Didn't see a thread on this but Yahoo Sports Canada released their rankings recently. Thought it would make for some good fodder.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl...16/ar-AA1dInJA
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl...32/ar-AA1dGnvE
Best pool is the Buffalo Sabres. "For a team featuring Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen already at the NHL level, to say they still have a top-five prospect pool should terrify opponents.
Grabbing Zach Benson outside the top ten in this year’s NHL draft was a steal, adding him to their depth of first-round picks including Jiri Kulich, Matthew Savoie, Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund up front, along with Anton Wahlberg. In net, Devon Levi is considered one of the best netminding prospects on the planet. This is a deep and highly-skilled prospect pool."
Here are the Canadian team.
#4 - Montreal Canadiens. "From an organizational standpoint, Montreal’s blueline is brimming with potential. From Jordan Harris, Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj who all spent time in the NHL this season, to Reinbacher and Hutson who are perhaps the best prospects of the bunch, it’s obscene depth. Then there’s the talented but problematic Logan Mailloux, who was inexplicably picked and signed. Hutson’s skillset is off the charts, while Reinbacher was the most NHL-ready defender in this year’s draft.
Up front, Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, Filip Mesar and Sean Farrell will all challenge for roster spots at camp, looking to add to the young core in Montreal."
#16 - Winnipeg Jets. "There’s a lot to like about Winnipeg’s forward prospects, especially after acquiring young NHLers Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari from the Los Angeles Kings. This year’s top pick, Colby Barlow, fits into the highly-skilled group being amassed in Winnipeg, featuring Brad Lambert, Chaz Lucius, Rutger McGroarty, Danny Zhilkin and Nikita Chibrikov.
There’s a lot of high-risk, high-reward in there, which Winnipeg added volatility to by starting Lucius and Lambert in the pros this year. On the blueline, Ville Heinola doesn’t have a lot of runway left before the organization moves on, while Dmitri Kuzmin and Elias Salomonsson both have upside. Thomas Milic is the best netminder in the system."
#20 - Toronto Maple Leafs. "Knies will be counted on to step in right away. He showed he was ready in the playoffs, although Toronto may be wise to also give him some top line starts in the AHL if their depth pushes him into a fourth line role. This season will be the year we know if Rodion Amirov’s recovery from cancer will include a future with the Maple Leafs as he’s set to suit up for his first full campaign in the KHL. Up front, it seems to be yet another make-or-break year for Nick Robertson as well, who has slid from blue-chipper to expendable. Up front, the development of Fraser Minten, Ty Voit, Nicholas Moldenhauer and Roni Hirvonen continues to trend in the right direction, while Easton Cowan, who was a shocking first round selection, will be under a microscope. On the blue line, Topi Niemela is the organization’s top prospect and will play his first full season in North America, while William Villeneuve was a pleasant surprise for the Toronto Marlies last year. The Leafs remain without a true goalie of the future in the system unless Dennis Hildeby can claim that moniker this year."
#21 - Ottawa Senators. "Ottawa has an abundance of youth in the NHL, so there’s no reason to panic that they’re sitting this low, and they still have a handful of meaningful prospects on the way. This should be the season we see 2020 first round pick Ridly Greig begin his full-time NHL career after he got into 20 games last season as a rookie. Other players who could be in contention for a spot up front include Zack Ostapchuk, Tyler Boucher, and Roby Jarventie, with Boucher being of special interest as the 10th overall pick in 2021. It’s time for Jacob Bernard-Docker and Lassi Thompson to claim full time spots, but they’ll be battling with another rookie, Tyler Kleven, who made his NHL debut at the end of last season after ending his NCAA career. Tomas Hamara remains a top prospect despite a step backward last season in the OHL. Their top goaltending prospect is Leevi Merilainen."
#22 - Calgary Flames. "
It would be hard to point to a team who has drafted and developed worse than the Calgary Flames over the last half decade. They’ve just refused to give strong prospects a shot at the NHL, and eventually, it seems to have stunted development and confidence in many. By all rights, for a team in Calgary’s position, Connor Zary and Jakob Pelletier should be done their development path and given every opportunity in scoring roles at the NHL level. Matt Coronato may start in the AHL, but he looks close as well after a spectacular NCAA career with Harvard and a strong World Championship with Team USA. Honzek’s selection adds to this crop of forwards. Jeremie Poirier had a spectacular rookie campaign in the AHL producing well beyond expectations from the blue line. He’ll get looks this year for the Flames if he doesn’t make the team out of camp with the towering Yan Kuznetsov close behind at the AHL ranks, and Etienne Morin showing promise in the QMJHL. Dustin Wolf is the top goaltending prospect in the system and should be given more starts in the NHL this year."
#23 - Vancouver Canucks. "After a horrific season for Jonathan Lekkerimäki, he broke out scoring a point per game in the playoffs in Allsvenskan. He’ll step up to the SHL next year, and could be a prospect needing more time than anticipated. Vancouver also acquired Aatu Räty and Linus Karlsson, hoping a change of scenery will help them find their stride at the NHL level. Heading into this year’s NHL Draft, the Canucks had almost no blue line prospects looking like NHL candidates. They addressed that in part by selecting Tom Willander and Hunter Brzustewicz, but remain shallow at the position outside of 2022 pick Elias Pettersson. Arturs Silovs’ World Championship MVP performance has fans hoping he’s a long term goaltending solution."
And the worst prospect pool in the NHL...
#32 - Edmonton Oilers. "Sorry Oilers fans, but with the graduation of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to the NHL, the prospect cupboard is bare. Ken Holland has a way of doing that, but he also inherited a bad prospect situation and then compounded it. Matvei Petrov could turn into a steal for the Oilers if he can duplicate his success from the OHL level in the AHL next year. The stock of two other Oilers prospects — Carter Savoie and Raphael Lavoie — needs to be determined this year. It’s a group that is thin from top to bottom, and not picking until 56th overall this year didn’t help."
Seems like a reasonable list. Discuss away.
NHL's Best and Worst prospect pools
