Ranking NHL's best and worst prospect pools: Nos. 1-16

Having one of the best prospect pools in the NHL is typically a result of many things.

It comes from good drafting, a strong development system, and often, years of missing the playoffs. That’s exactly the situation for the teams with the league's top farm systems. The rare exceptions are franchises like the New Jersey Devils who are ready to contend and still have prospects on the way, and the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, who have surprising organizational depth only two seasons into existence.

We've already looked at the NHL's 16 worst prospect pools, so here are the 16 best.

16. Winnipeg Jets

Top three prospects: Chaz Lucius, Brad Lambert, Rutger McGroarty

Top pick in 2023: Colby Barlow

There’s a lot to like about Winnipeg’s forward prospects, especially after acquiring young NHLers Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari from the Los Angeles Kings. This year’s top pick, Colby Barlow, fits into the highly-skilled group being amassed in Winnipeg, featuring Brad Lambert, Chaz Lucius, Rutger McGroarty, Danny Zhilkin and Nikita Chibrikov.

There’s a lot of high-risk, high-reward in there, which Winnipeg added volatility to by starting Lucius and Lambert in the pros this year. On the blueline, Ville Heinola doesn’t have a lot of runway left before the organization moves on, while Dmitri Kuzmin and Elias Salomonsson both have upside. Thomas Milic is the best netminder in the system.

15. Carolina Hurricanes

Top three prospects: Jack Drury, Scott Morrow, Alexander Nikishin

Top pick in 2023: Bradley Nadeau

Carolina swung for the fences and chose skilled-but-smaller forwards in Nadeau and Jayden Perron at the 2023 NHL Draft. If Alexander Nikishin wasn’t two years away from his contract being up in Russia, he’d be a lock to step in next year. Instead, Jack Drury is the likely forward to be tapped, but with expectations attached.

Ville Koivunen had a rough first stint in North America last year, but should return with more confidence, while Aleksi Heimosalmi, Cruz Lucius, and Jackson Blake round out Carolina's forward prospects. Scott Morrow is the best on the blueline, but remains unsigned and seemingly headed back to the NCAA.

14. St. Louis Blues

Top three prospects: Jimmy Snuggerud, Joel Hofer, Zachary Bolduc

Top pick in 2023: Dalibor Dvorsky

There’s a lot of scoring potential in St. Louis’ ranks. From Jimmy Snuggerud who had a magnificent rookie year in the NCAA, looking close to NHL ready, to 110-point scorer in the QMJHL Zachary Bolduc and first-rounder Zach Dean, who are both turning pro this year, to recently drafted players Dvorsky and Otto Stenberg. When you add Jake Neighbours — who will take a full-time role in St. Louis this year — and the future forward group looks set.

Joel Hofer deserves more opportunities in net, as the Blues need to see if he truly is their goalie of the future. If there’s a deficit in their pool, it’s on the blueline where there’s promise but not a lot of blue-chip potential — unless 2023 pick Theo Lindstein turns into the smooth puck-mover some believe he is.

13. Nashville Predators

Top three prospects: Joakim Kemell, Yaroslav Askarov, Matthew Wood

Top pick in 2023: Matthew Wood

There’s a feeling around the NHL that Yaroslav Askarov, considered one of the best netminding prospects to emerge in the last decade, could be growing tired of waiting for his turn in net. If that’s the case, they need to play him or move him.

Two former first-round picks in Zachary L’Heureux and Reid Schaefer — who was acquired from the Oilers — didn’t have the start to their seasons they wanted, but ended well, boosting hopes they’ll fulfill their potential. Kemell had a so-so campaign in Liiga, but looked excellent finishing the year in the AHL and in the AHL playoffs. He could surprise at camp and make the Predators' opening-night lineup with a strong offseason.

Luke Evangelista should graduate out of the prospect pool and become a full-time NHLer after scoring 15 points in 24 games with the Preds last year and posting a dominant playoff performance with Milwaukee at the AHL level. Wood will likely turn pro after this year, ending his NCAA career early. Ryan Ufko and Jack Matier both had excellent developmental seasons on the blueline, and the team grabbed Tanner Molendyk with their second first-round pick this year to solidify the future of their defensive prospects.

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Top three prospects: Cutter Gauthier, Matvei Michkov, Tyson Foerster

Top pick in 2023: Matvei Michkov

Watching Michkov drop to seventh was a stroke of luck for the Flyers. He’ll be worth the wait when he finally arrives as a dynamic impact forward. Imagining Michkov someday playing alongside Gauthier is an exciting idea.

Philadelphia’s top two players in the AHL last season were Tyson Foerster and Elliot Desnoyers, who both produced big numbers and had stints in the NHL. They look close. Bobby Brink also had a decent rookie pro season and will look to take another step. Alex Ciernik will be one to watch at forward as well as a 2023 pick. Defensively, Emil Andrae and Oliver Bonk are top prospects, while 2023 pick Connor Bjarnason is a potential goalie of the future.

11. Arizona Coyotes

Top three prospects: Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Conor Geekie

Top pick in 2023: Dmitri Simashev

When you’ve been terrible as long as the Arizona Coyotes have, it’s hard not to grow a strong prospect pool — especially when you’ve been willing to take on bad contract after bad contract in exchange for extra picks. Dylan Guenther saw 33 games in Arizona before the Coyotes returned him to Junior. It was a tough decision given they burned a year of his contract and he was playing well, but he needed top-line minutes.

Logan Cooley is one of the top players outside the NHL right now, but without a contract, he may be headed back to the NCAA for one more season before turning pro. With little left to prove in the WHL, Conor Geekie could crack Arizona’s roster, which actually looks improved given the team made real hockey moves this offseason. This year at the draft, the Coyotes stocked up on long-term potential with Michael Hrabal, Simashev and Daniil But, and they also have Maveric Lamoureux and Josh Doan working their way toward the big leagues.

10. San Jose Sharks

Top three prospects: Thomas Bordeleau, William Eklund, Shakir Mukhamadullin

Top pick in 2023: Will Smith

When your prospect pool can keep Will Smith and Filip Bystedt out of the top three, that’s depth. Alongside Bordeleau and Eklund, the Sharks shouldn’t struggle with goal scoring. Shakir Mukhamadullin could turn into an absolute steal coming from the New Jersey Devils in return for Timo Meier. Henry Thrun also looks promising for a team whose biggest organizational gap is young blueliners. A trade sending out Erik Karlsson could help solve that issue. Other names to watch in San Jose’s system include Cameron Lund, Kasper Halttunen, and Quentin Musty.

9. Seattle Kraken

Top three prospects: Shane Wright, Ryker Evans, Jagger Firkus

Top pick in 2023: Eduard Sale

The Seattle Kraken are ahead of schedule in almost every metric, and they were gifted some spectacular prospects who slipped into their hands the last two drafts. After he was the wire-to-wire consensus No. 1 prospect, they got Shane Wright at No. 4 last year, and this year, they found not only Eduard Sale available, but also grabbed Carson Rehkopf, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, and Lukas Dragicevic.

On the blueline, Ryker Evans had 26 points in 26 playoff games as an AHL rookie, and could make the jump to the NHL this year. Add to this list Jagger Firkus, David Goyette, Ty Nelson, Jani Nyman, Logan Morrison, and Tucker Robertson, and the Kraken are cracking at the seams with NHL potential.

8. Minnesota Wild

Top three prospects: Marco Rossi, Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov

Top pick in 2023: Charlie Stramel

There’s immense potential in Minnesota’s prospect pool, but it also feels like time is running out for a few of these players. This year is make or break for Marco Rossi who needs to step in and produce like he did in the AHL. From an organizational standpoint, getting Jesper Wallstedt protected NHL starts is about to become a priority as well. The exciting Yurov has one more year in Russia, while Liam Öhgren showed growth after a difficult start in Sweden this year. He’ll make the step to the SHL next season.

With an aging blueline that lacks blue-chip prospect depth, making space and focusing in on Brock Faber this season during his first pro campaign and closely monitoring David Spacek — who continues to show massive offensive upside — will be key to the success of this pool.

7. Anaheim Ducks

Top three prospects: Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger

Top pick in 2023: Leo Carlsson

The Ducks took a major risk passing on Adam Fantilli in favor of Leo Carlsson, a move only retrospect can evaluate. Carlsson is a bonafide top-six forward of the future, and Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, added to a hopefully recuperated Jamie Drysdale, will be feeding Anaheim’s forward group and jumping into the rush for years. Beyond this core group, Nathan Gaucher, Lukas Dostal, and Tristan Luneau all have promise.

6. Chicago Blackhawks

Top three prospects: Connor Bedard, Lukas Reichel, Kevin Korchinski

Top pick in 2023: Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard, Connor Bedard, Connor Bedard. The more you say it, the more it becomes real that he’s a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. This will be the last time anyone can call the generational talent a prospect, as he’ll step into the lineup as a central offensive figure for Chicago immediately. Grabbing Oliver Moore in the draft this year to add to Lukas Reichel, Frank Nazar, Ryan Greene and Colton Dach up front was icing on the cake from this draft.

On the back end, Chicago has Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Sam Rinzel, Nolan Allan, and Wyatt Kaiser all coming down the pipeline. There’s excellent organizational depth, and Chicago shot for one of the top goaltenders in the draft in Adam Gajan as well this year.

5. New Jersey Devils

Top three prospects: Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Alexander Holtz

Top pick in 2023: Lenni Hameenaho

This prospect pool has been pumping out stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Jesper Bratt up front for a few years, with Alexander Holtz ready to join that core and add even more skilled firepower. They also have Arseni Gritsyuk, who already looks NHL ready in Russia, but has two more seasons before he can come to New Jersey.

Now, it’s time for their blueline prospects to take center stage as Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec prepare to make the jump as two of the most skilled and NHL-ready defensemem outside the league last year. Seamus Casey will head back to Michigan as their other elite blueline prospect for at least another season before he makes the jump to pro. They have the makings of one of the most skilled and mobile groups up front and on the back end in the NHL.

4. Montreal Canadiens

Top three prospects: David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Filip Mesar

Top pick in 2023: David Reinbacher

From an organizational standpoint, Montreal’s blueline is brimming with potential. From Jordan Harris, Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj who all spent time in the NHL this season, to Reinbacher and Hutson who are perhaps the best prospects of the bunch, it’s obscene depth. Then there’s the talented but problematic Logan Mailloux, who was inexplicably picked and signed. Hutson’s skillset is off the charts, while Reinbacher was the most NHL-ready defender in this year’s draft.

Up front, Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, Filip Mesar and Sean Farrell will all challenge for roster spots at camp, looking to add to the young core in Montreal.

3. Detroit Red Wings

Top three prospects: Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, Sebastian Cossa

Top pick in 2023: Nate Danielson

While it hasn’t translated to wins, and Detroit still has too many veterans on their roster to allow their youngsters to ascend to the NHL, their prospect pool depth is brimming. With Lucas Raymond, Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren, and Moritz Seider in the NHL, the next wave of players including Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, Sebastian Cossa, Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson, William Wallinder, Trey Augustine and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are pushing forward.

Detroit has depth at all three positions, and at this point in their rebuild, have enough prospects at both the junior and professional ranks that a few could be used as trade bait. They’re in excellent standing for the future, and look like they could have a few sleeper prospects in Amadeus Lombardi and Alexandre Doucet who put up huge numbers in junior this year.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets

Top three prospects: Adam Fantilli, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk

Top pick in 2023: Adam Fantilli

Kirill Marchenko, Adam Boqvist, Cole Sillinger, and a handful of other players are already in the NHL, and the team has managed to solidify one of the best young defensive corps in the league. Columbus has a recipe for future success if they can manage their incoming talent well. Stealing Adam Fantilli at third overall gives the Blue Jackets the best center perhaps in organizational history, and the upside of blueliners David Jiricek, who looks NHL-ready now, and Denton Mateychuk is immense.

Beyond their top three, Jordan Dumais exploded for 54 goals and 140 points in the QMJHL this year, while Luca Del Bel Belluz also took a developmental step forward in the OHL. Hunter McKown, who signed as an NCAA free agent, showed promise in 12 NHL games. The Blue Jackets ensured they stayed high on this list not just in selecting Fantilli, but also grabbing Gavin Brindley, Luca Pinelli, and William Whitelaw in the 2023 draft.

1. Buffalo Sabres

Top three prospects: Jiri Kulich, Devon Levi, Matthew Savoie

Top pick in 2023: Zach Benson

For a team featuring Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen already at the NHL level, to say they still have a top-five prospect pool should terrify opponents.

Grabbing Zach Benson outside the top ten in this year’s NHL draft was a steal, adding him to their depth of first-round picks including Jiri Kulich, Matthew Savoie, Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund up front, along with Anton Wahlberg. In net, Devon Levi is considered one of the best netminding prospects on the planet. This is a deep and highly-skilled prospect pool.