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 prospect pool rankings! Today, we look at the teams ranked between 1-10!
NHL Prospect Pool Team Rankings: Part Three
10.) Philadelphia Flyers
Top Three Prospects: Matvei Michkov, Cutter Gauthier, Tyson Foerster
The Flyers prospect pool took a massive leap in quality during the 2023 draft. With one pick the missing superstar prospect, that has eluded recently arrived in the form of Michkov. The Russian forward was widely regarded as the second-best player at the draft and the only player with upsides near the level of Connor Bedard. Offensively he has got everything you could want. The fact he fell to the seventh overall pick was a gift for the Flyers, which they took full advantage of. Outside of Michkov the Flyers also have last year’s fifth-overall pick Cutter Gauthier, who is looking every bit the player he was advertised to be.
Other names in the Flyers prospect pool include a lot of very good prospects. Two of these are Emil Andrae and Oliver Bonk. Both defenders have shown signs of great improvement over the years. Emil Andrea especially has established himself as one of the better up-and-coming Swedish defenders, that can play in almost any situation. Offensively Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster have the potential of solid middle six forwards to support Michkov and Gauthier in the future. In net, they have Carson Bjarnason and Alexei Kolosov, who both have a lot of promise although they are more of a project.
9.) Seattle Kraken
Top Three Prospects: Shane Wright, Eduard Sale, Jagger Firkus
Had this list been based on each team’s top 10 team list, Seattle would be much higher. The reason they aren’t higher than ninth is simple. They simply haven’t had the chance to make enough picks to be higher yet. When looking at the value they have gotten, almost every pick they have had in their existing seems to have hit. In 2022 they used their fourth overall pick to select Shane Wright. A prospect many saw as the best prospect in that draft class. They also took Jagger Firkus in 2022, who is a pure sniper with a wicked shot. In 2023 they selected Eduard Sale with the 20th overall. A prospect who brings excellent playmaking and skating to the team.
In the later rounds, they have also had a ton of success as they have gotten forwards like Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Carson Rehkopf, Jani Nyman, David Goyette and Ryan Winterton. All players with strong upside and potential in different areas. Defensively players like Ryker Evans, Ty Nelson, Caden Price and Lukas Dragicevic have the potential to make an impact in the NHL. The biggest drawback within the Krakens prospect pool, outside of the lack of quantity is their goaltending pipeline.
8.) Anaheim Ducks
Top Three Prospects: Leo Carlsson, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov
One of the most eyebrow-raising moves of the 2023 draft occurred when the Ducks selected Leo Carlsson over Adam Fantilli. While the talent of Fantilli is undeniable, so is the talent of Carlsson. The Swede is an excellent player whom the Ducks can build teams around for many years. He is a very NHL-ready player and with players like Trevor Zegras in the Ducks lineup fits perfectly. With one of the best prospect pools in the league within one of the most promising and young NHL lineups, Carlsson in many ways fits better than Fantilli. Especially when considering one of the best offensive defencemen in the CHL, Olen Zellweger, is nearly ready for the NHL as well. Adding to a blueline that already has Jamie Drysdale and in the future Mintyukov, who plays a similar game to Zellweger.
In net Lukas Dostal is hoping to be the next in a long line of great Ducks goaltenders. He has been great in the AHL and could be nearly ready to take over from John Gibson in the coming years. On top of Zellweger, the Ducks’ defensive prospect pool also has depth in Jackson LaCombe, Trustan Luneau and Drew Helleson. Offensively players like Jacob Perreault, Sasha Pastujov and Nathan Gaucher all have the potential to develop into solid NHL forwards.
7.) Minnesota Wild
Top Three Prospects: Jesper Wallstedt, Marco Rossi, Brock Faber
One of Bill Guerin‘s greatest moves as Minnesota Wild GM undoubtedly has to be the signing of Judd Brackett as head of the Wild’s scouting department. Since then the Wild prospect pool has experienced an extreme growth in both depth and superstar talent. What’s even more impressive is that it has come in every single position. In between the pipes, they have what many consider the best goalie prospect in the world, Jesper Wallstedt. On the blueline, they managed to acquire Minnesota native Brock Faber, who looks like one of the best defensive prospects in the league, and at the center spot, they got Marco Rossi. A player who has yet to find his footing in the NHL but has a ton of potential to be a number-one center.
Apart from the three main players, the Wild’s depth is equally impressive. On the forward side, Rielly Hiedt, Liam Öhgren, Danila Yurov and Marat Khusnutdinov are only a couple of the names with potential for a middle-six role in the NHL. Defensively Carson Lambos, Jack Peart, Daemon Hunt and David Spacek also has impressed a lot over the past couple of seasons. With Wallstedt in the net, the Wild look set for a bright future in nearly every position. Once they are free from the dead cap of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, the Wild are entering the most promising era since their inauguration in 2000.
6.) Carolina Hurricanes
Top Three Prospects: Alexander Nikishin, Scott Morrow, Bradly Naudeau
The Carolina Hurricanes are among the best drafting teams in the NHL. Almost no matter where they end up selecting from, they make the most out of it. Either in the first round or by finding hidden gems on day two. Two of these second-day selections were Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow, who were selected as the 69th and 40th picks respectively. Both defenders have impressed since getting drafted and are looking more and more like a top defensive pair in the future. Offensively they managed to select one of the purest offensive talents of the 2023 draft in Bradly Nadeau. An offensive dynamo who is a boom-or-bust prospect, but given the track record of the Hurricanes, chances are he will boom in the NCAA.
Similar to the Wild the depth of the Hurricanes prospect pool almost seems endless. Players like Jack Drury, Noel Gunler, Jayden Perron, Timur Mukhanov, Ville Koivunen and Ryan Suzuki make up part of their plentiful offensive prospect pool. All players that might be considered or have been considered risky picks, simply just worked out. The development of these prospects within the Hurricanes system is simply brilliant and doing all this without recent top picks shouldn’t be possible. Defensively it’s a bit shallower, but Aleksi Heimosalmi and Alexander Pelevin have decent potential, with Ruslan Khazheyev being a player to watch out for in the crease. The Hurricanes are already a favorite to win the cup and with their drafting and development that won’t change for a long time.
5.) Montreal Canadiens
Top Three Prospects: Juraj Slafkovsky, David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson
It was a bit of a surprise when the Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky as the first overall pick in 2022. The same can be said for their selection of David Reinbacher in 2023. However, it’s undeniable that both players are wonderful additions to an already promising prospect pool. Slafkovsky didn’t have the easiest first season in the NHL, as it was filled with injuries. However, it was his first season in North America, and he had a lot to learn. Slafkovsky looks better than ever going into this season. His great physicality and different ways to score goals should make him a prospect to watch for a bounce-back year this season.
Another player with a lot of potential is David Reinbacher, who was taken fifth overall. He was by many seen as the best defensive defenceman in the 2023 NHL draft. However, selecting him over Matvei Michkov will create some pressure on the Austrian. Pressure that his ability to read the game well and shut down attacks before they start should help. Another plus is that Reinbacher might be the perfect partner to the potential sensation Lane Hutson, who has taken the NCAA by storm offensively.
The Canadiens’ defensive core also features players like Justin Barron and Kaiden Guhle, who have shown great promise as potential top-four defenders in the future. In net Jacob Fowler looks like he might eventually join the likes of Carey Price as the starting goaltender of the Canadiens. Offensively Joshua Roy, Owen Beck and Filip Mesar are another couple of names with strong potential. Potential that might carry the Canadiens back to glory once more.
4.) Chicago Blackhawks
Top Three Prospects: Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel
The Chicago Blackhawks have the greatest prospect in the league. That is an undeniable fact after the 2023 NHL draft, where they selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. There almost aren’t enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the talent of Bedard. He is the best prospect to enter the league since Connor McDavid, with a unique shot and release on par with Austin Matthews, vision and passing like Sidney Crosby and hands like Patrick Kane. In short, he is a generational, must-watch player. On top of that the Blackhawks got Kevin Korchinski, who is regarded as one of the best offensive defencemen in his age group. Korchinski has also improved the defensive game a lot making him a more complete player.
The supporting cast for both Bedard and Korchinski is also there. Offensively Lukas Reichel, Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar look like excellent players to surround Bedard with. Defensively the Blackhawks feature Ethan Del Mastro and Wyatt Kaiser who are also very promising players for the future. The goaltending could be better, but both Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan could still turn into a future starter. For now, that, along with a slight lack of quality after the top 8 prospects keeps them out of the top three. However, with Bedard in the pool, the future might hold yet another dynasty for the Windy City’s NHL team.
3.) New Jersey Devils
Top Three Prospects: Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey
One of the most ridiculous defensive prospect pools in the NHL belongs to the New Jersey Devils. Their top three prospects are all blueliners with an extremely high ceiling and positive development. Luke Hughes looks poised to step right into the NHL this season, and he could easily be one of the biggest challengers to Connor Bedard in the Calder Trophy race. He was magical in the NCAA and didn’t look any different during his small sample size in the NHL last season. In many ways, Hughes is the best defensive prospect in the league.
On top of that the Devils also Simon Nemec, who is also considered a top 5 defensive prospect. The Slovakian might not start the season in the NHL, but he has given the Devils a lot to consider with the improvements he showcased during camp. Lastly, Seamus Casey, is a modern defender with offensive upside and skating with top-pair potential. That is an unbelievably strong one-two-three punch on the backend.
Offensively the Devils also have multiple weapons as Alexander Holtz and Lenni Hämeenaho both look to add firepower to an already top five forward cores in the NHL. Not to mention other prospects like Tyce Thompson, Nolan Foote and Josh Filmon who can add to the roster in a supporting role. In net Akira Schmid showed a lot of promise last season, when he stepped into the crease. He burst into the league, and this season will be a proving point for the Swiss netminder, as he gets to chance to become the new starter for the Devils for the foreseeable future.
2.) Buffalo Sabres
Top Three Prospects: Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, Devon Levi
It’s taken a lot of years and suffering, but the future finally looks bright for the Buffalo Sabres. With an already promising roster with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, having the second-best prospect pool in the league should guarantee that the rebuild is nearing its end. The reason for the jump, despite Power graduating, comes with the selection of Zach Benson at 13th overall. A player who many saw as a top-five pick due to his skating, understanding of the game and 200-foot game. He was a high-floor, high-ceiling player and getting him outside the top ten was a gift the Sabres didn’t squander.
Benson joins an offensive pull that already had Jiri Kulich, who showed great progress and translatability last season. During his first season in the AHL, he shined with his speed and smooth edges on full display. Potentially turning into yet another young top-six forward within the Sabres organization. In net, they are also set as they have one of the best goalie prospects in Devon Levi. A former seventh-rounder, who they got along with Kulich in the Sam Reinhart trade. A trade that could see a dominant Buffalo Sabres team emerge in the next few years.
Adding to the offensive firepower, the Sabres also have prospects like Isak Rosen Matthew Savoie and Noah Ostlund. Defensively Anthon Wahlberg looks to be the last piece to help Dahlin and Power on the future blueline and in net they even got Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen. A goalie who in flashes has shown qualities of an elite NHL netminder. With a strong team around him, he could make a brilliant tandem with Levi for the next couple of seasons.
1.) Columbus Blue Jackets
Top Three Prospects: Adam Fantilli, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk
The transformation of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been something to behold. It isn’t a long time since it felt like they gutted their entire future in order to sweep the Tampa Bay Lightnings in 2019. Now four years later, they could be nearing a golden era. Due to injuries last season, they got a top-three pick at the draft, and with it, they got Adam Fantilli. A superstar in the making who just creates offense in any way imaginable. In terms of raw skill Fantilli is up the best. On top of that they even managed to get his linemate Gavin Brindley on the second day of the 2023 draft.
Blue Jackets Prospect Pool Is Stocked Full Of Future Stars
On the blue line, they also bolster both David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk, who both are considered among the best prospects in the league. Jiricek especially as he the prototype of a modern defenceman. He moves fluently around the ice and makes great decisions after great decisions in both zones. He is always a presence you feel on the ice and can do everything at a high level. Where Jiricek is more balanced, Mateychuk is a playmaking defenceman. He always seems to be moving around, getting open or finding passing lanes.
And it doesn’t just stop with having those four players. The drafting of the Blue Jackets has been great in recent years, where offensive players like William Whitelaw, Luca Pinelli and Jordan Dumais have joined the team. In defence, Stanislav Svozil and Corson Ceulemans can be found. Both of these have the potential to develop into top four defencemen in the league. Lastly, between the pipes, it looks likely that Daniil Tarasov will get the chance to emerge as the next great Russian goalie in the league this season.
Main Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
