Every NHL Team's Most Promising Prospect
With some teams looking to load up with players who can help them immediately for the stretch run and playoffs, others are looking to add prospects who can help them get to the postseason in the near future.
With the March 2 NHL trade deadline as inspiration—and the blockbuster Evander Kane trade as an early example of the kinds of top prospects who can exchange hands in big deals—we look to each team and pick its top player-in-waiting.
Eliminated are those who have already essentially been promoted to the ranks of regular NHLer. We're looking at guys who may have had a cup of coffee in the top league but have yet to carve out a role with their current club on a consistent basis.
A couple of things are obvious: There are plenty of up-and-comers we're excited to see in the coming months and years, and the 2014 draft yielded quite a few future stars.
Click ahead to get things started.
All statistics via NHL.com and HockeyDB.com
Anaheim Ducks: G John Gibson
1 of 30
What he's done: A second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, John Gibson won his first three starts for the Ducks late last season, allowing just four goals against in that span.
He was quickly tagged as a future superstar by media members and fans alike, but an early-season groin injury has slowed his rise to the starter's role. He has a 6-3-2 record, .935 save percentage and 2.07 GAA with the AHL Norfolk Admirals and is 3-2 with a .927 save percentage and 2.36 GAA with the Ducks this year.
Where he's headed: The Ducks can afford the 21-year-old some time to mature his game in the minors while Frederik Andersen—when healthy—and Ilya Bryzgalov carry the load down the stretch in the regular season. He will no doubt be back for the playoffs in case he is needed and is destined to eventually take over the No. 1 job from Andersen.
Arizona Coyotes: C Max Domi
2 of 30
What he's done: The 12th-overall pick at the 2013 NHL Draft has gone on to win top forward honors at the world juniors this year while helping Team Canada win gold, and he scores disgustingly brazen goals like this one with relative ease in the Ontario Hockey League junior ranks.
Max Domi has netted 22 goals and 75 points in 42 games for the London Knights and was recently ranked by TSN's Craig Button as the top prospect affiliated with the NHL.
Where he's headed: He could debut with the Coyotes as early as this year, according to an interview GM Don Maloney gave to Arizona Sports 98.7 FM radio station. With his skills, there's no way he's going back to junior hockey as an over-ager so chances are good the Coyotes will employ him full time next season. The sky is the limit with this kid, who is small and somewhat stocky but has an intensity that fuels his top-end skill.
Boston Bruins: RW David Pastrnak
3 of 30
What he's done: David Pastrnak was looking great with the AHL Providence Bruins this season, so the Boston Bruins continued to find themselves calling him up for support on the wing, where their scoring depth suffered from the loss of Jarome Iginla in free agency.
They ultimately burned the first year of his entry-level contract when he played a 10th game in January. He has five goals and eight points in 18 NHL games and 10 goals and 27 points in 24 AHL contests.
Where he's headed: The Bruins' top pick in the 2014 NHL Draft—25th overall—has adapted well to the North American game, and the Czech Republic product will be a top-six player for the NHL club for years to come.
He's just 18 but finds himself on the top line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci at the moment, and although the team is looking for more help on his wing in case he's not up for the grind of the playoff battle, according to Boston Globe reporter Fluto Shinzawa, he's got a bright future.
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Buffalo Sabres: C Sam Reinhart
4 of 30
What he's done: The second overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft played nine games with the woeful Sabres to start the season before being returned to the junior ranks. A cerebral center, Sam Reinhart had one assist in the NHL and has piled up 13 goals and 43 points in 30 games with the WHL's Kootenay Ice.
He put up 105 points in 60 games for the Ice last year. Reinhart led the world junior tournament in scoring with 11 points.
Where he's headed: To a terrible Sabres team that will be stocked with talent after likely adding either Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid to the squad in the coming draft. Reinhart is a top two-way center of the future and can play big minutes against top opponents once he cracks the roster—likely next season.
Calgary Flames: C Sam Bennett
5 of 30
What he's done: A shoulder injury that required surgery prevented the fourth overall pick from last spring's draft making his NHL debut for the Flames this season, but Sam Bennett showed a ton of aggression and high-level skill with the Kingston Frontenacs last year, putting up 36 goals and 91 points in 57 OHL games.
Where he's headed: When he's deemed fully healthy, chances are he'll be returned to the junior ranks without getting a shot with the Flames. Comments GM Brad Treliving made to Calgary Sun columnist Eric Francis earlier this month seem to validate that, with the team making a playoff charge and an 18-year-old who hasn't played in months not the best of matches. But he'll get a shot to make the rebuilding Flames next season.
Carolina Hurricanes: D Haydn Fleury
6 of 30
What he's done: Although Haydn Fleury was a late cut from the Team Canada world junior squad that came away with the gold medal this year, the 6'3" defenseman has had a strong season with the Red Deer Rebels. His offensive numbers are down from a year ago, but he's provided toughness and stability on the back end while still contributing offensively, especially on the power play.
Where he's headed: The big but speedy blueliner may have a chance to make the Carolina Hurricanes roster next season if the team loses Andrej Sekera to free agency or trade. More seasoning in the juniors wouldn't hurt the 18-year-old, either, with his head coach in Red Deer none other than former NHL bench boss Brent Sutter.
Chicago Blackhawks: C Teuvo Teravainen
7 of 30
What he's done: A first-rounder in 2012, Teuvo Teravainen has two goals and four points in 15 games with the Blackhawks this season. He has also contributed six goals and 23 points in 33 games for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. He led the Jokerit Helsinki team in scoring with 44 points in 49 games as an 18-year-old before heading over to North America last year
Where he's headed: Teravainen is tabbed as the second-line center of the future, and with Brad Richards set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, he could get that chance next season. First, though, he has to continue to grow his game on this side of the Atlantic. The Hawks have sent him back to the AHL for more playing time for that reason, via ESPN.com's Scott Powers.
Colorado Avalanche: G Calvin Pickard
8 of 30
What he's done: The 22-year-old second-round pick from 2010 filled in admirably when starter Semyon Varlamov struggled to find his game and get healthy earlier this season.
Calvin Pickard jumped back and forth from the AHL to the NHL whenever the Avalanche needed a start, and he has a 6-6-3 record with a .936 save percentage and 2.18 goals-against average in the NHL. He owns a 12-8-4 record, .914 save percentage and 2.65 GAA with the Lake Erie Monsters.
Where he's headed: With Varlamov expected to get plenty of work over the rest of the season and Pickard in the AHL to get more playing time, the prospect's NHL future is uncertain for now. Varlamov is only 26, so the best Pickard can hope for in the next year or two is the possibility of a platoon with the current No. 1.
Columbus Blue Jackets: LW Sonny Milano
9 of 30
What he's done: After choosing to leave the NCAA ranks to join the OHL's Plymouth Whalers, Sonny Milano has had a strong debut with 15 goals and 50 points through 34 games.
Where he's headed: The 16th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft is likely going to return to the juniors for another season next year with an already young Blue Jackets roster tough to crack for a 19-year-old who has little experience against older players.
Dallas Stars: RW Brett Ritchie
10 of 30
What he's done: Brett Ritchie was a second-round pick in 2011 and has since established himself as an elite scorer and power forward at the junior ranks, registering a 41-goal season with the Niagara IceDogs in 2012-13.
He made an impression with three goals and four points in his AHL debut later that year and scored 22 goals and 48 points in 68 games for the Texas Stars in his first full pro campaign. This year, he's got 11 goals and 18 points in 23 AHL games and three goals and four points in 10 contests with the Dallas Stars.
Where he's headed: The 21-year-old could find himself in the top six next season. For now, he'll get big minutes in the AHL as long as the rest of the NHL roster stays healthy, suggests Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News.
Detroit Red Wings: RW Teemu Pulkkinen
11 of 30
What he's done: The savvy drafting by the Red Wings staff continued with Teemu Pulkkinen, who was scooped up in the fourth round in 2010. The 23-year-old Finn has adapted quickly to the North American ice, scoring 31 goals in 71 games last year and adding 27 more and 53 points in 41 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins this. He scored his first NHL goal in one of his six games with the Wings this year.
Where he's headed: Pulkkinen leads the AHL in scoring and will likely remain there as long as the Wings are healthy. The team has a lot of depth and tends to bring prospects along slowly as a result of that luxury. He may need at least another year to get on full time in the NHL but could, suggests MLive.com's Peter Wallner, win the AHL MVP honors.
Edmonton Oilers: C Leon Draisaitl
12 of 30
What he's done: Leon Draisaitl was forced into a top forward role with the Edmonton Oilers too quickly, but the team recognized his development would be better served in junior, and he was sent to the Kelowna Rockets to grow his game with big minutes and less pressure. In 37 NHL games, he scored two goals and nine points. In 15 games for the Rockets, he's scored seven times and racked up 20 points.
Where he's headed: The 19-year-old German won't be out of the NHL long. If the Rockets season ends early, he could be back this year. If not, he's likely to rejoin the group next fall.
Florida Panthers: C Vincent Trocheck
13 of 30
What he's done: A third-round pick in 2011, Vincent Trocheck hasn't yet made a big impact with the Panthers, but he's primed for it. The 21-year-old has nine goals and 21 points in 48 NHL games and 20 goals and 55 points in 71 games for the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League.
Where he's headed: The Panthers are getting younger every season. Next year should see the strong two-way player rejoin the team on a more permanent basis.
Los Angeles Kings: C/LW Adrian Kempe
14 of 30
What he's done: The 18-year-old Swedish center is big and physical and perfectly suits the Kings' style of play. Against men in the Swedish Elite League with MODO, Adrian Kempe has four goals and 15 points through 41 games. The totals may not seem impressive, but he's the prototypical Darryl Sutter center.
Where he's headed: With the possibility Jarret Stoll and/or Justin Williams may not be back as impending free agents and the Kings looking at salary-cap difficulties, Kempe may get a chance to prove he belongs in North America and the NHL.
Minnesota Wild: D Matt Dumba
15 of 30
What he's done: Matt Dumba has pushed himself into a part-time role with the Wild this season as a call-up on defense when needed this season. He's played 30 games with a pair of goals and six points. He's more of a steady defensive presence on the back end than an offensive force, but he has shown his potential for points in the AHL this season with 14 in 20 games.
Where he's headed: There's a great deal of depth on the Wild blue line this season, but there are only five under contract for next year. Dumba, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, will be in contention for a top-six role at worst but could be a top-four defenseman if he lives up to his potential as a 21-year-old.
Montreal Canadiens: LW Charles Hudon
16 of 30
What he's done: Charles Hudon has overtaken a handful of Canadiens prospects despite his status as a fifth-round draft pick in 2012. He was one of three players to score hat-tricks for the Western Conference in the AHL All-Star Game this year and sits eighth in league scoring with 41 points through 48 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Where he's headed: The 20-year-old is performing well enough at both ends of the ice to merit a long look in training camp next season. The former QMJHL star has yet to make his NHL debut, but that day is drawing ever closer.
Nashville Predators: C Kevin Fiala
17 of 30
What he's done: Kevin Fiala fared well in the Swiss league against men for the first half of this season, scoring five goals and 14 points in 20 games before being recalled by the Predators to their AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals. Since coming to North America, Fiala has a pair of goals and five points in nine games.
Where he's headed: The 18-year-old is extremely small but Johnny Gaudreau has shown that skilled players who come in small packages can thrive in today's NHL if they have the skill and smarts to avoid taking too many hits. His offensive skills would fit well with coach Peter Laviolette's offensive direction.
New Jersey Devils: C John Quenneville
18 of 30
What he's done: Brandon Wheat Kings center John Quenneville stands out among a thin crop of prospects in New Jersey. The 18-year-old forward has offensive skill—netting 25 goals and 58 points in 61 games last season in the WHL and 16 goals and 35 points through 42 games this year—but boasts a strong responsibility in his own zone as well.
Where he's headed: A number of free-agent departures in the offseason or before the coming trade deadline will mean an opening door for Quenneville, who could also play on the wing to make the transition to the NHL easier.
New York Islanders: D Griffin Reinhart
19 of 30
What he's done: The fourth overall pick in 2012 has played just eight NHL games this season, but his first campaign as a professional is going well. The 21-year-old has 18 points in 34 games for the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Where he's headed: The additions the Islanders made just before the season began shored up their defensive corps and gave more time for Griffin Reinhart to grow his game in the minors. He could be a big part of the playoff run, however, and it's likely he will be a part of the team that heads into the first round. Next year, he could find himself in the top four, especially if impending UFA Johnny Boychuk isn't re-signed.
New York Rangers: LW Anthony Duclair
20 of 30
What he's done: Before joining Team Canada for the gold-medal run through the world junior championship, Anthony Duclair made a strong impression as a speedy but powerful forward with the Rangers, getting himself into the Calder Trophy talk in the initial weeks with a goal and seven points in 18 games before returning to the junior ranks.
Where he's headed: Duclair will almost certainly be back at some point this year, since his first year of eligibility has been burned already. With the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts, he has six goals and 17 points in 13 games. He has the makings of a slick and physical winger in the top six.
Ottawa Senators: C Jean-Gabriel Pageau
21 of 30
What he's done: A fourth-round pick in 2011, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 20 goals in the AHL last season and put up close to point-per-game numbers. This year, he has eight goals and 18 points in 25 games with the Binghamton Senators and five points in 22 games with the NHL Senators.
Where he's headed: Pageau seems to have passed Curtis Lazar in the performance department, and the Senators are giving the 22-year-old every opportunity to show he's deserving of a new deal as an impending restricted free agent. He could fit as a third-line center with plenty of offensive upside.
Philadelphia Flyers: D Travis Sanheim
22 of 30
What he's done: The 18-year-old was a fast riser in the pre-draft rankings last June, and his stock is even higher now after an incredible followup to his breakout junior season. Travis Sanheim has 11 goals and 50 points in 49 games for the WHL Calgary Hitmen this year.
Where he's headed: The Flyers have long been searching for a difference-maker on defense who can put up points but also be a calming presence in his own end. Sanheim fits the bill and may prove to be one of their best homegrown prospects in a long time. He may get a year of seasoning in the AHL next season, which will be his first as a pro, but a good camp could lead to a jump right from junior.
Pittsburgh Penguins: D Derrick Pouliot
23 of 30
What he's done: After racking up 70 points (in 58 games) in his final junior season, Derrick Pouliot has been equally impressive as a professional, earning 23 points in 28 games in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before a recall to fill in for the injured Christian Ehrhoff. With the Pittsburgh team, he's got a goal and three points in 14 contests.
Where he's headed: He's still young and raw, and the Pens have plenty of blue-line depth but Pouliot has a bright future in Pittsburgh and should soon pass players such as Simon Despres on the organization's depth chart. His upside is a top-pairing defenseman and gamebreaker.
San Jose Sharks: C Chris Tierney
24 of 30
What he's done: The second-round pick from 2012 has had a strong start to his first professional season, netting 24 points in 26 games in the AHL between call-ups with the NHL Sharks, where he has gathered six points through 19 games so far.
Where he's headed: It won't be long before Chris Tierney sticks full time in the NHL. He's given the bottom-six forward group some scoring punch and energy that was previously lacking.
St. Louis Blues: C Robby Fabbri
25 of 30
What he's done: Robby Fabbri played well in training camp before an upper body injury derailed his efforts. He also got injured during the world junior tournament. He's been great when healthy, though. The 2014 first-rounder has 18 goals and 38 points in 22 games for the OHL Guelph Storm.
Where he's headed: The Blues have some salary-cap issues that could lead to a trade or two in the offseason, which means the slick center could find some room in the top six with another strong finish to the season and a similar training-camp effort. The team has the luxury of giving prospects time to develop, but Fabbri has jumped formerly high picks such as Ty Rattie in the queue.
Tampa Bay Lightning: G Andrei Vasilevskiy
26 of 30
What he's done: Andrei Vasilevskiy impressed Lightning GM Steve Yzerman so much that he decided to give the 20-year-old Russian—his first-round pick in 2012—the backup role behind Ben Bishop, waiving veteran Evgeni Nabokov in the process.
The 6'3" netminder has a 4-1-1 record with a .932 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average in his limited appearances. He was 14-5-5 with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, with a .919 save percentage and 2.38 GAA.
Where he's headed: At his age, it's a little surprising Vasilevskiy was given a backup role, but at this point in the season, the Lightning can play him enough to keep his development on track.
It's possible they will seek a veteran next year to back up Bishop and keep their future No. 1 in the AHL playing most of the games, but for now, he's a critical insurance policy if Bishop gets hurt like he did just before the playoffs last year. He looks like a future star.
Toronto Maple Leafs: C William Nylander
27 of 30
What he's done: Born in Calgary but raised in Sweden, 18-year-old Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander was leading MODO in scoring as a teenager when he was recalled to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL midway through the season. Even now he sits second with eight goals and 20 points in 21 games overseas. Since joining the Marlies, he has scored a pair of goals and four points in seven contests and is adapting well to North American ice.
Where he's headed: With the Leafs set to enter a total rebuild, the team could give the youngster a look later this season to see how he handles the pace of the play. He's a future top-line winger or center on a new-look team, but they won't rush him despite his status as the top prospect not currently playing for them.
Vancouver Canucks: RW Jake Virtanen
28 of 30
What he's done: Jake Virtanen has established himself as a premier power forward in the junior ranks with the WHL Calgary Hitmen. The first-rounder from last spring hit the point-per-game mark last season, and this year, he has 15 goals and 38 points in 32 games. He helped Team Canada win gold at the world juniors this winter as well.
Where he's headed: Virtanen will have a bright future with the Canucks, who refused to part with him even when looking at adding established young star Evander Kane during recent trade talks. He could get a look with the Sedin Twins or bolster a second line for years to come. The Canucks seem intent on injecting more youth into the lineup, so he'll be given every opportunity to make the jump next fall.
Washington Capitals: D Madison Bowey
29 of 30
What he's done: A second-round pick in 2013, Madison Bowey has been a stud at the junior level for the WHL Kelowna Rockets. The reliable two-way defender is playing at a point-per-game pace this season with 13 goals and 44 points in 41 games. The 19-year-old scored 21 goals and 60 points in 72 games last year. He was also a part of the Team Canada gold at the world juniors this year.
Where he's headed: Depending on what happens with impending free agent Mike Green, Bowey could find himself among those challenging for a prominent role with the Capitals in the next couple of seasons.
Winnipeg Jets: LW Nikolaj Ehlers
30 of 30
What he's done: The Jets have a deep prospect pool and added to it with the recent Evander Kane trade. Nikolaj Ehlers, though, gets the nod because of his creativity with the puck and top-end speed. The Dane has torn apart the QMJHL with Halifax Mooseheads since arriving last year, netting 49 goals and 104 points in 63 games last season and another 28 goals and 72 points in 35 games this year.
Where he's headed: Guys are routinely showing that size and strength aren't necessarily the biggest factors in making the jump to the NHL, but that will be the biggest question mark for the 5'11", 163-pound Ehlers. If he can use his speed and intelligence to avoid a beating, he could be on the Jets' top couple of lines within a year or two.
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