For every NHL team, prospects are always coming and going. As they finish off their junior, college careers or make the jump over from their European leagues, they all have the same goal, to someday leave their mark on the NHL. The pressure and attention surrounding these players is magnified if they are going to be a real crucial piece for their respective franchises for years to come.
Related: The NHL’s Top-100 Prospects
Now that we’ve hit the mid-way point of the 2023-24 season, some of the top prospects have kept their title as their team’s top prospect while others have moved on or have been dethroned by another within their system. As with the Top 100 prospects, I will use Corey Pronman’s break down of what constitutes as a prospect.
A prospect is defined as: “A skater no longer qualifies as an NHL prospect if he has played 25 games in the NHL in any campaign, regular season and playoffs combined, or 50 games total; or reaches age 27 by Sept. 15. A goalie no longer qualifies as an NHL prospect if he has played 10 games in the NHL in any campaign, regular season and playoffs combined, or 25 games total; or reaches age 27 by Sept. 15.” (From: “Pronman: 2019-20 NHL Farm System Rankings”).
Related: THW’s Wall-to-Wall Prospect & Draft Coverage
This list will be done alphabetically by team and not by rank. Without further ado, let’s take a look at every team’s top prospect.
Anaheim Ducks: Cutter Gauthier
Previously: Leo Carlsson
Cutter Gauthier is the latest addition to the Anaheim Ducks’ prospect pool, and he immediately shoots to the very top in terms of talent and potential. Gauthier is a 6-foot-2 forward who will be an offensive dynamo in the NHL someday soon. He wins tons of board battles with his size and strength, and then can create chances either with his shot or by using that threat to freeze defenders before passing to an open teammate.
Gauthier played on the wing with the NTDP but has been a center in the NCAA for the past year and a half with Boston College. Considering the Ducks already have Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Trevor Zegras in their top-six forward group, I think it’s likely Gauthier will get a lot of time on the wing in the NHL. He drives play really well and though he can get a little trigger-happy I think Gauthier is destined to be a top-line winger for the Ducks in the near future.
Arizona Coyotes: Conor Geekie
Previously: Logan Cooley
Conor Geekie caught plenty of NHL scouts’ attention during his draft year as a 6-foot-4 center with a respectable two-way game in the WHL. He is competitive and uses his size well against shorter and weaker junior competition, and his playmaking from the perimeter on the power play is likely going to translate to the NHL someday. The projection is tantalizing, but the reason some people are hesitant about Geekie is that his skating is only slightly above average in the WHL, meaning it projects to be average in the NHL at best.
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Mobility has quickly become the most important attribute in the NHL, so the development of his skating will likely be the biggest determinant of his NHL success. Logan Cooley has shown flashes of brilliance early in his rookie season with the Coyotes, but Arizona will still be in need of a second top-six center for the future. Hopefully Geekie can fill that need.
Boston Bruins: Fabian Lysell
Previously: Fabian Lysell
An elite-level skater, Fabian Lysell plays with a great amount of pace and skill. He’s quick, dynamic and always fun to watch when the puck is on his stick. He’s extremely deceptive when setting up his teammates and has a very underrated shot. Lysell spent last year in the AHL where he was excellent for the Providence Bruins, scoring 37 points in 54 games.
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He had a very disappointing showing at the World Juniors for Sweden where he scored zero points in seven games, and that seemed to bruise his confidence a bit as his play in the AHL following the tourney was uninspiring. He has bounced back well this season and I still believe Lysell has a ton of potential.
Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich
Previously: Zach Benson
The Buffalo Sabres were lucky enough to have three selections in the first round of the 2022 Draft, picks nine, 16, and 28. They landed some great prospects with each pick, but my favorite of the bunch, Jiri Kulich, was the last one they selected at 28th overall. Kulich burst onto the scene at the U18 World Junior Championship just before the 2022 Draft where he scored nine goals in just six games.
He is great at finding soft spots in defensive coverage and setting up for a rocket of a one-timer. Most prospects can’t jump straight from the draft and into the AHL, but Kulich has been remarkably successful for the Rochester Americans as a teenager, giving me confidence that he can become a top-six scoring winger in the NHL.
Calgary Flames: Samuel Honzek
Previously: Samuel Honzek
After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek did nothing but impress in his first season in North America. He led the Giants in points per game and was among the top scorers in the WHL at large before suffering an injury at the 2023 WJC with Slovakia.
Honzek has played and succeeded on both special teams and his size and strength have made him too much for opposing defenders to handle on more than a few occasions. He is a great skater, which makes him a pest on the forecheck where he does a lot of damage both with his high motor and his large frame.
Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Nikishin
Previously: Alexander Nikishin
Alexander Nikishin may have been higher on this list if it were clear whether he would ever come across to the NHL, as he recently re-signed with SKA-St. Petersburg of the KHL on a deal that will keep him in Russia at least until the end of the 2024-25 season. Regardless, Nikishin is a remarkable defensive prospect who exploded offensively last season, leading all KHL defenders in scoring. He is a big (6-foot-4) defender with a heavy slap shot and he skates remarkably well for someone of his size.
Nikishin had never shown this level of offensive talent before so I’ll need to see him do it again before I’m confident he can be a great offensive player in the NHL, and then he’ll likely rocket up my rankings into the top-10 range if he is capable of keeping it up. If the Hurricanes are able to convince him to come to play for them in the 2025-26 season, he appears to be a very safe bet to be at least a top-four defender immediately upon arrival.
Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar
Previously: Connor Bedard
Frank Nazar is a great center prospect who was drafted 13th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft despite being 5-foot-9. Typically, NHL general managers are wary of selecting players of Nazar’s size so early in the draft, but his playmaking vision and dynamic skating were enticing enough that the Blackhawks wanted him to be a part of their future.
Nazar will likely provide a ton of value off the rush in the NHL someday as his speed and ability to make smart passes while manipulating defenders’ skates and momentum allows him to create tons of scoring chances. He missed most of last season following offseason surgery, but has bounced back really well this season with the University of Michigan.
Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie
Previously: Calum Ritchie
Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he has glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when he’s on a breakaway. His skills make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results. He has the tools to be a top-6 forward, but his offensive game will need to continue growing as it has so far this season.
The Colorado Avalanche aren’t in the best spot prospect-wise at the moment but Ritchie is still a quality piece who will likely help fill out their depth chart at center in just a few years. The Avs have lost Nazem Kadri, Alex Newhook, and J.T. Compher among other centers in the past year and a half which makes Ritchie’s development as a center all the more important.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Denton Mateychuk
Previously: Adam Fantilli
In just his second full year in the WHL, Denton Mateychuk was named captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Mateychuk is a dynamic offensive defenseman who excels when he is the one with the puck and can control the play from the point. His superb skating allows him to break down opposing defenses before making his move and charging to the middle or making a clever pass to an open teammate. Mateychuk’s production and confidence have only grown since his draft year and he’ll be someone to watch this Spring as the Warriors look poised to go on a deep playoff run after acquiring Matthew Savoie in a trade following the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Dallas Stars: Logan Stankoven
Previously: Logan Stankoven
Logan Stankoven spent last year dominating the WHL to the tune of two-points per game, making him the only player to score at that rate not named Connor Bedard. Stankoven is a fearless competitor who is willing to make tough, physical plays and isn’t shy about throwing his body around either.
He has played full time in the AHL this year for the Texas Stars and has looked dominant once again. Not only is he scoring more than every other top prospect in that league so far this year, he’s actually one of the highest scoring players in the entire league. Stankoven’s offensive skills have translated incredibly well to the pro game and the Dallas Stars are likely going to need to find a spot for him in the lineup very soon.
Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson
Previously: Simon Edvinsson
Simon Edvinsson is one of the most exciting prospects in the hockey world, with nearly limitless potential due to his remarkable size (6-foot-6), mobility (guys his size rarely skate this well), and offensive skill. Edvinsson was an impressive two-way force in the SHL two years ago and made the transition to North America last year where he just missed out on the Red Wings’ opening night lineup.
He looked much more comfortable with the North American game over the course of the season and grew a lot on ice from his NHL pre-season games to the NHL games he played toward the end of the year. The Red Wings haven’t given Edvinsson a chance to stick in the NHL just yet but he’s really close to breaking through and I can’t imagine him spending more time in the AHL than the NHL next season.
Edmonton Oilers: Beau Akey
Previously: Xavier Bourgault
Beau Akey is a right-handed defender who skates well and has a strong point shot. He takes smart routes through the neutral zone in transition and can make a solid outlet pass as well. Akey has enough skill with the puck to make some zone entries all on his own at the OHL level and his shot makes him a real option for his team on the powerplay, not just as the point-man. Akey will need to prove that the offensive side to his game is significant enough to succeed in the NHL, but I think he defends well enough to be a long-time NHLer in a smaller role.
Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich
Previously: Mackie Samoskevich
Mackie Samoskevich had a greatly increased role with the University of Michigan last season and he thrived as a result. His high hockey IQ and excellent puck skills were on display throughout the season, and Samoskevich even made his professional debut at the end of the season, playing nine games with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. He has been great for the Checkers so far this season, sitting second in team scoring at the time of writing.
Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke
Previously: Brandt Clarke
Brandt Clarke boasts some of the best offensive smarts and decision-making with the puck in the prospects world. Selected eighth overall in 2021, Clarke can take control of a shift or lead a rush chance whenever he’s on the ice with his skating and speed. He’s great at identifying the open lanes and attacking with force to take advantage of an opportunity.
After a brief stint with the LA Kings and their AHL affiliate last year, he joined the OHL for one last dance and was, for my money, the best player in the entire league, scoring an absurd 84 points across 43 regular season and playoff games with the Barrie Colts. This season, Clarke has been the best offensive defender in the entire AHL, earning himself a call-up to the NHL in January.
Minnesota Wild: Jesper Wallstedt
Previously: Jesper Wallstedt
Jesper Wallstedt has been considered one of the, if not the best, goaltending prospects in the NHL for several years now, and he finally made the move to North America last season. Wallstedt looks like he’ll become a good starting goaltender in the NHL at least, with the potential to be a true star. After playing really well in the SHL two years ago, Wallstedt finally tried his hand in the AHL where he quickly showed that his talent is legit and that he may be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.
Wallstedt definitely still needs some time to adjust to the different pace of play in North America’s narrower rinks, but luckily for Wallstedt the Wild have Marc-André Fleury under contract for another season and Filip Gustavsson for another three so there’s no need for them to rush Wallstedt into a big role. Obviously the team hasn’t had great goaltending from that pair this year, but Wallstedt’s NHL debut in January suggested that they need to take the patient route with their top prospect.
Montreal Canadiens: Lane Hutson
Previously: David Reinbacher
The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier. Hutson is an elite skater with high-end playmaking instincts. He battles well against larger players and his low center of gravity makes him harder to knock off the puck than you would expect. Hutson sees the ice really well and was dominant offensively as a freshman in the NCAA last year. He’s off to another great start this year and is on pace to be in the Hobey Baker conversation as the best player in the NCAA.
Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov
Previously: Matthew Wood
Yaroslav Askarov has been a known commodity in the prospects world for quite some time now, dating back to his multiple World Junior Championship appearances with Russia. Askarov is an incredibly athletic goaltender who reads plays quite well and has the agility to change his plan of attack multiple times in just a few seconds.
Askarov was really strong in his first season in the AHL last year where he finished with 26 wins and .911 save percentage (SV%). This season, he has been one of the league’s best goalies with a .926 SV% through 19 games. He has even looked very solid in a very small NHL sample size so far this season. The Predators’ net is still Juuse Saros’ for the foreseeable future, but with Kevin Lankinen’s contract expiring this coming offseason, it isn’t hard to imagine Askarov as Saros’ backup as soon as next October.
New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec
Previously: Luke Hughes
It hasn’t taken too long for everyone to see why Simon Nemec was selected second overall in the 2022 Draft. His mature two-way game is head and shoulders above most defensive prospects of the same age, and he has the talent to be a perennial top-four leader for the New Jersey Devils in the near future.
Nemec has already played over 200 games of professional hockey and has shown he can be a reliable defender against grown men. He’s got a lot of offensive talent but won’t be a high-end PP1 type, good thing the Devils don’t need that with Luke Hughes already in the fold. Nemec has been in the NHL for the last few weeks and has looked at home in the Devils’ top-four already considering the injuries to Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton.
New York Islanders: Danny Nelson
Previously: Danny Nelson
Danny Nelson is a fascinating prospect, playing most of his draft season on the second line in the NTDP after spending most of his life as a defenseman. He’s got a big frame (6-foot-3), skates well, and wins lots of puck battles so I think he’ll succeed in the NHL either as a middle-six center because his defensive effort and positioning are solid. Nelson showed flashes of offensive potential last season, and has a big frame that he uses quite well. This season has been a really positive one for Nelson who is second in scoring for the University of Notre Dame with 15 points in his first 20 games.
New York Rangers: Gabe Perreault
Previously: Gabe Perreault
Gabriel Perrault looks like someone who could be a power play specialist at the next level with great skill and smarts in the offensive zone. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes, creative dangles and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. Perreault was one of the most creative and intelligent players in the 2023 Draft and he is great at weaving his way out of trouble when defenders collapse around him, either with a pass or his lightning-quick hands.
Perreault scored at an absurd rate in the NTDP last year, with 132 points in 63 games. That single-season total is higher than any other season in NTDP history, surpassing players like Matthews, Hughes, and Clayton Keller. He’s doing the same thing so far this year, with 30 points in his first 19 games. All Perreault does is put up points so I expect this pick to age extremely well for the Rangers.
Ottawa Senators: Jorian Donovan
Previously: Ridly Greig
The reason the Ottawa Senators’ prospect pool looks so bare is simply because most of their best young players have graduated from this list and into the NHL full-time. If this were a ranking of the best young cores then the Senators would find themselves significantly higher on this list on the backs of players like Jake Sanderson, Ridley Greig and Tim Stutzle.
Regardless, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with what I’ve seen from Jorian Donovan over the past 12 months or so. His defensive game continues to be his strength, keeping good gaps and shutting lots of plays down with an active stick, but he’s been a bigger factor offensively as well and should get a good chance to show what his game is about now that he’s been traded to the Memorial Cup hosts in the Saginaw Spirit.
Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov
Previously: Matvei Michkov
With the graduation of guys like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Connor Bedard, Matvei Michov is the best prospect in the NHL, with an incredible ability to manipulate opposing defenses. He has a great shot, but more often than not he scores goals because he slipped his defender and managed to find the space and time necessary to score a goal. While Bedard scores by shooting a wrister as hard as possible, trying to punch a hole through the goalie, Michkov will outsmart the defense and score by finding holes in coverage.
He looks like an absolute star in the KHL this year, once again being loaned to HK Sochi, one of the league’s bottom teams. I expect he will land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season where he will have the chance to be a real superstar for two years before being eligible to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers and come across to the NHL.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Brayden Yager
Previously: Brayden Yager
Brayden Yager has been talked about in the public scouting sphere for nearly as long as Connor Bedard, being drafted third overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft and winning the CHL Rookie of the Year award two years ago on the back of a remarkable 34-goal, 59-point rookie season. His transition game, defensive play, and wicked wrist shot make him the most important player on his WHL team on many nights. The Penguins have been without a high-end prospect for quite some time and Yager is exactly that.
Yager will likely need another year or two before cracking the Penguins’ lineup, but the hope is that he can be a factor for them before the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin era ends while being an offensive leader for them as the team eventually moves on from their franchise cornerstones. If that works out, he will be able to adjust to the NHL game on the wing and then hopefully he can handle the defensive responsibility of being an NHL center someday.
San Jose Sharks: Will Smith
Previously: Will Smith
Will Smith is an incredibly shifty playmaker who can create high danger plays at will (pun intended) by threading passes through traffic, stickhandling around pressure, or taking a shot of his own. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make great reads and plays at full speed. Smith is so difficult for defenders to pin down because of the way he manipulates defenders’ movements like waiting for them to turn their skates in one direction before darting in the other, and him being a right-handed centerman doesn’t hurt either.
Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright
Previously: Shane Wright
Last year was a strange one for Shane Wright who played for four different teams over the course of the season, the Seattle Kraken, their AHL affiliate the Coachella Valley Fire Birds, the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL and then finally he captained the gold-medal winning Team Canada at the World Junior Championship.
Wright’s biggest obstacles last year was the NHL/CHL agreement that made it so he couldn’t play in the AHL full-time as well as Seattle’s sudden emergence as a great NHL team which made it difficult for them to parcel out significant ice-time to him. Wright was clearly too good for the OHL last year and will hope to earn a role in the NHL at training camp this September.
St. Louis Blues: Dalibor Dvorsky
Previously: Dalibor Dvorsky
Dalibor Dvorsky was great last season against men playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish professional league. He scored a bit below a half point per game there and spent a few games in the J20 Nationell as well, Sweden’s top junior league, where he showed that he is clearly a step above his age group, scoring over two points per game. Dvorsky’s play in transition leaves something to be desired, but once he’s in the offensive zone his ability to maintain control of the puck, create scoring chances at will and make smart passes at an efficient rate makes him a consistent threat.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Isaac Howard
Previously: Ethan Gauthier
Isaac Howard has incredible skill with the puck and is a really technically-sound skater. He creates a ton of scoring chances and goals for himself due to his agility and skill, and not due to strength or a special shot. Howard’s biggest obstacles when it comes to becoming an NHL winger are his size and lack of power, both in physical battles and when it comes to skating. He’s 5-foot-10, and while he is a skilled skater, he isn’t explosive by any means. I’m still not exactly sure what to make of Howard as a prospect but I wouldn’t bet against anyone with that much skill with the puck so I expect he’ll be an offensively minded, middle-six winger in the NHL someday.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Easton Cowan
Previously: Matthew Knies
The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised the hockey world when they selected Easton Cowan with the 28th pick in the 2023 Draft. He wasn’t seen as a first round candidate by many people, but he has already paid back the Leafs for their belief in him. Cowan is a quick and hardworking winger whose offensive production has skyrocketed in the OHL this season, putting him on pace to nearly double his production from last season in fewer games. The skill and skating were always there, but his ultimate offensive potential was the biggest question. He has gone a long way to putting that question to rest this year so keep an eye on Cowan.
Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Previously: Tom Willander
Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a really tough post-draft season, with multiple unlucky injuries ruining any momentum he seemed to be able to build. That was true all year until the Allsvenskan playoffs where he seemed to finally look like his old self again, scoring 15 points in 15 games. In the offseason he was signed by the Canucks and loaned to the SHL where he has since played with Örebro HK and leads all U20 SHL players in goals and points into the new year.
Lekkerimäki was excellent at the 2024 World Junior Championship for Sweden, scoring seven goals in as many games and winning the award as the tournament’s MVP en-route to a silver medal. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced during the WJC that Lekkerimäki is expected to make the jump to the AHL next season with the Abbotsford Canucks and I think he’ll continue to be Vancouver’s top prospect for some time.
Vegas Golden Knights: David Edstrom
Previously: David Edstrom
David Edstrom is someone who went higher on draft day than most fans expected, but I was a big fan of the pick for Vegas with the last selection in the first round of the 2023 Draft. He’s a big center (6-foot-3) who is incredibly well-rounded and competes very hard. Edstrom isn’t the flashiest player offensively, but he skates well for his size and wins tons of battles, clearing the way for his linemates to produce more offense. I expect he’ll earn time on both special teams units in the NHL, and has some top-six center potential if he continues to grow offensively like he did throughout last seasn. If not, then he has a very safe projection as a good middle-six center.
Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard
Previously: Ryan Leonard
Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably effective in the NHL someday. He has a very versatile skill set and could be a great top-six winger who adds some grit and goalscoring to his line, similar to a Tyler Bertuzzi-type player (or Matthew Tkachuk-lite if you think his offense will really pop in the NHL).
Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert
Previously: Colby Barlow
Brad Lambert is one of the least predictable NHL prospects, alternating between games where he looks like a sure-fire top-six centreman and games where you are left frustrated with his apparent lack of effort. Lambert’s skating ability is elite and gives him a standout skill that will translate to the NHL someday. He also has great puck skills and can make great passes or dekes while at his remarkable top speed. Last season was a positive one for Lambert who looked dominant in WHL play and kept up that success reasonably well in the AHL. Lambert has taken another step forward this year, scoring at roughly a point-per-game pace with the Manitoba Moose and being named to the AHL All-Star Game.
Any prospect decisions that you disagree with? Make sure to leave your comments below!