Fans always get excited for NHL preseason hockey, because it means their favorite team is back in action.
And then the fanfare starts to wear off about four games into it. But if you care deeply about your team’s future, the seven-game slate could be perfect to get a good glimpse of the young men looking to become the next top stars for an NHL franchise.
Today, we’re looking at 10 NHL prospects coming off solid preseason showings. Some will stay in the NHL, while others have already been sent back to their respective junior or AHL teams. We left off two key rookies: Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Calgary‘s Zayne Parekh. Both are top-level prospects who were expected to thrive in the spotlight. They absolutely are Calder Trophy favorites – more on that later this week.
Many youngsters made a good impact over the past few weeks, but these 10 stood out for one reason or another. We also limited it to one prospect per team; so, Detroit fans, that’s why Emmitt Finnie is just an “other notable”:
Stian Solberg, D (Anaheim Ducks)
Solberg probably should spend the year in the AHL, but he made a big effort to keep himself up with the big club. He’s absolutely fearless, throwing his body at everything and battling for possession every single shift. Solberg is much more offensively inclined than he was in his draft year, which was something that was missing from his otherwise punishing game. He’s a raw prospect who can still try and do a bit too much too often. But I have no reason to believe he won’t be an NHL player someday. His aggressiveness makes him intriguing, and as his decision-making improves, he’ll be in good shape.
Gavin Brindley, RW (Colorado Avalanche)
Brindley looked excellent throughout the preseason with his new club. Acquired over the offseason from Columbus, the small, but skilled forward has received quite a bit of praise from coach Jared Bednar. Despite his 5-foot-8 frame, his nonstop motor has been on full display, and he’s been active around the net just about every night. He struggled in the AHL last year, so a move to the NHL right away feels a bit risky. But you can’t deny his energy, something that would prove fruitful in Colorado’s bottom-six.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW (Detroit Red Wings)
Brandsegg-Nygård has been applauded throughout his career for his excellent shot, and he has managed to keep it active during the preseason with a league-leading seven points. He scored impressive goals against Chicago and Buffalo while getting his fair share of physical play. There were concerns about his ability to keep his intensity every single night, but you can see the pro-level traits in how he works around both nets to become a solid two-way presence. MBN will need a year in the AHL to get ready for full-time NHL duty, but his game is in a good spot right now.
Liam Greentree, RW (Los Angeles Kings)
Greentree was always going back to the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, but that didn’t stop him from sticking around for quite a bit. He’s coming off an outstanding season in the OHL, where he had 49 goals and 119 points with Windsor. He always seemed to be moving during his preseason action, getting involved with the puck and making plays happen. Greentree will have a chance to compete for an OHL title this year, so going back down isn’t a bad thing. But there’s a realistic chance Greentree will be able to forgo the AHL and challenge for a top-nine roster spot with the big club next fall.
Owen Beck, C (Montreal Canadiens)
Beck was applauded more for his two-way game while in the OHL. But last year, Beck put up an impressive 15 goals and 44 points with Laval – truly solid numbers for a 20-year-old pro. Beck also played in 12 NHL games, where he showed more of what he’s capable of in his own zone. His two-way game was on full display this preseason, using his tremendous work ethic to his advantage. Beck battles hard, forces turnovers and is no slouch around the net. Look for Beck to earn more games in the NHL this year before potentially snagging a full-time spot in 2026-27.
Matthew Wood, RW (Nashville Predators)
Wood started the preseason with five points in two games, including three points on the power play. It’s unfortunate that he’s missing the start of the season due to an injury. The former NCAA star has always craved playing in open ice, and while skating is still a bit of a weak point for him, he makes up for it with what he does in the wide open. Wood was always a shooter during his prime development years, but I was more impressed with his decision-making as a passer. He didn’t shoot a whole lot, which is something I hope to see more from him this year in the AHL because his release his lethal. But as a distributor, Wood seemed involved all the time, no matter who he lined up with, or against.
Arseny Gritsyuk, RW (New Jersey Devils)
It was hard to ignore the 24-year-old forward nearly every time he hit the ice. The Russian winger had two goals and five points while averaging around 16 minutes a night. Gritsyuk is coming off an excellent season in the KHL, and while he may not be an offensive leader in the NHL, he should be able to make an immediate impact in the NHL. His energy and skill will be nice on the fourth line, and he is more defensively responsible than he was at this time last year.
Jani Nyman, RW (Seattle Kraken)
Nyman challenged for the goal-scoring lead all preseason long, even as he fell a bit in Seattle’s lineup. He had four goals, giving him a strong case to start the season in the NHL. His ability to utilize his large 6-foot-4 frame to win battles makes him very intriguing, often serving as a play-driver on his own line. He was very productive in the AHL last year, so watching him have success around the net wasn’t overly surprising. He had a solid season-ending audition with the big club last year and should see even more time in Seattle in 2025-26 as he works on his speed and overall two-way game.
Tij Iginla, RW (Utah Mammoth)
Iginla certainly didn’t look like a forward who missed most of 2024-25 with an injury. From the way he battled to the decisions he made, Iginla already looked like a seasoned pro. Many have fallen in love with his pace of play and his quick hands, especially in the offensive zone. There’s still concern about his lack of pure strength against NHL players, and he could benefit from more time on the top line with the Kelowna Rockets. Regardless, he looked much, much better than most people expected him to be over the past few weeks after overcoming hip surgery. Iginla’s game is in a good spot, and he likely won’t need a trip down to the AHL next year before staking his claim with the Mammoth.
Braeden Cootes, C (Vancouver Canucks)
There’s always one mid-round pick from the previous NHL Draft who makes it to the NHL out of training camp. Cootes appears to be the next case. He consistently was one of Vancouver’s best forwards throughout training camp, showing a level of skill, maturity and hockey sense very few his age managed to replicate. The thing that really stands out here is just how much he wants the puck, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Cootes is also a solid playmaker, often easily finding teammates in open space. I think his value goes far beyond his numbers, which you want from a center. I think more time in the WHL will be beneficial for Cootes, but I’m really happy to see how much he thrived over the past few weeks.
Other notables: Tyson Hinds, D (Anaheim Ducks); Emmitt Finnie, C (Detroit Red Wings); Noah Laba, C (New York Rangers); Gabe Perreault, LW (New York Rangers); Sergei Murashov, G (Pittsburgh Penguins); Logan Mailloux, D (St. Louis Blues)
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