Ranking the best NHL players and prospects under 23: Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard remain at the top

Today, I release my midseason update of the under-23 NHL player rankings.

This is a ranking of the best young players overall on teams’ reserve lists, meaning within an NHL organization, playing in or outside the league. This is a ranking meant to show who I think will have the best pro careers, not who I would take in a game tomorrow. A player must be 22 years old or younger as of Jan. 1, 2026, to qualify.

Ranked players are placed into tiers and given tool grades. Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7

Position C D G LW RW

Team Avalanche Blackhawks Blue Jackets Blues Bruins Canadiens Canucks Capitals Devils Ducks Flames Flyers Golden Knights Hurricanes Islanders Jets Kings Kraken Lightning Mammoth Maple Leafs Oilers Penguins Predators Rangers Red Wings Sabres Senators Sharks Stars Wild

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Tier 1

Tier: Elite NHL player

Celebrini is an incredibly well-rounded center. He has a very powerful stride with a quick twitch in his first few steps and can get by a lot of defenders. He’s extremely skilled and creative with a high-end offensive sense. Celebrini makes a ton of difficult plays with the puck on the move, in tight areas and from a standstill. He has a bullet shot from range as well. He’s average-sized, but Celebrini is highly competitive, wins a lot of battles and projects as a premier two-way matchup center in the NHL. He has all the makings of a potential superstar that you can build a contender around.

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Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Bedard is an electric offensive talent. He has among the best puck skills in the NHL and makes a ton of highly creative plays through opponents and to teammates. He’s an elite passer who makes high difficulty passes consistently. He’s a lethal mid-range shooter who can project to be a major goal scorer in the NHL. He has the ability to terrorize defenses on the power play with the multiple ways he can beat them. Bedard is a small center and isn’t an elite speedster for a small guy, but he moves well and is very elusive in tight areas. He competes hard and doesn’t get pushed around. There’s a possibility he has to get pushed to the wing due to these slight limitations, but he can play a competent center. He projects as a player who will sit at the top of the scoring leaderboards in the league.

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Bob Frid / Imagn Images

Carlsson’s tools are elite. He’s a big center with a ton of skill and hockey sense who routinely makes difficult plays with the puck. He sees the ice at a very high level and hits a ton of seams. The plays he makes for a big man are unique, especially at the pace he can do them at. He’s not going to run over opponents, but he competes hard, gets to the net to create offense and plays on both special teams. He can run a first power-play unit, while also being able to drive offense at a top level at even strength. He projects as a star No. 1 center you can build a winner around.

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Michael Reaves / Getty Images

Tier 2

Tier: Bubble elite NHL player and NHL All-Star

Schaefer has been one of the best 18-year-old defensemen playing in the NHL in recent years. He’s a powerful, effortless skater who can close gaps and transition up ice at a clear NHL level. He uses his feet to attack often, leading and supporting rushes very well. Schaefer is a very intelligent defenseman with legit offensive skills. He creates a lot of chances due to his skating, but he can also break down opponents one-on-one with his hands and find a lot of seams to make plays. He closes on checks at a high level due to his athleticism, but Schaefer is also a great competitor. He uses his size to make stops, gives a great effort every shift and projects to be able to stop top players in the NHL. He projects as a star No. 1 defenseman in the NHL.

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James Guillory / Imagn Images

Cooley is one of the best young centers in the league. He’s an elite skater with the quick twitch speed, first few steps and edge work to evade most NHL defensemen. Cooley is also a player with a ton of individual skill and creativity, making high-skill plays through defenders and to teammates routinely. Cooley isn’t that big, but he works very hard and doesn’t show fear at getting to the net. He has the makings of a do-it-all No. 1 center who could be used on both special teams and play any position on a power play while being a driver at even strength.

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Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images

Johnston has been an integral part of some long playoff runs for Dallas. He’s a player with outstanding skill and vision who can break shifts open. Johnston has a lot of talent, but his effort level also drives a big part of his value. He’s a super competitive player who doesn’t shy from taking pucks to the high-traffic areas and is a reliable two-way center. His only downside is a lack of a separation gear, but he competes hard enough to compensate for that. He projects as a No. 1 center who can play in any situation.

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Cooper Neill / Getty Images

Slafkovský has a special combination of size, speed and skill. He has embraced using his large body, is highly physical and is very effective generating offense at the net. I wouldn’t call Slafkovský the more instinctive playmaker on a top line, but he has good hands, vision and finishing touch and can create on the move. Even if his pure point totals never overly excite, the unique role Slafkovský fills as a big, fast, hard winger with legit top line skills could make him a difference-maker for a team, especially in the postseason.

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David Kirouac / Imagn Images

Demidov has off-the-charts skill. He’s extremely creative, making plays with the puck and often breaking shifts open with his stickhandling. Demidov sees the ice at a very high level. He can run a power play flank as a passer and is excellent at making plays in tight areas. He has an excellent motor, attacks the net consistently and competes hard to win pucks. The only true knock on Demidov is his skating. He has a powerful lower half with strong edge work, but he has an awkward/knock-kneed skating stride that could be a minor issue in the NHL. He’s so good at everything else, though, that it shouldn’t be a major issue. He projects as a star winger.

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Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images

Smith has tremendous puck skills, vision and overall offensive creativity. He skates well and makes many high-difficulty plays at a quick tempo. Smith is a high-end passer and power-play QB who finds a lot of O-zone seams and is also able to finish chances from the dots. The only real wart in his game is that I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high-energy player. Smith may be a long-term winger unless he gets better without the puck, but with his skill set, he could be a legit top-line winger who puts up massive point totals.

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Bob Kupbens / Imagn Images

Tier 4

Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Guenther is a big winger who skates quite well and has a lot of offensive ability. He has high-end skill, often showing he can beat defenders one-on-one with pace, make tough plays consistently and has a wicked shot from distance that should make him a weapon on the power play for years to come. He’s not a highly physical player and plays too much on the outside as a lot of shooters do, but he gives a decent enough off-puck effort to not be a frustrating player. Guenther has all the makings of a potential star scoring winger who could regularly put up 30+ goals.

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Sergei Belski / Imagn Images

Gauthier has a prototypical NHL skill set. He’s a big, fast, highly skilled forward with a natural offensive touch. He can create a lot of chances in transition due to his hands and feet. He can make tough plays to teammates, but he is a shoot-first player. His shot is very dangerous and can beat NHL goalies from distance. He’s not a hard-to-play-against player, but his effort level is good enough to be a reliable NHL forward given his large frame. He projects as a top-line winger who can be a regular 30-goal threat.

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Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Sennecke is a tall winger who skates quite well for his size and has game-breaking skill. He’s a highly creative puck handler who beats players one-on-one often, and the fact that he can make those difficult plays at full speed makes him highly intriguing for the NHL level. He sees the ice very well and is creative as a passer. There have been times when I’ve questioned his compete and consistency, but that aspect has been better of late. Sennecke’s pure tools are so elite that he could be a legit top-line winger who scores at a high level in the NHL.

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William Liang / Imagn Images

Fantilli is a big center with high-end skill who skates well and competes hard. He wins a lot of battles, will lay into opponents, and gets to the net to create offense. He has excellent hands, often beating defenders with his one-on-one play, and the pace at which he can get by players can break open shifts. Fantilli has a great shot that can beat goalies from range and difficult angles. His playmaking is average, and could limit his overall offensive output. The rare combo of traits he brings to the ice, though, could still lead to being a No. 1 center who’s hard to play against, even if his offense isn’t prolific.

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Ben Jackson / Getty Images

Hutson has been a top offensive defenseman in the NHL over the last two seasons. He’s a dynamo with the puck on his stick. Hutson has high-end skill, creativity, poise and sense with the puck, often walking the blue line using his great edge work to create time to make plays. He sees the ice at an elite level and can run a first-unit power play. There’s no doubting Hutson’s offense; the doubt comes down to his defense. He’s a small defenseman without high-end feet or physicality. He works hard, but he’ll have trouble defending the fastest, strongest forwards. He’ll put up a ton of points in his career and play real minutes at even strength, but a team ideally surrounds him with defensemen who can take the tough matchups.

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Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images

Hughes is a dynamic skater with freakish edge work and explosiveness for a defender of his size; he’s one of the better all-around skaters in the NHL. He combines his excellent skating with a high skill level and strong vision, making him a constant offensive threat. He walks the blue line and creates chances for others at a clear NHL level, although he can be overly risky with the puck at times. His defense isn’t his selling point, mostly due to his risky tendencies, but he’s a good enough defender due to his feet, length and being a competitive player. He projects as a No. 1 defenseman.

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Curtis Comeau / Getty Images

McTavish is a well-rounded center with some major strengths and no notable flaws at the NHL level. He’s a strong skater. He has excellent puck skills and can beat defenders one-on-one with pace. He sees the ice well and can make tough plays. He has a great shot and can pick corners from range. He’s a tenacious competitor who leads by example with his effort and physicality. He has No. 1 center potential, but he projects behind Carlsson long-term at center for the Ducks. If he’s a No. 2, he could be one of the best second-line centers in the league at his peak.

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Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Leonard is a fast winger with a tremendous motor. He throws the body around constantly and hunts down opponents on the forecheck. Leonard has a ton of skill and can break shifts open with his puck handling, and often takes pucks to the net with his skilled plays. He sees the ice well enough, but Leonard’s playmaking doesn’t stand out like his skill and goal-scoring do, with a shot that can beat NHL goalies. He projects as a unique top-line power winger.

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Buium is an extremely intelligent puck-mover who can run an NHL power play. He makes high-end plays routinely and can break shifts open with his puckhandling and passes. Buium is a strong skater who can activate off the blue line and create off the rush. He has good edge work and is proficient at making checkers miss. Buium’s defense is a minor issue, though. He’s not very physical, and big, fast forwards will give him issues. He competes well enough that, in time, he should be an adequate defender to go with his tremendous offense. He projects as a top-pair defenseman who can run a PP1.

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Andrew Mordzynski / Getty Images

Chernyshov is a highly gifted winger. He has the body, speed and hands of an NHL scorer. He also plays the game in a direct, translatable manner. He’s more of a shooter than a playmaker, but he can see the ice and make top-end plays both as a handler and a passer. Chenyshov creates offense at full speed, at the net, and can generate off the perimeter. He checks almost every box you want in a top-six winger, and his instant success as a pro in North America has him looking like a potential legit top-line player.

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Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images

Michkov is a winger with elite skill and hockey sense. He shows tremendous creativity with the puck, while also having a sixth sense for how to create scoring chances for others or find his way into a scoring position. Michkov is a gamebreaker with the puck, but there have been issues without it. He’s a so-so skater, with more good edges than foot speed, and he doesn’t have a ton of physical play in him for an average-sized winger. He’ll get to the net frequently to create chances, but his effort level otherwise is average, and the way he plays will frustrate coaches when he isn’t scoring. He projects as a top-line winger due to his tremendous puck play.

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David Kirouac / Imagn Images

Tier 5

Tier: Top of the lineup player

Dickinson is a 6-foot-3 defenseman who has an explosive, fluid stride. He breaks up plays and closes gaps easily due to his skating. Dickinson is very skilled at handling the puck and often creates chances due to the combination of his skating and skill. He also has a hard slap shot from the point and projects to score a good number of goals in the NHL. He has offense and can make some tough plays. His decision-making can be frustrating at times, and he doesn’t project as a major point producer in the NHL. The hope is he’s so good at even strength and defending that even with decent enough offense he could be a big minutes two-way defenseman.

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James Guillory / Imagn Images

Nazar has become a top player for Chicago. He has a very likeable style of play. He’s full of speed and energy. He has a high skill level and creates offense, but does so in a direct, translateable way to the NHL, often taking pucks to the net. He wins way more battles than you would expect for a player his size, and projects as a reliable two-way center in the mold of a Brayden Point. His offense has surprised me as time has gone on. He’s smarter and more creative than I thought when he was a teenager, and he could be an excellent second-line center who plays all situations.

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Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Kantserov has been one of the best players in the KHL this season. He isn’t that big, but everything else about his game is excellent. He’s a very quick skater with high-end skills and vision who projects to be able to create offense at the NHL level. He gives a great effort, creates in hard areas and is a responsible two-way player. He has a lot of similarities to fellow Chicago forward Frank Nazar. Kantserov projects as a top-six winger who coaches will trust in any situation and will succeed in the playoffs despite his size.

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Brian Babineau / Getty Images

Nemec is a very intelligent puck mover with the confidence to make difficult plays and run an NHL power play. His pure athleticism and skill don’t jump off the page, though. He can make stops because of how smart he is and having a solid compete level while being a good skater. He projects as a major minutes defenseman who could play on both special teams but may not post huge offensive numbers or ever truly dazzle in any area of the game.

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John Jones / Imagn Images

Misa is a high-end skater with clear NHL edge work and top speed. He’s a highly skilled and creative playmaker. His ability to improvise in tight areas and on the move is elite. He’s not overly physical, but Misa works hard, gets to traffic to create offense and plays both ways. I don’t think he sees the ice at a super high enough level to be a massive point producer, but he projects as a play-driving top-six center.

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Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Edvinsson is a rare package of size, mobility and skill. You don’t find many big men who can move and handle the puck as well as he can. He’s huge and competes well, showing the ability to close on checks with his length and body and make a lot of stops. He skates pucks up ice well and retrieves them well. His hockey sense is a minor issue and may keep him from putting up major point totals in his career. He could still be a great two-way top-four defender with a unique profile.

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Stephen R. Sylvanie / Imagn Images

Simashev has clear NHL athleticism. He’s a tall, mobile defenseman who can close on checks and skate pucks up ice like an NHLer. He competes very hard and doesn’t shy from using his big body. The offense in Simashev’s game isn’t overly exciting, but he has good hands and can make difficult plays with the puck. He can create with his feet and skill and can have secondary offense in the NHL even if he’s not a natural playmaker. He projects as a major-minute defenseman who can match up against top players.

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Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images

Hagens has a dynamic combination of skating and skill. His edge work is high-end, and he’s extremely elusive in open ice. He makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and is a high-end playmaker who can run a power play well. Hagens isn’t that big or physical, but he’s a competitive player who coaches tend to lean on and can drive play at even strength. He has all the traits to be a quality top-six forward in the NHL or a very good second-line center.

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Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

McQueen is a 6-foot-5 center who can skate and has legit offensive skills. His reach and hands can let him break shifts open, especially when he’s attacking with tempo. I wouldn’t call him a truly high-end playmaker, but he sees the ice well, makes difficult plays and can create in the high percentage areas. McQueen is big, but what scouts love is that he uses his big frame. He has a legit edge in his game and projects as a hard-to-play-against top-six forward/second-line center.

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The younger brother of Montreal’s Lane Hutson, Cole has some similarities and differences from his brother. He’s a very skilled and intelligent defender who projects to run an NHL power play. His hockey IQ isn’t quite as elite as Lane’s, and he has a better shot. Cole is also a bit bigger and more physical. Cole may not be a premier NHL defender, but his skating and compete should allow him to make enough stops while bringing a lot of offense. He projects as a top-four defenseman who could run a first power-play unit.

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David Berding / Getty Images

Martone is a highly skilled winger, especially for his size. His reach and skill will allow him to beat NHL defenders one-on-one. He makes a lot of difficult plays and does so in traffic. Martone competes well, showing no hesitancy to engage physically or create at the net. Martone’s major issue is the pace in his game. When he turns the corner and gets up ice, his foot speed is decent, but his first few steps are heavy with a semi-wonky-looking stride, and he doesn’t always play with a ton of tempo. The size and skill combo is so good that he could overcome that problem and become a high-quality, heavy top-six winger.

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Nick King / Imagn Images

Tier 6

Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Stankoven is small, but everything else about his game is a major positive. It’s why, despite his frame, he’s been quite successful against men. He’s an elusive and fast skater who competes very hard and brings a ton of energy to his shifts. He makes a ton of highly skilled and creative plays with the puck at full pace. He has the flashy skill to generate off the perimeter, but he gets to the net and wins a surprising number of pucks along the boards. He surprised many and went back to center this season in the NHL and has held his own, looking like a potential second-line center long-term.

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Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images

Catton is a well-rounded center and a high-end skater, with powerful edge work that will make him very difficult to check in the NHL and lets him elude pressure constantly. His foot speed is strong, but not at the same level as his edges. He’s an elite puckhandler. Catton makes a ton of difficult plays on the move, and the way he picks apart defenses with tempo will translate to a lot of NHL offense. He projects to run an NHL power play due to his touch, vision and shot. He’s not overly physical, but he competes. He wins pucks, gets to the net and can kill penalties. He projects as an excellent top-six forward who could be a second-line center despite his size.

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Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images

Surin is an easy player to like. He’s a skilled forward who can create a lot of offense. He displays quality vision and finishing touch, and skates well, too. What drives his game, though, is that Surin is hyper-competitive. He brings it every game, plays both ways, is very physical and has a lot of tempo in how he creates offense. Surin has mostly played wing this season, but he has the traits to be a second-line center or winger.

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Maksim Konstantinov / Getty Images

Levshunov is a skilled and creative defenseman who has the offensive traits to make high-level NHL plays. He’s very smooth and poised. He skates well and can play an uptempo style in how he attacks with his skill. He’s a great passer with a good point shot and can run a pro power play. His defensive play doesn’t stand out as much, as he can cheat for offense and he’s not overly physical. As a pro, the offense hasn’t been so spectacular to make up for those issues as well. He projects as a top-four defenseman who can tilt the ice at even strength.

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Bob Kupbens / Imagn Images

Aitcheson is a hyper-competitive defender who doesn’t back down from physical play and likes to agitate. He has the bite NHL teams will love, even if he does go over the line at times. He’s a good skater with strong enough hands and hockey sense to make plays at higher levels and has a fantastic point shot, too. Aitcheson won’t run a power play, lacking the natural touch and sense at times with the puck, but he projects to have secondary NHL offense. Even if his puck play is just decent, with his athletic tools and being a menace to play against, he can be a great top-four defenseman.

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Dennis Pajot / Getty Images

O’Brien has been an excellent junior player as a leader on a top OHL team. He displays the high-end patience and vision to hold onto pucks for an extra second to make difficult plays and run an NHL power play. He’s extremely skilled with the puck, showing the soft touch and quick hands to create a lot of scoring chances and improvise on difficult plays often. He’s a decent enough skater. His game can lack pace at times, in part because he pulls up to make his skilled plays too much, but when he gets going, he moves well. O’Brien isn’t overly physical, but he gets to the net to create chances, can kill penalties and isn’t a pushover. He projects as a very good top-six forward who can put up a lot of points.

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Kevin Sousa / Getty Images

Parekh is a talented offensive defenseman who has a ton of skill and hockey sense. His brain operates differently from other players on the ice in how he sees the ice and can take an extra second with the puck to create a scoring chance. He skates well and can attack with his speed and skill. He has strong edge work and top speed and is very elusive off the blue line. He also has an excellent point shot, being a constant goal-scoring threat. He stands out with the puck; his NHL projection will depend a lot on his play without the puck. He’s not overly physical and tends to cheat for offense. He makes stops, but will likely never be a tough minutes defender. He projects as a top-four defenseman who can run a first-unit power play, and you’re hoping will be good enough at even strength to make a coach trust him regularly.

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Sergei Belski / Imagn Images

Zharovsky is in the midst of a monster 18-year-old season in the KHL. He’s a super slick winger with the hands, creativity and offensive IQ of a legit scoring forward in the NHL. He makes difficult plays with consistency and has the touch to run a pro power play. Zharovsky is a good skater who competes well enough even if he’s not a true hard-to-play-against type. He has played some center but he’s more likely an NHL winger, but one who projects to play in a top six.

Kindel is a smaller forward but otherwise checks every other box you want. He’s a very good skater with the first few steps and top speed to play at the higher levels. He’s a highly skilled, creative offensive player who sees the ice at a very high level. He creates well on the move and has a direct style of offense with a strong compete level. Kindel is a diligent player away from the puck who gives a strong effort at both ends of the ice. He projects as a top-six forward.

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John E. Sokolowsk / Imagn Images

Ravensbergen’s toolkit is highly desirable for an NHL team. He’s very athletic with the quick twitch in his lower half of a 6-1 goaltender despite being 6-5. He anticipates the play well and is quite aggressive in challenging shooters with his big frame. He can be a bit over-aggressive and chaotic in net, bouncing/flopping around too much. His reads do concern me at times, but for the most part, he’s in the right place. He can make a lot of tough saves and does so in a way that makes him look like a potential starting goaltender in the NHL.

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Dennis Pajot / Getty Images

Kasper is a very likable player due to how hard he works. He has offensive talent, with quality speed, puck skills, vision and finishing ability but the pure offense in his game is not what gets you excited about him, His motor is outstanding, he plays in traffic, throws his body around and has a legit edge in his game. He projects as a two-way top six forward, potentially a second-line center who may not score a ton in the NHL, but his coach will be able to trust him in any situation.

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Harry How / Getty Images

Bichsel is a big, mean, mobile defenseman. He plays hard and projects to make a lot of NHL stops due to how well he skates for his size on top of the physicality. The questions on him will come down to puck play. He has some skill, but it’s inconsistent and he fights the puck at times. His puck play will leave fans wanting at times, but he’s so physically imposing and solid defensively that he projects as a top-four defenseman.

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Jerome Miron / Imagn Images

Frondell has a ton of skill and a really smooth element when he’s around the puck. He’s an OK playmaker, but he’s a very dangerous shooter with a bullet shot that projects to beat NHL goalies from range. When he’s playing hard and using his body Frondell can be a two-way force. He may not be the player who drives the offense on a given line, but his combination of skill and hardness could lead to him being a top-six forward at center or on the wing.

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Martin is a very skilled forward who has the one-on-one abilities to beat a lot of NHL defensemen. He’s creative as a puck handler, and his offensive IQ is fine even if not his calling card. His skill is appealing, but it’s the combination of his skill with his compete that gets evaluators excited. Martin has a true hardness in his game, attacking the high-percentage areas and is an extremely physical player while being a good skater, too. He projects as a hard-to-play-against top-six forward, who could be a center or winger even if he won’t be the biggest offensive producer.

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Wright is a well-rounded forward who can play center or wing. He’s an intelligent and creative offensive player who can make plays through defenders and to teammates and a shot and pass threat who can create chances from the perimeter. He competes well at both ends, and also has a good inside game, showing the ability to create plenty of chances around the net. He has no noticeable flaw in his toolkit even if the pure offense and skill in his game won’t dazzle you regularly. He projects as a top-six forward, potentially a second-line center.

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Ritchie is very talented at 6-foot-2 with NHL speed and skill. He makes a ton of difficult offensive plays on the move through defenders and to teammates and can break shifts open. Ritchie can play a bit too much on the perimeter at times and he can frustrate with his consistency, but his effort level is good enough that it shouldn’t be a liability in the NHL. He projects as a top-six forward with the potential to be a second-line center if he hits.

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John Jones / Imagn Images

Lamoureux is a huge, highly physical and competitive right-shot defenseman. He’s quite mobile for someone his size and can make a lot of stops versus men. Lamoureux’s puck play is quite limited. He can make a basic first pass and has a hard point shot, but there isn’t much creativity or sense in his game. The hope is he’s such a good defender who can transition pucks with his feet that he can still be a top-four defender.

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Eklund is a strong skater. He has good speed, and his edge work is excellent as he’s very elusive is in tight. He’s a very skilled forward who makes creative plays and can do so in the tough areas. Eklund is undersized, but he plays like a big man. He’s a tenacious competitor who hunts down pucks, plays hard defensively and is great at creating chances around the net. He projects as a top-six winger despite his physical limitations.

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Michael Miller / Getty Images

Protas is a very skilled forward. His creativity and vision with the puck are high-end. Protas sees plays that others don’t, and finds seams in the offensive zone quickly. He can project to run a pro power play due to his playmaking and having a decent shot, too. His skating is heavy and will be an issue in the NHL. Some Caps fans will see similarities between that and the same issue for his brother whose become a major player for them. I would say Ilya doesn’t play quite as hard as Aliaksei, but may have better offensive touch at the same age. Protas projects as a top-six winger.

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Hage is a very talented forward with the speed, hands and hockey sense of a NHL player. Hage is dangerous coming up the ice with speed and can make a ton of highly creative plays at an NHL pace. He’s also a strong playmaker who can run a power play due to his vision and shot. He’s had a history of inconsistent efforts, but he’s become much better in that regard of late, being a more steady and reliable player. He projects as a top-six winger.

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Desnoyers checks every box. He’s tall and fast and makes a lot happen with and without the puck. He creates offense on the move, off the perimeter and at the net. He has great creativity as a playmaker, while also being a detailed two-way player. Desnoyers can be trusted to check top players, as he has a physical edge in his game. If you were to critique him, he’s not the most natural scorer and not a truly elite playmaker. He projects as a two-way top-six forward who could be a No. 2 center if he hits..

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Reschny is a highly skilled and intelligent player who can run a power play like a pro and makes a ton of creative stick handles and passes. He’s a quick skater with good edges who plays with pace and makes high-end plays on the move. He’s on the smaller side, but Reschny can create at the net and kill penalties. There’s a chance, due to his size, that he’ll need to be moved to the wing as a pro but to date in junior and college he’s shown to be a responsible and effective center. He projects as a top-six forward.

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Yakemchuk is a 6-3 right-shot defenseman with a high skill level. He’s an attack first D who uses his great skill and good enough mobility to constantly break down opponents. Yakemchuk has a bullet shot from the point and will be a one-timer threat in the NHL. He’s more of a shot than a pass threat. While he sees the ice well enough, he can be overly risk at times with his decisions. With his size and decent enough bite in his game you would think his defense would be an asset, but historically he’s struggled in that area and coaches don’t tend to trust him in certain situations. He projects as a top-four defenseman who can put up points and run a power play.

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Jiricek is a 6-3 right shot defenseman who skates quite well. His skating allows him to make a lot of stops and be strong going back to retrieve pucks. Jiricek is quite physical and competes for pucks. Offensively he doesn’t stand out, but he has decent hands and moves pucks efficiently. He’ll never do anything truly spectacular on the ice, but his type of steady two-way defenseman tends to play a lot of NHL games and he projects as a top-four D.

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Mrtka has the look of an NHL defenseman, as there aren’t many 6-6 defenders who can skate and handle the puck well. On his best shifts, Mrtka makes a major impact with how he can make stops and get up into the attack. He has some offense, with good hands and offensive instincts, but I wouldn’t call him a projected power-play type in the NHL. Mrtka uses his size well to make stops and has been far more physical this season. He projects as a top-four defenseman.

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Silayev is a 6-foot-7 defenseman who skates very well for his size. He has excellent footwork and a smooth stride, with strong four-way mobility. He closes gaps quickly on his check, plays a very physical brand of hockey and thus projects to be a very good shutdown type of defenseman in the NHL. He can skate pucks out of his zone well, but his puck play is a notable question in his game. He has good flashes at times of skill, but at other times he looks ordinary and can make questionable plays. He projects as a top-four defenseman due to his defensive ability.

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Yurov is highly talented, with a ton of skill in his game. He’s a good skater and he attacks with pace in a translatable game to the NHL. Yurov is a strong playmaker and finisher, too. He’s not overly physical, but Yurov works hard enough and has shown he can play a reliable center against men. He projects as a potential top-six forward in the NHL, although if he’s a center his ceiling might be on the third line.

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Iginla is a very talented offensive player when healthy. His stickhandling displays stand out constantly. He beats defenders one-on-one at a high rate and improvises very well with the puck. He skates well and can make high-skill plays with his feet moving. Iginla has a great shot that gets off the stick quick and he can pick corners. He gets to the inside to score as well and displays a strong effort away from the puck. His pure sense and playmaking don’t stand out like the rest of his game, though. He projects as a top-six winger.

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Brandsegg-Nygård is a well-rounded forward. He’s a good skater. He has strong puck skills. He has a great shot and is often a threat to score from mid-distance. His frame is average-sized, but he plays hard and has physicality in his game. He thinks the game well and sees plays develop, but I don’t think his playmaking is his main asset. Even if he’s not very dynamic, Brandsegg-Nygård has a game that should lend itself to success versus men and he could be a top-six winger in the NHL.

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Carbonneau has been a top player in the QMJHL. He’s a very strong skater and puck handler who can beat defenders one-on-one at full flight. He’s a physically developed winger who plays hard and can win puck battles fairly often. His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and effort in his shifts. He has a great shot and is often a threat to score from the faceoff dots with his one-timer. The one issue with Carbonneau is that his decision-making at times is questionable, and I wouldn’t call him a natural playmaker. He projects as a top-six winger.

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Miroshnichenko is a well-rounded forward who has a pro style game. He’s a strong skater with a high skill level and is a natural goal scorer. He has a big one-timer and is a threat to score from the dots. Miroshnichenko competes hard and doesn’t shy from physical play. His vision isn’t his selling point but it’s good enough. He projects as a top-six winger.

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Yegorov was up and down to start last year and left the USHL midseason to go to Boston University, where he was arguably the best goalie in college hockey after he arrived. Yegorov has clear pro potential. He’s nearly 6-foot-5 and moves quite well in the net. He has the ability to make difficult NHL-level saves with consistency. Yegorov has cleaned up his game even more this season, making good reads and not letting as many soft goals through or sprawling as much. His game can be a little chaotic at times, but part of that is due to how quickly he moves. He’s trending toward being a legit starting goalie in the NHL.

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Tier 7

Tier: Middle of the lineup player

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