Top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking: Demidov, Buium lead Wheeler's winter 2025 list

Welcome to the winter 2025 edition of my ranking of the NHLs best prospects at The Athletic .

This two-part, twice-a-year project ranks the leagues top 100 drafted skaters and top 20 drafted goalies (which will be released tomorrow).

This edition of my top 100 drafted prospects ranking includes 28 players from the 2024 draft, 32 from 2023, 29 from 2022, eight from 2021 and three from 2020.

Its made up of 69 forwards and 31 defensemen (of which 13 are lefties and 18 are righties).

Advertisement The Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals lead the way with seven ranked prospects apiece, followed by the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators with six each.

The Florida Panthers are the only team without a prospect ranked.

To be considered a prospect, a skater must be under 23 years old and not fully established with their NHL club.

The latter qualifier is the arbitrary section of the criteria.

There, I trust my judgment for whether or not a rostered NHL player is being treated as a development case in the NHL or could still play games outside the league more than I trust any predetermined games-played cutoff.

Preference for inclusion as an NHL prospect is more likely to be given to teenagers than 22-year-olds.

Since the last edition of this ranking, the following players have aged out or are now considered graduated: Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov, Alexander Nikishin, Brandt Clarke, Logan Stankoven, Cutter Gauthier, Zach Benson, Lane Hutson, Kent Johnson, Shane Wright, Simon Edvinsson, Dylan Guenther, Olen Zellweger, Matt Coronato, Mavrik Bourque, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Lukas Reichel, Jackson Blake.

As always, the list is also broken down into tiers and presented within our fully customizable user interface.

Demidov is the most purely skilled forward prospect in the sport and has just broken the KHL's U20 scoring record, eclipsing the marks previously set by Kirill Kaprizov, Matvei Michkov and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Last season, Demidovs play during the MHL playoffs (which ended due to a lower-body injury just prior to SKA winning the championship) crystalized him behind Macklin Celebrini as the No.

2 prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft for me.

His play in the last couple of months with SKA in the KHL has done the same for him as one of the top prospects period in the game for me.

Hes got brilliant individual talent but Ive also heard good things about his work ethic on and off the ice, he's in great shape (an athletic 6-foot-0.5 and 190ish pounds) and he has developed some layers to his game so that hes not a one-trick pony as a dancing offensive-zone player (and he has played to excellent two-way results for a winger in the KHL this season because of it).

Demidov is a skill-first playmaking forward who finished third in the MHL in scoring two years ago (extremely rare for a player that age in a league typically dominated by 19- and 20-year-olds) and played at a higher point-per-game pace than the two players in front of him alongside his older brother, Semyon.

Last season, after a strong preseason with SKA, he won a KHL job out of camp but played little and then, after bouncing between levels trying to rediscover his game, injured his knee and missed a month and a half.

After returning, he tore up the MHL with one multi-point game after another and five to 10 shots per game, putting together one of the most productive extended stretches of play ever at Russias top junior level and making pretty goals look casual.

This season, despite averaging under 13 minutes per game on the year (though he has played 18-to-20-plus of late), he's still SKA's second-leading scorer.

Demidov's a true play creator and you want the puck in his hands so that he can slip around the ice to make things happen for himself or his linemates.

His ability to get off the wall to the middle with the puck on his stick into traffic, his manipulation one-on-one, his knack for dodging sticks and checks, his heel-to-heel maneuvering, his cross-body handles and his passing through layers to the weak side of coverage are all extremely high-end and look singular to him and his very wide stance/unique posture.

And while his skating in straight lines doesn't have your standard look to it and was a topic of conversation pre-draft, he's still a fast skater and very shifty side to side.

He's got elite handling (though he can get himself into trouble trying to beat two or three guys in a crowd, he also often beats multiple guys in a sequence and has a major highlight reel quality) and has made more one-on-one skill plays over the last two seasons in the MHL and now KHL than almost any prospect I've scouted for any draft.

Hes also a pretty engaged off-puck player who keeps his feet moving, hunts pucks on the forecheck and can turn a steal into a game-breaking play in an instant.

Demidovs one of the most dynamic and skilled prospects to come out of Russia in recent memory (his game also has more of a pro style, competitiveness and roundedness to it than Michkov's had at the same age).

He profiles as a point-per-game, first-line, all-star-level winger.

I truly believe he's going to mesmerize in the prime of his career in the NHL.

Buium put together one of the best seasons by a teenage defenseman in modern college hockey history last year, has been a big part of two gold medal-winning World Junior teams and is having another excellent sophomore season that has continued to solidify his status as one of the top D prospects in the NHL.

As a freshman, he produced above the rates of established NHL stars at the same age and elevated again and again in big moments (the World Juniors, the NCHC Tournament and finally the national championship).

Buium, a December 2005 birthday who spent two seasons at the national program before his draft year, wasnt viewed like he is now coming out of the NTDP but did really hit his stride in the second half of his U18 year, becoming a driver for the U18s and showing glimpses of what was to come.

In college, after growing to 6 feet, he has not only maintained his identity but has really expanded on it, playing leading minutes and impacting play in all areas with his very active and influential brand of hockey.

Hes a plus-level skater and handler who plays an extremely involved game in all three zones, whether thats activating into the rush or off the point, shaking pressure on exits or across/off the blue line (which he does extraordinarily well, making opposing players miss), working in and out of give-and-gos, or playing tight gaps against the rush.

He's a very busy player on both sides of the puck and he gets in and out of his transitions and footwork so quickly that he can play that style.

When hes dialed in, applying pressure on and off the puck and using his feet and his skating to influence play, he can really impact a game in a lot of ways and take over play both offensively (with his activations and evasiveness in the offensive zone) and defensively (with his ability to swallow up top players).

His shakes and deception have gone from a strength to a game-breaking quality.

His head is always on a swivel.

He opens up and walks the line to create lanes for his shot and pass so well, even working off his off-side.

He side-steps past opposing players with ease.

He's got great hands (complemented by those inside edges and shoulder fakes).

Some questioned his lack of physicality (with one scout even calling him soft) early on in his draft year but those questions have been emphatically answered in the last 12 months going to work on some of the more talented forwards in college hockey defensively in big moments and top players at the World Juniors (I thought after a bit of an off start in this year's tournament that he really elevated in the medal round and defended at a high level).

He has learned that the faster he cuts off plays the more he can play offense, and has really begun to take space more assertively defensively (on top of all of his stickwork and footwork).

He'll occasionally lose a battle in front or in the corner but he defends at a high level in every other area and his ability to shake and dance past and around coverage can really open up the offensive zone for his team when he's out there.

He has played some very high-level hockey for a while now (two springs ago to finish strong at the NTDP, again at the World Junior Summer Showcase, again at two World Juniors and as a big-time freshman and sophomore in college) and projects as a first-pairing, play-driving, extremely involved defenseman with a real chance at stardom.

Levshunov is a stud D prospect who developed rapidly over his first two seasons in North America pre-draft and is now averaging 23 minutes per game in the AHL as a teenage rookie.

He finished second on the Big Ten-champion Spartans in scoring (35 points in 38 games) and first in goal differential (plus-27) as a freshman defenseman in the NCAA last year.

He had a stellar rookie season in the USHL before that, registering 43 points in 65 combined regular-season and playoff games with Green Bay to fast-track his way into college hockey.

Its not easy to play big minutes to excellent two-way results or produce at a near point-per-game rate as a teenage D in college hockey, let alone one with a language barrier in a new culture who just two seasons ago had only ever played in Belarus.

And while I thought he should go back to college for one more year this year and his introduction to the AHL was a bit of a learning curve after starting the year injured, Levshunov has played big, big minutes in Rockford, hes playing on the power play and the penalty kill, his shot generation has been strong and hes starting to learn how to apply his talent at the pro level.

Levshunovs profile checks a lot of the boxes in a high-end defenseman.

Hes a righty with an extremely imposing and physically mature build already.

Hes a smooth skater with plus-level four-way mobility (including a long, gazelle-like stride the length of the ice).

Though he was a little green defensively when he arrived in the USHL, he has made fast progress and has really figured it out over the last three years (which included becoming a top penalty killer with the Gamblers after not starting there two years ago, and leading the Spartans in time on ice last year).

His ceiling defensively is sky-high with the right development.

That ceiling is led by a physical nature that regularly sees him bowl over opposing players (even on reverse hits) and outmuscle in 50/50 battles.

Offensively, he can pass and shot shape but mostly impacts offense with how eager and loose he plays as a carrier and activator who confidently leads exits and entries and loves to hop off the line (including deep into the O-zone) and join the rush whenever he can with his skating, which I expect him to do more and more of as he gets more and more comfortable at the pro level and which I hope the Blackhawks encourage him to lean into.

He also walks the line proficiently and can escape and control the puck against pressure, which has allowed him to produce very high shot totals across levels.

After beginning to take over games offensively and show a more dynamic element over the second half of his season in the USHL, he played with an abundance of confidence and identity in college hockey last season (even if that identity is a little haywire at times) and has become to come out of his shell and get back to himself in the AHL.

He already possessed all of the tools he needed to become a top-pairing D, and he just keeps getting better and better.

The decision-making is a little raw, but hes very much still learning it in real time, and the raw tools are also incredibly appealing considering his relative inexperience all things considered.

With continued fine-tuning, I believe theres legitimate first-pairing upside there.

I was very high on him coming into his draft year and he still exceeded my expectations with his ability to impact play all over the ice and jump in and out of plays.

I expect him to do that in the NHL in a big way in time as well.

Hes capable of becoming a force.

I debated ranking him No.

2 here.

Parekh is one of the most talented prospects in the sport and has the potential to be an offensive game-changer.

He might even be in a special tier offensively.

Two seasons ago, despite playing in just 50 of Saginaws 68 games after missing three weeks due to injury from the end of February into March and another couple for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (where he scored three goals and five points in seven games as the highest-scoring defenseman on the fourth-place-finishing Canada Black), he still broke the OHLs all-time goals record by a U17 defenseman, scoring 21 times.

An OHL Cup All-Star and first-round pick into the OHL before that, Parekh then became the most talented offensive defenseman in junior hockey last year, winning the CHLs defenseman of the year award and scoring and producing at an all-time great draft-year rate, breaking the 30-goal and 90-point mark as the leading scorer on the Memorial Cup hosts by more than 20 points.

He was extremely impactful against the three best teams in the CHL at the Memorial Cup, playing big minutes to help the Spirit to the championship.

Though he missed some playoff games due to an upper-body injury, he was still a difference-maker for Saginaw in the postseason.

He got off to a slow start this season after a very short summer due to the Memorial Cup, the draft, development camp, rookie tournament and the World Junior Summer Showcase, but he has excited again recently and is back on track for another 30-goal and 90-plus point season.

He plays an aggressive and natural offensive style that looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line.

Hell also regularly involve himself in the rush, much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to challenge defenders and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush.

Hes extremely confident on offense and opening up his feet (where necessary) around the zone without going to his heel-to-heel by default.

Hes got great hands and a casual-looking skating posture (hes got excellent feet crossing over and falling onto his heels, but does lack pull-away speed in straight lines going forward), which he uses to carry pucks with a visual ease and beat the first layer of pressure to get to his spots.

When the puck arrives on his stick, it just seems to stop and glue to him through his movements a very rare quality that almost makes him look lackadaisical with the puck because its settled so easily into his pocket and upright stance.

He likes to roam, but hes 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, youre drawn to him whenever he touches the puck because hes 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 wouldnt expect him to and often avoiding contact with deft little pre-planned plays (though hell also take a hit to make a play).

Hes got great footwork and edges to manipulate across the line and stop up along the boards to change directions or maintain gaps.

And I also believe he defends at a high enough level to be given free rein to go out there and be himself offensively.

Though his defense has been a common criticism among scouts at times, Id argue hes got a great stick (which is long and which he hides really well until an opportunity to be disruptive presents itself) and reads the play a high, high level in anticipation.

Ive liked what Ive seen from him on the penalty kill, and even though he definitely doesnt play a physical style and can get exposed for not being hard enough in engagements, I think hes made important progress in his own zone and hes 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 youd like him to really get low and battle, but hes playing to win pucks with his stick and does so quite well (hes never going to be a staunch defender).

Add in that hes a very good communicator (hes constantly talking on the ice), has passes that are almost always tape-to-tape and perfectly flat, an ability to draw penalties escaping pressure as well as just about anyone in the draft class (hes never in trouble) and a want to have the puck and make a difference, and theres a very high-end package.

If he can defend at a reasonable level in the NHL (which I believe hell be able to) hes got star power.

Though Smith has played exclusively with the big club this year, I decided to include him because of the combination of his age and the development treatment he has gotten in the NHL this season (I included Zach Benson when he was with the Sabres last year and also Conor Geekie and Marat Khusnutindov despite both being full-time in Tampa Bay and Minnesota this year).

It's starting to click for him though and he has played his best hockey of the season over the last couple of weeks.

Smith is a brilliant handler and manipulator of the puck, including at full speed.

He's a tantalizing and slippery talent who blends deception, baits and fakes (with his eyes, shoulders and head) into his movements to not just make opposing players miss but often send them the wrong way.

Crafty is the best word to describe his game.

He went from a point-per-game U17 season (the only player on that team to do so) to more than two points per game in his U18 campaign and then led college hockey in scoring with 71 points in 41 games (tying Jack Eichel for the most by a U19 skater in the 21st century) as a freshman last year.

Beyond his natural skill in possession, he also impresses with his smarts with the puck, his cerebral play style and his ability to play to his linemates' strengths as a facilitator and playmaker.

Smith is one of the very best slot-passing prospects in the game and uses his unique puckhandling ability to dodge close-outs, weave off the wall (he almost always takes his first touch to the middle as a tool to draw attention) and make plays through holes in coverage in possession with ease, regularly hanging onto pucks to delay his way into his spots or carve in.

Hes the kind of player who can beat you with a pass, a dangerous wrister (which beats goalies with timing and accuracy more than power) or a deke.

Hes a treat to watch when the puck's on his tape and he processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level.

The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then playmakes from the high slot, or slips off the wall to the middle, is special.

The way he walks through coverage and hangs onto pucks is special.

Theres just this elusiveness to his game where you never know where hes going with the puck.

I like the growth he has shown in the last couple of years to hunt and come up with more pucks (I quite like him on stick lifts), too.

He still has some work to do to round out his game (hes a little too eager to flee the zone at times, isnt very physically engaged, could use a little more jam and can try to do a little too much occasionally).

But Ill be shocked if he doesnt become a playmaking star-level player and PP1 creator alongside or behind Celebrini.

I expect him to become a big-time point producer.

His individual skill and creativity are rare.

Dickinson is a very projectable defenseman who has size, high-end skating and an offensive game that really rounded into form last season and has taken an even bigger step this year.

Two years ago, he stepped right onto a deep Knights blue line at 16 (rare) and played bigger minutes by years end than some drafted guys (rarer), including in key situations in the playoffs.

Last season, he played a leading role in all facets of the game on another strong London team (which included successfully quarterbacking one of the power-play units and developing his shot into more of a weapon to nearly hit 20 goals), making two huge plays in the Memorial Cup final.

This year, he has been one of the most productive defensemen in junior hockey and is averaging 30 minutes per game (you read that right) with London to excellent goal differential results.

Hes a strong 6-foot-3/4, 210ish-pound defenseman whose skating is a major strength (forward, backward, four-way mobility the full package for a defender his size).

He plays to who he is and what makes his game so successful.

He defends at a very, very high level for his age 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 where he needs to pivot and set his gaps earlier (when he's ready and in flow to accept the rush he's an excellent defender) 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 doesnt process it fast enough coming out of his own zone and can turn over pucks.

On offense, he shows comfort, speed, presence and even deception past opposing forwards, and has developed nice feel for the game offensively when there are plays to be made.

He just needs to count, and read, and problem solve faster in his own zone.

Some have concerns about his IQ for that reason but he has all of the physical tools you look for, he can really shoot it (which I know he has worked on to turn into a real weapon), he comfortably handles and skates it, he has a high floor, and he could have a very high ceiling (at both ends) with continued development along the path hes on.

There are also some who want to see him play a little meaner but hes a dominant defender at the junior level and he competes/plays hard across huge minutes.

He's also helped by a June birthday that gives him some runway to continue to find new levels/layers and get the reps in with the puck 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.

He looks like he's going to be a two-way top-four stud in the NHL and if he can clean up some of his outlets/handling of pressure I think there's first-pairing upside.

He is also by all accounts a great, easygoing kid who has twice worn a letter for Hockey Canada.

The WHLs fourth-leading scorer last season, Catton registered 54 goals and 120 points in a combined 72 regular-season and playoff games on a Spokane team that lost more games than it won.

He had real pedigree even before last season, too, as a No.

1 pick into the WHL who was an offensive catalyst on a bad Chiefs team in his rookie season and who also led Canada Red to silver as captain at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with 12 points in seven games and then again captained Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a tournament-leading eight goals and 10 points in five games.

He has continued to build on his strong statistical profile this season as well, producing near the top of the WHL again and looking like hes playing with his food since the arrival of Capitals top prospect Andrew Cristall (theyre the best duo in the CHL for me right now).

Cattons dangerous whenever hes 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.

Catton is 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.

Hes got multi-dimensional skill, with an ability to play both with speed on the rush (hes 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).

Hes got 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 has been a focus of his this year.

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 hes got a dangerous and quick release while moving.

He does such a good job 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.

He draws a lot of penalties with his skating and has also been a top penalty killer in the WHL the last two years because of his ability to pounce and create offense short-handed.

Hes got some very translatable top-six elements with his skating and skill set.

I believe hes got the chops to stick as a center despite being on the smaller side as well, because you want him getting touches lower in the zone so that his skating can lead in transition.

Hes got a bit of an injury history which has impacted a couple of offseasons and led to him sitting out U18 worlds, but hes an exciting talent with high-end offensive chops.

Leonard is a prospect who everyone likes.

Its impossible not to.

Hes a versatile, powerful, high-RPM player who makes things happen when hes on the ice and who pulls teammates into the fight with his scrappy, competitive, never-stop style.

Hes not just the energy guy or a battler, though.

Hes got really quick side-to-side hands, a hard, NHL shot that rattles off his stick and quick crossover patterns that allow him to use those hands to get to places where he can look to shoot.

Hell flash one-on-one skill pulling pucks through his feet and around defenders.

His focus is on getting to the interior and he attacks there fearlessly with a sturdy stride.

Hell take a beating over the course of games and keep sticking his nose in every battle/continue to attack into contact.

Add in strength, power, a strong build, an ability to drive and shed contact when he gets bumped and a defensive conscience and theres more than just a hands-shot-worker skill set, too.

Hes not the most cerebral player, he can be a little too net-focused at times and his discipline/hot-headedness can get him into trouble, but he has taken noticeable strides to become a little more inventive and a little less predictable from A to B (Ive been more and more impressed by his little hesitations and his widened vision in possession).

His backhand has also become a legit weapon, adding another layer to his shooting arsenal.

Theres just so much that looks translatable about his game: The way he gets shots off hard, even from off-balance and sometimes falling stances.

The way he battles and the fearlessness with which he drives the net.

His overall dexterity.

Leonard should be the kind of player who will score, add physicality to a line and slide up and down a top-nine in an NHL lineup while endearing himself to his coaches.

He has continued to score this season without longtime center Will Smith at BC as well, though his production has taken a modest downtick.

Leonards a driver who has looked like a No.

8 pick between BC and two strong showings at the World Juniors (winning a pair of gold medals and one as captain and tournament MVP) since the draft.

His play selection isnt always great and he can take too many unnecessary penalties when his intensity boils over, but he can also be a shift-to-shift force.

I stuck my neck out on Perreault in his draft year and I remain bullish on him as one of the most talented and offensively intelligent prospects in the game.

When the points pile up like they have, and they happen while making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them.

You can say what you will about his skinny frame (though he has added substantial muscle, at least relatively speaking, in recent years).

You can say what you will about perceived questions of skating (which I think completely lost the plot in his draft year).

You can say what you will about his linemates at the NTDP and BC.

But its Perreault who holds the programs single-season points record, it was Perreault who, before missing a few games to injury, led the Eagles in scoring as a freshman for much of last season before finishing with a rare 60-point season anyway, and its Perreault who leads BC in scoring as a sophomore this season.

I see a clever-beyond-belief 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 Oilers prospect Jacob Perreault, Gabe doesnt have his dads defensive acumen or his brothers build (Gabe is now listed at 178 pounds, Jacob at 196), but hes a highly intuitive player who sees the play develop offensively at a more advanced level than his two family members did/do and comparably to any prospect in the sport.

Hes got 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 Ive watched.

Hes got dexterous tools catching, tipping and redirecting pucks on first touch.

He arrives into space at exactly the right times 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.

Hes 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.

And hes a better skater than he gets credit for, with above-average speed for my money and developing power as he has gotten stronger.

I see a skilled, clever, nifty top-six playmaking winger with clear PP1 upside.

I think hes got a chance to be a star, too.

Sennecke is a high-skill individual player with length (up over 6-foot-4 now) who last year, after an up-and-down start to his draft season, became a game-changer after the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and finished on an emphatic note with an excellent playoff performance with the Gens, regularly pulling people out of their seats.

This season, he has followed that up by becoming one of the leading scorers in the OHL.

Hes one of the most exciting pure-skill prospects in the sport.

One of the more productive rookies in the OHL in his 16-year-old year, Sennecke was a standout on a young Oshawa team two years ago, earning Second All-Rookie Team honors and playing both wings successfully (hes a right-handed shot but often played the left wing with would-be Avalanche draft pick Calum Ritchie, although he has played mostly right wing since).

He looked a little skinny when I first went to see him play two years ago, and he has still looked that way in repeat viewings in Oshawa, Moncton (where I know scouts were keen to watch him closely at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and where I thought he was one of Whites most noticeable players with the puck and worked hard, which was the start of a positive trend in his game), Plymouth for the World Junior Summer Showcase and Ottawa for Canadas selection camp for the World Juniors (where I thought he played really well and deserved to win a job on the team), but thats driven by a growth spurt that sprouted him up and his room for physical growth is exciting now.

His stride and shot, which both lacked power at 16, have also made clear progress.

His release, which has always been naturally quick, now has some oomph, and his skating has really smoothed out and is an asset now, which has helped his dynamic rush game.

Sennecke can definitely handle the puck.

Hes got extremely soft hands and confidence on it, even under pressure spinning and weaving off the wall or attacking right into defenders with his stick skill regularly finding his way out of tough spots and traffic with craft and creativity.

The puck just sticks to him.

He also moves well in control, side-stepping checks and sticks nicely.

Hes impressively dexterous and does a good job catching bad passes and handling the puck in his feet.

But he does have a habit of playing one-on-one a little too much at times, which has frustrated some at times but also more often thrills in sequences of skill on the puck.

Hell dangle past a defender multiple times a game, but also sometimes turn the puck over trying to be a hero when there are better plays.

There are also times when he needs to empty the tank on the backcheck, but he has made more of an effort to finish his checks and battle through contact over the last 12 or so months (his flat games are fewer and fewer now and Ive seen more and more games where he has battled and competed).

He has legitimate high-end talent on the puck and his feet and stick move in and out of unison to shade away from opposing reach-ins niftily.

He also sees through coverage well and when hes not so focused on making the individual play can really pass it through gaps in coverage.

Hes still got some work to do and some development in front of him, but the potential reward could be one of the more skilled tall wingers in the NHL.

With a little more muscle and maturity, his game could continue to take off.

Hes still got some work to do to win more battles and round out his game defensively but he has made important strides on both fronts in the last 12 months and hes got first-line talent.

Sandin Pellikka has had a brilliant run in the SHL the last two seasons, producing at near-historic rates as a teenager in both, winning an SHL title, winning back-to-back directorate awards as the top defenseman at the World Juniors (he was Swedens youngest defenseman the first time he did, too) and emerging this season to play 20 minutes per game and become one of the leagues most productive defensemen regardless of age.

Sandin Pellikka is an individually talented, competitive 5-foot-11 defenseman with natural scoring instincts and the tools to execute.

Hes got 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 hes not big, hes athletic and he plays hard and physical and engages in battles in the defensive zone with some sneaky strength.

Hes got 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.

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.

Hes got comfortable handles.

He walks the line looking for his shot and chances to take space off it to attack into better spots, but hell 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 wouldnt call him super creative or a highlight reel type, but hes very talented, he makes good choices more often than hes careless and he has progressed really rapidly.

He projects as a high-end offensive defenseman and defensively capable second-pairing one at five-on-five.

When hes on, he can control the game in all three zones and really drive shot creation.

Its no secret that I am and have been a fan of Nemec.

His introduction to the Devils organization two years ago through the summers rookie camp, the falls rookie tournament, his first preseason and then his first few weeks in the AHL was actually a bit of a bumpy one.

He struggled on the power play.

He didnt look like his usual self at five-on-five.

He was just off, after a career to that point where he had looked ready for every new challenge against professionals in Slovakia, as MVP at the Hlinka, as captain at the World Juniors, even at mens world championships.

He really hit his stride in early December of two seasons ago, though, and was Uticas best defenseman for my money in the second half of his rookie season and again to start last season before performing really admirably across his first 60 games in the NHL.

Though he hasnt been able to secure a full-time roster spot with the Devils again this season, its important to remind yourself that hes just 20 and that despite his three years in the AHL hes still the fifth youngest defenseman to have played in an NHL game this season.

Nemecs statistical profile to this point in his career, for his age, remains pretty pristine as well.

Hes a calculated and poised three-zone defender who is capable of organizing play from the top of the zone, executing through seams in coverage at a high level and starting and leading his fair share of rushes.

Hes got good edges and four-way mobility, which he uses to manipulate and steer play through intelligent routes on and off the puck.

He also regularly flashes sneaky deception, poise and even ambition.

Though I wouldnt say hes a dynamic, game-breaking type offensively, hes plenty calm and talented.

He knows when and how to push.

The challenge Nemec has faced is that while he played a fairly polished defensive game at a very early age, his play defensively hasnt found another level beyond that and his NHL results in his own zone have been just OK.

I still expect him to become the best defenseman out of Slovakia since Zdeno Chara and a No.

2 (or high-end No.

3) guy who plays a play-driving modern game.

The game just comes easy to him when hes at his best, with everything happening in front of him and the ice tilted in his favor.

It happens so subtly, too with occasional flashes when hes really dialed in as well.

Its short little passes, quiet steering of play, little skill plays and then a big moment when the team needs him, rather than constant flashes.

His type of game is the direction the position should be going.

Now its up to him to show it consistently at the NHL level when the next opportunity comes, because I think hes capable of never looking back.

Yakemchuk was one of the highest-scoring and most penalized draft-eligible defensemen in recent WHL history, breaking the rare 30-goal and 70-point benchmarks, and sailing past 100 penalty minutes with the Hitmen (who missed the playoffs) last year.

Thats a year after he scored 19 goals (third among WHL D) on a middle-of-the-pack team and was the only 2024 draft-eligible to make one of the WHLs All-Star teams when he was named a Central Division Second All-Star, which was important considering he was only a couple of weeks away from being eligible for the 2023 draft.

I thought he was unremarkable at the 2023 U18 worlds, and he struggled in stretches at both the World Junior Summer Showcase and his first rookie tournament with the Senators last August and September, but an impressive first main camp with the Senators demonstrated his upside.

His season since returning to the WHL has been good but not great by his standards.

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 in the WHL has come with some give and take, hes got pro size, a pro shot, excellent one-on-one skill and hands and an attack mentality thats complemented by an active disposition to eagerly jump off the line or into the rush.

Hes also got 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.

Its 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 hes got work to do to refine his game and reads defensively, hes got the size and tools (it never hurts when youre a 6-foot-3 righty) to take the steps he needs to there and he plays really hard at both ends.

I would like to see his skating which is fine going forward but heavy-footed in other areas and can burn him improve, particularly from a standstill (where he can be a little slow out of the blocks).

Hes not a natural athlete, either.

There are games, though, 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, hes high-end upside, especially offensively.

I recently asked Staios about the fitness piece of it and how he fared in Ottawas testing.

Heres Staios: He did fine in fitness testing and thats something thats intriguing for me.

A lot of these players in the draft, youre evaluating them as they are right now but youre also trying to project out to what they can be and Carter has an ability that you just cant teach from a playing perspective and I think that hes still scratching the surface on physical maturity and thats mother nature.

Everybody matures a little bit differently.

And theres plenty of players that peak a little bit differently and we think Carters just entering into that phase and hes got a frame of 6-foot-3 and 200 to build off of.

Silayev is a unicorn 6-foot-7 defenseman who surprised some people with a hot start offensively in the KHL last season and rose to the top of the class playing legitimate minutes for one of the KHLs better teams for most of the year (including in the playoffs) an extremely rare feat for a 17-year-old.

His 11 points in 63 games broke the leagues under-18 scoring record (Vladimir Tarasenko had 10 points and Kirill Kaprizov and Evgeny Kuznetsov each had eight at the same age).

He played on the power play, consistently registered multiple shots per game and even played both sides.

This season hasnt kept climbing along that meteoric trajectory at the same pace, and Im not sure theres as much offense as we saw early on last season for a stretch (largely due to average smarts), but Silayev remains an exciting and unique prospect with a high defensive ceiling.

Hes 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.

Hes got more steps to take in his decision-making on the puck (I find hes a little too trigger-happy he actually shows good poise and comfort when he doesnt rush), his shot (which he gets off in volume and does a good job putting on target, but will definitely need to add power as he gets stronger and works on it) and his ability to really impose himself with his size even more than he already does (which he really learned to do last year, leading Torpedo in hits).

He has shown some handles for a big man, hes disruptive in zone defense and hard to beat off the rush because of his length and theres plenty of room for continued growth and development within his game.

I see the appeal of Silayev and the projection.

His upside is obviously extremely high, especially if he can continue to develop his offensive game and maintain his mobility as he gets heavier.

Lindstrom is a big (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), strong center with prototypical power-forward tools as an excellent skater who already uses his size to his advantage, whether through finishing his checks (hard), shielding pucks, pushing through contact or going to the net front to provide screens or take pucks to the far post.

He also has excellent skill and natural quick-twitch hands, both in flight and around the net and the wall (including getting off the wall and pulling pucks into his feet to release from different stances and change angles).

He can play off the puck, take up space in front and make plays in tight, or jump into space off the rush with his skating, play on the cycle and stay over pucks to help his team maintain possession inside the offensive zone.

He can create in transition putting defenders on their heels with a head of steam and even make skill plays from a standstill inside the offensive zone getting to the inside (a real strength).

Hes a powerful skater and athlete who can pull away in open ice and win races.

Hes also strong in the faceoff circle and distinctively competitive, with room to grow in both and really elevate as a true competitor.

He looks like a safely projectable second-line center or winger, which at his height and with his skating would make him a pretty rare player type in the league.

There are some who believe he might even have first-line upside if he can get healthy and stay on the track he was on before the injury in the first half of his draft year.

His sample is small but hes an easy player to like and one scouts saw a lot of potential in pre-draft because of his rare makeup and rapid development.

In the front half of last season, it was really easy to see why so many were excited about him, given his makeup, size and position (though there are some who think he may end up on the wing and question his hockey IQ/decision-making/reads/play selection at times).

He was utterly dominant just before the injury and looked like a force on the ice when he was at his best.

After playing his rookie season in a limited role with the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds at times even scratched Tij, the son of Jarome Iginla and the No.

9 pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft, was traded to Kelowna and took off with the Rockets in his draft year, regularly looking dangerous both off the rush and attacking inside the offensive zone.

This season, he got off to a strong start in Kelowna before undergoing hip surgery.

Since the trade to the Rockets, he has combined for 131 points in 96 combined games between two regular seasons and one playoff run at 17 and barely 18 years old.

In between, he had a point in every game at U18 worlds and finished the tournament with goals in the semifinal against Sweden and final against USA to end with 12 points in seven games (fifth in the tournament).

Hes 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, hes 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, hes got 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, is a major weapon, consistently beating goalies cleanly with both its pop and how quickly it comes off.

Hes got high-end handling (hes got 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.

Hes an impressive athlete who performed well in the combine testing.

Hes 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 midrange, and youve got 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 youve got a perimeter and interior offensive threat who has strength, speed, skill and scoring in his profile.

Hes got a top-six, scoring-skill-jump profile.

Hes got a ton of tools and theyve come along at an exciting rate.

Hes going to score goals and make plays in the NHL.

I expect him to be a big part of the Memorial Cup hosts in Kelowna next season and Team Canada at the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota before making the jump to the NHL in 2026-27.

At this point, Mateychuk might be the best star prospect that the average fan doesnt already view as a star prospect, if that makes sense.

I believe he has a real chance to become a top-of-the-lineup No.

2-4 D in the NHL.

Mateychuk has built quite a reputation for himself in hockey circles for his ability at 5-foot-11 to direct play and drive results in all four corners of the rink when hes on the ice.

That style helped him work his way onto Team Canadas U18 worlds team as an underager, helped him become a first-pairing guy at the 2024 World Juniors in Gothenburg, made him one of the top defensemen in junior hockey in three consecutive seasons, helped him become Moose Jaws captain and lead them to a WHL title, immediately made him one of the best young players in the AHL and quickly earned him a call-up to the NHL as a 20-year-old defenseman (pretty rare).

He closed out his stellar junior career with 31 goals, 112 points and a plus-58 rating across 76 combined games in the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup and has been a point-per-game stud with Cleveland this year.

Hes a plus-level skater, which helps him escape pressure with his feet, push up ice in control, trail in transition, walk the line and steer opposing players into tough spots despite not being the biggest guy.

Mateychuks the definition or close of the modern defenseman.

He pushes when he can and does everything with poise and control (while still commanding).

He plays a game that is confident but also reliable and calculating built around his mobility and sound decision-making.

He defends at a high level and is strong over his 5-foot-11 frame.

Hes a July birthday, which further underscores how impressive it is that he has been as high-end a player at the junior level and pro level as early as he has been at each.

Hes got a strong foundation and distinguishing qualities (namely his movement and control of the game).

Hes got creativity and vision.

He can play in all situations.

He can manage the puck smartly in the offensive zone or make a play when his team needs one.

He just always seems to be involved in all three zones and making positive plays.

Hes also a worker who by all accounts has a great personality/work ethic off the ice.

I see a clear top-four D and theres nothing in his game that gives me pause in saying that.

There are times when he needs to move the puck a little quicker but that would be my only nitpick and its not uncommon in players who are as involved in the play as he is.

A dynamic goal scorer in the truest sense, Eiserman possesses an exhilarating ability to cleanly pick his spots in the net and regularly beat goalies one-on-one.

He can score in every way: long-range, mid-range, jam plays, rush plays, quick hands in tight, the one-timer, a lethal catch and release (there isnt a pass he cant take and get off).

In his U17 year at the NTDP he showed one of the better shots and sets of hands Ive seen in a player that age.

In his U18 year, he chased down Cole Caufields all-time NTDP goal-scoring record.

Hes also a late August birthday, which I think sometimes got lost in evaluations of him during his draft year in how scrutinized he was as a player and even person at times.

This season he leads the Terriers in goals as a freshman and was productive in very limited usage as the 13th forward for Team USA at the World Juniors, scoring some big goals in a role he seemed to really embrace as positive as the actual seven points in seven games.

Eiserman is a shot creator and finisher with a multi-faceted offensive zone package and an ability to score off the rush.

There have been some big games over the years where he has found it tougher to beat top defensemen one-on-one, causing some to question him.

Eiserman is always a threat to score even when hes occasionally forcing things or fighting it in a game because all he needs is one look.

Ive also seen him come up big in clutch moments when his team needed him, and hes more competitive than he got credit for last year, with a real willingness to forecheck and battle for pucks even if hell occasionally also cheat for offense.

He doesnt miss when hes got an opportunity, though, and its so, so hard to find goal scorers like him outside of the very top of the draft.

I have seen him play pretty complete, competitive games.

Ive also seen him zip passes around and show a playmaking tilt and think hes an underrated passer who actually identifies second and third options quite well even if he doesnt always give the puck to them.

Eiserman produces that hes about to score here feeling every time the puck comes to him in a good spot and that supersedes the ongoing work he needs to do in other areas for me right now.

Its cliche, but you cant teach that.

He looks to me, with continued coaching, like hes capable of becoming a high-scoring winger and PP1 focal point.

But I understand the reservations many have about him and his game.

Hes a complicated player and kid.

Ive been a big fan of Yurovs game and was really high on him in his draft year (when the Wild took him No.

24, he was No.

12 on my list).

I had concerns for a while there about how Magnitogorsk had handled his development and the limited minutes they gave him at the KHL level even when it looked like he was ready for more, but he forced their hand with an excellent camp and start to the season last year and put together one of the best age-adjusted seasons in KHL history by years end.

Not only was he a good teams leading scorer, but he finished the season with the KHLs all-time under-21 scoring record, breaking Vladimir Tarasenkos single-season mark and passing Kirill Kaprizov and Evgeny Kuznetsov along the way.

He hasn't been as productive this season but he has been a real driver of positive results and looks like he's going to be a second-line player in the NHL to me.

For years, he was a rare winger who was capable of driving play, chances and results at both ends without necessarily looking like he was dominating out there.

Last year, a move to center helped him really lean into that identity and he looked like a natural down the middle outside of needing some expected work in the faceoff.

Hes a kid who has really impressed me almost every time Ive watched him over the years, whether against his peers or in the KHL.

Considering his ice time, he was actually quite productive between ages 17 and 19 in the KHL as well, so its not as though last years breakout was a surprise.

If you were to fill up two buckets with his tools (one for the strengths, one for the weaknesses) and place them on a scale, the bucket with his strengths in it would be overflowing and the one with his weaknesses would be near empty.

He plays hard and fast, he pushes tempo, hes a strong and balanced skater, hes an excellent give-and-go player who excels at playing in and out of space without the puck, his shot comes off his blade hard in motion (and has added some versatility/different weapons after it was more of a stand-up wrister earlier in his development), hes got pro size (6-foot-1 and about 180 pounds) and skill, hes diligent in all three zones and hes almost always in the right position or reading the play to get back into it (on offense or defense).

Young players are often either advanced in the way they operate on the ice but lack the high-end skill to make the most out of it, or have the skill in spades but struggle to use it because they arent processing the game fast enough.

Yurov doesnt have any problems on either front.

He may not become a true star, but hes got top-six tools and his odds of really hitting relative to where he was picked feel pretty high.

His successful move to the middle is huge, too.

I like him as a center a lot.

I did debate ranking him a couple of spots lower here but have decided to hold firm in my expectations for him.

Jiricek has some extremely desirable attributes, marked by a booming point shot (its explosive, and he does a really good job keeping it on target and a couple of feet off the ice); a strong 6-foot-4 frame that continues to fill out (he's over 200 pounds); and a commanding on-ice presence that can look to take control with the puck inside the offensive zone.

Defensively, hes a capable man-to-man in-zone defender and though I do worry about his stilted backward skating/pivots and how often he gets caught flat-footed off the rush, he closes out on gaps (he can struggle maintaining them but using timing to his advantage and is eager to pounce) with his length and aggression.

Offensively, he leads a ton of rushes as an equally eager puck transporter (hes a better skater going forward than backward) and hes a capable handler and distributor whose point shot is complemented by an aggressive approach.

There are also some subtleties to his game (first passes that are almost never off target, a sneaky-silky first touch for a player his size into his first move and an ability to make a second move, etc.).

But his modus operandi is that hes a confident, active, engaged, talented player who has almost all of the tools you look for in a top defender except for the footwork on his heels.

When his timing is on and hes stepping up early to take ice in the neutral zone, he can really dominate a game on both sides of the puck.

He can be a little overzealous at times (offensively and defensively) and will occasionally get burned wide, but that eagerness to make something happen also defines his game and hes 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 at the time, but is more often apparent in quick, aggressive choices).

I've liked the way he has played with the NHL club since the promotion from Iowa as well, though it has been in sheltered usage.

He has a couple of kinks to iron out with his decision-making and footwork, but the rest is there and hes got legitimate top-four/impact upside.

Ritchie is the complete package and has been one of the top players in the OHL for the last two seasons (I think he has a claim as the best player in the league this year).

From my first live viewing of him four Octobers ago in St.

Catharines when he looked like the Generals most talented forward in just the second game of his OHL career; to his four-goal, seven-point series in Oshawas six-game first-round defeat against the Kingston Frontenacs three years ago; to his Hlinka performance two summers ago; to Langley at the CHL Top Prospects Game, Switzerland for U18 worlds and continued live viewings in Oshawa, Ritchie has consistently impressed me (he didnt elevate at the World Juniors for Canada but I thought he was fine there and it was a collective problem).

On the puck, hes a multifaceted playmaker who often looks like the player who was the No.

2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member.

He has quick hands (hes prolific on breakaways/in the shootout), 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 has also begun to fill out his frame (though his shoulder surgery did hurt a key summer for him post-draft), which has helped turn him into a diligent, relied-upon two-way player off the puck.

Hes 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).

He takes smart routes with and without the puck, he has become a reliable three-zone player and the skill is there (he has superb puck control skill).

He does a good job finding inside ice in possession (or off it).

Hes 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.

Ive noticed an uptick in his physicality this year as well, both in the OHL and at the World Juniors where he did a good job forechecking and finishing his checks.

Ive liked the progress Ive 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 (which hes actually quite dexterous on) instead of always trying to free himself for his shot.

When he keeps his feet moving, hes an impressive player.

I see clear second-line potential.

Snuggerud has been one of the Golden Gophers leading scorers in three consecutive seasons and is expected to turn pro after his junior year this year.

He was one of the hottest prospects in hockey in his post-draft season, going from B-plus prospect to A-minus (or close) with a rare 50-point freshman season.

He didnt get back there as a sophomore last season after linemates Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies both turned pro, but he still scored 20-plus goals for a second time and was the Golden Gophers best forward for me even if he finished third on the team in points.

That has continued this season at Minnesota, where hes on pace for another 20-plus goal season as the Golden Gophers leading scorer.

Snuggeruds game was always strong at the program, where he played on the top line and showed above-average tools and first-round merits, but every piece of it has elevated a little since then.

Plus-shot (had that already).

Plus-skill.

Good enough skater (has gained half a step).

Hard on pucks.

Hunts and sticks with pucks.

Consistently impactful.

Finding ways to release and move as soon as he has made his play so that he can get open for the next one again.

Its all there now.

And maybe we all should have seen it coming.

When I polled the 2004 U.S.

NTDP players for their most underrated teammate, he was basically the unanimous answer.

Snuggerud is a well-rounded three-zone player with a versatile offensive game who can make plays with skill and will.

His head is always up and on a swivel, even in congested areas.

Hes good below the goal line and makes a lot of low-to-high plays into the slot to find cutting teammates for chances.

He goes to scoring areas and follows shots to the net to get to rebounds, playing a determined forechecking game.

Hes got a dangerous one-timer, catch-and-release wrister and natural shooting motion pucks come off his blade hard and quickly but he doesnt tunnel-vision for his shot, he sees the ice well and he can make plays back against the grain.

Hes got good hands, which helps him make outside-in plays to beat defenders one-on-one more than he gets credit for.

He uses space well and makes a lot of plays off his backhand.

Hes strong on pucks and stick lifts.

Hes got some touch as a passer.

And on top of it all, hes also got a pro frame to build upon and a June birthday that gave him good runway to get better.

Theres a goal-scoring second-line winger there.

Hes probably a scoring third-liner at his floor, too.

Dvorskys June birthday made him one of the younger players in the 2023 draft but he has already accomplished a lot at an early age.

It feels like hes older than he is because of how many international events he has played in and how much pro experience he has.

He led a Slovak Hlinka Gretzky Cup team that featured Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in scoring as an underager, produced well above a point per game in Swedens J20 level three years ago, produced at a strong age-adjusted clip in his draft year in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan (while clicking at two points per game in stints back down at J20 when the schedule allowed), drove the bus on a Slovak team that exceeded expectations in Switzerland at the 2023 U18 worlds, and has played in five World Juniors which concluded with a strong showing as their captain this year in Ottawa.

And though he didnt play much in the SHL to start his post-draft season last year and had to move to the OHL, he was a force on Sudburys unstoppable top line and would have easily broken 50 goals and 100 points had he started the year there.

He has also had more success at the pro level this year in the AHL than he did last year in the SHL, and has been one of Springfields top players and leading scorers as a teenage rookie.

The big question with Dvorsky for a while was whether or not hed be a center or a winger long-term.

After noticeably adding some muscle and a little more speed (his skating still isnt a strength but he works), I think hes got a real chance to stick down the middle if he can continue to add a bit of pace.

He has the roundedness, the defensive awareness and positioning, the habits and the stick detail already.

Hes strong in the faceoff circle, too.

He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks from defenders extremely impressively.

I dont think his skating is prohibitive.

He has shown more fire and competitiveness as he has developed.

His gifts in control of the puck are real I actually found it weird he was cast as a high-floor 200-foot player as his draft year progressed because while his energy and detail are certainly strengths, 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.

Hes got excellent touch and weight on his passes (hes 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 (a legitimate weapon) and his wrister from mid-range.

Hes got quick hands and instincts, with standout puck control and shading 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.

Dvorsky is a highly talented and intelligent playmaker who can threaten coverage in a variety of ways, whether thats carving through it 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.

Hell 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 see second-line potential and a middle-six floor with clear power-play upside.

Reinbacher's a likable, desirable player who can do it all at a decent level.

We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league.

We seldom see them play big minutes in a good league, though even when theyre on the older side like Reinbacher was with his October birthday.

But thats what the Austrian did in Switzerlands top flight two seasons ago, where he played over 20 minutes more often than he played under it.

He drove results at both ends in those minutes, too, with a positive goal differential on an under-.500 team that was outscored pretty significantly.

Last year was a lot tougher on a Kloten team that was difficult to watch and frankly a mess, but he was impressive in the AHL right away and showed his very tangible two-way elements with Laval.

He was injured in a hit along the boards early in his first NHL preseason game, though, and after undergoing knee surgery and the six-month timeline that comes with it in the fall hasn't played since.

Reinbachers got pro size, desired handedness and a really strong foundation of tools that all but guarantee hell become a good NHLer.

Hes 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 timings off or hes flat-footed).

Hes strong.

His head is always up and on a swivel and he does a good job pre-surveying the ice when hes going back to get pucks through frequent shoulder checks.

Hes got some poise and processing under pressure, even if his play with the puck on his stick isnt dynamic per se.

He looked to attack offensively in the AHL last spring, which was nice to see (I think his game works better on the smaller ice generally).

Im not in love with his upside and have reservations about whether his game has what it takes to live up to his draft slot (it just lacks a little juice, if Im being honest), but he should become a really good No.

3-4.

It's too bad he basically lost his first full season in North America this year as well.

Hes a solid, projectable two-way defenseman who looks like how teams want their D to look these days though and he's going to have a long career.

An incredibly mobile defenseman, Molendyk uses light edges to adjust and shape to coverage with ease in all four directions.

He evades pressure and walks the line beautifully and effortlessly, displaying comfort on his heels and inside and outside edges.

Hes also a competitive defender on both sides of the puck who plays tight, active gaps to use his feet to be disruptive, step up in transition and kill plays early.

In his draft year, he drove results with the Saskatoon Blades, helping them into the third round of the WHL playoffs while playing behind 21-year-old overage defenseman and captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere on the power play.

Last year, though a couple of injuries impacted his post-draft season and cost him a top-four role on Team Canada at the World Juniors as an 18-year-old, he was one of the best defensemen in junior when healthy and finished with 66 points in 66 combined regular-season and playoff games while playing to a plus-51 rating.

This season, after nearly making the Predators out of camp, Molendyk wore a letter and played on Canadas first pair at the World Juniors in advance of a trade from Saskatoon to Medicine Hat, where hell push for a WHL title before playing in the NHL next year.

I dont think anyone who has watched Molendyk closely would be surprised if he becomes an effective all-situations, play-steering top-four defenseman on the back of his skating, comfort and consistent decision-making.

He plays quickly, leads entries and exits with his feet, makes quick passes under the first layer, has poise under pressure and defends at a high level because of his feet.

He has played a more ambitious offensive game over the course of the last year as well, showing more skill on the puck and upping his activity level.

He really does have tremendous edges and is very smooth in possession.

Hes an elite skater and one of the best players in the CHL who can influence the game in all areas (in-zone defense, getting back to pucks, breakouts, entries, lock-up rush defense, offensive zone creation, etc.).

He needs to be a little stronger on pucks/in battles at times but he plays hard and defends at a very high level for an average-sized, 5-foot-11/6-foot D.

Every team wants long defensemen who can really skate and Simashev checks both of those boxes as a mobile 6-foot-5 lefty.

Hes a rangy, smooth-skating defenseman who played 18 KHL games in his draft year, was great in the MHL playoffs and played full-time in the KHL last year to good results for a defenseman his age, averaging just under 15 minutes in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs.

This season, though his numbers havent taken a step and remain modest, he has played to good defensive results again and he has done it while playing an increased role (hes up to 17 minutes per game this year) on a first-place team while featuring regularly on the penalty kill.

He also only turns 20 in a few days and already defends at a strong level in a top league.

Its 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 carriers space.

Hes got a good stick (he defends more with his length and feet than body) Im still not as high on him as some others are and didnt feel he was a No.

6 pick in 2023 but hes got most of the more important makings of a potential top-four defenseman who can play minutes and drive results with his defensive play, length and skating.

It has been a bit of a journey for Nazar but he has gotten to where his skating and skill were always pointed.

Nazar lost most of his freshman season to a hip injury and then had to find his way back into a Michigan lineup with national championship aspirations that was already clicking in his post-draft season.

He found his game, particularly in the second half, in his sophomore year, finishing at a point per game (41 in 41) and making some big plays in big moments both at the World Juniors and in Michigans run to a Big Ten title and the Frozen Four.

Early on last season, he often left me wanting to see him battle a little more and show some more competitiveness when it was 50/50 (he was getting to a lot of pucks when they were his to get to but there was too much reaching in/not a ton of fight).

Thats always been a part of his game this feeling that if he won more possessions his game could go to another level, that hes not quite noticeable enough given his talent level and that theres too much vanilla between the nice moments.

Some of that, though, was him still working his way back.

Because since about the quarter mark of last season, he has really found a more consistent level.

He hit his stride leading into the World Juniors and after a standout tournament (especially at the front of it), that play spilled into a more impactful second half with the Wolverines and then into a strong rookie season in Rockford that saw him create a ton of offense himself as a rookie at the pro level and earn a promotion to the Blackhawks where he has also had some nice moments/stretches of play.

Few prospects dash around the ice and make plays like Nazar does when hes feeling it.

Hes a threatening player from the hashmarks in because of his wrister, which he pops off his stick with sneaky power and precision thanks in large part to the balance he displays through his weight shift (hes not a big, strong kid but hes a tremendous athlete).

Hes got quick hands, which help him deftly adjust in traffic to get shots off under pressure.

He flashes creativity throughout his game.

He plays pucks into space extremely well, regularly executing through tight gaps in coverage.

And hes capable of being a hungry, driven player who consistently targets the middle lane and can get to wherever he needs to get to with his greatest asset his skating.

Nazars one of the faster young players in the league not only in straight lines and winding up through his crossovers but also in adjusting tempos (he used to always be out in front and playing too fast at times but he has really learned when and how to better deploy his speed).

That allows him offensively to impact play both with the puck, attacking in transition to turn defenders or creating breakaways as well as without it, speeding into lanes to get open for his linemates.

He also consistently supports the play high in the offensive zone without possession when thats his role (another learned habit that has come a long way).

He can be careless with the puck and try to do too much at times but hes also capable of going right into coverage to make something happen or breezing to the perimeter to pull eyes to him and facilitate.

His ability to get out in transition and make plays off the rush is particularly impressive, especially as a passer where he routinely executes beautiful cross-ice passes from out wide while in motion.

Hes got impressive touch.

And while theres still the odd time he cheats a little or loses a battle, he can also open up a game.

He moves and does things on the ice that few can and has upside as a top-six playmaker.

The question is whether he has the jam/fire to stick as a center at 5-foot-9/10, or if hell have to play wing to play in the top six.

I think the wing is more likely.

Long, increasingly smooth-skating, point-producing defensemen arent easy to come by and Korchinski is capable of playing an ambitious, free-flowing game when hes at his best and playing with confidence.

Hes also got a June birthday, so while it can feel like hes been around for a while already and he hasnt fully established himself in the NHL, its important to remember that he was the youngest defenseman in the NHL last year, that hes the second-youngest defenseman to play in an NHL game this year, that defensemen typically dont make their way into the league until 21-23 and that hes still got plenty of runway to take steps and get better.

(And while you cant read you much into it, he was also just named AHL All-Star Game MVP after a four-point game.) Korchinski handles the puck smoothly on his hip, his impressive footwork and maneuverability (both of which have come a long way) help him adjust to, away from and around pressure and then hes a natural playmaker who can make something happen and facilitate out of all of his movement and carries.

I like his stick and his ability to use his feet to defend the rush and disrupt play (though hes a better transition defender than a defensive-zone one).

His hallmark has become his balance over his skates (an area that, astoundingly, was once a major concern before a growth spurt somehow straightened his posture out), allowing him to stay stick-on-stick through stops and starts with opposing carriers.

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 isnt there for him.

He sees the play develop inside the offensive zone and regularly hits cross-ice holes in coverage.

Though his shot isnt hard, hes comfortable attacking into the slot.

Hes also an underrated competitor who is willing to take a hit to make a play and fearlessly pursue pucks into corners.

Theres still some fine-tuning that needs to happen defensively, and hes prone to the occasional brain cramp, but Korchinski doesnt panic under pressure.

He has made real progress making quicker decisions, he exits and enters the zone well, he controls play when he arrives there, he gaps up well in neutral ice, he sees it and handles it at an advanced level, hes got shakes and shoulder fakes and his ceiling remains fairly high (as high as No.

3 D and PP1/2 QB, I think) as a result.

Cristall has been one of the WHLs top scorers over each of the last three seasons and was a final cut by the Capitals and Canadas World Junior team (after a four-point game at this World Junior Summer Showcase and a primary assist/several chances against USports, it should be noted).

He registered 44 goals and 126 points in 73 combined games in the regular season and playoffs last year to lead the Rockets in scoring by 27 points over would-be top-10 pick Tij Iginla.

This season, hes been the most productive player in junior hockey split between Kelowna and Spokane, toying with teams alongside Kraken first-rounder Berkly Catton since the trade to Spokane.

Though his first-round WHL playoff series and U18 worlds underwhelmed many and combined with concerns about his skating and size (5-foot-10 winger) to result in a second-round selection at the 2023 draft, Cristall is a creative, crafty playmaker who isnt 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.

A quad contusion cost him five weeks as his stock was on the rise in his draft year, but it shouldnt have taken anyone watching the Rockets long to realize just how much offense he creates for himself and his teammates while being a marked man every game.

Outside of Connor Bedard, he had one of the most productive draft-eligible seasons in recent WHL history (pacing to outproduce, for example, the 106 in 69 that 2011 No.

1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted by 15 points).

Over the last two seasons, he has also played with more pace and a stride that looked like it had cleaned up a bit.

Despite his diminutive size, hes also a smarter player off the puck/defensively than he has gotten credit for and is often in the right position above the puck to hold play inside the offensive zone.

Hell 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.

Hes a ton of fun to watch with the puck on his stick.

When you think youve got him trapped, you usually dont, and not because hes faster than you but because of how clever he is (hell often make plays past you with the puck even if he doesnt skate it through you).

Hes just a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offense in a variety of ways inside the offensive zone 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 isnt a strength and has some kinks, Id say its 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 youre 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, hell 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 top-six winger.

A riser in his draft year after a standout showing at U18 worlds, and a continued riser since with his strong play in two and a half seasons in the AHL and some secondary goal-scoring in the NHL this year, Kulich is a sturdy, hard-shooting player who can play all three forward positions and has clear power-play utility.

He can function as the off-puck guy who makes quick plays and decisions with the puck, gets open and can play off talented linemates to free up his extremely dangerous shooting arsenal.

He can carry the puck and function as the primary handler on a line with his good individual puck skill and shot-shaping.

His positioning and timing off the puck offensively is good.

I like the strength, balance and control of his skating stride and how quickly and hard shots come off his stick not just with his world-class one-timer but through a deceptive early release point in stride, too.

Ive seen him come up big in big moments.

Hes got quick hands and semi-regularly flashes skill with the puck on a string one-on-one and under the triangles of defenders sticks.

Hes got good feel around the net.

He plays hard enough.

His skating is noticeable off the puck in his ability to pursue and recapture possession to extend sequences when he needs to.

He stays over pucks and protects them extremely well.

He supports play better than most give him credit for.

Theres a lot to like about his makeup.

He just looks like a pro shooter/scorer and has accomplished a lot at an early age at the pro level, which included leading a good Americans team in playoff scoring with seven goals in 12 games as a rookie, and then in regular-season goals with 27 as a sophomore, both as a teenager.

I have no doubt hes going to be a middle-six scoring NHLer and likely a very good one.

I think he can be a perennial 25-goal guy who might touch 30 with the right linemates/power-play usage for his one-timer, too.

You wont find anyone in the SHL, with the Austrian hockey federation or working for an NHL club in amateur scouting who doesnt like (or at least appreciate) Kaspers game and approach to it.

His rookie season in the AHL last year started a little slow but he figured out how he needed to impact play and was good in the playoffs.

He built upon that to start this season and quickly earn an NHL call-up that he hasnt looked back from.

You have to remind yourself of his age and that he has already been a contributor across more than 250 pro games (44 points in 136 combined SHL regular-season and playoff games across three seasons from 2017-19, 15 points in 22 Champions Hockey League games, 44 points in 82 games in the AHL and now coming up on 50 NHL games played).

He has played his best hockey in the NHL to date of late on Detroit's first line as well.

I like his patience with the puck.

He doesnt shy away from trying to beat or out-wait guys (whether through changes of directions out of stop-ups or curls) and he doesnt panic.

Hes also a good skater who never lacks effort and stops on pucks.

Hes an advanced 200-foot forward for his age who was able to progress up levels as fast as he did because of how rounded his game is.

Hes feisty and fights off his fair share of checks to stay on pucks.

Hes 6-foot-1 and plays between 180-190 pounds.

Theres a bit of a hunch to his stride, but he leverages his edges well, building speed through the neutral zone to push pace with the puck.

I dont see high-end NHL skill or finishing, but he plays with pro pace, hes a good passer, he plays on the interior and he makes little plays all over the ice.

The maturity and smarts in his game define him.

He plays a low-mistake, effective game.

And maybe most importantly, he has handled the responsibilities of center ice well in the AHL, SHL and now NHL the last three seasons as well (though hes only winning about 47 percent of his draws in the NHL, he has always driven possession at five-on-five across levels).

I dont think hes ever going to be dynamic enough with the puck to become a big point producer, but hes got all of the makings of a good middle-six pivot who can influence play in all three zones, create his fair share of offense at five-on-five and on a second power-play unit and potentially even provide all-situations value on the penalty kill (he played regularly on the PK for the Griffins last year).

Hes a good player.

After a disappointing post-draft season that included two lackluster performances at the World Juniors (first in the summer tournament in Edmonton and then in Halifax) and a challenging regular season in HockeyAllsvenkan, Lekkerimaki really hit his stride in the HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs at the end of the 2022-23 season and hasnt looked back.

He won a World Juniors MVP on home ice in Gothenburg, led his SHL team in scoring as a teenager, and is now in the midst of a positive first season in North America that has seen him get a couple of NHL call-ups and continue to score in the AHL.

Some of that progression is likely some should-have-been-expected catchup given his late July birthday.

Some of it is good health after his draft year was impacted by injuries and illness (including a bout with COVID-19).

And some of it is natural talent taking over and some important work done on areas of his game that needed it.

Lekkerimakis talent is undeniable.

Hes dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone.

He can beat you in an instant with a quick catch-and-release or curl-and-drag shot, or hang onto pucks and make things happen himself.

Hes got a knack for hitting holes in the net, frequently beating goalies low-blocker and five-hole.

Hes got 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 against men, coming and going less in games, fading to the perimeter in control less and making sure hes getting touches by keeping his feet moving more and working to involve himself in the play more.

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.

Maybe most important of all, though, he has added some more tempo to his game so that he doesnt have to default to long shots through feet because he cant attack defenders one-on-one quickly enough.

He has started to push pace more.

He has started to draw more penalties because hes 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.

Hes still figuring out how to be more consistent and how to make his talent work, and hes never going to be a burner in terms of speed, but hes got the skill and finishing to figure it out in the NHL.

With the right development and coaching, he always had clear upside as a top-six/PP1 finisher you want the puck in his hands.

Helenius put together one of the most productive under-18 seasons in Liiga history last year, entering into similar territory as names like Patrik Laine, Kaapo Kakko and Mikael Granlund without quite chasing down record-holder Aleksander Barkov.

He wasnt just one of the better young players in Liiga, or one of the better players on Jukurit, either.

He became one of the top players in the league, period cemented by an excellent Liiga playoffs.

He did it while sticking at his natural center position as a 5-foot-11 17-year-old, too.

At years end, he was also excellent in his debut with the Finnish mens team, earning a spot on their senior world championships roster (though his mens worlds was a little up and down).

He was also Finlands top player at U18s, though he didnt completely take over in the way many expected and hoped he would.

All this, after impressing at world under-17s and a prior U18 worlds; after playing 33 Liiga games as a 16-year-old two seasons ago as the leagues youngest player and still registering 11 points; after impressing at the World Junior Summer Showcase two summers ago, months after his 17th birthday and still as the youngest player invited; and after centering a top-six line as an underager at his first World Juniors, where he wasnt a star but I thought played better than his two points in seven games indicated.

This season hasnt represented a step forward, though.

While hes a good player in the AHL and was a top point-producer for the silver medal-winning Finns at his second World Juniors, I dont think he has impressed in either and the quiet showing in Ottawa marked a second consecutive international event like that after last springs U18 worlds.

Helenius is going to have a long NHL career and you have to remind yourself of his age when contextualizing what hes accomplished and also his at times mediocre play in the AHL this year, but there are some things in Helenius profile that do give me pause about a true top-six projection he may end up as more of a middle-six type.

There were some who wondered for a time if hed be a center or winger at the NHL level, but hes solid enough in the faceoff circle and aware enough defensively 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 Ive found hes not engaged as much as he was last year that I project him as an NHL center.

Helenius is enjoyable to watch navigate, manipulate and pass the puck with his smarts and intuition.

Hes crafty in traffic and does a great job finding ways through the neutral zone and across the line on entries.

Hes got an ability to find his teammates in space and then get pucks to them with the perfect weight and timing, even while hes well covered.

He can also stir the drink through his effort level, though again Ive found it to be more inconsistent this year, and can come up with pucks when you dont expect him to (hes good on steals and lifts) while quietly and efficiently affecting play at both ends of the rink.

Hes capable of being a driver, though he may need to play with more pace to be one in the NHL, and a playmaker.

He does such a good job identifying lanes and taking what the defense gives him.

Hell look for his own look when its 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.

Hes a good though not above-average skater who anticipates the play at a very high level off the puck 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.

Hes got a sixth sense for timing and spacing.

Hes usually in good support positions (sometimes to his detriment offensively, kind of like Shane Wright) and always seems to make the right decisions with the puck.

Hes got vision and finesse and a real east-west game.

Hes a problem-solver.

Hell be an interesting case study in how far smarts can take a player without a defining/dynamic trait to complement the IQ.

I'm a little lower on him today than I was at the draft.

I did debate ranking Helenius a few spots lower here.

One of the better-skating D prospects in hockey, Willander was a beast for the Swedish under-18 team and Rogles junior team in his draft year and drove strong two-way results for the Terriers as a freshman and for the Swedish under-20 team last season without necessarily taking a pronounced step (his post-draft season was just OK).

This season, he has played big minutes as a sophomore at BU and was impactful as Swedens go-to D on their shutdown pair (and also sharing the blue line on the power play with Axel Sandin Pellikka).

Hes a strong-in-all-three-zones defenseman who plays a confident and decisive defensive game that uses his beautiful, 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 also just plays the game with an intentionality thats rare in players his age.

He looks and operates like a pro out there.

His passes are quick and firm.

He activates when he can and picks his spots.

Defensively, hes aggressive on pinches and closing gaps, and rarely mistimes them, taking away the space so well in neutral ice.

He made some mistakes that showed his youth at times as a freshman but he has looked back to his polished self this season.

Willander doesnt have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, and his offensive-zone instincts are still coming, but he projects safely as an NHL defenseman and could become a two-way transition monster in a top-four role.

Because of how high a level he defends and skates at, he rarely has bad games and play normally tilts in his teams favor.

And even though the offense doesnt always pop inside the offensive zone, hes a comfortable puck mover and transporter.

Hes going to have a long career as a No.

3-4.

On a Michigan team that doesn't have the high-end skill it has had in recent years, Hage has played to above a point per game as an 18-year-old freshman and has made a lot of plays offensively this year.

Coming up, he was a star minor hockey prospect who would have gone at the very top of the OHL draft had he not chosen to go to the Chicago Steel and commit to the Wolverines.

He was then limited to just 13 games (in which he still had 10 points) in his 16-year-old season in the USHL after undergoing shoulder surgery from an injury suffered in an early practice.

There are some in USHL and NCAA circles who believe that had he not lost that time he might have been in the top-10 conversation for the 2024 draft.

Though he didnt play back into that mix last year, he came close, taking off in the second half of his draft year (after the Steel really struggled out of the gate as a team) and looking for a multi-month stretch like debatably the USHL's best forward before finishing with 35 goals and 79 points in 56 combined regular-season and playoff games.

I believe hes got top-six potential, the big question is whether he can do it as a second-line center or if he'll be better served moving to the wing (think Jordan Kyrou type).

Hage is a natural center with plenty of offensive dimension.

Hes got pro size (6-foot-1 and 190 pounds despite all of his lost training time due to injury, with plenty more room to add muscle to his still-lean but athletic build) and skating (hes an excellent skater).

Hes got dual-threat skill as a shooter and passer and he can do both in flight and at pace.

Hes naturally talented as a handler.

He can create for himself or make plays for his linemates.

He plays hard, he stays on pucks and he's competitive enough (all of which I think were underrated pre-draft even if he's not defined by his competitiveness).

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.

I like him in puck control/protection, including in full flight.

His detail and work rate are both developing.

Hell finish his checks.

He should have been on Team Canada at U18 worlds last spring and I think he should be in the mix for Team Canada at next year's World Juniors in Minnesota.

His blend of skating, skill, scoring, playmaking and sense is hard to come by.

I'm a big believer.

The most productive defenseman in NTDP history and the first defenseman to lead the World Juniors in scoring, Hutson is a highly talented offensive defenseman who doesnt turn 19 until the summer and has played to a point per game as a primary play creator with Team USA and BU as a freshman.

Hes a light 5-foot-10/11, 171-pound left-shot defenseman with dynamic on-puck movement, impressive handling and an NHL release (hes got a wicked release and pre-shot adjustment).

His point-per-game U17 season (and well above point-per-game U18 team production) set the single-season D points record at the NTDP and he set the all-time mark at U18 worlds last year, doing it while four and a half months younger than his big brother Lane was at the same age (he was the most talented defenseman on either of the NTDPs teams in his two years there, which says something considering what Zeev Buium has since become).

He was also the most impressive 2024 defenseman at the U18 worlds prior when he played 17-19 minutes per game as an underager.

Last year, though the points didnt come quite as easily for him early on and some scouts felt he had a disappointing first half, he was excellent late in the year and it was clear all season long that he was trying to really dial in his game defensively.

Last years NTDP team also didnt have a great blue line around him, which required they pull back on him a little.

This year, after what he himself has called a disappointing start at BU, Hutson was productive even when he didnt think he was at his best and has taken it to another level since returning from the World Juniors (where he also led the tournament in plus-minus at plus-11 and was named to the media all-star team).

His offensive gifts are extremely impressive but Coles got more of a physical element to his game than Lane does as well, and plays opponents really hard so that his size is less noticeable (Lanes plenty competitive, but Cole delivers more hits if you will), gluing himself to them in order 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.

The way he shows one thing and does another is pretty unique.

His little hesitations in control into quick, decisive attacking moments grab your attention and allow him to make plays past the first layer and walk off the line as well as any D prospect in the sport.

He has the puck on a string at times.

I think hes 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.

Hes got great touch and feel on his backhand as well as his forehand.

Hes got the shakes and head fakes that Lane has.

And while there were some who questioned whether his more physical style would translate against pros, he has defended really well with his feet, anticipation and timing both in college and at the World Juniors this year as well (I thought his play defensively in Ottawa was as notable as his playmaking offensively).

His teams have been better with him out there on the back end in each of the last three seasons than without him.

The consensus despite the production is that hes not quite as dynamic/smart as Lane, but Im still a big believer in the talent, ranked him 34th when he went 43rd, and think he has emerged as a star prospect following the World Juniors.

Connelly is a talented playmaking winger who has been highly productive and consistently flashed exciting individual skill over the last two and a half seasons with Tri-City in the USHL, for Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (where he led the Americans in scoring with 10 points in five games en route to a bronze medal), the World Jr.

A Challenge (where he again led the Americans with 11 points in six games en route to a bronze medal) and the under-18 worlds (where he made some pretty plays and scored a Michigan goal, but also had extended shifts of offensive-zone time in a good pairing with LJ Mooney) before he was ejected from the gold medal game for an illegal check to the head, and to a lesser extent at Providence and the World Juniors this year.

Connelly is a high-end talent who has room to develop physically and add strength, and whose slight build doesnt 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 thats 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.

Hes 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.

Hes creative.

Hes 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.

The big developmental leap hell have to make is in his decision-making and discipline.

Hes not going to always be able to look for the pretty play as he progresses up levels but Connellys ability to beat players laterally and shake around and through coverage, combined with his playmaking sense, gives him top-six, PP1 NHL upside as a player.

I think Brandsegg-Nygard will have some scoring punch and presence about his game at the NHL level in the prime of his career.

He is a very well-rounded and projectable winger.

Hes an October birthday with a pro frame who played to above a point per game at the junior level and scored his first pro goal in HockeyAllsvenskan two seasons ago.

If not for knee surgery in March 2023, he might have played for Norways senior national team at mens worlds before his draft year had even started.

He then got back in time for his draft year and got off to an excellent start, registering nine points in his first three J20 games and quickly establishing himself back with the pro club, building as the season progressed toward a standout postseason that saw him register 10 points in 12 playoff games at Swedens second-rung pro level.

This year, he has played on loan with the reigning SHL champs in Swedens top flight, averaging 16 minutes per game and contributing at five-on-five and on the power play.

He also scored two goals in three Olympic qualifying games for Norway and had a four-goal game in a mens worlds tuneup against Denmark last spring.

His numbers dont pop in the SHL and he only scored one goal at the Division 1A World Juniors for Norway in December but he did lead the entire tournament in shots on goal with 25 in five games so Im not reading into it too much.

Brandsegg-Nygards game is built upon his work ethic and drive.

Hes 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 skills that have helped him excel on both the flank and the bumper on the power play across domestic and international levels.

Hes not a dynamic individual play creator but hes got pro size (6-foot-1 and a strong 198 pounds), he works extremely hard and engages himself in the play, he plays well off his linemates and hes got 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.

Hes got a commitment to staying on pucks and finishing his checks and uses a long stick to protect pucks well out wide to his body.

Hes got good straight-line skating.

He looks like a projectable middle-six push-and-pop driver and shooter to me, and potentially a solid top-sixer as the third guy on a more talented line with the right development.

There are some who wonder about his skill in terms of NHL points, but you wont find any who dont at least like his game/style and I think its going to translate into a real go-getter with some jam at the NHL level.

Morrow was one of the most productive freshman defensemen in college hockey, led the Minutemen in scoring as a sophomore and then had a third straight 30-point season as a junior last year before turning pro.

Most importantly, he played better defensively in huge minutes (25 per game) as a junior, taking important steps defensively.

This year, as a rookie at the pro level, he has been one of the Wolves most productive players and has played 20 minutes per game in the AHL.

Morrow is a real talent who made the jump from high school hockey directly into the NCAA look easy from a skill standpoint (though he has had to do some maturing/growing up on and off the ice) and has now done the same in the AHL.

From a skill standpoint, he still has some learning to do in terms of his defensive consistency, but hes an excellent transition defender who transports pucks confidently, plays boldly inside the offensive zone and possesses impressive handling skill for a defenseman.

Hes an exit/entry machine who carves teams up through the neutral zone with head fakes, side steps and cuts his skating impresses on its edges, even if hes not explosive.

When hes on the ice, he wants to take over and direct play in possession, and he does so by guiding opposing players out of his way.

On top of all that, hes a 6-foot-2 righty whose defensive game has taken important steps to cut back on mistakes, stay in better positioning and eliminate some of the bad habits that concerned scouts.

Theres real top-four, power-play upside to Morrow if he continues to round out his game.

Danielson is a good prospect having a good rookie season in the AHL whos going to be a good NHLer.

Hes going to be an effective and potentially impactful top-nine forward and have a long career.

But his skill has never grabbed me and Ive always wanted to see him score more.

His counting stats in junior never popped when you contextualized them with his late birthday and near-2022 draft eligibility.

He has some pedigree.

Danielson was an MVP of Albertas U15 AAA circuit and the No.

5 pick into the WHL.

He was a point-per-game player and one of Brandons top producers three seasons ago.

He was named captain of the Wheat Kings for his draft year and after a bit of a slow start to it came back into his own and finished with 33 goals and 78 points as the best player on a bad team.

And then last year he was an effective bottom-sixer for Canada at the World Juniors and the counting stats began to come more after a move from Brandon to Portland, but even then he didnt light up the league (post-trade he had 41 points in 28 regular-season games, an impressive 100-point pace over 68 games and a noteworthy uptick but still would have landed him third on the Winterhawks in scoring and outside of top 10 in the WHL).

This season, he has been consistently good for the Griffins, is logging 19-20 minutes per game in the AHL as a 20-year-old rookie, and is probably owed a little more than his modest production indicates.Danielson is well-liked by scouts and should become a solid middle-six center in the NHL.

Hes a pro-sized (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), hardworking pivot who can skate, drive through the middle of the ice, push tempo and play with 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 hes 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.

Hes a good skater who can play in transition.

Hes a good forechecker.

He has some secondary skill.

Hes a smart player on and off the puck, offensively and defensively.

Though his game lacks dynamism for me, hes a complete player without any glaring holes.

It does feel like he has NHLer written all over him, even if he doesnt grab you with high-end skill.

Ive just never been able to get excited about his offense.

The BCHLs leading scorer while playing on a line with his older brother Josh (a player I vouched for as a worthy late-round flier ahead of last years draft) and one of the top-producing freshmen in college hockey last season while doing the same, Nadeaus hands, skating and shooting all get high grades.

I think his decision to go one-and-done and turn pro was a little premature, though, and he has appeared to lose some of the confidence and zip that had previously defined his game.

This season Nadeau has just been OK, both in the AHL where he has been reasonably productive on a low-scoring team but also vanilla in stretches, and at the World Juniors, where he was bland and didnt look himself.

Hes capable of creating offense in a variety of ways, whether thats 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).

His 113 points in 54 games in the BCHL in his draft year were the most by an under-18 skater in the BCHL since Kyle Turris in 2007, outproducing players like Kent Johnson, Alex Newhook and Tyson Jost at the same age.

He built upon his excellent statistical profile playing to 46 points in 37 games with the Black Bears last season, fifth among U19 forwards behind only Macklin Celebrini and the BC line of Will Smith, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard.

But hes a 5-foot-10 winger who is still figuring out how to create and attack at the pro level like he did in junior and college, and I have wondered at times whether hes going to be more of just a mid-tier skill winger in the NHL than a true skill guy.

Bonks smarts are his games defining quality but he also possesses good overall skill, has an impressive feel for coverage and timing, and escapes pressure well despite having average feet (they were once an issue but no longer are, even though they wont be an asset at NHL speed of play).

He influences the game through his effectiveness, his reads, his anticipation, his play-calling and the consistency of his habits.

He knows where to be and how to play within the flow of a game.

He sees the ice at an advanced level both with the puck but maybe especially so before he gets it so that he knows where to go with it.

Hes not a high-end skill guy who plays the game offensively with a ton of ambition, but he moves play along, his outlets are clean, he manages the puck, he keeps the chain going and he has some unique utility/attributes (including his talked about proficiency playing the bumper on the power play).

He just looks like hes going to be a solid two-way defenseman who can influence play and potentially help out on both special teams even if hes not a natural power-play quarterback or your prototypical penalty killer.

He projects as a No.

3-5 defenseman.

Bonk was an important player on a strong London team in his draft year, which isnt always the case for defensemen his age under the Hunter brothers with the Knights and spoke to the maturity of his game in advance of the draft.

That maturity helped him make Team Canada for the World Juniors as one of only two 18-year-old D to do so (along with the injured Tanner Molendyk, who was selected two slots after him in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft).

After returning from Sweden last year, I thought he was one of the top defensemen in junior hockey and found another level offensively for a Knights team that went on to win the OHL title.

This year, he has again been a top player for the Knights and was Canadas ice time leader (about 22 minutes per game) as a returnee at the World Juniors in Ottawa.

I thought he fought the puck a little in that role but he was asked to do a lot and there was a lot around him that was out of sorts on that team as well (he also finished with a Canada-best plus-4 goal differential at five-on-five).

I expect him to play in the NHL in 2025-26, if not full-time then at least to start.

The top pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Musty was one of the focal points of the Wolves offense in his draft year and would have been their leader in shots on goal, assists and points were it not for a few weeks lost last January to a hand injury.

In his post-draft season last year, though he has dealt with a couple more minor injuries, he led the OHL in points per game (1.92) and paced for 130 points, which would have cleared league scoring champ and linemate David Goyette by 13 points.

This season, after impressing the Sharks at development camp and the preseason rookie tournament, Musty sat out the start of the season while he looked for a trade (which, it should be noted, the Sharks supported) and eventually returned and then broke his hand in November, sidelining him for another couple of months.

He returned in January with a five-point game and has been productive again on the whole this season.

Hes a big (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), strong, sturdy, athletic winger with slick puckhandling skill one-on-one and a balanced stride.

He can unload from his hip into a heavy snapshot or drop and attack the net into a tuck play in tight.

Hes also really comfortable passing from the perimeter and hitting seams in coverage, which gives his game added dimension inside the O-zone.

Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat.

The raw potential is there in spades and the production and statistical profile are that of a legit NHL prospect.

Hes got time to continue to find new levels and develop his game thanks to his summer birthday as well (hes still got some rounding out to do though I think that has been overstated by some).

There has been talk over the years about his body language and attitude as well but I've heard mixed reviews on that front and some think he's misunderstood.

There was a time when folks thought Musty was the best American-born 2005 prospect and while thats no longer the case, theres still a lot to get excited about.

Some questioned his will/competitiveness earlier in his career, but I think those concerns have also been overstated (he can be a little inconsistent but I've seen him have plenty of standout games where he's in the thick of everything as well).

I think hes got a real chance to become a skilled second-line winger in the NHL.

The tools are there and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does at the pro level when he makes the jump to the AHL next season.

The pace of the pro game was clearly an adjustment for McGroarty early but he has been much better of late.

McGroartys one of those kids who just looks like a pro hockey player in all of the areas other than his speed/pace at times.

He stands strong.

Hes fit.

Then you add in the charisma that made him the natural choice for the captaincy at the U.S.

NTDP and with last years gold medal-winning World Junior team, and the light and energy that oozes out of him, and you have to be careful not to put too much stock into the off-ice pieces of the puzzle he already appears to have.

But I think hes a darn good hockey player and the pieces of the puzzle fit together nicely on the ice as well because of his smarts.

His skating doesnt look the prettiest through his first few steps but theres 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.

Hes got 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 when he gets open in the slot.

He has always been a sneaky-good facilitator who passes the puck really well and can hold it.

He has particularly mastered the net drive into a high rotation away from coverage that brings him back to around the net.

And then when he gets there, hes got 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.

Hes dexterous.

Hes a tone-setter who will track and finish his checks even if he doesnt have the speed.

The ice normally tilts in his favor: hes such 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.

He reinforced his strong statistical profile from the NTDP at Michigan, where he was a point-per-game freshman and one of the top-scoring players in college as a sophomore despite a pretty severe injury in the fall (a broken rib and punctured lung).

If he can get a little quicker from the jump, hes got 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.

The only question is the pace for me.

Cowan is a standout skater who buzzes around the ice, works and plays hard and even thrives on the penalty kill.

He emerged as an important player for a strong Knights team (especially in the playoffs where Londons first line Cowan, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey and Seattle Kraken prospect Ryan Winterton was relentless) in his draft year and took another giant step forward last season to win both the OHLs Most Outstanding Player award and OHL Playoffs MVP, registering 138 points in 76 combined games in the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup.

His play was so strong that it upgraded his projection from an effective third-line contributor to an impactful top-nine player for me.

This season has also been another strong one in the OHL and saw him return from whiplash to continue his record-setting OHL points streak.

He had a difficult World Juniors, though, displaying some of the bad habits, poor play selection and hockey IQ questions that have followed him.

He plays a fast, clever, determined and consistent 200-foot 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.

Hes a heart-and-soul guy who Im confident will take his career as far as it can go.

Hell regularly gain a step on junior defenders and while his effort can sometimes be ineffectively deployed (hes got work to do on his routes and decisions on and off the puck), he thrives on instinct more often than it burns him.

His over-reliance on those instincts will require some coaching in the NHL, though.

He does play with a hunch in his stride, which impacts his game (both positively and negatively).

On one hand, hes always engaged and on his toes because he never straightens up his stance and comes to a standstill, and hes agile on his first cut/change of direction (less so on his second because of the commitment required).

On the other, when he really commits to a position into contact or a reach-in, it can put him off-balance and push him around at his size.

He has really learned how to make his game work on a shift-to-shift basis, though, and now makes better choices on his touches than he used to.

He looks like a stud prospect now.

It doesnt hurt that he has considerable experience playing all three forward positions, either.

One of the most threatening and consistently dangerous players in the CHL in each of his final three years of junior, Savoies game has the potential to thrill when hes at his best.

Hes on the smaller side, though, and there have been questions about whether his offense will translate at the NHL level and if it doesnt, what his role and position are as a natural center who many believe is an NHL winger.

Hes got quick side-to-side hands that help him beat defenders one-on-one off cuts.

Hes got an NHL release (which he can place with pinpoint accuracy from a bad angle and rip by a goalie clean from a distance, but he also loves to change up and slide five-hole).

He does an excellent job creating plays to the slot out of traffic.

Hes a burning skater with explosiveness and quick three-step acceleration that allows him to win races, separate in transition and put defenders onto their heels, or dash through holes in coverage to the net (or draw a penalty).

Hes a good small-area passer who blends deception into his movements.

And then on top of those things, hes got a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Hes always engaged, he keeps his feet moving and he plays with a ton of energy.

He finishes his checks and knocks his fair share of players over despite being on the smaller side.

Hes also sturdier on his feet than his listed height (5-foot-9) might suggest, which helps him play between checks.

He creates a ton of breakaways for himself.

Its hard for defensemen to track him when he gets into twists and turns.

Hes impressive in the shootout with a variety of moves he can go to.

He routinely has a half step on the opposition, both in jump and in raw speed whenever he turns on the jets.

He plays the game with enough drive that his size usually doesnt feel like a factor.

He seems to pounce on so many pucks when they squirt into holes in coverage.

I remain a believer in him becoming a high-tempo, top-nine forward.

He has been prone to injuries over the years, though, and staying healthy is going to be really important.

Though the numbers dont leap off the page in his rookie AHL season, hes been a top player in all situations for a low-scoring Condors team.

I think hes got some PP upside due to his shooting/skill package and five-on-five upside because of his skating and motor.

Even in games where the points dont fall, hes usually making something happen and hes seldom going to leave you wanting more.

His speed might even make him a useful penalty killer and give him all-situations value in the NHL as well.

A toolsy, rangy forward (Rehkopf has played a lot at both center and wing, but has been primarily a center the last two seasons in Kitchener and Brampton) with good straight-line speed and an NHL shot and skill, Rehkopf can impress with his one-on-one ability for his size, his puck control and his ability to make plays in direct attacking sequences.

He impressed scouts in a depth role with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and was cast as a bit of a potential two-way-checker type at the next level in some early conversations I had with scouts.

But thats not how he is known around the OHL.

He was perceived to be a one-dimensional offensive player in his minor hockey days (including by Kitchener when it picked him) and that has become how hes viewed nowadays (which was evident in the way Team Canada staff spoke about him as basically only a scorer ahead of and during his two World Juniors, both of which I felt he should have been used more in).I wrote ahead of the draft that while he scored 30 goals in his draft year (not easy to do in your draft year), I think he might just be scratching the surface (and) the team that drafts him in the second round should look to mold him into an attacking winger with a dangerous and accurate shot, rather than a checker.

Last season, he then scored 58 goals and 106 points in 70 combined regular-season and playoff games, leading the OHL in power-play goals.

He has continued to score at one of the highest clips in the OHL again this season as well and was a standout at Canadas selection camp for the World Juniors before getting into just two games.

He is so, so dangerous as a shooter straight-up with goalies.

He has this little feint he does pre-release before he lets it go.

It looks like as he settles into that feint, hes comfortable getting rid of it at any time, too.

There are times when he will force it and his decision-making isnt always buttoned up, but he has also shown some creativity.

Hes got great quick-twitch hands and footwork into his shooting patterns.

And while his play off the puck isnt his calling card, I think its better than it gets credit for and the pendulum of perception about him may have actually swung too far back.

Ive seen him finish all of his checks in a game (including delivering some hard ones), win back pucks, stay above pucks defensively, go to the front of the net on screens instead of just looking for his shot out wide, etc.

Hes a very capable forechecker.

He does need to tighten up with the pucks at times (he can be a little too careless) but he creates a ton of looks for himself and his skating, skill and especially shooting are projectable.

He also takes good routes, finds ways to get loose without necessarily cheating for it and has clear power-play value.

Hes got some natural tools and now its just about building use-cases for them so that he can apply and get the most out of them at the NHL level someday.

Id bet hes more of a top-nine-scoring winger at the pro level than a center, though.

Greentrees an interesting one because he was just OK for Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and played his way to a diminished role at last springs U18 worlds after standing out pre-tournament, he seemed to struggle with the pace against the better teams but he has been one of the most consistent game-to-game offensive players in the OHL the last two seasons.

He scored 25 goals and was named to the leagues First All-Rookie Team at 16.

Last year, he was named captain of the Spits in his draft year as they began a rebuild and led the team in scoring by a wide margin (his 90 points were 24 more than his nearest teammate) to prove he could drive offense himself.

But despite having a makeup (size, strength, shot, skill, on-and-off-ice habits, etc.) that would usually lend itself to being universally well-liked, and despite a strong showing at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in which he scored, was robbed and had multiple looks against other top prospects, he had some skeptics.

This season, he has silenced some of them and has at times led the OHL in scoring.

Greentrees game is all about subtle soft skill/finesse for a big, strong kid.

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, etc.).

He has skill and an NHL release; the puck comes off his stick hard and quickly and hits his spots.

I havent seen a dynamic quality and his skating needs work (though his speed is decent when he gets going and its more through his first few steps), but hes got pro size, a well-rounded toolkit offensively, individual skill and a growing statistical profile.

Hes not ultra-competitive but he has played harder and with more pace this season.

Hes not going to be a star but he looks like hes got the makings of a solid NHL forward who can play up and down a lineup.

There has always been a lot to like about Ohgren as a player.

Hes strong on pucks, holding them with ease against his peers and comfort against pros, which has helped him become a natural at drawing penalties and has helped him hold his own in a depth role to start in the NHL.

Hes 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 (it really rattles off his stick).

His offensive arsenal is multifaceted and hes got some underrated craftiness and evasiveness to his game to complement the tools of strength, effectiveness and shooting that are more evident.

He releases quickly and goes and gets pucks/wins races.

Hes good on the cycle.

He could use another step if the rest of his translatable game is to produce in a top-nine capacity as more of an impact guy (I always thought he might have a chance to be Brock Boeser if things break well, but could end up as more of a bottom-sixer if they don't) but I don't think his skating is an impediment from him having a good career as at least a complementary third-liner.

It has also noticeably improved over the last couple of years (it looks lighter through his crossovers and his pickups) and he finds ways to get to pucks and/or get open around the home-plate area inside the offensive zone, where his skill and shot take over.

Add in a commitment to the puck retrievals and battles and a strong base knowledge of when to make the simple play and when to attack, and youve got a pretty safely projectable winger at an early age.

And dont confuse completeness for lack of talent, as I think that can often be misconstrued and thats not the case here.

Hes not going to be a dynamic, high-skill guy but he can attack when opportunities present themselves.

You cant fault his effort level.

Hes strong.

He can score.

Again, theres a lot to like.

Ohgren put together one of the most productive age-adjusted seasons in the history of Swedens top junior level and two strong performances internationally for Sweden (first at last years Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and then at the U18 worlds, where he was also the teams captain) in his draft year.

And he was in the middle of following that up with a strong post-draft season in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan while riding a three-game point streak and playing his best hockey of the season two years ago when he got injured late in January 2023, only to return and pick up where he left off in the home stretch and into the playoffs.

Last year, after developing a nagging injury in offseason training, Ohgren then didnt play with his new club in the SHL until late November and had to be eased into the new level but finished with a very respectable 19 points in 26 games before coming over to make his AHL and NHL debuts.

He was also a little snakebitten for a third straight World Juniors, going goalless on 26 shots (second on Team Sweden) despite some really good looks.

His near-point-per-game production in the first few months of this season in the AHL was also very productive for a player who was, at the time, 20 (he turned 21 just last week).

Ultimately, I expect Ohgren to have a long career as a solid NHL player and secondary scorer.

After registering just 14 points in his rookie season in the OHL, Luchanko got off to a good enough start to earn a B rating from NHL Central Scouting last fall (which indicates a 2nd/3rd round candidate) and then rose all the way to No.

21 among North American skaters on their midseason list and No.

20 on their final list after emerging as Guelphs leading scorer (74 points in 68 games).

He was then Canadas second-line center at U18s continuing to impress scouts in Finland ahead of his selection with the 13th pick in the draft.

I never quite got there, though, viewing him as more of a mid-to-late first.

And while his earning games with the Flyers to start the year is notable, his season since has been fine but hasnt followed the same upward trajectory that last years campaign did (I thought he was impressive on the PK for Canada but he was their fourth center in usage and didnt generate much offense from selection camp right through pre-tournament and the tournament and he has been Guelphs best player but hasnt been a force).

Luchankos a standout athlete (he performs exceedingly well in fitness testing and is very strong for a 5-foot-11/6-foot player) with average to above-average skill, impressive skating ability and standout on-ice intelligence.

He understands timing, spacing and puck movement at a very advanced level, always finding his way into good spots.

Hes got good instincts on the PK and can really apply pressure with his skating.

And then there are other complementary tools which come second.

He protects pucks well with a wide gait.

Hes got really good balance, posture and mechanics and while I wouldnt call his upper-echelon skating elite, its a definite asset and hes got some pull-away speed.

He plays in and out of give-and-gos.

But its the consistency of his reads, paths and decisions that define his game.

He makes the right play with the puck almost always and hes extremely unselfish.

(There are, however, times when Id like to see him hold onto pucks and attack so that I can evaluate his skill better, but he just always gives it to the open man and then gets back open.) I would have liked to see him score more (he finished last season with 20 goals and played a more aggressive style this year on a low-talent Guelph team but can still be too deferential) as well but when theres a play to be made, he wont hesitate to make it.

Hes got a chance to be a reliable, fast, intelligent all-situations center but I dont see a ton of offense in his game in terms of a top-of-the-lineup NHL outlook and expect him to become more of a middle-sixer than a true top-sixer.

Hes got quieter tools and habits that should help him (the routes, the pressure points, the penalty killing upside, the strength, the skating, good poise on the puck and vision) but he doesnt have loud elements that really scream NHL skill player.

Scouts have long been fascinated by Lamoureuxs towering 6-foot-7 frame and smooth skating.

When you watch him in isolation in a practice setting, its easy to see why.

Hes got a short, compact stride for how big he is, he moves really well, his shot explodes off his stick from the point, hes naturally athletic and coordinated and hes got a good first touch.

His processing, reads and decision-making have all come a long way to cut down on mistakes and penalties (though he still takes his fair share) and improve his game management with the puck (as well as his choices on when to use his physicality, which has resulted in some discipline at times) as well.

His play with the puck has also developed more poise and assuredness.

He has also added some muscle to his athletic frame so that he can really impose himself defensively.

He plays at a quicker pace now, making his decisions quickly.

This season has been a real promising one as well.

He made an immediate two-way impact and looked like a stud in the AHL.

He got off to a strong start to his NHL career and I thought showed that he belonged, which is pretty rare for a D his age (he just turned 21 a couple of weeks ago) and size.

As he continues to tweak and figure things out, theres real promise that he could become a pretty unique No.

3-5 defenseman (if Simashev hits, Utahs blue line of the future will have a distinguished look with all of that length/mobility).

He was an absolute force against his peers in the QMJHL (I thought he really rose to the challenge on a disappointing Team Canada when he was asked to play a first-pairing role in Tristan Luneaus absence, too) before a shoulder injury ended his season last year as well, dominating play all over the ice.

There are still areas where his game can continue to grow and he has dealt with some injuries that have cost him valuable development time, so for him to already look as strong as he has as a pro and to have made the progress that he has when he has been healthy is quite impressive.

Hes got legitimate upside.

Hes a great kid, too, and I could see him wearing a letter for Utah someday.

After playing on Russias Hlinka Gretzky team three summers ago, But played to a point-per-game level in the MHL as one of its top 2005s three seasons ago and then began his draft year two seasons ago on a tear in the MHL, scoring 11 goals in his first 15 games of the season before earning a mid-October promotion to the KHL for the first time (he then scored his first two pro goals and bounced between the KHL and MHL).

Last season, playing as a regular in the KHL with Lokomotiv, But broke 10 goals and 20 points despite playing very limited minutes (9:26 per game).

This year, those minutes are up to 12 and a half on average and he has continued to be a regular contributor for the top-of-the-league Lokomotiv.

Like his teammate Simashev, he also doesnt turn 20 until next week and has a unique profile because of his length and talent as a winger.

Scouts were drawn to him because of his size-skill combo as a 6-foot-6 winger with natural skill/scoring touch and a committed 200-foot game, and 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.

Hes 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.

Hes got 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 hes got some work to do to get a little quicker from the jump in the games 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.

Its hard to be a true top-of-the-lineup forward at his size, though, and hes not the most physical player so hell have to rely on his reach-skill-shooting combo to be an impactful secondary producer in the NHL.

I think he projects as a complementary scorer who gives a lineup a bit of a different look.

Theres a lot to work with, though, and hes a legitimate prospect even if, like Simashev, I felt he was picked a little too high at No.

12.

Hell be a unique top-nine winger in the NHL and maybe even a second-line one if he hits.

Geekie has played exclusively in the NHL this season but I have decided to include him one last time due to a combination of his age (20) and the limited minutes he has played (about 12 minutes per game).

Geekie is a big forward (6-foot-4, 207 pounds) who can play both center and wing.

Hes got clear skill as a handler, passer and shooter and a boldness to his game, especially in terms of comfort trying things with the puck, that I admire and you dont often see in players his size.

Hes got 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.

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 for me its probably a little below average, and he can look like he lacks pace but I wouldnt call him slow/it a major impediment and I think he moves better than his big brother Morgan (now with the Bruins) did at the same age, creating his fair share in transition as a result.

I do find he forces things too much by trying to go one-on-one and create something thats not there.

Theres also a hunch to his stride.

Hes got some work to do in the faceoff circle, too.

But its hard to deny the impressive size-hands combination he has considering his length.

Hes got a real 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 that 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.

Hes really quite comfortable in control of the puck.

Hes also got a hard wrister.

Geekies a legitimate young player with a desirable set of skills.

As he continues to work on his pace/skating, hes got the touch and skill to become a pretty unique player.

I expect hell have a productive career as a middle-six forward who brings a length-skill combo to his line.

Rinzels appeal is all about the potential because it has always felt like hes just scratching the surface, but some of that is really starting to be scratched now.

He, like Nazar but even more so, found another level after returning from the World Juniors last season and hasnt looked back, climbing a steep incline in his progression to become one of the top defensemen in college hockey as a sophomore this season.

Hes a long, right-shot defender who thrives in transition, has room to fill out his frame, has already quickly played catch-up with his peers and has time (thanks to a late June birthday) to continue to do even more of that.

Hes 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 hed 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 hes starting to figure out how to deploy and utilize them in a more cohesive way.

You can see his confidence building in real time as he starts to look like more than just his length and skating, too.

He can really impact play when hes reading the game well.

And while he was a work in progress when he was drafted and still has plenty of development in front of him, hes already much less raw than he was.

The University of Minnesota has done an excellent job developing defensemen in recent years, he has already made some big improvements there, and I think that with one more year in college, he could emerge with real NHL aspirations as an interesting top-six defenseman with some real upside.

Howard is a player I diverged from the consensus on in his draft year, ranking him in the front half of the first round when he was drafted at the tail end of it.

After an up-and-down freshman year at Minnesota Duluth and a transfer to MSU gave me some pause about whether I was a little too high on him, he has gotten back to looking like the player I believed him to be with the Spartans, where hes been a top teams top offensive player as a sophomore and junior these last two years.

He also scored seven goals and nine points at the Gothenburg World Juniors, where he was an important part of an excellent line and made some big plays in big moments, including the gold medal game, and was impressive on my trip down to East Lansing last year.

This season, his production has gone from point-per-game to well above and I expect hell sign and turn pro in the spring.

Howard is a player with the kind of track record of success that nearly always translates.

Though hes short at 5-foot-10, hes not small, with a muscular build that makes him sturdier than you might expect on his feet and over pucks.

Hes got 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, youll see him around the puck all game, which weve seen more of as he has ramped up his off-puck movement and drive at MSU.

Inside the offensive zone, hes extremely 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 shouldnt get away with, he also usually executes them.

He makes a lot of plays under the triangles of defenders sticks, he navigates in and out of holes in traffic really well, and when hes in attack mode taking pucks from a standstill into the middle of the ice to create looks, hes a ton of fun to watch and forces opposing players to reach in on him, which draws a lot of penalties.

But hes even more dangerous off the puck, with a scorers sixth sense for always arriving just in time in Grade-A locations, whether thats hiding in coverage or just staying around the puck at the net.

Hes 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.

I think some of his so-so freshman year can now be attributed to some of his struggles to create for himself, but also that they didnt have a natural playmaker to find him in soft space and facilitate for him.

Hes going to need that at the next level to make the most of his talent.

Ultimately, Howard is a player who is always going to have PP utility but will require the right coach, usage and linemates to be the impactful top-six winger I think hes capable of being at five-on-five.

It has been nice, though, over the last two 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.

Lindstrom wasnt the only prospect that made the Blue Jackets tough to slot.

Dumais was also been kept off the ice for the better part of a year dealing with a combination of hernia/abdominal/hip (both hips) issues.

Though hes back with Cleveland now and has been immediately productive in his introduction to the AHL, Dumais was also a super tricky and polarizing kid and prospect to project and evaluate even before he got hurt.

Ive been a vocal defender of him as a player, though, and his statistical profile is certainly one that almost never misses.

He was the QMJHL MVP and the most productive player in major junior hockey not named Connor Bedard over the course of his last three seasons in Halifax.

In his post-draft season, he also impressed at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament against bigger, older players.

He rattled off 54 goals and 140 points in 64 games last year.

Before tweaking his hip in Team Canadas selection camp and playing through it at the World Juniors, he had again stood out in Traverse City (as well as main camp) and had racked up 47 points in 21 games to start the year (a pace which, had he stayed healthy, would have eclipsed his already-unheard-of numbers from a year prior).

Dumais is a fascinating case study as a 5-foot-8/9 winger whose skating has been a cause for some concern.

His extensions through his stride need some cleaning up (they can look stunted and drag at the toe caps), but hes a harder-working player than he has ever gotten credit for (he doesnt waste energy when he doesnt need to, but when theres a puck to track and a stick to lift hell work for it and excelled in the takeaway category in Halifax) with a wide-ranging offensive game that allows him to create offense in a variety of ways at his own pace.

Hell beat you with a quick give-and-go on one shift, a standstill pass or shot on the next, a dance to the high slot on the next and quick hands and quiet determination around the net on the next.

Hell track back and make hustle plays when he needs to.

His shot is pinpoint accurate and gets off his blade effortlessly in catch-and-release sequences.

Hes surprisingly good along the wall for a small winger.

Though hes not physical, hell involve himself when he needs to.

Hes got A-level vision, hands and anticipation.

Hes crafty as anything.

He plays quickly when theres a quick play to be made and has a knack for identifying his next pass before he even gets the puck.

He finds ways to play pucks into space for himself and escape traffic/congestion under the triangles of defenders with his small area touch and craft.

He always seems to be open in little pockets.

He can thread the needle and is a silky saucer passer.

He routinely elevates his linemates and does things himself (as evidenced by the uptick in their production and the gap that he still maintains well above and beyond his peers).

If he can get his body sorted, Im confident hes going to produce right away in the AHL and Im a big believer that hes going to figure out how he needs to play at NHL pace, because hes too good and too intelligent on the ice not to (even if hes never a plus-skater or plus-value player defensively).

He has some doubters who dont think the skating/body will get there, though, and is also a unique cat as a kid (quiet, a little cold, etc.).

Time will tell but hed be one of the most productive players not to make an impact in the NHL if he cant elevate his game.

Casey, the 27th-ranked prospect on my 2022 draft board, had a bit of an up-and-down draft season, with a strong start and finish briefly overcast by some struggles in the middle, which prompted some scouts to question his top-two-round merits and his decision-making.

I really liked the Devils taking a swing on him in the second round, though, and he sure looked like a top-two-round guy as a freshman and sophomore at Michigan, where he shined as a real catalyst from the back end with the puck and in distribution, finishing third amongst all NCAA D in scoring last year behind only Zeev Buium and Lane Hutson with 45 points in 40 games.

He got off to a great start to his pro career as well, impressing me in Buffalo at the Devils rookie tournament and building on that to win an NHL job, quickly score his first few NHL goals, and then immediately become one of the top offensive defensemen in the AHL before a December upper-body injury sidelined him for six-to-eight weeks.

I really like a lot of his tools in isolation.

When hes on, theres an unmistakable flow to his game where the puck just moves through him to its next destination within the pace of play, whether thats a heady outlet out of a D-to-D pass or a quick carry into a cross-ice pass to allow his teammates to get open for him.

Inside the offensive zone, he can make things happen with his blend of mobility and handling (he walks the line effortlessly but he also handles the puck like a forward one-on-one).

He stops and cuts back on a dime to easily lose tracking forwards.

He skates so, so well (though better on his edges than in a straight race).

Hes just smooth with the puck, with an ability to hold and hold and hold when necessary (inside the defensive zone, he thrives escaping past pressure).

Maillouxs game still needs some work but he made some really important progress at the AHL level last year in particular and he had a really strong rookie season all told, finishing with 47 points in 72 games.

He has made more progress and clearly placed a greater emphasis on working on his decision-making/cutting down on his mistakes defensively in the AHL this year as well and has done a nice job in first-pairing minutes for Laval (up from 20 per game last year to 21 this year), which will serve him well in the future.

Though his early defensive results in the NHL have been predictably a little poor, he has also already shown his offensive presence in his very small sample of games with the Habs.

Hes a strong and athletic 6-foot-3, 213-pound right-shot defenseman who's physically advanced and showcases that strength through a strong forward skating stride, a hard and heavy shot (it's a real weapon) and a presence over pucks and in board battles.

Hes a confident puck carrier in transition and is eager to take space off the line to look to make a play.

His game does have some notable deficiencies, including the aforementioned decision-making and reads that can let him down but they've started to become fewer with more reps (his game is always going to come with some brain cramps but you'll be able to live with it because of his natural talent and the personality of his game on the ice.

The hiccups show up with the puck in distribution and/or on carries in dangerous spots on the ice and without the puck in choices on when and how to close gaps or puck-watching and losing his man in D-zone coverage.

He has some sloppy stickwork in man-to-man coverage that can require him to overcompensate by trying to make a hard play on the puck (which can result in some penalties) as well.

He's likely going to have some growing pains once he makes the full-time jump to NHL pace/speed and may never be as buttoned up as youd like but the physical tools and talent are going to carry him.

His game has some very real upside and some clear plus attributes even if it'll come with the odd headache.

Though this isn't a projection and he won't get there, he's got a bit of a Brent Burns look to him out there.

A player Ive long had a lot of time for, Luneau was the first pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft and looked like a surefire first-rounder through the Youth Olympics (where he was an alternate captain) and into his strong rookie season in the QMJHL (where he won the leagues defensive rookie of the year award).

And while it took him some time to get back to that status after a knee procedure cost him the summer, preseason and first three games of the regular season in his draft year, he hit his stride in the second half of his post-draft season, was the QMJHLs defenseman of the year two years ago and was clearly the leagues most complete defenseman by a long shot (logging huge all-situations minutes and driving offense in a big way while playing a matchup role against the oppositions best).

Last year, in his rookie pro campaign, I thought he looked like a stud in the AHL and NHL early on, and he was clearly a cut above all of Canadas other defensemen in practices and the Red-White scrimmage in Oakville for World Junior Selection Camp before a serious infection hospitalized him and derailed his season (he would have been Canadas No.

1 D and changed the look of that World Juniors team in Gothenburg).

This year, though he hasnt made the full-time jump to the NHL that I think he was on track to make by now pre-infection, Luneau has responded nicely from the lost time and has played big minutes for the Gulls in the AHL (hes averaging over 22 and often playing 25-plus).

Luneaus game isnt dynamic in the obvious sense, but hes a balanced and smooth-skating (without being explosive, something some scouts worried about but Ive often argued is closer to a real strength than anything else) right-shot defenseman who can run a power play, is a plus-level passer, has developed his shot into a real weapon and reads the play at as high a level as just about any defenseman in his age group (with and without the puck at both ends).

His skating has really looked very comfortable, flexible and smoothed out when healthy over the last couple of seasons.

He plays a poised and polished two-way game that lends itself to driving play.

And while hes a high-floor (he should be a strong third-pairing guy at minimum) type, I think hes got second-pair upside if he can stay healthy.

His size (6-foot-1, about 200 pounds), maturity, roundedness and discreet offensive game and skating have put him, when healthy, on a path toward becoming an efficient, all-purpose, two-way guy.

He has proven he can control play and log significant all-situations minutes.

Salomonsson has become a really nice development story for the Jets and looks like hes going to be a good NHL player now.

He was off to a really positive start to his post-draft season in the SHL two seasons ago and was bound to make Team Sweden for the World Juniors before a late November ankle injury halted his year.

It was particularly noteworthy after he was just OK in his draft year and didnt take the steps many hoped he would, sliding out of first-round consideration and into the second round where the Jets took him.

You dont often see teenage defensemen play 16-20 minutes per game in the SHL, but thats how much Salomonsson was playing before he got hurt and how much he continued to play last year.

He was just two weeks away from eligibility for the 2023 draft with his Aug.

31 birthday, too, so had his pre-injury play in the SHL been in his draft year, he would have been viewed differently.

He then became an important defender for the 2024 SHL champs and made the Swedish World Junior team.

Though he was sidelined with an upper-body injury in mid-December, he was having a really strong first season in the AHL as a 20-year-old before that as well, driving impacts at both ends on a bad Moose team.

Hes 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 and funnel opposing carriers wide into rub-outs along the wall.

If he does get caught down ice trying to involve himself, he tracks back easily.

His decision-making does need some tightening up at times and has gotten him into suspension issues both in Sweden (in the SHL and J20) and internationally (at the U18 and U20 worlds) 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, he involves himself in a lot of plays offensively, hes got 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.

It doesnt hurt that hes a 6-foot-2 righty, either.

His problem at times in the past has been that his actual tools were better than the way he utilized them.

That was something I was comfortable betting on when I ranked him 39th on my final draft board for 2022 (the Jets took him 55th), though, and I think he has figured out what he needs to be at the next level.

He looks like more of a first-rounder than a second-rounder now and looks like how most teams want their D to look.

Big, strong, highly mobile.

Yager has been on the radar in western Canada for a long time, and hes got some real pedigree to his profile and cachet to his game to support it.

He was the No.

3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

He was the CHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals).

He was an alternate captain and second-leading scorer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

He was Canadas second-leading scorer at the World Juniors as an 18-year-old and their captain and most-used center as a 19-year-old.

He was an alternate captain and one of Moose Jaws leading scorers for two consecutive seasons, which included centering the first line to a WHL title with 49 goals and 128 points in 81 games split between the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup last year.

And now hes joined Lethbridge to push for another WHL championship in the final chapter of his junior career.

His actual statistical profile is good without being great.

Still, he has been a consistent offensive player in his age group while playing a detail-oriented off-puck game (hes also a dangerous and active penalty killer and is decent in the faceoff circle).

Yager plays a threatening, attacking game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition.

Hes got smooth-skating mechanics.

Hes dangerous inside the offensive zone from the top of the circles in with a quick-release wrister that comes off his blade hard and with a slight, goalie-fooling adjustment pre-shot.

Hes got good puck skill in congested areas, an ability to attack in bursts and make something happen out of dead plays, and an equal ability to play off coverage and make himself available as a shooter for his linemates.

Hes a natural scorer who plays a direct style, but hes also got vision and good touch (though I wouldnt say his creativity is necessarily a strength).

I like the way he supports the puck defensively as a center.

Hes very intentional with his routes, offensively and defensively, which should help him stick at the center position long-term.

Hes a decent though not standout skater (his skating hasnt taken a step to add a separation gear in the last couple of years).

Hes a smart player who finds ways to get open and supports his linemates well (hes got the smarts and the instincts).

I like his work rate.

He doesnt have a star quality but hes going to play in the league and projects as a middle-six C with PP2/PK2 potential.

After an up-and-down couple of seasons for Lambert who across five teams, four levels, three world juniors, the pandemic, injuries and illnesses showed some really nice flashes of the skill and skating that made him one of the biggest names in his age group growing up but also played extended stretches where he looked like he didnt know who he was or how to impact a game, things started to click last season.

He was pretty consistent (not a term often used about him) for a player his age in the AHL, all told.

This season has been a little more up-and-down on a Moose team that has really struggled to generate offense, but he has been one of their more productive players.

Lamberts gifts are undeniable.

Hes a beautiful skater.

His hands flow in sync with his feet.

When hes feeling good, hes fearless with the puck, makes a ton of plays in control and looks to dictate in possession.

Hes got excellent control of his outside edges which allows him to carve up coverage on cutbacks and carries.

Hes slippery because of his ability to spin away from his man and make a play.

Hes a good passer off his backhand.

Hes capable of playing pucks into space, getting to the interior, splitting lanes and cutting off the wall aggressively, and has a low base to his stride that allows him to extend plays (though he does have a bit of a hunch to his posture, which can put him off balance).

Hes capable of playing the point and half-wall on the power play because of his puck skill, dangerous wrister off the flank and playmaking instincts.

But theres a difference between ability and know-how or execution.

Some scouts have worried about Lamberts game without the puck in terms of both his intensity off it and his ability to make things happen offensively when hes not getting a ton of touches (I actually think playing him at center full-time both in the WHL and then with the Moose, instead of bouncing him between the wing and the middle, helped to keep him more involved).

Others have worried about how often he has skated the puck into trouble and made his decisions too late at times during his career.

Ive wondered at times whether he goes to the net enough to score up levels.

With the puck, though, Lamberts a multifaceted threat who blends impressive puck skill with standout all-around skating mechanics and an attack mentality that can complement a dangerous curl-and-drag shot (which also complements the short stick he uses).

There has been a boom-or-bust prognostication for him because of some of the inconsistencies and the requirement that hes going to have to play in a top-six role in the NHL.

But I still believe in his ability with the right development/coach and he has slowly begun to build more of an identity to his game.

It can feel like hell follow a shift where he has the puck four or five times with one where hes not processing things quickly enough or making bad decisions, but those brain cramps and bad habits have also begun to show up less.

Hes a fascinating case study.

Brunicke blew me away with his play at the Penguins rookie tournament in September and was going to be on Canadas World Juniors team as an 18-year-old before he broke his wrist blocking a shot in practice.

Before that, hed registered 12 points in 15 games with Kamloops, playing his smooth-skating two-way transition game.

Brunicke garnered increased attention from NHL clubs as last season progressed, too, before hurting his shoulder on a late hit in late February which effectively ended his WHL season just as his momentum was really building.

He returned to play at U18 worlds for Canada, though, and performed really well as an important top-six defender and particularly prominent penalty killer who was counted upon in defensive situations throughout the tournament.

His statistical profile doesnt pop but hes got good size, a pro build, phenomenal skating and good sense.

He has shown a real willingness to join the rush and look for opportunities off the offensive-zone blue line in the last year or so, playing a very active two-way style and recovering when hes down ice with his skating.

I think hes got another level to find offensively he has shown some skill on the puck even if its not dynamic and the skating is truly high-end.

He makes good reads around the ice, can defend with any of his active stick, length, feet or physicality, 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 a developing cerebral quality to his game, makes a great first pass and moves so, so well.

Brunickes by all accounts a very smart kid off the ice and has learned to play with some more hardness hell stand up for his teammates, block shots, etc.

He also didnt play on PP1 with Kamloops last year because they chose to give their older guys that opportunity, so there was always going to be room for the points to come given his athleticism/skating.

The Penguins drafted him 44th but he was looking like a first-rounder pre-injury, and I expect him to be a big part of next years Canadian World Junior team in Minnesota and then a transitional, two-way No.

3-5 in the NHL for a long time.

A favorite of mine, Moore has consistently impressed me across levels and competitions over the last four years on trips down to Plymouth during his time at the program (as well as after two World Junior Summer Showcases), where he was the focal point of the 2005 age groups second line and a real driver of play and offense behind their record-breaking first line; in Switzerland for the 2023 U18 worlds, Sweden for the 2024 World Juniors (where he began as the teams 13th forward but also had a good run on the first line) and Ottawa for the 2025 World Juniors (where he created and drove more than he finished, which is a bit of a theme); and with the Golden Gophers in exhibition and in the second half of the regular season as a freshman (he hasnt taken the step I was hoping for as a sophomore statistically, though).

His consistent game-to-game impact even when the points arent going in has always struck me as well (he rarely has a bad game and works and finds ways to involve himself and make things happen).

Moores 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) and consistency of presence on the ice.

Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it.

Ive seen him create breakaways with ease, win races he shouldnt 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 doesnt stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next.

He wants to hang onto the puck and make plays but hell also hurry it up and dominate in and out of give-and-gos.

Hes got quick hands.

Hes got a one-timer from the right flank and can really rip his catch-and-release or in-stride wrister when he gets clean looks.

Hes an impressive athlete who is strong for a 5-foot-11 player, 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.

Hes strong in the faceoff circle.

Increasingly, his game isnt all just about the speed/hound element and Ive 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.

But he just doesnt seem to finish off plays around the slot or in all alone enough and that lack of finish despite the tools to do so 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 in the NHL.

I dont 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 youre more likely looking at a fast and determined third-liner.

Last year was a complicated one for Bichsel.

I didnt love his decision to bail on Texas to join a Rogle team in flux (a Rogle team that fired its coach and general manager shortly after he joined them).

While he played big minutes there, I would have liked to see him grind through it on the smaller ice surface in the AHL.

But this one has been positive in his return to North America.

Hes playing 20 minutes per game with Texas, including a leading role on the penalty kill and spot usage on the power play.

His defensive results have been strong at five-on-five and some of the warts that have existed in his game have begun to smooth out.

Bichsel is a towering defenseman who moves well.

Ive sometimes felt like he has struggled with his identity across levels, playing a different style from one to the next, but he seems to have a better sense now of what hes going to be in the NHL (he has to be a standout in-zone and rush defender whose focus is on establishing a presence and command against opposing carriers).

Hes an extremely heavy player but because he doesnt lumber around a ton (though he still does at times) and hes fairly comfortable carrying the puck (both in transition and across the line), theres some real upside.

Bichsel defends the rush, the cycle and the net well, and while Id like to see him closer quicker at times he has made progress there and his in-zone strength and presence will always be his calling card.

Some sloppiness can develop in his game when the play caves in on him and the pace ramps up, though, and Ive worried about just how big he already is at times (though he has stabilized his weight in the mid-20s after getting up into the 230s) and some of the challenges his game and later his body might face over time.

There are more and more games in which he looks like a beast at both ends and shows comfort skating and handling the puck for a player his size.

And there are fewer and fewer where he looks hectic and scrambled and a step behind because hes chasing, which is positive.

Hes still got work to do on his pivots and some other things to really refine it all but hes got the makings of a really unique NHL defenseman.

Taking his time, even as he starts to feel closer to the NHL ready, will be key.

Development should still be his focus because hes made important progress.

Prior to this year, Solberg was a tricky one as a player who had, pre-draft, played exclusively in Norway at both a junior and then pro level that seldom produces talent.

But he has also played the better part of the last five (!) seasons against men.

And after excellent playoffs for Valerenga and an even better showing playing first-pairing minutes against NHLers for Norways national team at mens worlds, his stock was at its highest (he was the biggest riser on my board in the second half of the season) as the draft arrived.

He also then signed with Farjestad in the SHL, where, split between Swedens top pro level and the Champions Hockey League, he has registered double digits in points as a teenage defenseman and has played to positive defensive results.

(The more I watched Norways pro level last year, the more I found it to be of higher quality than I thought, too, which does help with my comfort level about his projection.) His game has some real identity and form to it at an early age as well.

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 and Sweden.

Hes really physical in man-to-man coverage, sometimes too much so.

Its 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.

Hes also a strong skater and advanced athlete with an athletic 6-foot-2 build that is already over 200 pounds and is really strong/sturdy.

Players with his makeup a hard-nosed, highly engaged defenseman with good size/athletic tools whos shown enough offense are always going to be valuable.

His style should really work on North American ice/in the North American game when he eventually comes over, 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 future blue line something different from Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.

After posting 59 goals and 121 points in 85 combined regular-season and playoff games in his post-draft season, Othmanns production dipped in his final junior season (39 goals and 97 points in 84 games), in particular after a move from his Firebirds to the contending Petes (though he did still lead them in playoff and Memorial Cup scoring in the end).

In between, he also looked the part of a top prospect at the World Juniors in both Edmonton and Halifax, especially in the games that mattered (hes a gamer).

Last season, as a rookie at the pro level, he made his NHL debut and finished second on the Wolf Pack in goals (22) and tied for first in points (54) in 77 combined regular-season and playoff games at the AHL level.

He was also a consistent shot-generator and offensive contributor while continuing to play his thorny, pest style against men.

This season, after getting off to a strong start in his second year of pro, Othmann suffered an upper-body injury that kept him out for a couple of months and his production has been a little slower since his return.

Othmanns got a dangerous, masked release that he can get off his blade at multiple points while still maintaining pinpoint accuracy.

Hes got a good first touch into quick hands.

Hes got that sixth sense as a scorer to find holes in coverage and in goalies to finish plays at a higher rate than most.

Hes got a heady spatial awareness inside the offensive zone and a good feel for where his teammates are on the ice, regularly executing blind and clever passes.

He plays a determined off-puck game that engages in battles.

Hes a physical presence when hes on the ice, a constant threat to lay a big hit.

Hes scrappy and mouthy between whistles (theres a bit of a chip on his shoulder on and off the ice).

Hes got great hands around the net and on tips.

He plays a direct, attacking game with the puck and he has worked hard to get stronger and a step quicker so that he can make the most out of his natural gifts on the ice.

He has gotten better and better at reading the play and breaking up passes defensively, and at moving his feet off the puck not just to chase hits but to get up and under sticks and stay on pucks.

His pace has been a bit of a question over the years but when he plays with enough tempo his game has an identity.

I still think hes got the ability to become a middle-six, PP2, secondary-scoring winger with some snarl.

Wood was the youngest player in college hockey in his draft year (he was, for a moment, its only 17-year-old) and stepped right in to become an impactful player and eventually the leading scorer on a good UConn team (albeit as a winger after playing mostly center at the Jr.

A level, though hes comfortable at all three forward positions).

Last season, his counting stats as a sophomore took a bit of a hit, moving from 34 points in 35 games to 28 points in 35 games, but most of that is the byproduct of a much weaker UConn team (a team he still led in scoring by five goals and six points) although it did highlight concerns some have about his ability to be a driver/his need to play with other good players who can get him pucks.

This season, after a transfer to Minnesota, he has played to a point per game and was cut as a returnee to Team Canada ahead of the World Juniors.

His statistical profile remains projectable but there are parts of his game that feel less projectable in terms of what hell be in the NHL.

That point-per-game production as a freshman came a year after he led the BCHL in goals (45 in 46 games) and points (85) for a 1.85 points-per-game clip that stands as the most productive 16-year-old season in the league in decades.

He also found ways to get his looks in a limited role at the World Juniors in Gothenburg, even if they didnt bring him back because they werent sure where he fit in the lineup and they had questions about his skating/pace.

Wood is a rangy, multi-dimensional shooter and goal-scoring forward who has silky hands for 6-foot-4 (considering the long stick he uses, hes got superb control on the toe of his blade out wide and the heel in tight to his feet), a marksmans shot inside the offensive zone (both through a natural shooting motion and his one-timer) and a sixth sense for arriving around the net/slot at the right time.

He protects the puck really 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.

Ive seen him support play well defensively off the puck.

Hes got quick hands one-on-one, he drops pucks back into his shooting stance effortlessly and hes got a beautiful curl-and-drag motion.

He has also worked to up his work rate.

But his skating is a limiter and hes slow out of the blocks/hasnt made enough progress there over the last couple of years in improving it.

When he keeps his feet moving in puck protection, he draws a ton of penalties, but he doesnt have NHL pace/jump and hes not ultra-competitive/a driver.

Hes better suited as a playmaker and finisher than a power-forward type (hell 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 hes got middle-six and power-play upside as a winger, even without the speed.

He does need to find a way to get quicker in order to maximize the rest of his talents, though.

Chernyshov is a November 2005 who has progressed in line with his older age.

He established himself as a point-per-game MHL player and scored his first KHL goal (at 16 years and 352 days, he was actually the 11th-youngest player to ever play in a KHL game) two seasons ago and bounced between the MHL and KHL in hid draft year last year, showing mostly well in limited usage with Dynamo Moscows pro team and registering 28 points in 22 games when he played with his peers.

At the junior level, I felt he created more looks than his production suggested in the first half of the season.

Then, in the second half, the points really started to fall and his production elevated back to where it belonged to reaffirm his first-round merits for me (he finished No.

23 on my board and the Sharks then selected him with the first pick of the second round at No.

33 after he was unable to showcase himself at Gold Star's pre-draft camp due to, of all reasons, a severe sunburn he got in Florida).

After undergoing shoulder surgery in August, he then missed the first half of his post-draft season but has now returned and lit it up in early games with the Spirit in the OHL, looking more like a top-15 talent than a top-35 one.

Chernyshov's a big, strong (6-foot-3, about 200 pounds) winger and 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.

Hes a smooth enough skater and his stride has some real power, which complements his impressive rush package without needing dynamic burst.

Add in a relatively committed game off the puck (there's still some room for growth there but he competes fine) and there's a lot to like about his mold.

He can attack at defenders in a variety of ways, threaten on the puck or get open off it, and he works hard enough.

With his tools and versatile skill, he profiles like a pro; a future top-nine NHL winger and secondary creator on a line who can finish, makes plays, and has size.

He has shot up this list since returning in Saginaw and I still thought about ranking him a few spots higher here.

He's not a star prospect but he looks like a top one.

Here's Spirit head coach Chris Lazary on his first impressions of Chernyshov: "Powerful.

Really great release and very accurate with his shot.

Great puck skills.

Underrated passer.

Will be a good NHL player that can play heavy with lots of skill.

...

Picks up concepts quickly.

Usually if out of position in structure just a misunderstanding with terms.

Smart.

He loves hockey.

Dialled in.

His goal in his second game, watch the release and shot location past a defender nasty." And here's Spirit general manager Dave Drinkill: "He's an impressive player.

His mix of size/skill is eye popping.

Very powerful in his strides and has a pro shot/release.

Looks like a man skating with us at times.

He will be a force and will figure out quickly what works and what doesn't in our league." Theres a lot to like about Poitras.

Coming up, he was viewed as an above-average playmaker, athlete and overall player whose game was projectable.

He then made the NHL at an early age on that basis.

But some growing pains have set in and hes still trying to find his identity/a clearly defined role (which I think he struggled with even at the 2024 World Juniors, trying to do too much there after hed made the NHL club).

In junior, Poitras played a tenacious skill game that put him on the puck and endeared itself to his coaches and scouts.

Hes a crafty playmaker who can play with the puck on his stick, has patience in control (sometimes too much so, which results in overhanding it or not playing quickly enough) and sees the ice well.

He does a good job supporting play and then pushing tempo back in the other direction.

His tools get mostly Bs across the board, though, and that has made some wonder if he will be just a player.

Everyone likes the hardworking, detail-oriented, decently skilled types who can work to get pucks and then make plays.

But when that isnt his identity all the time and he doesnt have size or dynamic skating to fall back on, questions crop up about his ultimate upside and role in a lineup.

I would like to see him get to the middle of the ice and shoot it a little more, because hes got a nifty release, too.

Theres still plenty of reason to believe he becomes a middle-six/PP2 forward who can produce 40-50 points.

He doesnt have dynamic quality but hes a heady, intelligent player who still projects as a good, longtime NHLer.

Edstrom was a steady riser in his draft year two seasons ago and though he has been dealt twice since then he has continued to develop in line with what youd expect out of him.

In his draft year, he was one of Swedens best players as their first-line center at U18 worlds after a good season split between Frolundas J20 and SHL team, establishing himself as a borderline-dominant player against his peers and demonstrating he could hang against men.

Last year, he played a regular role in the SHL and centered Swedens third line (though they were used like a second line at times) at his first World Juniors, helping them to a silver medal again playing alongside his U18 worlds linemates of Otto Stenberg and Felix Unger Sorum (he was the least impressive of the three and a little quiet, but was also 18).

This year, reunited once more with Stenberg and Unger Sorum, Edstrom centered the Swedes top line as a returnee, made some big plays in the tournament, had a goal disallowed and played a lot (he led all Swedish forwards in average ice time at around 21 minutes).

He has also continued to establish himself in the SHL as a teenager.

His stride is a little stilted and hes not a great skater (I think it was overrated in his draft year by some and he has talked to me about the need to continue to work on it), but hes good in a very effective kind of way.

He can also play with power or play with skill and smarts, which blends to allow him to take pucks off the wall to the inside and then execute in congested areas in ways you wouldnt necessarily expect out of a 6-foot-3 player.

Hell make a soft-area play one shift, a play in tight to his body the next, and then drive out of those plays the next.

At an early age, its also clear he has a really mature understanding of how to use his size to his advantage without being a super heavy or forceful player (its very subtle uses of his length and puck protection).

He looks to dictate with his length and knows how to position himself against defenders.

Hes decent on entries and will hold pucks but can also play off his linemates.

Hes not a natural playmaker but makes smart play and functions off a variety of linemate types well.

His wall game is good and the net-front on PP suits him.

Hes not mean but he protects it really well and takes pucks to the net against his peers.

Its not flashy but Edstrom projects as a solid third-line center who can potentially contribute on both special teams.

After missing the first couple months of his year two seasons ago rehabbing a hip injury that had become debilitating for him, LHeureux was a force for the Mooseheads after returning and has progressed nicely while fearlessly playing to his identity up levels ever since.

The timing of the injury was a shame, because I thought he was one of the best players at Hockey Canadas summer showcase for the World Juniors in Calgary two summers prior and I think he would have had a real chance of making the Halifax team that won gold had he been healthy (even with some of the issues with on-ice discipline that have followed him, he would have made a lot of sense as a bottom-six guy).

Last year, as a rookie at the AHL level, I liked the way his game translated.

He didnt lose any of his identity as a pest/drink-stirrer and was productive and impactful while being one of the leagues penalty minutes leaders (which comes with some drawbacks but coaches have learned to live with it because he also pulls his team into the fight).

Id like to see him spend less time in the box than he does but its positive that he didnt change his style once he started playing against bigger, stronger competition.

That has continued this year mostly at the NHL level as a second-year pro as well.

Hes going to be someone that opposing teams are aware of and hate playing against for a long time and itll just be about striking the right balance within himself.

When LHeureux plays within himself, hes a powerful, talented, heavyset winger who is a lot to handle and difficult to knock off the puck.

His stride can look a little choppy but hes strong through his pushes to attack defenders and then hes got the dexterity to play through sticks and feet as well as the shot to score (when he leans into his snap shot, it really whips off his stick quickly).

When hes ramped up and engaged, hes a pesky, physical, hard-on pucks winger who can barrel at, or through, opponents to the middle third of the ice, win back possession on lifts and battles and impose himself on the game.

And while he can be his own worst enemy at times, hes always going to have to walk a fine line.

I view him as a hard-to-play-against third-line contributor who gives a line some skill (hes quite talented) and sandpaper and could move up the lineup to play off skilled linemates in a pinch as well.

He also doesnt have to play in a top-nine role to impact a game and could be an in-your-face fourth-liner (which not a lot of first-rounders have to fall back on).

With the right coaching, hes got what it takes to be a valuable player for the Predators.

Gridin got off to one of the hottest starts in North American junior hockey as an import in the USHL last season and continued to produce all year, leading the USHL in scoring as a draft-eligible with 83 points in 60 games.

Thats pretty uncommon for a draft-aged player and is usually reserved for first-round locks.

I didnt quite have him there (he ranked No.

38 on my final board) but the Flames did (they drafted him No.

28) and he then made the move from Muskegon to Shawinigan (after Val dOr dealt him there at the opening of the QMJHL season).

Though he got off to a bit of a slower start in the Q, his production has since taken off.

Hes the Cataractes leading scorer and he has driven a lot of offense himself while playing to very good on-ice results.

Gridins got a desirable makeup, including a pro build and 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 a little more poise.

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 (Ive seen him lift his head from a pass reception and make a number of instinctual, no-panic plays under immediate pressure in a split second).

Hes got good size and good enough skating.

He has also taken positive steps away from the puck to round out his game, though some question whether he has enough of a B game/brain and he can come and go.

I think hes got upside as a potential middle-six/PP2 winger who adds offense and skill to a line.

Honzek was on one of the steeper ascents in the 2023 draft when he suffered a leg injury in Slovakias second game of the World Juniors which sidelined him through the middle third of it.

Then, during a promising showing at Flames camp, he suffered an abdominal injury which sidelined him until December to start his post-draft season, only to return and break his nose, requiring a full face mask.

In between, he played in his third and final World Juniors in Gothenburg and was good but not dominant.

The story was similar with the Giants in his final season of junior last season, too: he has played to about a point per game and good on-ice results on a below .500 team without putting up gaudy totals or really cementing himself as someone who could create his own offense in bulk without much help.

This season, though, his game has predictably fit better at the pro level surrounded by players who he can play off and complement, resulting in decent rookie results in the AHL and some time in the NHL.

Honzeks a big forward (he has played more wing than center but can and has played both) whose game really fit right from the get-go on North American ice, quickly establishing himself as a go-to player in all situations for the Giants en route to being named captain (he was also an alternate captain for Slovakia in Gothenburg).

He skates well for his size (6-foot-3), hes got good hands and dexterity, hes got great feel and sense for the pressures that exist on the ice and hes by all accounts a great teammate and kid who is coachable and pays attention to the details of the game.

He gets onto pucks, tracks pucks off them, wins battles, holds onto pucks along the wall, will go to the front of the net, excels on the penalty kill and has good positioning and awareness.

There are times when hes holding it with his back turned to the defender inside the offensive zone where Id like to see him keep his feet moving instead of coming to a glide with it but he still protects it really well even at a slower pace.

Theres a lot of belief out there that hes going to be a well-rounded middle-six NHLer and while I dont think he has a high offensive ceiling I could see him becoming a really well-rounded 40-something point forward.

Cagnoni had one of the most productive post-draft seasons by a WHL defenseman in decades last season, putting up comparable or better numbers to names like Olen Zellweger, Josh Morrissey, Kevin Korchinski and Shea Theodore, the last three of which were first-rounders and the first of which was drafted with the second pick of the second round.

In fact, he had the most productive U20 season by a WHL defenseman since 1995, almost 30 years prior, register 90 points in 65 games.

He then built on that with an excellent NHL camp with the Sharks and has led all U21 AHL D in scoring while playing 20 minutes per game for the Barracuda (second among their D).

Cagnonis challenge, like Zellweger before him, is that he's small (the Barracuda list him at 5-foot-9).

Importantly, though, he's a superb skater.

His feet noticeably kick back through his forward skating stride, but hes a plus-level skater for my money in every other way and his mobility is a major strength on the whole.

He also wins on his smarts more than his skill, though I think because his hockey IQ is so high and thats the first thing people talk about, his skill level doesnt get enough love (it's legit for me).

He walks the line really well, defends with his feet and can lace shots through or attack into space to use his quick release.

He played a huge role on a top junior team for an established coach who has developed a lot of defensemen, has legitimate playmaking ability, and distinguishes himself on the back of his smarts (he understands spacing and plays within the flow of play and often one step ahead of it), rounded skill and footwork.

He also plays at a playable weight (180 pounds) and has made important progress defending in man-to-man engagements.

Hes going to have to keep proving people wrong to reach his upside as a No.

4/5 offensive defenseman with skating, IQ and offensive elements, but Im a real believer.

He was a second-rounder and not a fourth-rounder for me and I think he has a real chance to run one of the Sharks' power plays of the future (which is something their current blue line lacks) and challenge Sam Dickinson for those minutes.

Parascak was a fourth-round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft who played at Edge School in his 16-year-old season and went scoreless in five WHL games before bursting onto the scene in his draft year last year, quickly climbing the lists of NHL scouts.

He broke 40 goals and 100 points and finished top 10 in the WHL in goals, assists and points while also finishing tied for second in short-handed points with eight.

He also had a respectable playoffs for the Cougars, producing above a point per game.

And while he certainly benefited from playing primarily on a line with veterans Ondrej Becher (drafted as an overager by the Red Wings) and Zac Funk (the leagues goal-scoring champ who has since signed with the Capitals), he fit in perfectly with Funks power-scoring game and Bechers playmaking.

This year, with both of those players having turned pro, Parascak has continued to produce as well, though hes pacing closer to 90 points than 100 points.

Parascaks off-puck timing and spatial awareness define his game.

He regularly gets into the right spots at the right time to bang home rebounds, tap in backdoor passes or get out in transition to give his D a stretch option on outlets (without really cheating for it).

He anticipates play offensively and defensively at a very high level, knows how to get open and play to his linemates strengths, has a great wrister and one-touch shot from midrange, goes to the net when the play funnels there instead of hanging out wide and has skill around the net and in tight to his body when challenged by defenders.

He also uses his linemates extremely well, has shown nice touch as a passer and has easy handling ability.

Hes not a flashy skater but hes fast (I think hes a better, more controlled skater than I and others realized after early viewings last year Ive seen him pull away plenty) or individual play creator off the rush, but with timing and good skill, he makes things happen offensively.

He always seems to be around chances and certainly knows where to be and how to get lost in coverage/use spacing to his advantage.

He has had some big point-total/shot-total games the last two seasons where he has gotten or set up looks on a shift-to-shift basis with his timing and game sense.

Hes lean still but hes now listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds, which is up half an inch and seven pounds from a year ago.

With continued development and the right NHL deployment someday hes got smart-and-skilled middle-six upside.

Miroshnichenkos progression has been positive without necessarily taking off since returning following his Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis a couple of years ago.

After playing across Russias three levels to decent results considering his lost time, he looked fine-to-good in my AHL viewings last year for a 19- and 20-year-old (he wasnt dominant at the AHL level but he played to strong on-ice results and contributed at a good clip offensively for his age, earning his NHL call-up).

This year, he has taken another step, producing more with Hershey and playing a more prominent role when there (his minutes have risen from 13.5 per game last year to 15.5 per game this year with the Bears) while still spending some time with the NHL team and holding his own on a top-of-the-league Caps squad.

Miroshnichenko was widely regarded as Russias best prospect in the 2022 draft before the cancer diagnosis, even after the start of his draft season had pushed him from the top-five conversation into more of a top-10 projection (before I learned of the diagnosis, he slotted 11th on my list, which was a smidge lower than most).

As a player, Miroshnichenko had an illustrious international track record as a captain and first-line player in his age group (often alongside Matvei Michkov) and a good, though less inspiring, domestic track record.

There are some translatable attributes to his game and its well-rounded, so its never been hard to understand the appeal.

Hes got an athletic pro frame.

He shoots it hard (both his wrister and his one-timer/off one-touch shots).

Hes a powerful skater through his edges and crossovers (though he can at times lack quickness from a standstill).

Hes got good offensive instincts off the puck.

Hes a dexterous player who catches bad passes, manages to keep control when the play breaks down or the ice is choppy and gets his stick on tips, etc.

And hes noticeably engaged shift to shift with and without the puck.

My big hiccup with him is that I dont find him to be a great problem solver or high-end skill guy, limiting his upside to a third-line projection for me (though he could become a middle-sixer/up-and-down the lineup type if everything goes well).

While he can make the first play he sees on instinct, he doesnt do a good job breaking down the play to think it through.

Protas has been a real riser in the prospects world this season.

He had a very respectable 51-in-61 season as a rookie in the USHL last year (thats not an easy league to produce in as a 17-year-old, especially when your highest level of hockey previously was playing for Belarus U18 team), finishing second on Des Moines in scoring and eighth in the league among U18 skaters.

That season, considering his profile as a 6-foot-5 forward, probably should have sent a stronger signal to me than it did (he wasnt in my final top-100 and I considered him more of a late-rounder than a third-rounder).

But nobody, the Capitals and Protas included, expected him to have the kind of season he has had as a summer birthday 18-year-old OHL rookie this year.

Hes pacing for about 40-50 goals and 100-plus points and has been dominant for the Spits.

He features prominently on the power play and penalty kill, he plays 20-plus minutes per game as a first-year forward and he has done it after making the move from the wing with Des Moines last year to center in Windsor this season, while winning 54 percent of his draws.

Hes got 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 over them as a passer who sees the ice well.

His skating is below average by NHL standards but passable for his size.

Hes not a mean power forward type but hes got the required skills on the cycle/on tips and redirects.

But its his skill level that is ultimately pretty unique for his size.

Hes quite talented.

Its not easy to score 30 goals in the USHL in your draft year (let alone 35-plus) or to lead an NCAA program in scoring as an 18-year-old freshman.

Its even harder to do as a center who is counted upon and keyed in on.

But as one rival USHL coach put it to me last year: Sacha Boisvert is a really good player.

Boisvert, a top prospect in Quebec growing up who was a first-round pick in the QMJHL even after hed gone to the U.S.

for the final two years of his minor hockey, was named to the USHLs All-Rookie Second Team two years ago after he finished third on the Lumberjacks in scoring as a 16-year-old.

As a 17-year-old, he was named an alternate captain for Muskegon and played big minutes, often playing 20-24 in the second half of the season before finishing fifth in the league in goals (36) and 11th in points (68 in 61).

He has continued to build on that in a strong freshman season for the Fighting Hawks this year as well, with clear areas that he can still work on and elevate.

Boisverts got the desired height and position on his side, room to fill out his once-wiry frame (which he already added a bunch of muscle to the last two summers; he still looks lean with further growth to come) and NHL skill and competitiveness.

Intangibles come up a lot when you speak to people about him (he even dropped the gloves a few times last year, including in the playoffs).

The skill includes a quick and accurate NHL-level release, good instincts on and off the puck, above-average feet (hes a decent skater, even if a little upright in his stance), a developing power game and great feel with the puck on his stick both at speed and in slowing the game down (though a high grip and long stick can occasionally limit him with the puck so far out in front of his body).

Add in his impressive work ethic and a two-way commitment and theres a lot to like.

Hes got to put some more weight on (hes listed at 6-foot-2 and 176 pounds now) and improve in the faceoff circle (which will come with more strength) but theres a projectable game there with the right development/refinement and Im confident the staff at North Dakota will do a good job with him over the next couple of years.

With continued development, he projects as an impactful third-line center who could play up your lineup if needed.

Jiricek is a summer birthday who worked his way from junior into Czechias top pro rung as a 16-year-old.

He lost last season to a pair of knee injuries (one right before the World Juniors and then another almost right away in the tournament, the latter of which required surgery and ended his season) and even before he went down, I didnt think his draft year had gone as well as he would have hoped for and I had started questioning why some were as high on him as they were.

Still, he played atop Czechias defense alongside Los Angeles Kings draft pick Jakub Dvorak as an underager at the 2023 U18 worlds, made the Czech World Junior team as an underager despite the slow start last year, made the early jump to the pro game, was excellent at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup when his stock was highest and hes now playing big minutes for a top OHL team after a successful second World Juniors in which he helped the Czechs to a bronze medal with five assists in seven games.

He doesnt have quite the presence his older brother David has, but Adam plays the game with confidence and intention and has shown real ambition at times against his peers.

Hes got good four-way mobility, an active disposition he has also shown at the pro level that he could simplify and play a more effective game 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 to build upon.

There are definitely tools and room to grow his game and fill out his frame.

Hes also competitive.

I like his defensive habits and hes got size and ability.

I remain a little more cautious in my evaluation of him than most scouts because he feels a little rawer than his track record would suggest and I still havent consistently seen the high-end offense he showed at the Hlinka (including in Brantford, where he has been very good but hasnt popped offensively like some thought he would).

Hes capable of involving himself against his peers, though, and hopefully he uses some good puck touches from the World Juniors and his return to his age group in junior to continue to build back some momentum in Brantford.

Hes a good NHL prospect who has length and has had some really strong stretches over the years.

Lindstein is an unspectacular but solid two-way defenseman whose well-rounded and mature game helped him get into 49 SHL games before he was drafted and became a 16-to-20-minute defender at the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan level last season.

After playing well in a second-pairing role in Brynas promotion back into the SHL, Lindstein has also played to good results in a full-time role there as a teenager this season.

He was also an alternate captain and a big part of Swedens top four at U18 worlds; made a huge impression at last years World Juniors in Gothenburg, showing some real offense and getting named to the tournament all-star team (he was on my ballot, too) after he was originally not even named to Team Sweden before a pair of injuries opened up a spot; and wore a letter and played on their shutdown pair as a returnee at this years tournament in Ottawa.

His game isnt flashy, but he plays very sure of himself, makes his decisions quickly, executes and defends at a high level.

Hes also a very good skater.

Theres just a two-way reliability and detail to his game.

He manages play and uses strong positioning, mobility, a good stick and a heady approach to have an impact in all three zones.

Theres also some secondary offense to his game and he has shown some creativity and vision against his peers (he has played the power play for the Swedes but not Brynas) and good comfort at play-on-play at the pro level moving pucks and helping out in transition.

Lindstein contributes at both ends without sacrificing one for the other.

I would like to see him be a little more physical/firmer in battles and engagements, but he defends mostly with his stick and skating.

It feels like hes got a fairly high floor/likelihood of becoming a solid D partner to someone in the NHL for a long time.

Loyal readers will know that Roy is a player I was higher on than most pre-draft (he ranked 34th on my board when he was drafted 150th).

He has progressed nicely since, too and certainly relative to where he was picked.

The multiple 100-point QMJHL seasons.

The 19 points in 14 games across two World Juniors.

Two strong pro seasons as a top player in Laval and his first few NHL goals.

Through it, some real substance has developed in his game, which I believe has several translatable qualities.

Hes got exemplary puck-protection skill.

He does an excellent job leaning on defenders and controlling the puck in the middle of the ice to get to his spots and create chances.

And then when he doesnt have it, his timing and routes help him get open or pounce on rebounds to remain opportunistic.

Hes hard on pucks, hes got great hands in tight (Ive seen him show real one-on-one skill in the last few seasons) and around the net and he scores a lot of weak-side goals.

He seems to elevate his linemates now (which wasnt always the case).

After working hard on his fitness, he has taken steps as a skater and competitor who appears more committed to playing a complete game (even showing some penalty killing proficiency).

He has also developed more of a quality to his game offensively, flashing the skill that made him a No.

1 pick into the QMJHL more consistently.

I like him with the puck, where he can hold onto it and make plays, and I like him more and more without it, where he's now finishing his checks and involving himself in the forecheck more consistently.

His shot is accurate and has developed some heaviness.

Roy has this way of molding himself to his linemates and finding success because of his ability to read and anticipate and because he no longer needs a ton of puck touches (his game has matured a lot that way).

He has also proven himself a big-game player and has worked to become a more competitive, defensively responsible (support positions, shot-blocking, all of it), guts-of-the-ice player who tracks back and then plays an increasingly confident and aggressive style back the other way.

The little things things that were once criticisms of his game for some have started to become strengths.

The reads and positioning on and off the puck.

The engagement level.

The smarter choices he now makes with the puck.

Though he played center growing up, his re-emergence has taken place on the wing and I expect him to develop into a solid top-nine winger.

Svechkov had for years looked like a legitimate prospect in his age group and at the MHL (which included a 16-shot performance two years ago!) and second-tier VHL levels in Russia, but he wasnt able to really establish himself in the KHL with two different teams (SKA and then Spartak) before he made the jump to North America.

Since arriving, though, he has established himself within the organization, first in the AHL where he looked more like himself last year, producing as a rookie center who averaged about 15 minutes per game as a rookie, and then this year playing closer to 17-18 minutes per game to nearly a point per game in the AHL and earning his first NHL opportunities with the Preds (who he has played quite well with of late and looks like he should stick around).

I think he has benefitted from the smaller ice surface, where his heady game was always going to work better.

He doesnt have high-end scoring touch or enough skating (his stride extends back through his toes, hunching him over his skates, instead of back and out through the arches of his feet) to elevate his projection from everyday NHL center to a potential impact one, but theres a lot to like about his makeup and a potential future as a contributing third-liner.

His defensive awareness and intelligent, efficient offensive game make him an intriguing player.

Though hes got real work to do in the faceoff circle, hes otherwise a very complete player with a knack for disrupting and lifting pucks, sound positioning and an understanding of how to support the play and lead it in the right direction.

He stays available for his linemates and involved through the neutral zone without needing to be fast.

He does a good job creating separation with his go-to stop-up to force defenders off him and allow him to attack back into the space theyve left behind.

He has managed to produce at a consistently high level over the years despite lacking that star quality that most first-round forwards possess.

He makes a lot of quick, smart plays with a good understanding of spacing.

I dont want this to position him as unskilled, either.

Hes capable of carrying the puck and making plays in the offensive zone.

But the real strength of his game is in its subtleties and intellect.

One of three top 2023 NHL Draft prospects who played college hockey in his draft year, it felt like Brindley got better with every game at the University of Michigan two seasons ago, to the point where he was impactful every single game, including at center and on the wing.

(I think hell be a winger in the NHL but he actually has a lot of the qualities of a center and would be a better fit there if he were a little bigger.) He then continued to build on that last year, leading the Wolverines in scoring, breaking the 50-point mark to finish eighth in the NCAA and playing an important role (with a letter on his sweater and scoring some big goals) in Team USAs run to gold at the World Juniors in Gothenburg.

His rookie pro season got off to an unlucky start after he broke his finger in a preseason game and was sidelined until November, though.

He got off to a strong start in the AHL after returning but has cooled off a little since.

Still, he has had a respectable start to his pro career all things considered, playing 17 minutes per game to above half a point per game as a 20-year-old.

Brindleys a high-end, debatably elite skater who gets through his extensions quickly (including from a standstill), excels on his edges, rounds corners sharply and darts around the ice, hunting pucks and pushing through holes.

Hes also got quick hands and natural touch on the puck.

He thrives in the small-area game, using light passes and rapid movements to play in and out of coverage.

He has impressed me across levels and events over the years (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 worlds, two World Juniors, etc.) as a small but highly involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage.

He buzzes around the ice and does such a good job releasing from one battle or chance to hunting or getting open for the next one.

Hes always moving.

Hell make the soft play to the middle of the ice from the perimeter, or go there to get to rebounds or position himself on screens/tips.

Hes excellent in puck protection, twisting away from coverage to make things happen along the boards.

He stirs the drink on whatever line hes on, can drive play at even strength and has dual special teams value because of his ability to skate, work and apply pressure on the PK (though Cleveland hasnt used him on the kill yet).

Hes a constant who can make his game work in the offensive zone because of his mobility, maneuverability and tenacity, but Ive also seen him wind up and go coast-to-coast with an impressive transition package that includes an ability to take his first touch in stride so, so well.

And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage.

The beauty of Brindleys game is that while he may prove talented enough to play in a skill role at the NHL level, hes got the approach/tools to play an effective bottom-six game, too (plus, hes strongly built for 5-foot-9).

That will limit concerns about his height (he has certainly never played small).

I believe hes going to play in the NHL and youre not going to notice his size.

Firkus had an incredible final season in the WHL last year, winning CHL Player of the Year and the WHL title with Moose Jaw.

He registered an incredible 77 goals and 162 points in 87 games split between the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup, both tops in the CHL by a wide margin.

This year, he has produced respectably for a 20-year-old rookie playing 14 minutes per game, scoring just over half a point per game.

Firkus is one of those little guys who just always seems to be around it and showing talent when he is.

He plays the game with pace, energy and skill so that you cant help but notice him shift to shift as he dashes around the ice making plays offensively.

With the puck, defenders struggle to stick with him off cuts and when they do hes got the craftiness to beat them in other ways.

Without the puck, he races in and out of pockets to get open.

The result is an at-times magnetic game that pulls you (and opposing players) in and then beats them with aggression and intention.

Hes not an explosive skater but he works and hes both quick and nimble, plus he has added a bit of a straight-line burst/acceleration.

His slight frame (5-foot-11, 163 pounds) made him a second-round pick instead of a first-rounder, but he has endeared himself to just about everyone with the way he plays and its clear watching him that he feels he can go out and create offense every time hes on the ice.

Hes a slippery, always-threatening player who defenders even, and maybe especially, those who are much bigger and stronger either cant stop because he pounces on opportunities and beats them before they get a chance to, or struggle to stop even when they get a crack at it.

There are times Ive wanted to see him play a little quicker against better competition (not in movement but in decision-making).

I know some folks believe hell become the classic AAAA guy who lights it up in the AHL but never really becomes a full-time NHL guy, and those people were probably emboldened by his quiet showing at Team Canadas selection camp for the World Juniors last year and his fine but not sexy production this year, but I wont be the least bit surprised if he becomes a top-nine winger with some skill and quick-strike ability with the right patience and coach.

Not every player in the NHL has to fit the same mold.

Sometimes you need an opportunistic little water bug like Firkus.

It has been tricky evaluating and contextualizing Sale at times over the course of his young career; first when he was above two points per game (99 in 44) in Czechias top junior league three years ago doing things that had never been done and smashing (and even doubling in some cases) the production of recent top Czech players at the same age (including first-rounders like Jakub Voracek and Tomas Hertl) and then as he struggled with the transition to the pro game in Czechia; he has played to some real highs and lows internationally (which included looking like one of the most talented players at four international events in Germany for U18 worlds, Red Deer for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Switzerland for a second U18 worlds, and Ottawa at his last World Juniors, but also coming and going at the World Juniors in Halifax and Gothenburg) and also struggled to live up to his talent in the OHL in both Barrie and Kitchener.

The Kraken bet on the individual skill level, hoping that the consistency, competitiveness, habits and style could be worked upon.

I saw the talent and the risk, too, and I would have taken the same chance at about the same point in the draft as well.

Throughout, there were times when various coaches didnt trust him.

This season, though, has been a positive, not just on the back of captaining the Czechs to a bronze medal in Ottawa, but also in the AHL, where his skill has semi-regularly flashed and his rookie year in Coachella should be considered a step in the right direction so far.

Hes a smooth skater who is noticeable in transition for both his ability to weave up ice and facilitate and also his ability to create breakaways for himself and beat goalies one-on-one.

Hes got superb vision and grades highly at dissecting coverage as a passer.

I love him on the half-wall/point on the PP with his ability to hit east-west seams (he just seems to see every lane and opening).

He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes.

He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments and can really shoot it, whether with a quick-release wrister or his dangerous one-timer.

Hes also a dexterous player who has good size (which will fill out).

He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders).

But he lacks competitiveness (though it does seem to be coming around a little) and everyone would like to see him play with a little more effort both on (going to the guts of the ice more) and off the puck (cutting down on his gliding and puck-watching/keeping his feet moving and involving himself) at times.

When he does go to the inside, Ive seen him get sticks on tips and redirects.

Hes prone to drifting at five-on-five but his eyes light up and his head swivels when the puck lands on his stick, and he can make skill plays against the grain.

Hes got poise and patience on the puck (sometimes too much so).

Hes got a multi-dimensional shot.

He just needs to continue to work to involve himself in the play more.

He has cut down a little on the moments of carelessness/turning pucks over, allowing his finesse on the puck and that game-breaking quality to be the thing that catches you instead of all of the mistakes/bad habits.

The talent level is clear but it doesnt always work in practical hockey terms like it shows in flashes, and the result is a player who has faded in games at times over the course of his career and comes with a boom or bust profile.

Im a firm believe that not all 12 forwards on an NHL team need to be worker types and he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to get there as a skill guy, but the talent level is there.

One of the more impressive 2005s in the OHL for a couple of seasons, Barlow scored 35 goals in 66 combined regular-season and playoff games as a rookie in the OHL, was named captain of the Attack for his draft year, scored 49 goals in 63 combined games that season (rare goal scoring for a player his age, and a rare honor for a player his age) and then played to a 51-goal, 68-game pace in the OHL last season after starting slow and missing time with a back injury (after a disappointing under-18 worlds while also dealing with a nagging injury).

He also looked good from what I saw of him in his first three AHL games with the Moose last spring.

He has struggled to really take his production on a whole to that next level, though, and got off to a brutally slow start this season after a trade from Owen Sound to the contending Generals, where hes below a point per game (which took him out of running for Canadas World Junior team).

Barlow plays a direct, intentional game built around good hands, a physically mature pro frame and an NHL shot (he can cleanly beat goalies from midrange).

Hes also an able penalty killer, which could give him all-situations upside at the next level.

Whether he becomes a middle-six secondary scorer at the NHL level will be determined by his skating because outside of his lack of pace, he has a high floor or tools.

Its also fair to ask if his advanced growth gives him less runway for improvement (he really does look like a man already).

He does at times look powerful in straight lines once he builds speed (he moves just fine through his crossovers and can build momentum that way) but hes slow out of the blocks from a standstill.

I would like to see him tunnel-vision a little less and open up his plane of sight a little more as well.

Even though he can score on them, he takes low-percentage shots a little too much for my liking off the rush (maybe because he feels he cant take the D one-on-one so he shoots through them instead?).

The pro build, mentality, competitiveness and scoring are appealing, though, and he brings it shift to shift.

Kemell feels like hes older than he is because it feels like he has been around forever.

This is already his third AHL season and the fifth year in which he has played pro games.

He appeared in three World Juniors (Edmonton at 17 before it was cancelled, Edmonton again in the summer at 18 and Halifax while still 18) without even actually playing in his 19-year-old tournament last year because he was full-time in Milwaukee.

After an excellent age-adjusted year in his draft year and excellent age-adjusted production in his jump to the AHL two seasons ago, Kemell was productive with Milwaukee last year for his age, registering 41 points in 67 games (third among all U20 AHL players behind only Shane Wrights 47 points and Jiri Kulichs 45).

This year, he has continued to be productive for the Admirals and while it can feel like players like Svechkov and LHeureux have leapfrogged him for NHL opportunities its worth remembering that theyre older than him even if it doesnt feel that way.

Kemell is a gifted, shot-creating winger who excels with the puck on his stick, carves teams up through coverage to take the play from the flanks to the interior and possesses quick, light hands.

Those tools enable him to take advantage of his dangerous NHL wrister and one-timer, both of which he can get off quickly from a variety of stances and at a variety of tempos and both of which pop.

On the puck, hes agile through cuts and changes of direction, can threaten one-on-one and plays an intentional, attacking style.

Against his peers, he was always competitive and borderline powerful as well, though he cant play that same way against pros.

Off the puck, he also plays with some energy and is competitive, which has endeared him to coaches to this point despite his 5-foot-11 frame and lack of explosive straight-line speed.

Id like to see him slow down and utilize his linemates a little better than he does as hes actually a heady playmaker when he opens his plane of sight, but part of what makes him interesting is his insistence on creating his own looks (even if that comes with some forcing it) with that shot of his.

Hes got some work to do to add a little more variety and pace to his game, and theres a chance he just tops out as a tweener, but he could become a middle-six scorer and PP2 winger if all goes well.

Rosens a slippery goal-scoring winger who just looks talented in possession.

On the attack, hes a crafty handler who sneaks through traffic to navigate in and out of space in control, drawing attention as he goes.

A lot of the tools he hones are also the ones required of average- or slightly below-average-sized players (hes now listed at 6 feet and 180 pounds, which is up an inch and 12 pounds over the last two years) in todays game.

Hes inventive.

Hes a light, fluid skater who changes directions in an instant and beats defenders off cuts, and his ability as a marksman really cant be overstated.

Both his one-timer and his wrister are pinpoint accurate and he makes a ton of quick adjustments before he releases the puck to catch goalies and defenders off-guard.

Though his first instinct is to look to attack the slot to score, hes also got great touch with the puck when play breaks down and he has to improvise or make a play to a linemate.

He has been a top scorer in Rochester the last two seasons, playing to just below a point per game and learning to find ways to get to the heart of the offensive zone to create more for his shot.

I think hes got what it takes to inject skill into an NHL top nine and threaten on the power play, but theres also a risk that he just becomes a AAAA scorer blocked by the wing depth in Buffalo.

Hes got the threatening transition game, nifty release, perimeter speed and control and shot shaping to become a 20-goal scorer complementary middle-six finisher.

Ostlunds 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 hes in possession and darts around the ice in control to get into scoring areas or facilitate from the perimeter.

His lack of size and strength (hes a lean 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds) has been an impediment at times at the pro level and in his transition to the AHL this year, although I thought itd make his jump to the SHL last year a little more challenging than it was.

But he wasnt helped by a fall hand injury in his rookie season in the AHL and has looked better and more involved in offense in my viewings than his modest stats indicate with Rochester.

Hes also got the benefit of time, his skating and the fondness coaches have for him to fall back on.

Hes silky smooth in possession and a superb puck transporter through neutral ice.

Hes got a slippery quality that few players have, the puck just sticks to him in tight coverage and he is a catalyst on his line in a variety of ways.

Hes a nifty little player.

Some scouts worry about whether hell be able to get to the inside/hold his own physically along the wall in the NHL (he has never scored a ton) but his approach and skating should help mitigate against that.

The flow, the work ethic, the ability to hang onto it or play in quick give-and-goes, his stick on steals, the changes of directions and cutbacks: theres a lot to like.

He has and holds the puck a lot, hes so shifty in possession side-stepping defenders or turning them on angles, and even though he doesnt always produce something out of his natural playmaking game because hes still missing that finishing strength, hes 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.

Hes got skill and he can be a driver.

Im fascinated to see if hell figure it out and find his way into the NHL full-time.

If he can continue to add some muscle without slowing down, theres real appeal there as a potential top-nine secondary play-creator.

No.

23 on my board when the Wild took him No.

64, Heidt looked more like a late first than a late second last season in the WHL.

After registering 97 points in a full 68-game season on a middle-of-the-pack Cougars team in his draft year, Heidt finished third in the WHL in points (117) and second in assists (80) last year.

His production hasn't been quite as prolific this year but he's still on pace for another 100-point season.

He's undeniably a top WHL player and has been for three seasons now but some still wonder what role he's playing in the NHL and whether his skill/skating/smarts are high-end enough to be a top-six skill guy or whether he's more likely a middle-six/PP2 guy if it works.

Some of his struggles in higher-end environments with Hockey Canada have reinforced that (between U18 worlds, the World Junior Summer Showcase and World Junior Selection Camp, he has struggled to elevate, though I did think he was better at the WJSS than Dave Cameron and his staff gave him credit for).

Taken No.

2 in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft with the pick between Connor Bedard and Brayden Yager (he and Yager were actually teammates in minor hockey), Heidts a talented and hardworking playmaker who keeps himself involved in the play off the puck and then makes plays (especially as an equal parts instinctual and cerebral facilitator) in possession of the puck.

Hes also been strong in the faceoff circle the last three seasons, establishing himself as a go-to guy in the dot in the WHL.

Hes not a speedster but hes a good enough skater who is comfortable on his edges, plays with jump, will build speed and put junior defenders on their heels and/or create separation, leads a lot of neutral-zone carries into entries and makes plays into space for himself or his linemates at pace, though he can over-pass at times (to the point where he passes up good looks).

He quickly identifies gaps and vulnerabilities in coverage and then executes through seams.

Hell finish his checks and can play a scrappy game when the intensity ramps up (which has resulted in a couple of suspensions in his time in the WHL).

Hes unafraid to try things and has the skill to execute difficult plays.

He'll win inside body positioning to come away with a lot of pucks against his peers.

He'll block shots.

And he always seems to be around it.

His ability to make plays offensively both off the rush and inside the zone (where hes got slick skill in traffic, great instincts off the puck and a lunch-pail approach) also gives me confidence that hell continue to progress.

Some are concerned he doesnt score enough to project into a top-six role, or have the desired size to play the skilled worker game he plays in junior as his identity in a potential bottom-six role as a center, but I like him to figure out a fit as a talented and competitive secondary top-nine playmaker who can help run a second power-play unit.

Though Lysell still has work to do defensively to earn it and hasnt taken a step offensively in the AHL this season, the speedy winger has put together three respectable AHL seasons for his age.

When Lysell turned pro, there were concerns about whether he would be able to use all of his speed to get to the guts of the ice in control (he can hunt pucks without it, though the consistency of his work rate has at times been a question) or funnel too often to the perimeter.

He still has some work to do to get to the middle third more frequently but he has shown that he can do it in stretches and there is an NHL player there if he can do it on a game-to-game basis without some off nights (or at least with fewer than weve seen over the years, including at an ugly World Juniors).

When he doesnt drift or shy away from it, he can be an exciting player to watch.

And even when he does there are flashes of speed and skill.

He can enter through the middle with relative ease, its just about that harder final step of driving to the slot/the front of the net.

When there are opportunities to attack, hes capable of playing with intention instead of hesitation and has shown he can go directly at pro defenders.

He can be hard to trap on the perimeter and slippery losing guys with cut-backs.

Hes got the ability to get to pucks and keep sequences alive with his speed.

On the puck, hes fun to watch carry it up ice and can weave around defenders pretty effortlessly when hes feeling it.

When Lysell plays fearless and confidently and makes quick decisions, hes a joy.

Hes a free-flowing skater who has rare top speed and agility with the puck on his stick (one of those players who seems to get faster when he has the puck).

Hes not a one-trick pony, either.

The highlight pack has been about the end-to-end rushes and the dashes through holes in coverage, for sure.

But he can also dance a defender by pulling pucks through his wide stance and across his body to beat them with not just a lateral cut, but also his hands.

And he can dance defenders to the outside with his high-end top speed or a quick change of pace.

Hes got cuts, stops and starts and directional changes.

While his shot isnt powerful per se, its deceptive off the blade and accurate.

When he pushes through contact and keeps his feet moving, he can draw a lot of penalties with his skating as well.

Hes also chippier than you might expect.

For a time, I wondered if he could be a useful penalty killer (while hes not a physical player, he can be a puck thief off back pressure) with the right coach because of his skating but that seems unlikely now.

I do still think he can come and go in games and try to do too much (theres a little too much one-and-done to his games when he flies into the zone and takes long shots in transition or overhandles the puck), and his body language isnt great when hes not playing well, but hes still got some middle-six/PP2 upside if he can figure it out mentally.

Coming into his draft year, Stenberg was viewed by many as the second-best Swedish prospect in the 2023 class after Leo Carlsson.

He had played to nearly a point per game at the J20 level, looked like he belonged as an underager on the national team at U18 worlds and impressed as Swedens leading scorer and captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

(He also scored two Michigan goals that year).

He then continued to wear the C for Sweden in his draft year at events like the Five Nations, World Jr.

A Challenge and U18 worlds, the latter of which he was tremendous in.

Scouts had a tough time slotting him due to his so-so production at the J20 level, though he was better than his numbers reflected and didnt look out of place in several stints with the SHL club.

In his post-draft season, he then made Frolundas SHL team out of camp, stood out for Sweden in his first World Juniors and then registered 16 points in 21 combined regular-season and playoff games on a loan to Karlskoga in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan.

This season, he became a full-time SHLer with Malmo in the fall, was fine in depth usage for them, played on Swedens top line in his second World Juniors and then made the jump to North America in the new year.

The early signs have been positive in the AHL, too.

Against his peers, he has always been a crafty handler who hangs onto pucks to spin away from pressure, attacks in and out of crowds, makes plays into space for himself and can comfortably make plays through layers to others.

Hes also got an accurate shot from mid-range.

I like the way he attacks on angles to help prevent defenders from taking him one-on-one, and to take pucks from the perimeter to the interior and create chaos around the slot.

When he plays with pace and intention, he seems to have the puck all the time and looks effective while flashing some skill in all three zones.

There have been times when he looks like hes trying a little too hard to impress and make things happen instead of allowing the game to come to him, but even when things arent going his way and the points arent falling, Ive always liked his involvement level so its hard to get down on him.

Hes a smooth skater.

Hes got smooth hands.

Hes patient under pressure and can find his way out of trouble weaving and swerving through holes or away from sticks.

Hes quick side-to-side on little jumps and drags.

And when hes playing with confidence he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers.

With the national team, he has always found ways to elevate, manufacture offense, spend his shifts in the offensive zone and contribute on special teams.

He has also added more of a cycle game/good wall play to add to his decent skill level, good release, comfortable one-timer and cutting game.

Everybody loves a worker with skill and opportunism.

Thats his game.

He passes the eye test even if the production hasnt always been there (outside of international play).

Hes not going to be a high-end NHLer but I dont think anyone familiar with his game would be surprised if he became a contributing top-nine forward at the NHL level as some kind of third-liner/secondary play driver.

One of the hottest players in the CHL after a trade from Peterborough to Hamilton saw him score 30 goals and 56 points in just 39 games to close his draft year, Lardis has been one of the OHLs most prolific goal scorers ever since and is the current CHL goal leader.

Lardis is a standout skater and natural athlete (which is evident on the ice with his natural speed but also showed up when he led on-ice testing at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in his draft year).

Hes fast in straight lines and smooth weaving up ice through his carries.

But hes also got 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.

Hes on the smaller side for a winger (though hes a very playable and fit 5-foot-11), and hes not as engaged physically in battles as youd hope a player with his speed would be, but his summer birthday gives him the benefit of a little more time to add more strength to his natural athleticism.

Over the last two and a half seasons with the Bulldogs, there have been games where his speed and skill have really taken over offensively as the Bulldogs top offensive forward.

Hes 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.

Hes 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 isnt there.

Id be eager to work with him to build around the quickness and top-flight speed to try to him into a middle-six scoring winger.

Not all of the Blackhawks abundance of 5-foot-9/10/11, speedy forwards are going to be able to play on the same team, so that may work against him at some point when guys like Nazar and Moore are a higher priority, but he looks like more like a high second-rounder than a third-rounder these days.

If not for a couple of upper-body injuries last season, 50 goals and 90 points were within reach.

And hes going to sail past both of those marks this year.

Bystedt is a big boy who moves well (especially when he builds a head of steam through the neutral zone) and thrives in puck control, with the skills of protection out wide to his body that you expect in a player his size, but also the propensity to pull and drag pucks through his feet.

Though he isnt a very adjustable skater in tight/against coverage, he skates well north-south and around wider crossover paths once he gets going.

Those tools make him noticeable and intriguing by default, and have allowed him to really hold pucks against his peers and work his way into being a good SHL and AHL contributor at an early age.

This season, he has played 17 minutes per game in his first full camp gain with the Barracuda and has been a contributor on the power play and penalty kill.

The reach, length and size (6-foot-3/4, now 210 pounds) make him really strong in puck protection for a player who just turned 21 days ago.

When hes carrying pucks and looking to attack, hes a lot to handle.

Hes got some real dexterity.

He stays around it, he goes to the front of the net, he involves himself physically, and he has become a much more consistent game-to-game, shift-to-shift player over the last two years.

His one-timer has some pop because of his strength and size.

There were times in his draft year, in viewings across the J20, SHL and U18 worlds, where he played a different style in each and seemed to have a bit of an identity crisis.

I think he found himself in the SHL as a driver who needed to use his decent skill and skating where required instead of out of necessity.

He was one of the SHLs better young players in consecutive seasons and theres more than meets the eye with his game offensively at two good pro levels now.

His game also works well on North American ice.

He projects as a good third-line center for me, though he does need to improve in the faceoff circle.

The New Jersey Devils No.

10 pick Anton Silayev drew the majority of the attention with Torpedo last season, but scouts were also impressed by what they saw of Artamonov, albeit mostly on tape, and the Hurricanes jumped on him at No.

50 (he was No.

40 on my list).

He had a strong draft-age season for a forward in the KHL and clicked against his peers in the MHL playoffs once the pro team was eliminated.

He has built on that with an excellent post-draft season as one of Torpedos leading scorers, though after a stretch of playing 17-18 minutes per game to good results, his usage has dropped due to a bit of a cold spell offensively.

Artamonovs a skilled and spatially aware left-shot right winger who plays the game to get open and apply pressure with the puck with his quick hands and good feel for the game.

He knows who he is and how to best fit into a line, he plays within himself, and he allows the game and the play to come to him.

Hes a good skater who plays the game with decent pace, though Id say hes more above-average than high-end.

Hes got above-average tools in most of the areas that matter as well.

And I thought last year he had more of a finishing/goal-scoring element to his game than his statistical profile in the KHL indicated, which has revealed itself more this year Early this season, he looked more like a first-round type than a second-round type.

Hes a solid B or B-plus prospect, even if there isnt a star quality to his game, and hes a sub-6-foot winger (hes listed at a very playable 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, it should be noted).

Im a fan.

Hes a good, skilled, smart, diligent young player even if its not always flashy.

Though Lapierres numbers in the AHL didnt pop in his rookie season in 2022-23 (36 points in a combined 80 regular-season and playoff games), he finished sixth on the Bears in scoring and held his own defensively.

Then he seemed to figure out how he needed to play at both the AHL and NHL levels last season, winning a second consecutive Calder Cup, this time as the AHL Playoffs MVP with 22 points in 20 games following his return from the Capitals sweep.

During the playoff run, he started to do more of what Ive been waiting for him to do, which is get to the middle (which has been a common question among scouts about his play style dating back years).

Coming out of that Calder Cup playoffs performance, I expected Lapierre to hold down an NHL job this year but he hasnt been able to do that and hasnt scored at either level.

When Lapierre is at his best, hes playing a puck-transport, distribution game on the inside of the ice.

But while his vision is high-end enough to create off the perimeter with east-west passes, he can put himself there a little too often and at times lacks the drive/hardness to play on/get to the interior.

His goal-scoring has never been a major strength, but he needs to continue to make getting his looks more of a focus.

Hes got an accurate, low-kick wrister which he does a nice job adjusting around sticks and skates when he uses it.

Hes also a good skater who is capable of pushing tempo, being the primary carrier on his line, applying pressure and playing with pace.

Plus, hes got an ability, despite not being the biggest or strongest player, to keep sequences alive by holding onto pucks and making plays under pressure.

Whether hell be able to do that against NHL competition remains in question, though.

He reminds me a little of the Sabres Peyton Krebs, who, similarly, is a 5-foot-11/6-foot forward who plays with pace and smarts but doesnt score enough and has struggled to carve out an NHL role as a result (though I think Krebs is more of a go-getter, which has helped him).

Though Khusnutdinov has played exclusively in the NHL since coming over last spring, his role has been limited enough (often eight-to-10 minutes) that I think there's at least a chance he plays AHL games at some point and I decided to include him here one last time as a result.

After registering an impressive 41 points in 63 games as a 20-year-old with KHL giant SKA two years ago, their forward group got more crowded last season with the additions of Sergei Tolchinsky and Alex Galchenyuk and Khusnutdinovs role took a hit, his minutes falling from almost 17 minutes per game (a big deal for a player his age) to 10 minutes per game through their first six games last year before a move to Sochi where he got back to playing 17 minutes per game but wasn't able to be as productive on a poorer team.

He has held his own in the NHL but has been largely vanilla in my viewings and is probably better suited for a third-line role with third-line linemates than a fourth-line one long-term (if he can earn it).

He deserves a lot of credit for his early success across pro levels over the last few years, though, because its on the back of a game that seems to earn trust more easily than other young players do.

Khusnutdinov has good overall skill and an engine thats always ramped up, engaging himself in the play and making quick decisions from A to B to move the puck, track the play and make quick, small skill plays in between.

And while hes a little below average in size (5-foot-10/11, 175-180 pounds) and not particularly dynamic in any one area, he has some skill (more as a playmaker than a scorer, though hes opportunistic around the net, too).

Hes effective, hes talented enough, he can skate and he plays hard enough.

He's a solid, respectable player.

I'd like to see him make more plays at times and he needs to get better in the faceoff circle but he projects as a potential third-line type who can play with a variety of linemates.

Hes also by all accounts a well-liked locker room guy and coachable.

Andrae is a short but stocky 5-foot-9, 189-pound defenseman who plays an aggressive yet calculating game.

After taking charge of games at the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan level three years ago, Andrae helped HV71 to a promotion and played big minutes as one of the leagues more productive defensemen and HV71s No.

1 defenseman two years ago following a star-making performance at the summer World Juniors.

After making the jump to North America at the end of the 2022-23 season, he then quickly established himself as big-minutes defenseman for the Phantoms and driving offense.

This season, splitting time between the NHL and AHL, Andrae has looked like an NHLer to me.

He manages pressure well in all three zones, out-waiting players in the offensive zone, side-stepping forecheckers in the defensive zone and keeping his head up through neutral ice to create entries.

Hes got good four-way mobility through his crossovers and footwork (without being the quickest player from a standstill, though I think that has been overstated even if it can limit his rush defense or pull him out of position when he gets caught up ice).

I like his sturdiness, competitiveness and physicality for his size.

He holds his own in battles, boxes out well for a smaller player and can step up to rub players out along the wall.

Improved feet from a standstill have gone a long way to ensuring he can hold his own defensively.

Hes got great touch and weight on his passes.

He usually makes the right decisions on when to attack off the line into his shot or when to distribute.

His shot pops and he does such a good job adjusting his angles to get it through.

Hes always shoulder-checking going back for pucks, even under pressure (when some players lose those habits), so that even when hes forced into quick decisions theyre still planned out.

And the offensive-zone skill is there, even if its more likely to beat one layer of pressure and make a quick play than to try to break down multiple defenders.

He creates in short, decisive sequences with his ability to attack the high slot and play through lanes (whether thats with a seam pass to the backside of coverage out of a quick few strides into space or a hard shot from an attack into the high slot/across the line).

Theres always a risk with players his size that they dont fully establish themselves at the NHL level, where teams still think (rightly or wrongly) that they have to have a limit on the number of smaller defensemen they can have, but I believe in Andrae becoming a top-six D.

The reigning QMJHL MVP and a member of the Canadian World Junior team in Ottawa, Cataford is a versatile and quietly powerful player who can, and has, played all three forward positions and stood out at Vegas rookie tournament in L.A.

in the fall.

He has also had success both as a skilled play creator for his line or as a complementary give-and-go type who can play with skilled players and get after it.

His understanding of how to play and read off his linemates is arguably his biggest strength, and its complemented by a good feel on the puck and a heady use of spacing.

Add in above-average tools as a passer and shooter (though his skill is not high-end), an effective game in the dirty areas, a solid work rate and a willingness to compete and battle, and theres not a lot to dislike.

Hes also strong in the faceoff circle.

For a 5-foot-11 player, he has some real strength and drive to his game as well.

He doesnt have a star quality, but he looks like hes potentially got the makings of an everyday third-liner who can chip in in a variety of ways.

(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic ; David Berding / Getty Images, Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images, Candice Ward / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6101032/2025/02/11/nhl-2025-prospects-rankings-top-100/