The prolific Russian has signed a contract and will presumably play in Minnesota in 2020-21, leaving the pipeline to be championed by winger Matthew Boldy. He's followed at the top of the list by 2019 first-rounder Philip Tomasino, who had 40 goals and 100 points in 62 games with two OHL teams in 2019-20. Traded/not signed: Jocktan Chainey (LHD), Jeremy Davies (LHD, NSH), John Quenneville (C, CHI). In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1970 to find a Blues draft class that didnt produce at least one NHL player with 100 games or more under his belt. If the Isles are going to keep defensive-zone stinginess as the core strategy behind their identity, then they certainly have the right kids lining thepipeline. Metrics to measure success vary, but sometimes the best way to judge a teams prospect is to objectively ask the question, What is this players ultimate potential?, SN's TOP 50: Ranking the NHL's best prospects for 2018-19. Those traits also belong to Ilya Nikolayev, who was the top-line center for Russias U18 squad and saw major minutes in the MHL playoffs. Not having a first-round pick for four years doesn't do much for an organization's pipeline, so it's no surprise the Penguins are in a difficult place. Graduated: Mason Appleton (LW), Sami Niku (LHD) New captain. Still, the cupboard is far from bare, as newly-acquired power winger Brady Tkachuk headlines a balanced depth chart with multiple early-round picks. 329m goal: Felix the only men's contender for Chelsea's Goal of the Month, UFC 285's Shevchenko by the numbers: It all adds up to domination, A battle for No. While it's perfectly fine to believe the Cup-contending Predators were built at the draft table, the truth is that their three best skaters Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and P.K. WebThe Kings 2021 second-round draft pick is on an absolute tear. Still, Fenton may have been on the job for just over a year, but it looks like his 2019 draft, headlined by Boldy and playmaking winger Vladislav Firstov, should set his successor up for success in later years. The Ducks under GM Bob Murray have done exceptionally well at the draft, so they've earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their prospects, specifically those picked in later rounds. Your eyes don't deceive you. Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato on newest Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, 2018-19 rank: 4th A new start with Chicago could revive his offensive flair. The Devils did not reach the NHL's pandemic-prompted postseason. You can click on the headings of the tables to sort the information. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. With all that said, and without further ado, heres a look at my final 160 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft. 1. William Eklund, C/W, Djurgrdens IF (SHL) 2. Owen Power, LHD, Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) 3. Matthew Beniers, C/W, Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) 4. Dylan Guenther, C/W, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) 5. Luke Hughes, LHD, USNTDP Juniors (USHL) 6. An underwhelming draft summed up by the puzzling selection of Swedish scoring winger Simon Holmstrom in the first round,should not detract from the overall quality of the Islanders farm system. A catastrophic first-round loss inthe playoffs notwithstanding, the Bolts still possess a strong collection of prospects even after the graduations of impressive rookies Anthony Cirelli (sixth in Calder Trophy voting) and Mathieu Joseph (26 points in 70 games.) Key additions:Taro Hirose (LW, UDFA), Albert Johansson (LHD), Oliwer Kaski (RHD), Ryan Kuffner (LW, UDFA), Robert Mastrosimone (LW), Moritz Seider (RHD) 12 Vols lose starting PG Zeigler to torn ACL, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Survey: Vikes, Fins, Raiders top FA report cards, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, Red Wings lock up Larkin with 8-year extension, The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, A new home for Michael Thomas? Few teams do a better job at plugging holes from within than the Ducks who took advantage of the lost season by playing over a dozen youngsters age 23 and younger, including heralded rookie Troy Terry (32 games). The everyday lineup for this upcoming season will be based on the health of several oft-injured veterans, but these kids are ready to assume responsibility if called upon. There's lots to like across the board for the Flyers, who were the Eastern Conference's No. To no ones surprise, the majority of the organizations other notable neophytes are Swedes, with goalie Filip Larsson coming off another stellar campaign in which he posted a .932 save percentage and 1.95 goals-against average as a freshman for Denver. But what should compound the issue for opponents is the fact that they also own the two best defensiveprospects in all of hockey former NCAA standout Cale Makarand WHL playoff hero Bowen Byram. The No. No team has done a better job at selecting elite offensive talent without the benefit of multiple top-10 picks than the Kings. However, the strength of the organizations depth lies within the forward ranks, and with a dash of Finnish flavor to boot. Start spreadin' the news. Unfortunately, the lengthy undertaking of roster reconstruction played a role in his firing, and Philadelphia failed to make the playoffs for the third time in five years in 2019. Additionally, the Canes have a bunch of AHL-seasoned blue-chippers, plus kids like Warren Foegele and Lucas Wallmark, neither of whom didn't look out of place during their respective NHL call-up. He's followed by another potentially special talent on the blue line in Finnish export. Much like the Avalanche, the Canes were able to inject youth into a lineup that enjoyed playoff success, yet still maintained one of the leagues deeper farm systems. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason. The Flyers have averaged nearly nine picks per draft year since 2015 and the significant majority still remain within the organization. LA | MIN | MTL | NSH | NJ | NYI This 30-day project counts down to the NHL organization with the best collection Big winger Raphael Lavoieisa prospect to earmark for a bright future for the Oilersafter they stole him in the second round of the 2019 draft as is22-year-old center Cooper Marody whofinished second to Benson in scoring for Bakersfield. Up front, the prospect pool has one of the top-scoring centers from the 2019 draft in Boston College recruit and reigning BCHL Most Valuable Player Alex Newhook. Game-breaker Vitaly Kravtsov has the potential to become the type of homegrown star winger the Rangers haven't owned since Steve Vickers nearly 45 years ago. MORE:Phil Kessel excited to begin next phase in Arizona: 'I think it's going to be great', 2018-19 rank: 21st GM George McPhee may have moved center Nick Suzuki to Montreal for Max Pacioretty last season, but he was gifted two elite prospects at the 2019 draft in center Peyton Krebs and winger Pavel Dorofeyev. 2021 NHL Entry Draft Rankings First Round 1. By doing so, they acquired more blue-chip assets in four months than they did in the previous 10 years combined. But they also did well with some of their other picks, which helped fuel a championship for their AHL affiliate. He had spent 27 games with the Kings' affiliate in the AHL and amassed six goals and eight assists, adjusting well to the North American game thanks to his speed and grit. Not only for the young stars already playing the NHL, but also for selecting elite youngsters outside of the top 10 like goalie Carter Hart, center Morgan Frost and super-slick winger Joel Farabee. The Blackhawks' season was the hockey equivalent of a cold shower, as they missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. But being out of contention yielded trades that brought in high-end youngsters. Janne Kuokkanen, who arrived from Carolina for Sami Vatanen. Traded/not signed: Sean Durzi (RHD, LAK),Carl Grundstrom (LW, LAK), Ryan McGregor (C). And adding a crown jewel in 2020 No. If theres only one good thing to come out of not making the playoffs for the third time in five years amassing high picks at the draft has to be it. No team has stockpiled prospects in as great a number as the Kings. Boston alsomade a strongpick late in the first round in 2019 by taking speedy power center John Beecher. The organization also appears to be high on defenseman Josh Mahura, a third-rounder in 2016 who showed advanced puck-moving abilities during a 17-game midseason stint. And there's also 6'3" left wingerVitali Kravtsov, who's an inventive playmaker with the puck and gained 39 games' worth of experience in the AHL in 2019-20 with the Hartford Wolf Pack. a top-six forward, top-four defenseman or long-term starting goaltender). Traded/not signed: Matt Brassard (RHD),Jonathan Dahlen (LW, SJS), Kristoffer Gunnarsson (LHD). Goalie Cayden Primeau produced his second consecutive all-star season for Northeastern and nearly backstopped Team USA to WJC gold which is crazy to think considering the South Jersey native was drafted late in the seventh round in 2017. Graduated: Max Lajoie (LHD), Christian Jaros (RHD), Brady Tkachuk (LW), Colin White (C), Christian Wolanin (LHD) Patience is far from a virtue in a hockey-crazed town like Vancouver, as poor performances on the ice have cost jobs and kept fans away from the arena. The ridiculous depth Tampa Bay has at the NHL level makes it difficult to predict which prospects have the best chance as promotion. Vasili Podkolzin is 19 and a powerful, two-way forward who'll reach the NHL sometime in 2020-21. Matthew Dellandreas numbers look pedestrian by first-round pick standards (63 points in 60 OHL games), and although he played for a doormat in Flint, its been Damianis speed and playmaking from the center position that helped Team Canada invite him to the recent under-20 world junior camp. 5. Rugged two-way winger Samuel Poulin is a notable prospect with promise, but he is the clubs lone first-round pick in the last five years (and at 21st overall, a bit of a reach at that). Traded/not signed:Kyle Olson (C),Marcus Pettersson (LHD, PIT). MORE:Coyotes can be 2018-19's Devils or Avalanche (with a little luck). Can the Lions fix their defense? Already an ESPN+ subscriber? The regime change in Carolina that cost Ron Francis his job as general manager doesn't change the fact that the Hurricanes already owned an arsenal of identifiable blue-chip prospects. The ninth overall pick rarely becomes one of the best players in his draft class, let alonean NHL star. MORE: Best draft class for every NHL team. Left wing Tyler Benson played seven games at the NHL level in 2019-20 and is a good puck-handler, while lanky 6'4" centerRaphael Lavoie has high-end skill and a quick-release shot that make him dangerous. 1 prospect in hockey and one of the most complete wings to enter the league immediately following his draft in some years. 2018-19 rank: 10th But Glass was far from the only Vegas phenom to pile up impressive numbers. A slow start from winger Ryan Donato likely convinced the Bruins to trade their best prospect to Minnesota for Charlie Coyle, and there wasnt much going on among the forwards once he left. There's alsoa string of the best young defensemen the European elite leagues have to offer in Nils Lundkvist, Yegor Rykovand Tarmo Reunanen, the latter bouncing back from multiple injuries to lead all under-21 rearguards in scoring in Finlands SM-Liiga. Behind Petersen are Lukas Parik, David Hrenakand Matt Villalta who is alikely candidate to spend the upcoming seasonwith the AHLs Ontario Reign. The big Russian is an excellent two-way defenseman who can excel in any situation and fellow 2018 draftee Martin Fehervary is both mobile for his size and a physical defensemen in Swedens SHL. Netminder Ilya Samsonov is in the mix here in North America after a stellar career in Russia, and the Caps are loaded with mobile defenders, including 2018 first-rounder Alexander Alexeyev and puck distributor Lucas Johansen. Where you rank the Predators can come down to how you feel about Finnish wingerEeli Tolvanen, who was picked 30th overall in 2017. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen had both. William Eklund, C/W, Djurgrdens IF (SHL) 2. Here are the top ten prospects in the Kings farm system post-draft. 1. Quinton Byfield, C Byfield was the consensus number two pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Despite the Kings having a wealth of centerman prospects in their system, the Sudbury Wolves forward was the right pick. This year: 97th. Somewhere, even as you read this, an NHL general manager is fidgeting. Ville Heinola has all the makings of a top-pairing defenseman thanks to his demeanor and intelligence, and he's joined at the position by Dylan Samberg and Declan Chisholm, among others. Franchise center John Tavares bid adieu to the Isles, leaving the team in the hands of 21-year-old star Mathew Barzal. These two consolation prizes have the potential to be perennial Norris Trophy candidates, with Makar having already showcasedhis offensive abilities during an Avs playoff run that nearly took them to the conference finals. The state of hockey in Steel City took a turn for the worse this past season,and some of the issues aging roster, expensive contracts, onrushing division rivals, thin prospect pool are symptomatic of a franchise on the brink of collapse. Still, a handful of young defensemen could ultimately provide Chicago's backbone on the blue line, namely collegiate standout Ian Mitchell and 6'4", 208-pound behemoth Alec Regula. Ranking NHL prospect pools: Top prospects, breakouts, pipeline status and more for all 31 teams in 2020-21 Alex Turcotte is one of the top prospects in a loaded Note: To maintain prospect eligibility, a player must still have rookie status. The biggest improvement, however, is on defense, where they have amassed quality puck movers whoactually know how defend. Eventual draft position did not factor in these rankings, and we should all come to accept the fact that there is no example of the first 10 players picked in a draft (in any sport) who turned out to become the 10 best pro players from that draft. Buffalo also has in its possession one of the leagues top goaltending prospects in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was named the OHLs Most Outstanding Player and led Finland to gold at the world juniors. SCOTT PERUNOVICH, D, ST. LOUIS BLUES (+22) Last year: 90th. 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Drafting speedy two-way defenseman Philip Broberg with the eighth overall pick in June could help in the short term, as his size, physicality and crisp first pass could be deemed advanced enough for a bottom-pairing role with the big club. MORE:Is Oilers' Evan Bouchard ready to take on a full-time role? Of all their prized neophytes, the edge to making Hurricanes out of camp belongs to speedy center Martin Necas, who led all AHL teenagers in scoring and is versatile enough to play wing. He's a high-energy goal scorer with an explosive first step, good puck-handling skills and a lethal wrist shot. Subban. Traded/not signed: Erik Brannstrom (LHD, OTT), Nick Suzuki (C, MTL), Maxim Zhukov (G). Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content. Back in the net, Spencer Knight was the best goalie in college hockey as a first-year player at Boston College and could be a future Florida mainstay. So if you're buying NHL prospect stock, here's the place to dump your cash. Of course, the bulk of the heavy lifting is being done by excitable forwards Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki, and puck mover Erik Brannstromthe trio of 2017 first rounders that McPhee wouldn't part with at the last trade deadline. It's tough to evaluate a depth chart when the team has only two offseasons in its history. The formula for building and maintaining a contending team differs from franchiseto franchise, yet even the regime change and recent Stanley Cup triumph hasnt altered a program that continues to favor building from the net outward. Graduated: Gabriel Carlsson (LHD) Carolina graduated Andrei Svechnikov, but still have Martin Necas and Jake Bean to headline an incredibly deep pool. A couple of skilled forwards, Owen Tippett andGrigori Denisenko are close to making impacts with the Panthers. Need more? 1 overall pick (2020). 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