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 the 2025-26 NHL season is halfway through, some of the top prospects have kept their title as their team’s top prospect while others have moved on to the NHL 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: Roger McQueen
Previously: Beckett Sennecke
Roger McQueen is a 6-foot-5 center with excellent hands and strong skating. He missed nearly all of his draft season, playing a grand total of just 20 games, as a result of a nagging back injury that he and his camp believes is behind him. In an NHL landscape where each team is looking for the next Tage Thompson, there were a lot of teams interested in McQueen very early on in the 2025 NHL Draft, but ultimately it was the durability question that saw him slide slightly to 10th overall. As you’d expect of a player his size, McQueen is strong around the net physically, and he has uncommon dexterity for a big man. If he reaches anything near his ceiling, then the Ducks have added another excellent forward to their future top-six.
Boston Bruins: James Hagens
Previously: James Hagens
James Hagens is a dynamic skater with a ton of skill, giving him a tool kit that brings to mind recent NTDP stars like Jack Hughes, Logan Cooley, and Will Smith. His edgework is phenomenal, which makes his movements in open ice extremely difficult to anticipate. Hagens uses his edges, as well as subtle fakes, to make defenders miss and burst into space with possession.
Hagens is an excellent playmaker, drawing eyes and bodies to himself before placing a perfect pass on a teammate’s blade. I think he’s also more physical than he gets credit for, working hard in puck battles and not backing down in scrums after the whistle. Being 5-foot-10 certainly didn’t help Hagens’ draft stock with NHL teams, but I think he’s a skilled enough player who skates so well that it won’t be a hindrance to him when he goes pro.
Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka
Previously: Radim Mrtka
Radim Mrtka did himself a big favor at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup a year and a half ago. Mrtka is a massive (6-foot-6), right-shot defender who played huge minutes in all-situations for Czechia in that tournament, helping drive them to a silver medal finish. He is a very natural puck carrier and mover in the offensive zone, walking the blueline better than you’d expect for an 18-year-old of his size. Mrtka made the move to North American last season to join the Seattle Thunderbirds, and has been an absolute two-way work horse for them from the moment he arrived. He was on the first power play unit and the first penalty killing group as well, regularly logging ice times exceeding 30 minutes a night! Mrtka’s defensive potential is sky high given his massive size and strong skating, but his offensive game inspires some confidence as well.
Calgary Flames: Zayne Parekh
Previously: Zayne Parekh
Zayne Parekh has been a really fun player to follow throughout his junior career, constantly involving himself on offense, pinching in along the boards when needed, and creating a ton of chances for himself and his teammates as a result. For my money, he was the most talented offensive creator on the backend in the 2024 Draft, however, Parekh’s defensive game leaves a bit to be desired. He is smart enough to anticipate opposing attackers, and can make good checks with his stick, but the physicality is lacking at this point, which has lead to some struggles in puck battles at the NHL level early in his career.
I do think he’s a solid defender when he’s properly engaged, cutting off passes and angling opponents toward the boards, there’s just some room for growth. Parekh is a remarkable talent, with Quinn Hughes-like offensive upside if things go well, but he’s going to need to either level up his physicality, his defensive anticipation, or both, if he wants to be a star in the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes: Bradly Nadeau
Previously: Alexander Nikishin
Bradly Nadeau had a dominant draft season in the BCHL, with the goals and points accumulating until they were impossible to ignore. He led the league in goals, assists, and points as a 17-year-old. Nadeau’s game translated well to the NCAA, scoring 46 points in 37 games as a freshman before making the leap to the AHL where he excelled, scoring 32 goals and being in the top-20 for league-wide scoring as a 19 year old. He’s got a wicked shot and the speed to be an absolute terror in transition. The only thing standing in the way of Nadeau becoming a goalscoring top-six winger could be his size, standing at 5-foot-10, though his skating and compete level are strong and he plays for one of the few teams in the NHL that isn’t afraid of players under 6-feet.
Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell
Previously: Artyom Levshunov
Anton Frondell is a two-way center who is built for the pro game. His size, shot, and two-way consistency make him a great bet to help steady the top-six forward group for the Chicago Blackhawks down the line. Frondell racked up points at a remarkable rate for his age in the Swedish Allsvenskan last season, and was an integral piece of Djurgårdens’ promotion to the SHL. His international play has been inconsistent over the past few years, but strong league play in excellent professional leagues has earned him lots of attention, and his ability to protect the puck against bigger and older competition will serve him well when he joins the Blackhawks.
Colorado Avalanche: Mikhail Gulyayev
Previously: Calum Ritchie
Mikhail Gulyayev is a great offensive defender who was the talk of the prospect world as a 16 and 17 year old, but hasn’t had much attention lately. Part of that is likely due to his size as a 5-foot-10 defenseman, but I think the larger part is that he never got the chance to display what he could do on the international stage with Russia banned from all IIHF events such as the World Junior Championship.
Gulyayev is an effortless skater with great hockey IQ, making him a dangerous transition rusher and passer. He is approaching 200 games played in the KHL already as a 20-year-old, and I think he’s shown enough of a defensive game that I believe he’ll be able to handle the NHL. He isn’t particularly physical, but his agility and his ability to quickly read a play and take meaningful steps to shut it down is impressive. Gulyayev’s contract with Avangard Omsk ends at the end of this season, so he will be on the Avalanche’s radar as soon as his KHL season finishes.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Cayden Lindstrom
Previously: Cayden Lindstrom
Cayden Lindstrom has been a favorite of mine from the 2024 Draft class going back a few years now. He’s a massive power forward (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who is incredibly quick and difficult to knock off the puck. His size advantage is part of what made him a nearly immovable object in the WHL, but he also has great hands, a strong shot, and really good puck protection instincts.
Lindstrom has missed significant time in two consecutive campaigns due to a back injury, and that missed time has really started to add up. Based on talent, I think Lindstrom could push for the top-10 of this list, but I’m trying to be a bit cautious with his ranking, considering he only played 40 total games in his first two post-draft seasons, with only four of those coming in the 2024-25 season. I sincerely hope he recovers and gets back on track.
Dallas Stars: Cameron Schmidt
Previously: Cameron Schmidt
Cameron Schmidt has been a very polarizing player in the prospect world as a very undersized winger who is a high-end skater with a ton of offensive skill. If he were 6-feet tall he almost certainly would have been in the conversation in the 10-16 range of the 2025 Draft, but coming in at just 5-foot-8, his size was a major reason that he fell late into the third round.
Schmidt will need to outwork much larger opponents if he wants to succeed in the NHL, and he has shown a high enough compete level to be a real menace someday. He has a dangerous shot that allowed him to score 40 goals for the Vancouver Giants last season, something only eight other WHL players managed.
Detroit Red Wings: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
Previously: Axel Sandin Pellikka
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (MBN) is a Norwegian winger who is known for his high work ethic and his shot. He isn’t going to produce a ton of highlight reel plays with his skill, but he works harder than just about anyone all over the ice. Brandsegg-Nygård’s best attribute is his shot, which he gets off quickly and powerfully.
He didn’t score a ton in the SHL last season, though his scoring rate skyrocketed once the playoffs came around, a trend he replicated in a brief AHL debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins. MBN cracked the Red Wings’ opening night lineup and has been excellent in the AHL so far. Detroit has had a great start this season, but they are still in need of players willing to get to the guts of the ice and create offense through grit and power, and thankfully MBN has those qualities in spades.
Edmonton Oilers: Isaac Howard
Previously: Matthew Savoie
After a very disappointing freshman season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Isaac Howard was a leading offensive player in the NCAA for two seasons following his transfer to Michigan State University. Howard is a bit undersized (measures around 5-foot-10/11), but has a strong enough frame that he’s not as easy to knock off of pucks as you might expect.
While he’s a good skater, Howard’s skill is his defining trait, making defenders miss their checks and leaving a lot of opponents reaching in. Howard has had difficulties creating plays for himself at the pro level and Edmonton’s bottom-six isn’t exactly full of high-end players for him to work with. There’s quite a bit of boom or bust potential in Howard’s projection at this point, especially considering the centers he could end up playing with.
Florida Panthers: Gracyn Sawchyn
Previously: Gracyn Sawchyn
Gracyn Sawchyn has a very high motor and is constantly skating and making small, smart plays all over the ice. Sawchyn is reliable defensively and is a great forechecker, making him an absolute nuisance for opposing forwards who aren’t likely to get a lot of space when he’s on the ice. He forces turnovers at a remarkable rate, and while his shot and playmaking aren’t special compared to an average NHLer, they are good enough. The real calling card of Sawchyn’s offensive game is his hands. I remember counting on one hand the number of 2023 draft eligible players with quicker side-to-side hands than him and he is quite confident using that advantage to blow by or through defenders.
Skating is another positive for Sawchyn whose acceleration pairs wonderfully with his high-end compete level to make him an absolute force in transition on both sides of the puck. The biggest reason that Sawchyn hasn’t had more attention is his wiry frame that lets opponents push him around more than I’d like. Sawchyn measures in at 5-foot-11, but just 157 pounds (according to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL). While he’s able to slip through checks a lot more than you might expect at the junior level, I wouldn’t count on that translating perfectly to the pro level. Sawchyn has acquitted himself well in the AHL already this season, and I think he could be a depth piece for the Panthers in the next 18 months if things keep moving this direction.
Los Angeles Kings: Liam Greentree
Previously: Liam Greentree
Liam Greentree is a big winger who looks like he could be a great all-round player in the NHL someday if he can make some improvements to his speed and acceleration. Greentree does most things well, fighting hard in puck battles, making smart passes, and handling defensive responsibilities well. His greatest strength is his shot which looks like a quality NHL tool though his skill with the puck is worthy of mention as well.
The biggest barrier in the way of NHL success for Greentree at the moment is his skating. He’s got okay speed once he gets going, but his first few steps are sluggish and he could use some explosiveness to help him accelerate more quickly. Greentree has was a dominant offensive force in the OHL last season, scoring 49 goals and 119 points, good enough for 3rd in league scoring.
Minnesota Wild: Charlie Stramel
Previously: Zeev Buium
Charlie Stramel’s development hasn’t been a rollercoaster, but more of a yo-yo. After two years at the University of Wisconsin, Stramel’s stock was at its lowest, but he has bounced back remarkably since transferring to Michigan State University where he has re-established himself as not just a legitimate NHL prospect, but as a future middle-six piece.
Stramel is a big, physical center who competes hard and projects to supply the Wild with a bit of depth offense. With Marco Rossi being sent to Vancouver as part of the Quinn Hughes trade, there is a whole down the middle in Minnesota’s middle-six, and I think Stramel will be able to fill that very soon.
Montreal Canadiens: Michael Hage
Previously: Ivan Demidov
Despite missing nearly all of his draft-1 season to injury, Michael Hage has re-established himself as a high end prospect, and was drafted 21st overall in the 2024 Draft. He has a really well-rounded tool kit as a 6-foot-1 center who skates well, has excellent skill with the puck and created chances at will in the USHL and NCAA over the past two and a half seasons. Hage doesn’t have the most dangerous shot but it’s not a weakness by any means, and he competes well on defense and through traffic in the offensive zone. Ultimately, a lack of elite traits may hold him back a little but Hage certainly has a chance to be a top-six forward in the NHL.
Nashville Predators: Brady Martin
Previously: Brady Martin
Brady Martin is a highly competitive and physical center prospect who endeared himself to NHL scouts in his draft year through his tenacity and tendency to throw absolutely show-stopping hits. Don’t try to put Martin into a box as just a hard worker with minimal skill, however, because he has enough skill and finesse with the puck to create good looks for himself and his teammates.
Martin has a ton of hallmarks of an excellent do-it-all power forward, battling hard for pucks, making opponents look twice over their shoulders with his physical presence, and creating tons of offense down the middle of the ice, especially near the crease.
New Jersey Devils: Anton Silayev
Previously: Anton Silayev
Anton Silayev was the early story of the 2024 Draft, going from an unknown defender in Russia’s junior system the prior year to an elite defensive prospect who was tearing up the KHL. Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play across two full KHL seasons.
He is currently playing the final season of his contract with Torpedo in the KHL, so North America could be on his radar soon. I’m sure New Jersey would be thrilled to add such a potent defensive presence. Silayev’s combination of length and skating makes him a true outlier in the hockey world, and one capable of becoming a one-man defensive unit in his prime.
New York Islanders: Victor Eklund
Previously: Matthew Schaefer
Victor Eklund is a skilled and competitive winger who had an excellent season in the Allsvenskan last year. He impressed in a Sweden’s second tier league as a draft eligible, and has again been impressive in the SHL despite being just 19 years old. Eklund’s skill and skating are strong traits, but it’s his compete level that makes him a special prospect. There isn’t a puck battle that Eklund won’t give his all to, a race for a free puck that he won’t throw himself into. Eklund is a dog and he’ll be a favorite of Islanders fans and coaches very soon.
New York Rangers: Gabe Perreault
Previously: Gabe Perreault
Gabe Perrault continues to look 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 from 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 NCAA, with 108 points in just 73 games. He was also a huge piece of Team USA’s offense in each of their back-to-back gold medal victories at the World Junior Championship. He scored a ton in the AHL to start this season, even earning NHL games.
Ottawa Senators: Carter Yakemchuk
Previously: Carter Yakemchuk
Carter Yakemchuk has an enviable physical makeup as a right-shot defender who already measures at 6-foot-4 (was 6-foot-2 to start his draft year), 207 pounds and he has produced a ton of offense at the junior level. His skill is impressive for a defender of his size and his size and physicality combine to make him intriguing as an NHL prospect.
Yakemchuk challenges opposing players one-on-one like a forward, constantly setting himself up for incredible dekes. The problem is, he doesn’t succeed 100% of the time and can put himself in tough positions to recover defensively when things go wrong. He has the length and strength to be a strong defender, but a quicker skating stride would likely help him become a difference maker on the back-end as well.
Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone
Previously: Porter Martone
Porter Martone is a skilled power forward who dominated the OHL in his draft season. His size and high-end skill make him a handful for junior defenses, and I think it was a great decision for him to move on to the NCAA this season with Michigan State University. Martone’s size is great and all (6-foot-3), but the real reason it excites scouts is his excellent playmaking, high-end compete level, and his great hands.
In the draft process, Martone compared himself to the Tkachuk brothers, and while I think he’s got a lot of their DNA as a high-skill power forward, he isn’t a pest like the Tkachuks. He battles hard for pucks and doesn’t back down from a challenge, but I’m not quite sure he has that Rat X-Factor to get under opponents’ skin.
Pittsburgh Penguins: William Horcoff
Previously: Rutger McGroarty
William Horcoff is a beast of a hockey player. At 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds, this 19-year-old has a lot more skill and a smoother shot than you’d typically expect of a big man. He moves well for his size, and he sees the ice well, with enough skill and IQ to project as a strong NHLer. Horcoff will likely struggle a bit with the pace of professional play at first, since his size and strength advantage in the NCAA gives him more time and space than the pros will ever give him. Regardless, I think there’s a chance he could end up as a good second line center.
San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa
Previously: Michael Misa
Two years after we saw Connor Bedard going first overall, and three after Shane Wright went fourth overall, another CHL exceptional status player went in the top-5 of the NHL draft with Michael Misa being selected second overall by the Sharks. Misa plays an extremely well rounded game, with a really strong foundation of skills that should make him a great top-six forward in the NHL. Misa is an excellent skater, with the skill and hockey sense to be a great power play asset for San Jose
The biggest question around Misa to start his draft year was if he could really step up offensively and become “the guy” in Saginaw. Well, Misa’s 62 goals and 134 points in 65 OHL games have soundly answered that. Misa’s fit is going to be very interesting with the Sharks, given they have Macklin Celebrini as a no-doubt first line center and Will Smith as a possible 2C for the future. Smith showed signs of great chemistry with Celebrini as a winger as last season went on so I think that opens the door for Misa to stay at center in the NHL.
Seattle Kraken: Jake O’Brien
Previously: Berkly Catton
Jake O’Brien is a center prospect with the size, skill, and playmaking ability to become an important member of the Kraken. He has great hockey IQ, especially when it comes to his playmaking, finding teammates easily through traffic or off of no-look plays, though it also shows itself in the routes he takes off the puck, which put him in great position to receive passes or two intercept them. While he already has a pro-sized frame, O’Brien’s June birthday means he was on the younger side for the 2025 Draft class and has a bit of extra runway to put on some muscle.
St. Louis Blues: Justin Carbonneau
Previously: Jimmy Snuggerud
Justin Carbonneau is a powerful winger who dominated the QMJHL in his draft season with his lightning-fast hands and his ability to change the point of release on his wrist shot at the last moment. While he’s not the most cerebral player, sometimes relying on the playmaking and decision making of teammates, he has the skill to create excellent chances out of thin air. A right-handed sniper is valuable in today’s NHL, and one who scored 46 in the Q while filling out an athletic, powerful frame is doubly so.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Sam O’Reilly
Previously: Sam O’Reilly
Sam O’Reilly, picked up in the Isaac Howard deal, may have the lower ceiling between the two traded prospects, but he plays a premium position and fits Tampa Bay’s timeline and needs better. O’Reilly is a reliable two-way center prospect who creates offense around the net and below the goal line, largely due to his strength and ability to win puck battles. He skates at an NHL level and has decent playmaking vision as well. I see a player with clear bottom-six forward potential, though you’d like to see a bit more offense if you want him to be your 3C.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Ben Danford
Previously: Easton Cowan
Ben Danford is a two-way workhorse defender for the Brantford Bulldogs, playing tons of minutes each night. His biggest weakness is his play with the puck, which looks rushed and, at times, uncomfortable. However, his skating, playmaking, and defensive game more than make up for it in my opinion. Danford looks like the type of player who could very well be a good two-way depth defender in the NHL, capable of reliably handling even strength minutes. His ceiling isn’t particularly high but I am comfortable projecting him to play NHL games.
Utah Mammoth: Caleb Desnoyers
Previously: Caleb Desnoyers
Caleb Desnoyers is a really well-rounded prospect who impressed for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer before his draft year with his hardworking style earning him a major role. Desnoyers has been heavily relied upon in the QMJHL due to his responsible play in all zones and his success in the faceoff dot.
I don’t think his skill is elite, but he’s got more than enough skill to produce given his strong hockey sense that allows him to involve himself in plays at just the right moment. Desnoyers competes hard and will be an effective pro on both sides of the puck. He doesn’t exactly project as an elite point-scoring center in the NHL, but he should be an excellent connective piece down the middle in Utah’s top-six.
Vancouver Canucks: Braeden Cootes
Previously: Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Braeden Cootes is a center prospect who earned a ton of admirers following his remarkable performance for Team Canada at the U18s last Summer where he captained Canada to a gold medal. He was also Canada’s top scorer in the tourney which was encouraging because it proved what a lot of people already believed which was that his relatively low scoring in the WHL last season was due to the dearth of offensive talent surrounding him and that he has more to show on that end of the ice. Cootes is a coach’s dream as a hard-worker who never drops his coverage and who forechecks as hard as he can. He actually began the season with the Canucks before returning to captain the Seattle Thunderbirds once again.
Vegas Golden Knights: Trevor Connelly
Previously: Trevor Connelly
Trevor Connelly is a skilled winger with dynamic skating and a penchant for making the most jaw-dropping move possible. His hands are really quick and he plays with a ton of deception which makes him dangerous with the puck even when it looks like there’s no play to be made. However, Connelly has had some high-profile discipline issues, and will need to reign in his decision making, on and off the ice, if he wants to be given consistent high deployment in the NHL.
Washington Capitals: Andrew Cristall
Previously: Ryan Leonard
Andrew Cristall is one of the most creative and slippery prospects in the hockey world, and he was one of the only draft eligible players in the WHL who was able to roughly keep pace with Bedard in terms of production in the 2023 draft season. Cristall has been frankly dominant offensively in the WHL, scoring a total of 332 points in just 173 games over the past three seasons (1.92 points per game).
He draws tons of attention in the offensive zone and is great at making smart plays under pressure to help open teammates up, making their jobs much easier. Only time will tell if his game will translate to the NHL level given his 5-foot-10 frame, but it sure has translated to the AHL where he is one of the Hershey Bears’ top scorers. I don’t think it’ll take long for him to make their roster, and I expect he’ll end up factoring into their top-six soon.
Winnipeg Jets: Brayden Yager
Previously: Brayden Yager
Brayden Yager was talked about in the scouting world 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 following the 2021-22 season on the back of a remarkable 34-goal, 59-point rookie season. His transition game, defensive play, and wicked wrist shot make him an all around threat at the junior level.
After being traded one-for-one for Rutger McGroarty to the Jets, Yager looks poised to remain in the Canadian Prairies for the foreseeable future. He grew up in Saskatchewan, played his junior hockey there (in Moose Jaw and now Lethbridge, Alberta), and has now made the jump to the AHL (Manitoba Moose) with his WHL career behind him.
