Top 5 most improved NHL prospect pools in 2026-27

Fanbases who support bad NHL teams are a prospect writer’s dream.

We tend to get well-acquainted when a team flat-out stinks. That’s why fans of bottom-feeders tend to love prospect pool rankings – they want something, anything to get them pumped for the future.

We’ve spent the summer looking at every team’s prospect pool, ranking the top 10 players in each pipeline. We’ve also looked at the strengths and weaknesses, which can change year to year depending on how many players get sent to the NHL. The Minnesota Wild, for example, had one of the best pipelines in hockey last year. But after sending five players to the big leagues, their farm system looks extremely thin. That’s something that can be celebrated. They’re clearly using their future assets both to try and win now, but also to acquire important assets, such as trading Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren to Vancouver to land Quinn Hughes.

Today, we’re looking at five of the most improved prospect pools in the NHL. Their placement here is based on DFO’s recent 32-team pipeline ranking, how many positions they improved upon since 2025-26. Some teams needed just a few players to boost their ranking, while others have continued to amass some incredible depth:

5. St. Louis Blues (+8)

2026 Rank: 9th
2025 Rank: 17th

Thanks to some savvy trades and an influx of draft capital, the Blues have built a pipeline worth getting excited about. Betting high on Tynan Lawrence should pay off nicely, even if his draft season hit a few speed bumps. Justin Carbonneau was a brilliant grab in 2025, and Adam Jiříček has steadily become one of the most fascinating defensive prospects in hockey.

While the pool might be light on elite superstar talent (three players make DFO’s top 75 list), the scouting department has clearly done its homework. They’ve successfully targeted every area of need, stocking the system with quality wingers, reliable two-way defenders, and even a few decent goaltenders. This is a group that has both quality and quantity and I’m excited to see what they’re able to accomplish in the long-term (or even target on the trade front, such as the deal that brought Mason McTavish to Missouri).

4. Nashville Predators (+8)

2026 Rank: 4th
2025 Rank: 12th

The Preds had five picks in the first two rounds in 2025 and another two first-rounders this year. Huge glow-ups for 2024 first-round pick Yegor Surin and 2023 second-roudner Felix Nilsson really helped push the needle, too. The team took their big swing on the NHL talent a few summers ago, and, for the most part, it didn’t work. But they’ve also managed to build one of the strongest prospect pools in hockey over the past couple of seasons. There have been some hits and misses, but for the most part, it feels like very few teams have the pure level of depth Nashville has.

You might even see a few of the players reach the NHL on a full-time basis this season, with Brady Martin, Ryan Ufko, and Tanner Molendyk all looking to make their marks sooner rather than later. It’s still going to be difficult for Nashville to become competitive in the short run, but they built an identity on trying to get players who are tough to play against, and I love that for them. Don’t be surprised if Wyatt Cullen ends up looking like a massive steal after going 10th overall, too.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (+9)

2026 Rank: 15th
2025 Rank: 24th

The concept of Toronto landing the first overall pick – and the right to draft a talent like Gavin McKenna – was completely unthinkable a year ago. And yet… welcome to reality. Toronto got a game-changing forward in McKenna at No. 1, and then they followed it up with solid value the rest of the way back in June. And that came after the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, won the Calder Cup, with Artur Akhtyamov and Ben Danford showcasing some serious potential. Big seasons from Tinus Luc Koblar and Harry Nansi elsewhere didn’t hurt, either.

Obviously, McKenna is the biggest reason why Toronto has progressed so quickly on the prospect front. And, honestly, it wasn’t hard to beat what they had – Toronto has routinely fallen flat in our pipeline rankings. They’ve been quite busy on the CHL and NCAA free agent front in recent years, with Bobby McMann being the obvious golden ticket (even though he’s no longer with the organization). Could Toronto strike big again with recent additions like Vincent Borgesi, Brandon Buhr or Luke Haymes? We’ll see. Toronto hasn’t entered a rebuild yet, and with GM John Chayka at the helm, they must think they can compete again. McKenna helps, no doubt about it.

2. Utah Mammoth (+10)

2026 Rank: 5th
2025 Rank: 15th

It’s no secret I love the Mammoth’s pipeline. Utah might be the newest market in the NHL, but I’m starting to think it won’t be long until they’re pushing for a Western Conference berth They’ve got two of the best forwards out of the CHL from last year in Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers, with the pair leading a list of five future Mammoth stars in Daily Faceoff’s top 75 affiliated skater’s list. Sebastian Cossa and Michael Hrabal are two top-end goalie prospects, too.

And, boy! They’ve got an absolutely MASSIVE prospect pool. And I don’t mean strictly on the quantity front – they’ve got five of the top 10 prospects standing 6-foot-5 and taller. GM Bill Armstrong’s handy work has received a ton of love from DFO this summer, and for good reason. They’ve got solid options at every position, and one of the top prospects in the game in Iginla, too. It’s going to be so much fun seeing this group grow.

1. Vancouver Canucks (+18)

2026 Rank: 10th
2025 Rank: 28th

Yeah, the Canucks missed out on the first overall pick after finishing dead last in 2025-26. But with the most improved prospect pool in the game, they’ll be fine. The team is still in the early days of their rebuild, but they’re off to a good start after landing three of their top five prospects by pick No. 33. It wasn’t smooth sailing for all of Vancouver’s pipeline – Jonathan Lekkerimäki definitely lost a bit of shine. But a big season from Braeden Cootes, which included a stint in the NHL, definitely helped.

If there’s one thing the Canucks lack in their prospect pool, it’s a top-end defender. Kirill Kudryavtsev leads the way at No. 7, and Vancouver has only taken one (2026 seventh-rounder Samuel Eriksson) over the past two years. Sawyer Mynio is decent, and I’ve actually liked some of my Parker Alcos and Basile Sansonnens viewings. From the most part, though, there isn’t a ton to love there. But, hey: Vancouver is going to suck again in 2026-27, and Landon DuPont enters the year as the top prospect. If Vancouver can snag him, maybe the post-Quinn Hughes era won’t sting as much.

Just missed out: Calgary Flames (+7), Los Angeles Kings (+6), Detroit Red Wings (+5), Florida Panthers (+5)