During the dog days of summer (which suddenly became a bit more action-packed last week), we’ve been evaluating the prospect pools of all 32 NHL teams.

But what makes a strong prospect pool? High-end talent, for sure. Typically, only the bottom-feeders in the NHL standings excel there. Depth is huge, too. You need more than just one or two guys carrying the pipeline if you’re going to build a successful future. Only a handful of teams can feel good about what they’ve got at every position, so it’s a testament to your drafting abilities when you land at least one key forward, defenseman, and goaltender.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how all 32 teams stack up with rookie tournaments just a few weeks away (while including every team’s ranking from 2023:

1. San Jose Sharks (2023: 10th)

Key prospects: Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Yaroslav Askarov

Skill, size, versatility, you name it. The Sharks have a bright future, and while they’re still a few years away from making serious progress forward, we’re about to get a glimpse of what the future holds in just a few short weeks. Since June 28, the Sharks added a No. 1 center in Macklin Celebrini, a future top-pairing defender in Sam Dickinson and one of the top goaltending prospects in the game in Yaroslav Askarov. And that’s just scratching the surface, with Will Smith also looking like a future star. They still need some extra defensive depth, though, but I can live with where they are, knowing they’ve got at least one more early draft in them. So, while it might still be a long few years as the kids keep developing and the vets keep losing, better days are ahead. And that’s all you can ask for.

2. Montreal Canadiens (2023: 9th)

Notable prospects: Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher

It’s been a rough few years since the Canadiens made the Stanley Cup Final in 2021 – but better days are coming. Ivan Demidov is a future top-line winger; they’ve got as much defensive depth as anyone; they’ve also got a high-end goalie prospect in Jacob Fowler. It’s seriously an exciting time to be a fan of this group, especially with all the young talent they’ve got on the roster already. Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Cole Caufield, Alex Newhook, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj are all 23 or younger, and captain Nick Suzuki is just 25. With a group that young, and so skilled already, it’s only a matter of time until everything starts to click.

3. Anaheim Ducks (2023: 3rd)

Notable prospects: Cutter Gauthier, Olen Zellweger, Beckett Sennecke

*Beckett Sennecke (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

From a future standpoint, the 2023-24 season was a big one in Orange County. The Ducks still finished 30th in the NHL, but Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger and Lukas Dostal all saw their first serious NHL duty, making up a big portion of the team’s core. And yet, the Ducks still have a bucketload of quality talent on the way, aided by their third overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft when they took Beckett Sennecke. But what really helped this team push forward and build one of the best pipelines in the NHL was adding Cutter Gauthier in a trade after the 2024 World Juniors. Jamie Drysdale was an expensive piece to give up, but Gauthier was viewed as one of the best players outside the NHL before eventually making his debut near the end of the season. The Ducks have at least one notable prospect at every position, which is really exciting.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets (2023: 4th)

Notable prospects: Cayden Lindstrom, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk

At some point, the Columbus Blue Jackets are going to need to take massive steps forward if they’re going to be viewed more seriously. Hopefully, with a new GM and coach, that’ll happen sooner rather than later. The Blue Jackets have a bit of everything on the blueline; puckmovers, two-way threats, good skaters, shutdown options and physicality. It’s rounded, and they’ve got options for both sides of the ice, too. David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk are both high-end options, while Charlie Elick and Stanislav Svozil could both find spots somewhere in the lineup, too. And that’s after ignoring Andrew Strathmann, Samuel Knazko and Luke Ashton, among other notables. Up front, Cayden Lindstrom, Gavin Brindley and Jordan Dumais give them a nice boost to a group that already has Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, among others. They’re just missing out on a goaltender with a serious chance at being an impact guy, even though Sergei Ivanov has looked good in the KHL.

5. Detroit Red Wings (2023: 7th)

Notable prospects: Simon Edvinsson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

When the Detroit Red Wings stopped being a playoff team more than half a decade ago, they had a rough pipeline, to say the least. Now? They boast one of the most impressive pipelines in all of hockey, with some serious depth at every position. For starters, Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are two of the best defensive prospects in hockey right now. Then you throw in recent first-rounders Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Marco Kasper up front, and two of the best goaltending prospects in the game in Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, and you’ve got a group that’s primed for a bright future. Of course, it’s all fine and dandy, on paper, but they need these guys to produce. And I do think they need another impact playdriver, too. But it truly feels like the Red Wings aren’t too far away from being playoff-bound again.

6. Minnesota Wild (2023: 5th)

Notable prospects: Jesper Wallstedt, Zeev Buium, Danila Yurov

*Zeev Buium (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

The Minnesota Wild already had a top-10 prospect pool in the NHL. Then, among others, they stole Zeev Buium at No. 12, took Ryder Ritchie in the second round and somehow landed Aron Kiviharju in the fourth round. The rich got richer. Seriously, I love the depth of this team. You’ve got a goalie in Jesper Wallstedt; you’ve got a mobile, top-pairing defender in Buium; Riley Heidt and Danila Yurov are both future top-six threats, and that’s only just scratching the surface.

7. Chicago Blackhawks (2023: 1st)

Notable prospects: Artyom Levshunov, Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar

Any team that can graduate multiple top prospects in the same year – namely, Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski – and still come out boasting one of the best pipelines in the NHL clearly knows what they’re doing. Drafting early has had its advantages, obviously, but so has acquiring multiple first-round picks and trying to bank on upside. Chicago’s top three prospects – Artyom Levshunov, Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar – are in their own category. I believe highly in all three and think they’ll be impact players for years to come. The Hawks have one of the most dynamic and speedy farm systems of any team in the league, and even if just four or five become impact NHLers, that’ll be huge.

8. Buffalo Sabres (2023: 2nd)

Notable prospects: Jiri Kulich, Devon Levi, Konsta Helenius

The Sabres were quite active this summer, but nothing was more surprising than when they traded top prospect Matthew Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio. But despite moving Savoie, the Sabres still have one of the best pipelines in the NHL. They’ve got high-end forwards in Jiri Kulich, Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund. They’ve got a bit of defensive depth in Adam Kleber and Maxim Strbak. They even have a deep goaltending crop, with Devon Levi, Scott Ratzlaff, Topias Leinonen and Ryerson Leenders all in the system. Few teams have as many NHL-caliber options in their stable ready to go.

9. Seattle Kraken (2023: 13th)

Notable prospects: Berkly Catton, Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus

*Berkly Catton (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

It didn’t take long for the Seattle Kraken to amass an impressive prospect pool. They haven’t had many become actual NHLers – and, granted, they first drafted in 2021. But if they can hit on just a few pieces from that 2022 Draft, they’ll be in such good shape. Shane Wright and Jagger Firkus both look to be big pieces in the long term, and I expect Jani Nyman, Ty Nelson, David Goyette, and Niklas Kokko to all become NHLers. The 2023 draft had some interesting pieces, but they then snagged one of the most exciting prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft in Berkly Catton with the first pick in 2024 to really spice things up. Eventually, the Kraken will need to make serious steps forward, and that could include moving some young pieces to get immediate help. But when it comes to looking to the future, the Kraken have a pipeline brimming with potential and at least one notable piece at every single position.

10. Utah HC (2023: 12th, as Arizona Coyotes)

Notable prospects: Tij Iginla, Dmitri Simashev, Maveric Lamoureux

The league’s newest outfit inherited a solid pipeline and a couple of early draft picks in 2024. The club made Tij Iginla – the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla – its first pick at No. 6 in Vegas before selecting the energetic Cole Beaudoin later on Day 1. Add in some high picks over the past few years and the promotion of youngsters Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther to full-time duty and you’ve got a group with some potential to get excited about. With all the off-season moves, there’s absolutely no reason why Utah couldn’t contend for a playoff spot in 2024-25, even if they’re not a favorite to actually earn one of the eight spots in the Western Conference.

11. Carolina Hurricanes (2023: 14th)

Notable prospects: Alexander Nikishin, Bradly Nadeau, Scott Morrow

Not only do the Hurricanes have one of the best teams in the NHL, even after some big offseason departures, but they’ve also got one of the best pipelines in the league, too. They’re double dipping, seriously. The Hurricanes have drafted late in the first round in recent years, meaning they’ve had to shoot for value instead of just targeting bigger names. But they’ve continued to find success, with three of their top prospects – Bradly Nadeau, Scott Morrow and Jackson Blake – turning pro around the same time after great runs in college last year. And then there’s Alexander Nikishin, who might be one of the best prospects in the game today. He’s still under contract in the KHL, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought him over after the season was over and had him potentially playing a big role for the club in 2025-26. Even based on just those four, there’s a lot to like.

12. St. Louis Blues (2023: 16th)

Notable prospects: Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg

*Dalibor Dvorsky (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

They aren’t in a full rebuild, but few teams have boosted their pipeline over the past two years as much as the St. Louis Blues. In 2023, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, and Theo Lindstein were all selected in the first round. This past June, they added Adam Jiricek, Colin Ralph, Lukas Fischer, Ondrej Kos, and Adam Jecho. Size, skill, and speed were all addressed in massive ways over two drafts. The one thing they didn’t tackle? Goaltending, but they can play the patient game with Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer with the big club. The Blues are still a few years away from being a contender again, and while there isn’t a truly legit star prospect in the system right now, they’ve got plenty of options to choose from throughout the lineup.

13. Nashville Predators (2023: 11th)

Notable prospects: Tanner Molendyk, Joakim Kemell, Matthew Wood

Even after the Preds traded away top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, they’ve got a decent pipeline to work with. I really liked their selections in 2024, too. Egor Surin is a pure menace out there, and as long as the decision-making improves, I think he has top-six potential. And then there’s Teddy Stiga, one of my favorite players in this draft. He’s a buzzsaw out there at all times, and you need guys like that. They already had a slick puck-moving defender in Tanner Molendyk, a legit shooter in Joakim Kemell, and some good support pieces throughout. They might not have a star skater prospect, but they’ve got some decent depth at most positions, and that’s honestly good enough.

14. New York Rangers (2023: 20th)

Notable prospects: Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, EJ Emery

Gabe Perreault is an exciting prospect whom I think the Rangers stole at 23rd in 2023. But the Rangers’ pipeline goes so much deeper than that. I think Brennan Othmann is going to be a solid NHLer one day soon. EJ Emery was one of my favorite prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft. And then you’ve got a good mix of tenacity and skill all throughout the system. The Rangers might not have one of the better prospect pools in the NHL, but given they’re one of the best teams in the league, I love what they’ve managed to do on the draft floor. The Rangers have a little bit of everything, from top-six threats to depth options and even some solid goaltending. Who knows how many of them will be impact NHLers, especially as they keep focusing on the now, but it’s an excellent spot for the team to be in.

15. Calgary Flames (2023: 17th)

Notable prospects: Zayne Parekh, Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato

*Dustin Wolf (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)*

Fresh off one of the best drafts of any team in Vegas last month, the Calgary Flames suddenly have one of the more intriguing prospect pools in the game. Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, Andrew Basha, Jacob Battaglia, Heny Mews and Kirill Zarubin are all picks I’m excited about, and I thought Luke Misa as a fifth-rounder was a nice snag, too. The additions of Hunter Brzustewicz and Artyem Grushnikov via mid-season trades helped spice up the blueline in a big way. This year, Matt Coronato should challenge for a spot again, while Dustin Wolf has a realistic chance at being the team’s No. 1 goaltender before too long. The Flames are still outsiders looking to bulk up for another push at the playoffs, but they’ve got some young players who might not be far away from making an impact – and that’s exciting.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (2023: 8th)

Notable prospects: Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko

The Flyers lost Cutter Gauthier last season after the coveted college forward decided he didn’t want to sign with the club. But, in all honesty, there’s still enough to like for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov is one of the best prospects in the league and has a realistic shot at winning the Calder Trophy this year. I also think Oliver Bonk and Jett Luchanko are both intriguing, and they’ve got some excellent goaltending depth – although I’m not convinced any of them are actual starters. There’s plenty of skill and speed in this group, but they’ve drafted quite a few smaller players in recent years.

17. Winnipeg Jets (2023: 18th)

Notable prospects: Brayden Yager, Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow

The Jets made a big splash, trading Rutger McGroarty for Brayden Yager earlier this month. While McGroarty is the better of the two prospects, I still think the Jets have a decent pipeline, and Yager’s a solid addition. I’d argue the Manitoba Moose might be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the American Hockey League in 2024-25. The Jets might not be a real Stanley Cup threat as it stands, but if they can transition a few of their high-flying forwards from the AHL and make them impact NHLers, they might be able to strike gold.

18. Dallas Stars (2023: 15th)

Notable prospects: Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque, Lian Bichsel

*Logan Stankoven (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)*

The Dallas Stars, man. They nearly made it to the Stanley Cup Final, while also boasting an impressive prospect pool with options at every position. Dallas has managed to keep their pipeline fresh and competitive while still being a legitimate contender. They’ve shown they don’t need to draft high to find value – Logan Stankoven was a second-rounder. Instead, they chase upside, and it’ll pay off in a big way with Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque expected to become full-time NHLers this season.

19. Washington Capitals (2023: 21st)

Key prospects: Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Ivan Miroshnichenko

Right now, the Capitals’ pipeline is in an interesting spot. There’s some quality talent on the high-end of the spectrum, with Ryan Leonard truly being in the upper echelon of the prospect world. I really like Andrew Cristall, too. There’s some decent depth throughout, even after Hendrix Lapierre graduated out of prospect status after playing more than 50 games this season. I also like Clay Stevenson and Hunter Shepard, two goaltenders who looked good in the minors last year. I do think Washington’s top three prospects, especially Leonard, are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, though.

20. Vancouver Canucks (2023: 22nd)

Notable prospects: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Tom Willander, Artūrs Šilovs

The goal of drafting prospects is to turn them into NHLers, and I think the Canucks will have a decent success rate, at least compared to others in the bottom half. The Canucks are one of the most active teams when it comes to scouting Europe (their GM is Swedish, which helps), and they’ve got top-quality options at every position. They’ve got high-end players like Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander, the depth in Arshdeep Bains and Sawyer Mynio, and even a decent young goaltender in Artūrs Šilovs. The Canucks are lacking center depth, but I think they’ve got enough variance in their player styles to be positive about what’s next.

21. New Jersey Devils (2023: 6th)

Notable prospects: Anton Silayev, Seamus Casey, Lenni Hämeenaho

*Anton Silayev (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

The New Jersey Devils are coming off a successful year on the promotion front, watching Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Alexander Holtz and Nico Daws play significant roles in the NHL. However, with four key pieces graduating out of prospect status, the pipeline is on the lower end of the NHL right now. That’s to be expected, especially for a team that entered the 2023-24 season with high hopes – only to see the team plagued by injuries, lousy goaltending and a coaching change. The Devils have a decent-at-best pipeline, with Anton Silayev and Seamus Casey leading the way. They also have six players 25 and under on the roster, making up most of the team’s core. Expect the Devils to be one of the most improved teams in 2024-25, knowing they still have some key pieces on the way.

22. Los Angeles Kings

Notable prospects: Brandt Clarke, Liam Greentree, Alex Turcotte

The Kings, as a whole, have been a borderline playoff team for a few years now. They continue to fall short against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round and need to find that extra step if they’re going to be a serious contender. They’ve got some good prospects on the way, most notably defenseman Brandt Clarke. Turcotte will hopefully take a big step forward and become a full-time NHLer, while recent picks Liam Greentree and Koehn Ziemmer could give the team some nice middle-six depth one day.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs (2023: 24th)

Notable prospects: Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, Topi Niemelä

The Leafs have struggled to land a big-name prospect for quite some time – which makes sense, given they’re always at least in the hunt near the top of their division. Getting Matthew Knies at No. 57 in 2021 was a big win, but the team has struggled to get full-time NHLers over the past few years. Easton Cowan was one of the best prospects in hockey last year, though, and Fraser Minten already has a bit of NHL experience after a surprise start with the big club last year. Topi Niemelä is the team’s top blueliner right now, and Ben Danford is a legitimate NHL prospect, too. In net, the Leafs will hope Dennis Hildby ends up becoming something after taking him as a triple overager back in 2022. Beyond that, they’ve mostly got depth pieces at best.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins (2023: 28th)

Notable prospects: Rutger McGroarty, Joel Blomqvist, Ville Koivunen

*Joel Blomqvist (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

It’s been a long time since the Pittsburgh Penguins have had a strong prospect pool. In reality, it’s been near the bottom since the early days of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury. But adding Rutger McGroarty gives them a nice boost, especially since he’s NHL-ready. With new head scout Wes Clark in charge, it’ll be interesting to see how the team drafts in the near future. Clark was always willing to take chances on players nobody expected in Toronto, but his track record was iffy, at times.

25. New York Islanders (2023: 31st)

Notable prospects: Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson, Jesse Pulkkinen

Before the 2024 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders’ pipeline was widely regarded as the worst in the NHL. But I loved their new selections for the first time in years. I think Cole Eiserman is an exciting, fantastic young prospect who deserves more love than he got from the public scouting sphere this year. I also really like Jesse Pulkkinen, and I think Marcus Gidlof and Kamil Bednarik were excellent picks, too. The Islanders’ pool still isn’t good, per se, but it’s much, much better. Bridgeport had a difficult year with few support options, but there’s still hope for players like William Dufour, Matthew Maggio, and Alex Jefferies.

26. Florida Panthers (2023: 29th)

Notable prospects: Mackie Samoskevich. Linus Eriksson, Justin Sourdif

After a few false starts and close calls, the Florida Panthers finally found themselves on the top steps of the NHL podium in 2023-24. And like any competitive franchise’s, their prospect pool is on the weaker side. The Panthers haven’t had a first-round pick over the past three years and won’t in 2025, either. I still think they’ve made some good selections over the past few years and might be one of the better teams in terms of drafting later – assuming Jack Devine, Josh Davies and Sandis Vilmanis turn out to be something from 2022. I also appreciate that they’ve selected goaltenders in each of the past six years, with Spencer Knight and Devon Levi (now with Buffalo) being the most prominent.

27. Colorado Avalanche (2023: 23rd)

Notable prospects: Calum Ritchie, Mikhail Gulyayev, Sean Behrens

*Canada forward #11 Calum Ritchie (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Any team that’s all-in on pushing the Stanley Cup envelope will try and chase immediate help while sacrificing on long-term viability. After just two picks in 2022 – and none before the sixth round – the club took both Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev on Day 1 in 2023 before taking most of Day 2 off. The Avs had nine picks in 2024, but none before overaged goaltender Ilya Nabokov at No. 38. I do think Colorado’s two best prospects – Ritchie and Gulyayev – carry this group, but then there’s a lot of question marks throughout the rest of the group.

28. Vegas Golden Knights (2023: 26th)

Notable prospects: Trevor Connelly, Brendan Brisson, Matyas Sapovaliv

Between trading just about every first-rounder (most recently, shipping off David Edstrom to San Jose) and not making more than six picks in a given year since 2019, the Golden Knights have prioritized winning now at all costs. And, hey, it worked out in 2023. Vegas made a big splash at the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere, selecting the controversial but skilled Trevor Connelly with the first pick. They then took a swing on massive goaltender Pavel Moysevich in the third round, giving the team a potential long-term option in net to go alongside 2021 pick Carl Lindbom. Given what they had, I liked who they took – but their pipeline is still ugly.

29. Edmonton Oilers (2023: 25th)

Notable prospects: Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, Sam O’Reilly

The Oilers are built to win now, and they’re willing to move on from the future to make it work. But I did love the acquisitions of Matthew Savoie and Roby Järventie, as well as moving up to take Sam O’Reilly at the 2024 NHL Draft. If there’s anything this system has, it’s size. Savoie isn’t included, but Raphael Lavoie, Maxim Berezkin and Järventie give the team some beef potential in the bottom six, while Max Wanner could be a smaller replacement for Vincent Desharnais one day. But beyond Savoie, and maybe O’Reilly, this Oilers pipeline doesn’t have much going for it. In contrast to the early 2010s, Oilers fans won’t complain.

30. Ottawa Senators (2023: 27th)

Notable prospects: Carter Yakemchuk, Mads Søgaard, Zack Ostapchuk

*Mads Sogaard (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

There isn’t much high-end talent to get excited about, and it’s not like that’s surprising to Sens fans. There’s a legit chance that at least five to six of these players will earn some NHL time over the next two years, but how many will be long-term contributors? The Senators have a surprising amount of defensive depth, and it goes further than what you see in the top 10. Carter Yakemchuk is the team’s big star prospect right now, merging size and skill in a big 6-foot-3 frame. Søgaard has backup potential, and Zack Ostapchuk might be a bottom-liner NHLer. But beyond that, there isn’t a lot going for the Sens’ future.

31. Boston Bruins (2023: 32nd)

Notable prospects: Mason Lohrei, Fabian Lysell, Dean Letourneau

Everything I wrote about the Bruins last year still holds true: in the pursuit of excellence, their pipeline has suffered. I do like the addition of Dean Letourneau with their first-round pick, but then things were a bit bare after that, and will be again in 2025 with just two picks in the first four rounds. GM Don Sweeney isn’t too worried about the future, and rightfully so. Promoting Matthew Poitras, Mason Lohrei and Johnny Beecher to the NHL last year was notable, though.

32. Tampa Bay Lightning (2023: 30th)

Notable prospects: Conor Geekie, Isaac Howard, Ethan Gauthier

Yeah, it stinks. Finding players to fill out the top 10 that have any hope of sniffing the NHL was difficult. The biggest improvement to the pipeline over the past year was the acquisition of Conor Geekie in the Mikhail Sergachev trade. Geekie previously was one of Arizona/Utah’s top prospects, and now he’s got a realistic chance of gunning for an NHL spot after ripping up the WHL. But after that? Beyond maybe Isaac Howard, who is still in college, and maybe Ethan Gauthier, there aren’t many prospects worth paying close attention to.

Full prospect breakdowns:

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