With the NHL season well past the halfway point, it's time to update the list one final time this season before you know who takes over the No. 1 spot come the fall. For context, there was a group of about 80 players I felt needed to be on the top 100 and then 30-40 names that could have filled the remaining spots.
(Note: Players with 25 games or more of NHL regular season experience are not included)
1- Luke Hughes (D-NJ)
2- Logan Cooley (C-ARI)
3- David Jiricek (D-CLS)
4- Shane Wright (C-SEA): 14 points (6G, 8A) in seven games since return to OHL.
5- Simon Edvinsson (D-DET)
6- Simon Nemec (D-NJ)
7- Brandt Clarke (D-LA): 24 points (10G, 14A) in twelve games since return to OHL.
8- Matthew Savoie (C-BUF)
9- Cutter Gauthier (C-PHI)
10- Jimmy Snuggerud (RW-STL): One of best players in NCAA (16G, 37P in 28GP as true freshman at University of Minnesota.
11- Denton Mateychuk (D-CLS)
12- William Eklund (LW-SJ)
13- Joakim Kemell (C-NSH)
14- Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW-VAN)
15- Jesper Wallstedt (G-MIN)
16- Matthew Coronato (LW-CGY)
17- Logan Stankoven (C-DAL)
18- Alexander Nikishin (D-CAR): Largest riser in prospect world this season. Setting all sorts of records (40A, 50P in 59GP) as 21-year-old defender in KHL.
19- Kevin Korchinski (D-CHI)
20- Pavel Mintyukov (D-ANH)
21- Conor Geekie (C-ARI)
22- Jiri Kulich (C-BUF)
23- Chaz Lucius (C-WPG): Shoulder injured suffered while with WHL Portland will end season.
24- Marco Rossi (C-MIN)
25- Lane Hutson (D-MON): Remarkable production
With the NHL season well past the halfway point, it's time to update the list one final time this season before you know who takes over the No. 1 spot come the fall. For context, there was a group of about 80 players I felt needed to be on the top 100 and then 30-40 names that could have filled the remaining spots.
(Note: Players with 25 games or more of NHL regular season experience are not included)
1- Luke Hughes (D-NJ)
2- Logan Cooley (C-ARI)
3- David Jiricek (D-CLS)
4- Shane Wright (C-SEA): 14 points (6G, 8A) in seven games since return to OHL.
5- Simon Edvinsson (D-DET)
6- Simon Nemec (D-NJ)
7- Brandt Clarke (D-LA): 24 points (10G, 14A) in twelve games since return to OHL.
8- Matthew Savoie (C-BUF)
9- Cutter Gauthier (C-PHI)
10- Jimmy Snuggerud (RW-STL): One of best players in NCAA (16G, 37P in 28GP as true freshman at University of Minnesota.
11- Denton Mateychuk (D-CLS)
12- William Eklund (LW-SJ)
13- Joakim Kemell (C-NSH)
14- Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW-VAN)
15- Jesper Wallstedt (G-MIN)
16- Matthew Coronato (LW-CGY)
17- Logan Stankoven (C-DAL)
18- Alexander Nikishin (D-CAR): Largest riser in prospect world this season. Setting all sorts of records (40A, 50P in 59GP) as 21-year-old defender in KHL.
19- Kevin Korchinski (D-CHI)
20- Pavel Mintyukov (D-ANH)
21- Conor Geekie (C-ARI)
22- Jiri Kulich (C-BUF)
23- Chaz Lucius (C-WPG): Shoulder injured suffered while with WHL Portland will end season.
24- Marco Rossi (C-MIN)
25- Lane Hutson (D-MON): Remarkable production (9G, 36P in 27GP) as freshman at Boston University.
26- Brennan Othmann (LW-NYR): Scoring numbers surprisingly down (10G, 22P in 20 GP) since mid-season trade to OHL Peterborough.
27- Danila Yurov (RW-MIN)
28- Yaroslav Askarov (G-NSH)
29- Lukas Reichel (RW-CHI)
30- Ivan Miroshnichenko (LW-WSH)
31- Marco Kasper (C-DET)
32- Fabian Lysell (RW-BOS): Playing well (24P in 29GP) in first season with AHL Providence, but failed to register a point in seven games at World Juniors.
33- Lukas Cormier (D-VGK)
34- Matthew Knies (LW-TOR)
35- Rutger McGroarty (RW-WPG)
36- Olen Zellweger (D-ANH)
37- Frank Nazar (C-CHI): Yet to play during freshman season at University of Michigan due to injury. Unclear if he will return or not this year.
38- Jakob Pelletier (LW-CGY)
39- Devon Levi (D-BUF)
40- Liam Ohgren (LW-MIN)
41- Hendrix Lapierre (C-WSH)
42- Noah Ostlund (C-BUF)
43- Isaac Howard (LW-TB)
44- Brad Lambert (C-WPG)
45- Sebastian Cossa (G-DET): 2021 No. 15 overall pick has spent nearly entire season in ECHL.
46- Scott Morrow (D-CAR)
47- Owen Pickering (D-PIT)
48- Mavrik Bourque (C-DAL)
49- Pyotr Kochetkov (G-CAR)
50- Jordan Dumais (RW-CLS): Brilliant job by Columbus scouting staff. 2022 third-rounder (96th overall) has 36 goals and 92 points in 45 QMJHL games.
51- Sean Farrell (LW-MON)
52- Brock Faber (D-MIN)
53- Owen Beck (C-MON): Made one-game NHL debut in late January due to emergency recall.
54- Sean Behrens (D-COL)
55- Bobby Brink (RW-PHI)
56- Filip Bystedt (C-SJ)
57- Mackie Samoskevich (LW-FLA)
58- Oskar Olausson (LW-COL)
59- Aatu Raty (C-VAN): Flipped from Islanders to Canucks in Bo Horvat trade.
60- Filip Mesar (RW-MON)
61- Isak Rosen (LW-BUF)
62- Carson Lambos (D-MIN)
63- Dustin Wolf (G-CGY): Arguably the best goaltender in Calgary system, including the two guys currently playing in the NHL.
64- Corson Ceulemans (C-CLS)
65- Lian Bichsel (D-DAL): Monster two-way effort at World Juniors. Will come down to offensive development.
66- Ridly Greig (C-OTT)
67- Shakir Mukhamadullin (D-NJ)
68- Thomas Bordeleau (LW-SJ)
69- Brendan Brisson (C-VGK)
70- Samuel Fagemo (LW-LA)
71- Zachary Bolduc (C-STL)
72- Victor Soderstrom (D-ARI)
73- Marat Khusnutdinov (C-MIN)
74- Ryan Johnson (D-BUF)
75- Zack Ostapchuk (C-OTT)
76- Zachary L'Heureux (C-NSH)
77- Scott Perunovich (D-STL): Offensive rearguard simply cannot stay healthy. Has played 36 games past three seasons.
78- Jack Drury (C-CAR)
79- Fedor Svechkov (C-NSH)
80- Xavier Bourgault (RW-EDM)
81- William Wallinder (D-DET)
82- Ryan Greene (C-CHI): Surprise breakout (22P in 25GP) as freshman at Boston University.
83- Nathan Gaucher (C-ANH)
84- William Dufour (RW-NYI)
85- Zach Dean (C-VGK)
86- Seamus Casey (D-NJ)
87- Adam Sykora (LW-NYR)
88- Alex Laferriere (LW-LA)
89- Carter Mazur (LW-DET)
90- Arseni Gritsyuk (LW-NJ): Former fifth-rounder (2019) having career year (34P in 59GP) in KHL. Contract up at end of year.
91- Sam Rinzel (D-CHI)
92- Dmitri Voronkov (LW-CLS)
93- Dmitri Buchelnikov (LW-DET)
94- Sasha Pastujov (LW-ANH)
95- Dmitri Rashevsky (RW-WPG)
96- Alex Turcotte (C-LA): Former No. 5 overall pick (2019) running out of time.
97- Tyson Foerster (RW-PHI)
98- Jagger Firkus (RW-SEA)
99- Will Cuylle (LW-NYR)
100- Jack Peart (D-MIN)
101- Jackson Blake (RW-CAR)
102- Nikolai Kovalenko (RW-COL)
103- Ryan Chesley (D-WSH)
104- Joshua Roy (C-MON)
105- Elmer Soderblom (LW-DET)
106- Nikita Chibrikov (RW-WPG)
107- Ivan Morozov (C-VGK): Former KHL standout surprisingly struggling (11P in 34GP) in first AHL campaign.
108- Luke Evangelista (RW-NSH)
109- Justin Sourdif (C-FLA)
110- Nolan Foote (LW-NJ)
111- Drew Helleson (D-ANH)
112- Daemon Hunt (D-MIN)
113- Akira Schmid (G-NJ)
114- Tristan Luneau (D-ANH)
115- Reid Schaefer (LW-EDM)
116- Cameron Lund (C-SJ)
117- Elias Salomonsson (D-WPG)
118- Grigori Denisenko (LW-FLA)
119- Evan Nause (D-FLA)
120- Luca Del Bel Belluz (C-CLS)
121- Ethan Del Mastro (D-CHI): Has really developed last couple year. Rock for Canada at World Juniors.
122- Connor Zary (C-CGY)
123- Jeremie Poirier (D-CGY)
124- Jani Nyman (RW-SEA)
125- Emil Andrae (D-PHI)
126- Pavel Dorofeyev (LW-VGK)
127- Riley Kidney (C-MON)
128- Jan Jenik (C-ARI)
129- Jack Rathbone (D-VAN)
130- Ryan Ufko (D-NSH)
131- Christian Kyrou (D-DAL): Jordan's younger brother piling up the points (51P in 43 GP) in OHL.
132- Jacob Truscott (D-VAN)
133- Artyom Duda (D-ARI)
134- David Goyette (C-SEA)
135- Kirill Kirsanov (D-LA)
136- Elliot Desnoyers (C-PHI)
137- Shai Buium (D-DET)
138- Justin Barron (D-MON)
139- Mattias Havelid (D-SJ)
140- Ty Nelson (D-SEA)
141- Danny Zhilkin (C-WPG)
142- Tyler Boucher (RW-OTT): Was over drafted at No. 10 overall in 2021, but still has a chance to make it as depth guy and net-from presence with man advantage.
143- Ryker Evans (D-SEA)
144- Simon Forsmark (D-CAR)
145- Ayrton Martino (LW-DAL)
146- Brett Berard (LW-NYR)
147- Carl Lindbom (G-VGK): Undersized, but seems to play exceptionally well at each and every stop.
148- Logan Mailloux (D-MON): Off-ice concerns remain, but is a legitimate top-four defensive prospect.
149- Mats Lindgren (D-BUF)
150- Drew Commesso (G-CHI)
151- Vincent Iorio (D-WSH)
152- Adam Engstrom (D-MON)
153- Calle Odelius (D-NYI): Rough World Juniors. Ended up Sweden's No. 7 defender and rarely played by time tournament was over.
154- Simon Robertsson (RW-STL)
155- Jackson LaCombe (D-ANH)
156- Mason Lohrei (D-BOS)
157- Josh Doan (RW-ARI)
158- Maveric Lamoureux (D-ARI)
159- Justin Robidas (C-CAR)
160- Semyon Chistyakov (D-NSH)
161- Stanislav Svozil (D-CLS)
162- Egor Zamula (D-PHI)
163- Julian Lutz (LW-ARI)
164- Egor Sokolov (LW-OTT)
165- Helge Grans (D-LA)
166- Samuel Poulin (RW-PIT)
167- Ilya Safonov (C-CHI)
168- Erik Portillo (G-BUF): Rumors University of Michigan netminder may spurn Sabres and go UFA route.
169- Roni Hirvonen (C-TOR)
170- Matyas Sapovaliv (C-VGK)
171- Topi Niemela (D-TOR)
172- Zion Nybeck (RW-CAR)
173- Noel Gunler (RW-CAR)
174- Jack Hughes (C-LA)
175- Lukas Dostal (G-ANH)
176- Martin Chromiak (LW-LA)
177- Matthew Poitras (C-BOS)
178- Dylan Garand (G-NYR): Having a rough go of it in first pro season (8-9-3, 3.28 GAA, .887 save percentage) behind one of AHL's worst teams.
179- Gleb Trikozov (LW-CAR)
180- Ville Koivunen (LW-CAR)
181- Tomas Hamara (D-OTT)
182- Alexander Kisakov (C-BUF)
183- Fraser Minten (C-TOR)
184- Nick Moldenhauer (RW-TOR): Well over a point-per-game (43P in 34GP) with USHL Chicago, off to University of Michigan next season.
185- Ryan Winterton (C-SEA)
186- Carter Savoie (LW-EDM)
187- Bryce McConnell-Barker (C-NYR)
188- Tyson Hinds (D-ANH)
189- Daniil Chayka (D-VGK)
190- Tyler Kleven (D-OTT)
191- Roby Jarventie (LW-OTT)
192- Calle Clang (G-ANH)
193- Alexander Perevalov (LW-CAR)
194- Matvey Petrov (RW-EDM)
195- Olivier Nadeau (RW-BUF)
196- Ronnie Attard (D-PHI)
197- Jacob Perreault (RW-ANH): Six goals in 35 AHL games. Not going to get the job done for a player that offers nothing defensively.
198- Colton Dach (C-CHI)
199- Jan Mysak (C-MON)
200- Joel Blomqvist (G-PIT)
GRADUATED
Owen Power (D-BUF)
Juraj Slafkovsky (LW-MON)
Matty Beniers (C-SEA)
Dylan Guenther (RW-ARI)
Kent Johnson (LW-CLS)
Jake Sanderson (D-OTT)
Mason McTavish (C-ANH)
Cole Perfetti (LW-WPG)
Alexander Holtz (RW-NJ)
Jack Quinn (C-BUF)
Wyatt Johnston (C-DAL)
Dylan Holloway (C-EDM)
John-Jason Peterka (RW-BUF)
Kirill Marchenko (LW-CLS)
Nick Robertson (LW-TOR)
Shane Pinto (C-OTT)
Jonatan Berggren (RW-DET)
Kaiden Guhle (D-MON)
Zac Jones (D-NYR)
Vitali Kravtsov (RW-NYR)
Philip Broberg (D-EDM)
Jordan Spence (D-LA)
Calen Addison (D-MIN)
Jordan Harris (D-MON)
Jake Neighbours (LW-STL)
Jack McBain (C-ARI)
David Gustafsson (LW-WPG)
Kevin Bahl (D-NJ)
Nick Perbix (D-TB)
