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Ranking the NHL’s Top Prospect Pools
The 2024-25 NHL season is underway, and it’s time to assess the prospect pipelines of all 32 teams. This ranking evaluates each team’s prospect pool based on the quality and quantity of their young players.
32. Boston Bruins
The Bruins’ prospect pool takes a hit after graduating Matthew Poitras and Mason Lohrei last season. Dean Letourneau, a recent draft pick, joins Fabian Lysell as the only two forwards projected to play in over 200 games.
31. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning’s lack of recent draft picks shows in their prospect pool. Conor Geekie, acquired in the offseason, is their top prospect, with Isaac Howard and Ethan Gauthier expected to become NHL regulars.
30. Edmonton Oilers
Consistently trading away draft picks has left the Oilers with a bare prospect cupboard. However, they’ve added quality players like Matthew Savoie and Roby Jarventie through trade and Sam O’Reilly in the draft.
29. Ottawa Senators
Carter Yakemchuk is the Senators’ top prospect, projected to be a true difference-maker in the NHL. Zack Ostapchuk and Tyler Boucher are expected to become reliable bottom-six players.
28. Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights’ habit of trading prospects and picks has left their pipeline thin. Trevor Connelly, a recent draft pick, has tremendous talent, and Brendan Brisson and Lukas Cormier are expected to become middle-of-the-lineup players.
27. Florida Panthers
The Panthers’ Stanley Cup win means they’ve had to trade away prospects and picks. Mackie Samoskevich graduated to the NHL, leaving a big hole in the pipeline. Justin Sourdif and Jack Devine are expected to become serviceable bottom-six players.
26. New York Islanders
The Islanders’ prospect pool lacked an impact player until Cole Eiserman fell into their laps at the draft. Jesse Pulkkinen was a solid selection, and Calle Odelius and Danny Nelson project to be reliable middle-of-the-lineup players.
25. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins haven’t had a strong prospect pool in two decades, but Owen Pickering and Tristan Broz are expected to become NHL players. Ville Koivunen provides a boost to the pipeline, and Joel Blomqvist offers a good option in goal.
24. Colorado Avalanche
Calum Ritchie is the lone exciting forward prospect, projected to be a middle-six play driver. Sean Behrens and Mikhail Gulyayev are noteworthy prospects, with Gulyayev expected to be an impact defender.
23. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings’ pipeline has taken a hit due to graduations. Liam Greentree is a good addition, and Koehn Zimmer, Francesco Pinelli, Kenny Connors, and Samuel Helenius are expected to become depth players.
22. Dallas Stars
The Stars lack depth in their prospect pool but have a few players expected to play major roles. Lian Bichsel and Emil Hemming are the top names, with Christian Kyrou and Aram Minnetian having chances to play meaningful games.
21. Vancouver Canucks
Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimaki are the prized prospects, with Lekkerimaki representing the best shot for a true impact player. Elias Pettersson and Kirill Kudryavtsev have fair shots to be depth defenders.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan took a leap last season and projects to be a long-term player in the top six. Artur Akhtyamov is a real possibility to be starting in goal for the Leafs in the next few years. Fraser Minten needs another big season to cement himself as a middle-six possibility.
19. New Jersey Devils
The Devils continue to draft well, with Seamus Casey starting the season with the NHL club. Anton Silayev is a great addition to the pool as a big, rangy defender. Arseni Gritsyuk and Lenni Hameenaho have fair NHL projections as middle-of-the-lineup players.
18. Philadelphia Flyers
Cutter Gauthier is gone, and Matvei Michkov is with the big club. Oliver Bonk and Emil Andrae represent a bright future on the Flyers’ blue line. The Flyers have three potential middle-six players in Denver Barkey, Elliot Desnoyers, and Massimo Rizzo.
17. Washington Capitals
The Caps’ pipeline lacks depth but has a few gems. Ryan Leonard is one of the best prospects outside of the NHL and projects to be a long-term player in the top six. Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hendrix Lapierre have shown they can make an impact at the NHL level.
16. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have multiple forward prospects expected to be top-nine impact players. Colby Barlow, Chaz Lucius, and Brayden Yager are projected to be middle-six players. Brad Lambert is a high-risk, high-reward player and projects to play in a secondary scoring role.
15. Calgary Flames
Zayne Parekh leads the way and buoys the Flames’ prospect pool value in a significant way. He’s projected to be a top-pairing offensive dynamo in the NHL. Samuel Honzek, Andrew Basha, and Matvei Gridin all have fairly confident second-line projections.
14. New York Rangers
The Rangers lack depth, but their top prospects are expected to be difference-makers. Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann are both projected to play offensive roles in the middle of the lineup.
13. Nashville Predators
The Predators skyrocketed up the list with their recent draft picks, including Matthew Wood and Tanner Molendyk. Outside of Wood and Molendyk, who have solid NHL projections, the Preds have good depth.
12. St. Louis Blues
The Blues are loaded with NHL forward talent and drafted Adam Jiricek this summer. Dalibor Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud, Zach Dean, and Zachary Bolduc are all expected to contribute offensively at the NHL level.
11. Seattle Kraken
The Kraken have quite a few interesting prospects that are expected to be impactful at the NHL level, led by Berkly Catton. Eduard Sale, Jagger Firkus, Carson Rehkopf, David Goyette, and Jani Nyman all have fair NHL projections in middle-six roles.
10. Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes are routinely in the “winners” conversation after every draft because they pick high-ceiling players with tons of skill. Alexander Nikishin is expected to be a top-pairing defenseman in the next few years, and Scott Morrow projects to be a solid second-pair option.
9. Utah Hockey Club
Utah is in a different spot than their previous life as the Arizona Coyotes. New owners who want to win allow the league’s newest club to leverage their deep prospect pool to acquire impactful NHL players.
8. Chicago Blackhawks
It’s usually helpful when you have back-to-back high lottery picks, and that description fits Chicago. Artyom Levshunov has all the makings of a top-pairing defender, joining Kevin Korchinski as another impact defender in the pipeline.
7. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres use a distinct blend of analytical tools and scouting to approach the draft, and very clearly, approach every pick with the “best player available” mantra.
6. Minnesota Wild
I’m not quite sure what magic potions director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett and his staff are using to consistently extract value out of the draft, but every year they snag two or three players well past where they should be selected.
5. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have been a top drafting team for over a decade, so there is no surprise they remain in the top 5 here.
4. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings, have’t have,
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