The NHL rookie tournaments are a good way to figure out who’s truly a hockey sicko.

For months, fans across the internet have been clamoring for action resembling NHL hockey. And while these rookie tournaments won’t feature many players that will be full-timers this season, it does offer fans a glimpse into the future before training camps start next week.

The 10 rookie tournaments spread out across Canada and the United are a perfect way to get back into the swing of things. From first-round picks to long shots hoping to keep their pro hockey dreams alive, this is truly an exciting time for the diehard hockey fans.

I myself will be in Buffalo over the weekend watching the five participating teams. Essentially, every game across the board will be streamed in some facet, whether it be on social media, YouTube, or a team’s website. It might not feel like the real thing, and it’s definitely not as good as watching the best of the best go at it. But there’s still a lot of passion on the line here. And it’s a good opportunity to get you ready for the season ahead

Not all 32 teams will be playing in prospect tournaments. The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals instead will stay home. This, however, will be a good opportunity for every other fan base to get a look at what their next crop of young talent could look like. Players already participating in European seasons will not take part, and the same goes for NCAA-bound players, too.

Here’s a look at one prospect to watch on all 30 participating teams. It’s not necessarily the top prospect in each system. But in some cases, it’s a youngster with an intriguing storyline, or a prospect hoping to make the jump to the NHL in a few weeks:

2025 Prospect Showdown (Montreal, Quebec, Sept. 13-14)

Reinbacher is coming off two drama-filled seasons – one due to significant coaching changes on his team in Switzerland, and last year due to injuries. Showing he’s up to speed to kick off 2025-26 could go a long way. With Logan Mailloux out of the way, look for Reinbacher to take an even bigger role going forward in Laval. He played quite well when he was healthy – showing that on a more consistent basis is the real challenge, though. I’m still a believer – I like him with the puck and I think he’s very impressive defensively, too. Reinbacher just needs the chance to actually prove it. This is a perfect opportunity for him to show what he’s capable of.

Will Yakemchuk be an NHLer in 2025-26? There’s a solid chance, and this tournament can get him started on the right foot. I didn’t like him at the Buffalo tournament a year ago but he made up for it with an excellent pre-season. The 6-foot-4 defender struggled to get defensive reads right when he was 18, but his game has come a long way over the past year. He had an excellent training camp, and I expect him to be in the running to start the NHL with the big club. Getting sent down to the AHLer to refine his skating and gap coverage further wouldn’t be a bad thing for him. But regardless, I see Yakemchuk becoming an impact top-four defenseman sooner rather than later.

This one isn’t a surprise. Cowan is the only prospect in this tournament with a real chance at playing NHL games this season. The skilled, hard-working forward is a great passer, loves to rush the puck up the ice and has some good speed, too. He’s set to play his first year of pro hockey, and while I think he could play in the NHL this year, he should spend the bulk of the time with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Winnipeg Jets: Elias Salmonsson, RHD, 20

Ask Jets fans who they’re most excited about and it’ll likely be Salomonsson. The 2022 second-rounder has come a long way over the past few years, and is finally starting to look like the star defensive prospect many thought he would be leading into the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s smart, physical and great with the puck, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him register 40 points this coming year in Manitoba. He’s a great skater with a big frame and he’s as defensively sound as you’ll find in this system.

2025 Rookie Game (Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Sept. 12)

Most eyes will be on top prospects Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, but Basha is one of the more intriguing forwards for the Flames. Injuries limited Basha to just 29 games in 2024-25, so he didn’t get to live up to expectations on a high-level Medicine Hat squad. Still, his actual workload was solid, and he enters this one-game affair as one of the team’s brightest young forwards. Basha turns 20 in November, he’s eligible to spend 2025-26 in the AHL. That’s a big step up for someone who didn’t play a ton of hockey last year, but many around Calgary think he’s got the work ethic and the playmaking to make it work.

Many Oilers fans are wondering if Howard could start the year in the NHL. A nice showing in this one-off game would help heat up the conversation, too. Howard is coming off winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top college hockey player, and he also snagged a gold medal with USA at the World Championship. Howard has an excellent shot release and his skating is a serious positive. Scouts are worried that he won’t thrive unless he’s paired with a center who could take away some of the defensive responsibilities. While this showcase might not be the perfect place for him to showcase his talent, training camp absolutely will be.

2025 Prospects Challenge (Buffalo, New York, Sept. 11-15)

The Bruins needed center depth, and Minten – someone with middle-six potential – is a good fit. He’s laser-focused on being a smart, two-way center who is exceptionally responsible defensively. He has a great shot, can handle himself physically and has shown some real promise in the pro ranks already. Look for Minten to chase a full-time roster spot this coming season – he already has experience with the Maple Leafs.

I liked Helenius at this event a year ago and I’m excited to see him up close again. What sets him apart from others in Buffalo’s system is his exceptional hockey IQ. Helenius is a creative player who rarely lets a play die in order to just make a pass. On the power play, he’s patient but calculated – and while he can’t slow things down on the man advantage now like he did against his age group, he’s learning to adjust. 

It’s unfortunate that he’s not donning his trademark No. 69 anymore, but alas. Dumais has only played 42 regular season games over the past two years, so he has missed significantly more hockey than the average prospect. Still, 11 points in 21 AHL games isn nothing to sneeze at – especially after the limited playing time the year before. Dumais is one of the 5-foot-9 forwards whom scouts still have faith in because of the insane output he has managed to put up year after year at all levels. I think he might have the most individual skill of anyone heading to Buffalo this week.

I really liked Casey’s tournament a year ago – he looked determined to win every single battle. Casey made the Devils out of training camp and was impressive early on, registering four points in his first six games while averaging 12 minutes a night. His ice time quickly started to fall and he was sent to Utica before getting one last call up in the spring. The undersized defender loves to make high-quality plays with the puck, and he hits hard for his size, too. I love his puck game, and his defensive awareness and consistency have taken big strides over the past two years. Look for Casey to be in the hunt for the Calder Trophy this year.

Pickering played 25 games in the NHL and another 47 in the AHL. It was a busy year for him, and it was good to see him putting in some consistent performances. At 6-foot-5, Pickering takes up a lot of space, but he’s also competent with the puck. He played a lot of minutes this year and I expect him to do the same in 2025-26 before pushing for a full-time NHL gig. I think his offensive output will be limited in the NHL, which doesn’t help him. But his D-zone coverage is probably the best of any Penguins prospect, and that’ll be his bread and butter.

2025 Rookie Series (Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sept. 12-13)

Gabe Perreault is the big draw here, but Othmann is the one with the most on the line heading into camp. The hard-nosed forward played well in the AHL but just seemed to be too inconsistent with the Rangers. I still like the 22-year-old because he has a great shot release and can definitely generate chances in the right situation. But it’s been a bit of a rocky road in his limited NHL time. I hope he can take the next step forward to become a middle-six threat for the Rangers sooner rather than later because I, and many others, still see the potential. Hopefully, this two-game showcase helps him kick things off on the right foot.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the Flyers out of training camp, and it seems like others around the organization agree. Bump had an excellent sophomore season at Western Michigan, leading the team to a national title. He then finished off the AHL season with three points in two regular-season games before joining the team for the playoffs. Bump loves to generate scoring chances, and he’s no slouch as a playmaker, either. He has the skill to be a decent middle-six threat for the Flyers, but scouts are worried about his pace once he jumps to the NHL. A good showing to start the season wouldn’t hurt.

2025 Prospect Tournament (Wesley Chapel, Florida, Sept. 12-15)

Nadeau is one of the best players in this tournament, and for good reason. He was the only U-20 AHLer to register 30 goals or 50 points this year, and he did it while playing a bit more physically than we were used to seeing from him. The only true blemish on Nadeau’s season was his quiet showing at the World Juniors – he just never seemed comfortable after joining the team following training camp. I hope to see Nadeau play some more NHL games this season, but I expect him to spend more time with the Chicago Wolves.

Becoming Florida’s top prospect isn’t a hard bar to cross. But Devine – a seventh-round pick in 2022 – has firmly established himself as the best of the best. Devine is a speedy, energetic forward who just makes things happen. He set a new personal best in the NCAA last year with 57 points, giving him a grand total of 163 points in 162 NCAA outings. Producing as an undersized forward in college is one thing – the pro game is a totally different story.

Molendyk is set for his first year of pro after a handful of impressive post-draft seasons in the WHL. He’s mobile, smart and an excellent puck distributor. Molendyk is a much better two-way threat than he was in his draft year, allowing him to become more effective without the puck as well. It feels like Molendyk focused on building out his weaknesses – which often came down to defensive reads and positioning – to become a more polished threat. He has the potential to be the best defenseman in this showcase.

Acquired from Edmonton over the summer, O’Reilly instantly became Tampa’s top prospect. The London Knights forward is a solid two-way threat – someone I think could become a good third-line center. His toolsy nature makes him valuable in a lineup, and the Bolts seem to love guys who can do a little bit of everything all throughout the lineup. With so few notable prospects in Tampa’s system, look for O’Reilly to make some noise this weekend.

2025 NHL Prospect Games (Frisco, Texas, Sept. 13-14)

Inconsistency seemed to be an issue for Hemming in the OHL last year. But it’s hard not to love the pro-level skills. He has a good 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, and he loves to battle hard in front of the net. Scouts have also liked how much energy he seems to have late in games – he’s built for endurance. I like his wrist shot, and I think he plays with a bit more skill than he gets credit for. 

Danielson will be in the conversation to make Detroit’s opening night lineup. So a nice start to training camp season could help his chances. Danielson’s game was never going to be about pure skill or offensive domination. Instead, it was about how rounded he was and how he uses his strength and hockey sense to win battles. He had a solid 39 points in 71 AHL games as a pro rookie, and he has impressed in the past two pre-seasons, too.

2025 NHL Prospects Game (Everett, Washington, Sept. 13-14)

Catton is one of the top prospects in the NHL, and he’ll have a perfect opportunity to start things on the right foot in hopes of getting an opening-night roster spot. He has the skill, the shot, the playmaking, the hockey sense and, of course, the high-end skating to be a difference-maker sooner rather than later. He has very little to prove playing against kids his own age, but a hot showing here could further prove how dangerous he is.

Kudryavtsev continues to blow me away with how far he has come over the past few years. A seventh-round pick by the Canucks in 2022, Kudryavtsev saved his best hockey for last this past year with 10 points in 21 playoff games. His confidence seems to be at an all-time high, and it shows in the way he can dominate in his zone. The Russian-born defender looks like a legit shutdown defender candidate moving forward.

2025 Golden State Rookie Faceoff – Irvine, California, Sept. 12-14)

There were a few excellent options for this list, including Tomas Suchanek (who missed all of 2024-25 with an injury) and top prospect Beckett Sennecke. I chose Solberg because of how incredible of a season he had last year, especially when he finished the year with Norway at the World Championship. Solberg does a little bit of everything internationally for Norway, and his promotion to full-time action against men showed he can absolutely dominate shifts against quality competition. I’m excited to see him in the AHL full-time.

George is one of the best goaltending prospects in the game, but he’ll have some stiff competition at this event. He was a monster for Owen Sound, finishing as the runner-up for the OHL goaltender of the year award despite registering a losing record. He then finished the season with a shutout in his AHL debut before winning his next start in an equally impressive effort. George was so good no matter who he played against last year and should have a bright future.

Chernyshov had one of the most incredible second halves of any prospect last year. He paired up with fellow Shark prospect Michael Misa and managed to record 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games with the Saginaw Spirit. Not too shabby after some minuscule numbers in the KHL the year before. Chernyshov is a 6-foot-3 power forward who works his tail off to win battles, and I think he’s versatile enough to play anywhere in San Jose’s lineup. He’s set for full-time AHL duty this year, but look for him to be a shining star here first.

2025 Rookie Showcase (Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Sept. 12-14)

Brindley was one of my favorite prospects for Columbus, but it ultimately didn’t work there. He missed some time in the AHL last season due to injury, sure, but it was far from the production many expected from the 5-foot-9 forward. Still, he played around 17-18 minutes a night as a 20-year-old, which is nothing to sneeze at. Even if he wasn’t producing, he showed how good a skater he is and how quick his hands are when he needs to make moves. The Avs don’t have many quality prospects at this tournament, but he has a chance to be a star.

Utah Mammoth: Dmitri Simashev, LHD, 20

This will be Simashev’s first real hockey action in the United States, so it’s going to be interesting to see how he stacks up against the rest. He’s the best defenseman in this tournament, and has a legit chance of playing NHL games very soon. Simashev is a big, 6-foot-5 defender who uses his size to dominate the defensive zone without getting himself in trouble. Simashev can move the puck, land big hits and play on the penalty kill – something I expect him to do in the NHL. 

Connelly was injured at the World Junior Summer Showcase so it’s good to see he’s ready to go. Connelly has outstanding hands, and the results have been impressive in just about every showcase event we’ve seen him in. His NCAA numbers might not scream “future top-six winger,” but he rarely isn’t the best player on the ice at any given time. He’s especially slick on the power play. I’m interested to see how he transitions to the AHL this year, but this will be a good chance to compare him to the rest of Vegas’ pipeline.

2025 Tom Kurvers Showcase (St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 12-14)

Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel are locks to make the big team. Moore, however, isn’t, and I hope he turns some heads at this event. He’s the speediest prospect in Chicago’s system, and he uses that to generate offense. He excelled in his nine-game stint with the Hawks, registering four assists. Moore won’t be a play driver in the NHL, but he’s a great two-way player who’ll burn you with his speed and work ethic. If Moore makes the Hawks, it’ll be as a bottom-six player. But that’s fine, he’s so versatile. If all goes well, he’ll impress like Frank Nazar did a year ago.

By all accounts, Zeev Buium is the best player on the Wild roster. But Yurov will be fighting for a roster spot at camp, and I think he’ll make it. Yurov can play center and the wing, and while he’s not huge, he does have some solid muscle. He’s an excellent skater who loves to chase after pucks and win battles, and he’s no slouch around the net, either. There’s a lot to like about Yurov’s game, and I hope he showcases that this week.

Dvorský had a great first year in the AHL, registering 21 goals and 45 points. He’s been in the spotlight for over half a decade, and it’s been exciting to watch him develop into a legit prospect. I expect him to start the year in the AHL, but I doubt he lasts there for long – especially if he cooks during the pre-season. I just want to see a bit more urgency in Dvorský’s game because he has all the makings of a top-six forward who can thrive on the power play and drive plays when you need him to. St. Louis has a solid roster for this event, and Dvorský is the main event.

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