Dmitri Simashev is a very intriguing prospect with the size/skating combo (6-foot-4) that is so coveted in the modern NHL. He has every physical tool you could hope for, and uses each of them well, with the speed, strength, and reach to be a really great top-four defender in the NHL. However, his offensive production has left much to be desired, leaving many questions about if he will have much offense to provide in the NHL someday. Utah clearly wasn’t too nervous, rushing from their table to take him sixth overall in the 2023 Draft. Clearly they believe in the defensive game and have hope that his offense will follow.
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He shows great speed, edges, and confidence in his movement when attacking off the rush and he always has the opposition on their heels trying to predict his next move. Morrow has produced a ton of offense in the NCAA, but his defensive game has really developed well with the University of Massachusetts, turning him into a much more well-rounded player. There is a good argument for Jaccob Slavin in the conversation of the best pure defensive player in the NHL. His defensive impacts are impeccable, and he has started to elevate his offensive game lately as well.
The Philadelphia Eagles Have a Jalen Hurts Problem
His offensive game is impressive for a defender of his size and his skating makes him even more intriguing as an NHL prospect. Yakemchuk has a rocket of a shot, scoring 19 goals last season, something that makes him a true goal scoring threat from the point. He challenges opposing players one-on-one like a forward, constantly setting himself up for these incredible dekes. The problem is, he doesn’t succeed 100% of the time and can put himself in tough positions to recover defensively.
NHL Rank: Top-100 player predictions for the 2023-24 season
Hutson sees the ice really well and was dominant offensively through two NCAA seasons. He earned a quick two game NHL tryout with Montreal at the end of last season and looked dangerous so expect him to be a difference maker on the backend there very soon. Cowan is a quick and hardworking winger whose offensive production skyrocketed in the OHL last season, nearly doubling his production from the prior season in fewer games. The skill and skating were always there, but his ultimate offensive potential was the biggest question. He has gone a long way to putting that question to rest this year so keep an eye on Cowan as he finishes his junior career and enters the pros very soon.
- I never like not having a proven commodity, but there are real reasons for optimism for both Cameron Korpi and Logan Stein.
- Thus it still feels like they’re a year away, especially in adding another huge freshman class, one that doesn’t have a lot of drafted players nor obvious top tier USHL stars.
- After missing the playoffs for his first time since his rookie season, expect a motivated Pittsburgh star center this year.
- Your Lucius and Whitelaw types are out the door and are replaced with old, experienced college hockey transfers from Minnesota State-esque schools.
- He is the best player they have, one of the longest-tenured players with the Utah/Coyotes team, and provides great leadership.
- The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier.
- After a very long and successful career with the Lightning, Steven Stamkos has moved on and joined the Predators.
- He only played 59 games last season but was credited with 142 hits, which would be nearly 200 hits across a full season.
Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Calgary Flames
On top of scoring goals and an impressive point total, he is a solid two-way player who can take on additional responsibilities. Bo Horvat has turned into a dependable 30-goal, 70-point two-way center that the New York Islanders https://gambibet.org/ can rely on in any situation. With Selke Trophy votes in two of the last three years, his defensive play has been on notice, and that is part of what makes him so valuable to the strong defensive team, the Islanders.
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Defenseman Gustav Forsling will likely consistently be matched up with the Oilers’ top line during the series. Forsling has tallied 31 hits, 23 blocked shots, and 14 takeaways up to this point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The veteran blue-liner isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body as he’s averaging 3.49 blocks throughout the postseason. On top of his defensive prowess, Forsling is a gifted offensive option on the blue line as he’s registered 11 points (four goals & seven points) this postseason.
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- Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort.
- Only time will tell if his game will translate to the pro level given his 5-foot-10 frame, but I like his hands and tenacity enough that I think he’s got a great chance.
- Though he already has a Stanley Cup on his resume, he will certainly be looking to get back into contention for another Cup this season.
- It marked his sixth straight year topping the list, having overtaken Sidney Crosby in 2017 after the Penguins star had a seven-year run at No. 1.
- Some may be worried about his lack of production in the WHL, but anyone who saw Danielson play in the NHL Preseason last Fall should know he’s well on his way to becoming a high-end NHLer.
- He has made the move to North America and absolutely schooled the OHL last season with the Sudbury Wolves.
(c) Real-life value does not always translate to fantasy value, and I always use Mark Stone as a prime example. He doesn’t score many goals, doesn’t shoot the puck much and doesn’t throw many hits. The Panthers’ defense will certainly have their hands full in the Stanley Cup Final considering that they have to slow down Connor McDavid and company.
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- Cale Makar, a defenseman with remarkable offensive talents, continues to impress with his vision and ability to control the game from the blue line, earning accolades and respect from fans and peers alike.
- Tkachuk plays with an ample amount of physicality, and will likely do his best to get under the skin of the opposition.
- McGroarty won’t lead your team in scoring, but he’ll do a whole lot of other things at a very high level.
- Since his outstanding rookie season, Mat Barzal hasn’t been able to get back to the 85-point mark, but last season he came pretty close.
- The Panthers are known for their structured systems that make scoring a pain, but at the end of the day, you need an elite goaltender as the last line of defense.
The No. 1 pick from 2017 has always been touted as a responsible, two-way center that excels in the faceoff dot. However, last season, the Devils captain proved he can get it done at both ends of the ice, hitting 31 goals and 80 points. The duo of Hischier and Hughes down the middle for New Jersey is flat-out terrifying.
Alex DeBrincat, LW, Detroit Red Wings
Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play so far in the KHL. He scored six points in his first six games, but slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games. There’s a very real chance that he ends up as the top defender in this class given the massive potential his frame and agility provide. The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier. He battles well against larger players and his low center of gravity makes him harder to knock off the puck than you would expect.
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Isak Rosen laced up for exactly 120 professional hockey games by his 20th birthday, and has added quite a few since. The main reasons he has been so successful against larger and stronger competition are his phenomenal skating and his ability to make good decisions at a very high speed. Rosen has the defensive effort and technique to be a solid two-way winger in the NHL one day, which has served him well in the AHL so far, where he’s been one of the league’s best young players for the past two seasons.
- Öhgren has a great shot, good hands, legit playmaking skill, and the skating ability to put all those skills together.
- Okay, I may have under-sold Brzustewicz’s offense already, he finished last season 10th in OHL scoring and led the league in assists with 79.
- Nor is it the way he makes up for a lack of top-end speed with a deceptive grace that lets him fly right by the opposition all the same.
- Demidov isn’t quite at the same level as top 2023 Draft prospect Matvei Michkov, but he is a legit top-end talent who has clear top-line potential in the NHL.
- Although he isn’t the generational type of prospect Connor Bedard is, he still has all the makings of a quality player and core peace for the San Jose Sharks.
- Scoring 57 goals has only been done by a handful of players currently active, and while many were on the powerplay, they all count the same.
- Not only can he produce, but he has also received votes for the Lady Byng and Selke Trophies throughout his young career.
- He is still very effective and plays a versatile enough game that he can fit in with any center and make offense happen.
The Russian dynamo is the easy favorite behind Macklin Celebrini to be in contention for the Calder trophy. He has the opportunity and the skill set from his playing time in Russia to become a dominant rookie in his first season in the national hockey league. He may be the most skilled rookie in this class, but he already has the IQ and game sense to play at the highest level. He will automatically become one of the Philadelphia Flyers’ best players, and it won’t even be close. His talent alone can help elevate the ceiling of the Philadelphia Flyers this season. After a 54-goal regular season, Hyman is out to 14 goals in 18 contests this postseason — a jaw-dropping 0.77 goals per game rate.
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Had Makar played a full season last year, there’s a chance he would be entering this year as a back-to-back Norris Trophy winner. Nonetheless, Makar enters this season as the league’s best defenseman and a top-three player in the league. He missed 22 games last year with injury, but still managed to finish top-10 in defensemen scoring (66 points) and one of only two blue liners to put up a point-per-game (1.10). He absolutely torched the MHL this year (2 points per game) and scored 28 points in 17 playoff games. I’m confident he’ll score a ton of points in the NHL, it’s just a question of how effective of a player he can be at even strength given his smaller frame and strange skating stride.
The veteran netminder also thrived during the regular season with a 2.37 goals-against-average and .915 save percentage. However, this is likely the most lethal offense that he has faced throughout the postseason. Considering Bobrovsky’s track record, it’s possible that Bobrovsky will be one of the top x-factors that will determine how this series plays out.
- He is a physical, smart, and strong defensive defenseman who can chip in with good offensive numbers.
- The Finnish center played an integral part in Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, leading all players in faceoff wins.
- Logan Stankoven is a fearless competitor who is willing to make tough, physical plays and isn’t shy about throwing his body around either.
- He’s an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight.
- A big offensive step forward for Lucas Raymond has him relatively high on this list.
Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he’s glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when he’s on a breakaway. His tools make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results. He has the tools to be a top-6 forward, but his offensive game will need to continue to grow if he wants to reach that level of play in the NHL. Ritchie missed pieces of the past two seasons with injuries, but his play down the stretch in the OHL last season was phenomenal. Despite missing nearly all of his draft-1 season to injury, Michael Hage has established himself as a high end prospect, and was drafted 21st overall. He has a really well-rounded tool kit as a 6-foot-1 center who skates well, has excellent skill with the puck and can create chances at will in the USHL.
He can receive a contract extension on July 1, 2025, and he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Either way, the three-time MVP will reap the benefits of being the NHL’s best player since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015. Florida claimed the defenseman off waivers in 2021 from Carolina, and he has since flourished into a legitimate top-pair defender. He quickly rose to the top of the Panthers’ blue line and is now one of the most underrated defensemen in the league. The Panthers captain trails only Tkachuk on the team in playoff points with 17 in as many games. His 164 faceoff wins rank third out of all skaters, and he’s winning 53.4 percent of his draws.
Jake Guentzel, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
He has been a strong shut-down center for the club, and while his play has taken a step back over his massive $77 million deal, he is still a very valuable player. He still has good offensive numbers, especially with the fact that he has three other forwards who can challenge for 100+ points annually. He had the captaincy moved from him to Auston Matthews, but he is still a very strong leader in the locker room and that will continue to be one of his biggest assets as well. Despite having his lowest point total of his career, Brett Pesce didn’t take any steps back in his all-around game last season. His defensive metrics, like Ekholm’s, were some of the best of his career, and that is what earned him a big contract with the New Jersey Devils. A lot of missed time last season resulted in what seemed like a quiet year from Shea Theodore, but in reality, he nearly broke his career-high in points in just a short amount of time.
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In a year where seemingly every star for the Avalanche was hurt at some point, Rantanen played a major role in keeping the team afloat. The Finnish power forward had his first 50-goal, 100-point season, leading Colorado with 55 goals and 105 points. Rantanen finished sixth in MVP voting — and I don’t think that did his performance enough justice. In the age of up-and-coming stars taking over the league, the 36-year-old Penguins captain remains one of the most consistent performers at both ends of the ice. After missing the playoffs for his first time since his rookie season, expect a motivated Pittsburgh star center this year.
In his final junior season, Beck scored at a higher rate than ever and was a strong play driver for the Saginaw Spirit throughout the regular season, OHL playoffs, and their Memorial Cup victory. There are always a few first-round picks who rose in their draft year in large part to their size advantage, and Lian Bichsel is certainly one of them. The 6-foot-5 defender is adept at using his size to get what he wants on the ice, against junior players as well as seasoned pros. His offensive game is unlikely to ever really pop in the NHL, but I could see him as a solid complimentary guy you gladly pair with your top offensive defender if all goes well over the next few seasons.