In some cases, these prospects had some serious upside, but a flaw or two prevented them from being ranked. In other cases, they weren\u2019t really on the radar but managed to establish themselves as legit talents.<\/p>\n
Which prospects went above and beyond this past year, helping to establish their stocks high on their teams\u2019 depth charts? Here\u2019s a look at 10 of the most improved prospects you need to know:<\/p>\n
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
2026-27 Rank: 55th<\/p>\n
The KHL can be an exceptionally hard league to produce in for a junior-aged player. But Surin didn\u2019t flinch, showcasing some of the most skill of any youngster in the league. He finished with 15 goals and 37 points in 57 games to finish second in U-20 scoring. His game has always been so fascinating because he hits like a truck and is absolutely fearless. Surin is a bit more refined these days, but he has figured out how to harness his offensive skill and physical edge to his advantage. Surin will be a tough cookie to contain once he gets to the NHL.<\/p>\n
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
2026-27 Rank: 54th<\/p>\n
Lardis is a personal favorite of mine; I love players who do whatever it takes to get shots on net. But what some scouts \u2013 and myself \u2013 have wondered is whether his subpar skating would translate to the NHL, and whether he\u2019d continue to score at 5-on-5. Well, mission accomplished. He had 18 goals and 32 points in 35 games as an AHL rookie, earning him a spot on the big club. Lardis then registered 10 goals and 15 points in 41 games with the Blackhawks, ensuring he\u2019ll never go back down to Rockford. I\u2019d still like to see him add a bit more speed, but his hockey sense and offensive tendencies have been enough to prove he\u2019s capable of playing a scoring role in the short term. Will it last? We\u2019ll see, but it was amazing watching him keep up his scoring prowess after the move to the pro ranks.<\/p>\n
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
2026-27 Rank: 49th<\/p>\n
Ji\u0159\u00ed\u010dek finished with more than a point-per-game with the Brantford Bulldogs and was also one of the most dominant defenders at the World Juniors. I was hoping to see him play with the senior Czech team at some point too because I feel like he could have easily handled the pressure. The puck-moving defender has \u201cfuture top-four blueliner\u201d written all over him, with some scouts thinking there\u2019s still a bit more for him to unlock. I expect Ji\u0159\u00ed\u010dek to play a ton of minutes out of the gate for Springfield and get a few NHL games under his belt, as well.<\/p>\n
2025-26 Rank: Unranked
2026-27 Rank: 40th<\/p>\n
Lee went from one of the biggest late-season risers in the 2025 NHL Draft to a legitimate college scoring threat. It all started with his tremendous World Junior Summer Showcase appearance and continued with how effective he was with the puck throughout the season. I\u2019d say his least impactful hockey action was the main World Junior tournament, but he still played a really solid middle-six role while showing flashes of high-end skill. I still think he\u2019s a very raw prospect but one who should be able to become a solid point producer in the NHL.<\/p>\n
![\"st-louis-blues\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789061051_207_image.png\"\/)
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St Louis BluesTeam Cap Summary<\/p>\n
Cap Summary<\/p>\n Projected Cap Hit<\/p>\n $99,630,832<\/p>\n $66,795,832<\/p>\n Projected Cap Space<\/p>\n $4,369,168<\/p>\n $46,704,168<\/p>\n Current Cap Space<\/p>\n $4,369,168<\/p>\n $46,704,168<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: Unranked Murashov burst onto the North American hockey scene two years ago by dominating both the AHL and the ECHL. Last year, Murashov put up some of the best numbers in the AHL, which included a .919 SV% and a dazzling record of 24-9-4. Murashov has been a star for years now, so it wasn\u2019t entirely shocking to see him register a 4-0 shutout in just his second NHL game back in November. I think there\u2019s legit starter potential here (something many goalie observers have believed for a few years now), and it\u2019s probably a good thing they didn\u2019t rush him into full-time NHL duty. Barring a last-minute signing, though, Murashov is ready to push for the starter\u2019s gig alongside Arturs Silovs.<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: Unranked Zharovksy already looks like one of the top-value picks of the 2025 NHL Draft. It\u2019s hard to produce as a junior-aged KHLer, but Zharovsky put up a whopping 42 points in 59 games with Ufa last year. Only one other U-20 player (Yaroslavl\u2019s Yegor Surin) had more than 15 points (37) last season, and it was the highest output by an 18-year-old in league history. Funnily enough, the gold standard among U-20 seasons was Demidov\u2019s 2024-25, when he had 49 points in 65 games. There\u2019s a legitimate argument that Zharovsky\u2019s production primarily came against weaker competition. But he was five points off the team lead, which is still insane regardless of what angle you\u2019re looking at. Zharovsky is a highly-skilled winger who is always looking to create damage with the puck, and I\u2019m excited to see him (hopefully) come over to North America on a full-time basis after his KHL deal ends in 2027.<\/p>\n 4. Igor Chernyshov, LW, 20 (San Jose Sharks)<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: Unranked Chernyshov had great numbers in the OHL in 2024-25 and followed that up with an explosive first year of pro, highlighted by his 19 points in 28 NHL games. At points, it felt like he played better in the NHL than the AHL, showing high-end offensive skill. Chernyshov\u2019s skating has been a problem for him in the past but it feels like he\u2019s closer to average than he has ever been. It\u2019s not a strength, but it shouldn\u2019t hinder him in the NHL. I think his ability to get to the net and make things happen on the attack will allow him to secure a top-six wing role for the long-term future.<\/p>\n 3. Matvei Gridin, RW, 21 (Calgary Flames)<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: Unranked Gridin had a fascinating season last year, splitting his time equally between the NHL and AHL. He had 30 points in the AHL and another 20 with the big club, establishing himself as a full-time contributor with the Flames to close the season. Gridin is a highly-skilled forward who loves to shoot from anywhere, and he\u2019s difficult to push around. Skating was a bit of a question mark in junior, and scouts weren\u2019t convinced he\u2019d carry his offensive prowess to the pro ranks. But after one year in the Q, he proved he was ready for the next step, and then he thrived as a pro rookie. It feels like no matter the level, Gridin has proven doubters wrong, and now he looks like a genuine offensive threat for the Flames. Look for Gridin to start the year on Calgary\u2019s\u00a0top line<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: Unranked We know it\u2019s hard for a smaller player to break through, but Kantserov looks like the real deal despite being 5-foot-9. The 21-year-old had 36 goals and 64 points in 63 games this past year, leading the KHL in goals. The 2024 Gagarin Cup champ was downright dangerous every time he hit the ice, and, despite being a smaller forward, he\u2019s not afraid of anyone. Kantserov\u2019s season was the most productive by a U-22 forward in league history, leading Blackhawks fans to envision a world where he\u2019ll step into a top-six role immediately. And, honestly, that looks extremely likely.<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Ilya Protas\u00a0LW\/C, 20 (Washington Capitals)<\/p>\n 2025-26 Rank: 64th Protas has seemingly appeared in half of DFO\u2019s summer content this year, and for good reason. He\u2019s one of the most intriguing prospects in the game right now thanks to his huge frame and high-end talent. \u00a0He had 29 goals and 66 points in 69 AHL games last year, leading all rookies in the process. That helped Protas earn a promotion to Washington, where he had four points in four games alongside older brother Aliaksei Protas.\u00a0He\u2019s so talented, and you can\u2019t go wrong with a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame. Protas\u2019 skating has taken nice strides forward, too; he\u2019s no longer flat-footed against mid-tier players. Look for Protas to be a difference-maker immediately for the Capitals.<\/p>\n DAILY FACEOFF NEWSLETTER<\/p>\n![\"PuckPedia\"](\"https:\/\/www.dailyfaceoff.com\/_next\/static\/media\/puckpedia-wordmark.bb4636c3.svg\"\/)
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2026-27 Rank: 5th (G)<\/p>\n
2026-27 Rank: 31st<\/p>\n
2026-27 Rank: 29th<\/p>\n
2026-27 Rank: 28th<\/p>\n
2026-27 Rank: 20th<\/p>\n
2026-27 Rank: 11th<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789061052_884_image.png\"\/)
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