In this Tier-Based Analysis, we move past the arbitrary cutoffs of first or second rounders to focus on talent clusters and organizational value. From the elite ceilings of Tier 1 to the developmental depth of Tier 21, this list identifies where the drop-offs occur and where the real value lies.

Here is the updated landscape of the Top 100. The NHL Draft Lottery is now in the books with the Toronto Maple Leafs currently slated to pick number one and soon to be on the clock. Which direction do they go?

Caleb Malhotra (Photo: Brandon Taylor, OHL Images)

Tier 1

1. LW Gavin McKenna

2. LW Ivar Stenberg

Tier 2

3. D Carson Carels

4. D Keaton Verhoeff

5. D Chase Reid

6. D Alberts Smits

Tier 3

7. C Caleb Malhotra

8. C Viggo Bjorck

9. D Daxon Rudolph

Tier 4

10. C Tynan Lawrence

11. D Ryan Lin

12. LW Ethan Belchetz

Tier 5

13. LW Nikita Klepov

14. D Malte Gustafsson

Tier 6

15. C Alexander Command

16. C Ilya Morozov

17. LW Oscar Hemming

Tier 7

18. LW Adam Novotny

19. LW Wyatt Cullen

20. LW Marcus Nordmark

21. RW Elton Hermansson

Tier 8

22. LW Ryan Roobroeck

23. C JP Hurlbert

Tier 9

24. C Oliver Suvanto

25. C Yegor Shilov

26. D Tommy Bleyl

27. RW Niklas Aaram-Olsen

Tier 10

28. LW Liam Ruck

29. D Juho Piiparainen

30. D William Hakansson

31. D Xavier Villeneuve

32. C Jack Hextall

Tier 11

33. D Adam Goljer

34. C Maddox Dagenais

35. D Nikita Scherbakov

36. C Thomas Vandenberg

37. C Simas Ignatavicius

38. RW Casey Mutryn

39. C Tomas Chrenko

40. LW Mathis Preston

41. C Brooks Rogowski

42. C Adam Valentini

Tier 12

43. C Lavr Gashilov

44. G Dimitri Borichev

45. C Ryder Cali

Tier 13

46. C Markus Ruck

47. G Brady Knowling

48. D Giorgios Pantelas

49. D Luke Schairer

50. RW Chase Harrington

51. RW Blake Zielinski

52. LW Jaxon Cover

Tier 14

53. D Ben MacBeath

54. D Jakub Vanecek

55. G Tobias Trejbal

56. LW Adam Nemec

57. D Landon Nycz

58. RW Gleb Pugachyov

Tier 15

59. D Vertti Svensk

60. C Beckham Edwards

61. C Alessandro Di Iorio

62. D Samu Alalauri

63. LW Cooper Williams

64. G Harrison Boettiger

Tier 16

65. D Mans Gudmundsson

66. RW Rian Chudzinski

67. C Ludvig Andersson

68. G William Lacelle

69. D Charlie Morrison

70. RW Jonah Sivertson

71. RW Lars Steiner

72. RW Cole Zurawski

73. LW Pierce Mbuyi

Tier 17

74. LW Landon Hafele

75. C Tyus Sparks

76. C Liam Lefebvre

77. LW Noel Pakarinen

78. G Tobias Tvrznik

79. LW Filip Novak

Tier 18

80. D Alexander Bilecki

81. RW Nils Bartholdsson

82. C Oscar Holmertz

83. LW Victor Plante

84. RW Beckett Hamilton

Tier 19

85. LW Landon Amrhein

86. D Callum Croskery

87. LW Jakub Frolo

88. C Rudolfs Berzkalns

89. D Jakub Floris

90. D Brek Liske

91. RW Zach Lansard

92. C Viktor Fyodorov

93. G Frantisek Poletin

94. D Vladimir Dravecky

Tier 20

95. G Yegor Rybkin

96. D Lucas Ambrosio

Tier 21

97. D Sean Burick

98. RW Vilho Vanhatalo

99. C JC Lemieux

100. D Maxim Sokolovskii

Dare to compare this Top 100 to:

• Our Top 83 Consolidated Draft Rankings (from all the top rankings available)

• Upside’s own April Rankings (our mammoth in-depth spreadsheet) - May update coming soon

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Just in time, we’ve completely updated our NHL Draft Lottery Simulator and Interactive Mock Draft Creator, featuring:

• Draft Lottery Simulator

• Pick you team (or pick for all teams) and draft for two complete rounds; our JedAI Draft Knight selects for the remaining teams.

• Incorporates our Top 83 Consolidated Draft Rankings

• Easily share your results

LINK: https://www.upsidehockey.com/mock-drafts

Upside’s Test Run:

Give it a go and report back your results!

Upside’s Draft Lottery and Mock Draft Creator Tool

Link - it uses our Consolidated Rankings - check it out, play around, have fun, report back!

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Upside’s Draft Lottery and Mock Draft Creator Tool

Link - it uses our Consolidated Rankings - check it out, play around, have fun, report back!

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Step into the War Room. 2 Rounds. 64 Picks. All 2026 trades updated.

The NHL draft lottery is pure chaos. But watching the ping-pong balls virtually fall is only half the battle. Once the order is set, the real work begins—and we decided it was time to hand the keys to the franchise over to you.

Today, we are officially launching Upside’s Interactive NHL Mock Draft Sim.

We took our live-updating Lottery Engine (which runs on official NHL standings and odds) and wired it directly into our 70-player Consensus Board (aggregating rankings from the best scouts in the industry).

The result is the ultimate armchair GM experience.

How to play GM:

1. Choose Your Team: Select your favorite franchise from the dropdown, or choose to control all 32 teams manually.

2. Simulate the Lottery: Click the button to lock in the 64-pick order based on today’s live NHL standings. (And yes, all real-world 2026 traded picks are already factored in!)

3. Enter the War Room: The screen will split. The official draft board is on your left, and the Consensus Best Available pool is on your right. (On mobile it may be on the bottom.)

4. Make Your Picks: When your team is on the clock, make your selection. When you aren’t on the clock, our custom AI will automatically draft the best available prospects for the other 31 teams.

This tool is entirely free to use and works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile.

ENTER THE WAR ROOM & START YOUR DRAFT

The Challenge

We want to see your most chaotic, completely biased draft hauls.

Run your simulation, draft your board, and hit the “Share Your Haul on X” button at the end to show the hockey world how a real rebuild is done. Be sure to tag @UpsideHockey so we can retweet the best ones! If your’re not a fan of X, share your haul on your favourite platform and/or in the comments below.

See you on the draft floor,

— The Upside Hockey Team

Note: Draft Rankings Completed April 7, 2026

Compare to:

• Our February Winter Edition Rankings Top 224

• Our Consolidated Rankings Top 70 March Edition

The Risers:

Just to highlight some of the movement:

• Carson Carels: Moved up 2 spots (From 5 to 3)

• Ivar Stenberg: Moved up 1 spot (From 3 to 2)

• Viggo Bjorck: Moved up 10 spots (From 22 to 12)

• Caleb Malholtra: Moved up 6 spots (From 12 to 6)

The Fallers:

• Keaton Verhoeff: Fell 3 spots (From 2 down to 5) — Slight shuffle at the very top.

• Oliver Suvanto: Fell 8 spots (From 10 down to 18)

• Ryan Roobroeck: Fell 13 spots (From 15 down to 28)

• William Hakansson: Fell 14 spots (From 18 down to 32)

And here is our Top 224:

*Create your own mock draft here with Upside’s Draft Lottery Simulator and Mock Draft Tool.

Link to the full massive rankings spreadsheet with many features at Upside.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

Dreams. Draft. Destiny.

Upside Hockey.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, and mock drafts,

  visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

By Trevor Curtis

Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers)/Photos from WHL OFFICE (The WHL)

The Resume: A History of Record-Breaking

Gavin McKenna isn’t just a top prospect; he is a statistical anomaly. Here is a summary of his historic path to the 2026 Draft:

• WHL Dominance: McKenna owns the 2nd-best U-17 season (97 points) and 3rd-best U-18 season (129 points) in WHL history since 1988, trailing only Connor Bedard in most categories.

• International Pedigree: He shattered Alex Ovechkin’s U-17 scoring record at the U-18 Worlds with 20 points in 7 games. Most recently, he tallied 14 points at the 2026 World Juniors, cementing his status as a big-game performer.

• NCAA Freshman Impact: Transitioning to Penn State, McKenna finished his current season with 51 points in 34 games. After a deliberate adjustment period, he erupted in the second half, securing the Big Ten scoring title—a program first.

McKenna is currently the #1 ranked North American Skater according to Central Scouting and Upside’s latest rankings as well as our Consolidated Rankings.

The Scouting Report: Hockey Sense as a Superpower

Walter Gretzky famously told his son Wayne to go “where the puck is going.” While direct comparisons to the Great One are rare, McKenna shares that specific DNA. Standing 5’11” and 170 lbs, he isn’t the biggest or the fastest player on the ice. He won’t win a Selke, and he definitely isn’t a traditional power forward.

What he does, however, is create offense at a level that can only be described as “generational.”

McKenna’s most lethal attribute is his superhuman brain. He possesses the foresight to see passing seams and shooting lanes before they even materialize. He is a perimeter wizard who knows how to slow the game down, bait defenders into overcommitting, and then thread the needle through microscopic spaces.

Evolving the “Soft” Narrative

Early in his career, critics accused McKenna of “floating” or being unable to penetrate the middle. His freshman year at Penn State has challenged that narrative. He is routinely logging over 25 minutes a game—heavy lifting for a 17-year-old in a physical conference.

While he remains a perimeter playmaker, he has shown a new layer of grit. With 36 PIM in 34 games, he has displayed a chippy competitive fire. He doesn’t shy away from the rough-going and has shown he can play through contact—and, as seen this season, he’s fully capable of standing his ground physically when pushed.

The Verdict

Despite perceived faults in defensive intensity, McKenna is a hockey genius. His maneuverability on his edges allows him to pivot on a dime, and his deceptive release makes his precise shot feel like a heavy one.

Draft Projection: A locked-in Top 2 pick with 1st-overall upside.

McKenna’s full profile at Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Note: Draft Rankings Completed January 31^st, 2026

Gavin McKenna: Arrest, Assault Charges, and Draft Impact

Well there has certainly been a lot going on since Upside’s latest rankings were completed, particularly in the case of top ranked, Gavin McKenna. McKenna was arrested and charged with felony assault for allegedly punching out a man who was harassing his mother. The guy lost some teeth, had a broken jaw and will have his mouth wired shut for the next two weeks. Apparently, he was having supper with his family inside a restaurant-bar when the guy kept hassling them and calling his mother names. The victim was eventually kicked out of the restaurant but was waiting for them outside where he continued to taunt them which resulted in McKenna punching him out. The felony assault charges have since been dismissed but he is still faced with simple assault charges. While there still is the possibility of prison of up to two years, it is unlikely that McKenna would go to jail given the circumstances of what we know so far. However, the devil is in the details and that has yet to come out. It seems reasonable that McKenna’s lawyer would mount a self-defense defense given the circumstance. In my opinion, it is unlikely that this will affect his draft status unless there is some prohibition over his ability to play. In fact, it will likely improve his stock for some teams. This is unlikely to impact his draft status unless he is prohibited from playing. For some teams, it might even elevate his stock. As for Penn State, they will likely wait to see the details before they decide if his actions warrant a suspension or other penalty.

Note: The NHL column in our ranking below (and when NHL rank mentioned in the write-up) are the Combined NHL Central Scouting Rankings I composed, amalgamating their four separate lists.

The Fight for First Overall: McKenna vs. Verhoeff vs. Stenberg

We have maintained our top three rankings: McKenna (NHL 1), Verhoeff (NHL 3), and Stenberg (NHL 2). McKenna remains at number one because we believe he has a bigger upside and his body is more boyish than the other two so his game has more room to grow as he matures.McKenna maintains the top spot in the rankings due to his perceived higher upside; his less developed physique suggests his game has significant room for growth as he physically matures. He has also improved his compete level and while he still needs to get to the inside more, I believe it will come as he physically matures. I believe the team that selects Verhoeff in the draft is likely to eventually win the Stanley Cup. I call it the Alex Pietrangelo mystique. He has a dose of a harder-edged Noah Dobson in the offensive zone. There is definitely nothing the matter with Ivar Stenberg who likely ends up a high -end winger in the NHL. His game is a little more mature than the other two right now which is good but is also a case of what you see now is closer to what you will get.

Best Defensemen Beyond Verhoeff

The top D for me other than Verhoeff are Smits at 4 (NHL 7), Carels 5 (NHL 4), Reid 6 (NHL 5), Rudolph 7 (NHL 8). There are arguments to be made to rank any one as the top guy. I have Smits at the head of this pack because he has the size and skills to go along with a guy who wants to be involved and a difference maker in all 3 zones. Next up is Carels because any team can use a guy who rarely makes a defensive mistake. While he probably has the least offensive upside of any in this group, his results to date are as good or close to the other three, a 73 point pace which is excellent for a draft year eligible. Up next is Reid who has the most offensive potential of the group but while his defense is not bad he has yet to give it the same attention as his offense. The last of the group is Rudolph because he is the least physical of the 3. However, he has improved his play since the Christmas break, with 12 points in his last 10 games, so could end up being the best of the bunch in the end if he continues to improve.

The Under-Performing Giants

There are two under-performing giants who I still have at the top end of the draft: Ethan Belchetz at 8 (NHL 11) and Ryan Roobroeck at 15 (NHL 41). Belchetz has such high-end qualities of size and skill that I have difficulty dropping him much more. However, he needs to bring a more consistent effort to fully utilize the potential of his size and skills. He will need to pick up the pace or fall at least to some of the other larger forwards nipping at his heel such as Hemming and Novotny.

Any doubts about Belchetz are only amplified with Roobroeck’s game. While he is 6’3 and 215, he will never play a power forward game, it is just not in him. However, Roobroeck does have elite offensive skills and understands the game. He must improve his compete, defense and physical engagement if he wishes to maintain his first-half of round one ranking or he risks falling to the late first or early second such as Lynden Lakovic last year. The good news is that he has been improving lately. The not-so-good news is that he still needs to do more especially in the compete department.

The Center Crop: Who Will Emerge?

My top centres are Tynan Lawrence at 9 (NHL 9), Oliver Suvanto at 10 (NHL 12), Caleb Malhotra at 12 (NHL 6) and Alexander Command at 17 (NHL 34). OK, there are no centres this year who are guaranteed to be a top 2 centre in the NHL. I might have included Tynan Larence earlier in the year but his extremely slow start in the NCAA (one point in his first ten games) causes me to rethink that. However, Lawrence is still a transition demon with excellent hockey sense and good defense. Will he re-find his offence to stay in the top 10. I am betting on it. Oliver Suvanto is a high-end battler who excels down low and in the corners. He can overpower even high-end opponents. He also plays a good defense. He is not over skilled and will go higher than normal for a prospect without explosive offense due to the extreme scarcity of quality centres.

Unlike Lawrence and Malhotra, Caleb Malhotra’s game has improved over the season as his pace and creativity have improved. He is also a player who can impact a game positively even without hitting the scoresheet. However, there is no sureness that he will be able to make a second line centre.

Alexander Command is a guy who has improved through the year to become Sweden’s U18 top centre and frequently their best player. Although he has only average or slightly above average skating, his combination of compete, hockey sense, skill and physical presence as well as results have propelled him to be one of the top centres for this draft.

The Other Top-Tier Wingers: Hemming, Hermansson, and Novotny

The other top wingers I have are Oscar Hemming at 11 (NHL 16), Elton Hermansson at 13 (NHL 13), and Adam Novotny at 14 (NHL 19). These three guys I really like. They all have the potential to move up. My top guy is Hemming because he has the highest potential upside with his elite shot and physicality, Next I have Hermansson who has won my heart because he is the most like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get. At least, that’s what opposition think as he hits the blue line at full speed. Last but certainly not the least is Novotny. He is the type of prospect who is particularly valuable because he positively affects the game whether he is on the scoresheet or not.

Some Bottom Six Forwards with Size

There are a few bottom six forwards in the last half of the first round of note because they could be difference makers in the playoffs. Included in this group are Ilia Morozov at 20 (NHL 10), Brooks Rogowski at 25 (NHL 22), and Maddox Dagenais at 26 (NHL 27). These are three guys I really like. Morozov is a Russian playing in the NCAA at 6’3, 200 lb. He started the year on fire but has cooled off lately. – just 1 point in his last 10 games. However, he continues to pass the eye test – size, compete, physicality, defense, and decent skating. Brooks Rogowski is a 6’7, 232 lb. OHL centre. He is a very good skater who plays very good defense. Although he will never be a high scorer, he is likely to be a player counted on at playoff time. My personal favourite in this group is Maddox Dagenais. He is a 6’4, 198 lb. winger who can also play centre who is starting to put it together after a slow start -13 points in his last ten games. He is a very good skater with an excellent shot and can be quite physical. What makes him particularly appealing to me, he attends to show up in the big games and has shown glimpses of an elite cycle game. He is the most likely guy to move up in this group for me.

Second-Rounders Poised for a First-Round Jump

The most likely second rounders to move up to the first for me are Simon Ignativicius at 34 (NHL 28) and Mathis Preston at 35 (NHL 36). Ignativicius is a Lithuanian born in the USA playing in the top Swiss professional league. He is only at a 17 point pace over 68 games but is playing mainly bottom six and is lucky to draw double digit minutes in a game. What makes him special is the combination of size (6’3, 198) and skating plus an elite defensive game and the willingness to be physical. He can also play centre. His offensive game is more to difficult to assess but he has always produced major points while playing for his country and has had 7 points in four games this year playing in the Swiss U21 league. He is literally drawing more NHL scouts than Gavin McKenna in many games so there is a tremendous interest in this guy. As for Mathis Preston, he can look like a top 10 guy with his skating and being able to cut around opponents. He has struggled a bit when the opposition crowds the open lanes and has not always looked like he was able to utilize his teammates to the best advantage. Maybe the move to Vancouver from Spokane can unleash more of his potential and move him up.

The Best Re-Entry Candidate: Tomas Galvas

My top re-entry prospect is Tomas Galvas at 39 (NHL 203). Galvas is an unlikely choice of the top re-entry prospect for me given he is in his third year of eligibility and is not of the size where many have success in the NHL at 5’10, 168. However, my philosophy on under strength and under 6’0 sized prospects is that each team can carry one without hurting there defense too much if that prospect gives you the full physical compete while he is able to run an above average power play in the NHL. I believe that is what I saw at the U20’s. I would be interested to hear your comments as the NHL does not seem to agree with me as they have him in the 7^th round. You don’t want to miss out the elite small guys that may be reminiscent of a Quinn Hughes or Lane Hutson.

We are super-stoked to share our latest format to display the rankings in the most user-friendly fashion. The Top 224 prospects are currently ranked in this edition but over 330 prospects are already included in our mega spreadsheet over at our Upside website. Please drop by and explore.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, and mock drafts,

  visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

1 Gavin McKenna 1.75
2 Ivar Stenberg 2.33
3 Keaton Verhoeff 2.42

4 Tynan Lawrence 4.50

5 Ethan Belchetz 7.00
6 Chase Reid 7.25

Carson Carels (Photo: James Doyle - Prince George Cougars)

7 Carson Carels 10.58
8 Alberts Smits 10.75

10 Ryan Lin 12.18
11 Viggo Björck 13.92
12 Mathis Preston 14.75
13 Xavier Villeneuve 15.17

14 Daxon Rudolph 16.50
15 Adam Novotný 16.58
16 Caleb Malhotra 16.73
17 Marcus Nordmark 16.73
18 Elton Hermansson 16.75

19 Oliver Suvanto 17.36
20 Juho Piiparinen 18.58
21 Ryan Roobroeck 19.30
22 Malte Gustafsson 19.73

23 J.P. Hurlbert 21.83
24 Jack Hextall 22.22
25 Will Håkansson 22.22
26 Nikita Klepov 22.67
27 Oscar Hemming 22.78

28 Yegor Shilov 25.40

29 Niklas Aaram-Olsen 27.56
30 Ilya Morozov 27.90

31 Beck Edwards 29.00
32 Tomas Chrenko 30.71

33 Maddox Dagenais 32.33
34 Brooks Rogowski 32.44
35 Adam Valentini 32.67
36 Alessandro Di Iorio 34.67
37 Casey Mutryn 34.83
38 Alex Command 35.40

39 Giorg Pantelas 37.00
40 Nikita Shcherbakov 37.13

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Philadelphia Flyers prospect pool ranks 1st in the NHL, atop the heap of the NHL organizational rankings.

Philadelphia Flyers Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2026

Philadelphia’s pool is deep and high-upside, especially at forward.
Pool Grade: A-

1. Porter Martone (RW) – 2025 1st round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Elite power forward with skill.
   Upside: First-line power winger

2. Jett Luchanko (C) – 2024 1st round | Guelph (OHL)
   Speedy, skilled two-way center.
   Upside: Top-6 two-way C

3. Oliver Bonk (D) – 2023 1st round | Lehigh Valley (AHL)
   Steady, two-way RHD. Safe NHL projection.
   Upside: Second-pair D

4. Jack Nesbitt (C) – 2025 1st round | Windsor (OHL)
   Big, skilled center.
   Upside: Middle-6 C

5. Jack Murtagh (LW) – 2025 2nd round | Boston Univ. (NCAA)
   Powerful, two-way winger.
   Upside: Middle-6 power forward

6. Yegor Zavragin (G) – 2023 3rd round | SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
   Athletic Russian goalie. Long-term project.
   Upside: NHL starter

7. Shane Vansaghi (RW) – 2025 2nd round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Powerful, defensive winger.
   Upside: Bottom-6 winger

8. Alex Bump (LW) – 2022 5th round | Lehigh Valley (AHL)
   Skilled, scoring winger.
   Upside: Top-9 scorer

9. Carter Amico (D) – 2025 2nd round | Boston Univ. (NCAA)
   Big, defensive defender.
   Upside: Third-pair D

10. Denver Barkey (C) – 2023 3rd round | Lehigh Valley (AHL)
    Small, dynamic competitive playmaker.
    Upside: Middle-6 playmaker

HMs: Carson Bjarnason, Heikki Ruohonen, Spencer Gill

Philadelphia Flyers Organizational Score: 40

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool ranks 2nd out of 32 NHL teams. Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Detroit Red Wings Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Sebastian Cossa (G) – 2021 1st round | Grand Rapids (AHL)
   Massive, athletic goalie.
   Upside: NHL starter

2. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (RW) – 2024 1st round | Grand Rapids (AHL)
   Powerful, two-way winger.
   Upside: Top-6 two-way winger

3. Carter Bear (LW) – 2025 1st round | Everett (WHL)
   Ultra-competitive scorer with great instincts.
   Upside: Top-6 winger

4. Trey Augustine (G) – 2023 2nd round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Technically sound, competitive goalie. NCAA star.
   Upside: NHL tandem goalie.

5. Nate Danielson (C) – 2023 1st round | Grand Rapids (AHL)
   Two-way center with leadership. Safe NHL projection.
   Upside: Second-line C

6. Max Plante (C) – 2024 2nd round | Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
   Playmaker with high hockey IQ. Torching the NCAA this season.
   Upside: Middle-6 playmaker

7. Shai Buium (D) – 2021 2nd round | Grand Rapids (AHL)
   Big, mobile two-way defender. Steady AHL progress.
   Upside: Top-4 D

8. Eddie Genbourg (LW) – 2025 2nd round | Timrå IK (SHL)
   Skilled, competitive winger.
   Upside: Top-9 winger

9. Michal Pradel (G) – 2025 3rd round | Tri-City (USHL)
   Big, raw goalie.
   Upside: Project goalie

10. Dmitri Buchelnikov (LW) – 2022 2nd round | CSKA Moskva (KHL)
    Skilled, elusive scorer.
    Upside: Middle-6 scorer

HMs: Jesse Kiiskinen, Carter Mazur, William Wallinder

Detroit Red Wings Organizational Score: 39

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Nashville Predators prospect pool ranks 3rd out of 32 NHL teams (even with Matthew Wood considered graduated as per the above criteria). Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Nashville Predators Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Brady Martin (C) – 2025 1st round | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
   Complete two-way center with size, tenacity, and skill.
   Upside: First-line center

2. Yegor Surin (C) – 2024 1st round | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
   Powerful, competitive Russian center.
   Upside: Top-6 power center

3. Tanner Molendyk (D) – 2023 1st round | Milwaukee (AHL)
   Elite-skating, two-way defender. .
   Upside: Top-4 two-way D

4. Ryker Lee (RW) – 2025 1st round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Highly creative, slick stick-handling, scoring winger.
   Upside: Top-6 scoring winger

5. Joakim Kemell (RW) – 2022 1st round | Milwaukee (AHL)
   High-end shot and release.
   Upside: Top-6 sniper

6. Teddy Stiga (LW) – 2024 2nd round | Boston College (NCAA)
   High-motor, skilled winger.
   Upside: Middle-6 energy scorer

7. David Edstrom (C) – 2023 1st round | Milwaukee (AHL)
   Big, two-way center. Safe, reliable projection.
   Upside: Bottom-6 C

8. Cameron Reid (D) – 2025 1st round | Kitchener (OHL)
   Smart, smooth-skating two-way blueliner.
   Upside: Second-pair two-way D

9. Jacob Rombach (D) – 2025 2nd round | Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA)
   Big, defensive defender. NCAA role player.
   Upside: Third-pair D

10. Zachary L’Heureux (LW) – 2021 1st round | Milwaukee (AHL)
    Physical, skilled winger. Needs discipline.
    Upside: Middle-6 power forward

HMs: Reid Schaefer (December update: 2 goals in 7 NHL games and making an impression), Viktor Norringer, Ryan Ufko

Nashville Predators Organizational Score: 39

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The New Jersey Devils prospect pool ranks 23rd of 32 NHL teams. Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

New Jersey Devils Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Anton Silayev (D) – 2024 1st round | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
   Massive, mobile shutdown defender.
   Upside: Top-pair shutdown D

2. Mikhail Yegorov (G) – 2024 2nd round | Boston Univ. (NCAA)
   Big, athletic Russian goalie.
   Upside: NHL starter

3. Seamus Casey (D) – 2022 2nd round | Utica (AHL)
   Dynamic offensive defenseman.
   Upside: Second-pair PP QB

4. Lenni Hameenaho (RW) – 2023 2nd round | Utica (AHL)
   Smart, two-way winger.
   Upside: Top-9 two-way forward

5. Conrod Fondrk (C) – 2025 2nd round | Boston Univ. (NCAA)
   Two-way center with size.
   Upside: Bottom-6 C

6. Ben Kevan (RW) – 2025 3rd round | Arizona State (NCAA)
   Scoring winger.
   Upside: Middle-6 scorer

7. Gustav Hillstrom (C) – 2025 4th round | Brynäs IF U20
   Two-way Swedish center.
   Upside: Depth forward

8. Topias Vilen (D) – 2021 5th round | Utica (AHL)
   Steady defensive defenseman.
   Upside: #6-7 D

9. Jakub Malek (G) – 2021 4th round | Utica (AHL)
   Big Czech goalie.
   Upside: NHL backup

10. Thomas Bordeleau (LW) – 2020 2nd round | Utica (AHL)
    Skilled playmaker.
    Upside: Bottom-6 skilled forward

HMs: Samu Salminen, Ethan Edwards, Cam Squires

New Jersey Devils Organizational Score: 16

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Montreal Canadiens prospect pool ranks 4th of 32 NHL teams (even young gun Ivan Demidov deemed graduated as an NHL regular per the criteria above). Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Montreal Canadiens Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

Montreal’s system remains elite, with franchise-impactful talent at the top.

1. Jacob Fowler (G) – 2023 2nd round | Laval (AHL)
   Technically sound, competitive goalie.
   Upside: Franchise goalie

2. Alexander Zharovsky (RW) – 2025 2nd round | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
   Skilled, creative, dangerous scoring forward.
   Upside: First-line forward.

3. David Reinbacher (D) – 2023 1st round | Laval (AHL)
   Complete two-way RHD.
   Upside: Top-4 defender

4. Michael Hage (C) – 2024 1st round | Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)
   Dynamic offensive center.
   Upside: Top-6 center

5. Hayden Paupanekis (C) – 2025 3rd round | Kelowna (WHL)
   Two-way center with size. WHL development ongoing.
   Upside: Middle-6 C

6. Florian Xhekaj (C/LW) – 2023 3rd round | Laval (AHL)
   Big, physical forward with some skill.
   Upside: Bottom-6 power forward

7. Adam Engstrom (D) – 2022 3rd round | Laval (AHL)
   Mobile, two-way defender.
   Upside: Second-pair D

8. Owen Beck (C) – 2022 2nd round | Laval (AHL)
   Two-way, competitive center. Safe NHL projection.
   Upside: Third-line C

9. Yevgeni Volokhin (G) – 2023 5th round | Khimik Voskresensk (VHL)
   Athletic Russian goalie. Long-term project.
   Upside: Project goalie

10. LJ Mooney (RW) – 2025 4th round | Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA)
    Small, speedy playmaker.
    Upside: Middle-6 playmaker

HMs: Bryce Pickford, Jared Davidson, Bogdan Konyushkov

Montreal Canadiens Organizational Score: 36

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Chicago Blackhawks prospect pool ranks 5th of 32 NHL teams even with the abundance of high end talent already considered NHL regulars for this series (e.g. Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel). Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Chicago Blackhawks Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Anton Frondell (C) – 2025 1st round | Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
   Complete two-way center with size and skill.
   Upside: First-line center

2. Sacha Boisvert (C) – 2024 1st round | Boston Univ. (NCAA)
   Big, skilled center with scoring touch.
   Upside: Top-6 C

3. Oliver Moore (C) – 2023 1st round | Rockford (AHL)
   Elite speed and tenacity.
   Upside: Top-6 winger/C

4. Vaclav Nestrasil (RW) – 2025 1st round | UMass (NCAA)
   Big, powerful winger with goal-scoring ability.
   Upside: Middle-6 power forward

5. Nick Lardis (LW) – 2023 2nd round | Rockford (AHL)
   Pure sniper with great release.
   Upside: Top-9 scorer

6. Ethan Del Mastro (D) – 2021 4th round | Rockford (AHL)
   Big, defensive defenseman. Safe, steady presence.
   Upside: Third-pair D

7. Drew Commesso (G) – 2020 2nd round | Rockford (AHL)
   Athletic, competitive goalie.
   Upside: NHL tandem goalie

8. Mason West (C) – 2025 1st round | Edina HS (USHS-MN)
   Huge, raw center with skill. Long-term project.
   Upside: Project forward

9. Roman Kantserov (RW) – 2023 2nd round | Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
   Skilled, undersized winger. KHL production impressive.
   Upside: Middle-6 skilled winger

10. Nathan Behm (RW) – 2025 3rd round | Kamloops (WHL)
    Big, scoring winger in the Dub.
    Upside: Bottom-6 winger

HMs: Stanislav Berezhnoy, Marek Vanacker, Kevin Korchinski

Chicago Blackhawks Organizational Score: 34

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Utah Mammoth prospect pool ranks 7th of 32 NHL teams. Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Utah Mammoth Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Caleb Desnoyers (C) – 2025 1st round | Moncton (QMJHL)
   Dynamic two-way cornerstone center.
   Upside: First-line center

2. Tij Iginla (LW) – 2024 1st round | Kelowna (WHL)
   High-end skill, competitiveness, and bloodlines.
   Upside: Top-line winger

3. Daniil But (LW) – 2023 1st round | Tucson (AHL)
   Massive, skilled winger.
   Upside: Top-6 power forward

4. Cole Beaudoin (C) – 2024 1st round | Barrie (OHL)
   Powerful, two-way center.
   Upside: Middle-6 power C

5. Maveric Lamoureux (D) – 2022 1st round | Tucson (AHL)
   Massive, mobile defenseman.
   Upside: Second-pair D

6. Michal Hrabal (G) – 2023 2nd round | UMass (NCAA)
   Huge, athletic goalie.
   Upside: NHL starter

7. Max Psenicka (D) – 2025 2nd round | Portland (WHL)
   Big, defensive defender.
   Upside: Third-pair D

8. Artyom Duda (D) – 2022 2nd round | Tucson (AHL)
   Puck-moving defenseman.
   Upside: #5-6 D

9. Will Skahan (D) – 2024 2nd round | Boston College (NCAA)
   Big, defensive defender.
   Upside: Depth D

10. Tomas Lavoie (D) – 2024 3rd round | Cape Breton (QMJHL)
    Big, two-way defender. Steady presence.
    Upside: Project D

HMs: Vadim Moroz, Maksymilian Szuber, Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko

Utah Mammoth Organizational Score: 31

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect pool ranks 8th of 32 NHL teams. Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Columbus Blue Jackets Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Cayden Lindstrom (C) – 2024 1st round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Powerful, skilled center with size.
   Upside: First-line power center

2. Pyotr Andreyanov (G) – 2025 1st round | Zvezda Moskva (VHL)
   Big, athletic Russian goalie.
   Upside: NHL starter

3. Jackson Smith (D) – 2025 1st round | Penn State (NCAA)
   Two-way defender with size and smarts.
   Upside: Second-pair D

4. Luca Marrelli (D) – 2024 3rd round | Cleveland (AHL)
   Puck-moving, offensive D.
   Upside: #4-5 offensive D

5. Luca Del Bel Belluz (LW) – 2022 2nd round | Cleveland (AHL)
   Skilled, creative forward.
   Upside: Top-9 forward

6. Charlie Elick (D) – 2024 2nd round | Tri-City (WHL)
   Physical, defensive RHD. Safe projection.
   Upside: Third-pair shutdown D

7. Stanislav Svozil (D) – 2021 3rd round | Cleveland (AHL)
   Smooth-skating two-way defender.
   Upside: #5-6 D

8. Kirill Dolzhenkov (LW) – 2022 4th round | CSKA Moskva (KHL)
   Mammoth winger with skill. Pace a concern.
   Upside: Bottom-6 power forward

9. Evan Gardner (G) – 2024 2nd round | Saskatoon (WHL)
   Athletic goalie.
   Upside: Project goalie

10. Jordan Dumais (RW) – 2022 3rd round | Cleveland (AHL)
    Elite skill and vision. Size and speed questions.
    Upside: Top-6 skill winger

HMs: Oiva Keskinen, Luca Pinelli, Guillaume Richard

Columbus Blue Jackets Organizational Score: 30

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Buffalo Sabres prospect pool ranks 9th of 32 NHL teams. Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

Buffalo Sabres Top 10 NHL Prospects

November 2025

1. Radim Mrtka (D) – 2025 1st round | Seattle (WHL)
   Massive RHD with offensive upside.
   Upside: Top-pair D

2. Konsta Helenius (C) – 2024 1st round | Rochester (AHL)
   High-IQ, two-way center.
   Upside: Top-6 two-way C

3. Isak Rosen (LW) – 2021 1st round | Rochester (AHL)
   Skilled scorer.
   Upside: Top-9 scorer

4. Noah Ostlund (LW) – 2022 1st round | Rochester (AHL)
   High-end skater and playmaker.
   Upside: Middle-6 winger

5. Brodie Ziemer (RW) – 2024 3rd round | Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA)
   Competitive, hard-nosed winger. Safe pro projection.
   Upside: Bottom-6 energy

6. Devon Levi (G) – 2020 7th round | Rochester (AHL)
   Athletic, undersized goalie. Fighting consistency.
   Upside: NHL tandem goalie

7. Anton Wahlberg (C) – 2023 2nd round | Rochester (AHL)
   Big, strong two-way center. Developing offense.
   Upside: Bottom-6 C

8. Adam Kleber (D) – 2024 2nd round | Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
   Huge defensive defender. Limited puck skills.
   Upside: Third-pair D

9. Maxim Strbak (D) – 2023 2nd round | Michigan State (NCAA)
   Steady, physical RHD. Safe defensive projection.
   Upside: #4-5 D

10. Nikita Novikov (D) – 2021 6th round | Rochester (AHL)
    Smooth-skating reliable two-way D.
    Upside: Depth D

HMs: Prokhor Poltapov, Vsevolod Komarov, Gavin McCarthy

Buffalo Sabres Organizational Score: 29

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

Draft. Develop. Dominate.

• For exclusive rankings, in-depth prospect profiles, team prospect rankings, and mock drafts, visit: Upside Hockey

• Twitter/X/Bluesky: @ UpsideHockey

• Instagram: @ Upside.Hockey