Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the summer of 2023, each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a look at one NHL team’s top prospects or other topical article. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! You can find all the articles here as well as our extensive NHL Draft preview. In preparation for the new season, here’s our 2023-24 NHL team prospect pool rankings! Today, we look at the teams ranked between 11-21!
NHL Team Prospect Pool Rankings: Part Two
21.) Washington Capitals
Top Three Prospects: Ryan Leonard, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Andrew Cristall
When looking at the top three prospects in the Capitals system, it’s easy to wonder how they are ranked so low. Leonard is a pro-style forward with top line upside, and was a favorite in his class. Miroshnichenko is another guy with equal upside, but with a less safe floor. He, too, looks like someone who could be a really good NHLer. Meanwhile, Cristall has boatloads of raw talent, that which could make him elite one day. However, he needs a lot to break right in his development for that to be realized. But three guys who could be at least top line talent? Unfortunately, there’s not much in the way of depth outside of those three. Had they built more depth in the years prior to 2022 and 2023, they could have been much higher.
20.) Toronto Maple Leafs
Top Three Prospects: Matt Knies, Topi Niemela, Fraser Minten
Former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, before leaving the franchise, left them quite the haul of draft picks. He was able to consistently find late round picks who wound up blossoming shortly thereafter they selected them. Knies is a great example, as he would thrive in the NCAA right away, and now looks to be a top-six forward in the NHL this upcoming season. Niemela, on the other hand, quickly found a footing in professional hockey in Finland, making the Leafs look smarter and smarter every year after the pick. He is one of the most intelligent defenders not yet in the NHL and is looking to cement himself as a key piece of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season.
Finally, Minten looks like one of the main standouts of the off-season. Usually known as a reliable two-way forward, his offensive game exploded onto the scene this past season, and he has extended on that this offseason. The Leafs also feature quite a bit of depth after those three, with names like Roni Hirvonen, Easton Cowan, and Nick Robertson in the system.
19.) New York Rangers
Top Three Prospects: Brennan Othmann, Gabe Perreault, Will Cuylle
Despite recently being one of the more competitive teams in recent seasons, the Rangers NHL prospect pool is a very solid group of young talent. Othamann leads the way as a modern-day power forward with excellent goal-scoring ability. Perreault is a dynamic presence in the offensive end, with excellent playmaking skills. He only needs to touch up parts of his game to unlock a top line upside. Cuylle is another high-end goal-scorer with an endless motor with top line upside. Add to that a pretty deep system, with the likes of Zac Jones, Adam Sykora, Bryce McConnell Barker, Brett Berard and several others, and you get a top-20 system in the league. They just lack a true game-changer at the top.
18.) Nashville Predators
Top Three Prospects: Yaroslav Askarov, Joakim Kemell, Matthew Wood
The Predators have arguably the best goaltending prospect that has yet to break into the NHL in Askarov. That certainly knocks their list higher up the list, as Askarov is that game-changer that previous NHL prospect pools lack. Kemell is a dangerous goal-scorer, with the chance to be a top-six forward down the line. Wood is a modern-day power forward who can play in all situations. He projects as a middle-six forward with special teams upside. Add Luke Evangelista, Tanner Molendyk, and Fedor Svechkov, and you get a solid prospect pipeline. Askarov certainly does a lot of the heavy lifting, but some of their secondary guys could wind up as difference-makers. If they do, this pool could end up as one of the best in the league.
17.) Calgary Flames
Top Three Prospects: Matthew Coronato, Dustin Wolf, Samuel Honzek
The Flames have done an excellent job with supplying their NHL prospect pool over the years. It starts with Coronato, who is a high-end goal-scorer who plays a game reliant on his high-end awareness and IQ. A very underrated prospect league-wide, who could be a top-line player down the line. Wolf is right up at the top of the list of goaltending prospects, near Askarov of the Predators. He could be a big impact NHLer as soon as this season. Honzek was drafted this year, and also plays with high-end IQ and is shaping up to be a modern-day power forward with goal-scoring traits. Add Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary, among others, to the list, and the Flames have two true impact players and considerable depth.
16.) San Jose Sharks
Top Three Prospects: William Eklund, Will Smith, Quentin Musty
The San Jose Sharks NHL prospect pool is quite impressive. Eklund looks like a potentially elite playmaker, despite early struggles in the NHL. Smith has some of the best raw tools of any prospect outside the NHL, but he must add more consistency to his game. That should be relatively easy for a guy like him, considering the sheer skill he has, and he looks every bit like a potential elite NHL player. Musty was a high riser in this past draft, earning consistent first round grades, and for good reason. Has the makings of a top six NHL forward in the future. Other names include Filip Bystedt, who could end up as a solid middle six player, and Thomas Bordeleau, a fan-favorite that could make an NHL impact this season. Plus, there’s Shakir Mukhamadullin, Henry Thrun, and this writer’s personal favorite, Tristen Robins. They all project as future NHLers.
15.) St. Louis Blues
Top Three Prospects: Dalibor Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud, Zachary Bolduc
The Blues NHL prospect pool has been rebuilt over the last couple of seasons. That’s mostly due to taking a step back as competitors after winning the 2019 Stanley Cup. They added to their pool with Dvorsky, who plays a complete game and looks ready to make an NHL impact sooner than later. In 2022, they added Snuggerud, who is a heck of a goal-scorer, who pairs a deadly shot with an incredible hockey IQ to exploit coverages consistently. Then, in 2021, they added Bolduc, who is another excellent goal-scorer, with an aggressive shoot-first mentality.
Outside of the big three, there’s Joel Hofer, a solid netminder with NHL upside. Scott Perunovich is another name who has immense offensive upside, but hasn’t stuck at the pro level due to a less than impressive defensive game. Otton Stenberg and Theo Lindstein were two more first rounders picked in the 2023 draft with Dvorsky, who also project well to the next level. Depth is the key for the Blues, and they enter the top half of the league because it isn’t simply depth, but quality depth.
14.) Dallas Stars
Top Three Prospects: Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque, Ayrton Martino
The Stars NHL prospect pool is topped by Stankoven, who is such an electric player. While he may be undersized, he plays so much bigger. Plus, he has a phenomenal shot and an ever-improving playmaking game only makes him more dangerous. With the way the Stars have developed some of their youth of late, Stankoven could be special. Meanwhile, Bourque is very creative and is willing to try anything to work the puck into the slot. He is a very intelligent player, with skating to boot, that allows him to succeed getting into high danger areas consistently to always be a threat. Martino is an incredibly underrated prospect, who has a dual-threat offensive game and an endless motor.
Lian Bichsel, Aram Minnetian, and Christian Kyrou are all quality defenders with NHL upside. Matthew Seminoff and Albert Sjoberg are a couple forwards who also project as NHL talents. Quality depth with some excellent pieces at the top.
13.) Los Angeles Kings
Top Three Prospects: Brandt Clarke, Alex Turcotte, Martin Chromiak
For a couple of seasons, the Kings NHL prospect pool has sat amongst the best. Clarke is still considered one of the best defensive prospects in the league, with excellent transitional abilities and a bomb of a shot from the point. Turcotte has been in the system for quite some time now but the top pick from 2019 has yet to take that next step. But this season looks as good a chance as any for him to establish his role with the big club. Chromiak is a goal-scorer with a borderline elite shot, who could be a staple on the power play for the Kings for years to come.
Then there is Francesco Pinelli, Alex Laferriere, Kenny Connors, Samuel Fagemo and Jack D. Hughes up front, and there’s plenty of youth who could play up with the big club in the future, some sooner than others. Meanwhile, they have Jordan Spence, a solid blueliner, who plays a very intelligent game. In net, Erik Portillo is a solid option who could play NHL games in the future. Balanced, deep and still exciting group of prospects out in Los Angeles.
12.) Detroit Red Wings
Top Three Prospects: Simon Edvinsson, Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper
The Yzerplan in Detroit has placed his Red Wings NHL prospect pool just outside the top-10. Edvinsson has size, skating and raw skill that is very rare to possess in tandem. That’s what makes him a special blueliner, and one the Red Wings are surely thrilled to have in their system. Danielson is a do-it-all centre with size and speed. He was an early pick for the club in the 2023 class, and he looks like the perfect number two centre for Detroit down the line. Kasper is very similar to Danielson, playing a smart and complete game with size and aggressiveness.
Axel Sandin Pellikka and William Wallinder are two high upside blue liners who could be big pieces of the Red Wings future defence corps. They also possess Sebastian Cossa, who has struggled over the last few seasons but still looks like a future NHL goalie, and Trey Augustine, the goalie they took in 2023 as insurance who also looks like a future NHL goalie. There’s even more depth beyond those names, which is why the Red Wings are amongst the best pools in the league.
11.) Arizona Coyotes
Top Three Prospects: Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Dmitri Simashev
The Coyotes NHL prospect pool is amongst the best in the league, and that’s despite making some questionable selections early in the 2023 draft. Cooley could very well steal the Calder Trophy from Connor Bedard’s grasp this season, as one of the main threats to Bedard’s run for rookie of the year. Cooley is just incredibly dynamic. Guenther is another dynamic player, with a blend of skill and physicality that’s hard to find. If paired with Cooley, they could be a dominant duo in the desert. Simashev is a shut-down defender who may have been taken a bit too early, but still projects as a future top-four defender with penalty killing duties.
Conor Geekie and Daniil But are two high upside swings, alongside Michael Hrabal, a goalie who projects as a future starter someday. It’d also be a sin if the son of Shane Doan, Josh Doan, was not mentioned, as he has performed well in his short time with the AHL and with the big club this off-season. But it is also fair to mention that this group could have selected both Matvei Michkov and Zach Benson over Simashev and But. Regardless, they are still one of the top prospect groups in the league.
Part One (32-22)
Part Three (10-1)
Main Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
