{"id":801342,"date":"2026-07-14T13:19:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/801342\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:19:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:19:40","slug":"top-100-drafted-nhl-prospects-ranking-mckenna-stenberg-martone-lead-summer-2026-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/801342\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking: McKenna, Stenberg, Martone lead summer 2026 list"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the summer 2026 edition of my ranking of the NHL\u2019s best prospects at The Athletic.<\/p>\n

This two-part, twice-a-year project ranks the league\u2019s top 100 drafted skaters and top 20 drafted goalies, which will be released tomorrow.<\/p>\n

This edition of my top 100 drafted prospects ranking includes 24 players from the 2026 draft, 25 from 2025, 23 from 2024, 18 from 2023 and 10 from 2022. It\u2019s made up of 70 forwards and 30 defensemen (13 lefties and 17 righties).<\/p>\n

To be considered a prospect, a skater must be under 23 and not fully established with his NHL club. The latter qualifier is arbitrary. There, I trust my judgment for whether a player should be considered fully graduated more than any predetermined games-played cutoff. Preference for inclusion as an NHL prospect is more likely to be given to teenagers than 21- or 22-year-olds.<\/p>\n

The Blackhawks lead this edition with eight prospects in the top 100, followed by the Flames and Predators with seven each, and the Sharks, Red Wings and Canucks with six apiece. Three teams don\u2019t have a ranked prospect: the Avalanche, Stars and Panthers.<\/p>\n

As always, the list is also broken down into tiers and presented within our fully sortable user interface. There are six tiers for this edition of the list: 1-4, 5-28, 29-54, 55-71, 72-88 and 89+.<\/p>\n

Final cuts included forwards Benjamin Rautiainen, Felix Unger S\u00f6rum, Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, Brayden Yager, Kieron Walton, Matt Poitras, Cole Beaudoin, Marek Vanacker, Gavin Brindley, Ilia Morozov, Liam Ruck, Lenni Hameenaho, Otto Stenberg, Felix Nilsson, Will Zellers, Oscar Fisker M\u00f8lgaard, Cooper Simpson, Filip Bystedt, Jagger Firkus, Quentin Musty, Jani Nyman, Malcolm Spence, Lucas Pettersson, Bill Zonnon, Sascha Boisvert and Adam Benak; and defensemen Bryce Pickford, Oliver Bonk, Tristan Luneau, Logan Hensler, Maveric Lamoureux, Theo Lindstein, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Ty Nelson, Henry Mews, Seamus Casey, Luca Cagnoni, Tanner Molendyk, Sascha Boumedienne and Eric Pohlkamp. I consider each of them a Tier 6 prospect.<\/p>\n

Team ANA BOS BUF CAR CBJ CGY CHI DET EDM LAK MIN MTL NJD NSH NYI NYR OTT PHI PIT SEA SJS STL TBL TOR UTA VAN VGK WPG WSH<\/p>\n

Draft Year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026<\/p>\n

Tier Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5 Tier 6<\/p>\n

Pos. C LHD LW RHD RW<\/p>\n

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Loading<\/p>\n

Try changing or resetting your filters to see more.<\/p>\n

Tier 1<\/p>\n

McKenna is a captivating and supremely gifted winger. His lean build and some bad habits (notably, a need to be more physically engaged and show more effort off-puck\/detail) can lessen his shift-to-shift five-on-five impact at times, but the talent and upside are undeniable and unique among the game’s prospects.<\/p>\n

He’s a flowing skater with corner speed more than straight-line speed (he lacks explosiveness in straight bursts), great edges and an ability to make plays at whatever pace is required \u2014 with a preference for slowing things down, at times to a fault. He\u2019s impressive at carrying and dodging sticks through neutral ice to create entries. He has a first touch like glue, where the puck just lands and sticks to his blade when he\u2019s catching it, even when it\u2019s coming in hot or into compromising positions. He\u2019s an excellent puck transporter and get-out-of-jail-free card who can skate pucks out of the zone himself and relieve pressure, though I\u2019d like to see him be lower for that more often instead of cheating up ice. McKenna is extremely shifty with the puck, blending shoulder fakes into his playmaking. He has impressive maneuverability and adjustability from his hips down. He plays pucks into space and leads guys at an advanced level. He shields pucks well from defenders\u2019 sticks when he can play in open ice and they try to close on him. He\u2019s constantly changing directions and keeping defenders off him. He pre-scans and sees and reads the game at an elite level. The elements of a brilliant perimeter playmaker are all there.<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s a playmaker first, he also has scoring elements, has tons of pre-shot deception in his movements and can attack the middle as a passer \u2014 though he can also stray to the perimeter against tougher competition. While he\u2019s going to have to fill out and get stronger and be more engaged in battles, working harder on the backcheck and in races to pucks in the D-zone, he does have a good stick defensively when he uses it. <\/p>\n

Still, despite some of the flaws in his game, McKenna projects as a first-line star winger and dynamic power-play tactician. Improvement in his five-on-five play and the consistency of his competitiveness will determine his ultimate impact beyond the counting stats he should rack up.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Chris Coduto \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Stenberg is a dynamic left-shot winger whose statistical track record, skill set and play across levels have made him the second-best prospect in the 2026 draft for me.<\/p>\n

His puck skill, offensive instincts, hockey IQ and combo scoring-playmaking package are all high-end. He makes guys miss with the puck on his stick, beats goalies one-on-one with his handles regularly and has both a lethal wrister release and a confident one-timer that give him quick-strike ability and power-play pop alongside his control and vision on the half wall. He\u2019s not an explosive skater, but he\u2019s a good one who beats guys wide with speed, escapes pressure and is agile on cuts and changes of direction, building through his crossovers or forward strides to play to challenge the opposition. He\u2019s also a heady passer and facilitator who sees the ice at a very advanced level, is creative, puts pucks into space and can pick teams apart on the power play when they focus too much on him. Off the puck, he has good offensive and defensive instincts to get open or cut off passes. He’ll also make effort plays and hustle, and has worked to do both more consistently.<\/p>\n

Stenberg\u2019s biggest standout tool for me, though, has repeatedly been his wall play and strength on his stick. He\u2019s not big, but he\u2019s very, very strong in hockey terms. He stays over pucks, wins a ton of battles along the boards with strong stick lifts and just finds pucks along the wall with his blade. He has an uncanny ability to hold and protect pucks against and through contact in the offensive zone. That ability also helps him draw a lot of penalties. He\u2019s also fearlessly poised under pressure and makes plays under tight coverage in difficult spots, including one-on-one as the last man back at the offensive zone blue line. He\u2019ll turn over the odd puck playing that game, but can also create something out of nothing, and because of his ability in protection, he usually finds a way to delay until something opens up. He can take play to the inside or pick coverage apart on the perimeter, too. He always seems to handle bad passes into his first touch.<\/p>\n

Stenberg projects as a first-line winger.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Michael Miller \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Martone is a modern powered forward who blends size with skill, poise, physicality and scoring ability.<\/p>\n

He has a pro build, battles for pucks when he\u2019s on them, goes to the net, finishes his checks and will drop the gloves. He handles the puck extremely smoothly for his size and can be quite noticeable in possession when he\u2019s playing with confidence and intention. I\u2019ve seen him make a ton of individual skill plays one-on-one, cleanly beat goalies from mid-range with his strong shot and release and execute low-to-high plays from below the goal line or off the cycle. He has a nifty toe-drag, both in release and one-on-one handles, and slick handles, regularly making individual skill plays on the puck. He has a deceptive release point and is an excellent passer.<\/p>\n

There have been games in which I\u2019ve wanted to see him keep his feet moving and take over, and others where his discipline on the puck (in terms of play selection\/turning it over) and off it (bad penalties, losing his man to chase, not finding open space) have been an issue. His skating can kick out from the knees a little bit, too, and it will need to improve if he wants the rest of his game to really pop at the NHL level. But he has a lot of attributes: size, strength, power, shot, playmaking, puck skill. He\u2019s going to score goals, make plays and be able to impose himself in the NHL when he really comes into his own. He has the talent to become a high-end point-producing winger. The skill and hockey sense are real, and the consistency of his effort level and toughness have developed over time, too. He\u2019s one of the top forward prospects in the game.<\/p>\n

I debated ranking him No. 2.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Kyle Ross\/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Misa has been a name for a long time, and I fully expect that he, Stenberg, Macklin Celebrini and Will will form a four-headed monster up front for the Sharks for the next decade.<\/p>\n

He’s a beautiful skater with some quiet explosiveness and a real knack for weaving, cutting, turning and spinning in control of the puck to either shake defenders under pressure in the offensive or defensive zone or slip past them in transition with his speed and agility. He\u2019s also a very smart player who makes his linemates better with his playmaking, vision and ability to execute while tightly covered. Off the puck, he\u2019s willing to track, stick with plays and compete, hallmarks of his game in minor hockey that have also been more consistent over time \u2014 though they won’t be hallmarks in the NHL. He finishes his checks even if it\u2019s just to bump into better body positioning and has good defensive instincts on interceptions and support. He gets the puck a lot and then protects it beautifully. There are times when he\u2019ll turn over pucks, or when I\u2019d like to see him work to get open and glide less, but he has done a nice job cutting back on both of those things. He\u2019s a slippery player in the offensive zone. He\u2019s a weaving skater in transition and has developed more of a scorer\u2019s mentality and started to look for his own looks more, using his natural curl-and-drag wrister more intentionally and getting to the guts of the home-plate area with more consistency. And there\u2019s natural skill and playmaking layered in, which lights up when he gets the puck inside the offensive zone.<\/p>\n

When he plays center, the value of his skating, which is most useful when he\u2019s getting touches lower in the zone, is highlighted. I think he has some star quality. He\u2019s just starting to be more assertive in the NHL, and when he figures out how much he can do, watch out in a couple of years.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tier 2<\/p>\n

Reid was an amazing story over the last year and a half, establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the 2026 class and arguably its top D.<\/p>\n

He’s a righty with poise beyond his years. He escapes pressure well and can attack at openings or create them for himself. He has a great shot and is deadly in transition, with an impressive offensive sense and good vision. His defensive play has taken strides after needing to adjust in the OHL at first, though there are still times when he needs to button up and play a little firmer on both sides of the puck. And while he\u2019s not explosive, he\u2019s fundamentally a good skater and has impressive mobility\/footwork\/flow to his stride: he goes from his heels to his toes really comfortably, etc. He and his game are still developing, too, and he has room to add muscle and continue to take steps, despite being on the older side of the draft. A subtle but underrated quality in D that he has in spades, too: His passes on the power play to his flanks are always in his shooters’ sweet spots, and he always connects on target with one-touch shots (which he also does a great job jumping off the line to find for himself).<\/p>\n

A Michigan State commit, he has really taken off down a steep development curve over the last couple of years. He was one of the OHL\u2019s top players this year, period.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Soo Greyhounds \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Parekh is one of the most talented prospects in the sport and has the potential to be an offensive game-changer. He plays an aggressive and natural offensive style, where he looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line. He\u2019ll also regularly involve himself in the rush much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to challenge defenders and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush. He\u2019s extremely confident offensively and opens up his feet (where necessary) around the zone without going to his heel-to-heel by default. He has great hands and a casual-looking skating posture, which he uses to carry pucks with a visual ease and beat the first layer of pressure to get to his spots. He has excellent feet crossing over and falling onto his heels, but does lack pull-away speed in straight lines going forward. When the puck arrives on his stick, it just seems to stop and glue to him through his movements.<\/p>\n

He likes to roam, but he\u2019s also learning to pick his spots better, and his head is constantly on a swivel to identify where he is in relation to his teammates. When he plays freely, which is almost always, you\u2019re drawn to him whenever he touches the puck because he\u2019s always a threat to make something happen, and he sees and identifies plays early. He protects the puck extremely well with players leaning on him, escaping situations you wouldn\u2019t expect him to and often avoiding contact with deft little pre-planned plays, though he\u2019ll also take a hit to make a play. He has great footwork and edges to manipulate across the line and stop up along the boards to change directions or maintain gaps.<\/p>\n

Though his defense has been a common criticism among scouts, I\u2019d argue he has a great stick and reads the play at a high level in anticipation. I\u2019ve liked what I\u2019ve seen from him on the penalty kill, and even though he definitely doesn\u2019t play a physical style and can get exposed for not being hard enough in engagements, I think he\u2019s made important progress in his own zone (though he struggles in battles and will make some mistakes). He\u2019s also become a very chippy\/mouthy\/pest-like player, though his lack of discipline at times can get him in trouble. There are times when his posture will look disengaged and upright, and you\u2019d like him to really get low and battle, but he\u2019s playing to win pucks with his stick and does so quite well \u2014 though he\u2019s never going to be a staunch defender and may be injury-prone because of his posture. Add in that he\u2019s a very good communicator by constantly talking on the ice, has passes that are almost always tape-to-tape and perfectly flat, an ability to draw penalties escaping pressure, and a want to have the puck and make a difference, and there\u2019s a very high-end package. If he can defend at a reasonable level in the NHL, which I believe he\u2019ll be able to, he has true star power offensively. I\u2019m bullish on him becoming a top offensive defenseman.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Sergei Belski \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Iginla is one of the most gifted forward prospects in the sport and has shown that at all three forward positions at times over the years.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s an excellent skater who can beat you in a straight-out race, cut past you laterally with quick weight shifts or build speed through tight crossover patterns around the offensive zone. On the puck, he\u2019s a threatening individual creator who can create in knifing bursts and works quickly to put defenders on their heels, attacking on angles and jumps. Off it, he has great instincts for jumping into gaps in coverage to get open for his linemates. His snap shot, which has a traditional look to it and is more wrists and leverage than the curl-and-drag you commonly see now, consistently beats goalies cleanly with both its pop and how quickly it comes off. He has high-end handling with impressive hands in tight and always seems to handle his first touch at speed, even when pucks are put into his feet, and adjustability, which blends with real creativity to create an often-dynamic one-on-one player.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s an impressive athlete who performed well in the combine testing. He\u2019s also a fan favorite type who gets after it on the forecheck and involves himself in the play often with some sneaky strength, though I think his defensive awareness and consistency still need to come, and his off-puck play might have been a little overrated in his draft year. Add in NHL puck skill and a dangerous and heavy wrister from mid-range, and you have a fun player and prospect. Add in the emergence of a power game that has seen him really begin to take pucks to the inside and drive the net, and suddenly you have a perimeter and interior offensive threat who has strength, speed, skill and scoring in his profile. He doesn\u2019t always make the right play as a passer, but plays with speed and skill, can score and protects pucks well through open ice and into coverage, and has some star qualities.<\/p>\n

He has a pretty clear top-six, scoring-skill-jump profile, with a ton of tools that have developed at an exciting rate when healthy. He\u2019s going to score goals and make plays in the NHL \u2014 maybe even as a center.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steve Dunsmoor \/ CHL Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A BU commit and the son of Vancouver Canucks head coach and former NHLer Manny Malhotra, Caleb is a well-rounded center like his dad who impressed scouts and folks around the OHL with the immediate impact he made on a deep Bulldogs team last season, elevating at big events, in big games and into an outstanding playoffs.<\/p>\n

Malhotra is already a very mature player, with good stick detail and sound and reliable habits at an early age. He plays with pace, skates well, puts himself in good spots and has an advanced feel for the game. He plays the game with a ton of poise, holding onto pucks and finding his way out of trouble with smart decisions over it. He has legit hands. He has shown more and more individual skill and has a real knack for making little plays with possession. He’ll go to the front of the net and competes every shift. He’s also a summer birthday with clear physical development ahead of him. He needs to fill out his frame, and his shot doesn\u2019t come off hard, but those things should come and already have, and he has the rest of the tools needed to become a winning top-six center.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Brandon Taylor \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u0160mits played 20 minutes per game in Liiga and the DEL year and skated circles around the opposition when he played at Finland\u2019s junior level in September. He also played for Latvia at the Olympics, where he performed well and registered two points in four games, and at the men’s worlds, where he played a top-four role. He possesses underrated puck skill for a defender his size. He has legit hands, both pulling pucks laterally and protecting them out wide, often with one hand on his stick. He has good size and a strong, pro frame that will continue to fill out. He’s a good skater with well-above-average four-way mobility. He plays with a ton of confidence against his peers and has played with similar boldness even against men at times, while still defending to positive results. He can scramble a little in his own zone but plays hard, has a good stick, closes with his feet, is competitive and can get play going in the right direction when he wins battles or races. And while he can sometimes rush into the wrong read\/decision (on both sides of the puck), playing too much on instinct at times, the tools are definitely there, and they have come together quickly over the last year. I think he has legitimate first-pairing upside.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bj\u00f6rck is a highly talented, intelligent and competitive playmaking center who made headlines for breaking the J18 scoring record as a 15-year-old and the J20 scoring record as a 16-year-old, and then rose to his SHL club’s first line over the course of an extremely impressive draft year domestically and internationally at 17.<\/p>\n

Bj\u00f6rck is certainly on the smaller side for a center at the moment, but he excels in the faceoff circle, played the penalty kill with Djurg\u00e5rden\u2019s junior team last year, he battles and everyone talks about how strong he is on pucks\/his stick.<\/p>\n

Bj\u00f6rck can play with the puck on a string and make plays as a natural facilitator who has a ton of poise and vision, but he also plays in and out of give-and-gos, will go to the net and finish off plays and has great overall sense on and off the puck. He\u2019s also a quick and fast skater who can play at different paces and challenge both in straight lines and on cuts and turnbacks, even if he\u2019s not a true burner for his size. I like his craft on the puck, and he has an impressive knack for spinning and shaking away from coverage and drawing penalties. He will go outside to attack back inside with his agility and ability to carve into defenders\u2019 hands. He\u2019s quick to attack and makes defenders and sticks miss. He runs the half wall\/flank on the power play with poise and comfort. He has a quick release, a rapid first three steps and can accelerate around D from a standstill. He\u2019s sturdy on his skates and will take pucks to the blue paint on D or play through contact along the wall. And while he\u2019ll occasionally turn over some pucks trying to be too cute, he wins them back well with stick lifts and his surprising strength. He processes the play faster than his peers and often makes quick reads with the puck before it has even landed on his stick. He\u2019s a slippery, clever, crafty offensive player, but he\u2019s also really smart and just reads the play at an advanced level on both sides of the puck.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Carels\u2019 production had a major uptick in his draft year to round out a game that already possessed an attractive combination of skating, strength and natural physicality.<\/p>\n

He’s an all-around defenseman who plays the game firmly and directly in all three zones and on both sides of the puck. His game is more about instinct than being super cerebral, and he can be a little sloppy at times with his stick placement\/closeouts\/decisions on the puck, but he’s quite toolsy and looks like a pro in a lot of ways. He has a big, hard slap shot that makes him a threat to score. He sees the play well as a passer and can break it out. He\u2019s a strong skater who can push pucks down ice and also open up and use his edges. He can defend physically and cuts off a lot of plays with his timing early when he’s at his best. He’s firm, with a wide gait, though he’ll occasionally get beaten one-on-one laterally. He\u2019s not a dynamic individual playmaker, but he can move and carry pucks down ice, has skill and skating, walks the line well, can beat the first layer and can hammer it. His development will be more about cleaning things up than his actual tools. He\u2019ll be a big part of Team Canada at next year\u2019s World Juniors and could go one-and-done at North Dakota.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rudolph was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WHL bantam draft and the No. 1 D picked in the 2026 NHL Draft after a tremendous draft year with Prince Albert.<\/p>\n

He’s an average skater who moves well and comfortably through his patterns but can look a little unorthodox doing it at times. He can manipulate coverage or jump off the line and has great hands one-on-one when he wants to challenge opposing players. He sees the ice well and can beat the first layer and then find the back door through a second layer. He has legit hands and can make plays one-on-one. He defends the rush well and has a very good stick. He\u2019s a heady player who thinks the game well. He has legit size. He\u2019s willing to jump and has a great catch-and-release shot that I expected him to score with more entering this season, and even through the first month or so when they weren\u2019t falling quite like they were popping. He’s a very good player who projects to have a long NHL career as a top-four offensive defenseman and potentially a stud.<\/p>\n

He had a big-time year and was one of the top D in the CHL, even if the WHL wasn’t as competitive as it has been in the past.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hagens profiles as a top-six, play-creating center in the NHL.<\/p>\n

His game is about skating and playmaking. He\u2019s breezy as a skater, making his patterns look easy out there. He\u2019s agile and his stride and edges are dynamic, light, mobile and adjustable, with good speed and quick acceleration through his crossovers and cuts. He has high-end touch and handling and real finesse as a passer or in playing pucks into space for himself. He\u2019s very aware of spacing and timing on the ice and does a good job hitting his spots off the puck to present an option in motion to teammates, as well as finding teammates when they\u2019re open with his vision through layers. He has an impressive small-area game and an even more impressive game in open ice, with an ability to take his first touch and put opposing defenders on their heels when he gets the puck. He makes a lot happen in transition with his ability to flow up ice and make plays at pace, because the puck just sticks to his stick, and he moves with control of rare quality. He has phenomenal dexterity and reflexes, catching passes into his first touch. He\u2019s crafty and has a game that mixes delays with one-on-one skill that pulls defenders in and then beats them. He has drive and wants to take charge on the ice. As soon as he gives it, he\u2019s dashing to get open. He tries things and has the skill to pull off bold decisions when he makes them, but also plays a team game first. His game has detail. He has some sneaky jam and competitiveness, with more of a willingness to put his nose in dirty areas than some scouts give him credit for. He\u2019ll engage in battles. He\u2019s a strong athlete, with natural strength that certainly isn\u2019t overpowering but allows him to stay on pucks. He\u2019ll also stand his ground post-whistle. He\u2019s well-conditioned and doesn\u2019t tire over the course of games or shifts. He\u2019s slippery off the cycle and has a nifty release. But it\u2019s his combination of skating, skill and craft that defines him.<\/p>\n

I remain a big believer.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Eric Canha \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Protas has been one of the biggest risers in the prospects world over the last couple of years, dominating the OHL and AHL as a rookie in both \u2014 and immediately producing with the Capitals.<\/p>\n

He has great hands for a big man, with an ability to balance on his heels and pull pucks through and across his body to make plays both one-on-one and around the net. He understands how to hold onto and protect pucks and has a good feel for them as a passer. His skating is below average by NHL standards, but passable for his size. He\u2019s not a mean power forward type, but he has the required skills on the cycle\/on tips and redirects. It\u2019s his skill level that is ultimately what stands out for his size. He\u2019s quite talented and makes a ton of higher-end skill plays with the puck on his stick. It\u2019s not hard to imagine him as a productive top-six forward in the NHL.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Aaron Doster \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Verhoeff is a big, talented right-shot defenseman who makes plays in the O-zone with his shot and eagerness trying to involve himself in five-on-five set pieces by creeping off the point and holding onto pucks, but also shows his age defensively at times and has some areas of clear improvement. He struggles at higher paces with his decision-making, reads and feet but he has looked the part of a top-of-the-draft D prospect.<\/p>\n

Verhoeff has good vision and comfort on the puck, though he can occasionally bobble or over-skate it, and is prone to hanging onto it too long because he wants to make something happen, and a big shot. He\u2019s competitive defensively and has a good stick, though he will make the odd mistake. When he’s going forward, he can round corners and circle the offensive zone. But he can also look a half step slow out of the blocks\/pivots and even looks clumsy at times when he has to change directions or get going in a panic from a standstill in his own zone. He can make plays, he can run a power play and he has an NHL shot. He really likes holding onto pucks and can make little poised plays off of the end boards behind his net under pressure or attack down the wall and swing around the offensive zone.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

North Dakota Athletics<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dickinson has size, high-end skating and an offensive game that rounded into form over time. He was one of the best defensemen in junior hockey for a couple of years and last season averaged just under 17 minutes per game for the Sharks as the second-youngest full-time D in the league to Matthew Schaefer.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a strong defenseman whose skating is a major strength. He defends at a very high level, both man-to-man, down low and positionally in his own zone. He has skill and command with the puck in the offensive zone and shows real vision and an NHL shot consistently. There are times when he needs to pivot and set his gaps earlier, but his only major hiccup is decision-making under pressure in his own zone. He still needs to read the ice and move it quicker at times, and there are moments in games when he doesn\u2019t process it fast enough coming out of his own zone and can turn over pucks, though that improved last season. On offense, he shows comfort, speed, presence and even deception past opposing forwards, and has developed a nice feel for the game offensively when there are plays to be made. He just needs to count, read and problem-solve faster in his own zone. He can dominate a game in all three zones and four corners of the rink, which is saying something for a defenseman his age. His size, skating, defense and blossoming offensive game make him a true top prospect. Even though there have been some tough nights this year, and if he continues to improve the way he reads pressure, I think there\u2019s No. 2\/3 upside.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

James Guillory \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The most productive defenseman in NTDP history and the first defenseman to lead the World Juniors in scoring, Hutson is one of the most talented D prospects in the sport and had some positive early moments in the NHL at the end of last season.<\/p>\n

He has dynamic on-puck movement, impressive handling and an NHL release; he has a wicked release and pre-shot adjustment. His offensive gifts are extremely impressive, but Cole has more of a physical element to his game than his brother Lane does as well, and plays opponents really hard so that his size is less noticeable (Lane is extremely competitive, but Cole delivers more hits, if you will), gluing himself to them to be as disruptive as possible and really outwardly battling along the wall. He quickly identifies second and third options, often a step ahead of opposing structures. He has the puck on a string at times. I think he\u2019s a better skater than his big brother was at the same age (he snakes his way through gaps in coverage so effortlessly, and his lateral agility on cuts is a major strength). He executes some beautiful stretch passes. He has great touch and feel on his backhand as well as his forehand. He has the shakes and head fakes that Lane has. And while some questioned whether his style would translate against pros, he defended really well with his feet, anticipation and timing both in college and at the World Juniors. His teams have been better with him on the back end in each of the last four seasons than without him. The consensus, despite the production, is that he\u2019s not quite as dynamic\/smart as Lane, but I\u2019m still a big believer in the talent and think he\u2019s a star prospect.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

David Berding \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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The top Swedish prospect in the 2007 age group, Frondell is a player who has always had some real highs and some lows, but whose inconsistency is supported by work ethic, a great attitude and the tools to become a very consistently impactful NHL player with size and a big-time shot.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to like about Frondell\u2019s game. He\u2019s heavy but plays with intention, strength and some power. He\u2019s competitive. He excels in puck protection and engages himself on and off the puck, offensively and defensively, to get involved in impacting play in all three zones. He has fairly quick hands, a big one-timer, a natural and hard release and a good sense for spacing and attacking. He can both create his own looks, challenge defenders and find and use open ice to play off and to his linemates and free up his shot. He can be relied upon defensively and does a good job supporting play and picking up his assignments when he needs to help out the D. Though he has played mostly wing for Djurg\u00e5rden\u2019s men\u2019s team, he\u2019s a natural center, and I\u2019ve liked him at both positions. He has pro quality and tools. I\u2019ve wondered about whether his pace and his playmaking are high-end enough, but he should be an excellent top-six player in the NHL who has a strong combination of size, strength, shooting and two-way play.<\/p>\n

I did think about ranking him a few spots higher.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve stuck my neck out on Perreault over the years and still believe he\u2019s going to hit and outperform his draft slot and the way many have handicapped him over the years. I view him as one of the most talented and offensively intelligent prospects in the game, and when the points pile up as they have, and they happen while making the kinds of plays that he does, I think you downplay his player type at your own risk at that point.<\/p>\n

I see an incredibly clever facilitator and playmaker who plays the game with a light touch and a heady spatial awareness of not only where his teammates are, but where he is in the flow of play (and relative to defenders). The son of former longtime NHLer Yanic Perreault and brother of Jacob Perreault, Gabe doesn\u2019t have his dad\u2019s defensive acumen or his brother\u2019s build, but he\u2019s a highly intuitive player who sees the play develop offensively at a more advanced level than his two family members did\/do \u2014 and comparably to any prospect in the sport for me.<\/p>\n

He has extremely quick hands to complement that mind for the game offensively and allow him to execute all the plays he sees. He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as just about anyone his age that I\u2019ve watched. He has dexterous tools catching, tipping and redirecting pucks on first touch. He arrives in space at exactly the right time to make himself available and finish plays. His ability to bait defenders and open them up so that he can slide passes through their feet is so impressive. He gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a slick one-on-one player but will also wait for that extra split-second and then just sling a pass tape-to-tape across the grain. He has become a bit of a puck thief, consistently tracking back hard to empty the tank and make effort plays on lifts. There are times when he waits too long to make his plays, but you live with that, given his unique ability to find guys in open space with real craft and puck skill in possession.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a better skater than he gets credit for, with average to above-average speed and developing power to his stride as he has gotten stronger. I see a skilled, crafty, inventive, nifty top-six playmaking winger with clear PP1 upside. I still think he has a chance to be a star, and I thought about ranking him higher.<\/p>\n

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Brad Penner \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Even though he played exclusively in the NHL last year, including at times on Seattle\u2019s first line, I\u2019ve elected to include Catton because of a combination of his age and the fact that he was ineligible for the AHL.<\/p>\n

Catton is dangerous whenever he\u2019s on the puck and shines with his knifing, slippery game. Inside the offensive zone, the way he baits and shades, drawing players to him and then playmaking past them with a pass or a cut, is pretty impressive to watch. He\u2019s a heady playmaker who uses spacing to his advantage and sees the ice at an advanced level, regularly executing quick plays through coverage or delaying into a pre-planned play. He has multi-dimensional skill, with an ability to play both with speed on the rush as a smooth, fast and nimble high-end skater and more slowly inside the offensive zone when the pace ramps down, and he has to spin away from pressure, which he does so well. He has great instincts offensively. He tracks back consistently and will get up and under sticks to win his fair share of battles, with more room to round out his game defensively (mostly inside his own zone) and steady progress made on that front. He supports play well off the puck defensively, which was a focus of his this year.<\/p>\n

He gets to the guts of the ice and also makes plays out wide. He thrives in tight spaces and on cutbacks; he can play on the perimeter or take it to the net, and he has a dangerous and quick release while moving. He does such a good job of losing defenders with his back to them to avoid getting pinned down because of how adjustable his skating is through stops and starts and tight turns.<\/p>\n

I believe he has the chops to stick as a center despite being on the smaller side because you want him getting touches lower in the zone so that his skating can lead in transition. He has a bit of an injury history, which has affected a couple of offseasons, but he has higher-end offensive chops.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Rick Osentoski \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Hage re-emerged as one of the top forward prospects in the sport last year, finishing tied for third in NCAA scoring with 52 points in 39 games and proving he could drive play both on the No. 1 team in the country and at the World Juniors.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve long been high on him and believe he has top-six potential. The big question over the years was whether he could do it as a second-line center or if he would be better served moving to the wing (think Jordan Kyrou). Over time, the consensus has shifted from viewing him as a winger to wondering if he might just stick as a center.<\/p>\n

Hage has plenty of offensive dimension at center, though. He has pro size and excellent skating. He has dual-threat skill as a shooter and passer, and he can do both in flight and at pace. He\u2019s talented as a handler and can create for himself or make plays for his linemates. He plays harder than he used to get credit for, stays on pucks and he\u2019s competitive enough. He reads the game well with an intelligent approach to the way he maneuvers around the ice, but also good instincts that he can fall back on and a willingness to try things (and sometimes turn pucks over). I like him in puck control\/protection, including in full flight. His detail and work rate are both developing, even if they\u2019re not going to be his calling card. He\u2019ll finish his checks.<\/p>\n

His blend of skating, skill, scoring, playmaking and sense is hard to come by and noticeable in every game he has played this year. I\u2019m a big fan.<\/p>\n

His blend of skating, skill, scoring, playmaking and sense is hard to come by and noticeable in every game he has played this year. I\u2019m a big fan.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nick Wosika \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Desnoyers is a good-sized center with room to add muscle, and scouts love him as a projectable top-six pivot who plays a smart, detailed, well-rounded two-way game with good skill, smarts and poise. He\u2019s competitive and has great habits. He\u2019s committed to playing defense, supporting pucks, staying in good positions and not cheating for offense while excelling in the faceoff circle. He gets glowing reviews as a winner that people gravitate around. He\u2019s opportunistic and gets open really well. He involves himself in play, he can carry and hold pucks or play off his linemates in give-and-gos, he has a real feel for the game offensively and he\u2019s consistently impactful.<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s not a dynamic skater or individual creator, I see plenty of skill and have seen him make plenty of high-skill plays \u2014 including a Michigan goal and a ton of high-IQ, quick-hands plays in tight\/in traffic \u2014 and he\u2019s a better skater than his older brother Elliot was at the same age. If he can add a little more pace and muscle, he\u2019s going to have a long career as an important center who contributes to winning on good teams. He had a very comparable QMJHL career and impact to Nico Hischier and Pierre-Luc Dubois, who were both also top-five picks. He\u2019s more Hischier than Dubois, though.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Daniel St. Louis \/ Moncton Wildcats<\/p>\n

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One of the top young forwards outside the NHL over the last couple of years, Kantserov is a highly gifted, knifing player who can create for himself with his quick, adjustable hands, plus-level straight-line speed and lateral quickness, real one-on-one skill and attack mentality. He can also finish plays as a shooter who is capable of playing off his linemates so that he can get open, be opportunistic and take pucks into his quick and dangerous release or comfortable one-timer. And while he\u2019s short, he\u2019s well-built for his size, he\u2019s a willing worker, and he has clear top-six NHL attributes \u2014 and potentially even some star power. Blackhawks fans are going to love watching him play this year, and I think he has a chance to be in the Calder mix.<\/p>\n

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Brian Babineau \/ NHLI via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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One of the smartest offensive young players in the game, O’Brien is a finesse player with tons of feel, skill, poise and craftsmanship on the puck and as a passer. The IQ and passing ability are high-end tools. He has a high-end ability to put pucks into spaces for both his linemates and himself. He\u2019s a decently fast skater who uses fluid crossovers to build speed and weave up the ice in control. I\u2019ve wanted to see him up his tempo and put the puck in the net more at times, but he has shown he can do all of that. He\u2019s extremely smart on and off the puck. He\u2019s also viewed as a competitive enough center who should fill out his frame. It\u2019s also worth noting that he\u2019s a June birthday and the son of two high-level hockey players, so the athleticism is there, and the muscle should come. The skill, sense, IQ, patience and ability to make plays at different paces are all very appealing. He has top-six forward written all over him.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Brandon Taylor \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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For me, Lin was the smartest defenseman in the 2026 draft class and arguably its most well-rounded, with skill but also competitiveness and effectiveness.<\/p>\n

He does almost everything at a high level, executes the small things extremely well and plays the game with a rare quality, maturity and detail for a D his age. He steers play with his quiet efficiency, feel for the game, puck-moving, A-level hockey IQ, good skating, a great stick offensively and defensively and head-on-a-swivel defensive play and reads. He\u2019s comfortable in any situation and playing with anyone, and excels on both special teams. He adjusts well to his teammates and coverage and has become very active moving pucks and then immediately moving his feet off the puck to jump into holes and beat opposing players to spots. He has a great first touch. His head is always up, and he moves pucks crisply on the breakout but can also read right through the first layer of pressure into the next play. He can carry pucks and make plays, but he can also find space off pucks. He never seems to have to overdo it or overextend to create his offense, knowing when to move it and when to try to make something happen. He picks his spots to carry and attack for himself smartly and is starting to do it more and more often to impose himself on games more. He takes pucks off the wall really well, his first touch reception is pristine, and he navigates play out of the defensive zone with a ton of poise, making a lot of little plays under triangles or off the wall to find his way out of trouble. He anticipates at an extremely high level. He closes out nicely, is disruptive and heady defensively and defends with polish and consistent reads and habits. And, importantly, he battles and competes for pucks and into contact along the wall, and will deliver big hits when they’re there.<\/p>\n

Lin isn\u2019t a big, strong, powerful D, but he\u2019s just an excellent all-around modern defenseman who gets it, and I think there\u2019s some Josh Morrissey\/Jared Spurgeon in him. I think he\u2019s a phenomenal player who plays the game the way it’s meant to be played. I’m higher than the consensus on him for sure, but a big believer in him becoming an excellent NHL D.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Cullen, a Minnesota commit and the son of former NHLer Matt Cullen, was tiny when he showed up to the national program (5-foot-5 and 120 pounds), but now he\u2019s up to 6-foot-1 and still has a lot of the little-guy elements to his game. He\u2019s an extremely shifty on-puck handler who blends shoulder fakes into agile cuts and very noticeable lateral mobility in and out of turns and cuts. He’s an offensive thinker who can pull you in with his blend of footwork and stick work and then beat you one-on-one the first time or open you up to put a puck into space for a teammate on the next. He has inside and outside edges in full control. He has deception. He can be direct or play out wide. His eyes are always up. And while there are times when he can play one-on-one too much and turn pucks over, you want him playing with freedom because he can make the big play. He was clearly more talented than his production last year indicated, and caught my eye dating back to U17 worlds in Sarnia when he was really small. When he’s at his best, he has the puck and is knifing through or past coverage to make things happen. There are some visual parallels between him and James Hagens (who, coincidentally, he models his game after). He’s a winger, a little less competitive and doesn’t have the same pedigree, but he’s also taller.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Rena Laverty \/ USA Hockey’s NTDP<\/p>\n

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A Clark Cup MVP at 16, Lawrence had a tougher time making his hardworking game productive in college but remains an extremely likeable player at a premium position.<\/p>\n

He has a natural release, getting pucks off his stick quickly after an intentional move to the inside or a pass into his catch-and-release (though he can overhandle it at times). He\u2019s a good, strong skater who plays with pace and can make plays off the rush as well as inside the offensive zone. He plays pucks into space and under sticks a ton and wants to take the play to the slot. He moves into the middle of the ice and stays around the action. He works his tail off away from the puck to track and is committed to playing defense and winning races and battles. He has quick hands and feel for the game offensively. He protects it well out wide to his body and can drive (though, again, he had a tougher time getting to the inside against NCAA players). He plays the right way, is smart, supports pucks and teammates well, has good instincts on both sides of the puck, and drives play as a center with pro attributes in a lot of areas. He doesn’t cheat for offense and carries a lot of pucks out of the defensive zone. There are questions about his ultimate offense, though, and while he’s skilled, he’s not dynamic as a pure shooter or passer and can tunnel vision at times. He\u2019s a well-rounded, competitive and complete two-way player, plus he plays a premium position and has the intangibles you look for, but he looks like a future 2C your coach loves more than a true No. 1.<\/p>\n

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Richard T Gagnon \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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With size and some real skill, McQueen is a big, right-shot center with talent on the puck and skating that has come a long way over the years to fall into place nicely for a player his size.<\/p>\n

I like his tenaciousness\/willingness to go get pucks and then stick with them when he has them. When he was younger, he lacked strength, and his skating dragged behind\/never properly developed because he was trying to cheat his mechanics to keep up, but it has come, and there\u2019s a belief it will continue to develop as he adds strength. He uses his linemates well and plays with an offensive intellect. But it\u2019s his ability to control and manipulate pucks in tight to his body, with his length, that I think distinguishes him. He can carry pucks into traffic and problem-solve in ways that players his size typically struggle to do. He can also go to the net and make tuck plays\/rebounds with good dexterity, which has helped him play the net front successfully on the power play, a translatable role for him. His shot is pinpoint accurate around the home-plate area and even from tough angles.<\/p>\n

There are the makings of a really unique player, and the payoff could be significant. He often looks like a potential top-six center with some distinct attributes. He doesn’t always, though.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Garcia \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Tier 3<\/p>\n

A highly productive goal-scoring D with size, Yakemchuk’s game has some highs and lows but plenty of pop when he’s on the attack.<\/p>\n

Led by his instincts, plenty of confidence and legit skill for a D his size, Yakemchuk generates a lot from the back end. While his game comes with some give and take, he has pro size, a pro shot, excellent one-on-one skill and hands, and an attack mentality that\u2019s complemented by an active disposition to eagerly jump off the line or into the rush. He also has a developing sense for when to hold it and when to move it, which has been a work in progress for him over the years. He also protects the puck extremely well for a defenseman, which allows him to make the most of his decisions to involve himself in the play around the offensive zone, holding pucks past and away from reaching defenders and sometimes dazzling in extended sequences with the puck. It\u2019s not uncommon to see him take a puck to the inside of the wall, beat his man off the line or go to the front of the net. And while he has work to do to refine his game and reads defensively, he has the size and tools to take the steps he needs to get there, and he plays really hard at both ends.<\/p>\n

I would like to see his skating \u2014 which is fine going forward but heavy-footed in other areas and can burn him \u2014 improve, particularly from a standstill, where he can be a little slow out of the blocks. He\u2019s not a natural athlete, either. There are games in which he dictates terms with his offense and physicality, really taking charge on the ice. If he can get a little quicker and continue to mature in his decision-making, he has high-end upside, especially offensively.<\/p>\n

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David Kirouac \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Belchetz is an extremely physically advanced winger who has looked like a unicorn at times but has battled both inconsistency and now injury as well.<\/p>\n

The continued development of his wall game, so that he’s more focused on bumping players off the puck and making a quick play off the boards, will be critical in him realizing his potential. His feet can be a little heavy out of the blocks, and his stride can look a little clunky, but he can really get around the ice and drive the middle once he gets moving. And while some of his impact is driven by his sheer size and his ability to stay over pucks and drive into spots, he also has strong offensive tools and legit skill; he handles well into congested areas, he’s comfortable going to his backhand and he can really shoot the puck. When he’s at his best, he looks like a force out there. Think Matthew Knies if it all comes together.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Natalie Shaver \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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Gridin has a desirable makeup, developing athleticism, skill on the puck and a quick, NHL look to his release. He can play a north-south direct game and an east-west one with impressive poise and an ability to slow everything down. He regularly tries and pulls off difficult plays on the ice. He has shown he can snake his way out of trouble or play pucks through or past defenders, but he can also play off his linemates as more of a quick-strike option. Part of that is a credit to his ability to think and adapt quickly on the ice: I\u2019ve seen him lift his head from a pass reception and make several instinctual, no-panic plays under immediate pressure in a split second. He has good size and good enough skating. He has also taken positive steps away from the puck to round out his game \u2014 his B game was once a concern, but no longer feels like one. He\u2019s probably not going to be a first-line player on a contending team, but he has legit second-line skill and offense and his play in the NHL with the Flames last season put him here.<\/p>\n

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Sergei Belski \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Chernyshov is a big, strong winger whose game has taken off in the OHL, AHL and NHL over the last couple of years. He’s a modern power-forward type where driving is a part of his identity but not to a bullish fault as his only focus and his skill\/finesse might take on greater emphasis. He plays a straight-line game and has the individual skill and a quick release to go at defenders and make plays off the rush or finish from the slot with a quick, one-touch shot in zone. He\u2019s a smooth enough skater and his stride has some real power, which complements his impressive rush package without needing a dynamic burst. Add in a relatively committed game off the puck (there\u2019s still some room for growth, but he competes fine and has played to very respectable results for his age this year), and there\u2019s a lot to like about his mold. He can attack defenders in a variety of ways, threaten on the puck or get open off it, and he works hard enough. With his tools, size and scoring skill, he profiles as a second-line winger and secondary threat on a line who can finish, make plays and has size. He often looks like a top prospect.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Gary A. Vasquez \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Zharovsky is a highly talented winger who set the KHL’s all-time U19 scoring record last year, surpassing names such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, Vladimir Tarasenko and Kirill Kaprizov \u2014 no other U19 player scored more than two goals or four points last year, let alone 16 and 42.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s lean and needs to add some weight, and has started to do that. Even so, he\u2019s a slick puck carrier with a knack for taking pucks to dangerous areas and beating his man one-on-one. He has great hands and poise on the puck. Despite lacking strength, he\u2019s a decent skater and will play through bumps to get to his spots. He can drift in games and can lack focus at times, but when he gets the puck, he has the skill to execute and make things happen at any moment. He has top-six gifts, and it\u2019s rare to find a player with his talents outside of the first round.<\/p>\n

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Maksim Konstantinov \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Gustafsson\u2019s game isn’t about his offense despite having some elements, like above-average skating and respectable handling for a big man. He\u2019s a rangy, strong, sturdy defender who plays a physical, competitive brand and moves well. He projects as a solid two-way D, and his profile is the coveted one in the NHL these days. He’s also a summer birthday and has developed quickly when healthy, becoming more consistent at both ends and learning in real time how to use his tools to kill plays, transition pucks, and manufacture offense regularly, even if he\u2019s not going to be a PP guy in the NHL. This is a little in front of the range Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider went in, and he fits that mold and may have more offense. It’ll be about him putting it all together and really developing his identity; there are times when he can look a little unsure of what he should really be leaning into, and that results in him really playing on instinct and running around the ice trying to involve himself instead of settling into his strengths, which is fine at this age. He can transport pucks and make plays at the blue line, and will semi-regularly carry pucks low or jump low. He has a good defensive stick and takes good angles to rub opposing players out. The processing isn’t always there, and he can panic a little defensively, but he\u2019s going to have a long career in the league as a two-way five-on-five D who should have special-teams utility if he continues to develop well and reaches his potential.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Martin is a well-rounded, fearless, workhorse, pro-style forward with a combination of competitiveness and strength.<\/p>\n

He plays extremely hard, plays in the guts of the ice and he stays involved in all three zones, constantly seeming to make things happen and have an impact. He\u2019s strong on his feet and finishing checks, plays on instinct more than smarts, delivers some of the hardest hits I\u2019ve seen in junior hockey and does it seemingly every game without being a dirty player. He has good hands and reflexes on tips and redirects around the net. He has some raw power and should continue to get even stronger. While I wouldn\u2019t call his skill or skating extremely dynamic (his feet are average from a standstill), he\u2019s very talented, regularly attacking at and challenging defenders with his hands and middle-lane drive and beating goalies with his quick release as he has an NHL shot already. So he\u2019s not just a worker type with secondary skill; there\u2019s some play-driving and individual playmaking to his game as well. He\u2019s going to have a long career as a productive up-and-down-the-lineup player and should be an excellent top-six forward, whether as a center or winger in his prime. There\u2019s some untapped potential yet with him and his development curve as well. While he\u2019s a quick skater and a very powerful player, both of those things still have another level. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a more competitive, honest, stick-to-it, high-motor prospect in the game. He\u2019s consistent, brings it every shift, can play the back post and net-front on the power play, and his teams miss his identity when he\u2019s not in the lineup.<\/p>\n

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Natalie Shaver \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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This will be the last time Ritchie appears in these rankings. His five AHL games last season narrowly resulted in his inclusion, but he has looked like a legitimate NHL player and has already carved out a niche at the side of the net on the power play.<\/p>\n

He’s the complete package and has consistently impressed over the years.<\/p>\n

On the puck, he\u2019s a multifaceted playmaker. Off the puck, he\u2019s a reliable two-way center who defends and supports play but can also play off his linemates offensively without taking up too much oxygen on his line.<\/p>\n

He has quick hands (he\u2019s prolific on breakaways\/in the shootout\/around the crease), a dangerous curl-and-drag wrister, decent cleverness to his game as a passer (whether through seams or often blind), slick skill in traffic and out wide sliding pucks under sticks and rotating through coverage or past checks for a player his size, and a knack for finessing pucks into spots for himself or his linemates to skate onto. He\u2019s also strong in the faceoff circle, makes those around him better and has picked up a bit more of an acceleration gear from a standstill, and his skating was completely fine before that.<\/p>\n

He takes smart routes with and without the puck, he has become a reliable three-zone player and the skill is there. He does a good job finding inside ice in possession or off it. He\u2019s also a very selfless player for his age who is quick to change in the offensive zone and will sooner make the right play than try to overdo it. I\u2019ve noticed an uptick in his physicality as well, and he\u2019ll forecheck and finish his checks. I\u2019ve liked the progress I\u2019ve seen in how strong he is over pucks and getting up and under sticks to take them back in pursuit or go to the net for tips, instead of always trying to free himself for his shot. When he keeps his feet moving, he\u2019s an impressive player. I\u2019ve always seen second-line potential and his ability to play center and wing helps.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

John Jones \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Dvorsky is a smart, skilled forward who had the roundedness, defensive awareness and positioning, habits and stick detail of a pro at an early age. The big question with him for years was whether he\u2019d be a center or a winger long-term. After noticeably adding some muscle and a little more speed \u2014 his skating still isn\u2019t a strength, but he works \u2014 he has shown he can stick in the middle.<\/p>\n

He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks from defenders extremely impressively. I don\u2019t think his skating is prohibitive. He has shown more fire and competitiveness as he has developed. I see legitimate finesse skills, point-production upside and power-play tools. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. He has excellent touch and weight on his passes (he\u2019s a great saucer passer off his forehand and backhand in particular) and does a beautiful job waiting for lanes to open. He trusts his one-timer and his wrister from midrange. He has quick hands and instincts, with standout puck control and shading \u2014 and he uses them to take pucks to the middle. I like him in give-and-gos and in individual attacking sequences inside the offensive zone.<\/p>\n

Dvorsky is a highly talented and intelligent playmaker who can threaten coverage in a variety of ways, whether that\u2019s carving through in control at his own pace and finishing cleanly from the home-plate area, sliding off coverage to find pockets of space to get open into, or drawing coverage and facilitating. He does a wonderful job hanging onto pucks and waiting for options to open. He\u2019ll occasionally force things, but he usually finds his way through with his skill, strength on pucks and smarts. His statistical profile is really strong, too. I\u2019ve always seen second-line potential and a middle-six floor with clear power-play upside, and that\u2019s still where I\u2019m at.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Joe Puetz \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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One of my favorites from the 2025 draft class, Reschny is highly skilled but also highly competitive, and has driven both play and creation in junior and college as a center who is strong, involved and committed in all areas of the ice. He has a motor and defensive zone know-how and commitment, but he\u2019s also a natural playmaker, with soft skill under pressure and with limited time and space. He creates chances for himself and his linemates as a natural handler and a capable finisher and passer. He will then work off the puck and takes pride in his play in all three zones.<\/p>\n

I think he\u2019s a good skater and I have no issues with his speed or pace whatsoever. He has very quick hands. He\u2019s stronger on pucks and in battles than his height might suggest at a glance, with a thick lower half and an ability to protect pucks and shed contact low in the zone. He plays an excellent, trustworthy, dependable and consistent three-zone game. He has the IQ component on both sides of the puck. He has finesse on the puck and a natural shooter\u2019s shot, with an ability to create angles around sticks and feet or place pucks through them into space for himself or his linemates. His hands and feet also move in unison, giving him dimension one-on-one, even if he\u2019s not a burner out of the blocks.<\/p>\n

I think he has a chance to be a heck of a top-nine player in the NHL, and I see a little Seth Jarvis\/Nick Suzuki in him. I\u2019m higher on him than most, though.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Matt Winkelmeyer \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Carbonneau is a talented offensive-zone player with naturally quick hands, a quick release that can beat goalies from midrange and change angles on defensemen and strong athletic tools as a solid and sturdy skater, though he could get a little quicker, with a pro frame. He can challenge defenders and threaten offensively on or off the puck. He has good outside-in hands pulling pucks across his body. He has a good wall game and can make plays for himself or play in and out of give-and-gos; he does try to beat guys one-on-one a little too much, but often pulls it off. He\u2019s a volume shot generator without sacrificing shot quality, and he has really grown into the body of a power forward, with a very strong physical build and an ability to play through contact. He\u2019ll also finish his checks. When there\u2019s an opportunity inside the offensive zone, whether it\u2019s off a broken play or in tight, he\u2019s usually there to capitalize and make something happen.<\/p>\n

There have been minor questions about his play style and some inconsistency in some of his habits\/attitude, but I don\u2019t think there\u2019s much fire to that smoke, and I think he\u2019s mostly just a very confident player. He\u2019s also just skilled enough to project as a strong and productive top-six forward if he continues to develop more pace and consistent habits off the puck.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Sebastien Gervais \/ CHL<\/p>\n

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Smith is an athletic, excellent-skating, pro-built D but I\u2019ve had a bit of a tough time with him and his game at times over the years. It can be pretty high-event hockey at both ends at times, and while he has all of the physical attributes and has made some high-end plays, I\u2019ve questioned his hockey IQ both in moving pucks under pressure out of his zone and in defending.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of appealing attributes, though. He plays hard and can affect play in a variety of ways. He can skate pucks through the neutral zone. He has good edges opening up in the offensive zone. He\u2019s strong through his pushes as a skater, regularly beating the first layer of pressure laterally. He walks the line proficiently and gets his shots through, opening up well. He can make plays in open ice and shoot the puck. He\u2019s capable of playing the game firmly and even boldly at times, and has transition value both ways. He\u2019s competitive and strong. But his reads and processing still need some fine-tuning, he can skate himself into trouble, he can take bad routes defensively, and I\u2019m not sold on him as a PP1 guy; I think he\u2019s more likely a PP2 type.<\/p>\n

He has most of the makings of a top-four defenseman, and he still has some untapped upside. I just haven\u2019t been able to fully fall in love with his game.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Michael Miller \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Every team wants long defensemen who can really skate, and Simashev checks both of those boxes. He\u2019s a rangy, smooth-skating defenseman who is comfortable playing both sides.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard not to like the way he can play in transition, whether defending the rush with his feet and reach, skating back to retrieve pucks or skating through neutral ice\/out of the defensive zone in possession. He has shown improved comfort and smarts in control, even if his play with the puck and offensive game are never going to be his calling card. He gaps well and can take away a carrier\u2019s space. He has a good stick and defends more with his length and feet than body. I\u2019m still not as high on him as some others are and didn\u2019t feel he was a No. 6 pick in 2023, but he has the more important makings of a top-four defenseman who can play minutes and drive results with his defensive play, length and skating.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nick Turchiaro \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Helenius has been one of Finland’s top young players and is going to have a long NHL career. Some things in his profile do give pause about a true top-six projection, and he may end up as more of a middle-six type, but his track record looks like that of a top-six player and he started to show it more in North America and at men’s worlds. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s solid enough in the faceoff circle and aware enough defensively \u2014 it was a real strength of his game pre-draft because of his reads, positioning, tracking and puck-winning on the forecheck, but there have also been times post-draft where I\u2019ve found he\u2019s not engaged as much \u2014 that I project him as a center.<\/p>\n

Helenius is crafty in traffic and does a great job finding ways through the neutral zone and across the line on entries. He can find his teammates in space and then get pucks to them with the perfect weight and timing, even while he\u2019s well covered. He can also stir the drink through his effort level, though again I\u2019ve found it to be inconsistent in stretches of his young career as well, and can come up with pucks when you don\u2019t expect him to (he\u2019s good on steals and lifts) while quietly and efficiently affecting play.<\/p>\n

He needs to play with more pace at times, but he does such a good job identifying lanes and taking what the defense gives him. He\u2019ll look for his own look when it\u2019s there or play in a quick give-and-go when spacing tightens up. He seems to create constantly for his linemates with his poise and passing play. He\u2019s a decent, though not above-average, skater who anticipates the play at a very high level off the puck \u2014 the puck just seems to find him again and again inside the offensive zone. He shields pucks extremely well for a player his size and can play keep-away to wait for his options to open up. He has a sixth sense for timing and spacing. He\u2019s usually in good support positions and makes smart decisions with the puck. He has vision and finesse as a problem-solver.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

James Guillory \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Eklund gets above-average grades for his smarts, skill and skating, but he\u2019s really a standout competitor who works and plays extremely hard. He wins races. He keeps his feet moving. He\u2019ll make effort plays in key moments. He gets inside body positioning. He finishes his checks and battles. He can play the bumper or the flank on the power play. He has great edges and handles, and a quick and accurate wrister. He has feel on the puck and is a slick saucer passer. And he plays an intuitive, heady game on and off the puck, but can also be a go-getter who relies on timing and instincts. I think he has the tools to develop into a nice top-six player in the NHL. He\u2019s a smallish winger, but he has proven through his motor, skill, good feel for the game and determination that he can still be a driver. He uses Travis Konecny as his comp, and it\u2019s a fitting one \u2014 though he\u2019d be an absolute best-case outcome. He\u2019s a very good, likable player who is going to have a long career.<\/p>\n

I just want to see him score a little more. He had 10 points in nine AHL games but scored just six goals in the SHL last year.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Lee is one of my favorite prospects, and his ranking here is indicative of that.<\/p>\n

\nHe’s an extremely talented offensive winger with elite hands who can take and beat defenders one-on-one with his individual skill level and isn\u2019t afraid to be cheeky and try things. I\u2019ve seen him score some gorgeous goals, dancing defenders or lifting pucks in tight, and I\u2019ve seen him set up some pretty assists. He\u2019s a crafty offensive forward who can make plays inside the offensive zone, off the rush and on the half-wall on the power play. He thinks the game at a very advanced level offensively. His skating could use another step, and his play off the puck defensively could use some rounding out (he has a great stick defensively on lifts), and that, combined with his average size and competitiveness as a winger, did cause debate as to whether he was a first-rounder for some teams despite having clear first-round skill. I think the Predators were smart to take the swing on his offensive gifts. His nickname is \u201cThe Wizard,\u201d and he lives up to it. If he can improve his skating, he has the top-six talent\/star potential.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

David Berding \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Connelly is a talented playmaking winger who registered 55 points in 52 regular-season and playoff games for Henderson in the AHL as a rookie, leading the team in playoff scoring after missing the start of the season due to a knee injury.<\/p>\n

He’s a high-end talent who has continued room to develop physically and add strength, but whose slight build doesn\u2019t hold back his shot (which uses a quick release to fool goalies, although his one-touch shots in the slot do often lack power) or his skating (which is really fast and pretty fluid even without the muscle\/power that\u2019s coming). I like his work rate off the puck. He possesses borderline elite hands, and his on-puck movement at speed, offensive-zone small-area skill and touch as a passer all also get high grades as he regularly makes difficult skill plays in tight coverage and finds his way out of trouble or through traffic. He\u2019s a dynamic one-on-one player who can turn defenders and goalies inside out with his hands and uses quick crossovers and a light skating stride to be agile on cuts, jumps and changes of direction. He\u2019s creative. He\u2019s as comfortable playing off his backhand as he is his forehand. He plays pucks under sticks and into space as well as anyone in his age group. And while he can try to do too much, force one-on-one plays into congested areas or be too cute, you live with it because of how often he makes something out of nothing.<\/p>\n

The big developmental leap he\u2019ll have to make is in his decision-making and discipline, which have shown positive signs in the AHL. Connelly\u2019s ability to beat players laterally and shake around and through coverage, combined with his playmaking sense, gives him top-six, PP NHL upside. He\u2019s an imperfect player and can frustrate, but the talent is there.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Ethan Miller \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Silayev is a unicorn defenseman who burst onto the scene in the fall of his draft year but has plateaued a little since then. There\u2019s not as much offense as we saw early on in his draft year for a stretch, largely due to average smarts, but he remains a prospect with a high defensive ceiling.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s an excellent skater who walks the line with ease, drops back onto his heels comfortably and pushes forward to either carry pucks up ice, close gaps or disrupt a carrier with an active stick. He has more steps to take in his decision-making on the puck, with his shot and in his ability to really impose himself with his size even more than he already does.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s disruptive in zone defense and hard to beat off the rush because of his length. There\u2019s still plenty of room for continued growth and development within his game. I see the appeal of Silayev and the projection. His upside remains high, especially if he can develop his offensive game further and maintain his mobility as he gets heavier.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Maksim Konstantinov \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Sandin-Pellikka is an individually talented, competitive defenseman with natural scoring instincts and the tools to execute who had a brilliant run in the SHL and at a couple of World Juniors but will have to develop some areas to make the same impact in the NHL.<\/p>\n

He has really good edges and mobility and has shown improved speed in straight lines to pull away from chasers, with more room for growth there still. He walks the line to get shots through at a high level, wants the puck in the offensive zone and has the skill and shot to make things happen when teammates find him off the point or as the trailer off the rush, which he often activates into. He keeps his head up in the neutral and defensive zones and is a confident puck carrier on exits and entries. Though he\u2019s not big, he\u2019s athletic and he plays hard and physical and engages in battles in the defensive zone with some sneaky strength. He has a good stick. He does a good job maintaining gaps and matching opposing forwards step for step skating backward, and times his close-outs and pinches effectively.<\/p>\n

He can really shoot it with a pinpoint accurate shot, a wrister that comes off hard and an eagerness to put pucks on net from the point. He has comfortable handles. He walks the line looking for his shot and chances to take space off it to attack into better spots, but he\u2019ll find open teammates cross-ice through seams as well and is seeing the ice better and better. There are times when he can wait too long to make his decisions, and I wouldn\u2019t call him super creative or a highlight-reel type, but he\u2019s very talented, he makes good choices more often than he\u2019s careless, and he has progressed really rapidly.<\/p>\n

He projects as a high-end offensive defenseman and a defensively capable one at five-on-five. When he\u2019s on, he can control the game in all three zones and really drive shot creation. Defensemen of his size have struggled in recent years to make the same impact in the NHL, but I think he gets there in time.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Rick Osentoski \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Reinbacher is a likable player who can do it all at a decent level.<\/p>\n

He has pro size, desired handedness and a really strong foundation of tools that all guarantee he\u2019ll become a good NHLer. He\u2019s a solid forward and backward skater, though he can look a little stilted at times, who gaps well and defends the rush effectively with a noticeably long stick. He looks to take instead of give in the neutral zone, regularly stepping up to try to bump puck carriers off possession and force dumps, though there are times that style can leave him chasing if his timing is off or he\u2019s flat-footed. He\u2019s strong and plays hard in his own zone and in battles. His head is always up and on a swivel, and he does a good job pre-surveying the ice when he\u2019s going back to get pucks through frequent shoulder checks. He has some poise and processing under pressure, even if his play with the puck on his stick isn\u2019t dynamic per se. He has shown a willingness to attack offensively in the AHL, but also picks his spots and doesn\u2019t search it out.<\/p>\n

I have reservations about whether his game has what it takes to live up to his draft slot \u2014 it just lacks a little juice for me \u2014 but he should become a really solid second-pairing D. He\u2019s a projectable two-way defenseman who looks like how teams want their D to look these days, and he\u2019s going to have a long career.<\/p>\n

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Rinzel\u2019s appeal has always been about potential. He\u2019s a long, right-shot defender who thrives in transition and continues to fill out his frame. He\u2019s a fluid skater with an active stick and an eager approach to playing offense and defense that keeps him involved in all three zones, which comes with some good and bad but more good than bad. His game used to be a little haywire, his play selection needed some buttoning up, and he\u2019d occasionally get burned, but all of those things have started to fall into place nicely for him as he has gotten more reps and his skill and talent have taken over from there. You can see the tools, and he has really figured out how to deploy and utilize them in a more cohesive way. There was a stretch from college and into the NHL where you could see his confidence building in real time as he started to look like more than just his length and skating. There was some expected learning last year as he tried to establish himself, resulting in some AHL time, but he can really impact play when he\u2019s reading the game well. I still think he\u2019s going to be a top-four D.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Talia Sprague \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Aitcheson, the reigning OHL Defenseman of the Year, is a powerful, bullish defender who is hard to play against, defends firmly and commands his ice. He can struggle setting gaps in neutral ice at times but blocks shots, wins a lot of battles, plays a natural physical brand and flashes a big shot.<\/p>\n

He knows who he is and plays with confidence and aggression, often directing his teammates and always talking (to his teammates and opponents). He\u2019s strong on the PK. He\u2019s chippy and extremely physical, looking for every opportunity he can to lay a hit, get in someone\u2019s face or give someone a shot. He\u2019s eager to drop the gloves. He\u2019s a willing shot-blocker. He has step-up physicality and likes to knock guys around. He has a hard shot and makes a good first pass. He\u2019s a strong enough skater, though his feet can splay and kick a little when he\u2019s in a hurry, and he still has work to do on his stride mechanics, and a physically mature athlete with some real power and presence about him. He has a good stick, so his defending isn\u2019t completely reliant on his physical play. His discipline and decision-making can get him into trouble, and he takes a lot of stick penalties and will make the odd mistake, but he can play in all situations and has a lot of the tools you look for in a hard-nosed two-way type. He\u2019s going to have a long career as a two-way competitor with some real bite.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Terry Wilson \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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Hermansson impresses with his individual stick skill. He\u2019s not the most well-rounded or defensively responsible winger, but he\u2019s talented with the puck in his hands and a threat inside the offensive zone, with an ability to go one-on-one, play and pull pucks under driangles, out-wait goalies and just generally play with some swagger. He wants to go out there and make plays and score goals, and he’s willing to try things, sometimes in bad spots. He\u2019s also a threatening shooter off the flank, both into his curl-and-drag wrister or getting open for his strong one-timer. And he has a great feel as a saucer passer. He has a bit of an awkward\/upright skating posture that bends at the ankles, but he has some speed, and he\u2019s a winger with legit handling, finishing and passing who has clear first-round talent. I want to see him be firmer with the puck when he has it and harder on the puck when he doesn’t at times, for sure. His play against men for much of last season and internationally is hard to ignore with his skill set, though, too. He has top-six and PP talent.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Klepov, a Michigan State commit, is a highly skilled playmaker who led the OHL in scoring at 17 with 97 points in 67 games. He sees the ice at a very high level as a passer and has legit power-play skill, blending little fakes and hesitations into his handles to throw defenders off his scent. He also skates well enough, though I wouldn’t call him fast, and creates a ton of entries and high-danger looks with his craft on the puck. It can be hard for average-sized wingers to go in the first round, and they usually really have to produce, but he has, and he has some real believers in his talent and upside. He’s also a summer birthday who has followed a steep upward progression, and it was really positive to see him go to scoring areas, compete and finish more plays for himself at five-on-five instead of defaulting to out-wide playmaking. And while he’s not the most physical player and there are times when I’d like to see him reach in a little less, he doesn’t give up on plays when there’s a puck to be won, he does compete, and he has good sense defensively. But the talent and the ability for his game to continue to expand are what put him in this range, which is filled with talented wingers who were more inconsistent than he was this year, for me. The craft is pretty obvious when you watch him play.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Emma Miller \/ Saginaw Spirit<\/p>\n

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Hemming is a winger with NHL attributes and a lot of development runway.<\/p>\n

He’s a big, strong, powerful player who stays around the puck, goes to the net, and has a pro release and strong skating that really builds into a head of steam and can make him a lot to handle when he drives down ice. His sample is smaller than his peers after a stalemate with the Finnish federation prevented him from playing in the front half of last season but generated shots at a good clip after landing in the NCAA and finished with eight points in 19 games across a very respectable 16:25 per game for a 17-year-old at BC. He had a few very impressive games in the NCAA and some others where he looked like he was still figuring out the surface and how to play with his linemates. He has clear appeal. I wonder a little about the IQ\/playmaking, but his size, strength and skill set are very real and will translate.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Boston College Athletics<\/p>\n

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Mrtka is a towering right-shot defenseman who skates extremely well and has played big minutes for Czechia and Seattle over the last couple of years but is coming off a so-so year for a top-10 pick. He has a very compelling combination of tools.<\/p>\n

He can transport pucks down ice, activate and join the rush, walk the line and even side-step pressure in control. He shows poise and comfort on the puck with a willingness to hold onto it and make a play in small areas, though I think he can be indecisive at times. He has a good shot that he keeps low and on target and can occasionally really use to attack. He\u2019s super smooth moving around the ice. He defends well with his long reach and standout skating ability. He has a good stick, and with his length and mobility, his defensive upside is high. I\u2019ve seen him play physical and impose himself that way as well, though there are scouts who want to see him play a little harder at times and NHL coaches may try to push him that way.<\/p>\n

I would like to see him take charge a little more on both sides of the puck at times, given the tools \u2014 he reminds me a little of Owen Power in some ways \u2014 but the upside is real, and he\u2019s going to have a long career.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Brian Liesse \/ Seattle Thunderbirds<\/p>\n

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Tier 4<\/p>\n

\u00d6stlund\u2019s calling card is his airy, agile skating stride, excellent hands, cleverness and committed two-way game. The skating and defensive aptitude, including on faceoffs, make him an able penalty killer, and the rest give him clear tools of play creation at five-on-five and on the flank on the power play. He wins a ton of short races, creates quickly as soon as he\u2019s in possession and darts around the ice in control to get into scoring areas or facilitate from the perimeter.<\/p>\n

His lack of size and strength has been a talking point at times, but I thought it\u2019d make his jump to the SHL and then AHL and NHL a little more challenging than it was. His well-rounded game, consistent play and skating have always made him a coach\u2019s favorite.<\/p>\n

\u00d6stlund is silky smooth in possession and a superb puck transporter through neutral ice. He has a slippery quality that few players have; the puck just sticks to him in tight coverage, and he is a catalyst on his line. He has and holds the puck a lot, he\u2019s so shifty in possession side-stepping defenders or turning them on angles, and even though he doesn\u2019t always produce something out of his natural playmaking game because he\u2019s still missing that finishing strength, he\u2019s noticeable and making plays nonetheless. The stops and starts, and how quickly and tightly he turns, really make him hard to get a handle on and have helped him escape the cycle well against bigger competition.<\/p>\n

He has skill and pace, and he can be a driver.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Wendell Cruz \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Nadeau is a talented goal-scoring winger with top-six traits and second-line\/PP upside. His hands, skating and shooting all get high grades and there’s a zip to his game when he’s on. He\u2019s not the hardest or most competitive player but he’s capable of creating offense in a variety of ways, whether that\u2019s bursting wide in transition with his quick feet, attacking on angles and cuts, or releasing a pinpoint shot, whether off catch-and-releases, standstill shooting mechanics off the flank on the power play or through his one-timer. He\u2019s going to have to learn how to attack in the NHL as he did in junior, college and the AHL, but he has the talent to get there.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Minas Panagiotakis \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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A scorer at every level, Lardis is a standout skater and natural athlete and talent. He\u2019s fast in straight lines and smooth weaving up ice through his carries. But he also has a dangerous curl-and-drag wrister, a one-timer that he trusts and regularly scores on (his one-timer from the flank and even closer to the goal line is a feared weapon in junior), good touch on the puck and on the power play, an innate ability to be opportunistic around the net and, because of his speed, a knack for winning races and getting to loose pucks. He\u2019s on the smaller side for a winger, and he\u2019s not as engaged physically in battles as you\u2019d hope a player with his speed would be, but his summer birthday gives him the benefit of a little more time to continue to add more strength to his natural athleticism. He\u2019s making more and more soft area plays into space as a passer while remaining net-focused on offense. His hands are moving in unison with his feet, edging and shading pucks with ease against junior-level players. He flashes slick one-on-one handling. He\u2019s an excellent saucer passer, which makes him an even better flank guy on the power play because he can go back against the grain with a pass when the one-timer isn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be eager to work with him to build around the one-timer, the skill, the quickness and the top-flight speed to try to make him into a top-six scoring winger. Not all of the Blackhawks\u2019 abundance of small, speedy forwards are going to be able to play in the same top six, so that may work against him in a battle for one of those jobs with Kantserov, but he looks like more like a first-rounder than a third-rounder \u2014 and has for some time.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Michael Reaves \/ Getty Images <\/p>\n

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\u00d6hgren is strong on pucks, holding them with ease against his peers and with comfort against pros, which has helped him become a natural at drawing penalties and hold his own to start in the NHL. He\u2019s also a combination shot-and-pass, power-and-finesse player who can show a variety of tools over the course of a game. I like the way he shades into and away from pressure in control. His shot comes off his blade quickly, hard and naturally, rocking it back into his stance and letting it go \u2014 it really rattles off his stick. He has some underrated craftiness to his game to complement the strength, effectiveness and shooting that are more evident. He releases quickly and goes and gets pucks\/wins races. He\u2019s good on the cycle.<\/p>\n

He could use another step, but I don\u2019t think his skating will impede him from having a good career as at least a complementary third-liner. His skating has also noticeably improved over the last couple of years, looking a little lighter through his crossovers and his pickups, and he finds ways to get to pucks and\/or get open around the home-plate area, where his skill and shot take over. Add in a commitment to puck retrievals and battles and a strong base knowledge of when to make the simple play and when to attack, and you\u2019ve got a pretty safely projectable winger.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not going to be a dynamic, high-skill guy, but he can attack when opportunities present themselves. You can\u2019t fault his effort level. He\u2019s strong. He can score. Ultimately, I expect \u00d6hgren to have a long career as a solid player and secondary scorer.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Bear is a play driver and play creator, and it\u2019s rare to be both. He possesses quick, soft hands, legit skill and a natural shot, but he also stays around it, plays with intensity, works extremely hard and goes to the net and inside ice. Though people talk about him for his motor and pro style, I\u2019ve seen him make some impressive skill plays and dance some goalies and defensemen. But he can also beat you with his work ethic, and I like both the intentionality of his game and the way he uses his skill to play to the middle third. He works his tail off, tracks and puts himself in good spots. He can push play at five-on-five, make things happen all over the ice and contribute on both special teams.<\/p>\n

He was a bit of a late bloomer, and his skating is just average, but he looks like a player now and should become an impactful top-nine worker with skill who can be the best player on a third line or a go-getter for a top line. The more I\u2019ve watched him over the years, the more I\u2019ve appreciated his game, his approach and his identity.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Caroline Anne \/ Everett Silvertips<\/p>\n

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Command was a steady riser in his draft year for his pro quality and look as a true center.<\/p>\n

He’s a good skater, though I wouldn’t say it’s a standout attribute, who has strength and balance over his boots. He has a quick release, both in stride and in catch-and-release, and has picked corners from some bad angles this year. His biggest strength is just that: his strength. He stays over pucks, pushes through contact and positions himself over the puck like a pro. He’s excellent in the faceoff circle. He can lean on guys, get up and under sticks and has the physical tools and work ethic to win battles and extend plays. He’ll track pucks and knows where to be on both sides of the puck, arriving with good timing offensively. He handles the puck comfortably under pressure. He’s smart on both sides of it. I’ve enjoyed getting to know his game. He’s going to have a career as an excellent middle-six center.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Johan Bernstr\u00f6m \/ Sipa via AP Images<\/p>\n

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Salomonsson has become a nice development story for the Jets and finished the year playing to positive results without needing to be sheltered.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a tremendous north-south skater who can join the rush with ease off the puck, skate it down ice when he has it and close gaps quickly to play a physical and tight-defending brand of hockey while funneling opposing carriers wide into rub-outs along the wall. If he does get caught down ice trying to involve himself, he tracks back easily.<\/p>\n

His decision-making physically does need some tightening up at times and has gotten him into suspension trouble at different levels, but his reads in other areas of the game have improved. I like his comfort level under pressure and confidence for a player as young as he is. He moves really well in all four directions, involves himself in a lot of plays offensively, has a pro frame and build, and most of his finer skills (including his shot and his handling) get good grades. He closes and snuffs out a lot of plays and projects as a two-way top-six defenseman at five-on-five who may be able to help out on either special team.<\/p>\n

He looks like how most teams want their D to look nowadays: big, strong, highly mobile. He already looks like a full-time top-six D but could be a two-way top-four piece.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Neville E. Guard \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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A favorite of mine over the years, Moore’s consistent impact, even when the points aren\u2019t going in, has always been there. His game is defined by his world-class skating ability, both in straight lines, where he turns defenders with ease out wide, in quick bursts from explosive stops and starts and rounding corners and winding up through his edges. I\u2019ve seen him create breakaways with ease, win races he shouldn\u2019t and send defenders sliding when he stops up on them with a head of steam. He also hunts pucks and applies pressure with the best of them and his motor doesn\u2019t stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next.<\/p>\n

He wants to hang onto the puck and make plays, but he\u2019ll also hurry it up and dominate in and out of give-and-gos. He has quick hands. He has a one-timer from the right flank and can really rip his catch-and-release or in-stride wrister when he gets clean looks. He\u2019s an impressive athlete who is strong, which should help him stick at center up levels. He has learned to use some more diverse movement patterns to make defensemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. He\u2019s strong in the faceoff circle. Increasingly, his game isn\u2019t all just about the speed\/hound element, and I\u2019ve been impressed by his puck protection in and out of stops and starts in the offensive zone, changing directions to beat defenders off the wall into valuable ice.<\/p>\n

But he just doesn\u2019t seem to finish off plays around the slot or in all alone enough and that lack of finish despite the tools and some pretty goals over the years on both dekes and shots, has become a bit of a constant, raising questions about his offensive upside.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t see much to nitpick in his tools or his approach, although he does need to think the game a little better with the puck at times. He has the ability to impose his will on games. But while his game is fast and tenacious, I think you\u2019re more likely looking at a fast and determined third-liner.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Zak Krill \/ NHLI via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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Novotn\u00fd is a pro-built winger with a short but very powerful skating stride and legit speed. He\u2019s also decently skilled offensively and plays the game with confidence as a shooter. He\u2019s already strong, sturdy and stocky, with a thick lower half built to absorb bumps and play through contact. He has a feel for the game and enough smarts on and off the puck, with a good sense of where to be and go, though those attributes are more average. He can drive the net and make plays to the interior for himself, but also functions well off his linemates as a catch-and-release, push-and-pop type. He has a pro curl-and-drag wrister and good hands in tight to his body. He can make plays off his backhand. He breaks up plays and works. He\u2019s committed to playing the right way and supporting the play in the right spots. He’s just a good player, and he plays a competitive game for a young player. There\u2019s a lot to like about his combination of tools, and he’s going to have a long pro career.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Hurlbert, a Michigan commit, finished fourth in the WHL in scoring with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games playing both center and the wing effectively.<\/p>\n

He has work to do in the faceoff circle, and that, combined with his average size, results in him being viewed as more of a winger, but he chipped in on the PK with the Blazers, was given a letter as a newcomer and has some quiet competitiveness to go with his skill. And while his feet can kick a little through his stride, he plays with pace and makes plays with the puck all over the ice through his smarts. He also has an NHL shot and one-on-one skill, both of which have created multiple highlight-reel goals this year, including short-handed. He has clear talent. He was pretty consistently good when people showed up to watch him play last year, too, but he’s not viewed as a star prospect per se.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Brian Johnson \/ WHL<\/p>\n

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O’Reilly, one of the OHL’s most accomplished winners in decades, is defined by his pro style of play.<\/p>\n

He does the little things really well, whether that\u2019s making good little plays off the wall, stick lifts, his board work offensively, spinning off a check to create a little bit of space to funnel a play to the slot or defending with detail. He\u2019s also a natural center who\u2019s good in the faceoff circle. He\u2019s not the quickest or most talented player, but he\u2019s a strong skater and athlete overall, he executes at a high level with the puck and he has secondary skill and good feel on the puck\/around the offensive zone. He\u2019s also a strong penalty killer and willing shot blocker who will drive the net and stay around the action at five-on-five.<\/p>\n

He projects as a well-rounded, complementary pro and effective 3C.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Michael Miller \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Tier 5<\/p>\n

I think Brandsegg-Nyg\u00e5rd will have some scoring punch and presence in the prime of his career. He\u2019s a very well-rounded and projectable winger.<\/p>\n

His game is built on his work ethic and drive. He\u2019s a multifaceted shooter who can score from the top of the circles with his wrister but also gets down to one knee and really powers through a good one-touch shot \u2014 skills that have helped him excel on both the flank and the bumper on the power play across domestic and international levels. He\u2019s not a dynamic individual play creator, but he has pro size, he works extremely hard and engages himself in the play, he plays well off his linemates and he has good all-around skill. He also plays the game with a physical tilt, even against pros, constantly engaging in battles, bowling players over and keeping his effort level ramped up. He has good straight-line skating. He has a commitment to staying on pucks and finishing his checks, and uses a long stick to protect pucks well out wide to his body.<\/p>\n

He looks like a projectable middle-six push-and-pop driver and shooter to me as the third guy on a more talented line or a driver on a bottom-six line. I think he\u2019s going to be a real go-getter with some jam at the NHL level. I thought about ranking him in the 60s here.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Charles LeClaire \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Wood has begun to establish himself with the Predators, but the five games he played in the AHL kept him eligible for this list.<\/p>\n

He’s a tall winger who lacks the build, athleticism and pace teams covet but has produced up levels.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a rangy, multi-dimensional shooter and goal-scoring forward who has silky hands. Considering the long stick he uses, he has superb control on the toe of his blade out wide and the heel in tight to his feet, a marksman\u2019s shot inside the offensive zone and a sixth sense for arriving around the net\/slot at the right time. He protects the puck well out wide to his body, does a good job holding onto pucks for that extra second required to walk into his spots without needing bursts of speed to get there and can also slip and navigate pucks through traffic against reaching sticks. I\u2019ve seen him support play well defensively off the puck, though that area is not a strength of his game.<\/p>\n

He has quick hands one-on-one, he drops pucks back into his shooting stance effortlessly and he has a beautiful curl-and-drag motion. He has also worked to up his work rate. Can he go from being a projected 20-25-goal, 40-point forward to the 30-30-60 one that moves the needle a little more. When he keeps his feet moving in puck protection, he draws a ton of penalties, but he doesn\u2019t have a ton of pace, and he\u2019s not ultra-competitive or a driver. He\u2019s better suited as a playmaker and finisher than a power-forward type (he\u2019ll never be that), but he has become more competitive over time (a little more than he gets credit for). I like the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks, and I believe he has second line\/PP upside even without the speed. There\u2019s some risk he doesn\u2019t take that next step, though.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steve Roberts \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Surin is a talented and multi-dimensional offensive player who has excelled as a younger player in his age group across levels in Russia.<\/p>\n

He’s a good skater who plays with plenty of pace and tempo to hunt and win pucks or push play down ice. He can play all three forward positions. He excels on the flank on the power play because of his plus vision and a dangerously quick release from midrange. He\u2019s very physical and plays with a real chip on his shoulder. He can frustrate with his lack of discipline at times, whether by trying to be too cute at five-on-five, attempting unnecessary one-on-one plays, or by taking careless penalties (scrums after the whistle, interference trying to be sly, high hits, stick infractions). Some of it you can live with because he\u2019s competing for possession and battling for pucks or looking to play the body, but there are instances in a game where he\u2019s reckless in his decision-making on and off the puck, though he has made progress on the discipline front in the KHL. His skill, size, tools and fire make him very appealing. He thrives playing on instinct and has a lot of projectable elements. He\u2019ll be a top-nine forward with some skill and competitiveness.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Maksim Konstantinov \/ SOPA Images \/ LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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For years one of the most productive players in his age group, concerns about Cristall’s skating and size resulted in him being a second-round pick. Cristall has since proven to be one of the most creative, crafty playmakers outside the NHL, though, and his opportunity is coming.<\/p>\n

He isn\u2019t afraid to try things and possesses a rare ability to play in small areas, pull eyes and bodies toward him and then expose opposing structures to the weak side of coverage. He\u2019ll make effort plays defensively to stretch out and knock a puck out of the zone or work to gain inside body positioning on the forecheck and surprise people with the number of pucks he wins. He\u2019s a ton of fun to watch with the puck on his stick. When you think you have him trapped, you usually don\u2019t, and not because he\u2019s faster than you but because of how clever he is. He\u2019s a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offense and has developed his rush game to create at his own pace and find ways to enter the zone in control as well. And while his speed in straight lines still isn\u2019t a strength and has some kinks, I\u2019d say it\u2019s NHL average now, and his footwork is adjustable in tight spaces. He can also stickhandle himself into trouble at times, but he does such a good job holding onto pucks until his options open up that you\u2019re OK with the odd offensive-zone turnover, especially because he can always fall back on his finesse and touch on the puck to put it into space for someone else if he gets cornered. Despite his size, he\u2019ll also track pucks to the net so that he can be opportunistic. His skill, touch, problem-solving and spatial awareness are legitimately high-end, and I believe in his ability to become a second-line winger. There\u2019s some risk, though, that he becomes a AAAA type with his profile.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

David Reginek \/ USA Today<\/p>\n

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Cowan is a strong skater who buzzes around the ice, works and plays hard, had one of the most accomplished OHL careers individually and team-wise in recent memory, but also comes with some bad habits, poor play selection and hockey IQ questions. Even in his most recent run to a championship with the Marlies, those questions popped up off the puck at times and counter-balanced his production.<\/p>\n

He plays a fast, determined game, hunting pucks, winning races and then making little skill plays when opportunities or openings in coverage present themselves. He takes or plays pucks into the middle, thrives in give-and-gos playing off his linemate, supports play defensively and can play in a haze\/rush, but has also shown the ability to use and elevate his linemates. He does a good job holding pucks around sticks at speed. He can gain a step on defensemen, and while his effort can sometimes be ineffectively deployed (he has work to do on his routes and decisions on and off the puck), he thrives on instinct more often than it burns him. His overreliance on those instincts does need some coaching at times, but you can live with it.<\/p>\n

He plays with a bit of a hunch in his stride, which affects his game both positively and negatively as well. On one hand, he\u2019s always engaged and on his toes because he never straightens up his stance and comes to a standstill, and he\u2019s agile on his first cut\/change of direction (less so on his second because of the commitment required). On the other hand, when he really commits to a position into contact or a reach-in, it can put him off-balance.<\/p>\n

He projects as a middle-six winger and valuable contributor, even if he’s never going to be a core guy.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

John E Sokolowski \/ USA Today<\/p>\n

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Lekkerim\u00e4ki\u2019s talent is undeniable. He has upside as a top-six\/PP1 finisher, but he\u2019s imperfect.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone. He can beat goalies in an instant with a quick catch-and-release or curl-and-drag shot, or hang onto pucks and make things happen himself. He has a knack for hitting holes in the net, frequently scoring low-blocker and five-hole. He has A-level hands, a deceptive release, a lethal one-timer and a slyness to his game that allows him to get to spots to score with and without the puck. He has slowly become more threatening on a consistent basis at five-on-five, coming and going less in games, fading to the perimeter in control less and making sure he\u2019s getting touches by keeping his feet moving more and working to involve himself in the play. He has learned to play with more intention off the puck and on the forecheck, and has found more consistency in his approach and consequently his game.<\/p>\n

Maybe most important of all, he has added some more tempo to his game so he doesn\u2019t have to default to long shots through feet because he can\u2019t attack defensemen one-on-one quickly enough. He has started to push the pace more and to draw more penalties because he\u2019s more comfortable hanging onto pucks longer and taking some bumps. His skating and tight turns in particular have gotten quicker. He has played with a little more fight. He\u2019s still figuring out how to be more consistent and how to make his talent work in the NHL, and he\u2019s never going to be a burner in terms of speed, but he has the skill and finishing.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

John Jones\/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Eiserman possesses a rare ability to pick his spots and cleanly beat goalies from distance and sharp angles. He can score in every way: long-range, midrange, jam plays, rush plays, quick hands in tight, the one-timer, a lethal catch and release. There isn\u2019t a pass he can\u2019t take and get off.<\/p>\n

There have been some big games over the years where he has found it tougher to beat top defensemen one-on-one, but I thought he helped his case in some big games last year. Eiserman is always a threat to score, even when he\u2019s occasionally forcing things or fighting it in a game, because all he needs is one look. He\u2019s also more competitive than he gets credit for, and is willing to forecheck and battle for pucks even if he\u2019ll sometimes also cheat for offense.<\/p>\n

His puck skill, quick release, shot variety \u2014 he can rip it in motion or standing still, and he\u2019ll make goalies guess wrong in alone because of how fast his hands are \u2014 and sneaky strength have allowed him to score with relative ease against his peers. But how easy that part of the game has always been for him has also created some bad habits. He can frustrate, and scouts have wanted to see him round out his game and improve his play selection. He can be a little careless and selfish with the puck, but he actually has good vision when he looks for it as well. He can get carried away trying to do too much: stickhandling into trouble, shooting into shin pads, forcing shots from bad spots on the ice or trying to be too cute.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so hard to find goal scorers like him outside of the very top of the draft. He has work to do still in other areas, and there\u2019s some risk that it doesn\u2019t work long-term. But he also often looks to me like he\u2019s capable of becoming a 30-goal winger and PP1 focal point \u2014 if a flawed one. I understand the reservations many have about him and his game. He\u2019s a complicated player and person, though I think he has been overanalyzed as well. His next couple of years are going to be fascinating to track as he makes the transition to pro.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Maddie Meyer \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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A strong skater, Willander uses his balanced skating to swallow up opposing carriers and then push forward or fall back onto his heels and outlet the puck. He pulls away or retreats from pressure with ease, and excels on exits and going back to get pucks. His head is always up. He gets his shots through. And then, on top of the pro frame, the skating and the general athleticism, he plays the game with an intentionality that\u2019s rare in players his age. His passes are quick and firm. He activates when he can and picks his spots. Defensively, he\u2019s aggressive on pinches and closing gaps, and rarely mistimes them, taking away the space so well in neutral ice. He\u2019ll make some mistakes that show his youth at times and could use a little more strength in battles.<\/p>\n

Willander doesn\u2019t have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, and his offensive-zone instincts are still coming, but he could become a two-way transition No. 4\/5 with continued development. Because of how high a level he defends and skates at, play tilted in his team\u2019s favor at lower levels.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Brunicke’s statistical profile doesn\u2019t pop, but he has good size, a pro build, excellent skating and good enough instincts on both sides of the puck. He has shown a real willingness to join the rush and look for opportunities off the offensive-zone blue line in the last two years or so, playing a very active two-way style and recovering when he\u2019s down ice with his skating. I think he has another level to find offensively \u2014 he has shown some skill on the puck, even if it\u2019s not dynamic, and the skating is obviously legit. He can defend with his active stick, length and feet, though there are times where I want to see him play a little harder in man-to-man D coverage and be a little more aware in his own zone. He\u2019ll stand up for his teammates and block shots; it\u2019s more just about really battling out there consistently. He can lead exits and entries with his skating or an outlet, and has progressed very quickly since playing a depth role for the Memorial Cup hosts in his 16-year-old season. He has developed his poise and makes a great first pass.<\/p>\n

The Penguins drafted him 44th, but he has looked like a late-first caliber of prospect since. He\u2019s going to be a transitional, two-way No. 4-5 D for a long time.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Allen Douglas \/ WHL Images<\/p>\n

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Korchinski projects as a No. 5 and PP option now. I do wonder if he could become a No. 4\/5 somewhere else with a change of scenery to get out from behind the Blackhawks\u2019 young crowd on blue line, though.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s capable of playing an ambitious, free-flowing game when he\u2019s at his best and playing with confidence, but has struggled to consistently play at his top level and define his game in the pros. He has also been asked to do too much at both the NHL and AHL levels at times and his man-to-man defending is still a work-in-progress.<\/p>\n

Korchinski handles the puck smoothly on his hip, his good footwork and maneuverability help him adjust to, away from and around pressure and then he\u2019s a decent playmaker who can make something happen and facilitate out of all of his movement and carries.<\/p>\n

I like his stick and his ability to use his feet to defend the rush and disrupt play, though he\u2019s a better transition defender in the defensive zone. His hallmark has become his balance over his skates, allowing him to stay stick-on-stick through stops and starts with opposing carriers.<\/p>\n

He tries to guide play with and without the puck with his mobility, pivots and directional changes. He can impact play with his ability to transport the puck, roam and find seams. He can stretch the ice on outlets. He reads the play quickly, which allows him to make hurry-up passes when a long carry sequence isn\u2019t there for him. He sees the play develop inside the offensive zone and regularly hits cross-ice holes in coverage. Though his shot isn\u2019t hard, he\u2019s comfortable attacking into the slot. He\u2019s also an underrated competitor who is willing to take a hit to make a play and fearlessly pursue pucks into corners.<\/p>\n

Korchinski has made progress making quicker decisions, he exits and enters the zone well, he can control play when he arrives there, he gaps up well in neutral ice, he sees it and handles it at an advanced level, he has shakes and shoulder fakes. He just needs to be a little firmer out there on both sides of it and has never added some needed strength.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Jamie Sabau \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Lakovic is a winger who can really fly and blends good handles and scoring touch into his movements nicely, but has been impacted by injuries over the last two years.<\/p>\n

He protects pucks well, can get off the wall and has taken strides to keep his head up on the puck and survey\/use his linemates better and better. He still has room to improve his scanning, off-puck play and decision-making, and his physicality needs to be more consistent, but his ability both in transition and protecting pucks in the offensive zone can really pop, and he has clear top-nine projectability with good coaching. When he\u2019s on pucks and up and under sticks and winning inside body positioning, he can be really noticeable in a game with his skating, strength, power and skill. He has quick hands and can take D one-on-one as well.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nick Pettigrew \/ Moose Jaw Warriors<\/p>\n

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Scouts have always been drawn to But as a huge winger with natural skill\/scoring touch and a committed 200-foot game.<\/p>\n

While he could look a little uncoordinated out there at times earlier in his career, those things have smoothed out, he skates well and his hands are nimble for his size. The draw is real, and there are some definite tools there. He\u2019s excellent on the wall in puck protection and also has some outside-in skill so that he can attack off holds into the middle third. He has impressive shooting mechanics, given how long his stick is, and he regularly pulls pucks into his feet to change his angle face-up against goalies. I love the way he shields pucks and waits for his opportunities to attack. While he has some work to do to get a little quicker from the jump in the game\u2019s 10-foot races for the NHL, he does have some power and balance through his stride to build upon and skates pretty well for his size and age.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to be a true top-of-the-lineup forward at his size, though, and he\u2019s not the most physical player, so he\u2019ll have to rely on his reach, skill and shooting to be an impactful secondary producer. I think he projects as a complementary scorer who gives a lineup a bit of a different look.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Ronald Martinez \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Nordmark is a highly talented winger. He has great hands and instincts offensively. He can play in open ice or in puck protection\/traffic, though he needs to be harder on pucks. He also has decent size and a hard, dangerous snap shot that he can blow past goalies. He passes it well and is willing to go to the middle third in possession, but can also play out wide, at times, too much so. Djurg\u00e5rden has a crowded program at forward, but he has pretty clear talent and can excite.<\/p>\n

However, he’s extremely inconsistent in effort, habits and attitude. It has turned off a lot of people over time and revealed itself in the final viewings scouts got of him at U18 worlds again. At his worst, he plays a selfish, soft, poor-body-language, poor-decisions game and his stride can look stilted and slow. The Ducks are betting on his talent and track record of scoring but take some risk as a result.<\/p>\n

Of note, Nordmark is the son of former NHL defenseman Robert Nordmark and an import selection of the London Knights, who he may try to play with next season if he doesn’t get an opportunity early with Djurg\u00e5rden.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Kenta J\u00f6nsson \/ Sipa via AP Images<\/p>\n

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Villeneuve is one of the most purely talented offensive prospects in the game. However, he didn’t build on his QMJHL Defenseman of the Year season at 17 in his draft year at 18, battling injuries and struggling at times defensively.<\/p>\n

He plays a busy and noticeable game (for better and worse) and has played with a chip on his shoulder when targeted physically at times, but can also look scrambly and careless. Though he\u2019s small and still physically immature, his dad is a big guy, and there is some hope that Villeneuve is going to grow at least a little. He’s also a standout natural athlete. His skill level, offensive hockey sense and puck play are all legitimately elite. He\u2019s constantly making plays and finding openings. And while he\u2019s more shifty than fast (he has mastered using his head, shoulders and eyes to be deceptive and shake past opponents), his straight line speed has improved, he’s explosive laterally, he opens up a lot of space for himself on the ice, and he defends smartly for his size, using his edges and a combination of IQ and instincts. It’s his shimmies over his breezy feet that really grab you, though. He beats and loses players effortlessly and plays the game with incredible poise and dimension. He has phenomenal edges, a quick release and a good stick. His ability to break ankles will translate. Will the rest?<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada \/ QMJHL<\/p>\n

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Reid, a Michigan commit, is a good skater and smart player. He also wore the “C” for the Memorial Cup champions Kitchener Rangers. He\u2019s a plus skater whose game is shaped by his movement and mobility. He can influence play with his feet, whether that\u2019s defending and closing gaps, escaping pressure, transporting pucks or getting open and active off the puck. He\u2019s a heady, offensively capable player, but he doesn\u2019t chase it for the sake of the points. He also defends really well, with a good stick and sense for timing and disruption. He has been a major driver of two-way results for the Rangers in tough minutes. I see a modern defenseman. He reminds me a little of young Blue Jackets D Denton Mateychuk. I\u2019m a big fan of the skating-smarts combo he brings.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Natalie Shaver \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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Letourneau drew a lot of attention from scouts in his draft year as a towering center who can skate and plays with finesse.<\/p>\n

His skating, shot and puck control in tight to his body all leap out as unusual for a player his size. He\u2019s fluid through his crossovers and comes out of them lighter than you might expect.<\/p>\n

When you see him on the ice, his makeup is striking. He\u2019s a great athlete for his size, with legitimate natural athleticism. When he finishes his checks (which he still needs to do more of), he can overpower opposing players at the boards or muscle through in control. Off the cycle, he can take pucks off the wall and make plays with his good sense on the puck. He plays the flank on his off-side on the PP rather than the net-front\/bumper role big men are usually tasked with. He has some vision, handling and a natural shot. I don\u2019t love how passive he can be without the puck at times, but he has worked to involve himself more. There\u2019s still too much standing around and too much time spent with one hand on his stick at times, but it\u2019s coming. I\u2019d like to see him close out pucks and win them back quicker than he does because he actually has a good stick when he\u2019s around it. I\u2019m not sure he\u2019ll make a good penalty killer up levels (which players his size are usually asked to do) without an adjustment to his approach and play style. There are definitely some tools to work with, though, and he has stayed over more pucks this year.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s going to continue to be fascinating to monitor.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Eric Canha \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Jiricek is a toolsy defenseman whose young career has been impacted by injuries but has had some impressive stretches internationally, in the OHL and even in an NHL camp.<\/p>\n

He plays the game with confidence and intention, and has shown ambition and even creativity at times against his peers. He has good four-way mobility, an active disposition \u2014 he also showed at the pro level that he could simplify and play a more effective game \u2014 and balanced shooting mechanics. Jiricek has an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, plus good skill with the puck, and spent a lot of shifts all over the offensive zone in the OHL.<\/p>\n

I like his defensive habits, and he has size and ability. He breaks up his fair share of plays in the neutral zone with good timing on surfs and close-outs, though he will occasionally get beaten by being a little overactive. He\u2019s capable of involving himself against his peers. He projects as a No. 4 D for me.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Michael Miller \/ ISI Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Geekie has clear skill as a handler, passer and shooter, and a comfort trying things with the puck that you don\u2019t often see in players his size. He has impressive hands and body control for his size, which helps him control pucks inside the offensive zone and make plays while also getting the upper hand in board battles.<\/p>\n

He plays through bumps and thrives taking pucks from the cycle to dangerous areas, pushing through the guts of the ice in control, or even drifting to the perimeter in control to facilitate. He also skates well enough for his size \u2014 it\u2019s a little below average, and he can look like he lacks pace but I wouldn\u2019t call him slow.<\/p>\n

I do find he forces things too much by trying to go one-on-one and create something that\u2019s not there. There\u2019s also a hunch to his stride. He has some work to do in the faceoff circle, too. But it\u2019s hard to deny the impressive size-hands combination he has, considering his length. He has the ability to hang onto the puck, draw players into him and then make plays through or around them. He processes the game quickly offensively, knowing where he wants to go with the puck early and constantly pre-surveying so he always knows where his options are. He makes an unusual amount of soft little plays for a player his size, and can attack into coverage because of his hands. He\u2019s really quite comfortable in control of the puck. He also has a hard wrister.<\/p>\n

As he continues to work on his pace\/skating, he has the touch and skill to become a middle-six forward who brings a length-skill combo to his line.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steve Roberts \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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McGroarty has always looked like a pro hockey player in most areas, other than his speed\/pace at times. His skating doesn\u2019t look the prettiest through his first few steps, but there\u2019s some power when he gets going nonetheless. And his spatial awareness, reads and effort level help him avoid losing short races and being behind the play. He has great hands and feel on the puck as a passer. His finishing touch around the net is there, with a hard one-touch shot that leverages his strong frame to power through. He has always been a sneaky-good facilitator who passes the puck really well and can hold it.<\/p>\n

He has particularly mastered the net drive into a high rotation away from coverage that brings him back to around the net. He arrives in space with the right timing for his linemates, an important and underrated skill in today\u2019s game. And then when he gets there, he has the strength to shoot from bad postures\/off balance. He always seems to put his shots into good locations (along the ice, low blocker, high short side) too. He\u2019s dexterous. He\u2019s a tone-setter who will track and finish his checks even if he doesn\u2019t have the speed.<\/p>\n

The ice normally tilts in his favor and did at the NTDP, Michigan, and now has in the AHL after some time. He\u2019s a smart player. He can score, he works and he just understands where to be out there and how to put himself in positions to create offense. If he can get a little quicker from the jump, he has all of the other makings of a legitimate top-nine forward who can play up and down a lineup with a variety of player types.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nick Turchiaro \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Danielson is a good prospect but I\u2019ve never been able to get excited about his offense. He’s going to be a good NHLer for a long time as an effective top-nine forward but his skill has never grabbed me, and I\u2019ve always wanted to see him score more, which has left me lower on him than most over the years.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a hardworking pivot who can skate, drive through the middle of the ice, push tempo and play with a decent talent level and good overall detail. He plays a well-rounded two-way game, is a proficient penalty killer, wants to make a difference in all areas when he\u2019s on the ice and blends good overall skill with his effort. He plays with intention and consistency. He can simplify his game or mold his play to his line or coaching assignment. His lines tend to spend their shifts in the offensive zone. He\u2019s a good skater who can play in transition as well as a good forechecker with some secondary skill. He\u2019s a smart player on and off the puck, offensively and defensively. Though his game lacks dynamism for me, he\u2019s a complete player without any glaring holes. I did think about ranking him lower here.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nicolas Carrillo \/ Griffins<\/p>\n

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One of hockey\u2019s best-skating prospects, Potter is a smallish but talented player who uses his electric speed to put defenders on their heels, create opportunistic chances, get out in transition and jump onto loose pucks. He\u2019s a fun player to watch with his ability to go inside-out and outside-in on players, round corners on them and his desire to attack off the rush and challenge D by turning on the jets and burning them wide or blazing into a quick stop-up. He\u2019s tough to catch in straight lines or track in and out of cuts. He has some cleverness one-on-one. He can be creative with the puck on his stick, and can really get going in a hurry and has shown an ability to finish plays as well, with a great release.<\/p>\n

He comes and goes a little too much but has regularly flashed and occasionally even thrilled with his speed and legit puck skill. His skating truly is on another level, both through his edges and through a uniquely wide straightaway base. There\u2019s still some real learning of the game and how to deploy his speed that needs to happen, but there\u2019s also a real draw\/appeal\/upside to his game. Proponents see Frank Nazar. Opponents see Fabian Lysell. I think Potter is somewhere in between \u2014 he\u2019s an even better skater, too, which is saying something next to those two. He\u2019s an exciting player to watch when he winds up, and while there\u2019s some boom-or-bust to his profile and mixed opinions on him out there, the talent and speed are undeniable.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Preston is a threatening creator with good offensive instincts who came up with a lot of buzz, has the respect of his peers in his age group for his skill and skating, but hasn’t always produced like it and needs to be more consistent and mature in his on-ice habits. He\u2019s a 5-foot-11 winger who is still learning the game off the puck.<\/p>\n

He’s a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to left wing in Vancouver following a trade from Spokane, going east-west more on his forehand. He has slick handles on the puck and can attack off the rush or inside the offensive zone, challenging defenders one-on-one. He’s a natural athlete who has quick twitch speed. He’s a very smart offensive player who sees plays develop and can playmake for his linemates. He has a dangerous shot and a quick release that he started to use more as the year went on and into U18s. He\u2019s lethal in space but can also play in traffic and put pucks into space. He\u2019s just slick and confident with the puck on his stick, with some real maneuverability, but also the speed to play direct, which he needs to do more of. There are times when he can play to the perimeter, and he\u2019s not the most competitive off-puck player, and I wonder about his play selection, but the talent and the ability to attack are real.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Steven Ellis \/ Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n

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Bleyl, a Michigan State commit and the reigning CHL Rookie of the Year, is a buttery skater who\u2019s been compared to Brian Rafalski and is probably Seamus Casey at minimum.<\/p>\n

His game is defined by his effortless mobility. He can influence a lot of what happens on the ice because of his skating. Defensively, he uses it to gap up, surf, get back to pucks and then shake pressure and either carry the puck out of the zone or quickly move it. Offensively, he uses it to bend and shape coverage, walk the line and maneuver out of pressure. I\u2019ve heard there\u2019s some size in his family, too, so there could be more growth and development in front of him. He’s just a smart, smooth, modern defenseman who doesn’t give back what most D his size do. I was very impressed by his ability to produce like he did this year while still playing within himself. Some wondered if he was a byproduct of his team and environment early on in Moncton, but I think his skating and smarts will make him a long time NHLer.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Moncton Wildcats \/ QMJHL<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tier 6<\/p>\n

Something about Plante’s game just clicks.<\/p>\n

He has dynamic puckhandling ability and a hardworking disposition. His smarts are also a major asset.<\/p>\n

He has grown a couple of inches, and while his body and face still look like he\u2019s behind the curve physically, and he has dealt with injury issues, the playmaking has continued into his college career at Minnesota-Duluth and he’s the reigning Hobey Baker winner.<\/p>\n

His game is packaged with a well-liked character, which has always made him a favorite of coaches and teammates. He has also clearly worked hard to continue to build a sellable identity as an all-around player and worker when he doesn\u2019t have the puck. He supports well, he plays a team game and then the skill enters the equation when it should, rather than as his only thing. I\u2019m a fan of the skill level but also the way he plays the game, which has an endearing quality to it. He can lack pace, but his smarts and feel for spacing and timing compensate. There are times in games when he just can\u2019t beat his guy or get to his spot fast enough, but he\u2019s not slow, and you hope that more jump comes with the physical maturity that should still be ahead of him. He has small area skill, feel and sense, and puts pucks into areas so well for his linemates.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve felt since the draft that he could surprise some people to become a smart and determined NHLer.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Richard T Gagnon \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Brzustewicz was a star in minor hockey who, after dealing with injuries early on in his junior career, has regularly showcased high-end smarts, above-average skill and skating and high-end spatial awareness in the OHL, AHL and now NHL.<\/p>\n

Brzustewicz is a mobile and strong player who has worked hard to fill out, defends the rush effectively and is now getting to show he has always had more offense to his game. He walks the line well, he\u2019s comfortable, poised and patient in control of the puck in all three zones, and he will take and execute on what\u2019s given to him. He plays and reads the game very tactically \u2014 he\u2019s one of those players who makes the right calls with the puck pretty much whenever he has it and sees and processes the game at an advanced level. He\u2019s also a strong athlete who has been a better skater throughout than I think most gave him credit for.<\/p>\n

He has become more and more active in transition. He can comfortably play his off-side. His on-ice intelligence gets high grades for how methodical and pinpoint accurate his execution is in the offensive zone. His head is always up, and he\u2019s comfortably beating the first layer of pressure to make his plays even if he\u2019s not a dynamic creator who will break multiple ankles in a sequence. He projects as a smart, offensively inclined but defensively capable No. 4 and I thought about ranking him a few spots higher.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Ezra Shaw \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Greentree is a talented, pro-bodied winger whose game has finesse for a bigger, stronger player, but lacks some of the other tools teams look for in a player with his physical makeup and has plateaued a little over the last couple of years. Despite having a makeup (size, strength, shot, skill, on-and-off-ice habits) that would usually lend itself to being universally well-liked, he has had some skeptics and he hasn\u2019t fully been able to silence them, even as his pace has improved slightly (it\u2019s never going to be a strength but should be passable).<\/p>\n

He finds his way onto pucks inside the offensive zone, can stay on them, can win battles, and when he keeps his feet moving, he plays an opportunistic style with above-average talent in multiple areas (shooting, handling, first touch for a player his size). He has skill and an NHL release; the puck comes off his stick hard and quickly and hits his spots. I haven\u2019t seen a dynamic quality, though, and his skating needs work, but he has pro size, a good toolkit offensively, individual skill and a growing statistical profile. He\u2019s not ultra-competitive, but he has played harder over time.<\/p>\n

Greentree has work to do still, but he projects as a potential middle-six\/PP2 forward if he can develop more pace.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Tim Cornett \/ OHL Images<\/p>\n

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Horcoff has taken big steps in the last season and a half. The son of Shawn Horcoff, Will is strong and a better athlete than his below-average skating may indicate. He\u2019s a smart player who understands where to be, both in timing and routes. He can rip the puck \u2014 catch-and-release, one-touch, standstill, you name it \u2014 and finds open space in the offensive zone. He just needs to build some more pace. He can actually hustle and build a head of steam, it\u2019s more just about getting quicker and playing quicker at times. He can look a little upright and heavy through his stride when he really has to come to a standstill, but he can drive down ice, forecheck and does a great job getting open in transition.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also good on the net-front on the power play, and when he plays in the guts of the ice at five-on-five, he can make things happen and be a handful driving the net or planting himself there. He\u2019s also physical and has some secondary skill. There are times when I\u2019d like to see him play through contact and keep his feet moving more, but he\u2019s progressing well in that area.<\/p>\n

Pre-draft, I thought Horcoff could emerge from college as a solid potential bottom-six pro player. That placed him as a second-rounder more than a first on my list, though, still. Today, I\u2019ve upgraded that projection to a top-nine piece and worthy first-rounder.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Rick Osentoski \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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A riser in the 2025 draft class and again post-draft after an excellent freshman year at UMass, Nestrasil is a hardworking, driven winger. His rangy frame, his room for physical growth and his blend of work ethic and sneaky skill make him very intriguing. He skates well for his size, he gets in on the forecheck, he hunts and wins pucks with his body positioning and a great stick and he showed some playmaking sense and skill last year. The belief is that once he fills out his frame further, he could become a middle-six winger who can play with anyone.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Ellen Schmidt \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Nicknamed “Big Rig,” Stramel is heavy, and his athletic, muscular build jumps out at you right away but has taken time to come into his own as a player. He always had tools to work with and build around. His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and includes a hard wrister from mid-range. He can push into space. He has decent hands when he pushes through the middle. Scouts were fascinated by his power-forward package and size down the middle. I\u2019ve questioned his talent level, processing and pace, but he has played with more intention and confidence to help re-establish himself as a potential bottom-six NHL center with size.<\/p>\n

There are still times when I don\u2019t see enough playmaking or sense and he\u2019s a little sluggish from a standstill through his first few strides \u2014 once he gets moving, his stride actually has good power and he\u2019s a decent skater for his size on the whole \u2014 but the consistency of his involvement in plays and the number of touches he\u2019s getting have gone way up, which speaks to both confidence and also some learning in terms of how to get open\/what he needs to be. When he\u2019s around it, he can be a handful. He\u2019s now getting around it more consistently and then making his decisions more confidently and quickly. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to provide much offense, but he should be able to chip in and become a good, hard and heavy bottom-six NHL player.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Nick King \/ Lansing State Journal \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Cootes is a well-liked, well-rounded, all situations center and leader who has been a go-to player in his age group over the years.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a strong skater who plays with energy and detail, earning the trust of coaches with his diligent, complete game. He\u2019s a good athlete. He plays with determination as a good penalty killer and five-on-five driver. He plays the bumper on the power play well because of his nose for the net and competitiveness to get to pucks. He gets open and has an NHL wrister and release. He always seems to be lurking around the slot and involved in everything. He works and makes little plays, arriving on time in good spots. He\u2019s just a smart, well-rounded center.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve wondered about whether he has enough skill to become a top-six type, but he also confidently projects as a top-nine NHLer. His U18s sold me a little more on his skill, and there was a lack of talent around him in Seattle, but the World Juniors also showed that against top competition he can struggle to make an impact offensively; his production has never been high-end and he\u2019s average-sized. He has secondary skill and can make plays, though, even if it\u2019s not the focal point of his game. I\u2019m a little lower on him than where he was picked in last year\u2019s draft, but his combination of work ethic, smarts, competitiveness and reliability should result in a long career in the league.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Solberg is a throwback whose game had some real identity and form to it at an early age. One of the most competitive prospects in the sport, Solberg plays really hard and firm on both sides of the puck, with a mean, strong, physical presence that has seen him make life hard on opposing players whenever he has played against his peers internationally and even against men in Norway, Sweden and now the AHL. He\u2019s really physical in man-to-man coverage, sometimes too much. It\u2019s tough to take him one-on-one, and then he can skate the other way, though he can also be a little too eager on that front. His reads and decision-making need some tightening at times, as he can be sloppy\/turnover-prone, but his game has grown more mature as time has gone on, leaving me less concerned about his brain than I once was.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also a strong skater and advanced athlete with an athletic build who’s really strong and sturdy. Players with his makeup \u2014 a hard-nosed, highly engaged defenseman with good size\/athletic tools who\u2019s shown enough offense \u2014 are always going to be valuable. They tend to fit in on North American ice, too. I see a potential second-pair ceiling, third-pair floor as a hard-to-play-against D with some secondary offense that gives the Ducks\u2019 future blue line something different from a guy like Pavel Mintyukov.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Jiricek has some extremely desirable attributes, marked by a booming point shot that he does a really good job of keeping on target and a couple of feet off the ice, a strong frame and a commanding on-ice presence that can look to take control with the puck inside the offensive zone. But some persistent warts in his profile have held him back to the point where he\u2019s no longer a top prospect in line with where he was picked.<\/p>\n

Defensively, he\u2019s a capable man-to-man in-zone defender, but his stilted backward skating\/pivots and how often he gets caught flat-footed off the rush are real impediments against speed\/changes of direction. He closes out on gaps with his length and aggression when the game is low pace,but struggles when it\u2019s not, and he can struggle maintaining gaps, but uses timing to his advantage and is eager to pounce. Offensively, he leads rushes as an eager puck transporter, and he\u2019s a capable handler and distributor whose point shot is complemented by an aggressive approach. He also makes a good first pass and has a sneaky first touch for a player his size into his first move and an ability to make a second move. He\u2019s a confident, active, engaged player who has some of the tools you look for in a top defenseman while missing some of the most important ones; on top of the feet, his reads can let him down.<\/p>\n

When his timing is on and he\u2019s stepping up early to take ice in the neutral zone, he can affect a game on both sides of the puck. He can be a little overzealous at times offensively and defensively, though, and will get burned wide. That eagerness to make something happen defines his game, and he\u2019s a lot to handle when he builds a head of steam through his tall crossovers and starts circling the offensive zone to attack. He wants to dictate and influence the game on his terms, rather than wait for it to come to him (which can also come with waiting a little too long to make his decisions) but his ability to actually do that has clear limitations. Because his decision-making and footwork don\u2019t seem to be improving enough, he no longer projects as a top-four D and now looks more like a potential third-pairing type with some offense.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Ryabkin is a mercurial but talented prospect who has faced criticism \u2014 and at times been suspended and a healthy scratch \u2014 from folks in the NHL, Russia, USHL and QMJHL for his attitude, discipline and even fitness and interviews, but has also produced at an elite level at times in the MHL and QMJHL, in particular.<\/p>\n

He has a quick release and real flair to his game with the puck. I like his instincts off the puck offensively to get open and jump into gaps in coverage. He has soft hands and makes a lot of plays off his backhand. He sees the ice well when there are plays to be made and has the finesse and touch to execute difficult passes. I like him in give-and-go plays and one-on-one inside the offensive zone. On the puck, he has a legit individual skill level with some real craft and creativity to his game. But his decision-making on the ice can leave a lot to be desired, and he has some work to do to get into better shape \u2014 he\u2019s actually a solid skater, which is why he could stand to benefit from working on his fitness. He shows a willingness to pursue and track pucks at times. His work rate wavers, though. I also find he can get ahead of the play; he can engage and finish his checks, but needs to play the right way more consistently if he wants to be trusted enough to go out there and make his skill plays.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Howard is a player with the kind of track record of success that nearly always translates, but a game that might not. He has quick crossover acceleration with a hurried stride that cranks its way up ice to give him good speed. There are times when he can look like an all-offense player, but when his effort level and tenaciousness match his skill level, you\u2019ll see him around the puck all game.<\/p>\n

Inside the offensive zone, he\u2019s dangerous on the puck, with underrated creativity to complement his high-end skill; though he tries things occasionally at the offensive-zone blue line that he shouldn\u2019t get away with, he also usually executes them. He makes a lot of plays under the triangles of defenders\u2019 sticks, he navigates in and out of holes in traffic really well, and when he\u2019s in attack mode taking pucks from a standstill into the middle of the ice to create looks, he\u2019s a ton of fun to watch and forces opposing players to reach in on him, which draws a lot of penalties.<\/p>\n

But he\u2019s even more dangerous off the puck, with a scorer\u2019s sixth sense for always arriving just in time in Grade-A locations, whether that\u2019s hiding in coverage or just staying around the puck at the net. He\u2019s the kind of player who finds ways to get open in the home-plate area and then makes quick, aggressive finishing plays either with his hands or a heavy one-touch\/catch-and-release shot. <\/p>\n

Howard is always going to have power-play utility, and I think he\u2019s capable of becoming a middle-six winger under the right coach. It was nice over the last couple of years to see him play with more jump, get to more loose pucks, move his feet to get off the wall and to the slot\/net, and be above and supporting more pucks when the other team has possession. Now he has to find a way to play that game at the NHL level. There’s definitely some risk he’s a AAAA scorer.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Bob Frid \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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A late bloomer who was one of the USHL\u2019s most productive players as a rookie in his draft year, Wyttenbach was one of the stories of the college hockey season last year, leading country in scoring with 59 points (19 more than his nearest teammate) in 40 games and finishing tied for second in goals with 25 after being a late addition to Quinnipiac’s roster.<\/p>\n

Wyttenbach\u2019s skating \u2014 which got an average grade pre-draft and is never going to be a separator \u2014 showed improvement this year, and while his play defensively still needs some work, he tracked and got back more pucks than I expected and cut down on how much he was gliding. And the offense didn\u2019t just look legit last year; he created a lot of it himself. He can play the game at different paces with the puck, gets open off it, and has high-end skill as a handler, playmaker and shooter, with an ability to beat coverage, beat goalies one-on-one, and pick spots in the net off the flank with his curl-and-drag release. He\u2019s also a highly intelligent offensive player who understands spacing, timing and execution on offense. He\u2019s going to be an interesting case study in the NHL because of his makeup, but it\u2019s hard to ignore what he accomplished this season. If he can repeat it next year as a sophomore, we could be seeing him in NHL games as early as spring 2027.<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Greg M. Cooper \/ AP Photo<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to the summer 2026 edition of my ranking of the NHL\u2019s best prospects at The Athletic. This…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":801343,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[766,740,741,49,762,48,748,756,755,742,453,763,761,743,760,749,750,751,448,744,752,753,764,768,82,759,745,746,765,452,767,754,449],"class_list":["post-801342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-anaheim-ducks","tag-boston-bruins","tag-buffalo-sabres","tag-ca","tag-calgary-flames","tag-canada","tag-carolina-hurricanes","tag-chicago-blackhawks","tag-columbus-blue-jackets","tag-detroit-red-wings","tag-edmonton-oilers","tag-los-angeles-kings","tag-minnesota-wild","tag-montreal-canadiens","tag-nashville-predators","tag-new-jersey-devils","tag-new-york-islanders","tag-new-york-rangers","tag-nhl","tag-ottawa-senators","tag-philadelphia-flyers","tag-pittsburgh-penguins","tag-san-jose-sharks","tag-seattle-kraken","tag-sports","tag-st-louis-blues","tag-tampa-bay-lightning","tag-toronto-maple-leafs","tag-utah-mammoth","tag-vancouver-canucks","tag-vegas-golden-knights","tag-washington-capitals","tag-winnipeg-jets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=801342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/801343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=801342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=801342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=801342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}