Boston Bruins James Hagens was an excellent first-round pick for the Bruins a team that needed a high-impact center in the system. He has a chance to be a leader at BC this year, perhaps re-uniting with his USNTDP linemate in Nashville Predators prospect Teddy Stiga. Scouts love him for the way he skates and distributes the puck, allowing him to absolutely dominate shifts at points. Hagens has built a reputation for being so deceptive, both with and without the puck, making it difficult for defenders to figure out his next move. He's always looking up, and his teammates just know to get themselves into a scoring position whenever they can. Hagens has all the makings of a No. 1 center in the next few yearsAnaheim Ducks Roger McQueen could become the biggest steal of the top 10 this year? The Ducks certainly hope so. McQueen played just 20 games between the regular season and the playoffs. But he was productive, physical, and showed so many flashes of skill. McQueen has a big 6-foot-5 frame, but moves like someone significantly smaller and lighter in the best way possible. He can shoot, pass and intimidate all in one shift. A back injury is a tough one to overcome fully, but his pure talent is undeniable. If he can hit the ice at full speed next year with no issues, the Ducks could have another home-run pick on their hands.Buffalo Sabres Konsta Helenius had a productive season in the top Finnish league two years ago and then put up a solid 35 points as an AHL rookie. He did not score at the World Juniors but was one of Finlands best two-way players and setup guys. What sets Helenius apart from others in Buffalos system is his exceptional hockey IQ. He's a creative player who rarely lets a play die in order to just make a pass. On the power play, hes patient but calculated and while he cant slow things down on the man advantage now like he did against his age group,he's learning to adjust. He should be able to make the jump to NHL duty in another year or two.Calgary Flames Cole Reschny.Theres a lot to love here and I think theres true top-six potential. Reschnys ability to produce no matter the situation makes him so intriguing. Hes not huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. Hes an outstanding playmaker, maybe one of the best in this class. Reschnys competitive nature will take him far, and he has proven internationally he can be an offensive catalyst with other high-end prospects. Reschnys penchant for creativity will make him a great fit alongside a high-end shooter one day.Carolina Hurricanes Bradly Nadeau. I loved the selection of Nadeau two years ago and he has delivered in such a big way. He had a whopping 32 goals and 58 points with Chicago this season, his first pro campaign. He was the only U-20 AHLer to register 30 goals or 50 points this year, and he did it while playing a bit more physically than we were used to seeing from him. The only true blemish on Nadeaus season was his quiet showing at the World Juniors he just never seemed comfortable after joining the team following training camp. I hope to see Nadeau play some more NHL games this season, but I expect him to spend more time in Chicago given hes still young and there’s no point in rushing him into a bottom-six role.Chicago Blackhawks Anton Frondell.The Hawks wanted some size up front, and they picked up the best power forward in the 2025 NHL Draft class. At 6-foot-1 and more than 200 pounds, Frondell plays with a ton of muscle, knocking over anyone who gets in his way. That makes him especially useful when battling for possession along the boards, but he also has one of the hardest, deadliest shots of anyone in the draft. When Frondell doesnt have the puck, he does an excellent job of getting himself into scoring lanes, especially on the right side. Frondell plans to return to Djurgardens in Sweden, but there are more than a few people who think he could crack the NHL roster immediately. Like anyone, Id rather they be patient, especially since theres a considerable speed and skill adjustment from the Allsvenskan to the SHL.Colorado Avalanche Gavin Brindley.It was a disappointing season for Brindley in Cleveland, where he finished 12th in team scoring with 17 points in 52 games. He missed some time due to injury, sure, but it was far from the production many expected from the 5-foot-9 forward. Still, he played around 17-18 minutes a night as a 20-year-old, which is nothing to sneeze at. Even if he wasnt producing, he showed how good of a skater he is and how quick his hands are when he needs to make moves. Even as a smaller forward, he has found ways to produce at every level, and I still have plenty of faith of him on the pro side. Brindley will have a chance to play a big role for the Eagles and hopefully earn an NHL call-up sooner rather than later.Dallas Stars Emil Hemming left Finland for the first time to play in the OHL last year, putting up 18 goals and 48 points with the Colts. Inconsistency seemed to be an issue again but its hard to not love the pro-level skills. He has a good 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, and he loves to battle hard in front of the net. Scouts have also liked how much energy he seems to have late in games hes built for endurance. I like his wrist shot, and I think he plays with a bit more skill than he gets credit for. I hope to see more consistency and confidence in his games in his second year in North America well chalk up 2024-25 to a tough learning curve.Detroit Red wings Trey Augustine.Fresh off becoming the most successful American goaltender in World Junior Championship history, Augustine has continued his trek to becoming the top goaltender in the NCAA this year. He registered a seven-game winning streak from mid-October until the end of November to help push MSU near the top of the standings. He hasnt lost consecutive games at any point this year, and while having a good team helps, he routinely is forced to make 30-plus saves against quality opponents. Augustine is ready to take the AHL by storm next year and isnt far away from challenging for NHL duty, either. Hes about half a foot shorter than Cossa but has been a star at every level. I think the gap between Augustine and Cossa is close, but many scouts Ive talked to think Augustine has the higher ceiling.Edmonton Oilers Isaac Howard.Perhaps one of the biggest stories of the summer was the deal that sent Howard from Tampa Bay to Edmonton in exchange for Sam OReilly. Both were among their respective teams top prospects, despite playing significantly different styles and being at different points in their development. Howard is coming off winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top college hockey player, and he also snagged a gold medal with USA at the World Championship. It was a dream season for Howard, who had nothing left to prove at the college level. Howard has an excellent shot release and his skating is a serious positive. Scouts are worried that he wont thrive unless hes paired with a center who could take away some of the defensive responsibilities, but the Oilers definitely have the manpower to do that. And before you get too excited players who have won the Hobey in their upper-class years have rarely panned out over the past 15 years. Hopefully for Edmonton, thats not the case and it was definitely a trade worth making. He will likely start the year in the NHL, but Id prefer him to head to Bakersfield to get reps in a top-six role.Florida Panthers Jack Devine.Denver didnt win another national title, but Devine was a significant contributor to the teams success once again. He set a new personal best of 57 points, giving him a grand total of 163 points in 162 NCAA outings. Devine then capped the season off with a great showing with the Checkers. The 21-year-old has a good shot, but hes more dangerous as a playmaker. Devine has been one of the NCAAS most effective wingers the past few years and was a repeat Hobey Baker top 10 finalist after earning recognition in both 2024 and 2025. Devine is a speedy, energetic forward who just makes things happen. Im excited to see how Devines game translates to the pro ranks.LA Kings Henry Brzustewicz. felt like the Kings left some talent on the table when they took Brzustewicz, but he feels like a very, very safe bet to become an NHL defenseman. And sometimes, thats the absolute best route to go. Brzustewicz is an all-around defender who may not be the most refined right now, but he doesnt have many notable flaws. He had a solid year in London, which finished with a Memorial Cup championship. Hes a two-way defender who can shoot the puck, skate well and is willing to join in on the rush any time he can. The more he played, the better he played, too. I could see him becoming a second-pairing defenseman, but Id like to see him take further steps in his own-zone play. Look for a big season in London as his expectations and responsibilities begin to rise.Minnesota Wild Danila Yurov finished his fifth KHL season with a modest 25 points in 46 games, but he still played well with Magnitogorsk overall. Now, hes set for his first year in the NHL, likely slotting in somewhere on the third line. Yurov can play center and the wing, and while hes not huge, he does have some solid muscle. Hes an excellent skater who loves to chase after pucks and win battles, and hes no slouch around the net, either. Theres a lot to like about Yurovs game, and Im excited to see how high he can push himself up the lineup this year.Montreal Canadiens David Reinbacher.Expectations were high for Reinbacher in 2024-25, only for an injury to limit him to 23 games between the regular season and playoffs. Thats after another difficult year that saw him deal with coaching change after coaching change in Kloten. Reinbacher needs a drama-free season with no injuries or mishaps along the way. With Mailloux out of the way, look for Reinbacher to take an even bigger role going forward in Laval. He played quite well when he was healthy showing that on a more consistent basis is the real challenge, though. Im still a believer I like him with the puck and I think hes very impressive defensively, too. Reinbacher just needs the chance to actually prove it.Nashville Predators Yegor Surin spent time in both the KHL and MHL last year, and he saved some of his best hockey for the KHL playoffs. Now set for his first full season in 26, Surin has an opportunity to really establish himself as a true power forward. Discipline was an issue in his draft year but much less so this past season. I almost wish he would bring some of that old school physicality. Nonetheless, hes good with the puck, can play both ends and has the ability to impact a shift every time he hits the ice. Surins KHL deal runs until 2027, but I expect him to challenge for an NHL roster spot after that.New jersey Devils Mkhail Yegorov had an incredible glow-up this year. He was one of my favorite goalies in the 2024 NHL Draft but didnt have the stats to back it up. Thats because he had to do so much heavy lifting for Omaha of the USHL, whom he eventually left halfway through the year. He then put up some outstanding performances at Boston University, with many crediting him for being one of the biggest reasons why BU advanced to the national title game. The 6-foot-5 goaltender has a great frame, and scouts love his mental toughness. Watch him shine next year in his first full year of college hockey I see a guy with the potential to become a No. 1 goaltender one day.New york Islanders Cole Eiserman.Expectations were high for Eiserman last year. He built a reputation as having one of the best shots in his age group, having decimated goalies for two years while with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. The competitive winger had a massive year with Boston University, and we know hes always involved in the offense when he dons his nations colors. He scored 25 goals and registered 36 points as one of the top college freshmen, and he had another seven points en route to gold at the World Juniors with USA. Eiserman will spend the next year in college, but dont be surprised to see him challenging for a top-six role with the Islanders come 2026-27. I know hes still raw away from the puck, but the things he does with it are special.New York Rangers Malcolm Spence.I feel confident that Spence will become a solid NHLer, even if he doesnt become a high-end producer. Instead, hes someone whom you can assign a job to do and he will get it done. The former Erie Otter isnt flashy, but hes a hard worker who loves hitting everyone he can and getting anyone off their game. Spence wasnt a high-end producer in the OHL, but he has been a point-per-gamer for most of the past two seasons. He is very versatile, although not necessarily a top-six play-driver. I think he will be one heck of a middle-six player, at the very least. Im excited to see what he can do in a key role with Michigan this year he will be one of the standout players after watching many other notable prospects commit to places like Penn State or Michigan State.Ottawa Senators Carter Yakemchuk.Will Yakemchuk be an NHLer in 26? Theres a solid chance. His overall offensive output fell in Calgary this past year, but you cant call it a disappointment. While he became known for his high-flying offensive stylings in his draft, he actually focused more on being effective in his zone. The 6-foot-4 defender struggled to get defensive reads right when he was 18, but his game has come a long way over the past year. He had an excellent training camp, and I expect him to be in the running to start the NHL with the big club. Getting sent down to the AHLer to refine his skating and gap coverage further wouldnt be a bad thing for him. But regardless, I see Yakemchuk becoming an impact top-four defenseman sooner rather than later. Hes going to be a fan favorite, no doubt.Philadelphia Flyers Oliver Bonk It felt like we never saw Bonk at his absolute best. It was almost like his puck game just wasnt 100 percent where it needed to be. That being said, there was still so much to love. He reads plays well, covers a lot of space and beats defenders with his hockey sense. At the very least, I think he can be a No. 4 or 5 defenseman for the Flyers someone who can play a lot of minutes if needed, but also a matchup nightmare if he plays 18-20. If he can clean up his puck play and add a bit more pace, Bonk could end up becoming a big piece of the future.Pittsburgh Penguins Rutger Mcgroarty.It was a mixed bag for McGroarty this year, who started the year in the NHL but was sent down to get more opportunities with WBS. He finished just shy of 40 points in the AHL, but continued to improve as the season wore on. He also looked a lot more confident as a shooter in his season-ending stint with the Penguins, registering all three of his points in a three-game span. The high-end offensive threat plays a heavy game, and I liked his two-way awareness as he started to get more comfortable last year. I wouldnt be surprised to see him go back to the Baby Penguins to start but I want to see what he can do with quality linemates in the NHL on a more consistent basis.San Jose Sharks Joshua Ravensbergen.Given the Sharks already had Askarov, it was a bit surprising to see them take Ravensbergen. But in this day and age, theres no such thing as having too many high-end goaltenders. At 6-foot-5, Ravensbergen has incredible size, great athleticism, and a calm demeanour. Put them together, and hes an intriguing prospect. His numbers arent fantastic by any means, but he snagged wins consistently on a team that would be in a lot more trouble if he didnt have their back. At the very least, Ravensbergen could become one of the biggest trade assets in the NHL once he turns pro and hopefully continues his upward trajectory.Seattle Kraken Jake OBrien. I think this could end up becoming a steal in a 2025 re-draft one day. OBrien has the skills and the smarts to be a very impressive center in the NHL. His off-puck play is great, and hes always out-thinking his opponents. OBrien just fell short of 100 points with 98, but he only continued to get better as the season wore on. Hes never going to blow you away with his pure skill, but his work ethic and ability to be effective in all three zones will allow him to have a solid career. The baseline is impressive, and while OBrien might not have the highest floor, I cant see him being anything less than a second-line NHL center.St louis Blues Justin Carbonneau.Do the Blues have a future first-line goal-scorer on their hands? Carbonneau scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. Hes known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesnt engage much physically. With the right set-up guy beside him Dvorsky, perhaps? I could see Carbonneau becoming a 30-goal scorer in the NHL.Tampa Bay Lightning Sam O'reilly.Howard might end up becoming the more productive player. But I wouldnt be surprised if OReilly becomes the better player, period. The London Knights forward is more of an all-around two-way threat. I think hes going to be a very good two-way center who loves having the puck on his stick and is very difficult to take the puck off of something OHL defenders have struggled to do over the past few years. His toolsy nature makes him valuable in a lineup, and the Bolts seem to love guys who can do a little bit of everything all throughout the lineup. I hope to see him play big minutes with Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey moving on to pro hockeyToronto Maple Leafs Ben Danford has plenty of big-game experience already, having played in two straight OHL championship series. Neither proved fruitful, but he still looked good regardless. Danford is a guy his teammates like to rely on because hes rarely caught making a mistake distributing the puck. I saw Danford play both sides on the blueline last year, but I think hes got something going on the left side it fits his shot better. Danford said he hopes to be like Chris Tanev, which I think is a solid comparison. He probably tops out as a No. 4 defenseman in Toronto, but I think he will be quite reliable.Utah Mammoth Caleb Desnoyers is a safe bet to become a two-way, top-six forward. I like his physical play, mostly because he doesnt let anyone push him around. I think hes a great playmaker and he was one of the smarter centers in the 2025 NHL Draft. Desnoyers might not be the flashiest, but at the very least, but he does so many intelligent things with the puck every night. Desnoyers is a guy you can win with, having done so at various international tournaments and in the 2025 QMJHL final. Desnoyers dealt with injuries this past year but it didnt seem to hurt his numbers. We will see if he ends up heading to the NCAA in 26 it could happen.Vancouver Canucks Tom Willander.After a strong sophomore season at Boston College, Willander is ready to prove himself against pro competition. Hes a two-way, strong-skating blueliner who makes a lot of skilled plays with the puck. I feel like his overall control of the disk is much more refined than when he started in the NCAA, and he has really figured out how to handle his gap control on smaller North American ice. Willander was one of the best defenders at the World Juniors, which helped showcase just how far his development has come. I expect Willander to play a significant role in Abbotsford and see some NHL playing time, as well.Vegas Golden Knights Trevor Connelly is Vega's best prospect and someone who would have gone higher in the 2024 NHL Draft if it wasnt for previous off-ice concerns. He has outstanding hands, and the results have been impressive in just about every showcase event weve seen him in. Connelly had 13 points in 23 games for Providence, which isnt a ton but given the teams top scorer had 24 points in 37 games, it wasnt a highly productive season for Providence as a whole. Connelly usually is one of the best all-around offensive threats on the ice at any given time. I can see him being a dominant power-play presence and a consistent top-six scoring threat, but he will need to thrive in Henderson.Washington Capitals Andrew Cristall. there anything Cristall cant do with the puck? After scoring 26 goals and 60 points in 28 games with Kelowna, he was traded to Spokane, where he had 22 goals and an incredible 72 points in 29 regular-season outings. He capped off the year with 21 goals and 41 points in 19 games playing alongside Berkly Catton, with the duo putting on one of the most incredible scoring runs in recent memory. Whats crazier: the fact that Spokane didnt win the WHL title, or that Cristall wasnt able to crack Canadas World Junior team? Either way, Im excited to see how the small forward translates his game to the AHL and whether his skating can hit another gear to unlock even more opportunities.Winnipeg Jets Brayden Yager. I had a hard time deciding between Yager and Salomonsson at No. 1, but I elected to go with someone Ive believed in heavily for more than half a decade. Yager has been productive everywhere he has gone, including playing a huge role in Moose Jaws Memorial Cup run in 2024. He was also one of Canadas best players at the past two World Juniors, where he looked to be one of the few players who didnt look overwhelmed by the competition. Yager is a two-way forward you can rely on at both ends of the ice, and he has an outstanding shot, too. It feels like he shoots more than your average two-way center, which I like. Hes not physically strong, but I doubt he will struggle with the physical challenges at the next level.
