Top 75 NHL Affiliated Skater Prospects
Trust me when I say this: not everyone on the internet loves to debate prospects. It’s a niche topic that bores some people. But if you’re one of the crazy few (OK, just about any hockey fan) who loves following the game’s young stars, the start of any season is a beautiful time. You’ve got some players fighting for a shot to stay with the big club, while others look to live up to years of hype.
Some stay, and some go home with a chance to try again some other time.
The Calder Trophy race will be wide open this year. Sure, there are some favorites – take a look at the top five rankings below – but there’s no clear-cut No. 1 favorite. You’ve got a mix of high-end rookies with a handful of games to their credit in Owen Power, Matty Beniers and Mason McTavish; high-profile 2022 NHL Draft picks in Juraj Slafkovsky, Shane Wright and Simon Nemec; and others with fantastic pedigrees of their own, such as Cole Perfetti, Kent Johnson and Marco Rossi, fighting for the elusive hardware.
For this exercise, we’re looking at players under 23 and with fewer than 25 NHL games to their credit. If you’re no longer a rookie or too old to really be considered a prospect at this point, you’re not included. Goalies were omitted, too – check out Mike McKenna’s ranking for his top picks.
Don’t get too hung up if you feel your favorite prospect is five spots too low. The difference between, say, 20th to 45th isn’t much. Much of this is projection, a lot is based on progression, and some of it is based on opportunities available to them now and in the future.
With that, here are 75 of the top prospects in the NHL today:
Players 1-10
1. Owen Power, D, 19 (Buffalo Sabres)
Power won’t be eligible as No. 1 for long. After a successful stint to close out 2021-22, Power is ready for big minutes and a shot at the Calder Trophy this season. Mixed in with Rasmus Dahlin, Power should be a big part of Buffalo’s future as the team looks to make its way back to the top of the standings.
2. Matty Beniers, C, 19 (Seattle Kraken)
Beniers, like Power, made an impact late in the season, and now he’s ready for full-time pro duty. Beniers should immediately contend for the No. 1 center role with the Kraken after becoming the team’s first true top prospect. He’s going to put up many points, but his contributions as a two-way center will make him especially valuable.
3. Mason McTavish, C, 19 (Anaheim Ducks)
The Ducks have a solid young core, led by star Trevor Zegras. Add McTavish in the mix, and you’ve got an impressive 1-2 scoring duo. McTavish had one of the best World Junior Championship performances we have ever seen, and the Ducks will look to capture that momentum heading into 2022-23.
4. Jake Sanderson, D, 20 (Ottawa Senators)
Sanderson should help give Thomas Chabot some relief as another defenseman capable of carrying heavy loads. Sanderson had a fantastic NCAA career and does about everything you want from a modern-day defender. Ottawa’s future is looking strong, and Sanderson will be a key piece of the team post-rebuild.
5. Simon Edvinsson, D, 19 (Detroit Red Wings)
Smooth and steady, Edvinsson will give the Red Wings some extra oomph on the back end with Moritz Seider already establishing himself. Edvinsson is a hulking blueliner with tremendous passing and skating abilities, and plays the game at a much higher pace than you’d expect from someone standing at 6-foot-6. Edvinsson isn’t someone you want to mess with, and Detroit’s blueline will be miserable to play against for a long time coming.
6. Luke Hughes, D, 19 (New Jersey Devils)
When Hughes is on his game, he can completely take over. And while most of his post-draft development time has been spent in the NCAA, where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, Hughes was fantastic with USA’s men’s World Championship team last spring. An alternate captain with the University of Michigan, Hughes looks to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL one day – perhaps by the end of his sophomore college campaign.
7. Shane Wright, C, 18 (Seattle Kraken)
After the initial shock of Wright falling to fourth at the 2022 NHL Draft wore off, the focus shifted on Wright’s revenge tour. Wright seemed to look better with every preseason game and should challenge for the second-line center spot right off the bat. Wright is well-rounded, smart and can drive offense – and he has something to prove.
8. Kent Johnson, C/LW, 19 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Fresh off scoring the Golden Goal at the World Junior Championship, Johnson, a high-volume shooter, is ready to go full-time with the Blue Jackets. He looked good in a nine-game run following his NCAA campaign and should fit in with other young faces like Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov. Johnson can play the wing and down the middle, but with the team’s depth at center, he’ll likely see most of his time on the left side. That’s a good thing because he’ll be a perfect setup guy to help generate offensive depth to start before pushing his way up the lineup.
9. Cole Perfetti, C (Winnipeg Jets)
Perfetti was poised for big things before an injury in February cut his season short. So, call it a redo. The Jets have been in the news a lot this year for rumors surrounding the team’s core, but Perfetti enters the picture with high hopes and lethal scoring abilities. He was known more for his ability to put pucks in the net early in his junior career, but his two-game way has taken significant steps to make him more versatile.
10. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, 18 (Montreal Canadiens)
Early on, it feels like Slafkovsky already had to justify his first overall selection by Montreal. It started rocky at the Buffalo Prospects Showcase and he left a lot of room for improvement in early preseason games. But as he got more comfortable under coach Martin St. Louis, Slafkovsky started to look more like the kid that dominated the Olympics. He’ll be one of the top prospects to watch this season, no matter where he spends most of his time.
Players 11-20
11. Logan Cooley, C, 18 (Arizona Coyotes)
The Coyotes stuck to their guns and selected Cooley over Shane Wright with the No. 3 pick in 2022. And it might pay off in a big way – Cooley is creative, innovative, and can play with just about anyone. Cooley is more of an average skater, and his shot leaves room for improvement, but he’s a tremendous passer, does a good job in 1-on-1 situations, and, with the right coaches, should be able to round his game out in the next few years. Cooley has a great base to work with and has the potential to become a star in the desert.
12. Marco Rossi, C, 20 (Minnesota Wild)
A lot has happened since Rossi was taken ninth in 2020, most notably a nearly lost season due to COVID-19 in 2020-21. Rossi looked great in the AHL and deserves a full-time look with the Wild this season. The team can afford to be patient – and it’s good they didn’t rush him last year, despite how talented he is. Rossi should challenge for the Calder Trophy this year if he sticks full-time and should be the team’s No. 1 center in short order.
13. Alexander Holtz, RW, 20 (New Jersey Devils)
Holtz is the prospect with the best shot of the bunch. Not only is his release so quick, but he can do it at full speed, under attack or while standing still. Holtz will get a lot of goals on the power play, and his ability to shoot from just about anywhere makes him so dangerous. His skating needs work and he can be caught slacking a bit away from the puck, but pair him with a good center – the Devils have a few of those – and he’ll be fine.
14. Simon Nemec, D, 18 (New Jersey Devils)
When the Devils passed on Shane Wright with the No. 2 pick, it became clear they liked the maturity in Nemec’s game. He has spent the past few years playing again men, and while he might not be the most creative blueliner, there aren’t many significant weaknesses, either. He likely won’t surprise you with his incredible skill, but he’s a modern-day defender who rarely gets caught making a dumb mistake with the puck.
15. David Jiricek, D, 18 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Blue Jackets fans, rejoice! After Kent Johnson, Jiricek is next on the team’s prospect radar after getting selected sixth overall in 2022. A calm blueliner, Jiricek has a great shot and can quickly go up and down the ice without getting lost. Jiricek will be a minute muncher for years to come.
16. Matthew Savoie, C, 18 (Buffalo Sabres)
Could Savoie become the steal of the first round in 2022? Savoie was projected to go top three the year leading up to the 2022 NHL Draft but slipped to Buffalo at ninth. Undersized at 5-foot-9, Savoie doesn’t let his size prohibit him from being dangerous, instead using his tremendous speed and high-attack nature to cause damage. Savoie had 35 goals and 90 points for the Winnipeg ICE in his first full WHL season, and after a solid pre-season with the Sabres, he’s ready to cause absolute carnage again in junior.
17. Brandt Clarke, D, 19 (Los Angeles Kings)
Clarke has done enough to earn an NHL stint to kick off 2022-23 and, perhaps, find a way to stick around. The offensive defenseman can run a power play, move the puck, join the rush and shoot from just about anywhere. Clarke was Shane Wright’s setup guy growing up, so he knows how to work with quality players.
18. Jack Quinn, LW, 21 (Buffalo Sabres)
Keep a close eye on Quinn, who has to be a darkhorse Calder contender. Quinn had an impressive 26 goals and 61 points as an AHL rookie and had two points in as many NHL games, too. The offensively dominant winger has an NHL-quality shot and doesn’t miss many high-danger scoring opportunities. Buffalo’s in a good spot with Quinn.
19. William Eklund, C, 19 (San Jose Sharks)
Eklund started with the Sharks last season but was returned to Djurgardens and looked solid. The 19-year-old is a hard-working center that plays a strong defensive game and does so many more minor things – net-driving, rush patterns, play foresight – better than most kids his age.
20. Shane Pinto, C, 21 (Ottawa Senators)
Pinto missed all but five games last year with a shoulder injury, but he’s back with a vengeance. His play at the Buffalo Prospect Showcase and in subsequent preseason action with the Senators have left fans thrilled about his talent down the middle. The team already has Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle at center, but Pinto’s arrival gives the team even more scoring weapons deep in the lineup. As the Sens look to the future, that’s huge.
Players 21-30
21. Joakim Kemell, RW, 18 (Nashville Predators)
Kemell is as gifted as they come, scoring-wise. His wrister can cause piercing damage and you never truly know where he’s thinking of shooting it, either. Kemell projects to be a top-six forward that can drive his own chances and thrive on the power play. Hopefully, this works out a bit better than Eeli Tolvanen panned out to be.
22. Dylan Guenther, RW/LW, 19 (Arizona Coyotes)
A favorable salary cap dump trade with the Vancouver Canucks allowed the Yotes to use a freshly acquired pick on Guenther ninth overall in 2021, instantly giving the team one of its top prospects. The dynamic forward had a whopping 45 goals and 91 points in 59 regular season games with the Edmonton Oil Kings last year, helping the team win the league title. Guenther will be a high-volume goal-scorer and is opening the season with the Coyotes.
23. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, 18 (Vancouver Canucks)
Note to defenders: don’t let Lekkerimaki hold onto the puck for too long. He’s an incredibly dangerous scoring forward – highlighted by his 15 points at the U-18 World Championship – with a quick release and tremendous hand speed.
24. Brad Lambert, RW, 18 (Winnipeg Jets)
So, on one hand, Lambert is a high-end talent that shouldn’t have fallen to 30th in the past draft. On the other hand, he can be wildly inconsistent, which led to him falling from a potential top-three pick. When Lambert is on it, he can be unstoppable, and if he can find a way to exceed the lows with the extreme highs, watch out, world.
25. Vitali Kravtsov, RW, 22 (New York Rangers)
Kravtsov has been the subject of trade rumors for a while now after struggling to make the Rangers full-time. He was sent to the KHL last year loan but he’s back and ready to challenge for a top-six spot. Is Kravtsov’s struggles a factor of just not being fully developed, or are his opportunities running out? We’ll see, but there’s still lots of hope here.
26. JJ Peterka, C/LW, 20 (Buffalo Sabres)
Peterka’s first pro season in North America was everything you could ask for. The German forward finished two points shy of a point-per-game run in 70 outings and even got into a pair of showings with the Sabres. Not too shabby for a second-round pick with a bright future in Buffalo’s middle six.
27. Wyatt Johnston, C, 19 (Dallas Stars)
Nobody bounced back in 2021-22 better than Johnston – and that’s because his COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season was limited to just seven games at the U-18 World Championship. Johnston went from a mysterious commodity due to the lost season to leading the CHL with 124 points while obliterating the playoff competition with another 41. What more does Johnston have to prove in the OHL? He’s shaping up to be a fantastic second-line scoring option for the Stars soon and is slated to open the year with the big club.
28. Frank Nazar III, C/RW, 18 (Chicago Blackhawks)
Nazar was an offensive dynamo with the USNTDP last season, and he’s ready for a big season at the University of Michigan. Nazar is a true triple-threat offensive genius, and some scouts pegged him for potential first-line center upside. Like with most college-bound players, it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts to the older competition.
29. Dylan Holloway, C/LW, 20 (Edmonton Oilers)
It’s time for the Hollywood party, OilNation. Holloway was a standout during the pre-season and looks ready to make his mark in Edmonton’s top six after a successful AHL rookie campaign. Holloway is a good setup man, but he’s no stranger to creating offense in close.
30. Logan Stankoven, C/LW/RW, 19 (Dallas Stars)
Stankoven can play anywhere in a forward lineup, including center, where he led the World Junior Championship in faceoff percentage. Stankoven was the CHL’s player of the year after putting a beating on the WHL and his play in Edmonton this summer showed he’s not messing around. He’s only 5-foot-8, but there’s so much skill packed in there.
Players 31-40
31. Fabian Lysell, RW, 19 (Boston Bruins)
Lysell’s transition to North America was a successful one last season, and now he’s ready to take the next step forward with AHL Providence. Lysell is one of the best skaters in the prospect world, and leaving him alone for a shot is the dumbest mistake a defender can make. Lysell should provide scoring depth for a Boston team that needs it in the near future.
32. Kaiden Guhle, D, 20 (Montreal Canadiens)
Guhle is an absolute pain-in-the-you-know-what to have to go 1-on-1 against due to his punishing nature. Standing tall at 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, Guhle’s trademark is his ability to land devastating hits and do whatever it takes to ensure you don’t have the puck. He also has good offensive traits, and with the right coaching and opportunity, there’s much more he can unlock with the Canadiens.
33. Kevin Korchinski, D, 18 (Chicago Blackhawks)
Blackhawks fans love Korchinski, and rightfully so. The seventh overall pick in 2022, Korchinski had just under a point per game in his first full season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds and he’s off to a fantastic start already this year. Korchinski forces opponents to make mistakes because he loves being close to the puck and will do whatever it takes to get it on his stick.
34. Topi Niemela, D, 20 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
An intriguing defenseman to watch, Niemela was the top defenseman at the 2021 World Junior Championship and was a key piece of Finland’s silver medal effort in 2022 (not to mention he nearly scored the game-winner until Mason McTavish pulled off his heroics). Niemela has tremendous speed, is a great passer and likes to join in on the rush, and he already has considerable experience in the top Finnish pro league.
35. Olen Zellweger, D, 19 (Anaheim Ducks)
Zellweger annihilated the competition at the World Junior Championship, showing his value as an offensive-minded defenseman that can run a power play. As expected, Zellweger was sent back to the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where he’ll look to build upon his 78-point campaign from 2021-22. Zellweger was the league’s top defenseman and is line to challenge for that again before turning pro next season.
36. Pavel Mintyukov, D, 18 (Anaheim Ducks)
Mintyukov made the rest of the OHL look silly as a rookie with Saginaw last year. The offensive defenseman can be deceptive with the puck and at a goal per game and more than two points per game already through five OHL outings this year, his destruction is ongoing.
37. Ridly Greig, LW, 20 (Ottawa Senators)
Greig is an absolute buzzsaw, making life miserable for everyone who comes in contact with him. He can shoot, pass, and whip out an eye-popping move seemingly every night. Greig will start the year in the AHL, but he’s not far away from being a bottom-six weapon.
38. Alex Turcotte, C, 21 (Los Angeles Kings)
Turcotte, a third-year pro, will look to take big strides in his game after leaving the University of Wisconsin early in 2020. The 2019 fifth overall pick has great hockey sense, skates well and competes like a workhorse. Question is, where does he fit in LA’s structure?
39. Brennan Othmann, LW, 19 (New York Rangers)
Othmann is already off to an incredible 2022-2023 season. After recording a point per game and taking gold with Canada at the summer World Junior Championship, Othmann was then named most outstanding rookie at Rangers training camp. Add in Othmann’s fantastic OHL campaign with the Flint Firebirds and you’ve got a young forward riding high. He’s back in the OHL and ready to cause significant damage.
40. Cutter Gauthier, C/LW, 18 (Philadelphia Flyers)
If you need something to cheer about this year, Flyers fans, look no further than Gauthier’s transition to the NCAA. The Boston College forward had 65 points with the USNTDP last year and was a crucial part of USA’s silver medal effort at the U-18 World Championship in the spring. Gauthier has a quick shot and drives the net well, but the defensive play is so above the norm for a prospect like Gauthier. There’s so much to like here.
Players 41-50
41. Nicholas Robertson, LW, 21 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Robertson was one of the top scorers during the 2022 pre-season. That’s big, because, despite a good year in the AHL and a 10-game stint with the big club, Robertson missed half the 2021-22 season with a broken leg. He looks quicker, more aggressive and all-around more dangerous. This will be a big year for his development as he hopes to become a full-time NHLer.
42. Thomas Bordeleau, C, 19 (San Jose Sharks)
Bordeleau had a successful end to the NHL season after completing a two-year tenure at the University of Michigan. Mix in a run with USA’s World Championship team and a good run at the World Junior Championship and you’ve got a motivated young center with a ton of playing time under his belt. The Sharks are in a rebuild and Bordeleau is a big part of that.
43. Jake Neighbours, LW, 20 (St. Louis)
Neighbours is about to make his presence known in St. Louis. The deceptive forward has great play-making ability, but has showed some promising scoring habits, too. He can be an absolute fridge at times, making it tough to knock the puck off him.
44. Rutger McGroarty, LW, 18 (Winnipeg Jets)
McGroarty couldn’t be stopped at the U-18s, scoring eight goals and nine points in six games. He’s already looking great with a stacked University of Michigan squad, making nice as a dual-threat forward. McGroarty’s ability to generate offense made him a standout character during the 2022 NHL Draft season and he’s only just getting started.
45. Chaz Lucius, C, 19 (Winnipeg Jets)
Lucius turned pro after a one-year run at the University of Minnesota, where he put up a solid 19 points in 24 games. A high-octane thinker, Lucius does an excellent job of reading plays and getting his teammates set up for a scoring chance. The Jets have some fascinating goal-scoring prospects in Cole Perfetti and Brad Lambert, so throwing a stout playmaker into the mix should help keep the team’s offense spicy.
46. Conor Geekie, C, 18 (Arizona Coyotes)
Standing tall at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, Geekie’s tough to miss out there. The 2022 11th overall pick is intimidating, but it’s his multi-use skills on the power play, penalty kill, in front of the net and on the rush that make him so valuable in just about everything. Geekie has looked great already with the Winnipeg ICE and will continue to be a leader on one of the top teams in the CHL.
47. Marco Kasper, C, 18 (Detroit Red Wings)
Kasper’s SHL rookie season saw him finish with the most points by a U-18 player with 11, and he was a key piece of Austria’s men’s World Championship effort. Kasper is playing more than 15 minutes a night with Rogle this year and has been one of the team’s better players early. Could he make the Red Wings next season? Quite possibly.
48. Liam Ohgren, LW, 18 (Minnesota Wild)
The top forward in the Swedish U-20 league last year, Ohgren’s 33 goals were the best in the league since Victor Backman put up 36 in 2010-11. As a reference, Alexander Holtz, one of the best goal-scoring prospects, had 30 in eight more games when he led the U-20 SuperElit in 2018-19. Ohgren also got into 25 games with Djurgardens, and with the club getting sent down to HockeyAllsvenskan, he should stick with the team all year long.
49. Mavrik Bourque, C, 20 (Dallas Stars)
Bourque’s standout quality is his ability to outthink opponents better than anyone. He’ll rush the puck down the ice, play patient until a defender gets close, and set up someone for a scoring chance. He’s the type of player every team would love to have in a complementary role.
50. Brendan Brisson, C, 20 (Vegas Golden Knights)
The 2021-22 campaign was a special one for Brisson. He won the NCAA title with Michigan after finishing with 42 points, had more than a point per game with the Henderson Silver Knights in seven outings and even scored a pair of goals at the Olympics with USA.
Players 51-60
51. Lukas Cormier, D, 20 (Vegas Golden Knights)
Cormier easily won the QMJHL’s top defenseman award after leading all blueliners with 33 goals and 81 points last season. Add in a key role with Canada’s World Junior Championship team and another season as the QMJHL’s top defensive scorer, and it’s clear just how valuable Cormier is offensive. He’ll get a chance to round his game out more with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL this season.
52. Bobby Brink, RW, 21 (Philadelphia Flyers)
A hip injury will keep Brink out of action for the first half of the season, which is a real shame. Brink had an explosive 2021-22 with 57 NCAA points and a four-assist run in 10 NHL games. Once he recovers from surgery, look for him to make some noise on a team without much to cheer for this year.
53. Danila Yurov, LW/RW, 18 (Minnesota Wild)
If it wasn’t for the uncertainty involving Russia, Yurov wasn’t going to fall to the Wild with the 24th pick in 2022. Yurov had a fantastic season in the MHL and was up for Magnitogorsk’s KHL playoff run last year before going full-time with the big club this year. Yurov makes intelligent decisions with and without the puck and is an excellent forechecker with a nice mix of speed and skill.
54. Lukas Reichel, LW/RW, 20 (Chicago Blackhawks)
Many pegged Reichel to become a full-time NHLer this season. Instead, the Hawks sent him back to Rockford, where he had 57 points in 56 games as a rookie. Reichel had an 11-game run with Chicago with minimum success, but it’s all about getting reps in. And, of course, there’s no rush bringing him up right now given the state of the team.
55. Victor Soderstrom, D, 21 (Arizona Coyotes)
Soderstrom is as competitive as they come. His early career results haven’t been anything to get too excited about, but you can’t count out his effort. It’s time for him to take the next step in his development.
56. Aatu Raty, C, 19 (New York Islanders)
After once being viewed as the top prospect for 2021, Raty fell to 52nd overall to the Islanders. Ever since, he’s been on a revenge tour, putting a beating on the competition at the World Junior Championship and putting up fantastic numbers in Liiga action. He’ll start the season with the Bridgeport Islanders, and it shouldn’t be long until he’s knocking on GM Lou Lamoriello’s door asking for more.
57. Matt Coronato, RW, 19 (Calgary Flames)
A Harvard University forward, Coronato is a versatile asset that can do so much damage with the puck on his stick. He had more than a point per game in the NCAA as a rookie and was huge with USA’s World Junior Championship effort. Coronato continues to make the Flames look smart after they made him the 13th pick in 2021.
58. Philip Broberg, D, 21 (Edmonton Oilers)
If Broberg is going to take the next steps in his hockey development, now is the perfect time. Broberg played in 23 games last year with mixed results but faired better in the AHL. He’ll start the year with the big club in hopes of proving he’s a long-term solution on the blueline, and the Oilers definitely believe in him.
59. Matthew Knies, C/LW, 19 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Few players had the prospect glow-up that Knies did last season. After going 57th to the Leafs out of the USHL, Knies scored a point per game in 33 outings with the University of Minnesota and is already off to a hot start this year. Could the Leafs have found a diamond in the rough?
60. Jagger Firkus, RW, 18 (Seattle Kraken)
Firkus is a scoring machine, and one gets overlooked due to his smaller frame. Firkus was electric with the Moose Jaw Warriors and is already off to a tremendous start again this year. You’re going to be hearing about him a lot moving forward, and it won’t exactly be tough to remember a name like his.
Players 61-70
61. Isaac Howard, LW, 18 (Tampa Bay Lightning)
62. Xavier Bourgault, C, 19 (Edmonton Oilers)
63. Rodion Amirov, LW, 20 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
64. Connor Zary, C, 21 (Calgary)
65. Owen Beck, C, 18 (Montreal)
66. Justin Sourdif, RW/C, 20 (Florida)
67. Ville Heinola, D, 21 (Winnipeg)
68. Sean Behrens, D, 19 (Colorado)
69. Owen Pickering, D, 18 (Pittsburgh)
70. Calle Odelius, D, 18 (New York Islanders)
71. Zachary L’Heureux, LW/C, 19 (Nashville)
72. Jacob Perreault, RW, 20 (Anaheim)
73. Scott Morrow, D, 19 (Carolina)
74. Brock Faber, D, 20 (Minnesota)
75. Kirill Marchenko, RW/LW, 22 (Columbus)
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