Whether your favorite NHL team is sitting pretty in a playoff spot or you are already looking forward to the 2025 Draft, every fanbase pays attention to its prospect pool. Superstar prospects like Ivan Demidov and Axel Sandin Pellikka typically garner all the attention, but it is time for the lesser-known prospects to get their flowers.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks – Tarin Smith
Drafted by the Anaheim Ducks with the 79th pick in the 2024 Draft, Tarin Smith, 18, is already outperforming his draft position. In 35 games as an alternate captain for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the left-handed defenseman is up to seven goals and 33 points.
This season, Smith’s offensive production has improved, and so has his defensive play. He stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and plays a similar style to current NHLers Damon Severson and Shea Theodore. He is a strong skater and playmaker but is no slouch defensively with his above-average hockey IQ and awareness.
Honorable Mention: Ethan Procyszyn
Calgary Flames – Luke Misa
Luke Misa, 19, was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft, yet should have never fallen so far in the first place. The center put up 26 goals and 81 points in 66 games for the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season, and he is now on pace to score 40 goals and 99 points.
The Steelheads are on the board 🚨@NHLFlames prospect Luke Misa hits the 20 goal mark on the season with a well placed shot off the wing drive to give the @OHLSteelheads a 1-0 lead!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/8C3rFimAHG
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 19, 2024
Misa is a speedy playmaker and one of the best players in transition in the entire OHL. He is incredibly skilled and plays a style similar to Ryan Johansen, offering a development path that could lead him into a middle-six role on a competitive team. However, he will need to improve his strength on the puck and sharpen his defensive awareness to fully realize his potential.
Honorable Mention: Henry Mews
Edmonton Oilers – Paul Fischer
Paul Fischer was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in a trade with the St. Louis Blues after offer sheets were signed by Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, causing the deal to fly under the radar. Fischer is a strong, defensive defenseman who has been a key player on the University of Notre Dame’s blue line for the past two seasons.
Related: Oilers’ Paul Fischer Talks Connection to Bowman, Getting Traded, Prized Stuffed Animal & More
The 19-year-old is up to nine assists in 18 games for the Fighting Irish in 2024-25. As well, he played in two games for the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC), helping the country win its second consecutive gold medal. The River Forest native is not going to play a major role in the offensive game for any team but could develop into a capable, bottom-four defensive defenseman, similar to Scott Mayfield or Robert Bortuzzo.
Honorable Mention: Shane Lachance
Los Angeles Kings – Otto Salin
Otto Salin, 20, was a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2022 Draft and has broken out this season. In 34 games for TPS in Liiga, Finland’s premier hockey league, the Helsinki native has seven goals and 20 assists, leading the league in points per game among U24 defensemen. He is a great skater with impressive offensive instincts, so improving his defensive play will help him in his NHL ambitions.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Conmy
San Jose Sharks – Eric Pohlkamp
Eric Pohlkamp, a 20-year-old right-handed defenseman, has recorded four goals and 16 points in 20 games for the University of Denver. Despite standing only 5-foot-11, his solid 201-pound frame allows him to excel defensively. He demonstrates excellent positioning and effectively uses his strength to win puck battles in his own zone.
Pohlkamp also holds a powerful shot that tends to generate rebounds. He has strong footwork and is relatively fast for a defenseman, making him an intriguing prospect to follow with top-four upside but a somewhat low floor. For a San Jose Sharks team with no depth among right-shot defensemen, he could see himself in the NHL sooner rather than later if his development continues at this pace.
Honorable Mention: Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Seattle Kraken – Jani Nyman
After scoring 26 goals and 43 points in 48 Liiga games as a teenager last season, Seattle Kraken 2022 second-round pick, Jani Nyman, is up to 11 goals and 20 points in 32 American Hockey League (AHL) games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds this season. The 20-year-old winger was on the younger side of 2022 draftees but his production would not show it, as he has continued to impress in each league he has played in.
Jani Nyman wins it for @leijonat on a shootout.🇫🇮💪 #WorldJuniors #SWEFIN pic.twitter.com/ZwZVUCuqhS
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 31, 2023
Nyman’s strengths are his quick release, hands, and ability to find open ice. As an alternate captain for Finland at the 2024 WJC, he tallied two goals and six points in seven games, including a clutch shootout winner against Sweden on New Year’s Eve with a slick backhand that beat Melker Thelin. While Seattle boasts a deep forward prospect pool, with Nyman arguably not even the top three, his strong track record in premier professional leagues positions him well for future NHL success.
Honorable Mention: Caden Price
Vancouver Canucks – Melvin Fernström
The Vancouver Canucks have a very weak prospect pool, but Melvin Fernström is a rare bright spot. The 18-year-old right winger was selected in the third round of the 2024 Draft and has three goals and six points in 26 games with Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this season. He stands at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, and has a strong shot and impressive vision. This season has offered a relatively small sample size, but his early production in the SHL gives him the upside few Canucks prospects have.
Honorable Mention: Sawyer Mynio
Vegas Golden Knights – Pavel Moysevich
Pavel Moysevich is a 6-foot-5, 176-pound goaltender who has utterly dominated the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia as a 20-year-old. The Vegas Golden Knights’ 2024 third-round pick has gone 5-4-0 with a 2.70 goals against average (GAA), a .916 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout for SKA St. Petersburg this season. As well, he went 3-2-2 with a 1.25 GAA and a .942 SV% in 13 KHL games last season.
Moysevich has flown under the radar as one of hockey’s brightest young goalies since he plays overseas in Russia, but his dominant play is bound to turn heads soon. He has great mobility for someone his size and avoids the head-scratching goals so many young netminders tend to give up. With both Moysevich and Carl Lindblom in the pipeline, the future of Vegas’ goaltending department is promising.
Honorable Mention: Arttu Kärki
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks – AJ Spellacy
AJ Spellacy is one of the most intriguing prospects in hockey. A 2024 third-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, he was once a three-star football recruit with interest from top programs, including Nick Saban’s University of Alabama, before choosing to pursue hockey instead.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Spellacy combines imposing physicality with impressive speed, making him one of the most dynamic power forwards in the OHL. As an alternate captain for the Windsor Spitfires, he has just 11 goals and 25 points in 35 games this season. However, he had a dominant preseason with Chicago where he was constantly generating chances in the offensive zone and was incredibly physical, winning almost all of his puck battles. His upside may not be much higher than in a third-line role, but his first impressions in the Blackhawks organization make him an enticing bottom-six option down the line.
Honorable Mention: Colton Dach
Colorado Avalanche – Ilya Nabokov
Another Russian goalie that has flown under the radar is Ilya Nabokov, a 21-year-old for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL who has gone 14-11-0 with a 2.13 GAA, a .927 SV%, and three shutouts this season. The Colorado Avalanche selected the Kasli native with the 38th pick in the 2024 Draft, surprising many as he was the first goaltender off the board. Since then, he has quickly proven himself to be the top goaltending prospect of his draft class — at least for now.
Nabokov dominated the KHL last season, starting 43 games for Metallurg en route to winning the Gagarin Cup with playoff MVP honors. He is just 6-foot-1 but has elite athleticism with wicked-fast hands. Since the Avalanche have recently struggled to find stability in net, Nabokov could soon emerge as a reliable goaltender, similar to a Semyon Varlamov or Petr Mrazek type.
Honorable Mention: Jake Fisher
Dallas Stars – Aram Minnetian
Last season, Aram Minnetian, 19, was listed as the Dallas Stars’ most underrated prospect, and that remains true today. The Garden State native has become a reliable defensive presence on the blue line, whether it be with Boston College or in his two trips to the WJC for the United States which he won a gold medal each time. With Dallas weak down the right side of the defense, Minnetian should have plenty of opportunities to earn ice time in the future.
Honorable Mention: Christian Kyrou
Minnesota Wild – Aron Kiviharju
Aron Kiviharju, once a projected top pick in the 2024 Draft, fell to the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round due to an injury and poor production last season. Yet, this season has been a much different story, with the 18-year-old defenseman now up to three goals and 10 points in 32 games for HIFK in Liiga. Additionally, at the 2025 WJC, he recorded three assists in seven games and had a goal disallowed due to offsides in the semifinal against Sweden while serving as captain of Finland, where he led his nation to a silver medal.
Areas to improve in Kiviharju’s game never included a lack of offensive talent, but his 5-foot-10 frame was always viewed as a concern. While there is still room to grow, this season he has become more aware in his own end and put on some much-needed muscle to thrive at the professional level. Whether he will ever live up to the expectations fans held heading into the 2023-24 season is doubtful, but he is likely to make teams regret letting him drop so far at the draft.
Honorable Mention: Charlie Stramel
Nashville Predators – Teddy Stiga
Well, Teddy Stiga was underrated ahead of the 2025 WJC, but that is likely no more. The 18-year-old netted the overtime winner for the United States in the gold medal game, sealing the tournament victory with a clutch goal against Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen. Prior to that moment, however, most fans were largely unfamiliar with Stiga’s game.
Another look at Teddy Stiga’s gold medal winner 👀#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/FM2D47urvh
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2025
The Massachusetts native has been a valuable member of Boston College’s middle six this season. He has four goals and 11 points in 16 games as a speedy winger with impressive hockey senses and awareness. As well, he spent his prior two seasons with the United States Development Program alongside many of his teammates from the WJC. With his offensive skill set, Stiga is primed to increase his production. Once Boston College’s top line of Ryan Leonard, James Hagens, and Gabriel Perreault make the leap to the professional ranks next season, it will be Stiga’s time to step into the spotlight.
Honorable Mention: Felix Nilsson
St. Louis Blues – Aleksanteri Kaskimäki
The St. Louis Blues have brought in a plethora of talent in recent drafts, but Aleksanteri Kaskimäki is a name most fans have not yet been acquainted with. His six goals and 22 points in 30 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL has put his name on the map, and his ability to play both center and left wing is bound to give head coach Jim Montgomery plenty of options once he makes the NHL. At just 20 years old, the former third-round pick has already outperformed expectations, so do not be surprised to hear his name in the NHL in the next couple of seasons.
Honorable Mention: Colin Ralph
Utah Hockey Club – Daniil But
Daniil But, a power forward selected 12th overall in the 2023 Draft by the Utah Hockey Club, impressed with 10 goals and 21 points in 55 KHL games last season. This year, his 8 goals and 21 points in 38 games have highlighted his growth. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 216 pounds, he uses his size and strength to dominate on the ice.
Despite his imposing physicality, But is also highly creative in the offensive zone. He can drive to the net or quarterback the play, making him a versatile prospect capable of excelling in various roles. With his KHL contract expiring after this season, do not be surprised if Utah’s management looks to bring him to North America for the 2025-26 season.
Honorable Mention: Vojtech Hradec
Winnipeg Jets – Kevin He
Kevin He made history when he became the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract with the Winnipeg Jets, yet is much more than that. The 18-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft and has 25 goals and 49 points in 36 games in the OHL as captain of the Niagara IceDogs.
He is on pace to surpass his 2023-24 goal production by 15 and point production by 47, nearly doubling it. His skillset consists of an elite skating ability and elite hand-eye coordination. The Beijing native never takes a shift off and is a relentless forechecker in the defensive zone, making him one of the most well-rounded prospects on this list.
Honorable Mention: Alfons Freij
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes – Nikita Artamonov
The fact Nikita Artamonov fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2024 Draft is incomprehensible. The 19-year-old winger has become a borderline top-15 prospect in hockey with his 13 goals and 27 points in 39 KHL games with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod this season. He stands just 5-foot-11 but is not afraid to engage in puck battles, and his speed, hands, and work ethic make him a high-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
Honorable Mention: Felix Unger Sorum
Columbus Blue Jackets – Luca Marrelli
Another draft pick quickly looking like a steal is the Columbus Blue Jackets’ selection of Luca Marrelli in the third round of the 2024 Draft. The 6-foot-2, 19-year-old right-handed defenseman excels at both ends of the ice, but his offensive game has taken a significant leap this season.
Putting up eight goals and 17 points over 14 games, @BlueJacketsNHL prospect Luca Marrelli is the #OHL Defenceman of the Month, becoming the first @Oshawa_Generals rearguard to earn monthly honours since Michael Del Zotto in December 2008.
DETAILS 📰: https://t.co/qeAqgeOmu7 pic.twitter.com/spHbUYqqDs
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 31, 2024
Through 39 OHL games with the Oshawa Generals, the Toronto native has recorded 15 goals and 49 points, leading all OHL defensemen in both categories. His performance has also helped the Generals to a 23-13-2-1 record thus far this season. With his well-rounded game, Marrelli is rapidly climbing the depth chart within the Blue Jackets organization.
Honorable Mention: Evan Gardner
New Jersey Devils – Mikhail Yegorov
After the 2023-24 season, the New Jersey Devils were in dire need of a goaltender. While 34-year-old Jacob Markstrom was brought in to address the immediate need at the NHL level, the team selected Mikhail Yegorov with the 49th pick in the 2024 Draft, hoping he could one day become the starter. Halfway through his first season in the organization, Yegorov has already made a strong impression.
Yegorov stands 6-foot-5 and has gone 3-12-2 with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). However, these losses are far from his fault, as he has been one of the best goaltenders in the league. With the Lancers at the bottom of the USHL standings, he has managed a 3.26 GAA and a .909 SV%. He recently set a franchise record for Omaha with 66 saves on 69 shots in a single game on New Year’s Eve against the Lincoln Stars, yet they still fell 4-1. Committed to Boston University for next season, the 19-year-old is bound to put up better numbers once finally behind a real defense.
Honorable Mention: Lenni Hameenaho
New York Islanders – Marcus Gidlof
New York Islanders 2022 third-round pick, Quinn Finley, currently leads the NCAA in goals (16) and points (29), making him one of the top prospects in the team’s system. However, his breakout has given him the recognition he rightfully deserves, paving the way for goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof to earn the underrated nomination for the Islanders.
Gidlof, 19, stands 6-foot-6 and has gone 5-3-0 with a 2.07 GAA and a .917 SV% for Leksands IF of the SHL this season. At the WJC, he was forced to sit behind Thelin for Sweden, but in his two games of action, he dominated with a 1.38 GAA and .938 SV%, even with the shootout loss in the bronze medal game. Goaltenders are historically fickle, but Gidlof’s early success makes him a valuable prospect to keep tabs on.
Honorable Mention: Xavier Veilleux
New York Rangers – Noah Laba
After two seasons in the USHL, New York Rangers’ 2022 fourth-round pick, Noah Laba, chose to play for Colorado College, a program coming off of a 9-24-3 record. This decision has delivered substantial benefits to his career. The 21-year-old centerman has helped Colorado’s program become nationally ranked in the USCHO polls, with 22 goals and 49 points in 49 games over the prior two seasons.
Related: Rangers’ Prospect Noah Laba Talks NHL ETA, Development, Physicality & More
Laba could have signed his entry-level contract following last season but opted to return to Colorado. Since the decision, he has improved his play away from the puck while continuing to lead the program offensively. With the Rangers weak down the middle, Laba has the potential to develop into a valuable third or fourth-line center with offensive upside.
Honorable Mention: Drew Fortescue
Philadelphia Flyers – Yegor Zavragin
The Philadelphia Flyers have Russian netminders Ivan Fedotov and Alexsei Kolosov on the NHL roster, but it is 19-year-old prospect, Yegor Zavragin, that fans should be most excited about. The 6-foot-2 netminder has gone 13-8-0 with a 2.44 GAA, a .923 SV%, and three shutouts in his first KHL season.
The Hockey Writers Justin Giampietro recently analyzed the teenager’s dominance. He discovered in the history of teenage goaltenders in the KHL (Feb. 2008 to present), only nine have made at least 20 appearances. Among them, only five had a .910 SV% or better in their teenage years: Sergei Ivanov (.931), Ilya Samsonov (.930), Andrei Vasilevskiy (.923), Zavragin (.923), and Ilya Sorokin (.911). With Zavragin sitting with a .923 SV% through 21 appearances, he is in elite company, making him arguably the best goaltending prospect in hockey.
Honorable Mention: Cole Knuble
Pittsburgh Penguins – Kalle Kangas
Last year, Mikhail Ilyin was listed as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ most underrated prospect, and while that is still likely true, giving attention to another underrated prospect is for the best.
Kalle Kangas, selected by the Penguins with the 223rd pick in the 2023 Draft, has quickly established himself as one of the top young defensemen in Liiga. The 6-foot-4, 19-year-old has registered five assists in 23 games with HPK, but it is his strength and defensive play that stands out, positioning him as a potential future bottom-pairing option. However, his limited offensive upside could make his path to the NHL more challenging as he continues to develop.
Honorable Mention: Ville Koivunen
Washington Capitals – Nicholas Kempf
The fifth and final netminder on this list is Nicholas Kempf, goaltender for the University of Notre Dame and the Washington Capitals 2024 fourth-round draft choice. The 6-foot-2, Morton Grove native is just 18 years old, yet he has a 2.86 GAA and .920 SV% through seven games with the Fighting Irish this season. He is confident in the crease with an above-average glove, but his lateral speed remains a concern. However, as one of the youngest players in all of college hockey, a few more seasons of development before turning professional could elevate him into a valuable prospect in the Capitals’ system.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Cristall
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins – Dans Locmelis
The Boston Bruins have a very weak prospect pool, but Dans Locmelis is a bright spot. The 20-year-old center has three goals and 17 points in 19 games for the University of Massachusetts this season. He is strong on the puck and possesses above-average vision, constantly making himself a threat in the offensive zone.
Honorable Mention: Fabian Lysell
Buffalo Sabres – Brodie Ziemer
Brodie Ziemer was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 2024 Draft, but the 18-year-old should have heard his name much sooner. His first season at the University of Minnesota has started well, with the Minnesota native up to eight goals and 11 points in 20 games.
BRODIE
ZIEMER
TIE
GAME!!!@usahockey | @GopherHockey | @BuffaloSabres | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/oyEyRZ0gyq— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 29, 2024
At the 2025 WJC for the United States, Ziemer scored three goals and seven points in seven games as a member of the second line, showcasing his strengths as a hard-working, two-way winger who is not afraid to engage in puck battles around the net.
Honorable Mention: Prokhor Poltapov
Detroit Red Wings – Nate Danielson
Nate Danielson has not met the offensive expectations the Detroit Red Wings had hoped for when they selected the 20-year-old with the 9th pick in the 2023 Draft, causing some to overlook the selection. However, the 6-foot-2 center has made a strong start to his professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL, offering hope that he could still develop into a two-way, middle-six center.
FIRST PRO GOAL!! CONGRATS NATE 🫶🥹 #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/L4JkmUz3fR
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 26, 2024
While he has just three goals and 19 points in 33 AHL games this season, Danielson has still been one of the Griffins’ stronger defensive forwards. At such a young age, there is plenty of time for the Red Deer native to develop, so do not write him off just yet.
Honorable Mention: Amadeus Lombardi
Florida Panthers – Matvei Shuravin
Given they have been contending for the Stanley Cup in recent seasons, the Florida Panthers’ prospect pool is notably weak. However, Matvei Shuravin, a left-handed defenseman selected with the 97th pick in the 2024 Draft, has made a strong start to the 2024-25 season in Russia. As an alternate captain for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in Russia’s Minor Hockey League (MHL), he has totaled two goals and 15 points through 22 games. As he continues to develop, it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his impact at higher levels of competition.
Honorable Mention: Simon Zether
Montreal Canadiens – Oliver Kapanen
The Montreal Canadiens have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, led by Demidov, David Reinbacher, and Jacob Fowler. On the less prominent side is Oliver Kapanen, a 21-year-old center the team selected in the second round of the 2021 Draft.
1er point dans la LNH pour Kappy!
Kappy’s on the scoresheet with his first NHL point!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Xt8vd47mMk
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 11, 2024
Kapanen played 12 games in the NHL earlier this season, recording two assists, but has since returned to Sweden, where he has scored five goals and 13 points in 15 games. A solid two-way center with impressive vision and hand-eye coordination, he also brings a responsible defensive game. While his upside may be limited, he has the potential to carve out a promising career in a depth role.
Honorable Mention: Sam Harris
Ottawa Senators – Blake Montgomery
Aside from Carter Yakemchuk, the Ottawa Senators prospect pool is notably thin. Blake Montgomery is one of the few prospects with a real chance to make the NHL. The 6-foot-4, 19-year-old winger has posted 13 goals and 27 points in 21 OHL games with the London Knights this season. Known as a true power forward, Montgomery is also committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2025-26 season.
Honorable Mention: Stephen Halliday
Tampa Bay Lightning – Ethan Gauthier
Ethan Gauthier, selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 37th pick in the 2023 Draft, has shown strong development in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. With 13 goals and 35 points in 24 games this season, he is on track to surpass his point production from last year. While he may not possess star potential, the winger is one of the few prospects in the franchise’s system with clear NHL potential.
Honorable Mention: Hagen Burrows
Toronto Maple Leafs – Noah Chadwick
The Toronto Maple Leafs have done an impressive job maintaining a valuable prospect pool while contending for the playoffs. Defenseman Noah Chadwick, a 2023 sixth-round pick, has had a strong 2024-25 season as captain of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. He is up to 10 goals and 28 points in 34 games, and his defensive play has led the team into a secure playoff position. Like most prospects on this list, Chadwick is no lock for the NHL, but his skill set is enough to warrant recognition.
Honorable Mention: Artur Akhtyamov
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