Every NHL Team’s Most Underrated Prospect

The NHL has a glut of young, talented skaters and goaltenders that could become NHL stars. However, while most young stars are taken high and forecasted by draft time to become the next great NHL superstar, there are some that are underrated enough to become an afterthought in the draft process. Here is every team’s most underrated prospect in 2026-27. Any prospect that was selected with pick no. 100 or later and doesn’t have 100 NHL games under his belt applies.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks – Brady Turko

Turko was taken with the 200th pick of the 2025 NHL Draft; he was passed up because of his age. He is about to turn 19 this season, and he’s a perfect breakout candidate for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Last season, he scored 18 goals and had 18 assists in 66 games after a seven-goal, 19-point season in 2024-25. With the departures of Luke Mistelbacher, Joby Baumuller, Jordan Gavin and Nicholas Johnson, there’s a much bigger role in play for him, and he could approach a point-per-game pace in the WHL. For just a 19-year-old, Turko could really pay off for Anaheim.

Calgary Flames – Ethan Wyttenbach

Wyttenbach could be one of the best draft steals of the 2020s. Selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, he looks like he could be a contributor for the Flames in the next few seasons.

That’s due to him scoring 59 points in 40 games as a freshman for Quinnipiac University in the 2025-26 season. That led the entire NCAA among freshmen, and he was a top-10 Hobey Baker finalist, which is insane for a fifth-round pick.

He also had eight points in four games for the U.S. at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase. With the Flames having a glut of great prospects picked outside the lottery, Wyttenbach could make a big impact.

There’s obvious concern about his size, at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but he’s blazing his own trail to be an everyday NHLer. I’m excited for his sophomore season at Quinnipiac.

Edmonton Oilers – David Lewandowski

Quinn Hutson is the best prospect the Oilers have who didn’t get drafted in the top 100. He somehow went undrafted despite recording 50 points in 38 games for Boston University and having genealogy on his side. Two of his brothers (Lane Hutson, Cole Hutson) are already star NHL defensemen (Lane) or look to be in the future (Cole).

However, Hutson has finally gotten his due after earning an insane 63 points in 67 games for the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Bakersfield Condors. He is now considered one of the best prospects in Edmonton’s prospect pool.

The choice now is Lewandowski. The 19-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, a pick the Oilers acquired to get rid of Evander Kane. That could come back to bite the Vancouver Canucks in the future.

Lewandowski scored 17 goals and notched 48 assists in 57 games for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, and he earned nine playoff points in 11 playoff games. He made his AHL debut and should stay there for at least a season, but the Condors are a solid development place, and he could see his ice time increase. If he’s put on a pairing with Seth Griffith, like Hutson, he could surprise.

Los Angeles Kings – Petteri Rimpinen

Rimpinen was drafted as a 19-year-old by the Kings, but the 2025 fifth-round pick continues to cement himself as one of the NHL’s best goaltender prospects.

He is shining in the Liiga, Finland’s best hockey league. This past season, he had a sparkling .911 save percentage (SV%) and just 2.29 goals-against average (GAA) for Kiekko-Espoo. His playoff numbers took a step back, with an .892 SV%, but he still had a 2.43 GAA.

At the 2026 World Junior Championship, he had the second-most saves for Finland, with 149, and although he had an .871 SV%, he was a shootout away from leading Finland to either a silver or gold medal. Kings fans will look to Carter George as their goaltender of the future, but Rimpinen deserves some credit too.

San Jose Sharks – Luca Cagnoni

The Sharks are blessed with an unfair prospect pool, and they added to it with several defensemen in last year’s NHL draft. Adding Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin to a defensive prospect pool with Sam Dickinson is ridiculous.

However, I feel like Luca Cagnoni is getting overlooked as a difference-maker in that defense core. Cagnoni has shown solid offensive upside over his past two seasons in the AHL, with 24 goals and 71 assists in 131 games.

However, he’s seen just nine games of action in the NHL so far. I hope he gets more NHL time this season; he’s great at moving the puck and skating, and he loves shooting. Unfortunately, along with the prospects on defense, San Jose invested a lot of money into two NHL defensemen, with Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse putting on Sharks jerseys this offseason. I think Cagnoni should be a full-time NHLer this season, be it with San Jose or elsewhere.

Seattle Kraken – Tyson Jugnauth

Tyson Jugnauth barely made the cutoff, getting selected with the 100th pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Glad he does, because there is so much to talk about with his game.

Jugnauth has had quite the ascension since 2024-25. In his final season with the WHL, he scored 13 goals and had 76 assists in 65 games, and the Kraken signed him to an entry-level contract as a reward. The AHL would be a test of his mettle, people thought.

Welp, in his first AHL season, Jugnauth led all Coachella Valley Firebirds in points this past season, with nine goals and 36 assists in 72 games. It was first among all rookie defensemen, and that should be enough to get him to the NHL to make his debut. He is now a legitimate AHL producer, and with the Kraken’s core starting to transition, Jugnauth could become an NHLer in the future.

Vancouver Canucks – Riley Patterson

The Canucks have a rich prospect pool, especially at center, with Caleb Malhotra, Liam Ohgren, and Braeden Cootes highlighting their deep pool. However, Patterson, drafted 125th overall in 2024, could be a contributor as well.

Patterson made a year three leap in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with 40 goals and 44 assists in 60 games for the Niagara IceDogs, which led the team. He’s always been a solid goal-scorer, but he took it to a whole new level last season, making moves to the paint that very few his age do.

In four AHL games, he had a goal and an assist. He’ll get an extended look in the AHL, and Canucks fans should be excited about what he can bring. Defensively, he’s still a question mark, but his major offensive breakout could pave his way into the NHL.

Vegas Golden Knights – Tuomas Uronen

The Golden Knights keep prospects as often as Halley’s Comet, but if they decide to keep at least someone in their prospect pool, Tuomas Uronen could be a star for them in the future.

Selected 192nd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, he made his AHL debut after a 90-point season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs in 2024-25. He held up well, with 20 points in 57 games for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.

He has a great shot and release, and he should improve his offensive capabilities in the AHL this season. It could be with a new team, but Vegas would be wise to see it through on him.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks – Alexander Ivanov

The Blackhawks also have a deep prospect pool, but they’ve used top draft picks to build it. Guys like Connor Bedard and Anton Frondell were selected with top-five picks, and most of the Blackhawks’ better prospects were drafted either in the first or second round.

I decided to go with Alexander Ivanov. The Russian-born defenseman was taken 194th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s a physically mature, well-rounded defenseman, but he’s a master of none. The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) will help him mature and develop, and even if the stats don’t show it, he could mature and develop into a solid defensive defenseman.

Colorado Avalanche – Shawn Carrier

The Avalanche have a pretty weak prospect pool thanks to the Nazem Kadri and Brock Nelson trades. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any intriguing options drafted in the later rounds over the years.

I went with Shawn Carrier, who was selected 195th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s coming off a 37-goal, 65-point season in 61 games with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He’ll return to Halifax for his 2026-27 season before going to Boston University.

At 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, he has a lot of competitive fire and a great net-front presence. Time will tell with him, but if he breaks out, he could be one of those “How did he go so late?” kind of players.

Dallas Stars – Ryan Brown

The Stars are another team that finds success off of draft steals. They’ve only had one top 10 pick in the last 10 drafts, and their propensity is to find players in the late first round (Jake Oettinger, Mavrik Bourque, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley) and early second round (Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Logan Stankoven).

However, a few later-round picks could contribute to the Stars in the future, such as Ryan Brown. He was drafted 155th overall in 2026 despite getting 63 points in 67 OHL games. His production took off after a midseason trade from the Sarnia Sting to the London Knights, earning 40 points in just 33 games.

Brown is just 18 as well, not turning 19 until October. He committed to Ohio State University, so he should face better competition this season. Guys like Jasper Kuhta, Brandon Gorzynski, and Jaxon Fuder deserve a shoutout too, but there’s no one drafted as low as Brown who has as good offensive upside or as young as him.

Minnesota Wild – Aron Kiviharju

The Wild have a ton of late-round picks at the top of their prospect pool: Adam Benák and David Spacek could be key contributors for the Wild in the future. However, there’s one skater who’s not only underrated on the Wild but also underrated across the entire NHL during the draft: Aron Kiviharju.

Kiviharju was once deemed a highly touted prospect, ranking 8th among all international skaters, but he fell to the 122nd pick in 2024 because of his size and concerns about his development.

Now, he’s holding his own at Liiga. The defenseman had 17 points in 48 games for HIFK Helinski in the Liiga last season. At the World Juniors, he notched five assists in six games. Those aren’t amazing numbers, but the talent he once showed is still there.

Nashville Predators – Aiden Fink

As a Nashville Predators writer, I’ve seen plenty of hype surrounding a lot of names in their organization, from Brady Martin’s hard-checking abilities to Tommy Bleyl’s speed to Wyatt Cullen’s playmaking abilities. However, I still don’t hear a lot of hype around Aiden Fink, and that’s a shame.

Fink was infamously drafted with the last pick of David Poile’s tenure, selected No. 218 in the 2023 NHL Draft. He could’ve been a third-round pick, but he fell all the way to the seventh due to his size, standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 160 pounds.

However, he just keeps scoring. His best campaign was in 2024-25, when he racked up 53 points in 40 games at Penn State and earned votes for the Hobey Baker. When Gavin McKenna went to Penn State in 2025-26, Fink held steady, with 38 points in 30 games. That earned him a spot in the AHL, where he scored three goals and notched seven assists through six games.

Out of all the prospects on Nashville’s roster, I think Fink has a decent shot at making the NHL roster, yet he still hasn’t gotten his roses.

St. Louis Blues – Love Harenstam

Harenstam had a strange season in 2025-26. Drafted 101st overall in 2024, he didn’t play in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) after 20 games there the previous season. Instead, he was part of the Swedish 1st Division Hockey League with Södertälje SK.

He put the team on his back. Their leading scorer had just 35 points through 51 games, and yet Harenstam had a .919 SV% and 1.81 GAA. Those numbers are absurd for a 19-year-old. However, he might’ve been more impressive at the 2026 WJC. In seven games, he had a .910 SV% and 2.43 GAA, helping Sweden win the gold.

Utah Mammoth – Gabe Smith

Smith exploded onto the scene last season with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. The 2024 fourth-rounder went from 39 points in 52 games in 2024-25 to 77 points in 60 games this season. He was even better in the playoffs, with 33 points in 21 games.

Smith signed an entry-level contract with the Utah Mammoth, so he should enter the AHL this season. It’ll be interesting to see how he performs with the call-up. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound skater broke out at the perfect time, and he’ll get to show it in the AHL.

Winnipeg Jets – Kevin He

Kevin He is one of the best stories of the NHL. He became the second Chinese-born player to be drafted to the NHL when the Jets took him 109th overall. This past season, he showed he could be more than just a great story. He could be an actual contributor.

This past season in the OHL, between the IceDogs and Flint Firebirds, He earned 39 goals and 38 assists through 60 games. In the playoffs, he added three goals and six assists in six games.

The Jets signed He to an entry-level contract, making him the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract, so he’ll be with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose next season. He’s fast, great in transition, and has a solid shot, so he can be an injection of youth in Winnipeg in the next couple of seasons.

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes – Justin Robidas

Robidas is underrated among prospects for a couple of reasons. He’s 23, so he’s over the age of most prospects, and he’s already played four NHL games, so he’s around NHL status. However, the son of Stéphane Robidas could carve out his own NHL career soon.

He was very good with the AHL Chicago Wolves this past season, with 23 goals and 37 points in 58 games. If it weren’t for Felix Unger Sorum, Robidas would’ve led the team. In the playoffs, he earned seven goals and nine assists in 21 games.

Time will tell if he can carve out a role on the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes, but he should earn more NHL time, and his past few seasons in the AHL have shown that.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Luca Pinelli

Pinelli, drafted 114th overall in 2024, had a very good rookie season in the AHL. The former captain of the Ottawa 67s earned 46 points in 66 games with the Cleveland Monsters, eventually warranting a call-up to the Blue Jackets.

There are a lot of young centers on the Blue Jackets trying to earn some ice time, but Pinelli is energetic and hits hard, which could play well on a bottom-six, at least. There are thoughts that his height (5-foot-9) could be a problem in the NHL, but he plays bigger than his frame, and he plays far more advanced than skaters his age and his height.

New Jersey Devils – Matyas Melovsky

Melovsky was drafted 171st overall by the New Jersey Devils after a great 60-point season through 53 games with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Admittedly, he was far from the leading scorer on the team, but he followed it up with an even better season in 2024-25, with 26 goals and 57 assists through 57 games.

Still, as an over-ager, he would face a big test in the AHL. He emerged into the top nine, and while his totals of 10 goals and 16 assists through 55 games seem modest, it was enough for the Devils to sign him to an entry-level contract. He should get a chance to compete for NHL minutes as soon as his second NHL season.

New York Islanders – Jacob Kvasnicka

Kvasnicka’s rise is a lot similar to Aidan Fink. He was taken 202nd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, partially due to size. Unlike Fink, however, he only had 14 goals in 27 games in the 2024-25 season for the U.S. National Development Team.

However, Kvasnicka’s first season in the WHL was magical with the Penticton Vees. He had 35 goals and 50 assists in 65 regular-season games and eight goals and seven assists through 15 games. That’s a combined 100 points for the season.

Now, he’ll be heading to the University of Minnesota, where the 19-year-old will play his freshman season. Kvasnicka will be playing with Montreal Canadiens prospect L.J. Mooney and Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer. Minnesota should bounce back this season, and Kvasnicka will be a big part of that.

New York Rangers – Brody Lamb

A former Minnesota player makes the list for the other New York City team. Lamb, selected 104th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, has slowly but steadily emerged as someone who could make the NHL.

He was solid in his time at Minnesota, earning 85 points in his final 114 games, which span over three seasons. Those numbers are solid but might not be NHL-worthy. However, he earned a promotion to the AHL, and he ended up scoring four goals and notching five assists through 15 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

It’s a small sample size, but Lamb proved he could hang with grown men in the AHL. The Rangers signed him to an ELC, so he could emerge as a surprise candidate to be on the Rangers’ roster.

Philadelphia Flyers – Noah Powell

Noah Powell is an intriguing story. Drafted 148th overall in the fifth round, he overcame a lifelong hearing impairment to break through to the AHL.

With the Arizona State Sun Devils, he had pretty modest numbers, with seven goals and five assists through 34 games, and his numbers in the AHL haven’t been great either, with four points in 16 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

However, his physicality and size are intriguing. The Flyers drafted him off a 43-goal season with the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Dubuque Fighting Saints. He hasn’t converted that scoring touch, but the Flyers have shown confidence in him to move up anyway. He’ll get another shot in the AHL.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Avery Hayes

Hayes is a true underdog story and an example of what relationships can do for a player. He’s endeared himself to Kyle Dubas, who invited him to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ developmental camp when Hayes was draft-eligible. When Dubas was hired by the Penguins, Hayes went along, as he was signed to an entry-level deal in 2025.

In the 2025-26 season, his third season in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he had 24 goals and 15 assists in just 39 games. He also had three goals and three assists in 15 games in the playoffs as well. That earned him a call-up to the NHL roster, where he racked up five goals in 16 games.

The ceiling with him might be just an energy forward who can occasionally score a goal every now and then. However, it’s very rare for an undrafted guy to even make a roster, so Hayes can very well break the mold too.

Washington Capitals – Tyus Sparks

Sparks, taken 101st in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals, is a fun prospect to watch. He’s a very fast, energetic forward good at killing penalties and quashing pressure in the defensive zone.

Last season, he put up good numbers with the Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs of the WHL, with 28 goals and 37 assists in 69 games. His biggest flaws are in his offensive creativity, but at just 18 years old, he can stay in the WHL for a while and improve his offensive numbers. He’s still young enough to compete at the World Juniors as well.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins – Roberto Henriquez

The Bruins’ prospect pool is kind of top-heavy. Outside of prospects like James Hagens, Will Zellers, and Dean Letourneau, there isn’t a ton of depth on the roster.

Still, a guy like Roberto Henriquez could be an interesting play in the net in the future. Selected 170th in the 2026 NHL Draft, he had a .921 SV% and a 2.22 GAA in 37 games for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.

Buffalo Sabres – Melvin Novotny

Melvin Novotny could be one heck of a steal for the Buffalo Sabres. He was taken 195th in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he already looks like he could overtake his draft stock.

Last season, he transitioned from Swedish hockey to USA hockey, and it went seamlessly. He had an awesome 22 goals and 57 points in 48 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. In the playoffs, he had five goals and 10 assists in 16 games. He committed to the University of Massachusetts, where he will be teammates with Blackhawks prospect Václav Nestrašil.

Detroit Red Wings – Anton Johansson

The Red Wings were infamously good at finding international steals, and Anton Johansson might be the next one. Drafted 105th overall in 2022, Johansson has come a long way, and his final destination could be as an NHL regular.

Over the past two seasons, he’s split time between the SHL and AHL. In 2024-25, he racked up 10 points in 46 SHL games for Leksands IF and five points in 11 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Last season, he upped the ante. He had 17 points in 42 games for Leksands IF and six points in eight games for Grand Rapids. He uses his 6-foot-4 frame well to take up space, and he’s improved his decision-making with the puck recently. I think he could compete for a roster spot this preseason.

Florida Panthers – Sandis Vilmanis

When you win back-to-back Stanley Cups, it’s unlikely you have a great prospect pool. The Panthers didn’t, and they gutted their draft capital and prospect pool even more by trading for Brady Tkachuk and Jacob Markstrom.

However, there are still some prospects who can make an impact, such as Sandis Vilmanis. The Latvian forward has 35 points in 46 AHL contests and five points in 19 NHL games. The Panthers’ forward corps is stacked, but with the departure of Mackie Samoskevich, Vilmanis should have a shot at a roster spot in training camp.

Montreal Canadiens – L.J. Mooney

The Montreal Canadiens have been one of the most well-run organizations under general manager Kent Hughes, with a ton of young superstars and a massive prospect pool. A lot of players can become stars in that prospect pool, but one of them isn’t getting as much attention as the rest.

Mooney has been constantly overlooked due to his stature; not many 5-foot-8 forwards make the NHL, let alone make an impact. He has to do a lot to compensate, and moving from the USHL to the NCAA for the 2025-26 season could’ve hurt his development.

However, Mooney thrived at the University of Minnesota. He racked up seven goals and 23 assists in 34 games, showing more physicality than I’ve seen in years past. He’s still a very good playmaker and puck-mover, and I still believe he can make it work when he gets promoted to the AHL.

Ottawa Senators – Blake Montgomery

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound forward was selected at no. 117 in 2024 by the Senators as a USHL prospect. Ever since then, Montgomery has had an up-and-down journey.

In 2024-25, he had a great season, with 23 goals and 27 assists in 51 games with the OHL champion London Knights. The 2025-26 season, however, was trying, as he fell to just nine goals and eight assists through 38 games at the University of Wisconsin.

He got promoted to the AHL’s Belleville Senators anyway, and he should be a mainstay this season. He has great size, a great shot, and some skill. He should become an NHLer soon, although I’m not sure if it’s anything more than a fourth liner.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Everett Baldwin

The Tampa Bay Lightning don’t have a lot of potential NHL stars in their prospect pool, although that’s what they always lead people to believe. The Lightning are one of the best at developing late-round talents into capable NHL players. Benjamin Rautiainen looks like he could be another one.

However, Baldwin should get some hype too. The 151st pick in the 2025 NHL Draft had his first season in the QMJHL, and he performed great for a defenseman. He had 15 goals and 29 assists through 62 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs. Those tallies were the best among all defensemen on that team, and the Sea Dogs didn’t have much going for them offensively.

Now, he’s off to Providence College, which will be his third team in three seasons. It’ll be interesting to see if he can continue his upward trajectory, but he’s an interesting long-term play for the Lightning.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Miroslav Holinka

Finally, we have the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their prospect pool is mostly carried by Gavin McKenna, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few underrated prospects involved, like Miroslav Holinka.

The 2024 fifth-round pick completed his WHL career last season, putting up 80 points in 59 games. That’s not spectacular for a 20-year-old, but he’s now off to the AHL, where he has done well early on.

Holinka is a better watch on the eye test. He’s a good skater with a great 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, and he’s spectacular at puck control when pressure arises. He’s also sound defensively. With him becoming a full-time AHLer for now, I could see him really popping off and getting his NHL debut in next season.