Rachel KryshakNov 6, 2025, 07:00 AM ETCloseRachel Kryshak is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.
Matthew Schaefer scores his first NHL goal (0:59)No. 1 draft pick Matthew Schaefer scores his first NHL goal for the Islanders. (0:59)
With the top 50 prospects ranking done, and hockey seasons well underway worldwide, it is time to rank each NHL team’s prospect pipeline.
Counting from No. 32 all the way to No. 1, here’s the lay of the land for NHL team prospect pipelines for the 2025-26 season:
Trading prospects and picks away to win Stanley Cups is the easiest decision — when it works. It has worked famously well for the Panthers of late, but it leaves them with a very depleted pipeline. Not a single player is expected to become an impactful NHLer, and most are long shots to play.
Gracyn Sawchyn is far and away their best prospect, and has skill and confidence to develop into a middle-six player. Jack Devine and Shamar Moses have NHL depth potential, but are likely to be a few years away. Marek Alscher is an intriguing defensive prospect, with the size and defensive ability to fill a bottom-pairing role for the Panthers in the future.
Sam O’Reilly, who was acquired in the Isaac Howard trade, is the Lightning’s best opportunity at a middle-six, impact player. He’s a well-rounded, two-way center capable of contributing offense and shutting down the opponent’s best. Learning from Anthony Cirelli is going to be huge for his NHL transition.
The two Ethans, Czata and Gauthier, have NHL potential, and are most likely to be third-line, offensive contributors. Dylan Duke is NHL-ready and should be a contributor in the middle six with a relentless, checking play style.
The Stars have had plenty of success finding players late in the draft, but without many draft picks recently, accruing value is difficult.
Still, the Stars extracted tremendous value getting Cameron Schmidt in the 2025 draft. If he were 3 inches taller, he would’ve been a top-15 pick. Schmidt is unsettlingly fast and generates scoring chances through his skating. If his offensive toolbox of skating, shooting and playmaking translates, he’ll be a top-six forward.
Samu Tuomaala should carve out a bottom-six role as soon as next season for the Stars. Emil Hemming and Brandon Gorzynski have potential to become bottom-six NHL players, with Hemming representing the best chance of an impactful depth player.
Aram Minnetian is the lone defender projected to play NHL games after the Stars dealt Christian Kyrou to Philadelphia. Minnetian’s skating and skill with the puck should see him become a No. 4/5 defender who exits the zone cleanly and disrupts offense.
The Oilers have three players who are going to play NHL games and, if slotted properly, should be impactful players. Outside of that … it is bleak.
Isaac Howard is playing in the NHL and has 30-goal potential. To unlock that, playing him consistently with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl will be necessary. He’s a good skater who can keep pace, shoots the puck well and brings some physicality on the forecheck. Ideally, he turns into “Zach Hyman lite.”
Matt Savoie is a smaller forward with high-end offensive abilities. He’s another perfect complement to McDavid or Draisaitl and could provide secondary offense, something the Oilers desperately need.
Beau Akey is the lone NHL-projectable defenseman outside of the NHL for the Oilers. He moves very well, making him dangerous in transition, and he defends very well in transition. If he starts to consistently engage physically, he could be a shutdown defender on the Oilers’ second pair.
After the Avs’ traded away their most valuable prospect in Cal Ritchie, their pipeline took a major hit. It leaves them with two forward prospects with NHL potential in the middle six.
Gavin Brindley started the season with Colorado before getting hurt, but he made things happen when he was on the ice and endeared himself to his coach. He would benefit from some more AHL time, but there is a middle-six, all-situations forward there if he develops properly. Sean Behrens is the other forward prospect with middle-six potential, but he is likely two to three years away.
Mikhail Gulyayev is a tantalizing defensive prospect with good transition defense and untapped offensive capability. He needs to play in North America to develop the offense further and realize his NHL potential as a middle-pairing defender.
Ilya Nabokov has legitimate potential to be an NHL starter and is certainly someone who can split time with a 1A goaltender. He moves in a controlled and powerful manner, cuts the angle well, and is difficult to beat in breakaway situations. There’s something there for the Avs, who might have him on their roster next year.
Gone are the days of drafting prospects with special skill; in are the days of drafting big bodies, it seems. While both Easton Cowan and Ben Danford play physical, in-your-face hockey, they are also the Leafs’ most intelligent prospects in their on-ice decision-making.
Cowan is already playing NHL games, and likely carves out a long-term, second-line role as a scoring pest, although he was sent down to the AHL on Wednesday. Danford is a physical defender who should become a second-pair, shutdown guy in tough matchups.
Harry Nansi and Miroslav Holinka have increased their prospect value and projections with brilliant starts to the season. Nansi in particular has elevated his projection to a be middle-six forward with two-way ability and complementary offense. Holinka is most likely to be a bottom-six forward if his two-way play improves.
Luke Haymes and Tyler Hopkins have relatively confident projections as NHL depth players who might grow into third-line contributors. Defensively, Noah Chadwick and Victor Johansson represent organizational depth options in a year or two.
Vegas has a few players that are projected to play NHL games — but it’s unlikely those games will be for the Golden Knights, given the organization’s propensity to trade away draft picks and top prospects.
Trevor Connelly is a brilliantly skilled forward who is a reasonable bet to become a top-six option who can score and make plays. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak has an NHL-ready shot and very good playmaking ability. Whether he makes the NHL as a middle-six forward will be determined by improvement in his skating and competitive engagement.
Matyas Sapovaliv and Mathieu Cataford have bottom-six potential as checking, penalty-killing forwards with secondary offense if they improve their skating.
Carl Lindbom has earned his keep as one of the best young goaltenders in the AHL and has performed admirably in NHL appearances. His path to more NHL playing time was blocked with the signing of Carter Hart, elongating the 22-year-old’s path to the NHL. He has the tools to be a starter in the NHL and would help a few teams if he were to be traded.
Almost all of the Senators’ pipeline value is concentrated on defense. At this point, they should have the NHL’s best D corps in three years.
Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler are both projected to become top-four defenders, with Yakemchuk’s offensive prowess expected to serve him well on the power play. Hensler’s defensive abilities could see him play a significant shutdown role in the NHL.
Tomas Hamara, Gabriel Eliasson and Jorian Donovan are longer shots to become NHL regulars but should provide value in depth roles.
Up front, Blake Montgomery and Javon Moore are big, reliable two-way players with offensive upside that could see them contribute in third-line roles, providing secondary scoring. Lucas Beckman is an intriguing prospect in goal because he has platoon starter potential as a 1B, but he needs to refine his techniques and movements to realize his potential.
The Devils have prospects at every position, but their standout prospects are on defense and in goal.
Anton Silayev and Seamus Casey both have comfortable projections in the NHL as middle- to bottom-pairing defenders. Silayev is a mammoth (6-7, 207 pounds) with high-end skating ability who thrives in physical battles. He’ll be best suited in a shutdown role on the middle pair.
Casey is an offensive catalyst who defends the rush very well and squeezes much larger opponents off the puck. His path in Jersey seems blocked by other similar defensemen, but Casey could be an interesting trade chip to an organization that needs mobile defenders. There is immediate No. 4/5 potential there.
Mikhail Yegorov is a strong candidate to develop into an NHL goalie with his size, athleticism and strong mental approach. He makes timely saves and doesn’t get rattled by the moment. Up front, Lenni Hameenaho, Shane Lachance and Ben Kevan have the best chance to become impactful third-line players who can contribute offensively.
The bulk of the Kings’ pipeline value can be attributed to three goaltenders with NHL potential. Carter George, Hampton Slukynsky and Petteri Rimpinen all have the skill and ability to become starting goaltenders, likely in platoon roles.
George and Slukynsky could form the tandem that becomes the Kings’ future in net, as soon as the 2027-28 season after Darcy Kuemper’s contract expires. They are both that good.
Liam Greentree has a fair chance of developing into a dual-threat playmaker and finisher in the top six if he can improve his skating. Kristian Epperson, Koehn Zimmer and Kenny Conners have reasonable chances to become bottom-six forwards.
On defense, Henry Brzustewicz projects as a creative, play-driving, middle-pairing defender. He’s likely two years away, but he will add more mobility and creativity to the Kings’ blue line.
Gathering excellent value outside of the first round has allowed the Jets to have quite a few NHL prospects in the pipeline. In particular, the Jets have two forward prospects who should be impactful in middle-six roles.