)	57	27	18	45	26
4	Noah Ostlund	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	`22(16th)	38	12	11	23	4
5	Anton Wahlberg	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	`23(39th)	43	5	5	10	4
6	Isak Rosen	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	`21(14th)	67	20	30	50	12
7	Maxim Strbak	D	19	6-2/205	Michigan State (B1G)	`23(45th)	32	2	7	9	17
8	Viktor Neuchev	LW	20	6-2/165	Rochester (AHL)	`22(74th)	57	11	17	28	8
9	Alexander Kisakov	LW	21	5-10/160	Rochester (AHL)	`21(53rd)	32	5	8	13	12
10	Vsevolod Komarov	D	20	6-2/182	Que-Dru (QMJHL)	`22(134th)	60	14	55	69	105
11	Nikita Novikov	D	20	6-4/198	Rochester (AHL)	`21(188th)	65	3	20	23	42
12	Prokhor Poltapov	LW	21	6-0/176	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	`21(33rd)	56	5	8	13	12
13	Jake Richard	RW	19	6-1/171	Connecticut (HE)	`22(170th)	36	7	11	18	6
14	Mats Lindgren	D	19	6-0/183	Red Deer (WHL)	`22(106th)	63	7	34	41	42
15	Topias Leinonen	G	19	6-5/234	JYP (Fin-Liiga)	`22(41st)	6	0	4	4.41	0.844

1. Matthew Savoie, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Savoie's a dynamic offensive threat with a lethal combination of speed, skill, and hockey sense. He can beat defenders with his skating ability and dangle his way through traffic to create scoring chances for himself and his linemates. He possesses a high-end shot with a knack for finding the net, and his vision on the ice allows him to set up teammates with pinpoint passes. Savoie has drawn comparisons to players like Patrice Bergeron and Aleksander Barkov, and for good reason. While not quite the physical force that Bergeron is, Savoie shares his intelligence and two-way ability. Similarly, Savoie's offensive game evokes Barkov's blend of skill and finesse. There are questions about Savoie's size (5’ 10”, 180 lbs) but his compete level and ability to play bigger than his frame help mitigate those concerns. Savoie is close to a sure thing at the NHL level. The only question mark is how quickly he can adapt to the pro game.

2. Devon Levi, G, Rochester Americans (AHL)

Devon Levi's meteoric rise through the NCAA ranks had scouts raving about his potential as a future NHL star. The buzz stemmed from his remarkable calmness in net, his ability to make highlight-reel saves with a feline grace, and his knack for stealing games for his team. Levi's arrival in the NHL hasn't quite been the seamless transition many expected. While the raw talent is undeniable, there's a sense that the pro game's quicker pace and tighter margins have exposed some weaknesses in his game. His save percentages haven't reached the heights he achieved in college, and there have been moments where his positioning seems a touch off. The key for Levi is to remain patient. Adjusting to the NHL is a challenge for any goalie, and Levi's underlying numbers suggest there's still plenty to be optimistic about. He has the tools to be a difference-maker at this level, but it might take some time for him to fully adjust and find his rhythm.

3. Jiri Kulich, C/LW, Rochester Americans (AHL)

Kulich isn't the biggest forward on the ice, but he plays with a heart that belies his frame. He boasts a powerful skating stride that translates to dangerous rushes and the ability to create separation in tight spaces. Don't be fooled by his speed – Kulich isn't afraid to mix it up in the dirty areas. He battles for pucks along the boards with a willingness to go to the net to create scoring chances. But his true calling card is his offensive arsenal. He possesses a wicked wrist shot with a deceptive release, making him a constant threat from the perimeter. He's not a one-trick pony, though. Kulich displays slick hands and a knack for finding open ice in scoring areas. His hockey IQ shines in his ability to anticipate plays and make smart decisions. While all that is enticing, there's room for improvement in his overall strength. Consistency can also be a concern. If he addresses those issues, Kulich has top-six forward potential with a knack for scoring goals.

4. Noah Ostlund, C, Vaxjo Lakers HC (SHL)

Don't be fooled by his size – Noah Ostlund conducts the offense like a seasoned veteran. The Swedish center boasts a smooth skating stride and elite puckhandling ability, weaving through defenders with a magician's touch. His vision on the ice is a thing of beauty, threading needlepoint passes to spring linemates for breakaways. While not a prolific scorer himself, Ostlund elevates the play of everyone around him, a true playmaking maestro. Questions linger about his finishing touch. Despite flashes of a deceptive shot, consistency in finding the net remains a work in progress. Adding some physicality to his frame wouldn't hurt either, allowing him to battle harder in the trenches and win those board battles. Despite these areas for improvement, Ostlund's potential as a top-six center with elite playmaking skills is undeniable. If he can add some scoring punch and a bit of grit, he could become a difference maker at the NHL level.

5. Anton Wahlberg, C, Malmo Redhawks (SHL)

After a limited stint with the Malmö Redhawks in the SHL, where he put up 10 points in 43 games, Wahlberg found his footing in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. In nine games with the Americans, Wahlberg notched one goal and three assists for four points. While the point totals aren't eye-popping, it's important to remember Wahlberg is a young player (just 18 years old) adjusting to the pro game. The small sample size in the AHL makes it difficult to draw major conclusions, but the fact that he was able to produce at all is a positive sign. Those familiar with Wahlberg's scouting reports will likely point to his hockey IQ and playmaking ability as his biggest strengths. While his offensive upside remains to be seen, his performance in the AHL suggests he can be a productive player at that level. Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how the Sabres decide to utilize him. Another year in the AHL could be in the cards.

6. Isak Rosen, C/W, Rochester Americans (AHL)

Isak Rosen wasn't expected to light up the scoresheet in his second AHL season, but the young Swede did just that. After a decent rookie campaign, Rosen exploded offensively in 2023-24, putting up a respectable 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) in 67 games for the Rochester Americans. His improved playmaking ability was particularly noteworthy, suggesting a well-rounded offensive skillset emerging. Questions linger, however. While he can create scoring chances, his finishing touch remains a work in progress. Consistency was also an issue – stretches of dominance were occasionally punctuated by quiet periods. Did Rosen finally earn his NHL call-up many predicted last season? The answer is a tantalizing ‘almost.’ He saw limited action with the Sabres, failing to register a point. His development this season was a positive step, but the jury's still out on his NHL readiness. Can he refine his finishing and translate his AHL success to the big leagues? The next year will be crucial in determining if Rosen becomes a reliable NHL contributor or remains a top AHL producer.

7. Maxim Strbak, D, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Drafted 45th overall by Buffalo, Maxim Strbak's freshman year at Michigan State was a solid, if unspectacular, debut. Known for his strong defensive positioning and ability to clear the crease, Strbak solidified himself as a reliable presence on the Spartans' blue line. While his offensive contributions were limited (two goals, nine points in 32 games), his defensive awareness and strong work ethic were valuable assets for the team. Strbak's skating remains a work in progress, particularly his top speed. This could limit his offensive upside at the NHL level. However, his ability to shut down plays, and make smart decisions with the puck, suggests he can carve out a niche as a dependable two-way defenseman. His development in the coming years will be crucial in determining whether he can become a top-four option for the Sabres.

8. Viktor Neuchev, LW, Rochester Americans (AHL)

Viktor Neuchev is a tantalizing prospect with a rare blend of speed, skill, and creativity. At 6’ 3” and 190 pounds, he has the frame to play a power-forward role at the NHL level. Neuchev possesses a heavy shot that he can unleash with a quick release. He’s also surprisingly nimble for his size, showing good edgework and acceleration. The Russian winger boasts elite-level quickness, able to separate from defenders with ease and generate high-danger scoring chances. His vision and anticipation are equally impressive, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. While Neuchev must continue to develop his physicality and defensive awareness, his upside is significant. With continued growth, he could become a dynamic, top-six forward and a key contributor on the power play. Neuchev's ceiling is high, and he's an exciting addition to the Sabres' prospect pipeline.

9. Aleksander Kisakov, C/LW, Rochester Americans (AHL)

A skating threat with high-end offensive instincts, Aleksandr Kisakov boasts exceptional speed, agility, and edge work, allowing him to weave around defenders and create high-danger scoring chances. Kisakov's vision and anticipation are impressive, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. He possesses a dangerous shot with a quick release, and his ability to create space for himself and his linemates makes him a constant offensive threat. Kisakov’s vision on the ice is a plus, and he’s not afraid to mix it up along the boards to win puck battles. With continued development, Kisakov has the offensive potential to become a top-six forward and a key contributor on the Buffalo Sabres' top lines, but his defensive awareness will need to see improvement if he is to reach that height. His upside as a playmaking, goal-scoring winger makes him an exciting prospect in the Sabres' system.

10. Vsevolod Komarov, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Drafted 134th overall in 2022, the Sabres saw something in the 6’ 3”, 187-pound Vsevolod Komarov. The defender was coming off his first season in the QMJHL and while he had modest production, Buffalo believed in him. That appeared to be the right choice as the defenseman led all QMJHL defenders in assists (55) and points (69) this past season, earning him the Emile-Bouchard Trophy as the top defender in the league. The Russian defender has steadily improved since coming to North America, showing off creativity at the blue line, an ability to draw defenders in, and the knack for finding his open teammates. He’s not afraid to fire a shot himself either. Defensively, he utilizes his size very well, using his strength to muscle people off pucks and his reach to knock pucks away and get in the passing lanes. While there was some question about his upside and potential, Komarov is looking more and more like an NHL player.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

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

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

Risers

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

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

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

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

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

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

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

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

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

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

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

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

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

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

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

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

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

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

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

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

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

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

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

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

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

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

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

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

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

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

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

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

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

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

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

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

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

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

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

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

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

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

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

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

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

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

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

Subscribers can link to the listing here

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

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – BUFFALO SABRES – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #7

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:04:44 +0000

Top 20 Buffalo Sabre Prospects

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 03: Rochester Americans right wing Jiri Kulich (25) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Rochester Americans and Cleveland Monsters on December 3, 2022, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

1. Jiri Kulich

While Matthew Savoie was the Sabres’ top-10 selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, it’s been 28th-overall-pick Kulich looking more and more like the team’s top prospect. The Czech forward made the jump overseas last season, going straight to the AHL as a teenager and fitting right in. The transition to the league wasn’t a difficult one for the centreman, having spent the previous season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary in the top men’s league in Czechia. He has also been a regular and a standout player on Team Czechia, most recently helping them to a 2023 World Juniors silver medal. Kulich plays hard, fast, and smart - the perfect trifecta for any NHL player. He could be thrown into any role or situation and thrive. At this point, there’s little question of whether or not he’ll make it to the NHL, but only when.

2. Zach Benson

It's not controversial to suggest that Benson is the single smartest prospect in all of hockey. His sense and innate understanding of the game allow him to legitimately thrive against his peers. The way he tracks, breaks down, and anticipates the play is exceptional. He always seems to have a complete understanding at all times of where every player is on the ice, and what their next move is likely to be, and he is constantly re-running those calculations in his head as his shifts progress. He can leave an impact in so many ways, with his zone exits and entries, forechecking, neutral zone positioning and work on both special teams. His shrewd fine details belie a long-time professional. His puck control, playmaking, and shooting abilities are all very good. His agility, crossovers, edge work, and overall skating mechanics help him overcome a short stride, and he has a motor that simply doesn't quit. Not content with being the smartest player on the ice, Benson is also usually the hardest-working and most driven. His consistently high competitiveness is terminator-like. He is a high-character winger who will undoubtedly be a core piece of an NHL roster in the future.

3. Devon Levi

What a successful journey it’s been for Levi. Starting with the CCHL’s Carleton Place Canadians in 2019-20, the goaltender has been MVP of the CCHL and 2019 World Junior A Challenge, Player of the Year in the CJHL and Hockey East, and on top of that, Top Goaltender of the NCAA (twice) as well as the 2021 World Juniors. And that’s just the Cole’s Notes version of his extensive resume to date. While critics will be quick to point out his size, at “just” six feet, he has all of the other attributes that should lead him to continued success throughout his career. He’s so quick and precise in his movement, using strong edges to maintain his positioning. His tracking is among the best of any goaltending prospect and his patience is elite. The wait for Levi to be an NHL regular shouldn’t be long, as the prospect has already signed his entry-level deal and made the jump to the NHL from Northwestern University at the end of last season, looking sharp in his first cameo.

4. Matthew Savoie

In terms of dynamic prospects, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than Savoie. The Winnipeg Ice centreman has been tearing up the WHL for the past two seasons, eclipsing 35 goals and 90 points in both campaigns. He led all rookies in points in his first season and was rewarded by being selected ninth overall by the Sabres. He’s so difficult to defend due to his excellent edgework and impressive hands to match. He might just be one of the best skaters not in the NHL right now. Savoie is a well-rounded, offensive threat, with a shot that will stand out in the NHL along with strong playmaking and a knack for feeding the slot. He plays at a high pace and isn’t afraid to dive into battles, despite his 5-foot-9 frame. He has the talent to be a top line threat and seems like a safe bet for the top six, at the very least.

5. Isak Rosen

Like Kulich, Rosen just wrapped up his first season in North America and has wasted no time getting accustomed to the game on this side of the Atlantic. This should come as no surprise since the Swede spent the two seasons prior playing in the SHL with Leksands IF. The Sabres drafted him in 2021 at 14th overall, and he spent just one more season in Sweden before heading directly to the AHL. Rosen is such a fun player to watch, stemming from how light he is on his feet and how quickly he can change directions, making him extremely unpredictable. He is very patient, and his intelligence shows with the puck on his stick, waiting for the opportune moment to make a move and create chances. Consistency and finding ways to break through to the middle of the ice appear to be the biggest hurdles for him right now, but he’s well on his way to being a productive middle-six winger.

6. Noah Ostlund

Sticking with the top Swedes in the prospect pool, Ostlund is the third prospect on this list from the Sabres’ ridiculous 2022 first round. Ostlund was the second player taken, 16th overall. He may take some more time than Rosen to make the jump though, playing just 11 SHL games in 2021-22, without recording a point. He played in the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan last season with Djurgardens IF, where he was getting used to playing against men. The centreman brings a promising two-way presence combined with very agile feet. He can tend to be outmuscled on the puck rather often, so there is some concern about how that will translate once he comes overseas. This complicates his projection, but he has both the talent and the work ethic to be a contributing middle-six forward. Another year in Sweden, plus some time in the AHL will be beneficial to his overall development.

7. Anton Wahlberg

When you watch Wahlberg, it's easy to get excited about what he could look like five or 10 years down the road. He leaves an impact through his blend of size, mobility, and puck skill. He is tall and lanky, covering more ice in two strides than many prospects can cover in four. With a slight build, he is light on his feet and doesn't get slowed down by carrying extra weight. He also possesses an enormous wingspan, and his hands are good enough at extension to regularly play keep-away with the puck when opponents get too close and try to steal it from him. Occasionally he will have a shift where he is really feeling it, getting up to his top speed and making gorgeous sweeping dekes as he flies around defenders. He's also getting better at fending off pressure with his shoulder or free arm. These kinds of moments can be breathtaking, and if he can make them happen on a consistent basis, he will be a nightmare for to defend. There is a real chance, albeit a small one, that Wahlberg can become a force-of-nature kind of center once he matures and reaches his peak.

8. Prokhor Poltapov

The Sabres have shown in recent drafts that they’re going to bet on skill and all the rest will fall into place. That seems to be the thought process behind selecting Russian forward Poltapov 33rd overall in 2021. The forward also fits a Sabres mould in his energy level, playing like a wind-up car when he’s on the ice. He has the potential to pull off highlight-reel plays, although that isn’t always on display consistently. That makes him a player to always keep an eye on, as you never know when he’s going to go off. After spending the 2021-22 season bouncing between the MHL, VHL, and KHL, he carved out a role for himself in the KHL last season, albeit in an extremely limited role. His ceiling isn’t overly high, especially due to those aforementioned inconsistencies, but he is signed in Russia until 2024-25, so he has some time to figure it out.

9. Maxim Strbak

Strbak is a lot better than his production with Sioux Falls of the USHL would indicate. He has been a standout for Slovakia internationally over the last two seasons, particularly this past calendar year when he took on a leadership role with both the U18 and U20 teams. At minimum, Strbak projects as a quality stay-at-home defender at the NHL level because he brings physicality, strong positioning and awareness, and a high compete level. He also flashes the skill to evade pressure at both ends which helps him to be a competent facilitator . Even without high-end mobility, he often handles the forecheck well to start the breakout because he has good scanning habits and makes a great first pass. Improving his lateral quickness and agility will be the keys to unlocking any sort of offensive upside at the NCAA or pro levels. Strbak is heading to Michigan State where he should get a ton of ice time and the strength/conditioning program there should help him with his heavy boots. That will be the difference between him developing into a top four defender for Buffalo versus becoming more of a third pairing or depth type.

10. Ryan Johnson

In a system light on high-end defenders, Johnson could easily be higher on this - but that’s a testament to the team’s depth up front than it is a reflection on Johnson right now. Drafted 31st overall in 2019, the swift blueliner was coming off a one-and-done USHL season where he was named to the All-Rookie Team. He then jumped to the NCAA’s University of Minnesota where he was a huge part of their competitive program. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he was still the No. 1 defender on the NCAA’s top team. His reliability, excellent mobility, and his ability to dictate the play all stand out as highly coveted, easily translatable traits. There’s likely not a ton of offensive upside to his game, but there’s also not a lot of downside to his game. He just wrapped up his senior year and doesn’t seem far off from stepping into an NHL role - potentially the top four.

11. Aleksander Kisakov

Kisakov remains a work in progress. The skill level and upside are undeniable, but he remains too slight to be a consistent offensive contributor at the pro level. The Sabres will be looking for him to take on a larger role in Rochester this season.

12. Olivier Nadeau

After a very strong QMJHL career, Nadeau will be turning pro this year and is expected to play with AHL Rochester. A big winger with strong puck protection skills, Nadeau will need to focus on improving his skating to be a consistent contributor at the next level.

13. Lukas Rousek

The leading scorer in Rochester last season, Rousek is a skilled playmaking winger who has a very real chance of earning an NHL roster spot with Buffalo this year. At 24, he is on the older side of the age scale for prospects, but his upside is still solid.

14. Viktor Neuchev

The former third round pick finally broke through to become a KHL regular last season and that parlayed into an NHL deal with Buffalo. He should be making the trek to Rochester this year but will likely be brought along slowly like Kisakov was. A creative offensive player, Neuchev’s offensive ceiling is high.

15. Brandon Biro

Now is the time for the former Penn State star to grab an NHL roster spot. He has been one of Rochester’s best players over the last two years, but he is now out of options at the NHL level. He will need a very strong training camp to stay in Buffalo’s long-term plans.

16. Brett Murray

Another player that is out of options and is no longer exempt from waivers. The big, power winger has improved every year at the AHL level and could be ready to push for a bottom six role with Buffalo.

17. Topias Leinonen

2022-23 was a season to forget for the first netminder taken in the 2022 Draft. He struggled to find his game, even at the U20 level in Finland, and was passed over for the Finnish squad at the WJC’s. The massive netminder will look to bounce back this season.

18. Gavin McCarthy

A third-round selection this past draft, McCarthy is a competitive two-way defender who will be attending Boston University this year. McCarthy’s ultimate projection is still a mystery, but the tools are intriguing.

19. Jake Richard

The decision to return to the USHL last year, delaying his enrollment at UConn, ended up being a solid one for Richard as he finished among the leading scorers in the league. A skilled playmaker who is dangerous down low, Richard will be focusing on improving his skating as he begins his NCAA career.

20. Mats Lindgren

Buffalo will be looking for Lindgren, a mobile, puck moving defender, to become one of the better defencemen in the WHL this season as they face a decision on whether or not to sign him. The upside is high for this son of the former NHL’er of the same name.

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

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

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

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

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

Adam Fantilli, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

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

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

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

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

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

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

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

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

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

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

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

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

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

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

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

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

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

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

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

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

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

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

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

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

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

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

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

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

Will Smith, C – San Jose Sharks

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

Jiri Kulich, C – Buffalo Sabres

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

Tyson Foerster, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

Luke Evangelista, RW – Nashville Predators

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

Ridly Greig, C/LW – Ottawa Senators

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

Matthew Savoie, C – Buffalo Sabres

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

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Brendan Brisson, LW/RW – Vegas Golden Knights

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

Defense

Luke Hughes, LD – New Jersey Devils

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

Brandt Clarke, RD – Los Angeles Kings

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

Lane Hutson, LD – Montreal Canadiens

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

David Jiricek, RD – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

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

Simon Nemec, RD – New Jersey Devils

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

Olen Zellweger, LD – Anaheim Ducks

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

Simon Edvinsson, LD – Detroit Red Wings

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

Scott Perunovich, LD – St. Louis Blues

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

Pavel Mintyukov, LD – Anaheim Ducks

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

Denton Mateychuk, LD – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

Kevin Korchinski, LD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

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

Jordan Spence, RD – Los Angeles Kings

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

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

Thomas Harley, LD – Dallas Stars

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

Ville Heinola, LD – Winnipeg Jets

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

Lukas Cormier, LD – Vegas Golden Knights

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

Henry Thrun, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

Emil Andrae, LD – Philadelphia Flyers

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

Ryker Evans, LD – Seattle Kraken

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

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

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

Goalies.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

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

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

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

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

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

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

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

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

Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues

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

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

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

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

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

Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

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

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

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

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

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