B/R's Post-2025 NHL Draft Prospect Pool Rankings
No spoilers, but some entries on this prospect pool ranking won't surprise you in the slightest. Like the top spot.
Before we get to that, though: one of my primary observations when ranking prospect pools this year was "Damn, you really live like this?" Often, you expect a team with a not-so-shiny prospect pool to be near the top of the standings—the true contenders. This year, it feels like for more teams than usual that is not the case.
It could be due to trades, it could be due to prospects graduating full-time to the NHL, or it could be prospects not panning out. But whatever the reason, in the latter half of the rankings, it felt less like rankings and more like tiers—groupings of a few teams at a time, good and bad, who have similarly bare cupboards.
Methodology has to balance newly drafted players, guys who got traded to or away from the team, how players have developed over the season, and how we project them to play this season, just to name a few factors. It'll be interesting to see how this shifts across the next year as these players develop further.
For our purposes, we're defining "prospect" as anyone who comes into the 2025-26 season as a rookie or less, with maybe a little fudging if it's just by a couple of games or the games are more spread out.
32. Florida Panthers
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Prospects to Watch: Linus Eriksson, Gracyn Sawchyn, Jack Devine
Analysis:
I get that the Panthers have won the Stanley Cup two years running, and that's a better reason for being at the bottom of our rankings than last year's honoree (the Boston Bruins, who haven't won anything of late). But whew, those cupboards are bare.
Even in bare cupboards, there are crumbs, though, and I did find some guys I liked. All hope is not lost. Jack Devine, a right wing out of the University of Denver, made the jump to the AHL's Charlotte Checkers for a few games after his college season ended last year. Devine has a great motor and his skating is going to be a real asset when he tries to make the AHL. Gracyn Sawchyn is making the move from the Edmonton Oil Kings this season to the AHL, and I expect to see his hockey IQ and drive on full display. And who knows? If the Panthers make a run for it again, maybe one of them will sneak their way onto the roster as a cheap option to round out the roster. No real depth, though.
31. Vancouver Canucks
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Prospects to Watch: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Braeden Cootes, Tom Willander
Analysis:
I am unimpressed with the Vancouver Canucks' prospect pool, because it feels like mostly depth options. Not entirely! And having depth options is good. But that doesn't help you stack up against other prospect pools and it certainly doesn't help you when you're simply not doing well as a team.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki is a fantastic player, and if the Canucks manage not to run him out of town, he's going to be an important piece of the puzzle moving forward. His skill, his shot—the key is going to be giving him something to work with because no prospect is an island. Tom Willander is transitioning to the pros this season from Boston University, and while his game feels tailor-made to translate well to the NHL level, I'm curious to see how that pans out with Vancouver specifically.
New kid Braeden Cootes was actually one of my favorite players in the 2025 Draft, and I caution the Canucks to be very careful about keeping him around and developing him well. He'll be a terrific piece if he isn't hung out to dry.
30. Los Angeles Kings
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Prospects to Watch: Kristian Epperson, Liam Greentree, Henry Brzustewicz
Analysis:
Anyone who follows me knows I love Liam Greentree. 119 points in 64 games? He's the kind of guy that a 19-year-old AHL exception was made for. Unfortunately, by the time it kicks in, he'll be eligible for the AHL anyway.
The rest of the Los Angeles Kings' pool? Not as exciting. Most of their top young guys have made it to the point where they're more pro than prospect. I was thrilled when they took a swing on Kristian Epperson at this year's draft. He looked great alongside Michael Misa for the Saginaw Spirit last season, and he's headed to the University of Denver to play under David Carle this year. Because OHL players can do that now.
Keep an eye on Henry Brzustewicz—I think we're going to see his scoring increase dramatically as opportunities open up for him to rise up the London Knights' depth chart.
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29. Ottawa Senators
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Prospects to Watch: Carter Yakemchuk, Logan Hensler, Leevi Merilainen
Analysis:
The Ottawa Senators impressed me with their run last season, and I would be far more concerned about the state of their prospect pool if they hadn't. It's not great, but there are bright spots.
Logan Hensler will be an asset to their system if given time and patience; I was hard on him this season because I expected more from him, but it isn't easy being a true freshman in college hockey, much less as a defenseman.
Carter Yakemchuk is better. One of my favorite parts of his game is the way he can manipulate opponents, with playmaking close behind. He'll be 20 in September and has played four seasons with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, so I hope the Senators take advantage and send him to the AHL for a new challenge. I'd really love to see how he adapts—I think he'll have a good learning curve.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs
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Prospects to Watch: Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Nick Moldenhauer
Analysis:
The Toronto Maple Leafs simply do not have a good enough prospect pool to be acting the way that they do every year in the playoffs. You're telling me you crash and burn in the postseason and you're getting worse at drafting? Pick a struggle.
Now that I'm done being mean, let me tell you how much I love Ben Danford. The way he thinks the game is so high level, and while I would love to see more consistency in his game, he's got a lot of promise and I can see him being a solid piece of an NHL roster. We'll see if that roster ends up being the Leafs.
Easton Cowan should make his NHL debut this season—at least, if you ask Dale Hunter. And, alright, I think so too. I don't know that I think Cowan is going to stick for the entire season quite yet, because I think he needs an adjustment period. Going from the London Knights, where players never have to struggle, to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who can sometimes struggle more than anything else, but he's on a path that will lead to a long, solid NHL career. His creativity and brain will serve him well, and he's got the quick feet to use those assets at the pro level.
27. Boston Bruins
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Prospects to Watch: James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell
Analysis:
No longer in last place!
The Boston Bruins are moving on up (the prospect rankings, anyway), and James Hagens is the primary reason why. Last year's oft-touted potential number one didn't go number one, and it was the Bruins that benefited.
Which is good, because they're yet another team whose standings position does not coordinate with their prospect cupboard. They listened when we said one needs to improve—for the most part, I thought they did a good job at this year's draft. Hagens brings an elite-level addition to the likes of which the Bruins haven't seen in a while, with his well-rounded skill set and excellent hockey sense.
They also snagged Fraser Minten from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. I'm going to be honest—of the two, my preference is Minten over Easton Cowan (not commentary on who is better, just personal style preference). His skill set makes him a strong addition to the Bruins' prospect pool. I'm also interested to see whether Fabian Lysell sticks at the NHL level this season.
26. Winnipeg Jets
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Prospects to Watch: Brad Lambert, Brayden Yager, Sascha Boumedienne
Analysis:
The Winnipeg Jets ignite some sort of latent agnosticism in me. I don't dislike them, but I also don't have any strong positive feelings toward them. This also applies to their prospect pool.
Brad Lambert is probably on his last go-round with the Jets. I mentioned last year that he may benefit from a new environment and I stand by that, but it would also be gratifying to see him finally put it together at the NHL level in Winnipeg. His dynamic offense once seemed very promising, but the ingredients just haven't come together yet.
The Jets got Brayden Yager from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Rutger McGroarty trade. While I have zero concerns about his shot at a pro level, I am interested in how his overall offense will translate—not whether it will, but in what way. A favorite get of mine for the Jets at this year's draft was Sascha Boumedienne; he has a longer development ramp than some others, but I think he's got staying power too.
25. Edmonton Oilers
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Prospects to Watch: Matthew Savoie, Isaac Howard, Beau Akey
Analysis:
Matthew Savoie puts the Edmonton Oilers a little higher on this list than they would be otherwise, as does the recent acquisition of Isaac Howard. Not really loving what the Oilers have going on otherwise. Both players should, however, end up providing help at the NHL level in the near future, and unless the Oilers' drafting gets significantly better they're going to drop quite a ways down this list. Howard's skating and stickhandling, along with Savoie's motor and hands, push them to the top of this pool.
I am intrigued by what Beau Akey is bringing to the table. The defenseman is expected to spend this season in Bakersfield of the AHL and that's the right call, but I wonder if we see him in the NHL sooner than later. His footwork and anticipation, along with his stick work, makes him a valuable asset in his own end.
24. Vegas Golden Knights
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Prospects to Watch: Matyas Sapovaliv, Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Tuomas Uronen
Analysis:
We're solidly in that tier where I mentioned that I could be swayed to move teams around, and where it's more of a grouping than precise rankings. The Vegas Golden Knights are part of that tier. Much like the Jets, I feel fairly agnostic about most of this group.
Matyas Sapovaliv is a solid playmaker with a good vision, but could stand to improve his mobility. He didn't impress in his first AHL season in terms of offensive numbers, but we give grace to players who are moving continents and leagues. His hockey IQ showed great promise in his own end, and he's trusted below his goal line. That's significant.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak was a player I toyed with ranking in our first round this year, because he kept showing flashes of skill that felt on par with our other first-rounders for me. His shot arsenal, in particular, is impressive, and I love his vision.
23. Dallas Stars
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Prospects to Watch: Mavrik Bourque, Emil Hemming, Lian Bichsel
Analysis:
Move over, Carolina Hurricanes. The Dallas Stars are the new mini-Finland.
It's less true in their system than it is on the NHL roster, but it's still there. Emil Hemming is one who immediately jumps out. The right wing made the move to the Barrie Colts of the OHL last season, and he's played in a U-20 tournament in his home country this summer before showing out at the World Junior Summer Showcase. His work ethic is terrific; I'd like to see his consistency improve.
Lian Bichsel is one where I'm fudging the prospect standard a bit. He's technically played 38 games with the Stars, which puts him past the rookie cutoff. But I don't think we've seen a true stretch of what the defenseman is capable of as an NHL player. I do, however, think that's coming this season. Bichsel's motor and physicality are immediately noticeable, but I also love how he uses his size productively and doesn't just hit simply to hit.
22. Tampa Bay Lightning
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Prospects to Watch: Sam O'Reilly, Ethan Gauthier, Niko Huuhtanen
Analysis:
I had a hard time deciding where to put the Tampa Bay Lightning on this list, but at the end of the day, I like the potential of some of their prospects, even if their pool isn't as deep as I would prefer.
They're still lingering in that no-man's land of recovering from depleting the cupboards to try to contend, but their situation isn't as dire as others.
Conor Geekie and Gage Goncalves don't count as prospects anymore, which did knock them down a bit. Sam O'Reilly was a great acquisition, and I am interested to see what he does with more opportunity for the London Knights this season. His relentless motor and attention to detail are just some of his selling points. Ethan Gauthier is joining the Syracuse Crunch, which will be a good opportunity to gauge how his game translates to the pros. His awareness and puck-moving abilities should help.
21. New York Rangers
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Prospects to Watch: Gabe Perreault, Malcolm Spence, Scott Morrow
Analysis:
The New York Rangers don't have a lot going for them as far as high-end prospects—they need to start drafting smarter and developing better, heavy on the developing better—but I like the ones they do have.
Gabe Perreault already looks like an absolute steal. Between his offensive instincts and his playmaking, he's a phenomenal player. I hope that the Rangers give him time and a consistent stretch to adjust to the NHL.
Malcolm Spence was a great pick in this year's draft, particularly because they got him in the second round. He's headed to the University of Michigan this season from the Erie Otters of the OHL, and I'm excited to see how he adjusts. Scott Morrow was also a great addition this year. He was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes, and with his ability to deceive and embarrass opponents, he's going to be a great addition to the Rangers' blue line with time.
20. Colorado Avalanche
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Prospects to Watch: Gavin Brindley, Ilya Nabokov, Mikhail Gulyayev
Analysis:
Snagging Gavin Brindley was a boost to a Colorado Avalanche prospect pool that had been somewhat depleted in recent years between subpar drafting, trades, and prospects graduating to being considered pros.
Brindley and goaltender Ilya Nabokov, as well as the yet-unproven potential of several others, were what allowed them to be this high up the rankings; without them, the Avalanche would've been far lower. Don't be fooled by Brindley's slow start last season; his motor and tenacity on the forecheck are still key parts of his game. I do think he needs more time in the AHL before he's ready for the big leagues. Thankfully, the Avalanche can give him that.
Nabokov is a confident goaltender, proactive rather than reactive. He signed his entry-level contract with the Avalanche in May, but he likely returns to the KHL for another season. With goaltenders, longer development paths are common, so don't take this as anything other than what it is—giving him time to develop.
19. New Jersey Devils
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Prospects to Watch: Seamus Casey, Benjamin Kevan, Anton Silayev
Analysis:
The New Jersey Devils are about on par with what you'd expect their prospect pool to look like relative to their standings results.
There are solid standouts with depth, but not the most impressive out there. Seamus Casey is a fantastic puck handler, and I'd like to see the defenseman get a solid stretch with the big club to see what he can put together. He struggled a bit at the end of the season last year, but it appeared to just be growing pains as he adjusted to the professional level.
Anton Silayev was selected 10th overall for a reason. His form is fantastic, he's got a wonderful explosiveness to his skating, and he's always willing to activate. Silayev isn't going to let an opponent get away if he can help it. His decision-making has improved somewhat, and I'd love to see that cleaned up further, particularly with regard to taking risks. He's still in the KHL, but I imagine the Devils are hoping that they can lure him over sooner rather than later.
18. Utah Mammoth
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Prospects to Watch: Caleb Desnoyers, Tij Iginla, Dmitri Simashev
Analysis:
It's always interesting to see how a new franchise chooses to shape its prospect pool, particularly when that franchise is in possession of the previous iteration's prospect pool. Do they continue in the same direction? Do they burn it down and start over? It's like getting a new general manager but more intense.
The Utah Mammoth have added some excellent pieces since moving to Utah (RIP Utah Hockey Club). Tij Iginla was a highlight of last year, with his nonstop motor, physicality, and offensive skill set. This year, the standout was Caleb Desnoyers. He's so smart, with excellent details in his game, and his handling skills are magnificent. I hope he continues on his current trajectory in terms of pure skill, but I also hope to see him work on his below-average skating to bolster those offensive skills.
17. Buffalo Sabres
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Prospects to Watch: Radim Mrtka, Konsta Helenius, Brodie Ziemer
Analysis:
If it wasn't for Radim Mrtka and Konsta Helenius, the Buffalo Sabres would plummet in the rankings—a common theme throughout the latter half of these rankings. Things haven't been handled well roster-wise by the Sabres in recent times, and prospects are included in that list. They're just not a good development environment.
Mrtka was an incredibly smart pick, but he needs a long runway with good development. I am not convinced that the Sabres can give that to him. I hope I'm wrong. Helenius looked good with the Rochester Americans last season as he transitioned to North American hockey, and he'll likely start there again this season, but I think he'll be an NHL regular sooner rather than later. His attention to detail is only one reason why.
16. Pittsburgh Penguins
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Prospects to Watch: Rutger McGroarty, Bill Zonnon, Quinn Beauchesne
Analysis:
The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally moving up the prospect pool rankings!
They've been (deservedly) hanging around the bottom tier for a while, but over the last year or so, they've made some incredibly smart drafting moves and added players like Rutger McGroarty via trade. McGroarty got off to a bit of a slow start last season, but even when he wasn't scoring, he was facilitating for teammates and doing all the right little things. He's in a good spot going into this season.
Bill Zonnon was such a smart pick for the Penguins this year (and was part of Kyle Dubas turning two first-round picks into three), and was one of my favorites. He's going back to the QMJHL this fall, where ideally he'll further develop his playmaking and skating mechanics. And another note: getting Quinn Beauchesne at 148 overall is going to look like a genius move if his development is handled right. The Guelph Storm defenseman is still raw, but he's an excellent skater who is all over the ice in the offensive zone.
15. St. Louis Blues
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Prospects to Watch: Dalibor Dvorsky, Justin Carbonneau, Jimmy Snuggerud
Analysis:
It feels like I've been calling Dalibor Dvorsky the top St. Louis Blues prospect for eons, but it's only been a couple of years and time has no meaning.
Dvorsky is a good enough player that he feels like he's been around longer than he has, is the thing. His puck handling skills, his vision, his strength on the puck—the list goes on.
The Blues have had prospects graduate or be traded, so the prospect pool has a slightly different composition than it did last offseason, but the swaps were fairly even. A notable addition this year was their 2025 first-round pick, Justin Carbonneau. Carbonneau is strong on the puck, with solid skating skills and great puck-handling abilities. Jimmy Snuggerud technically still counts as a prospect since he's only played seven NHL games, but watching him, you get the sense that he'll graduate to the pro designation fairly soon.
14. Nashville Predators
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Prospects to Watch: Brady Martin, Teddy Stiga, Ryker Lee
Analysis:
Before this year, the Nashville Predators' prospect pool was much lower in my esteem. And then they added both Brady Martin and Ryker Lee.
Those guys have enough skill between them to significantly bolster the Predators in the standings. Martin is often an unstoppable force, between his physicality and his broad offensive skill set, and he works just as hard off the puck as well. Ryker Lee feels like he came out of nowhere, but his skill set is glaring. Explosive shots, terrific passing—top-end speed is the only thing he's lacking.
Teddy Stiga, last year's 55th pick, is also showing real promise. He was excellent at the World Junior Championships, always in the right place at the right time—especially on the gold medal-winning goal. He moves with a prescience on the ice, like he watched the game tape before the game itself.
13. Detroit Red Wings
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Prospects to Watch: Carter Bear, Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Analysis:
At this year's draft, the Detroit Red Wings got one of my very favorite picks—Carter Bear. In a more overall sense, though, their drafting has been hit or miss for me the last few years. There were some excellent picks, and some head scratchers. But their top picks, in my view, all have a key thing in common: they can create. And that's not a bad place to start from.
Bear's tenacity is unreal, and he's incredibly involved offensively, creating opportunities anywhere he can, on top of that. It's his tenacity that makes him a perfect fit for the Red Wings, but the rest doesn't hurt.
And Axel Sandin-Pellikka already looks like a pro when you watch the little things he does. He'll almost certainly spend time in Grand Rapids of the AHL rather than jumping right to the NHL, but that's a good thing—moving to North American hockey is always an adjustment, although perhaps less than it once was with today's emphasis on smooth skating and mobility.
12. New York Islanders
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Prospects to Watch: Matthew Schaefer, Cole Eiserman, Kashawn Aitcheson
Analysis:
The New York Islanders struck gold when they snagged that first overall pick and decided to select Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer despite him missing the majority of the season. And that was the right call. Schaefer is a phenomenal defender, able to take over a game and impose his will even at his young age. I don't see him being an NHL regular yet, particularly after missing so much time due to injury, but it won't be long.
Forward Cole Eiserman sort of listened when we said, "Hey, round your game out beyond goals", but he's still leaning far too hard on his shot and is missing out on plays he's fully capable of making. I'm hoping we see further improvement in that area this season. Keep an eye on defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson—he isn't afraid to make his presence known, getting in opponents' faces, but he's also quite involved offensively. And he's just fun.
11. Carolina Hurricanes
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Prospects to Watch: Bradly Nadeau, Ivan Ryabkin, Felix Unger Sorum
Analysis:
I'm pretty sure that the Carolina Hurricanes' scouting department knows more about the ins and outs of the best Russian prospects than Russia's governing body for hockey.
Every other Hurricanes pick called at the draft is a Russian name you've never heard before, who, when you go look them up, is some undiscovered raw wunderkind.
Maybe I'm exaggerating just a little, but the thesis at the heart of that exaggeration stands. They're really good at finding value where other teams overlook it.
One such example is a pick from this year, Ivan Ryabkin, who was selected 62nd overall. Ryabkin made the jump to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL mid-season and I briefly had him in our first round rankings. The Carolina Hurricanes clearly kept him high on their list.
Swedish prospect Felix Unger Sorum was a highlight at last year's World Junior Championships (at least for my watching) and he spent last season with the AHL's Chicago Wolves. He'll probably be there this season too, but he may force Carolina's hand.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
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Prospects to Watch: Cayden Lindstrom, Jackson Smith, Luca Marrelli
Analysis:
The Columbus Blue Jackets' depth chart is defense-heavy, but there's value to be found at every position in their prospect pool.
Trading away Gavin Brindley means one less winger, a position they're shorter at than others, but if that's my main quibble, they're doing pretty alright. One I particularly want to point out is defenseman Luca Marrelli, who finished last season with 74 points in 67 OHL games. I'm excited to see how he transitions to the AHL. And at the 2025 draft, they snagged one of my favorite prospects of the year, Jackson Smith (again, a defenseman).
After missing the regular season due to back surgery and his subsequent recovery (though he rejoined the Medicine Hat Tigers for the playoffs), Cayden Lindstrom is headed to Michigan State University, where he'll play with Porter Martone. It's an interesting move—switching to an entirely new development environment after almost a full year away from actual game play—but I think it could be a smart one. The pace of the NCAA season is more suited to sustainable recovery than the WHL schedule.
9. Washington Capitals
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Prospects to Watch: Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Lynden Lakovic
Analysis:
The Washington Capitals aren't going away from the playoffs, but they're also building a really solid prospect pool. And they've been developing their prospects well. I genuinely think they have one of the best development systems out there in terms of how closely aligned their NHL and AHL clubs are. (And perhaps that is what drives their NHL success! Just a thought.)
Ryan Leonard is the top dog here. The man came in on a tear and was immediately welcomed into the team like he'd been part of the crew for years. He'll very likely be an NHL regular this coming season, barring some unforeseen disaster. Andrew Cristall is headed to the Hershey Bears after a 132-point WHL season, and while I think he needs time in the AHL before he's ready for the NHL full-time, I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a call-up option. New draftee Lynden Lakovic is a terrific passer and playmaker. And that's not even talking about the Protas brothers (although I suppose Aliaksi hasn't counted as a prospect in a minute—still a good example of drafting).
8. Minnesota Wild
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Prospects to Watch: Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium, Ryder Ritchie
Analysis:
Until he's an NHL regular (not long from now), the list of top Minnesota Wild prospects will begin with Zeev Buium. Kid's a menace in the best way. His vision, his deception, I could go on forever. The beautiful thing is that the list doesn't end with him. Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, Ryder Ritchie…I could keep going.
Ohgren technically isn't a prospect anymore, since the line is 25 games, and he's played 28 across the last two seasons. But I'm including him anyway. His passing and hockey sense allow him to make things happen every time he steps onto the ice. I want to see what he does with a full NHL season.
Switching gears, Ryder Ritchie is jumping from the Medicine Hat Tigers to Boston University in the NCAA. It's a very mobile offseason for everyone, it seems. Ritchie's playmaking abilities are a highlight of his skill set, and his deception will serve him well in the NCAA game.
7. Anaheim Ducks
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Prospects to Watch: Roger McQueen, Ethan Procyszyn, Emile Guite
Analysis:
The Anaheim Ducks are moving down in my estimation as far as prospect pools go, but they still have a lot of pieces that I like. Take this year's first-rounder, for example. Roger McQueen may have missed the majority of the season, but the Ducks clearly saw very real potential — and so did we. If you'll recall, we didn't really move McQueen down in our rankings despite his long layoff. I'm looking forward to seeing a full season of him and how his offense evolves.
The Ducks have graduated or traded a fair few prospects in recent years (farewell, Carey Terrance, we hardly knew ye), but McQueen is far from the only high-quality duckling in the pond. Emile Guite was a player who intrigued me this season, often nudging at my list, though never quite making it into that top tier. He's still raw, but his positioning and ability to find just the right seam to fire off a pass are appealing indeed.
6. Calgary Flames
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Prospects to Watch: Cole Reschny, Luke Misa, Zayne Parekh
Analysis:
The Calgary Flames have some of my favorite prospects in the league. Zayne Parekh is at the top of that long list, and I don't think that we'll be including him under the prospect designation for too much longer. Parekh came into the NHL at the very end of last season and immediately looked like he'd been playing at the pro level for years. One game is a small sample size and he still needs to prove that he can sustain that level of play for a long stretch, but with his vision and hockey smarts, I don't anticipate it being a problem.
With his details and excellent passing skills, Cole Reschny was a smart pick at this year's draft. The former Victoria Royals forward is headed to the University of North Dakota in the fall, where he'll face a completely different schedule setup and style of play in college hockey. I'm looking forward to seeing how he rises to the challenge. Forward Luke Misa is also moving from the CHL to NCAA, heading to Penn State to join standout prospect Gavin McKenna (2026-eligible).
5. Philadelphia Flyers
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Prospects to Watch: Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, Denver Barkey
Analysis:
Porter Martone was meant to be a Philadelphia Flyer. It may as well have been written in the stars. That being said, I'm glad he's coming into the system after the departure of John Tortorella, because coaching Martone might've been the thing to drive Torts to retirement. Extremely talented player who desperately needs to up his engagement levels versus tough, no-nonsense coach who has no filter? Glad we avoided this.
I like the direction the Flyers' drafting has been going of late. Although I had qualms with how high they drafted Jack Nesbitt this year, their 2025 draft class was solid, and there's depth along with some high-level guys. As for past picks, Jett Luchanko got a look with the big club last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he does again this year—and he's still 18 until the end of August. There's a lot of intelligence and speed ahead of them if they use their prospects correctly.
4. Seattle Kraken
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Prospects to Watch: Berkly Catton, Jake O'Brien, Carson Rehkopf
Analysis:
Sometimes I feel like the best way to describe the Seattle Kraken's drafting of late, particularly with high picks, is "Oops! All Centers". But we also advocate for drafting the best player available, and boy, have the Kraken done that. A particular favorite of mine is Berkly Catton, their 2024 pick, who is an absolute nuisance in the best way and has broken the 100-point mark the last two seasons.
Jake O'Brien, this year's first-rounder, has phenomenal vision and can run a power play like nobody's business. I'd like to see him focus on improving his pace this year, as that will make him even more dangerous. I'm excited to see Carson Rehkopf in Coachella Valley of the AHL this season—his anticipation and ability to read the ice should serve him well as he moves to the next level, and I think we'll see his offense translate well.
3. Chicago Blackhawks
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Prospects to Watch: Oliver Moore, Nick Lardis, Artyom Levshunov
Analysis:
The Chicago Blackhawks still have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league, which is good because their NHL on-ice product simply is not good.
Fortunately, they continue to add smart, solid pieces to both use or deal, so you've got to think they turn it around at some point. Right?
Nick Lardis sure got a lot of press this season, and with good reason. The Brantford Bulldogs right winger finished the season with 117 points in 65 games. He's another for whom I would've advocated to jump to the AHL at 19. Challenge yourself. Lardis reminds me of Chris Kunitz in the specific sense that he has what it takes to complement elite players, but Lardis brings his own skill along with it. I think he would look great with Connor Bedard if given the opportunity.
Artyom Levshunov seems to be on the slow and steady development path for the Blackhawks, which is exactly what should be happening. Once he's ready to be an NHL regular, he is going to provide a mobile, explosive, trustworthy presence on the back end. We'll see how quickly that day comes.
2. Montreal Canadiens
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Prospects to Watch: Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher
Analysis:
The Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks are pretty much on par for me here; either one could be at second or third and I would agree. What put Montreal over the top for me this year was their smart drafting in June. Acquiring L.J. Mooney and Alexander Zharovsky put them in my good books for sure. There are others to watch for now, though; those two are down the road a ways.
Ivan Demidov, man. I forget just how good he is until I see him play again. I fully anticipate Demidov being not just a part of the Habs roster this season, but an important one. He only played two NHL games last season, but the glimpses we got were promising indeed. I also think this is the year we see David Reinbacher take the next step.
1. San Jose Sharks
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Prospects to Watch: Michael Misa, Quentin Musty, Sam Dickinson
Analysis:
Are you surprised that the San Jose Sharks are number one again? With the selection of Michael Misa at second overall in June, the rich just got richer. We'll see if the Sharks manage to parlay that into NHL success, but they're building a core whose pieces complement each other nicely. That's not easy to do. I'm watching with popcorn.
I've talked ad nauseam about how highly I rate Misa. Some others to watch—a few offerings from a very deep pool—include forward Quentin Musty, who has a history of cherry picking and will soon learn he cannot do that at the professional level, and defenseman Sam Dickinson, who is turning pro from the London Knights. Please do not mistake my shade.
I love Musty's skill set. I want nothing more than to see engagement and to see him use that skill set consistently. I genuinely think that if he does, he could make whatever line he's on in San Jose, when he gets there, nigh-on unstoppable.
Dickinson is a question mark for me as well—again, in the good way—because he's got all the best tools, but much like other London Knights prospects, I worry about how he will respond to adversity since that isn't something often faced in the London environment. I'm not trying to be funny; I genuinely think that is detrimental to development. Dickinson could rise to the occasion, or he could flounder. He's got the potential to be an incredible player, and I hope that's the route he takes.
.png?w=480 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
