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 2024-25 NHL season is just around the corner, 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: Cutter Gauthier
Cutter Gauthier was a mid-season addition to the Anaheim Ducks’ prospect pool last season, and he immediately shot to the very top of their group 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 has been a center in the NCAA for the past two seasons with Boston College, but 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 great goal scoring, top-six winger for the Ducks in the near future.
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 has spent last two seasons in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, scoring a total of 87 points in 110 games.
Lysell is poised to make his NHL debut this year, with the speed and skill to be an effective player from day one. The Bruins will need some depth offense this coming year after losing Jake DeBrusk in free agency, and while the addition of Elias Lindholm helps, I think Lysell could find himself in Boston’s top-nine winger group early on this season.
Buffalo Sabres: Konsta Helenius
Previously: Jiri Kulich
Konsta Helenius is an excellent playmaker who competes hard enough to succeed in the Finnish Liiga as a 17-year-old last season. Helenius is level-headed under pressure and makes remarkable passes look routine, setting his teammates up for success. He was good for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, though the stat sheet might not give you the best idea of how impactful he was. Helenius’ two-way play against pros as a teenager has been very impressive, especially in transition where he is able to keep up with the pace of play both physically and mentally.
Buffalo has drafted more than their fair share of undersized, skilled forwards in the past few drafts, and after Zach Benson cracked the team’s lineup out of training camp, it was clear that they’d need to make some room in their prospect pool. Although Sabres fans might not love the Savoie trade, the team has a really strong prospect in Helenius who can fill the void that deal created in the prospect pool.
Calgary Flames: Zayne Parekh
Previously: Samuel Honzek
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 something to be desired. He cheats for offense more than I’d like, which can leave him out of position.
I do think he’s a solid defender when he’s properly engaged, cutting off passes and angling opponents toward the boards. Parekh is a remarkable talent, with Quinn Hughes-like offensive upside if things go well, but the defensive end is in need of some real work. He’s talented enough and looked strong enough defensively in the Memorial Cup that I think he’ll figure it out in the NHL in time.
Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Nikishin
Previously: Alexander Nikishin
Alexander Nikishin has put the hockey world on notice over the past two years, establishing himself as one of the very best young players outside of the NHL with back-to-back seasons as one of the best two-way defenders in the KHL. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, 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 big (6-foot-4), has a heavy slapshot, and skates remarkably well for someone of his size. This season, Nikishin proved that last year was no fluke, once again leading all KHL defenders in points. If the Hurricanes are able to convince him to come to play for them in the 2025-26 season, he looks like he’ll be at least a top-four defender immediately upon arrival.
Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov
Previously: Frank Nazar
Artyom Levshunov has an incredibly exciting toolkit as a big, right-handed defender who skates incredibly well. Levshunov has a very projectable game, with the size, skating, and offense to be a great NHL defender. He plays with a ton of confidence, which can be a bit of a double-edged sword at times. Levshunov’s offensive game is dynamic, with his smooth skating serving as the catalyst for each thing he does well. He’s strong in breakout/entry situations, has some clever stretch passes in his toolkit, and walks the blueline with confidence.
He is still a bit of a raw prospect at this point, which means there’s a lot of room for growth. Levshunov was a poor defender in the USHL when he first arrived, but finished that season as a strong two-way player. His first NCAA season mirrored that closely, with an increased defensive responsibility as the year wore on. It looks like Levshunov is set to make the jump to the pros next season, and while his defensive game may not be great right off the bat, he’s shown himself to be a quick study so I’m not worried.
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 since his draft year.
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 pivotal in the next era of Avalanche hockey.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Cayden Lindstrom
Previously: Denton Mateychuk
Cayden Lindstrom has been a favorite of mine in the 2024 Draft class going back a year or two 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 makes him a nearly immovable object in the WHL, but he also has great hands, a strong shot, and really good puck protection instincts. His defensive game has looked significantly improved over the years and I think his offensive totals would have earned him a bit more attention last season if he hadn’t dealt with finger and back injuries.
What I saw from him last year was a natural progression of him getting bigger and stronger, allowing him to dominate the WHL. It’s not just his improved finishing that makes him exciting, it’s his strength, speed, and motor. Columbus already has Adam Fantilli as their 1C of the future, and adding Lindstrom who could conceivably fill the 2C spot will be a huge answer for the team’s future.
Dallas Stars: Logan Stankoven
Previously: Logan Stankoven
Logan Stankoven spent the 2022-23 season 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 played full time in the AHL last year for the Texas Stars and was completely dominant. Not only did he scoring more than every other top prospect in that leaguer, he actually led the entire league in scoring before earning a call up to the NHL. Stankoven’s offensive skills have translated incredibly well to the pro game and the Dallas Stars recognized that, giving him a serious role in their top-six down the stretch and into the playoffs. He’s only eligible for this list because the Stars preserved his eligibility for the 2024-25 Calder Trophy, giving him only 24 regular season games last season.
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 has successfully made the transition to North America.
The Red Wings haven’t given Edvinsson a chance to stick in the NHL just yet but he seemed to break through at the end of last season, even looking like Detroit’s best defender on some nights. If he can be a difference maker in their top-four next season (which I think is a fair expectation), then the team will have gone a long way in solving the defensive woes that have plagued them since they began their rebuild.
Edmonton Oilers: Matthew Savoie
Previously: Beau Akey
Drafted ninth overall by the Sabres at the 2022 draft, Matthew Savoie is a highly creative centreman with a high-end skill set. The combination of speed, hands and stick handling makes him an offensive catalyst and he maintains offensive zone possession extremely well. Savoie has excellent vision to spot a lane to engage or find his teammates with a perfectly executed pass and he’s a dynamic skater as well. He got his first taste of pro hockey last Fall and was one of the best players in the WHL last year in his final year of junior play.
This offseason had a lot of bright spots for the Oilers, but I think none shine brighter than trading for Savoie, giving up very little in return. Obviously, Ryan McLeod was a much more proven NHL player, but the potential that Savoie represents is massive. I can absolutely imagine him tearing it up on the wing in Edmonton’s already-intimidating top-six in just a season or two.
Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich
Previously: Mackie Samoskevich
Mackie Samoskevich had a greatly increased role with the University of Michigan in the 2022-23 season and he thrived as a result. His high hockey IQ and excellent puck skills were on display throughout the year, and Samoskevich even made his professional debut at the end of that season, playing nine games with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. He spent the entire 2023-24 season with the Checkers, and led the team in scoring by 10 points. Samoskevich will likely never be a significant two-way player in the NHL, but a Panthers team in need of some cheap depth scoring could get a lot of use out of his skill and power play abilities.
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.
Last season, Clarke was the best offensive defender in the entire AHL, earning himself a call up to the NHL in January. He scored a whopping 46 points in 50 AHL games, adding six more in the playoffs. Clarke will likely never be the best defensive defender, but the amount of offense he provides will make that an afterthought for most of his NHL career.
Minnesota Wild: Jesper Wallstedt
Previously: Jesper Wallstedt
Jesper Wallstedt has been considered to be one of 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 more after that so there’s no need for them to rush Wallstedt into a big role. The team didn’t get great goaltending from that pair last year, but Wallstedt’s NHL debut in January suggested that they will need to take the patient route with their top prospect and avoid rushing him.
Montreal Canadiens: Ivan Demidov
Previously: Lane Hutson
Ivan Demidov is an incredibly talented offensive player, with great hands, a zippy shot, and some sneaky-good playmaking instincts. He spent last season in the MHL, Russia’s top junior league, where he was dominant as a 17-year-old rookie, scoring 64 points in 44 games (third most points in the league). Demidov isn’t quite at the same level as top 2023 Draft prospect Matvei Michkov, but he is a legit top-end talent who has clear top-line potential in the NHL. One thing he and Michkov have in common is a difficulty earning minutes in the KHL as a draft eligible player.
Demidov sat out many games to start the year and played full time in the MHL for the rest of the season. He dominated that level this season, but we’ve seen him do that already so it’s no surprise. I’d really love to see him against pros full-time next season, hopefully in the KHL.There aren’t many players who can handle the puck quite like Demidov. He absolutely torched the MHL this year (2 points per game) and scored 28 points in 17 playoff games. I’m confident he’ll score a ton of points in the NHL, it’s just a question of how effective of a player he can be at even strength given his smaller frame and strange skating stride.
Nashville Predators: Matthew Wood
Previously: Matthew Wood
I was eager to see how Matthew Wood would adjust to the college game after he dominated the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) two years ago, leading the league in goals and points as a 16-year-old. His freshman results were extremely positive with Wood being one of the top rookie point scorers and one of the top scorers on his team despite being the youngest player in all of men’s NCAA hockey during his draft year. Wood’s calling card is his shot which is excellent in terms of deception and power. He could use a bit more speed (who couldn’t), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. His sophomore year wasn’t quite as remarkable, but I still have a lot of faith in the skill, shot, and length combo that Wood possesses.
New Jersey Devils: Anton Silayev
Previously: Simon Nemec
Anton Silayev was the story of the year early on last season, going from an unknown defender in Russia’s junior system the year before to an elite defensive prospect who was tearing up the KHL. He’s been a difficult player to scout because the sample size of his great play is still relatively small, but his potential is as high as any defense prospect we’ve seen in the past few years.
Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play so far in the KHL. He scored six points in his first six games, but the points slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games. There’s a very real chance that he ends up as the top defender in this class 10-15 years down the road given the massive potential his frame and agility provide.
New York Islanders: Cole Eiserman
Previously: Danny Nelson
Cole Eiserman was the 2024 Draft’s premier goal scoring prospect, and he was by far the most polarizing player in the group. He can play physically, but can sometimes get caught chasing hits and losing track of defensive coverage.
The reason people are so high on Eiserman, is that he scored 72 goals in 69 games last season for the NTDP. Those are some absolutely absurd numbers. While he may not be the most reliable player when it comes to play driving or defensive results, he is an incredibly reliable goal scorer and projects to be at least a 30-goal scorer in the NHL someday. Pair him with your best playmaking center and watch him do the hardest thing there is in hockey, score goals.
New York Rangers: Gabe Perreault
Previously: Gabe Perreault
Gabe 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 his draft year, with 132 points in 63 games, setting the single-season record in the NTDP, surpassing players like Matthews, Hughes, and Clayton Keller. He also managed to score a whopping 60 points in 36 NCAA games as a freshman last season, confirming that he has the potential to be an offensive game-breaker at higher levels of play.
Ottawa Senators: Carter Yakemchuk
Previously: Jorian Donovan
Carter Yakemchuk has an enviable physical makeup as a right-shot defender who already measures at 6-foot-2, 194 pounds and he has produced a ton of offense for the Calgary Hitmen. His offensive game is impressive for a defender of his size and his skating makes him even more intriguing as an NHL prospect. Yakemchuk has a rocket of a shot, scoring 30 goals last season as a defender, making him a true goal scoring threat from the point. He challenges opposing players one-on-one like a forward, constantly setting himself up for these incredible dekes. The problem is, he doesn’t succeed 100% of the time and can put himself in tough positions to recover defensively.
Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov
Previously: Matvei Michkov
With the graduation of guys like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Connor Bedard, Matvei Michov is clearly at least a top-three 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 looked like an absolute star in the KHL last year, once again being loaned to HK Sochi, one of the league’s bottom teams. I expected he would land a well-deserved top-six spot with SKA St. Petersburg next season, but the Flyers managed to get him signed and Michkov will make his NHL debut much sooner than expected. He’s a serious contender for the Calder Trophy next year, especially if the Flyers put him in a position to succeed.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Rutger McGroarty
Previously: Brayden Yager
Rutger McGroarty is a true power forward, strong and determined enough to win pucks with great playmaking skills that allow him to make smart plays with the puck once he wins it. His father was the head coach of the Lincoln Stars in the USHL when he was growing up, and McGroarty’s maturity, work ethic, and two-way game have clearly benefited from observing and attending practices with players much older than him from such a young age.
He is a very complete prospect who is a natural leader, shoots well, and does just about everything else you could hope for from a first-round pick. McGroarty won’t lead your team in scoring, but he’ll do a whole lot of other things at a very high level. The Penguins did well to land him in exc
San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini
Previously: Will Smith
Macklin Celebrini is my pick for the best NHL prospect at the moment. He’s a center with a June birthday, meaning he’s one of the youngest players from the 2024 draft class, and will be just 18 years old for his entire rookie season in the NHL. Celebrini excels at everything, with great skating, goal scoring ability, off-puck play, defensive effort, confidence, and just about every other attribute you could dream of. After tearing up the United States high school prep circuit with Shattuck St. Mary’s, Celebrini tried his hand in the USHL two seasons back with the Chicago Steel and was immediately the best player in the league.
He was so good, in fact, that he has made the choice to enter the NCAA early, playing as a 17-year-old for Boston University last season. His play in the NCAA was wildly impressive, quickly establishing himself as the best player in all of college hockey. Celebrini’s performance for Team Canada at the 2024 World Juniors was borderline dominant, and he was their best player in the entire tournament despite being a double-underager There’s a clear path for Celebrini to become an excellent first-line center in the NHL and the San Jose Sharks are counting the days until he can show what he’s made of at their training camp in a few short weeks.
Seattle Kraken: Berkly Catton
Previously: Shane Wright
Berkly Catton is a remarkably intelligent player, creating chances and advantages for his teammates through clever manipulations rather than through physical force. The Spokane Chiefs have lacked high-end talent during Catton’s entire WHL tenure, so he has been leaned upon heavily for the past two seasons. Luckily for the Chiefs, Catton has more than been up to the task of leading the team, scoring points at an absurdly high rate. There were only four players on the Chiefs who scored more than 35 points last season, and Catton managed 116!
Catton was phenomenal for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup a year ago as well where he scored 10 points in just five games while captaining Canada to the gold medal. He is a very skilled player with a ton of speed and a high-end motor. I think his offensive versatility and his potential while attacking off the rush will make him an excellent addition for the Kraken.
St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud
Previously: Dalibor Dvorsky
Since being selected 23rd overall in the 2022 Draft, Jimmy Snuggerud has proven to be an excellent choice for the St. Louis Blues. His shot is the first thing that stands out about his game, as the power and accuracy of his wrist shot make it a very dangerous tool, but the real reason his shot is so potent is the way he can disguise or alter his shot by suddenly changing the release point. He has smooth hands but doesn’t make a ton of plays as a distributor, though his finishing ability typically makes up for that. Snuggerud is a responsible defensive player which is impressive for a winger with so much offensive potential.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Conor Geekie
Previously: Isaac Howard
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 people are hesitant about Geekie is that his skating is average at best. He will need to keep putting work into his ability to play at a fast pace but his length and skill combo should make him an effective middle-six player for Tampa Bay regardless.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Easton Cowan
Previously: Easton Cowan
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 skyrocketed in the OHL last season, nearly doubling his production from the prior 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.
Utah Hockey Club: Tij Iginla
Previously: Conor Geekie
Tij Iginla was a very pleasant surprise in the WHL last season. After scoring just 18 points with the Seattle Thunderbirds the season before, Iginla flourished with the Kelowna Rockets. His game relies heavily on speed and he’s able to do a ton of damage on the rush at the junior level because of it. Iginla has an excellent wrist shot as well, but he isn’t the most gifted playmaker or physical guy. Regardless, he works hard and is often the first guy in on the forecheck.
Iginla scored an impressive 47 goals in the WHL last season, which tied him for the sixth most goals in the whole league. His go-to shot is the “curl-and-drag” wrister that we’ve seen so much lately, and he gets it off quicker than most, not allowing the goalie much time to adapt or predict his next move. I think Iginla’s game is going to be a great fit for a team in need of some flashy plays, making him the perfect first draft pick in franchise history.
Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Previously: Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a really tough post-draft season, with multiple injuries/illnesses ruining any momentum he tried 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 ensuing offseason, he was signed by the Canucks and loaned to the SHL where he played with Örebro HK and led all U20 SHL players in goals and points. 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.
Vegas Golden Knights: Trevor Connelly
Previously: David Edstrom
Trevor Connelly is a skilled winger with dynamic skating and a high-effort two way game. His hands are really quick and he plays with a ton of deception which made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the entire USHL last season. He was a clear first round talent with some top-six potential, but the off-ice noise is loud enough still that his ultimate NHL potential is a bit up in the air.
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: Brad Lambert
Brad Lambert has been one of the least predictable NHL prospects over the past few years, 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 like a top young player in the AHL, earning a spot at the AHL All-Star Game and being named to the All Rookie Team at the end of the season.
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