NHL future watch: Which prospect in each team’s pipeline had the most promising season?

Its what every NHL organization wants to see in its prospect pipeline: the player who shows promise that they could one day be ready for the next step and more responsibility at a higher level.

As the 2024-25 hockey season winds down, these prospects have emerged and shown what they could have to offer enough to possibly change the way their organization perceives them or solidify their future star status.

Advertisement Which prospect in each NHL teams pipeline had the most promising season? The Athletic posed that question to its NHL staff, stipulating that while short-term call-ups this season are eligible, the prospects should not have spent most of the season in the NHL.

In response, we heard about top prospects who showed they could make the leap, hidden gems who could earn bigger opportunities and players who showed they are on the precipice of making an NHL impact.

Here are the picks.

Anaheim Ducks Colangelo was a second-round pick of the Ducks in 2020.

The 23-year-old spent three up-and-down seasons at Northeastern before jump-starting his development path with a terrific solo season at Western Michigan.

Hes carried the momentum into his first pro year, initially leading the AHLs San Diego Gulls in scoring during his time there and then giving Anaheim a boost following his promotion.

Colangelo has eight goals in 24 games and is thriving on a line with Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish as theyve emerged as a go-to offensive line down the stretch.

Honorable mentions: Tristan Luneau, Beckett Sennecke, Stian Solberg.

Eric Stephens Sam Colangelo cleans up in tight, doubling Anaheim's lead to 2 late in the first! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/MFJKhowDmA Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 2, 2025 Boston Bruins The Bruins acquired Zellers rights from the Avalanche in the Charlie Coyle trade.

Zellers is a scorer the kind the Bruins really need.

Through 48 games, the Green Bay Gamblers forward had scored a USHL-leading 44 goals.

The left-shot forward will be a freshman at North Dakota in 2025-26.

Zellers next step is to build the rest of his game.

Fluto Shinzawa Buffalo Sabres Ostlund has been playing as Rochesters first-line center and was recently named the AHLs rookie of the month.

Despite starting with one point in his first 12 games and dealing with an early-season injury, Ostlund has 36 points in 44 games.

Coaches consistently praise his leadership, toughness and 200-foot game.

The 2022 first-round pick looks on track to be a potential impact NHL player with another year of development.

Matthew Fairburn Advertisement Calgary Flames The Flames top prospect had a monster season in the OHL, again, with 33 goals and 107 points to finish in the top five in league scoring as a defenseman.

Flames fans have been counting down the days until Parekh joins the NHL.

Honorable mention goes to Jacob Battaglia, who scored 40 goals in the OHL and just signed an entry-level deal last week.

Julian McKenzie THE SPIRIT STRIKE FIRST @NHLFlames prospect Zayne Parekh connects with Kristian Epperson on the back door, and Epperson buries it to give @SpiritHockey an early 1-0 lead! #OHLPlayoffs | @CHLHockey | #Flames pic.twitter.com/ZN07UCRvuu Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 3, 2025 Carolina Hurricanes Nadeau, the No.

30 pick in the 2023 draft, has leaped over every barrier in his progression as a player.

He jumped from the BCHL to Hockey East last season, scoring 19 goals and 46 points in his one season with Maine, and his move to the AHL has been met with similar success.

His 27 goals with the Chicago Wolves are the most of any rookie in the league and are tied for eighth overall.

Its a total made even more impressive by the fact he had just one goal in his first nine games and had had 26 in the last 49.

His one-timer is made more efficient by the fact that he plays his off-side, making him a weapon at even strength and on the power play.

Cory Lavalette Chicago Blackhawks The Blackhawks had high hopes for Rinzel, a 2022 first-round pick, but it wasnt until this season at the University of Minnesota that he really took off.

He added some size to his frame, and that allowed him to elevate everything else.

He was among the top defensemen in college hockey this season and the early returns in the NHL look promising.

Scott Powers Colorado Avalanche A year ago, Nabokov took the KHL by storm as a rookie, breaking Ilya Sorokins record for the youngest playoff MVP in history.

As the first goalie off the board in the 2024 draft, many wondered if he could repeat his magical season.

Nabokov answered a lot of questions with another stellar year, posting a .923 save percentage in 49 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

The only question now is when he comes to North America.

Nabokovs contract expires at the end of this season.

Avalanche backup Scott Wedgewood still has another year left on his deal.

Perhaps Nabokov comes over immediately and gets AHL experience before eventually joining Mackenzie Blackwood as a tandem in 2026-27.

Jesse Granger Columbus Blue Jackets Del Bel Belluz, a second-round pick (No.

44) in 2022, had a respectable first pro season in 2023-24, but hes taken a big stride forward this season, not just at AHL Cleveland but during his first extended NHL run early in the season when the Blue Jackets endured a wave of injuries.

Del Bel Belluz had two goals, six assists and a plus-2 rating in 15 games with Columbus.

There have been concerns about Del Bel Belluzs strength and his skating, but he showed significant improvement after skating last summer with fitness expert Gary Roberts, a former NHL player.

Del Bel Belluz plans to work with Roberts and several other NHL players this coming summer.

An NHL career is well within his grasp.

Aaron Portzline Advertisement Dallas Stars Martino, a third-round pick in 2021, started his senior season at Clarkson with a pedestrian 9 points in his first 15 games.

But the winger exploded for 42 points over his last 24 games, finishing the season with 25 goals and 26 assists in 39 games (after scoring 25 goals in his first three seasons combined).

He was sixth in the NCAA in scoring, ahead of the likes of Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.

Martino signed an entry-level deal with the Stars on March 24, a deal that will start in the fall.

Mark Lazerus Detroit Red Wings Expectations were high for Sandin Pellikka after a standout season in the SHL a year ago, but he met them anyway, posting one of the most productive seasons for a junior defenseman in the leagues history and playing a major role on a playoff team.

He also repeated as the best defenseman at the World Juniors.

Once his season ends, all eyes will be on a jump to North America, and whether Sandin Pellikka will go straight to Detroit or spend time with AHL Grand Rapids.

Max Bultman Edmonton Oilers Matt Savoie and Sam OReilly have arguably managed the two best seasons among Oilers prospects, so lets go elsewhere since theyre Nos.

1 and 2 in the pipeline.

Jonsson (158th pick, 2022) had whats being viewed within the organization as a remarkable campaign.

He posted a .922 save percentage for BIK Karlskoga, which earned him top goalie honors in the Allsvenskan.

Thats quite the accomplishment for a 21-year-old in Swedens second-best league.

The 6-foot-5 Jonsson is now pushing Eemil Vinni for the distinction as Edmontons best goalie prospect behind current organizational No.

3 Olivier Rodrigue.

Daniel Nugent-Bowman Florida Panthers When it comes to the prospect pool, the all-in, all-the-time Panthers will take any positive signs they can get, and Devines development over the past two seasons with Denver (40 goals, 73 assists in 87 games) certainly qualifies.

Hes become a well-rounded offensive player, and he could well wind up as a solid complementary NHL piece.

Not bad for a guy who was taken at No.

221 in 2022.

Sean Gentille Los Angeles Kings With apologies to Liam Greentree, whos had a monster OHL season, the 19-year-old Slukynsky is at least a rival to Carter George as L.A.s goalie of the future.

Slukynsky was a fourth-round draft selection in 2023.

Slukynsky, a freshman at Western Michigan, has backstopped the program to its first NCAA Frozen Four.

While he split duties with graduate student Cameron Rowe for much of the year, Slukynsky is the backbone of the teams title chase.

Hes posted a 17-5-1 record, 1.92 GAA and .923 save percentage after starring in the USHL.

Eric Stephens Minnesota Wild The easy answer would be Zeev Buium, the Wilds top prospect and Hobey Baker finalist who is expected to jump to the NHL after the Frozen Four.

Hunter Haight has been impressive with 19 goals in his first pro season, too.

But Stramels year with Michigan State was the most promising considering his previous struggles at Wisconsin.

The transfer last summer paid off, with Stramel playing a first-line role on one of the countrys top teams.

He regained his confidence and identity as a player.

Stramel is returning to MSU for his senior year, but this was a great step in his development.

Joe Smith Montreal Canadiens Kapanen, 21, broke camp with the Canadiens but, after limited usage through 12 games, was loaned to Timra IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he played under former longtime NHLer Olli Jokinen.

And he played a ton.

There were 39 U22 players to play at least 30 games in the SHL this season, and of that group, Kapanen was by far the most efficient scorer with 35 points in 36 games.

In fact, he would still be the leader in points per game if you upped the age limit to U24, and he was second among U25 players in the league.

Kapanen was recalled by the Canadiens on Wednesday and should get an opportunity to help in their late playoff push.

Arpon Basu Advertisement Nashville Predators The 20-year-old and 2023 first-round pick stayed on a trajectory that gives him a strong chance to be in Nashvilles 2025-26 opening-day lineup.

He was named a WHL All-Star after collecting 47 points and finishing with a plus-25 rating in 49 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

He provides hope for what has become a subpar Predators defense corps.

Joe Rexrode New Jersey Devils Casey, who played college hockey in Michigan, made his pro debut this season and made the Devils roster out of camp.

He is currently with the NHL club, though hes only played 10 games with New Jersey this season.

Hes had four goals and five points in those 10 games, plus another 18 points in 30 AHL games.

Thats all encouraging for a 21-year-old defenseman who was a second-round pick in 2022.

Peter Baugh New York Islanders Youre going to be scrutinized when youre the only first-round pick the team has made since 2019.

Eiserman has not just lived up to the hype, hes welcomed it an exuberant freshman year at Boston University, with 23 goals in 37 games, plus a key utility role for Team USA at the World Juniors has made everyone around the Islanders eager to see what Eiserman can do in the future.

Arthur Staple New York Rangers Perreault is the Rangers top prospect, and though his numbers at Boston College took a slight dip, he still was one of the premier players in college hockey.

He had 48 points in 37 games with BC, as well as 10 points at the World Juniors.

He made his NHL debut Wednesday, playing 13:38 and was a minus-1.

Drew Fortescue, Perreaults college teammate, could have been another candidate here.

So could Noah Laba, who recently signed out of Colorado College.

Hes finishing the year in the AHL on an amateur tryout.

Peter Baugh Ottawa Senators Halliday has emerged as the Belleville Senators leading point producer in his first full season at the AHL level with 16 goals and 44 points in 63 games.

That came after he earned nine points in seven games in Bellevilles playoff run last year.

A big-bodied presence with untapped potential at the professional level, hes certainly played his way into consideration for a roster spot next season.

Expectations were already high for Carter Yakemchuk next season, but they will now also be for Halliday after this year.

Julian McKenzie Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers believe that the 21-year-old Bump, a fifth-round pick in 2022, could be one of the steals of that years draft.

Bump has led Western Michigan to an appearance in the Frozen Four and was named NCHC Forward of the Year with 23 goals and 47 points in 40 games.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Minnesota native brings some needed size and finish to the Flyers prospect pool, and the club is under the impression hell be ready to turn pro when his sophomore season concludes.

Kevin Kurz The best in the NCHC! Alex Bump is the NCHC Forward of the Year! #BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/rY2eo0YiQn WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) March 20, 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins Murashov entered the season as a very good prospect, but wasnt considered the Penguins best prospect.

That may have changed.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season.

He is 11-1-0 at the AHL level with a .916 save percentage and a 2.63 GAA.

In the ECHL, he went 17-7-1 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.40 GAA.

To say the least, Pittsburgh is very excited about him.

Josh Yohe Advertisement San Jose Sharks The Sharks system is stacked, including Collin Graf, who made the quick leap from standing out in the AHL to holding a regular spot in San Jose, and Luca Cagnoni, an undrafted WHL free-agent defenseman who earned an audition with the big club in his first pro season.

But well go with Dickinson, the No.

11 pick in 2024, who has been one of the best defensemen across junior hockey after leading OHL power London with 91 points in 55 regular-season games.

Hes only in his age-18 season (he turns 19 in June), so itll be interesting to see if he can make the Sharks roster next fall or spend a fourth year in a league hes outgrown.

Eric Stephens Seattle Kraken Catton dominated the WHL (again) in his draft-plus-one season and is poised to make a deep playoff run as the captain of the Spokane Chiefs this spring.

Enormously creative, Catton represented Canada at the World Juniors and looks like a player who could threaten to break camp with the NHL team next fall.

For a team thats short on elite talent, Catton is tracking to be precisely the sort of impact player the club was hoping for when they selected him in the top 10 of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Thomas Drance St.

Louis Blues A week ago, Blues fans wondered if 2022 first-round pick Snuggerud would turn pro or return to the University of Minnesota for his senior season.

They can breathe a sigh of relief after Snuggerud signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club.

He had 24 goals with the Gophers this season (the sixth most in the NCAA), and with Dylan Holloway now week to week with a lower-body injury, hes stepping right into a top-six role with the Blues.

He scored his first point in his second game Thursday.

Jeremy Rutherford Jimmy Snuggerud collects his first NHL point with his dad in attendance! pic.twitter.com/PoK9tVaQKr NHL (@NHL) April 4, 2025 Tampa Bay Lightning Howard took a big step for a second consecutive season under head coach Adam Nightingale at Michigan State University, emerging as one of the top offensive players in college hockey, really working on his game and earning a top-10 finalist nod for the Hobey Baker Award.

Howard now looks well-positioned to begin his pro career.

He projects as a potential top-nine secondary scorer and power-play contributor.

Scott Wheeler Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs prospect pool has been decimated and there are so few players with genuine NHL potential.

Luckily, their most recent first-round pick, Danford, spent this season developing into exactly the type of defender the Leafs currently covet.

His defensive game and skating improved as he took on the added responsibility of being named Oshawa Generals captain.

Danford constantly threw thunderous hits and made intelligent plays with the puck, looking more like a pro by the game.

His offensive numbers dont jump off the page, sure.

But his 6-foot-2 frame does.

And that he paired that frame with an ability to shut down the best opposition forwards this season speaks to his growth.

Joshua Kloke Utah Hockey Club Lavoies promising season paid off with an NHL entry-level contract this week, as the Utahns signed him Wednesday after a breakthrough campaign with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL.

Taken late in the third round of Utahs first draft last June, Lavoie now looks like he should have been a first-rounder.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, hes always had NHL-ready size, but his offense with 55 points in 60 games this season really took off in his draft-plus-one season.

Hes a good skater for his size and projects as a top-four shutdown defenseman, but if the offense keeps improving, he could be even more.

Maybe even the steal of the draft.

James Mirtle We have signed 2024 third round draft choice, defenseman Tomas Lavoie to an entry-level contract.

: https://t.co/LMEn4SwPVm pic.twitter.com/2hWq8pCiFC Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) April 2, 2025 Vancouver Canucks While Jonathan Lekkerimaki was a dominant AHL goal scorer, and Tom Willander thrived in a top pair role at Boston University, Elias Petterssons accelerated development curve and unique profile is the biggest Canucks game changer in their prospect system.

Pettersson is a hulking defensive defender, with exceptional skating ability, deceptive levels of offense and real physical edge in his game.

Hes a throwback shutdown defender, with the skill and speed to fit seamlessly into the contemporary NHL game.

Thats a difficult player type to find, and changes the complexion of what the Canucks blue line can develop into over the next few years.

Thomas Drance Vegas Golden Knights Lindbom is having a brilliant debut season in North America, playing incredibly well behind a struggling Henderson Silver Knights squad.

Despite playing behind a last-place team in the AHL, the 21-year-old has looked composed and impressive all season.

Not only is his .914 save percentage significantly higher than that of his more experienced goalie partner, Akira Schmid (.886), but its the highest by a Silver Knights goaltender since Logan Thompson in 2021-22.

He has elevated himself into the conversation for Vegas goalie of the future.

Jesse Granger Advertisement Washington Capitals Itd be easy to pick Ryan Leonard, who led the NCAA in goals, then jumped into the NHL lineup.

The same goes for Cole Hutson, who starred at Boston University and at the World Juniors.

Our pick, though, is Cristall, a crafty, playmaking winger who produced points at a better rate than anyone else in the CHL, including mega-prospect Gavin McKenna and potential No.

1 pick Michael Misa.

Cristall isnt big, and his skating isnt great, but everything else points to him turning into a top-six player.

Sean Gentille Winnipeg Jets Walton was the 187th player taken in the 2024 draft.

Almost everything hes accomplished since that time makes you wonder how he lasted that long.

The 6-foot-6 forward more than doubled his OHL point production this season, finishing with 92 points in 66 games after posting 43 points in his draft season.

Some of Waltons scoring cooled off down the stretch, with 22 points in his last 25 games, but the smooth skater has been productive for Sudbury early in the OHL playoffs.

Its rare for a forward of his size to possess such a slick offensive toolkit; Walton is doing his best to emulate the greats, watching Tage Thompson clips in his spare time and building his own highlight reel.

Murat Ates (Top photos of Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud: Nick King / Lansing State Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images and Jeff Curry / Imagn Images).

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