{"id":585033,"date":"2026-04-04T13:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/585033\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:11:15","slug":"which-nhl-prospect-in-each-teams-pipeline-had-the-most-promising-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/585033\/","title":{"rendered":"Which NHL prospect in each team\u2019s pipeline had the most promising season?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s what every NHL organization wants to see in its prospect pipeline: the player who shows promise that they could one day be ready for the next step and more responsibility at a higher level.<\/p>\n

As the 2025-26 hockey season winds down, these prospects have emerged and shown what they could have to offer \u2014 enough to possibly change the way their organization perceives them or solidify their future star status.<\/p>\n

Which prospect in each NHL team\u2019s pipeline had the most promising season?<\/p>\n

The Athletic posed that question to its NHL staff, stipulating that while short-term call-ups this season are eligible, the prospects should not have spent most of the season in the NHL.<\/p>\n

In response, we heard about top prospects who showed they could make the leap, hidden gems who could earn bigger opportunities and players who showed they are on the precipice of making an NHL impact. Here are the picks.<\/p>\n

Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n

Roger McQueen, C<\/p>\n

The Ducks\u2019 top pick in 2025 had a slow start to his college season after playing in the WHL. McQueen heated up for Providence and helped lift the Friars into the NCAA Tournament. He\u2019s now finishing with the AHL\u2019s San Diego Gulls after signing an amateur tryout contract. \u2014 Eric Stephens<\/p>\n

Boston Bruins<\/p>\n

James Hagens, LW\/C<\/p>\n

Hagens, the No. 7 pick in 2025, is a natural center. It may be his long-term position. But the 19-year-old spent most of the season at left wing to improve his off-puck play. He did well enough to become a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Hagens projects to be a top-six fixture. \u2014 Fluto Shinzawa<\/p>\n

Buffalo Sabres<\/p>\n

Brodie Ziemer, RW <\/p>\n

Ziemer was the captain for Team USA at World Juniors and also had a point-per-game season at the University of Minnesota with 23 goals and 13 assists in 36 games. A third-round pick in 2024, Ziemer is a relentless worker with an NHL shot. He\u2019s also clearly developing more skill with the puck on his stick. He looks like a future NHL player. \u2014 Matthew Fairburn<\/p>\n

Calgary Flames<\/p>\n

Ethan Wyttenbach, LW<\/p>\n

Wyttenbach is the highest-scoring player in the NCAA this season, as a freshman. Yes, even more points than Gavin McKenna, still projected to be selected first in the upcoming NHL Draft. Wyttenbach has more points than James Hagens, Porter Martone and Michael Hage, too. Flames fans have every reason to be excited about the Hobey Baker finalist, a small, yet dynamic winger with a goal-scoring touch. Likely more than people thought at the beginning of his season. \u2014 Julian McKenzie<\/p>\n

Carolina Hurricanes<\/p>\n

Charles Alexis Legault, RHD<\/p>\n

The easy answer here is Bradly Nadeau, who is within reach of his second 30-goal season in the AHL, but Legault boosted his stock when injuries struck the Hurricanes. Legault was called up early in the season due to a rash of injured defenseman and performed well in eight games, providing size and toughness on the back end. A freak injury during his first career NHL fight cost him a few months of the season, but Legault established himself as a blueliner to watch for Carolina\u2019s future. \u2014 Cory Lavalette<\/p>\n

Chicago Blackhawks<\/p>\n

Roman Kantserov, RW<\/p>\n

The Blackhawks thought Kantserov could be a value pick at No. 44 in the 2023 draft, but they had no idea he\u2019d develop as he has in Russia. Kantserov became the first 21-year-old since Kirill Kaprizov to lead the KHL in goals. Kantserov scored 36 goals in 63 games this season. That\u2019s not to say he will be the next Kaprizov in the NHL, but the Blackhawks think he has the makings of another top-six forward for them and another significant piece to their rebuild puzzle. \u2014 Scott Powers<\/p>\n

Colorado Avalanche<\/p>\n

Ilya Nabokov, G<\/p>\n

Nabakov\u2019s overall statistics have dipped a bit from his first two seasons in the KHL, but he still finished top 10 in the league in wins despite playing in a split tandem. He\u2019s quick and precise with his movements, and continues to prove he\u2019s one of the better goalie prospects outside of the NHL. With Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood already signed for 2026-27, Colorado is in no rush to bring Nabokov over, but the Avs\u2019 future in the crease is in good hands. \u2014 Jesse Granger<\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets<\/p>\n

Jackson Smith, LHD<\/p>\n

Smith had a tremendous freshman season at Penn State, totaling 11 goals, 15 assists and 26 points in 35 games and landing on the all-Big Ten second team. He moves incredibly well for a big man, and he\u2019s made impressive strides this season on his defensive reads. At lesser levels, he could recover defensively from overly aggressive reads, but he had to adjust to the NCAA. Smith, the No. 14 pick last summer, will return to Penn State for his sophomore season, which the Blue Jackets fully support. \u2014 Aaron Portzline<\/p>\n

Dallas Stars<\/p>\n

Tristan Bertucci, LHD <\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Dallas has a very shallow prospect pool, ranked 31st for the second straight year by our Scott Wheeler. So the bar isn\u2019t high here. But Bertucci had a solid, if unspectacular, season in the AHL as a 20-year-old this season, and raised his stock considerably within the Stars organization, improving his defensive play without sacrificing too much of the offense that got him drafted in the second round (2023) in the first place. \u2014 Mark Lazerus<\/p>\n

Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n

Max Plante, LW<\/p>\n

Plante had a stellar season at Minnesota Duluth, finishing with 52 points in 40 games \u2014 the third most in the nation \u2014 and being named NCHC Player of the Year. The skilled winger was a key driver for getting the Bulldogs back into the NCAA Tournament, and is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker. The next question is whether he will turn pro, which could be a tough call as his younger brother Victor is set to join UMD next season. \u2014 Max Bultman<\/p>\n

Edmonton Oilers<\/p>\n

Josh Samanski, C<\/p>\n

One year ago, Samanski was a productive center in Germany\u2019s top league (DEL). He was signed last spring by Edmonton with little fanfare. In the fall, Samanski emerged as a complete two-way center with the AHL Bakersfield Condors. His range of skills allowed him to flourish at even strength and on the power play. Late in the season, he received a recall to the Oilers and has emerged as a bona fide third-line center\/wing. He came out of nowhere to win an NHL job. \u2014 Allan Mitchell<\/p>\n

Florida Panthers<\/p>\n

Sandis Vilmanis, LW<\/p>\n

Vilmanis, 22, wasn\u2019t expected to get as much time in the NHL as he did this season, but with the Panthers beat up and having a down season, he\u2019s appeared in 19 games and been a cromulent option in fourth-line minutes. A fifth-rounder in 2022, he also had a solid showing as an Olympian for Latvia and could wind up a useful middle-six piece if his sharp shooting from junior translates to the pro level. \u2014 James Mirtle<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n

Vojt\u011bch \u010ciha\u0159, LW<\/p>\n

\u010ciha\u0159, a second-round pick in 2025, is making a big impact this season. The 19-year-old started the year in the top-level Czech Extraliga and then led his nation to the World Juniors gold medal game with an MVP performance. He\u2019s now in the WHL and making a lot of noise for Kelowna in the playoffs. \u2014 Eric Stephens<\/p>\n

Minnesota Wild<\/p>\n

Charlie Stramel, C<\/p>\n

The 2023 first-round pick broke out, being named a Hobey Baker top-10 finalist, scoring 19 goals and 44 points with Michigan State and finishing second in Division I college hockey in faceoff wins. His signing with the Wild has been delayed after he broke his ankle in the Spartans\u2019 season-ending loss to Wisconsin. Minnesota would like to burn a year, but if the NHL doesn\u2019t allow it, the Wild are confident the contract would start next season instead of him becoming a free agent on Aug. 15. \u2014 Michael Russo<\/p>\n

Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n

Alexander Zharovsky, RW\/LW<\/p>\n

The Canadiens overpaid for Zharovsky, trading picks 41 and 49 to the Hurricanes for No. 34 in last year\u2019s draft, but were happy to do it. They had Zharovsky in the top 12 on their internal list, and after trading away picks 16 and 17 in the Noah Dobson deal, to have Zharovsky still on the board was a gift. He fell seven points short of childhood friend Ivan Demidov\u2019s U20 KHL record with 42 points this season as an 18-year-old. They could be teammates as early as the end of next season. \u2014 Arpon Basu<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators<\/p>\n

Ryan Ufko, RHD<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be negligent if I didn\u2019t pick Ufko here. The Preds have more first-round picks in their pool than any team in the league, but it\u2019s the 2021 fourth-rounder who has taken the biggest step this year. Ufko has played well since the day he stepped into the AHL \u2014 and before that, since the day he stepped on campus at UMass \u2014 but his emergence as what looks like a legitimate NHL defense option is found money on Broadway. \u2014 Scott Wheeler<\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n

Lenni H\u00e4meenaho, RW<\/p>\n

H\u00e4meenaho, ranked fifth on Scott Wheeler\u2019s most recent ranking of Devils\u2019 prospects, did enough with AHL Utica to earn an NHL call-up. He\u2019s since played 27 games with the NHL Devils and has two goals and five assists. He\u2019s shown he can be someone called upon for NHL games and could be a bottom-six player for the Devils going forward. He\u2019s not the highest-touted prospect but has had an encouraging year. \u2014 Peter Baugh<\/p>\n

New York Islanders<\/p>\n

Jacob Kvasnicka, RW<\/p>\n

There were a few options for this within the Isles pool, but there might not have been a better season by a 2025 seventh-rounder than Kvasnicka\u2019s. He led the WHL expansion Penticton Vees in scoring and to a winning record, and did it while playing his hard-working game. He\u2019ll be a good college player who gives pro hockey a go. \u2014 Scott Wheeler<\/p>\n

New York Rangers<\/p>\n

Nathan Aspinall, LW<\/p>\n

After registering a modest 47 points for the Flint Firebirds in 2024-25, Aspinall exploded for 94 (33 goals and 61 assists) to rank second in the OHL in his age-19 season. That pace has gone up in the playoffs, during which he\u2019s racked up 13 points (six goals and seven assists) through four games. The size (6-foot-7, 207 pounds) and skill combination have led to eye-opening production for the 2024 fifth-round pick, who\u2019s significantly raised his stock as he prepares to turn pro next season. \u2014 Vincent Z. Mercogliano<\/p>\n

Ottawa Senators<\/p>\n

Lucas Beckman, G<\/p>\n

Beckman began the season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL with a 4-14-3 record. However, he still posted a .905 save percentage. Then the Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens came calling, and Beckman propelled them to regular-season success while bolstering his own numbers \u2014 a 13-1-0 record, a .940 save percentage, and a 1.52 goals-against average. He\u2019s also off to a great start in the QMJHL playoffs, too. \u2014 Julian McKenzie<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Porter Martone looks like a guy who will play a key role in the Flyers\u2019 late playoff push. (Kyle Ross \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Flyers<\/p>\n

Porter Martone, RW<\/p>\n

It always seemed likely that Martone would join the Flyers after his college season at Michigan State concluded, but considering how he played there, leading the team in scoring with 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games, it became inevitable once the Spartans were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament last weekend. Martone made his NHL debut in Washington on Tuesday, registered a team-high five shots and immediately looked like a guy who will play a key role in the Flyers\u2019 late playoff push. \u2014 Kevin Kurz<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n

Will Horcoff, LW<\/p>\n

Horcoff was the third player selected by the Penguins in the 2025 draft. They obviously liked him then. They love him now. Horcoff has produced 25 goals and 38 points in 39 games at Michigan this season. He\u2019s likely a year or two away from being NHL-ready, but he is a good prospect whose stock is rising. \u2014 Josh Yohe<\/p>\n

San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n

Igor Chernyshov, LW<\/p>\n

There are many worthy choices, but it\u2019s tough to top Chernyshov, who went at the top of the second round in 2024 and parlayed a great showing in the AHL into being the potential fit with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith on the Sharks\u2019 top line. He\u2019s got five goals and 14 points in his first 21 NHL games. The 20-year-old Russian has arrived. \u2014 Eric Stephens<\/p>\n

Seattle Kraken<\/p>\n

Julius Miettinen, C<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old Finn has been the center of the best line in the WHL this season, connecting play between Carter Bear and intriguing 2026 NHL Draft re-entry prospect Matias Vanhanen. On a prohibitive Memorial Cup favorite in Everett that plays smash-mouth, high-paced offensive hockey, Miettinen has been the defensive conscience of the forward group and a prolific point producer to boot. He\u2019s looking like a player who should be an impact AHL center next year. \u2014 Thomas Drance<\/p>\n

St. Louis Blues<\/p>\n

Justin Carbonneau, RW<\/p>\n

By signing his entry-level contract with the Blues in 2025, Carbonneau attended training camp last September. The 2025 first-round pick was impressive \u2014 but raw and lacking good defensive habits. He returned to his junior team, where he eclipsed the 50-goal plateau for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and made a stronger commitment in his own zone. The Blues should be getting a more well-rounded, polished player in next season\u2019s camp. \u2014 Jeremy Rutherford<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning<\/p>\n

Benjamin Rautiainen, LW<\/p>\n

Rautiainen had one of the most productive seasons in Liiga\u2019s history, displaying NHL-caliber puck play. A highly skilled and intelligent forward, he\u2019s not overly physical, but the 2025 fourth-round pick is tracking to play in the NHL, potentially as a middle-six wing. \u2014 Corey Pronman<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs<\/p>\n

Miroslav Holinka, C<\/p>\n

While an overage player in the WHL, Holinka was one of the better forwards in the league. He has translatable traits with NHL-caliber size, speed and hands. Whether he will score as a pro is to be determined, but he works hard enough and has a legit chance to make it. \u2014 Corey Pronman<\/p>\n

Utah Mammoth<\/p>\n

Cole Beaudoin, C<\/p>\n

Utah boasts several top prospects who\u2019ve had impressive seasons, including Caleb Desnoyers, Tij Iginla, Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev. Beaudoin doesn\u2019t have the high-end ceiling of those players, but he arguably had the best year relative to expectations. Drafted No. 24 in 2024, the big, hard-working center went from producing below the point-per-game mark last season to 88 points in 54 OHL games this season, and he scored seven points in seven games for Canada at the World Juniors. \u2014 Harman Dayal<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Braeden Cootes is likely to turn pro full-time next season. (Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Vancouver Canucks<\/p>\n

Braeden Cootes, C<\/p>\n

Vancouver\u2019s first-round pick at the 2025 draft has enjoyed an impressive draft-plus-one campaign, making the NHL team out of training camp and representing Canada in a depth role at the U20 tournament. He then proceeded to score 63 points across 45 WHL games for the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Prince Albert Raiders. Cootes, a well-rounded right-handed center with quality two-way details and scoring touch in his game, is likely to turn pro full-time next season. \u2014 Thomas Drance<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights<\/p>\n

Carl Lindbom, G<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been an excellent sophomore season in the AHL for Lindbom. Not only did he show flashes of brilliance in his short stint in the NHL, but Lindbom has also been dominant for the Henderson Silver Knights. Lindbom has the second-highest save percentage in all of the AHL (.924), with three shutouts in 30 starts. \u2014 Jesse Granger<\/p>\n

Washington Capitals<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas, C<\/p>\n

With all due respect to Cole Hutson, who\u2019s shown what makes him the franchise\u2019s best prospect, the 6-foot-5 \u201clittle\u201d brother of Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas \u2014 once again \u2014 is the pick here. In 2024-25, he put up 149 points in his first 73 OHL games as an 18-year-old. In 2025-26, he\u2019s led the AHL\u2019s Hershey Bears in goals and points, and he\u2019s doing it at center. Protas, who doesn\u2019t turn 20 until July, was a third-round pick in 2024. Now, he looks like a first-rounder. \u2014 Sean Gentille<\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets<\/p>\n

Kieron Walton, LW\/C<\/p>\n

Walton is a 6-foot-6, 227-pound forward with soft hands who\u2019s played some center and a lot of left wing and who led the OHL with 364 shots this season \u2014 a ridiculous margin over No. 2 Adam Novotn\u00fd, who had 278. The difference is a testament to Walton\u2019s ability to control the play, his deft stickhandling and playmaking ability to create a pile of scoring chances for himself and his teammates. The Tage Thompson admirer finished eighth in OHL scoring and has four points in five playoff games. \u2014 Murat Ates<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s what every NHL organization wants to see in its prospect pipeline: the player who shows promise that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":585034,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[556],"tags":[1419,64,63,5789,6581,7525,3615,7520,7522,3936,7521,3064,3275,7530,3274,7526,7524,5790,7523,7519,5791,3617,575,6597,3065,4785,7527,3066,85,3935,4788,2370,7528,2371,7529,4791,6000],"class_list":{"0":"post-585033","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-anaheim-ducks","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-boston-bruins","12":"tag-buffalo-sabres","13":"tag-calgary-flames","14":"tag-carolina-hurricanes","15":"tag-chicago-blackhawks","16":"tag-colorado-avalanche","17":"tag-columbus-blue-jackets","18":"tag-dallas-stars","19":"tag-detroit-red-wings","20":"tag-edmonton-oilers","21":"tag-fantasy-hockey","22":"tag-florida-panthers","23":"tag-los-angeles-kings","24":"tag-minnesota-wild","25":"tag-montreal-canadiens","26":"tag-nashville-predators","27":"tag-new-jersey-devils","28":"tag-new-york-islanders","29":"tag-new-york-rangers","30":"tag-nhl","31":"tag-ottawa-senators","32":"tag-philadelphia-flyers","33":"tag-pittsburgh-penguins","34":"tag-san-jose-sharks","35":"tag-seattle-kraken","36":"tag-sports","37":"tag-st-louis-blues","38":"tag-tampa-bay-lightning","39":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","40":"tag-utah-mammoth","41":"tag-vancouver-canucks","42":"tag-vegas-golden-knights","43":"tag-washington-capitals","44":"tag-winnipeg-jets"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=585033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585033\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/585034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=585033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=585033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=585033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}