His skating is his best tool both on offense and on defense, but he could use some help defensively where he can get pushed around a bit. 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. He has second-pairing potential in the NHL, especially if paired with a solid defensive defender who can make up for his deficiencies on that end. He’s extremely deceptive when setting up his teammates and has a very underrated shot. Lysell has spent the last two seasons in the AHL where he has been excellent for the Providence Bruins, scoring 87 points in 110 total games. It won’t be long before he debuts in Boston, and I think his skating will make him stand out at the NHL level from day-one.
William Wallinder, LD, Detroit Red Wings
The LA Kings have built their defensive structure around him for well over a decade, and he is still a crucial part of their team. After getting his first full season under his belt, Byfield’s 55 points and his superstar projections earned him a big contract that will allow the LA Kings to plan ahead and have him as a staple in their top-six group. Byfield is still young at just 22 years old, and he has proven that he has the skills to take a big jump in production and could use his size as an advantage. He isn’t a physical player, but with his 6-foot-5 frame, he will learn to use it better when carrying and protecting the puck.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
- Utah clearly wasn’t too nervous, rushing from their table to take him sixth overall in the 2023 Draft.
- With his 52 points, he had a pretty average regular season by his standard, but once the playoffs hit, he was scoring a point per game and making an impact every night.
- He exploded for 39 goals and 91 points last year, both career highs for the Swedish center.
- The duo of Hischier and Hughes down the middle for New Jersey is flat-out terrifying.
- Bystedt played eight AHL games last Spring with the San Jose Barracuda and looked excellent.
Nick Suzuki had one of the best offensive seasons by a Montreal Canadiens player since 2000, and not only was he producing at a great rate, but he is also an excellent defensive center. With Suzuki being the first-line center on a team that struggled as much as the Canadiens did defensively, what is even more impressive is that he earned Selke Trophy votes. There is so much potential for Cole Caufield to become one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, and while he has yet to hit the 30-goal mark, he has a great release and plays well. There is hope that with an improved top-six, Caufield’s new teammates will help him reach his full potential and challenge for 50 goals someday. Regarded as one of the top two-way players in the entire league, Mark Stone is likely only this low because of his health.
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- The Edmonton blue liner’s 27 points only trail McDavid and Draisaitl out of all players, but it’s already the fifth-most points in a single playoff by a defenseman of all time.
- Morgan Rielly had a strong offensive season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and while he isn’t known for his shut-down abilities, he was fine on the defensive side.
- The Buffalo Sabres were lucky enough to have three selections in the first round of the 2022 Draft, picks nine, 16, and 28.
- A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.
- In his 321 minutes of ice time at five-on-five, the Oilers have controlled 57.2% of the expected goals and outscored opponents 19-11, per Natural Stat Trick.
- Some will argue that Sorokin deserved the Vezina last year over Linus Ullmark, but it’s only a matter of when, not if, the New York goaltender earns the honor.
- Iginla has an excellent wrist shot as well, but he isn’t the most gifted playmaker or physical guy.
The No. 1 pick from 2019 is living up to expectations in New Jersey, finishing a point shy of 100 last season to lead the Devils to a surprise second-place finish in the Metro. His poise, hands and superb skating ability make him an offensive dynamo, and he’s only 22 years old. He is a very complete prospect who is a natural leader, shoots well, and does just about everything else you could hope for from a first-round pick. McGroarty won’t lead your team in scoring, but he’ll do a whole lot of other things at a very high level. The Penguins did well to land him in exchange for Yager, netting the better of the two prospects, though the gap isnt massive. David Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2 defender with a right-handed shot and great mobility who played lots of minutes in the National League (NL), Switzerland’s top professional men’s league, during his draft year.
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- Playing with some more high-end forwards on the Predators will likely see his goal total drop to closer to 30 goals, but he will be in a great position to set personal point-total records.
- Bouchard’s thunderous slap shot at the point makes him an exceptional weapon on the Edmonton power play, as he creates tons of offensive chances for the team.
- It’s impressive to see teenaged players competing at the professional level against grown men, even just for a couple of games.
Adam Jiricek is very engaged physically, and has a penchant for taking big point shots. Jiricek produces a ton of chances on offense from the blueline, readily activating into play to support his teammates and keep the puck moving. Unfortunately, his excitement to join the play offensively means that he takes a lot of risks, leaving himself in really poor positions to recover defensively if things don’t go according to plan. Jiricek is really great at scanning the play off puck and he persists through pressure quite well so I think he will be able to cut down on the over-the-top risks in time. I like him as a two-way defensive prospect and his right-handed shot and 6-foot-2 frame will help him out on draft day. Hunter Brzustewicz is an offensive defender who skates incredibly well and has a lot to give offensively.
Artemi Panarin, LW, Rangers
He is an effective scorer, and despite having a slow start to the season, he caught up quickly and finished with over a point per game. His physicality, leadership, and playoff performances have launched him up the list over the past two years and he has become one of the most impactful players in the league. One of the best defensemen in the league, Roma Josi continues to score a significant amount of goals and points every season.
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The 24-year-old is coming off a second consecutive 40-goal campaign, finishing with over 100 points for the first time in his career. Along with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, the smooth-skating winger forms the most dominant forward trio in hockey. He combines size and aggression with slick skill, showcasing some of the best hands in the league while not being afraid to muck things up. After he was acquired by the Panthers last summer, he emerged as the face of the franchise, posting his second consecutive 100-point season. Tkachuk’s clutch run in the playoffs was the cherry on top of a sensational first season in Florida.
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Frank Nazar is a great center prospect who was drafted 13th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft despite being 5-foot-9. Typically, NHL general managers are wary of selecting players of Nazar’s size so early in the draft, but his playmaking vision and dynamic skating were enticing enough that the Blackhawks were willing to take the risk. He will likely provide a ton of value off the rush in the NHL someday as his speed and ability to make smart passes while manipulating defenders’ skates allows him to create tons of scoring chances.
- Shane Wright’s biggest obstacle since being drafted has been the NHL/CHL agreement but he was granted an exception last year so he could compete in the AHL despite not being officially eligible.
- His playmaking skills either at full speed or after settling in the offensive zone are impressive and make him a very mobile and shifty threat whenever he has the puck.
- He combines size and aggression with slick skill, showcasing some of the best hands in the league while not being afraid to muck things up.
- His offensive game is impressive for a defender of his size and his skating makes him even more intriguing as an NHL prospect.
- Joshua Roy has proven just about everyone wrong ever since he was drafted 150th overall in the 2021 Draft.
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He was drafted to be a two-way center with a strong shot and he’s not far from being just that in the NHL. Minten’s first WHL season after being drafted was a great showcase for his shot and his compete level, with Minten becoming a very important forechecker and defensive forward for the Kamloops Blazers. Luneau made the opening night lineup for the Ducks last year but bounced between the NHL and AHL before heading to Sweden for the World Juniors where he was sidelined with an infection in his knee that ended his season.
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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.
Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
He exploded for 39 goals and 91 points last year, both career highs for the Swedish center. The No. 1 pick from 2018 had his breakout campaign, putting up 73 points in 78 games. Dahlin is only going to get better, and as he improves, so will the Sabres’ success.
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. The Edmonton blue liner’s 27 points only trail McDavid and Draisaitl out of all players, but it’s already the fifth-most points in a single playoff by a defenseman of all time. His six goals put him in a tie for the lead at his position in 2024, while his 21 assists rank second out of all skaters. Bouchard’s thunderous slap shot at the point makes him an exceptional weapon on the Edmonton power play, as he creates tons of offensive chances for the team. On top of all that, his 140 shot attempts are the most this postseason out of all skaters. He’s a center with a June birthday, meaning he’s one of the youngest players from the 2024 draft class, and will be just 18 years old for his entire rookie season in the NHL.
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Young, speedy, and skilled winger Jesper Bratt has had three fantastic seasons in a row now and has proven himself to be a top offensive option for the Devils. With a healthy forward group for the Devils, Bratt will have better players surrounding him all season, and could very well hit the 90-point https://gambibet.org/ mark, or even higher this season. Mark Scheifele is an all-offense player who can challenge for 30 goals and 70+ points in most seasons. He is the cornerstone of the forward group for the Winnipeg Jets, and as the team’s weakest position is center, he is thrown into a lot of situations.
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As great as the Oilers are on offense, they do need to play some defense to win the Stanley Cup. Since joining Edmonton ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, Ekholm has provided some much needed stability on defense, and he has elevated his game in these playoffs. In his 321 minutes of ice time at five-on-five, the Oilers have controlled 57.2% of the expected goals and outscored opponents 19-11, per Natural Stat Trick. Those numbers are even more eye-popping when you consider Ekholm is tasked with slowing down the opposition’s top forwards. It’s probably safe to assume that Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe will get a heavy dose of Ekholm in this series. Artyom Levshunov has an incredibly exciting toolkit as a big, right-handed defender who skates incredibly well.
Florida will no doubt try to lay the lumber on Edmonton’s stars, but Draisaitl has a unique knack for getting the puck in the net one way or another. 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. One thing he and Michkov have in common is a difficulty earning minutes in the KHL as a draft eligible player. Demidov sat out many games to start the year and played full time in the MHL for the rest of the season.
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.
He is still a bit of a raw prospect at this point, which means there’s a lot of room for growth. Levshunov was a poor defender in the USHL when he first arrived, but finished that season as a strong two-way player. His first NCAA mirrored that closely, with an increased defensive responsibility as the year wore on. It looks like Levshunov is set to make the jump to the pros next season, and while his defensive game may not be great right off the bat, he’s shown himself to be a quick study.
What I’ve seen from him this year is a natural progression of him getting bigger and stronger, allowing him to dominate the WHL. It’s not just his improved finishing that makes him exciting, it’s his strength, speed, and motor. Columbus already has Adam Fantilli as their 1C of the future, and adding Lindstrom who could conceivably fill the 2C spot will be a huge answer for the team’s future.
However, other nations – such as Argentina, Germany, Spain, France and reigning Olympic men’s champion Belgium – have now made their way into the top international rankings, making the sport truly global. Athletes use a hook-shaped stick, with which they drive, control, and hit a hard ball. Except for goalkeepers, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet. Over the next four to seven games, key players on both sides of this matchup will make big plays to determine the NHL’s next champion. Former NHL winger Justin Williams was referred to as «Mr. Game 7» due to his ability to come through in the clutch. Dating back to last season, the Florida winger has displayed a knack for scoring in key moments and is a key reason for a number of Panthers wins.
Here, in the twilight of his career, he’s still doing it, altering his game to keep up with a league that seems to be running a hundred miles-per-hour faster than it did when he was in his prime. Whether that’s enough to pull the team around him back into playoff relevancy remains unclear. But coming off another summer of roster tweaks, with a new young linemate to mold into an ideal wingman, it would be foolish to count Crosby out. Aleksander Barkov has taken over as the top two-way center in the NHL now that Patrice Bergeron has retired, and on top of that, has found strong offensive consistency over the past three seasons. During the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Barkov had some of the toughest matchups possible and did an excellent job shutting down the top players on all of the teams he faced on the path to winning the Stanley Cup.
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