Sam Dickinson – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – San Jose Sharks Edition

Victor Nuño — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:37:44 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 31: San Jose Sharks left wing Igor Chernyshov (92) skates with the puck during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks on December 31, 2025 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Scott Dinn/Icon Sportswire)

McKeen's Hockey: Dynasty Stock Watch

San Jose Sharks Edition

Team Outlook

The Sharks are emerging from their rebuild earlier than expected. Drafting a generational talent like Macklin Celebrini, who is already regarded by many as one of the league’s top players and was a standout for Canada at the Milan Olympics, has accelerated San Jose’s timeline. After years of extending their competitive window at the expense of future assets, the organization has pivoted fully toward long-term development. Draft capital has been accumulated aggressively, and the front office remains focused on building a core through internal development. Early returns are promising, San Jose’s prospect pipeline now features legitimate high-end talent across multiple positions, particularly up front. For dynasty managers, the dynamic of a team ready to compete ahead of schedule and pipeline bursting with potential will make for some interesting decisions. Below are three buy candidates and three players you might want to sell.

Buy Candidates

Igor Chernyshov, LW

Chernyshov is quietly emerging as one of the more intriguing forward prospects in San Jose's system. While he does not yet carry the same recognition as the organization's headline prospects, his skill set suggests a player capable of outperforming his current dynasty valuation. He attacks defenders with pace and confidence, showing the ability to drive wide with speed or cut inside to create scoring chances. What makes him particularly appealing is his offensive versatility, as he has shown finishing ability but is also comfortable operating as a playmaker, identifying passing lanes and creating opportunities off the rush.

In his first professional season, Chernyshov has impressed on both ends of the scoresheet and in the underlying numbers. After a stellar start in the AHL with the Barracuda, he earned time with the Sharks and did not look out of place, posting 11 points in 16 games. Even more encouraging are his advanced metrics according to Evolving Hockey, with nearly six goals above replacement, a remarkable figure for such a small sample size. Perhaps most exciting is his developing chemistry with budding superstar Celebrini. If that pairing solidifies, riding shotgun with one of the game's emerging stars could fast-track Chernyshov's path to a permanent NHL role and elevate his dynasty value significantly. The buy window is now, before the rest of the market catches on.

Michael Misa, C

Misa is an important piece of San Jose's rebuild and the type of elite prospect dynasty managers should covet. His toolkit combines high-end skating, advanced playmaking vision, and offensive intelligence that projects toward a top NHL player. Misa processes the game quickly, often anticipating plays before they fully develop and manipulating defenders through subtle puck movement. Some may look at what Misa is doing this season and be tempted to lower his stock, but that would be a mistake, as would drawing comparisons to what Matthew Schaefer is doing on Long Island to manufacture a bust narrative.

The Sharks have managed Misa perfectly, allowing him to adjust without putting undue stress on his shoulders, and his point pace and play-driving ability at the NHL level are reassuring for a teenager coming straight from the OHL. His slightly lowered Hockey Prospecting equivalency may actually present a buying opportunity, giving you leverage to acquire him in a trade at a discount. Yes, with Celebrini in town Misa will likely never be the true 1C, but plenty of dynamic duos have existed running their own lines and cooking on the power play, and that should be Misa's reality in short order.

Eric Pohlkamp, D

Pohlkamp fits the description of a prospect who quietly outperforms his visibility, and his game is built around awareness, structure, and consistency, allowing him to contribute in multiple situations while still producing offense. Players with this type of profile often earn coaching trust as they move up levels, and while Pohlkamp may not possess the dynamic highlight-reel skill set of San Jose's most prominent prospects, his steady development trajectory suggests a player capable of carving out a meaningful NHL role. In deeper dynasty leagues, secondary scorers with reliable deployment can provide underrated fantasy value, particularly when their acquisition cost remains modest.

Pohlkamp has been outstanding for the University of Denver this season, emerging as a true do-it-all defender with greatly increased scoring. What makes his profile even more compelling is that the offense is only part of the story, as his play driving and transition game have been elite, with his Fantasy Hockey Life skater card showing green across the board. Beyond the flashier contributions, he also projects to provide a high peripheral floor through blocks, shots, and hits, giving dynasty managers a well-rounded asset at a modest cost. For those willing to do the homework on under-the-radar college defenders, Pohlkamp is exactly the type of name worth targeting before the broader market catches up.

Sell Candidates

Luca Cagnoni, D

Cagnoni’s offensive production and puck-moving ability have made him one of the most exciting defense prospects in San Jose’s pipeline. His vision from the blue line and confidence running a power play have generated significant attention among dynasty managers, and the skillset is legitimate, though projecting it forward requires some caution. He was not drafted into the WHL but quickly became a star with the Portland Winterhawks after a tryout, which ultimately led to his selection by the Sharks in the fourth round. At five-foot-nine, his size was, and still is, a concern, but he compensates with high-end hockey intelligence and competitiveness. Unlike many smaller defenders, he transitioned to the AHL immediately, a strong early signal that helped earn him six NHL games last season.

Offensive defensemen with this profile often depend heavily on deployment and freedom to create, and as competition increases, time and space shrink quickly. His Hockey Prospecting model now places him at a 72% chance of becoming a star, though lofty comparables such as Seth Jones, Charlie McAvoy, and Adam Fox are far from likely outcomes. From a roster construction standpoint, San Jose does not yet have a long-term power-play quarterback in place, which creates opportunity, though it would not be surprising if they address that externally. With Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson the only defensemen signed beyond this season, there is organizational flexibility, but also uncertainty. If another manager is already valuing Cagnoni at his upper projection, this may represent an ideal window to sell, particularly given that his fantasy value may ultimately lean more on opportunity than guaranteed role.

Sam Dickinson, D

Dickinson possesses many of the traits NHL organizations value in modern defensemen. He combines size, mobility, and puck-moving ability while defending with physical presence, a toolkit that on paper suggests a highly projectable NHL blueliner capable of handling significant minutes. He has already carved out a meaningful role on a surprisingly competitive Sharks roster this season, though notably with the lowest average time on ice among their defensemen. That usage begins to make more sense when paired with his underlying performance, where flashes of offensive contribution have been offset by inconsistent reads and decision-making that have driven below-average defensive results.

The fantasy projection, however, remains less certain. Defensemen with Dickinson’s profile often require extended development time as they adjust to the pace and processing demands of the professional game, and without consistent power-play deployment, his statistical ceiling may resemble that of a dependable real-life defender more than a fantasy-impact asset. The current defensive inconsistencies are unlikely to be tolerated long term, especially as the Sharks transition toward contention, which could continue to limit his ice time. If another manager is projecting Dickinson as a future number-one defenseman in San Jose, that level of optimism may present an opportunity to extract strong value in a trade.

Quentin Musty, LW

Musty entered the Sharks system with considerable momentum after producing impressive offensive numbers in junior hockey, with his combination of size and skill suggesting the foundation of a potential power forward capable of generating NHL offense. He has made a solid transition to the professional level this season, though his pNHLe has dipped below 60, reinforcing some of the uncertainty in his projection. Much of Musty’s earlier production came in favorable offensive deployments and strong supporting environments, and as competition increases, players whose scoring is tied closely to usage can face a more difficult adjustment. The live and statistical profile is beginning to point toward a player who contributes offensively, but perhaps not as a primary driver.

From a fantasy perspective, the range of outcomes remains wide, with comparables spanning from Nick Suzuki to Ridly Greig, though his current trajectory appears closer to the latter. That still carries value, particularly in multi-category formats, but may fall short of initial expectations tied to a top-six scoring role. If his dynasty valuation still reflects that higher-end projection, this may represent a strong opportunity to sell and capture maximum return before his role solidifies as more complementary than focal.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Igor Chernyshov	Buy	Versatile offensive winger with rising opportunity
Michael Misa	Buy	Elite center prospect and franchise cornerstone
Eric Pohlkamp	Buy	Undervalued forward with quietly improving upside
Luca Cagnoni	Sell	Offensive defenseman whose hype may be peaking
Sam Dickinson	Sell	Strong NHL projection but uncertain fantasy ceiling
Quentin Musty	Sell	Power winger whose production may be usage-dependent

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:48:51 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: The artwork on the mask of San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov (30) is shown prior to the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks, held on January 21, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 1st (May 2025 - 2nd)
GM: Mike Grier Hired: July 2022
COACH: Ryan Warsofsky Hired: June 2024

Despite finishing last in the league in 2024-25, the Sharks iced a lineup filled with electrifying young talent that included Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, and others. All of whom deliver fast-paced excitement every night.

Even with two of the league’s premier prospects now graduated, San Jose’s pipeline remains a juggernaut. Their top 15 list still features multiple elite names, with more ready to turn pro as early as next season.

Leading that charge is Michael Misa, selected second overall in 2025. His dazzling offensive instincts make him the new crown jewel of the system, perfectly complementing an already talented young core. The draft haul didn’t stop there, as the Sharks also added the top goaltender available in Joshua Ravensbergen to bolster the crease, while second-rounders Haoxi Wang (a raw but mobile defender) and Cole McKinney (a mature two-way center) provide depth and balance for the future.

On defense, Sam Dickinson continues to headline. Fresh off another dominant OHL season with the London Knights, the 19-year-old captured the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the league’s top defenseman after posting 90 points and a league-best +64 rating. Still too young for the AHL, his draft-plus-two season will be closely watched.

Behind him, a trio of OHL standouts—Quentin Musty, Kasper Halttunen, and Igor Chernyshov—are poised to make the jump to the Barracuda in 2025-26. They’ll join a talented AHL roster already housing breakout performers like Luca Cagnoni, Collin Graf, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Filip Bystedt, and Jack Thompson, all of whom have taken major steps forward. Add in Eric Pohlkamp, who continues to shine at the University of Denver, and the depth stretches across every position.

Perhaps the most significant addition came via trade, when GM Mike Grier landed Yaroslav Askarov—McKeen’s top-ranked goaltending prospect. Together with Ravensbergen, San Jose suddenly boasts one of the strongest long term creases in the NHL.

The Sharks are still in the rebuilding phase, but the pieces are quickly aligning. With Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, and now Misa leading the charge, plus a wave of support talent on the way, San Jose’s future is brimming with excitement. The next step may involve flipping futures for win-now help, but regardless, the foundation is in place for a rapid rise back up the standings.

San Jose Sharks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Michael Misa

While there’s no doubt that San Jose would have loved to have won the lottery this year, picking Michael Misa second was a terrific consolation prize. Misa is the complete package as a forward and projects a top line forward and perennial all-star. He’s a dynamic offensive player thanks to his skating ability and high-end skill. However, with his frame and aggressive mentality, he also should develop into a quality two-way player at the NHL level too. Best of all, Misa can play any forward position and that gives San Jose some serious flexibility moving forward as they figure out where they want to slot in some of their other young stars. The reigning Red Tilson Trophy winner (as the OHL’s most outstanding player), Misa will compete for a roster spot in San Jose this training camp. He probably has a 50/50 shot of cracking the roster. If he’s not in San Jose, Misa likely returns to the OHL where he’ll try to lead Saginaw back to the Memorial Cup.

2 - Sam Dickinson

The Sharks have to be ecstatic about how Dickinson’s draft plus one year went in London, as he found yet another level, emerging as one of, if not the top blueliner in the OHL. If not for missed time due to the World Juniors, he would have unquestionably hit the 30-goal plateau, which is thanks to his booming point shot and ability to join the rush. He’s such an impressive skater for a bigger defender too, which allows him to be everywhere on the ice. He can take liberties with the puck because he recovers well. However, his off-puck decision making really improved this year; he was picking better times to jump up or pinch to make things happen offensively. So, what are the next steps? Firstly, there’s a need for Dickinson to continue to improve his physical intensity level in the defensive end; he needs to use his size to clear the crease and win those 50/50 battles more consistently. Secondly, he still needs to clean up his puck play under pressure; his skating won’t consistently get him out of trouble the way that it does in the OHL. Given his progression and fantastic physical tools, Dickinson has the chance to be a top pairing defender for the Sharks. He also has a chance of cracking their roster next season, as he may have outgrown the OHL.

3 - Yaroslav Askarov

Askarov is undoubtedly one of the most talented goalies seen in the past decade. His athleticism is on a world-class level, and one would be hard-pressed to find five who are more athletic. His agility, flexibility, and explosiveness, from his knees are as good as it gets. It has led Askarov to play a flashy, aggressive, and high-octane style of play. This has its benefits and weaknesses. Often, it means there’s a lack of body control, leading to excessive movement. This is an area Askarov has struggled in for some time, but he is showing improvement. His dominance in the AHL and solid demonstration that he can hang in the NHL on the league’s worst team are representative of this fact. He makes incredible saves consistently and, in doing so, generates a lot of momentum for himself and his team. He’s hard to beat laterally and even backdoor, something invaluable. With how his progression has been, Askarov likely will be a full-time NHL goalie next year, and his potential to be a future Vezina winner can’t be overstated.

4 - Igor Chernyshov

Simply put, Chernyshov tore apart the OHL this past year upon returning from a shoulder injury at the end of January. His 2.39 points per game were by far the best in the league as he formed a dynamic partnership with now Shark top prospect Michael Misa. Chernyshov is a dynamic attacker in transition. With his size, skill, and speed, OHL defenders truly couldn’t slow him down. His playmaking ability really stood out in his limited OHL time. He shows poise with the puck and is more than just a head down, straight line attacker. His off puck play also stood out positively in his time with Saginaw; he is hungry for the puck and works hard to earn his touches. Next year, he will turn pro and play in the AHL and it will be interesting to compare and contrast the rookie pro years of Musty and Chernyshov. They have similar projections as top six power wingers, but an argument could be made that Chernyshov’s game is more refined and pro ready.

5 - Quentin Musty

Things didn’t really go according to plan for Musty this past year and the Sharks can’t be happy about how his final year of junior played out. He started the season holding out from the Sudbury Wolves in hopes of forcing a trade. That did not occur. Then, when the holdout ended, he broke his hand and missed a significant chunk of time. These two occurrences kept Musty to only 33 games. Offensively, he was a difference maker when he did play. He has the skill and touch to be a high scoring NHL player. However, his off puck play and physical intensity returned to being inconsistent this past season after some growth the previous year. Was this a lost year of development? You could probably make that argument. However, Musty remains a top prospect for the Sharks. If they can harness his talent and improve the finer details in his game, he can be a key part of their rebuild. At this point, he will probably need at least a season in the AHL before he’s NHL ready.

6 - Shakir Mukhamadullin

A somewhat controversial first-round selection among scouting circles back in 2020, and subsequently acquired by the Sharks, Mukhamadullin has developed just fine through two professional seasons in North America. The big defender has shown promise at both ends and played well for San Jose this past year, leading one to believe that he could be a full time NHL defender next year. His decision making, with and without the puck, has improved greatly since being drafted. He has simplified his approach and learned to make quicker decisions with the puck. Yet, his high-end mobility and flashes of skill suggest that he does still possess offensive potential for the NHL level. The true scope of his NHL capabilities is not yet known. In that sense, he’s still a project that is developing. However, San Jose has to be quite happy with the results thus far.

7 - Joshua Ravensbergen

Joshua Ravensbergen has the best raw upside of any goalie since Sebastian Cossa. Towering at 6-foot-5, his level of athleticism shouldn’t be possible. His skating, quickness, agility, flexibility, and explosiveness are hardly ever seen in undersized goalies, let alone those at his height. Combining his frame, athleticism, mobility, and flexibility with his extreme competitiveness, you have a goaltender who covers more net and ground than most goalies to ever step on the ice much like Askarov. He’s an aggressive and flashy goalie giving him similar composure issues to Askarov and can have some mental lapses as well. To find success in the NHL he will need many reps practicing patience and playing with more precision. Goalies like Ravensbergen don’t turn into NHLers overnight, but they certainly don’t grow on trees either. It will take him a decent amount of time to hit his potential, but if he does, the Sharks could easily have two elite goalies on their hands in the future.

8 - Luca Cagnoni

Sometimes you just have to admit that you were wrong on a prospect and that’s looking like something we’ll have to do at McKeen’s. We were skeptical of his ability to translate his skill set to the pro game, but thankfully for the Sharks organization, he has proven us wrong. After a tremendous first professional season, no prospect in the game has seen their star rise more. Similar to the likes of Lane Hutson or Olen Zellweger, Cagnoni is so effective offensively because of his ability to blend strong four-way mobility with quick hands. He routinely escapes pressure inside the offensive zone and helps breakdown coverage; he is a top shelf play creator. However, his defensive game hasn’t been as poor as some (including us) expected it to be as a pro. He’s been more than adequate in his own end and, when combined with his outstanding on puck play, it has altered Cagnoni’s projection to make him a possible top four defender and first unit power play quarterback.

9 - Filip Bystedt

Bystedt’s first full season in North America is probably best categorized as average. He flashed some ability to be a competent middle six forward for San Jose in the future, but he also struggled with injuries and consistency at the AHL level with the Barracuda. Bystedt’s speed can play on North American ice. He can play that north-south game with effectiveness. One of the hallmarks of his game has previously been his ability to control the wall and work as a playmaker coming off the cycle, but he needs to bulk up further to be consistently successful in that regard at the AHL and NHL levels. The good news is that with San Jose’s prospect depth, there’s no reason or need to rush Bystedt. They can allow him to fill out and slowly gain confidence, with a look to 2026 as a possible arrival time, depending on how his development goes.

10 - Eric Pohlkamp

One of the most underrated prospects outside of the NHL, Pohlkamp has long been a favourite of the McKeen’s scouting team, dating back to our aggressive ranking of him in our 2023 draft rankings (127th). Since winning the USHL’s defenceman of the year award in 2023, he’s done nothing but improve, including a great sophomore season in the NCAA with Denver last year. This year, he’ll have the keys to the Denver offence with Zeev Buium turning pro and this could make him a Hobey Baker candidate. Pohlkamp has a unique tool kit, highlighted by a big point shot and strong offensive instincts. His decision making and defensive game have made great strides at the NCAA level thus far and it has really improved his NHL projection. Look for him to play his junior year at Denver and then turn pro, perhaps even getting in some NHL games late in the season if his NCAA year goes as well as we expect it to.

11 - Collin Graf

Graf was five points shy of being a point per game player in the AHL, and flashed some intriguing offensive potential when called up to the NHL. He has a solid skating base and a long reach that allows him to stickhandle through defenders in transition. The tools are all there for him to become an NHL regular as soon as this season.

12 - Kasper Halttunen

Halttunen’s shot is the headline grabber, allowing him to post an impressive 15 goals in 17 games during London’s post-season run. The shot is powerful and accurate, which gives him serious power play potential in the NHL. However, the rest of his game will need to take a step forward, particularly on the skating front, which is currently of the slower variety. He’ll get the chance to put it all together in the AHL this year.

13 - Cam Lund

Lund joined the Sharks at the end of the season once his collegiate campaign had concluded and did not look out of place thanks to his pro frame and hockey sense. Lund might not have the flashiest tools, but his game screams that of a long-time pro. The AHL will likely be his starting point this fall, but that may not last too long.

14 - Cole McKinney

McKinney brings a relentless style to the ice despite his average size, along with some skill to boot. He had a fantastic offensive season with the NTDP and will make the jump to college hockey at Michigan this season to round out his game.

15 - Jack Thompson

Thompson got a prolonged NHL audition last season and showed promise as a puck mover. However, like most on the Sharks roster, he struggled defensively. San Jose added a number of veterans to their back end, so he’ll have to fight an NHL job during training camp.

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

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

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

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

Forwards

1 - Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

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

2 - Ryan Leonard, C – Washington Capitals

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

3 - Isaac Howard, LW – Edmonton Oilers

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

4 - Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

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

5 - Michael Misa, C – San Jose Sharks

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

6 - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW – St. Louis Blues

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

7 - Gabe Perreault, LW – New York Rangers

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

8 - Berkley Catton, C – Seattle Kraken

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

9 - Ilya Protas, LW – Washington Capitals

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

10 - Tij Iginla, LW – Utah Mammoth

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

11 - Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

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

12 - James Hagens, C – Boston Bruins

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

13 - Cayden Lindstrom, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

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

14 - Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

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

15 - Dalibor Dvorsky, C – St. Louis Blues

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

16 - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW – Vancouver Canucks

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

17 - Brad Nadeau, RW – Carolina Hurricanes

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

18 - Anton Frondell, C – Chicago Blackhawks

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

19 - Danila Yurov, RW – Minnesota Wild

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

20 - Caleb Desnoyers, C – Utah Mammoth

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

21 - Rutger McGroarty, C – Pittsburgh Penguins

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

22 - Quentin Musty, RW – San Jose Sharks

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

23 - Calum Ritchie, C – New York Islanders

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

24 - Matthew Savoie, RW – Edmonton Oilers

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

25 - Igor Chernyshov, LW – San Jose Sharks

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

26 - Easton Cowan, C – Toronto Maple Leafs

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

27 - Andrew Cristall, LW – Washington Capitals

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

28 - Cole Eiserman, RW – New York Islanders

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

29 - Jake O’Brien, C – Seattle Kraken

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

30 - Liam Ohgren, LW – Minnesota Wild

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

Defence

1 - Zayne Parekh, RD – Calgary Flames

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

2 - Cole Hutson, LD - Washington Capitals

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

3 - Matthew Schaefer, LD – New York Islanders

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

4 - Zeev Buium, LD – Minnesota Wild

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

5 - Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

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

6 - Artyom Levshunov, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

7 - Luca Cagnoni, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

8 - Sam Dickinson, LD – San Jose Sharks

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

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

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

10 - Tristan Luneau, RD – Anaheim Ducks

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

11 - Carter Yakemchuk, RD – Ottawa Senators

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

12 - Sam Rinzel, RD – Chicago Blackhawks

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

13 - Seamus Casey, RD – New Jersey Devils

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

14 - Scott Morrow, RD – New York Rangers

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

15 - Logan Mailloux, RD – St. Louis Blues

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

16 - David Reinbacher, RD – Montreal Canadiens

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

17 - Oliver Bonk, RD – Philadelphia Flyers

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

18 - Tanner Molendyk, LD – Nashville Predators

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

19 - Hunter Brzustewicz, RD – Calgary Flames

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

20 - Tom Willander, RD – Vancouver Canucks

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

Goalies

1 - Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks

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

2 - Jesper Wallstedt – Minnesota Wild

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

3 - Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens

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

4 - Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

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

5 - Sebastian Cossa – Detroit Red Wings

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

6 - Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

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

7 - Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

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

8 - Niklas Kokko – Seattle Kraken

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

9 - Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

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

10 - Hampton Slukynsky – Los Angeles Kings

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

McKeen’s 2025-26 Calder Trophy Candidates

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

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

Ivan Demidov - RW - Montreal Canadiens

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

Alexander Nikishin - D - Carolina Hurricanes

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

Ryan Leonard - RW - Washington Capitals

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

Jimmy Snuggerud - RW - St. Louis Blues

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

Zeev Buium - D - Minnesota Wild

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

Sam Rinzel - D - Chicago Blackhawks

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

Zayne Parekh - D - Calgary Flames

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

Maxim Shabanov - C - New York Islanders

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

Michael Misa - C - San Jose Sharks

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

Yaroslav Askarov - G - San Jose Sharks

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

Sam Dickinson - D - San Jose Sharks

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

Ville Koivunen - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Matt Savoie - RW - Edmonton Oilers

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

Artyom Levshunov - D - Chicago Blackhawks

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

Easton Cowan - RW -Toronto Maple Leafs

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

Jani Nyman - RW - Seattle Kraken

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

Scott Morrow - D - New York Rangers

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

Matthew Schaefer - D - New York Islanders

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

Isaac Howard - LW - Edmonton Oilers

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

Rutger McGroarty - LW - Pittsburgh Penguins

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

Gabe Perreault - LW - New York Rangers

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

Alex Bump - LW - Philadelphia Flyers

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

Brad Nadeau - LW - Carolina Hurricanes

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

Logan Mailloux - D - St. Louis Blues

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

Danila Yurov - RW - Minnesota Wild

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

Beckett Sennecke - RW - Anaheim Ducks

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

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #2 SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:15:17 +0000

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Please note you can scroll through the PDF document here as well

San Jose 25 Prospects

NHL PROSPECTS – “He’s being doing it since he was 16”: Sam Dickinson was always going to be a star

Kyle Watson — Sat, 10 May 2025 21:56:35 +0000

Sam Dickinson, Easton Cowan, and Oliver Bonk. Photo courtesy: Wild Ave Photography

"We are extremely excited to trade for a player of Sam’s calibre. He has a complete 200-foot game and is a top-end talent of size, skill, and grit. He's the type of player you win with."

Those were the words of London Knights GM Mark Hunter when announcing the acquisition of 16-year-old Sam Dickinson from the Niagara IceDogs ahead of the 2022–23 OHL season.

Hunter's assertion has grown more accurate with each passing year: the Knights have captured a record three consecutive Wayne Gretzky Trophies (as Western Conference champions) and an OHL Championship during Dickinson’s time in London.

Fresh off being named the league's Defenceman of the Year, the Toronto, Ont. native is putting together an MVP-worthy performance as London look to defend their throne in the OHL Championship Series.

The Knights swept through the West with a perfect 12-0 record before falling to the Oshawa Generals in Game One of the finals. The 4-2 loss marked the 52nd OHL playoff game Dickinson has played in — the fourth most by a defenceman in club history. Turning 19 in June, the Sharks prospect has spent his entire junior career playing in the pressure cooker — and he wouldn't want it any other way.

"There’s nothing better than the Knights," said Dickinson. "There’s nothing better than London. I couldn’t be more grateful for my three years here.

"You look at the success we’ve had as a team and the improvements I’ve made as a player, it wouldn’t be the same anywhere else. I have so much to give back for what Dale, Mark, and the Knights have given me," he added.

"Poised" is the word most often used to describe Dickinson: In his first OHL postseason, the 6-foot-3 defenceman played over 20 minutes a night without taking a single penalty across 21 contests. That type of composure has allowed him to flourish in London's subsequent championship runs. He trails only Easton Cowan in team scoring with seven goals and 24 points through 13 postseason games.

Dickinson led the Knights in scoring during the regular season with 29 goals and 91 points, breaking the franchise record for single season points by a defenceman. The previous mark of 87 was held by Evan Bouchard. It's the fifth-greatest total by an OHL blueliner this century.

Now playing closer to half of a game in his third season, the San Jose first-round pick has evolved into a true number-one, all-situations defender at the junior level.

"We've seen a real improvement in his ability to quarterback the powerplay to become elite in this regard," said McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. "Last year, I found him to be more of a pure triggerman with the man advantage. This year, he's evolved to become a true general inside the offensive zone. He's still got the big shot and scoring sense off the puck, but he's using his skating ability and skill to work inside, consistently beating that initial layer of pressure."

"I think he's also become a better defensive player overall," added Otten. "There's still a trade-off as he pushes for offence; he's still a bit of a riverboat gambler in that regard, based on the way he's been deployed. However, when he's strictly focused on defence, be it on the PK, in coverage or late in games, he's chasing the play less, using his reach and mobility more, and has upped his physical intensity level."

"He’s a big part of the team. He creates a lot, and he defends a lot. He blocks a lot of shots," said Knights head coach Dale Hunter. "He’s been doing it since he was 16, and credit to him, he just keeps getting better."

The Sharks prospect insists that team success drives individual growth, crediting his standout performances to the group's unity and shared goal of winning another championship.

“Our job now is to win a hockey game, however necessary. If it’s me scoring goals, or I’m sure at another point it’ll be someone else coming up huge for us, whatever it takes to win is our team’s mentality, and whoever it is that steps up, we’re happy for them,” said Dickinson.

While the 18-year-old remains focused on the task at hand, the fans in the stands are keeping track of his accolades for him: Dickinson trails Brad Schlegel by a point (8-7—15 PTS in 12 GP) for the most by a d-man in a single postseason run in Knights history. With 15 goals and 45 points across 52 contests, the Sharks blue-chipper can also pass Memorial Cup champion Dennis Wideman (17-29—49 in 46) for the most career points by a London blueliner in playoff history.

Game 2 of the OHL Championship Series takes place tonight at 7 p.m. EST at Canada Life Place in London.

CHL NOTEBOOK: Playoff Storylines to Watch

Kyle Watson — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:52:38 +0000

2025 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Desnoyers (David St. Louis), Centreman Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes), and London Knights winger Blake Montgomery (Morgan Roobroeck / Wild Ave Photography)

Most CHL teams compete in two to three-year cycles when they draft and develop well enough to make championship runs. As a result, you see star NHL prospects, team captains, and future junior hockey stars on the move nearly every winter.

For the average NHL fan, keeping track of all the new faces in new places can be difficult, especially the younger players being traded as futures. The season is more eventful than usual with the NCAA-CHL ruling and the new prospect showcase games. The second half of the campaign is when things kick into full gear. Once the trade deadline ends, the skill gap between teams greatly widens, and coaches prioritize either winning now or in a season or two.

This article, and this notebook series in general, seeks to help the casual fan navigate the constantly evolving landscape of junior hockey. With the CHL playoffs underway, here is a look at which teams can win their respective leagues' championships and join host Rimouski at the 2025 Memorial Cup.

Note: there are seven OHL teams, five from the WHL, and two from the QMJHL. This reflects how I feel this year's crop of talent stacks up. Despite the QMJHL winning four Memorial Cups in a row (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023), there is a significant drop-off after the top two teams (Moncton, Rimouski)

Officially underway! #RoadtoMemorialCup pic.twitter.com/bAybFR7C7l

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) March 28, 2025

OHL Western Conference: Can anyone stop the Knights from repeating?

Playing with a chip on their shoulder after falling short in last year's Memorial Cup final, the London Knights (55-11-2-0) are in hot pursuit of a sixth OHL championship. The Hunter brothers' perennial powerhouse roster boasts 12 NHL-affiliated prospects—the most of any in the their 25 years of ownership—including first-round picks Sam Dickinson, Oliver Bonk, Easton Cowan, and Sam O'Reilly. Winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions seemed like a foregone conclusion all year for London: their .824 winning percentage is the second-highest mark in franchise history, only bested by the 2004-05 group named the CHL Team of the Century.

The Knights returned 10 forwards from the group that swept Oshawa in the OHL Championship last season. Team Finland forward Jesse Nurmi joined from Liiga (Fin-1) this summer, reuniting with international teammate Kasper Halttunen. Senators pick Blake Montgomery's quick adjustment in London has been a revelation for the Knights. Departing USHL Lincoln in November, the University of Wisconsin commit scored 16 goals and 30 points in a 15-game stretch on either side of the WJC.

Blake Montgomery mix #GoSensGo

Since he arrived in London in November, the Sens prospect's performances have been a revelation for the Knights.

— 16 G in his last 16 GP
— TOTAL: 23 GP, 17 G, 32 PTS, +25, 62 SOG pic.twitter.com/XQXX3YdS9x

— Kyle Watson (@kyle_nw) January 13, 2025

London has a deep and versatile D corps comprising Team Canada's Dickinson and Bonk, Kings prospect Jared Woolley, Capitals pick Cam Allen and draft-eligible Henry Brzustewicz. An impressive 71 of the Knights' league-leading 313 goals have come from the backend (22.7%). Dickinson has evolved into one of the premier rearguards outside the NHL: the Sharks' first-rounder's 91 points this year are the most by a defenceman in a single season in franchise history.

They have two capable goaltenders in OA Austin Elliott and 17-year-old Alexei Medvedev. Elliott enters the playoffs with a sparkling 32-1-0-0 record and led the league with a 2.10 GAA and .924 SV%. Medvedev has been relied on heavily in big games and could be the starter in the playoffs despite being one of the youngest players available at the 2025 NHL Draft. Scouts are impressed with the rookie's command of the crease and 6-3, 180-pound frame.

The Windsor Spitfires (45-17-4-2) achieved the biggest turnaround in franchise history, improving from 44 points to 96 to claim their third West Division title in four seasons. Led by the two-headed monster of Liam Greentree and Ilya Protas, Windsor is a heavy forechecking machine. Protas' 124 points tie him with Wyatt Johnston for the fourth-greatest single-season total in franchise history. Greentree is close behind in seventh place with 119.

Windsor's quick turnaround was accelerated by them winning the draft lottery. The first overall pick in the 2024 OHL Draft, Ethan Belchetz, has made an immediate impact with 17 goals and 38 points through 56 games. The 6-5, 226-pound winger is one of many weapons in the Spitfires' deep arsenal of forwards.

Ethan Belchetz (Tim Cornett/OHL Images)

I have concerns about a lack of playoff experience on this roster and problems on the backend. Beyond OA forward Ryan Abraham, only three players on the roster have won a playoff series: Wyatt Kennedy, Tnias Mathurin, and Owen Outwater—all while playing in North Bay. 19-year-old Anthony Cristoforo has begun to display the abilities that made him an OHL first-round pick in 2022, leading the defence with 12 goals and 61 points. However, I'm worried about the rest of the corps' puck-moving ability. Starter Joey Costanzo has 75 career wins but is yet to earn his first postseason victory.

The Kitchener Rangers (47-15-4-2) are an impressive team under Head Coach Jussi Ahokas. The Finnish bench boss has his group playing structured, disciplined hockey. With the fourth-youngest roster in the league, they have plenty of energy to suffocate opponents with their checking. Only London conceded fewer goals than the Rangers' 183. After being written off as a rebuilding group heading into the season, Kitchener reached the 100-point mark for the fourth time in history. Much of their success can be attributed to the play of OA goaltender Jackson Parsons. The 20-year-old led the league with 37 wins and five shutouts.

No OHL team immediately benefitted from the NCAA-CHL rulings more than Kitchener. Boston University commit Jack Pridham finished with 27 goals and 54 points in 48 games, arriving from the BCHL in November. Since departing the University of Michigan in January, Christian Humphreys has assumed the 1C role between vets Adrian Misaljevic and Trent Swick.

Cameron Reid has blossomed into one of the league's best puck-moving rearguards: second among all CHL draft-eligible defencemen with 52 points. Fellow draft eligibles Luca Romano and Tanner Lam stepped into top-six roles this season. The trio form one of the CHL's strongest young cores. GM Mike McKenzie has done well in helping this team succeed in the present with the future in mind. With Ahokas and his coaching staff recently extending their contracts through the 2026-27 season, the Rangers may have a bid for the 2027 Memorial Cup in their sights.

OHL Eastern Conference: Who is the real favourite?

As they surged to the top of the Eastern Conference in the second half, leading scorer Nick Lardis rewrote the Brantford Bulldogs' history books. The Blackhawks' 2023 third round pick's 71 goals in 65 games are the most in a single OHL season since John Tavares scored 72 in 2006-07 (and the sixth most in history). The high-flying winger also tied Eric Lindros for the most game-winning goals (16) and set franchise records in goals and points (116).

All 70 Goals Nick Lardis has scored from his record breaking year! #Blackhawks fans I present @OHLHockey superstar @NickLardis91 pic.twitter.com/JuxWFci37B

— The Prospect Don (@IceLevelIntel) March 9, 2025

Brantford possesses the league's top powerplay, clicking at 28.2%, and it's easy to see why. Veteran puck-moving defenceman Tomas Hamara anchors the top unit, with projected lottery pick Jake O'Brien and Lardis on either half-wall. O'Brien's 41 powerplay assists were the most in the OHL. 2022 OHL Champion Patrick Thomas, one of the premier playmakers in junior hockey, operates in the bumper spot, and Devils prospect Cole Brown has flourished as a net-front scorer. The 19-year-old winger nearly doubled his career mark of 17 goals, scoring 33 times (11 on the man advantage).

With just five regulation losses this calendar year and arguably the hottest prospect in the CHL, Head coach Jay McKee is well-positioned to lead his team to another deep playoff push. However, they are arguably better situated to make a run next season, considering their strong core of '06s. 2024 NHL first-round picks Marek Vanacker and Adam Jiříček will return as 19-year-olds, as will Habs prospect Owen Protz and goaltenders Ryerson Leenders and David Egorov. I wouldn't be surprised if O'Brien immediately breaks Lardis's single-season points record in 2025-26.

Barrie Colts' Head Coach/GM Marty Williamson's phone has been buzzing all season. The 61-year-old made a statement of intent when he traded for Stars prospects Brad Gardiner and Tristan Bertucci and OA pivot Dalyn Wakely early in the campaign. The core of the team, led by '06s Cole Beaudoin, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Riley Patterson, was expanded in the summer with the additions of import picks Gabriel Eliasson and Emil Hemming.

Thus, it was no surprise when Williamson reunited Wakely with his veteran teammates from North Bay, Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel, at the deadline. They formed one of the top lines in junior hockey last season for the Battalion, combining for 301 points in 68 games.

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A post shared by Barrie Colts (@barriecoltshockeyohl)

The Colts had an adjustment period with so many new faces in town, but this roster is tailor-made for the postseason. It's an experienced group with plenty of size and experience, built from the back out with two strong goaltenders in Sam Hillebrandt and Ben Hrebik. Perhaps no player embodies the Colts' style of play more than Aitcheson, our 16th-ranked prospect for the upcoming draft. The draft-eligible defender plays a hard-nosed, physical game and brings 110% every night. He's the first OHL rearguard since Evan Bouchard to score four overtime goals in a single season.

Not only is this Aitcheson's fourth overtime game-winner of the season, that's now six GWGs overall, which is tops among all OHL defenders

C-l-u-t-c-h https://t.co/hwmpQvzWu6

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) February 28, 2025

The Kingston Frontenacs were the busiest OHL team at the deadline, aggressively pursuing their first Eastern Conference title. They moved 20 picks (as well as NHL Draft prospects Xander Vellaris and Ethan Weir) to add Joey Willis, Ethan Hay, and Will Bishop from the Saginaw Spirit and overage goaltender Charlie Schenkel from the Soo Greyhounds. The number of assets they gave up surprised some, but the franchise just celebrated its 50th anniversary season. You can't blame them for throwing down the gauntlet. Their 40-20-5-3 record is their best finish since Shane Wright's draft season (2021-22).

The three Saginaw '05s bring championship pedigree and fortify a strong veteran group in Kingston. Flames' 2024 second-round pick Jacob Battaglia could prove to be an X factor in the postseason: The rangy winger has looked fantastic on a line with overage centerman Cédrick Guindon and WJC silver medallist Tuomas Uronen. They've been one of the top trios in the league this campaign, with Battaglia and Uronen finishing T-10th in scoring with 90 points.

THAT'S 30 FOR BATES#Flames | @NHLFlames | @OHLHockey https://t.co/TlP5yTMYdR pic.twitter.com/UEqmEPTUK4

— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) February 2, 2025

Though the Fronts may lack true star talent, GM Kory Cooper has assembled a deep, experienced group that will be difficult to face in a seven-game series. They had a 21-9-0-1 record after reinforcements arrived in January.

There is a strong chance the Knights and the Oshawa Generals will meet in the finals for the second year running. Oshawa is the only team in the CHL besides London with four NHL first-round picks. Blue-chippers Calum Ritchie, Beckett Sennecke, Ben Danford, and Colby Barlow lead a squad that features reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year Jacob Oster.

They bolstered their blueline at the deadline by acquiring Andrew Gibson from the Soo Greyhounds. The Predators prospect, who played on Team Canada's first pairing at the World Juniors, is one of the toughest defencemen to face in the league. Between Gibson, Danford, and Blue Jackets' prospect Luca Marrelli, the Gens give the Knights blueline a run for their money as the league's best. It's a bit of a throwback-style group that won't give you an inch of breathing room in their zone. Marrelli, in particular, has been excellent this season. Kicking off the campaign with nine goals and 23 points in his first 16 contests, the Toronto native has blossomed into one of the CHL's premier two-way defencemen.

Oshawa's offence is nothing to snuff at. Ritchie and Sennecke are exceptionally talented and well-rounded forwards, among the top five in the 'O' for points per game. Barlow, the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, endured some growing pains when Ritchie and Sennecke were out of the lineup in the fall. The Jets prospect went scoreless in his first six games of the campaign and was cut from Team Canada's World Junior squad despite scoring 40+ goals the two seasons prior. He is slowly finding his scoring touch as the Gens settle into playoff mode. At his best, Barlow is a goal-scoring threat from any range who can play tough matchups and kill penalties. Oshawa will need him to be should they challenge for a league-leading 14th championship.

WHL Western Conference: A Battle Between American Heavyweights

Landon Dupont is here, and he's the real deal. The WHL's second-ever recipient of exceptional status has rapidly transitioned to life in major junior hockey. The 15-year-old enjoyed the sixth-most productive season by a U17 defenceman in league history, tallying 17 goals and 60 points in 64 contests. It's not just the points, either. Dupont has shown strong defensive awareness and a relentless checking game thus far, mature beyond his years one-on-one.

What's unique about Dupont is that he's playing on the best team in the league — most exceptional-status talents join rebuilding groups. In January 2023, the Everett Silvertips (48-12-4-4) acquired what turned out to be the 2024 first-overall pick from Kamloops in the Olen Zellweger trade, using it to select the Calgary, Alta. native. Under the tutelage of new Head coach Steve Hamilton, Everett secured the Scott Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions, boasting a league-best +98 goal differential.

The 'Tips will have to battle through the playoffs without leading scorer Carter Bear, who suffered a season-ending injury in a game on March 7th. Bear is the 18th draft-eligible skater to reach the 40-goal plateau in the WHL since 2000. The return of former captain Austin Roest offsets the loss: the Predators prospect has spent the year with AHL Milwaukee completing injury rehab. World Junior silver medallist Julius Miettinen and overage forwards Tyler MacKenzie and Dominik Rymon round out the Everett offence, each scoring above a point-per-game pace.

Co-captains Kaden Hammell and Eric Jamieson lead a blueline that conceded a league-fewest 178 goals this campaign. Jesse Sanche has been dependable between the pipes, with a 23-9-2-0 record in his rookie season. 2025 eligible Raiden Legall has proved a stronger option since arriving from the MJHL in November. The Bemidji State commit finished 16-2-1-3 with a league-best .921 SV% and 2.17 GAA .

The Spokane Chiefs (45-20-1-2) landed the biggest fish available at the trade deadline, adding Kelowna Rockets maestro Andrew Cristall. The Capitals prospect's 2.32 points per game trail only Connor Bedard's draft year for the greatest single-season total in the 'W' this century. Cristall (22-50-72) and linemate Berkly Catton combined for an incredible 62 goals and 171 points across 29 contests together in Spokane.

The team's three overage players, Shea Van Olm, Brayden Crampton, and Rasmus Ekström, join Catton and Cristall in the team's top-five scoring leaders. Van Olm, in particular, has been excellent as the Chiefs' triggerman—the 20-year-old led the WHL with 49 goals (one more than Cristall).

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/kieron_walton_-_3rd_period_16_49_-_17_1.mp4

16-year-old Mathis Preston is enjoying a fruitful maiden campaign in Spokane. The nifty winger won gold at the 2024 World U17s in November and is among the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. Beyond Crampton, NHL prospects Sage Weinstein, William McIsaac and Nathan Mayes round out the rest of the D corps in front of veteran netminder Dawson Cowan.

WHL Eastern Conference: A Bloodbath in the Central Division

Spearheaded by the most profiled prospect in the sport, the Medicine Hat Tigers (47-17-3-1) have made a real push in the second half of the season to remain atop a stacked Central Division. Gavin McKenna's 2.30 points per game give him the most productive DY-1 season in the CHL since Sidney Crosby (2.29), scoring 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games. The Whitehorse, Yukon native finished the year on a 40-game point streak (32-68-100) and was left scoreless just three times.

Medicine Hat has assembled a championship-calibre team to ensure a deep postseason run for McKenna. GM/Head coach Willie Desjardins moved for a trio of '06 skaters in the offseason: Bryce Pickford, Jonas Woo, and Ryder Ritchie. Pickford led all Tigers defencemen with 47 points in 48 contests. His 20 goals tied him for the third-most of any WHL rearguard. Woo has been equally impressive, posting career totals in all categories. Ritchie, the Minnesota Wild prospect, is riding shotgun on the first line next to McKenna and captain Oaziz Wiesblatt. Finnish defencemen Veeti Väisänen (property of Utah) and Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas) were recruited in the CHL Import Draft.

Fellow summer acquisition Matthew Ward centers a veteran second line between NHL prospects Hunter St. Martin and Andrew Basha. Both are multitalented, speedy wingers capable of playing on both special teams. St. Martin, the Panthers 2024 sixth-rounder, trailed only McKenna for the the team lead in goals (39), powerplay goals (9), and was first in shorthanded goals (7).

The news that McKenna could depart to the University of Michigan for his draft-eligible season was followed by Medicine Hat adding Predators first-round pick Tanner Molendyk and veteran shutdown forward Misha Volotovskii from Saskatoon. Molendyk, the Predators' 2023 first-round pick, is among the most talented defensemen outside the NHL.

Pretty stuff always finding its way off the sticks of Molendyk, McKenna and Wiesblatt @TigersHockey pic.twitter.com/V6SipHyLHM

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 26, 2025

Trailing the Tigers by just two points in the Central are the Calgary Hitmen (45-17-3-3). Their blueline, headed by Carter Yakemchuk, could prove to be the league's premier group in the postseason. The 2024 seventh-overall pick continues to lead the Hitmen blueline in all offensive categories, with 16 goals and 44 points in 45 contests. Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio was acquired upon his return from representing Canada at the WJC and provides a terrific foil to Yakemchuk's high-octane offensive game. Reigning WHL Champion Kalem Parker and 6-5, 210-pound Flames pick Axel Hurtig round a group that conceded the second-fewest goals in the regular season (183).

Calgary's top line, comprised of draft-eligible centre Ben Kindel, Team Canada WJC forward Tanner Howe and veteran Oliver Tulk, is among the WHL's elite. Howe is a physical menace who can score beneath the dots and Tulk reached the century mark in points this season, finishing sixth in league scoring. Kindel, who ranks 18th in our latest 2025 NHL Draft rankings, is a crafty duel-threat scorer who makes up for a lack of size with an industrious checking game. The Coquitlam, B.C. native led all WHL draft-eligibles with 35 goals and 99 points.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes (42-21-3-2) added championship pedigree in December when they moved for Team Canada WJC captain Brayden Yager and 2005-born goaltender Jackson Unger. Yager, the Jets prospect, is among the league's top two-way pivots and leads an experienced forward group. Lethbridge further cemented their attack with the addition of OA centreman Jordan Gustafson. The Golden Knights prospect, who's battled injuries this season, had six goals and nine points in eight contests.

Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes blueline, headlined by captain Noah Chadwick, was also bolstered with the addition of Yager's WJC teammater, Caden Price.

QMJHL Playoffs: Will Moncton join Rimouski at the 2025 Memorial Cup?

In his first full season coaching at the major junior level, legendary University of New Brunswick bench boss Gardiner MacDougall has turned the Moncton Wildcats (53-9-2-0) into a powerhouse. They led the 'Q' in goals for (294) and goal differential (+150), and won their last 15 regular season games. With an .844 winning percentage, the QMJHL regular season champions finished as the top-ranked team in the CHL.

Centreman Caleb Desnoyers led the team with 35 goals and 84 points through 56 games, ranked sixth in our The 17-year-old is one of three players to win gold at the World U17s, U18s, and Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (along with Matthew Schaefer and Jack Ivankovic). Coming in at sixth in our March NHL Draft rankings, Desnoyers could boost his stock with another championship (or two) to his name.

Caleb Desnoyers (David St. Louis)

World Juniors standouts Juraj Pekarcik and Julius Sumpf flank Desonyers on the first line, with Alex Mercier, Vincent Collard and captain Markus Vidicek rounding out a veteran top six.

Flames prospect Étienne Morin conducts a big, physically imposing defence corps. At the deadline, they acquired defenceman Dyllan Gill and Mathis Rousseau, Canada's goalie at last year's WJC. Gill has excelled as a two-way threat since being assigned from AHL Syracuse. Rousseau will have to fight for the starting job: Red Wings prospect Rudy Guimond is a perfect 16-0 with a .940 SV% and 1.73 GAA since arriving as a free agent from USHL Cedar Rapids.

The Rimouski Oceanic (46-14-2-2) have been in fine form since the calendar turned: they're 23-4-2-1 in the new year. After adding reigning league MVP Mathieu Cataford in the summer, the Memorial Cup hosts traded for league-leading scorer Jonathan Fauchon, WJC standout Eriks Mateiko, and Victoriaville captain Maël Lavigne midseason.

Fauchon centers the top line between fellow overage Jacob Mathieu and Ducks prospect Alexandre Blais. Fauchon and Mathieu are second and fifth in the league for goals with 46 and 41, respectively. Blais has collected 53 helpers, operating as the playmaker. A second line comprised of Catatford, Mateiko, and Lavigne rounds out a stacked top six.

Flyers 2024 second-round pick Spencer Gill and OA Pier-Olivier Roy lead a big, physical blueline, alongside Panthers pick Luke Coughlin and Canucks prospect Basile Sansonnens. It's unclear whether 2025 NHL Draft prospect Mathis Langevin (12-6-1-0, .912%, 2.55) or 2026 eligible William Lacelle (27-5-1-2, .909%, 2.38), who leads the league in safve percentage, will start Game 1.

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – San Jose rebuild on track – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 12:54:26 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 11: San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

There are a number of teams that have effectively lost all hope of making the playoffs, but at the time of writing, only one team has been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention: The San Jose Sharks.

It’s the sixth straight year without a playoff berth for San Jose, which is by far the largest stretch of failure in the franchise’s history -- from the inaugural season in 1991-92 through 2018-19, the Sharks had missed the playoffs just six times in total -- and yet there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Macklin Celebrini has lived up to the hype in his rookie campaign with 21 goals and 50 points through 57 appearances, and the 22-year-old William Eklund is shaping up to be another strong member of the Sharks’ future with 15 goals and 50 points in 64 outings. They’re also seeing some preliminary success from 19-year-old Will Smith, who has provided 13 goals and 35 points in 61 appearances. We should also soon see Cameron Lund make his NHL debut after signing an entry-level contract with the Sharks on Friday. Perhaps the Sharks will try pairing Lund up with Eklund after the 20-year-old Lund supplied 18 goals and 40 points in 37 outings with Northeastern University this year.

In the long run, that young core of forwards might be backed up by 22-year-old netminder Yaroslav Askarov, who has struggled with the rebuilding Sharks (3.10 GAA, .896 save percentage in 13 outings), but has looked solid at the AHL level this campaign (2.52 GAA, .922 save percentage in 19 games).

If some of their other top prospects like Quentin Musty and Sam Dickinson work out, and the Sharks get value out of their four picks in the top two rounds of the 2025 and 2026 drafts, then San Jose could start moving in an upward trajectory quickly.

The only issue is that they have a lot of ground to gain. There’s a good chance the Sharks will finish with 60 or lower points for a third straight campaign. On the one hand, it’s a stretch that’s allowed them to put their full force into rebuilding, but there’s always the danger of falling into the Buffalo Sabres trap, where success always seems to be just around the corner.

An eventful summer might be the key for the Sharks, especially because the Sharks are currently swimming in cap space. They do need to be mindful of the big raises that Eklund, Celebrini and Smith will be due if all goes as hoped, but Celebrini and Smith won’t test the market for the first time until the summer of 2027, while Eklund will remain on his entry-level contract for the 2025-26 campaign, so there is a window here for the Sharks to spend. Their cap flexibility is also made a little easier by the fact that Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s $7 million contract comes off the books in the summer of 2026 and Couture’s $8 million cap hit ends after 2026-27, which will help offset some of those raises.

That will allow them to be aggressive on the UFA market, and it also opens the door for San Jose to potentially leverage some of its picks for veteran players. So, while the Sharks have some largely meaningless games ahead of them, this might end up being the summer of GM Mike Grier.

Buffalo Sabres (Tue vs OTT, Thu vs PIT, Sat @ PHI, Sun @ WAS)

It seems cruel to cite the Sabres as a cautionary tale whenever teams like the Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild, but that’s what they are. With a 27-34-6 record through Thursday’s action, Buffalo sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and is on course to miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season. That’s the longest postseason drought in the history of the league.

The Sabres will at least attempt to finish the season on a somewhat positive note. They’ll host Ottawa and Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before heading on the road to visit Philadelphia on Saturday and Washington on Sunday.

Buffalo’s single biggest issue this campaign has been an inability to keep the puck out of the net. The Sabres rank 29th in goals allowed per game with 3.52. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who managed a solid 2.57 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 54 appearances in 2023-24, hasn’t looked nearly as impressive this campaign, going 23-21-4 with a 3.16 GAA and an .888 save percentage.

It's tempting to say that the team in front of him has been the source of Luukkonen’s woes, and there’s certainly some backing for that assumption. The Sabres rank 29th in xGA/60 at 3.35, per Moneypuck, which implies that the defense has been making life miserable for the goaltenders. However, Luukkonen can’t completely escape blame. He also has a minus-4.6 goals saved above expected, which suggests that he’s been putting forth below average performances, and that’s compounded Buffalo’s already significant defensive issues. That’s also in contrast to 2023-24 when Luukkonen finished with a plus-9.4 goals saved above expected.

Buffalo has already made a long-term commitment to Luukkonen, albeit with a $4.75 million cap hit through 2028-29, which is on the low end for a veteran starter and is expected to get even more reasonable as the cap goes up. If he ends up needing to slide into a backup role, that contract will look like an overpay, but not to the point where it’s an anchor on Buffalo’s cap situation.

The ideal would be if Devon Levi lives up to the promise he showed in the NCAA, but so far the 23-year-old has left plenty to be desired in the NHL, posting a 3.29 GAA and an .894 save percentage through 39 appearances. Goaltenders tend to take longer to develop than any other NHL position, so it would be premature to write him off, but Buffalo assuming that a Luukkonen-Levi duo will eventually lead the franchise to the playoffs might be dangerous -- the potential is there, but it’s far from a sure thing.

That’s a long-term concern for Buffalo. In the short run, the Sabres can at least enjoy Ryan McLeod’s hot streak. He’s recorded a point in five straight games and has been held off the scoresheet just once over his last seven appearances, giving him two goals and seven points in that span. He’s set career highs in goals (16) and points (38) in his first campaign with Buffalo after being acquired from Edmonton, and the 25-year-old should be a solid presence for years to come while primarily centering the third line under ideal circumstances.

Detroit Red Wings (Mon @ UTA, Tue @ COL, Thu vs OTT, Sat vs BOS)

Detroit has won just two of its past 10 games, putting the Red Wings playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. They’ll need to do well next week to avoid slipping out of the postseason picture. The Red Wings will start on the road, facing Utah on Monday and Colorado on Tuesday. Detroit will then return home to host the Senators on Thursday and the Bruins on Saturday.

Buffalo’s postseason drought is the one that get the most attention, but Detroit hasn’t been to the postseason since 2016, so there are significant stakes to the Red Wings’ playoff run, especially because they’re not exactly a rebuilding squad anymore. Lucas Raymond (23 goals, 69 points) is still just 22 years old, while Dylan Larkin (28, 60) and Alex DeBrincat (31, 58) are in their late 20s, so Detroit’s core forwards aren’t old, but they’re not emerging prospects either. Two of Detroit’s top four defensemen (Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson) are under 25, but they are supplemented by aging veterans (Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry).

Detroit does still have players that will get better with time. I’m very interested to see what the future holds for 20-year-old rookie Marco Kasper, who has 13 goals, 27 points, 30 PIM and 123 hits in 63 appearances this campaign, but Detroit is beyond the point where it can just shrug and say that short-term losing is a byproduct of the process.

Patrick Kane should be in no mood to be patient at the age of 36. He exploded with a five-point effort March 12 to lead Detroit past Buffalo. Kane also had a three-point showing March 1 versus Columbus, but he’s been inconsistent recently, so don’t look at his 11 points (three goals) in nine games this month and assume he’s red hot. The truth is more nuanced. Unfortunately, Detroit has lacked a steady hand on offense recently, which is a reflection of the team’s recent struggles overall.

Petr Mrazek, who was acquired from Chicago, has been given the opportunity to take over as Detroit’s starter. He’s got the nod in each of Detroit’s past four games, but the results have been mixed. He did post an 18-save shutout over Vegas on Sunday, but he also allowed at least three goals in each of the other three starts. Overall, he has a 2-2-0 record, 2.51 GAA and .901 save percentage in four appearances since joining Detroit. Still, Cam Talbot (2.96 GAA, .900 save percentage) and Alex Lyon (2.77 GAA, .900 save percentage) haven’t given Detroit much to be happy about this campaign, so Mrazek might continue to act as the Red Wings’ primary choice going forward.

Los Angeles Kings (Tue vs NYR, Thu @ COL, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs SJS)

The Kings sit third in the Pacific Division with a 37-21-9 record, but they still have a shot at catching Edmonton (40-24-5) and maybe even Vegas (40-20-8). The Kings will need a solid week to keep those prospects healthy. They’ll start by hosting the Rangers on Tuesday before playing in Colorado on Thursday. Afterward, the Kings will return home to face the Maple Leafs on Saturday and the Sharks on Sunday.

The Kings managed just four goals across eight games from March 13-20, so they don’t have any hot forwards. Kevin Fiala is about as close as you can find with a goal and three points over that four-game stretch, but he’s also been held off the scoresheet in seven of his past 12 contests, so his recent play is nothing to get excited over.

Meanwhile, Phillip Danault has just a goal and four points across his past 13. This is shaping up to be a disappointing campaign for him overall. He has just six goals in 66 games with a shooting percentage of 5.5, which is on course to be his lowest ever, excluding the two games he played in 2014-15. He also has no power-play points after recording 20 in 2022-23 and nine in 2023-24. On the one hand, he’s averaging 1:20 with the man advantage, the lowest of his four seasons with LA, which limits his chances, but Danault also hasn’t given the Kings much reason to use him more on the power play, so it’s a bit of a chicken and the egg issue. Either way, this campaign is looking like it’ll go down as a wash for Danault, and he certainly has been part of the issue for the Kings’ recent offensive drought, recording no points over the past four games.

This would be a bad stretch for the Kings, except Darcy Kuemper stopped 81 of 84 shots (.964 save percentage) while starting in those four games, and LA won three of those outings as a result. The 34-year-old goaltender is now 23-9-7 with a 2.13 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 40 appearances. In terms of GAA, this could be the best campaign of his career, excluding 2012-13 when he appeared in just six games. That’s quite a turnaround from 2023-24 (3.31 GAA, .890 save percentage), and it has to be said that Kuemper has a plus-15 goals saved above expected, which ranks 13th in the league, so this isn’t exclusively a case of him benefiting from strong defensively play in front of him -- though, the Kings do have a league-best 2.61 xGA/60, so the defense has been doing its part too.

Minnesota Wild (Mon @ DAL, Tue vs VGK, Thu vs WAS, Sat vs NJD)

Minnesota has a healthy edge in the battle for a wild-card spot, especially after winning its past two games. The Wild will look to build on their recent momentum when they play in Dallas on Monday. Minnesota will also host Vegas, Washington and New Jersey on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Although Minnesota is likely to make the playoffs, the extended absence of Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) has been felt. He’s appeared in just three games dating back to Dec. 27, and Minnesota is a mediocre 18-15-1 over that span while averaging just 2.50 goals per game. By contrast, the Wild went 21-10-4 while averaging 2.94 goals per game over their first 35 contests, which is a stretch when Kaprizov provided 23 goals and 50 points in 34 appearances (missing one game).

To make matters worse, Joel Eriksson Ek hasn’t played since Feb. 22 due to a lower-body injury. Coach John Hynes said Monday that Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek were progressing off ice, per Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News, which is mixed news. Any progress is good progress, but if they’re not skating yet, then they’re probably not close to returning. With so little time left in the campaign, I have to wonder if Minnesota is now simply looking ahead to the playoffs when it comes to Kaprizov. Maybe he’ll get into a few games toward the end of the regular season just to shake off the rust, but that might be all we can hope for.

At least Ryan Hartman is back from his eight-game suspension. He’s recorded three goals and six points in eight appearances since returning from his punishment. He also averaged 16:31 of ice time in that span, up from 15:00, as the Wild deal with injuries.

Minnesota also attempted to get help by acquiring Gustav Nyquist from Nashville on March 1, but that hasn’t moved the needle. Nyquist has registered just two assists in nine outings with Minnesota despite averaging 16:02 since the trade. He might see his role reduced once Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov are ready to return, especially if Nyquist doesn’t start heating up.

To wrap up on a somber note, we’re likely watching the final games of Marc-Andre Fleury. He hasn’t played much recently -- his last start was March 9 -- but the Wild do have a back-to-back coming Monday and Tuesday, so he’ll likely make his 885th career start and 1,048th appearance on one of those two nights. Fleury has solid backup at the age of 40, posting a 12-8-1 record, 2.73 GAA and .904 save percentage in 22 outings this campaign.

New Jersey Devils (Mon vs VAN, Wed @ CHI, Thu @ WPG, Sat @ MIN)

The Devils have been treading water lately, winning four of their past nine games. At this point, they’re unlikely to catch Carolina for the second seed in the Metropolitan Division, but the Devils are still likely to secure the third seed. In the meantime, they’ll start next week at home against Vancouver. The Devils will then hit the road, playing in Chicago on Wednesday, Winnipeg on Friday and Minnesota on Saturday.

Like Minnesota, New Jersey is dealing with some major injuries. Dougie Hamilton (lower body) hasn’t played since March 4 (he logged just 5:15 before exiting that March 4th game), and Jack Hughes (shoulder) was last in the lineup March 2.

New Jersey has gone 4-4-0 without Hamilton and Hughes, including the contest Hamilton was only briefly a part of in contrast to the Devils’ 33-23-6 record across their first 62 games. It’d be natural to assume their middling play lately has been as a result of a drop in offense, similar to what Minnesota has experienced, but the Devils have managed 2.88 goals per game over their last eight games, which isn’t much of a decline from their 2.98 before Hughes’ injury.

Instead, the problem has been at their own end. Jacob Markstrom has a 4.67 GAA and an .817 save percentage across his past five appearances. That leaky play has taken some of the shine out of the heroics from Jesper Bratt (three goals, 10 points in his past five games) and Luke Hughes (one goal, seven points in his past eight appearances).

Jake Allen has looked good, though, winning his past three starts while saving 99 of 103 shots (.961 save percentage). That contrast between New Jersey’s two goaltenders has resulted in Markstrom shifting from being the clear starter to serving in a rotation. I don’t expect that arrangement to persist for the remainder of the campaign, but it’ll probably last until Markstrom finds his footing again.

The Devils certainly have to hope Markstrom comes out of this cold patch sooner rather than later. While there is light at the end of the tunnel for Minnesota on the injury front -- albeit a distance light -- Jack Hughes isn’t expected back until training camp, and Hamilton probably won’t return until the second round at the earliest, provided the Devils make it that far. What they have now is all they can count on. Fortunately for New Jersey, Bratt, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier is still a solid forward core, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see that trio do well down the stretch, and Luke Hughes is a great alternative to Hamilton on the top power-play unit, which should result in Luke having a strong finish offensively.

New York Islanders (Mon vs CBJ, Wed vs VAN, Sat @ TBL, Sun @ CAR)

The Islanders have won their past three games, pushing them within striking distance of a wild-card spot. New York needs to stay hot next week to close the gap. They’ll start with a home game against Columbus, which is another team in the hunt for an Eastern Conference wild-card position. The Blue Jackets will also play at home against Vancouver on Wednesday before traveling to Tampa Bay on Saturday and Carolina on Sunday.

New York squeaking into the playoffs would be particularly impressive after they traded Brock Nelson to Colorado on March 6 in a where the key pieces back were prospect Calum Ritchie and a first-round pick. It’s not like the Islanders had offense to spare…or so you’d assume, but they’ve been getting help from unexpected sources lately.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau has a goal and six points while Simon Holmstrom has three goals and five points across the Islanders’ seven games since the trade. Both players are usually more complementary pieces when it comes to offense, but they do get on these kinds of hot streaks, making them nice situational pickups during times such as this.

Defensemen Noah Dobson and Anthony DeAngelo have also been major contributors during the same stretch, recording seven and six points, respectively. It’s been interesting that Dobson’s return from injury Feb. 27 hasn’t marginalized DeAngelo’s contributions. Rather than shift DeAngelo to the second power-play unit to make room for Dobson, the Islanders seem comfortable having two defensemen on their top group with the man advantage. DeAngelo has also continued to be used at even strength, averaging 22:18 of ice time in all situations since the return of Dobson.

DeAngelo’s always been a lightning rod for controversy, but it seems he’s found a good spot with the Islanders, and he should continue to be a meaningful contributor for the remainder of the campaign.

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ BUF, Thu @ DET, Sat vs CBJ, Sun @ PIT)

The Senators put themselves in a good spot by winning six straight from March 5-15, but they’ve hit a rough patch with back-to-back losses. The Senators still hold the first wild-card spot, but they can’t afford to relax. They have an opportunity to collect some key points next week against teams not currently in a playoff position. Ottawa will play in Buffalo on Tuesday, Detroit on Thursday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Senators will also host the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Dylan Cozens has worked out pretty nicely in Ottawa since being acquired from Buffalo on March 7. He has three goals and six points in seven appearances with the Senators despite seeing his average playing time drop from 17:13 before the trade to 15:23 since joining the Ottawa. Cozens seems to be settling into a second-line center role with Ottawa, which isn’t surprising. He should get most of his minutes alongside Drake Batherson and David Perron for the remainder of the campaign, though Cozens is also getting work on the top power-play unit and has already provided two goals with the man advantage for Ottawa.

Batherson has been a good player to skate alongside recently. He enjoyed a four-game scoring streak from March 11-18 in which he supplied three goals and six points, but that run was snapped Thursday. The 26-year-old is up to 19 goals and 55 points in 68 outings overall, making it very likely that he’ll reach the 20-goal and 60-point marks for the third straight campaign. In fact, he still has a solid chance of besting his career high of 66 points, which he set last year.

Perron also has been solid recently with four goals and seven points in his past 10 appearances. The 36-year-old missed significant chunks of the campaign, so it’s not too surprising that he was limited to a goal and four points in 11 outings from Jan. 11 (when he returned from a 27-game absence due to back problem) through Feb. 26. Now that the veteran has been able to string together a significant number of games for the first time all season, we’re seeing steady production out of him, and there’s a good chance that’ll continue for the rest of the season, barring another exit from the lineup.

Ottawa’s top line, headlined by Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, will be the main drivers of the Senators’ offense, but don’t underestimate that second unit of Perron, Cozens and Batherson.

Toronto Maple Leafs (Tue vs PHI, Thu @ SJS, Sat @ NYR, Sun @ LAK)

Toronto has won its past three games, putting behind a rough stretch in which the Maple Leafs won just one of six contests. The Maple Leafs are competing with Florida for the Atlantic Division title. Toronto will look for an edge in that battle next week, beginning with a home game against the Flyers on Tuesday. Toronto will then go on the road, playing in San Jose on Thursday, Los Angeles on Saturday and Anaheim on Sunday.

Even after a run of four goals from March 15-19, Auston Matthews is still on course for career lows with his goal total of 27 and his shooting percentage of 12.4. He’s been limited to 54 games this campaign, and it seems probable he’s playing through something even now, but even Matthews at less than 100 percent is still a high-end option. It helps that he’s pivoted to setting up his teammates a little more to make up for the reduced goal scoring -- he has 34 assists, so in terms of points per 60 minutes, his 3.3 this year is a touch low by his standards, but still well within the range of what’d you’d expect from him.

There’s a good chance he’ll come back strong next season with another 40-plus campaign, and he might even hit 60 for the third time in his career in 2025-26. However, the 27-year-old has run into more injuries problems than one would like over the first half of his career, which makes projecting him somewhat difficult.

Mitch Marner has been the steadier hand in Toronto in terms of season-by-season production. This will be his fourth straight campaign with over 20 goals and 80 points. One thing he’s never managed is reaching the 100-point mark, though he came close in 2021-22 (97) and 2022-23 (99). He might be able to just barely hit it this season after supplying 21 goals and 83 points through 68 appearances.

Marner needs to get hot again to hit the century mark, but right now, he’s not the hottest member of the Leafs. Neither is Matthews, for that matter. That distinction belongs to William Nylander, who has five goals and 15 points in his last 11 appearances. That brings him up to 38 markers and 73 points in 69 outings overall.

Nylander also reached the 600-point career milestone Thursday when he assisted on a goal by John Tavares. That was career point 1,098 for Tavares, and the 34-year-old center went on to collect two more points, making it a milestone night for him as well. Tavares has 29 goals and 60 points in 62 appearances in 2024-25, bringing him up to 213 goals and 479 points in 502 games. If you had told someone immediately after Tavares signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with Toronto that he would decline over the final couple of years, they would have likely believed you. However, while Tavares did show his age somewhat in 2023-24, he’s continuing to produce at a high level even in the final campaign of that deal. It’ll be very interesting to see what kind of contract he commands over the summer, because he still seems to have good hockey left in him.

Toronto’s offense revolves around that core, and unfortunately no one outside of it steps up for more than brief periods. Matthew Knies is Toronto’s next best producer with 25 goals and 45 points, but he’s going through a mediocre stretch in which he’s supplied a goal and four points over his past eight games. Max Domi and Bobby McMann have been similarly meh lately, each contributing two goals and four points over the same eight-game span. All three are worth monitoring as pickup options during hot streaks, but they can’t be counted on to put up strong numbers over a longer period.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: How Does Canada Win Without Schaefer?

Kyle Watson — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 17:39:09 +0000

_{Credit: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography}

OTTAWA - Team Canada will have to endure the rest of the World Juniors without its most talented defenceman, Matthew Schaefer.

The Erie Otters star — ranked at No. 1 in our latest 2025 NHL Draft rankings — has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after colliding with the net in Canada's 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia. The 17-year-old sustained a left shoulder injury and could be sidelined for up to three months.

The IIHF permitted teams to register 25 players for the first time in event history this year, instead of the usual 23. F Carson Rehkopf and D Sawyer Mynio, who have been healthy scratches thus far, have been registered and are expected to play against Germany today.

It's worth noting Canada had the choice to bring in a player not currently with the team and elected not to.

How will Team Canada fare without Matthew Schaefer?

It was not in the cards this time last year, but before the injury, the Otters defenceman was expected to play a major role for this Canadian group. He has been that good this season.

Schaefer has seven goals and 22 points in 17 games with the Otters since a bout of mononucleosis delayed his season debut until October 25th. He was easily the best player in the CHL Top Prospects-USNTDP showcase games in November. Helping lead Canada to gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in the summer did wonders for his confidence and his offensive flair has been on full display in his draft-eligible campaign:

MATTHEW SCHAEFER WITH THE HIGHLIGHT REEL ASSIST

Top ranked #NHLDraft prospect Matthew Schaefer makes an unreal move to get by the defender before passing it off to fellow draft prospect Malcolm Spence who taps it in to give the @ErieOtters a 4-1 lead!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/WixcFTNjMU

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 8, 2024

The Hamilton, Ont. native was one of the team's better players in Canada's opener over Finland, setting up Gavin McKenna's opener and adding an empty-net goal to seal the 4-0 win. Only fellow d-men Andrew Gibson and Oliver Bonk were utilized more than the 17-year-old, who saw 20:26 of ice time.

"Even as the youngest defender on the team, he clearly did not lack the confidence required to take chances with the puck in the name of creating offence," said McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten.

"I'm legitimately worried about how Canada's defence looks without him," added Otten. "The team opted to leave some of the more dynamic defenders in the age group at home and with Schaefer out versus Latvia, the team struggled to create significant scoring chances from the blueline out."

It was a talking point in Brock and I's examination of Canada's lineup on the McKeen's Hockey Show before the tournament: even if you were banking on Schaefer bearing the burden of offence on the blueline, why not bring one of Zayne Parekh or Carter Yakemchuk? Why not take full advantage of the talent available by giving yourself a variety of options?

Instead of bringing in Parekh — who is the second defenceman in OHL history to score 30 goals in his draft year — or Yakemchuk, — who holds the Calgary Hitmen franchise record for goals scored by a defenceman — Hockey Canada has elected to stick with the group they brought.

With Canada cancelling practice yesterday, head coach Dave Cameron and his staff will have a fresh approach for tonight's match.

There are two main areas in need of addressing on the backend: their ability to create offence in transition and the lack of a true powerplay quarterback.

Bonk took over for Schaefer against Latvia on Canada's top unit, despite the fact he has operated almost exclusively in the bumper role for London in the OHL. His teammate, Sam Dickinson, runs the PP1 for the Knights: the 2024 first-round pick leads CHL defenders with 36 points in 26 games.

"Dickinson has the potential to step into that role for Canada, but he seems to have reverted into a shell in this tournament, afraid of making a mistake," explained Otten.

"Outside of Tanner Molendyk, the rest of the defenders have had trouble making clean and controlled exits," he added.

"I worry about how the heavy forecheck of the United States, for example, will be handled. Lastly, Schaefer was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Canadian power play. Now its reconfiguration will need to be completed without him. Will that be successful?"

Hagens leading the way for USA

Seeing Schaefer and Porter Martone face off against James Hagens on New Year's Eve would have been a spectacle for NHL scouts to behold. It's an unfortunate outcome in a tournament where you always want best-on-best action.

After a slow start in the NCAA (relative to his standards), Hagens has looked excellent back amongst junior players. The 18-year-old centreman was just too much to handle for Latvia yesterday in the USA's 5-1 undoing of the underdogs.

Watching him move the puck around with Gabe Perrault and Ryan Leonard is utterly mesmerizing: both of his assists came from him drawing opponents in before picking a seam to the back door:

Ryan Leonard strikes on the power-play to make it 2-0 USA!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/A9h9Y2klJb

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

Zeev Buium finishes off the James Hagens pass to make it 3-0 USA!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/LfsiIclCJB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

Hagens would have had a goal of his own were it not for the efforts of Linards Feldbergs, hot off the performance of a lifetime against Canada less than 24 hours earlier:

WHAT A SAVE

Linards Feldbergs makes an incredible stop on James Hagens.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/2mt2mK68WB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

He was complimentary of Team Latvia's effort post-game:

"We were ready right from the drop of the puck," said the Hauppauge, New York native. "They're a great hockey team. Anyone can win on any given day. We came in here ready to give it our all. We saw the game against Canada. They never stopped coming. But we all stuck together."

The Boston College centerman sits second in the tournament scoring with two goals and six points (five of which are primary). He fills up the net every time he dons the stars and stripes.

Secondary scoring shines for the Americans, D needs work

In our discussion before the tournament, it was suggested by Asst. Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, that the Americans had two question marks heading into the tournament: whether or not the team would be too reliant on its top unit and if the defence corps was up to snuff.

Danny Nelson was excellent behind Hagens yesterday, the big two-way pivot scored twice and was named player of the game. Centring the second line with Trevor Connelly and Cole Eiserman on his wings, the New York Islanders prospect is blossoming in a more prominent role for the Americans — he was mostly deployed on the penalty kill last tournament.

Thus far, the second line has combined for five of USA's 15 goals, in contrast to the first line's six.

The question marks still lie around the defence, though. Expect head coach David Carle to tinker with the bottom pairings against Finland.

Parting Notes

Three Czech players (Vojtech Hradec, Jakub Stancl, and Matej Mastalirsky) scored a hat trick as the defending bronze medalists defeated Kazakhstan 14-2
Scoring 14 goals on 36 shots, the Czechs had a 39% shooting percentage in the victory.
It was the most goals Czechia has ever scored against Kazakhstan, eclipsing a 10-2 showing at the 2009 edition of the tournament in Ottawa.
Seattle Kraken pick Jakub Fibigr recorded four assists
Fellow Kraken prospect Eduard Sale picked up two assists, taking him past David Pastrnak and Jiri Hudler on the all-time WJC scoring list for Czechia with 16 points in 16 career games.
Hagens is currently on pace for 21 points should he play all seven potential games of the tournament. The record for American draft-eligible players is 13 points in six contests: a record that's stood for almost 50 years.
Feldbergs (Sherbrooke, QMJHL) has made 91 saves in his first two games: the Latvian netminder caught the attention of former Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price with his impressive display against Canada.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Preview – Team Canada

Derek Neumeier — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:30 +0000

_{GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 27: Latvia vs Canada Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scandinavium on December 27, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)}

For every Canadian contingent at the annual World Juniors tournament, there is only one goal, one standard that is strived for: winning gold. Anything less than that is considered a failure.

At the same time, however, there are still different degrees of failure that exist for the hockey juggernaut when it comes to this event. So when Canada only finished 5th last year, after being bounced by Czechia in the quarterfinals and getting sent home before they were even able to compete for a medal of any colour, it was nothing short of a catastrophe on all fronts.

The good news is that it's still possible to turn last year's outcome into little more than a blip in the country's long history of World Juniors success stories. After all, Canada had won gold the two preceding years, and then again two years before that.

And perhaps the host city for this year's tournament is a good omen for a comeback. Not only will Canada have the advantage of playing on home soil, but they'll be doing so again in Ottawa, where they emerged victorious back in 2009, which was the fifth iteration in an incredible stretch of five consecutive championships. That also happened to be one of the most iconic Canadian performances ever in this tournament, from the violent drama of the New Year's Eve match against the United States to Jordan Eberle's game-tying goal against Russia in the semifinals, to a masterful, top-to-bottom assault that stunned Sweden in the deciding game.

This year won’t be a cakewalk, however. The Americans are dangerous and seen by many as the favorites coming in, younger players than usual will be tasked with important roles, and some very highly-regarded names were controversially left off the team in an attempt to strike a better kind of balance within the roster, decisions that will be scrutinized even further if Canada underperforms expectations.

The stakes are high and the pressure is mounting. Now it’s time to see what these Canadian players are made of.

Key Players

Cole Beaudoin, Center

Anyone who might feel skeptical about Beaudoin making this team needs to go back and watch the gold-medal game of the 2024 IIHF U18s, between Canada and the United States. He was nothing short of fantastic in that pivotal contest, scoring a 3rd-period goal and putting in stalwart defensive work throughout his 20 minutes of ice time, especially when Canada was defending their lead late against a final American push. That was a quintessential Beaudoin performance, showing him at the peak of what his impact can be as a workhorse center who has no trouble carrying a heavy load. And because he's so experienced, comfortable and effective with how he plays it makes it easy for his coaches to know exactly how to use him. Any time Canada needs to close out a win in this tournament you can be sure that Beaudoin will be coming over the boards.

Oliver Bonk, Defense

Bonk is usually not particularly entertaining to watch, but he's the type of player that you could set your watch to. When it comes to producing consistently solid two-way hockey as a defenseman, he is nearly unparalleled for this age group. He can eat up a lot of minutes in all situations and rarely leaves his team in a worse spot than the one that they were in when he stepped onto the ice. And perhaps most crucially, after back-to-back appearances in the OHL finals with the London Knights, one trip to the Memorial Cup, and him being a returnee for this tournament, he's not likely to be intimidated or thrown off of his game by the bright spotlight that will be shining directly on him and the rest of the home team. If he can act as a calming presence for this blueline it could make a bigger difference than most spectators realize.

Berkly Catton, Center

Getting the opportunity to don the maple leaf will be a thrill for every player on this roster, but it's safe to assume that Catton will be a little extra excited about it. He was nothing short of heroic last year for a young and outgunned Spokane Chiefs club, playing a mind-boggling amount of minutes and putting in an immeasurable amount of work to help his team make the playoffs, often lifting them up single-handedly. Unfortunately for him, that long grind took a toll on his body and forced him to sit out last spring's IIHF U18 tournament due to injury, denying him the chance to improve upon the bronze medal that he won in the same event the year prior as an underage player. Now that he's healthy again and surrounded by a strong supporting cast we could really see him thrive in Ottawa, using his elite hockey sense, lighting-quick acceleration and deep bag of puck tricks to carve up enemy defenses.

Easton Cowan, Wing

Over the past couple of years Cowan has become fondly known by his nickname of "Cowboy," and a large part of why he's so successful as a prospect is because he knows how to bring a lot of "yeehaw" to how he plays. To put it another way, his work rate and tenacity are unmatched, his enthusiasm and confidence are infectious, and he's utterly fearless when it comes to any challenge that he faces. The effect of those intangibles is just as pronounced and impactful as what he actually does with the puck on his stick, which is also quite a lot, including routinely making big plays in big, game-deciding moments. Unlike most of his teammates, Cowan has yet to ever win an international gold medal with Canada, so he might be especially motivated in Ottawa by the chance to finally cross that kind of dreamed-about milestone off of his career to-do list.

Sam Dickinson, Defense

To say that Dickinson has been unstoppable in the OHL so far this season might still be selling it short. He's produced a staggering 46 points in 26 games, which is not only the most among all defenders in that league, but also put him in the Top 10 of overall scoring before he headed to Canada's selection camp. His success stems primarily from his combination of a 6-foot-3 frame, exceptional athleticism and explosive skating prowess. The way he can rush the puck up the ice is frequently jaw-dropping, and he is making progress with learning how to use those same tools to be a moving wall defensively. There are still some hiccups with his decision-making and puck management, so his coaches will need to be careful with his usage in such a short tournament, but if they ever need to increase the pace of a game or push for a much-needed goal then he'll be a go-to option.

Carter George, Goaltender

It shouldn't come as a surprise that George made this roster, given his prior success for Canada internationally. He backstopped his home nation to two gold medals just last year, first at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and then at the 2024 IIHF U18s, and was named the best goaltender at the latter event. He's about as focused and unflappable as goalies come at this age group, regardless of whether he's facing a barrage of shots all game or only periodic chances, and he's previously shown the ability to shut out all the outside noise and pressure that often sinks Canadian netminders in best-on-best competition. George might not outright steal any games in this tournament, but that's alright because he shouldn't have to. If he can manage his crease with poise and consistency that should be enough to lead his team to victory.

Gavin McKenna, Wing

Like Connor Bedard three years ago, and Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby going even further back, McKenna was named to a Canadian World Juniors roster before he reached his 17th birthday because of his sheer amounts of skill, hockey sense and potential to be a difference-maker were all simply too high to leave him off, regardless of his age. The reigning CHL Rookie of the Year leads the WHL in scoring heading into the holiday break thanks to his dazzling puck control, incisive vision and the competitive chip on his shoulder. McKenna is currently the scouting industry's consensus projection to become the 1st-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and that distinction will be further cemented if he shines bright in Ottawa, which is a likely outcome given his track record and body of work up to this point in his career.

Bradly Nadeau, Wing

Nadeau is the only member of this Canadian roster who has been playing hockey full-time at a professional level this season (with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, where he has an impressive 15 points in 22 games), which will help minimize this particular advantage that is always held by the top European clubs, who routinely bring multiple players with pro experience. He also might be something of a wildcard for this team, because he's highly talented and has been enjoying a steep upward trajectory with his development in recent years, yet this will be his first time representing Canada internationally. If everything comes together just right for Nadeau he could be a top player in this event, showing off his slippery transition play and booming slapshot, and using the opportunity as a springboard to turn him into a much bigger name in the hockey world.

Cal Ritchie, Center

Ritchie is one of three players on this roster who have already dressed for NHL regular-season games, though he's the only one so far who has collected his first goal at the sport's highest level. He probably could have stuck around all season in Colorado and succeeded, but getting to chase a gold medal at the World Juniors was one of the reasons why the Avalanche chose to send him back down to the OHL one last time. The big, abundantly skilled center is scoring at a pace of nearly two points per game with his club team in Oshawa and might be Canada's single-best offensive weapon here, especially considering he's older and more experienced than most of the others who will be wearing the maple leaf. He can generate offense in any way that he wants to, and can do so at both even strength and on the power play.

Matthew Schaefer, Defense

Just how special is Schaefer as a prospect? Let's put it this way: he is the first 17-year-old defenseman to be named to a Canadian World Juniors roster since Ryan Ellis, all the way back at the 2009 tournament. And there is a long list of great Canadian defensemen who came around between then and now but didn't get that privilege. When you watch him play he certainly doesn't look his age, with a poise and maturity well beyond his years, and he has an expert understanding of how to use his sublime skating ability to be a difference-maker all over the ice. Schaefer is one of only three players to ever win gold at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, IIHF U18s and the Hlinka, and if he adds another one to his trophy case here it will break even more new ground and add another chapter to an already remarkable story that he has only just begun writing for himself.

Sleeper Player

Carson Bjarnason, Goaltender

While Carter George comes into this tournament as Canada's expected number-one goalie, there's still a real chance that Bjarnason will take over the reins at some point and hold onto them in the elimination games. He doesn't have the same track record of international success that George does, but he's a year older, he's bigger, and he's faster in his movements. An argument could rationally be made that, on paper, Bjarnason is the better goalie at this point in time. There are still some consistency issues in his game, but he's pulled off more than a few show-stopping performances in his years in Brandon, and a goalie only needs to stay hot for a few matches in a row to lead his team to glory at the World Juniors. If he turns out to have the hottest hand among the Canadian goalies then his coaches would be remiss to not put their trust in him.