As the NHL preseason winds down, anticipation builds for the upcoming season, and with it, a fresh look at the league's top prospects. These are the players who represent the future of their respective franchises, and their development is closely monitored by fans and management alike. Identifying and ranking these young talents is a difficult task, but several outlets have released their preseason rankings of the NHL's top 100 prospects.
To be considered a prospect, players must still be eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie. Eligibility requires that a player has played no more than 25 games in a single preceding season, nor more than six games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. Furthermore, a player must not have reached their 26th birthday by September 15th of the season in which they are eligible.
The very top of the prospect pool is often populated by recent high draft picks. This year is no different, with several members of the 2024 draft class appearing in the top 10 of many rankings. Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov is considered by some to be the top prospect in hockey. Other highly touted prospects from the 2024 draft include Beckett Sennecke, Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov, Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson and Tij Iginla.
Outside of the most elite prospects, rankings consider a wider range of attributes, like team fit, preference, and a player's potential upside. Linear grading systems are often used to evaluate a player's skating, shooting, passing, puck-handling, hockey sense, and physical skills and project how they will translate to the NHL.
Several prospects have significantly improved their standing since last year. Calum Ritchie of the New York Islanders is one such player, jumping from 53rd to 13th in one ranking. His rise is attributed to his strong performance in the OHL and a brief stint in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche. Other notable risers include Quentin Musty, Tanner Molendyk, Fedor Svechkov, and Lian Bichsel.
Conversely, some prospects have seen their stock fall. Rutger McGroarty of the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Joakim Kemell and Colby Barlow, experienced significant drops in their rankings. Gavin Brindley and Noah Ostlund also fell.
Preseason games offer a valuable opportunity for prospects to showcase their abilities and potentially earn a roster spot. Tristan Broz and Harrison Brunicke have been among the standouts for the Penguins during the preseason. Sergei Murashov, a goaltending prospect, has also impressed with his poise under pressure.
It's important to remember that prospect rankings are not an exact science. The development of young players is rarely linear, and many factors can influence their trajectory. Ultimately, these rankings provide a snapshot of a player's potential at a given moment, but their future success will depend on their dedication, work ethic, and the opportunities they receive.
