The San Jose Sharks have the NHL's top ranked prospect pool according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler: My half-snarky summary of all 32 teams on his list.

The San Jose Sharks have, unsurprisingly, the top ranked prospect pool in Scott Wheeler's Prospect Pool Rankings!

As these rankings have been released, I've been updating a list daily to synthesize Scott's overall take on the team for those who don't have The Athletic. For those who do, please go read Scott's actual work...it's hundreds of thousands of words and fantastically more useful than my snarky takes. Hopefully you all enjoy...sorry to those on teh earlier released (lower ranked) teams as I didnt put much effort into those snippets. It's mostly intended to be lighthearted fun and to propagate some cool content without blatantly plagiarizing anything Scott is doing. :-)

Today's episode of the athletic hockey podcast did the prospect pool series, and Max Bultman, Scott wheeler, Corey Pronman all discussed these rankings in various capacities. Definitely worth a listen

Some notes:

  • Counted down one team daily until Feb 7th.
  • Please give Scott's actual write-ups the read they deserve.
  • Scott's criteria below. Read it before commenting.
  • Brackets w/each team is YoY delta.
  • Scott doesn't actually do tiers, that's just me having fun.
  • E: Because these were released one team a day in descending order over the last month, some of the write-ups may have dropped right before or right after before recent trades occurred, including prospects. Fernstrom, Pelletier, etc...keep that in mind as you read through. I don't have the date for each write-up, but go back basically 1 month from today and you can tell when each team came out. Thanks u/otherthingsilike for the reminder on this.

Scott's Criteria

Skaters: To be considered a prospect, a skater must be under 23 years old and not established as a full-time NHL player with their club. The latter qualifier is the arbitrary section of the criteria. There, I trust my judgment for whether or not a rostered NHL player could still play games outside the NHL more than I trust any predetermined games-played cutoff. Preference for inclusion as an NHL prospect is more likely to be given to teenagers than 22-year-olds.

Goalies: To be considered a prospect, a goalie must be under 25 years old and not currently established as one of their NHL club’s two go-to options. This age criteria is more reflective of the typical goalie trajectory, allowing for the continued consideration of a small number of 23- and 24-year-old goalies.

 

The Rankings

🔽🔽Tier: TOP 5🔽🔽

  • 1. SJS [+3]: A star player at each key C/F/G role, and depth in droves. Smith is electric and a budding top tier star with his pace and skill. Him alongside Celebrini is going to be a treat for the league but a death knell for east-coast focused media. Dickinson is incredibly well rounded and has first pair upside with a projectable 2nd pair probability. Askarov is everything we've been hearing about for what seems like ages. Even deep into the teens you have NHL experience in Thompson and Gushchin. It's been a tumultuous few years for the franchise, but the talent pool is quite legit and, when added to Celebrini (E: who is not and never was a part of these rankings for Scott) and Mukhamadullin (aged out) and amongst others int he NHL, SJS fans have a ton to look forward to. So does the league.

  • 2. MIN [+9]: The only playoffs level team in the top of Scott's list. Zeev Buium continues to be liked by everyone and looks elite. Yurov is a near lock for top 6 play and is versatile enough positionally to slot it quickly. Adding jiricek helps the pool a ton, and he's got complimentary top pair/top 4 upside. Wallstedt with some NHL games still remains an elite nhl-starter level option in goal, but hasn't been a great year+ for him. NHL experience in Khusnutdinov, and even the ghost of carson Lambos deep down at 13th in the pool. MIN looking to finally remove the mushy middle mantra.

  • 3. MTL [+7]: I wouldn't say they're incorrectly ranked, but this is a fairly unique pool in that they don't have a top line C in the mix (sorry, Hage, and Go Blue, but Scott has him with "top 6, Jordan Kyrou" potential). Demidov is bleeding with skill and offensive upside. Fowler at 2 speaks to his pedigree, but I'm always hesitant with young college goalies until they show it with some Pros (same for Augustine in DET). Solid deep middle with mailloux, Roy, reinbacher, and even into becks and kapanen. I don't see it with Dobes but he's got solid ceiling. Less depth than some other teams but quite elite at the top.

  • 4. CHI [+3]: An interesting list. No doubt a top pool, but a couple worthy notes - Bedard has never been included, Korchinski was graduated last year but re-enters this year's list (which I think makes sense), and Oliver Moore, the #1 for CHI in 2024 list, drops to 5th for them this year. Levshunov appropriately leads the way as a near elite RHD, and the overall pool is very deep on NHL level defense (Korchinski, rinzel). Tons of NHL quality depth and speed through the entire ranking (Nazar, Moore, vanacker, Boisvert, etc), and even on the fringes of the HM's. Probably the deepest quality pool in the league. Commesso still NHL level G at 13th, and don't sleep on Lardis.

  • 5. DET [-3]: We lose Edvinsson to the NHL and Soderblom to age, but lead strongly with ASP as an elite-upside offensive defenseman who can hold his own defensively, too. MBN, Kasper, Danielson sit somewhat interchangeably as the next three, followed by two incredible goalie prospects in Cossa and Augustine. Wheeler likes Buch, as well, and sees Wallinder as a 5-6 D with continued growth. Plante is good but finds it hard to project the raw offensive output at this point. Even talking about possible depth role for Emmitt Finnie as DET 14th OA prospect says tons about how deep the pool is.

🔼🔼Tier: TOP 5🔼🔼

 

🔽🔽Tier: A FEW REALLY GOOD MEN🔽🔽

Scott noted with ANA update that 6-12 are nearly interchangeable based on a few players, so we'll have a big bunch of solid pools grouped from here until the top 5.

  • 6. CBJ [-3]: This one might raise eyebrows but is a fair call on pure talent. Lindstrom and Dumais are 1 and 3 respectively, but both dealing with extended injuries of a volatile nature for hockey players (back and torso/hips, respectively). I think it's fair for Scott to rank their trajectory pre-injury, making them unquestionably worth a discussion at 6th OA pool, but I'm sure CBJ fans will be eager to see the two back on the ice and performing soon. Mateychuk at 2 is a legit top pair potential, and CBJ have excellent goalie depth. Don't sleep on Elick and diminutive Luca Pinelli deep down the list. I haven't done the actual math but this feels like one of the older pools yet.

  • 7. UTA [+2]: Another that is riding quality depth over elite top end talent, the spirit of kachina lives on in the Wasatch Valley. Iginla leads the way as a versatile top 6 forward, followed by 4 absolutely physically massive players in Lamoreaux, But, Simashev, and goalie Hrabal. Really Good NHL quality depth pushes UTA near the top of that semi-fluid 6-12 group Scott previously noted.

  • 8. NSH [NC]: A talented group but with no true superstar in the mix. I'm actually surprised they're flat YoY after losing Tomasino and Askarov, considering they have really only backfilled with depth. Molendyk is solid at 1OA and it's nice to have depth guys like Stiga, Kemell, and Surin, but even adding Edstrom into the mix with the above names (and Wood, L'Heueurx), I still genuinely - and respectfully - feel like Preds are probably 3-5 slots too high. I just don't see true likelihood of a top line/top pair guys here, even though some may have it in their ceilings. Keep an eye on their development over the next year bc the Preds are gonna need this group to bloom given their cap profile.

  • 9. WSH [+11]: Caps drop in as the biggest positive mover so far at +11. Led at the top by Ryan Leonard who, despite a scorching WJC, has been on everyone's list of risers since drafted. Their next tier of talent includes Cristall, HustonHutson, Lapierre, Miroshniinshninashchininchenananicenko (check my spelling), and Parascak, but they have decent depth through their top 10+. Interestingly, they're very light on C talent and also seem to have skating questions on at least a few of their top/recent talents.

  • 10. SEA [+2]: Imagine 4 years ago someone telling you that a team's prospect pool would improve despite losing Shane Wright to the NHL? Development is a fickle friend. Kraken hit 10th with tons of quantity, led by offensive standout Catton. Wheeler highlights quantity but having Fisker-Molgaard at 8th is a nice luxury of quality depth, too. One of the few teams I recall without a goalie in their top 15, so fans likely hoping the D'accord extension works out better than grubauer's contract has.

  • 11. BUF [-10]: Joint second biggest YoY drop so far (PHI -12, DAL -10), Sabres still come in with a really good pool. Savoie is out in the McLoed deal, and Benson graduated (and frankly, was only left in last year due to an exception Scott made), leaving current NHLer Jiri Kulich atop a solid list. 2024 1st rounder Helenius enters at 2 and in Buffalo's top tier with Kulich. The depth core of Levi, Rosen, and Ostlund leave BUF solid up the middle and ready to support what's already an extremely talented young NHL team. Looks like there's gonna be some fun in the top 10.

  • 12. ANA [-7]: Quite a thing to see the ducks fall this far given their talent, but Scott noted the next few teams are all excellent. Gauthier and Zellweger moved on, with Sennecke and Stolberg joining the mix. The trio, including Luneau, have massive upside, and ANA has bottom 6 NHL talent as deep as we've seen a pool so far. Scott debated ANA a few spots higher, and we may hear that a couple times in the next week.

🔼🔼Tier: A FEW REALLY GOOD MEN🔼🔼

 

🔽🔽Tier: SORTA NOT MID?🔽🔽

  • 13. CGY [+2]: Impressive to jump two spots after losing Wolf, Zary, Coronato, and Pelletier from the pool, but they retooled a lot of depth in the draft and have the offensively elite Parekh atop the list (byw, wings fans... he's playing nearby in Saginaw).

  • 14. STL [NC]: Extremely deep pool. Wheeler says they're only this low because they lack a true star/elite game changer that the top pools have (bodes well for us wings fans...). But I say that many rightfully are probably thinking that's Dalibor Dvorsky, who sits atop the STL system, or Snuggerud right behind him.

  • 15. WPG [+1]: Interesting pool...no really "tier 1" prospects but a much deeper "tier 2" than most teams. Seem to have a bunch of decently projectable NHL contributors. Wheeler puts Salomonsson at #1 over Lambert and Yager on projectability (and probably being RHD) but acknowledged all 3 are more or less interchangeable.

  • 16. CAR [-3]: Carolina lost a lot in trading for Guentzel, but regained a bit with a deep draft. Not a ton of high, high end talent but loads of depth, which we know Scott values. Most notably for me, the diminutive Justin Poirier comes in at 8th despite being an absolute lethal goal scorer. Scott describes him basically as a poor man's Debrincat with 20+ goal NHL upside.

🔼🔼Tier: SORTA NOT MID?🔼🔼

 

🔽🔽Tier: SORTA MID?🔽🔽

  • 17. NJD [+5]: Very high end talent on D with Casey, Silayev, and the mercurial Nemec up top, but quite thin everywhere. Still not bad for a competing team.

  • 18. PHI [-12]: The big faller so far. That'll happen when you lose a talent like Michkov to the NHL (and graduate Brink) and don't have another elite star in the wings. Bonk truthers will love him at the top of this list as much as Luchenko truthers rue him at 2nd. Best name of the pools so far with versatile F Denver Barkey at 5th.

  • 19. NYR [NC]: Gabe Perrault sits as one of Scott's better prospects in the league, at least in terms of offensive upside. Okay depth, but lots of decent talent up top after Perrault, too, in othmann, emery, berard, etc. Former lottery darlings have come down to earth but have a stable pool.

  • 20. PIT [+7]: Have to say, this one surprised me a bit on a couple of fronts. I know McGroarty has fallen a bit but having him on the same tier as Brunicke was unexpected. Likewise, having PIT ahead of VAN after comparing their pools is not how I'd have ranked them. But Scott clearly values depth so in that sense it tracks. Speaking of which, not often you see NHL experience at multiple clubs from a player ranked 10th in a pool like this, but that's where Ponomaryov sits.

  • 21. VAN [-3]: Quite surprising to see VAN drop. Lekkmerimaki has done just about everything right as has Willander, and Pettersson and Mynio are making similar strides in development. Admittedly odd to see Raty having fallen so far after being in top 3OA discussion leading into his draft year.

🔼🔼Tier: SORTA MID?🔼🔼

 

🔽🔽Tier: BAD MID🔽🔽

NOTE: Scott said today that while he doesn't officially do the tiers for pools, Vegas would be the end of the clear "bottom" their in the league. Maybe this is where I'll end Bad Mid, but I don't want Actual Mid to be a mile long...

  • 22. VGK [+1]: Connelly leads the way with elite hands and star level (PP1/top 6) upside. Heavy on goalies, and the way Wheeler describes Sapovaliv's puck protection reads a lot like Datsyuk. He's up in Saginaw so give him a look.
  • 23. COL [+3]: "The Colorado Avalanche actually held onto some picks last year! They even added some!" Scott's tongue-in-cheek opening says it all. Richie and Gulyayev broadly respectable at the top, though, and while thin, the pools are starting to show more depth than lower ranked teams.
  • 24. TBL [+5]: Trading for Geekie helps hugely from last year. Wheeler is an Isaac Howard truther, and he plays in Lansing so go have a look yourself. Lots of "pro qualities" and "good worth ethic" comments for the fringe NHLers making up the majority of their pool..
  • 25. NYI [+7]: Controversial Eiserman stands out stop an un-controversially "meh" pool of otherwise fringe-y prospects. Jesse Pullkinen is a massive 20yo human being, though. Biggest ranking jump from 2023 so far, which doesn't say much since they were worst last year.
  • 26. LAK [-9]: Key graduates and limited backfill. Riding okay depth and goaltending. Greentree leads the way.

🔼🔼Tier: BAD MID🔼🔼

 

🔽🔽Tier: ASS🔽🔽

The Sens have entered the equation and I can think of no better place to wrap up Tier: Ass than right here...

  • 27. OTT [+4]: in Wheeler's words, "Without Yakemchuk, this might be the thinnest, weakest group in the league." Yakemchuk is the best prospect revealed thus far. Not much to speak of here otherwise but some depth pieces in spots
  • 28. TOR [NC]: Lack depth and quality after mortgaging for cap and competitive reasons. Cowan has legit upside, though, and it feels like Scott's a bit too bearish on Minten. But what do I know I'm just here for the witty repartee.
  • 29. EDM [-4]: Holloway and Broberg out. Lots of turnover from last year. Matt Savoire with "top nine potential" not exactly a vote of pool confidence. Paying prospect price to be a contender.
  • 30. BOS [NC]: Would have been last had Poitras not recently been demoted. E: BOS missing at least one of their 1st or 2nd Rd picks in 7 years will do that. Still hope in Lysell and the sizable Letourneau.
  • 31.. DAL [-10]: Thinnest pool, Stank and Bourque are in the bigs, Bischel is all they've got, some pick-hedging for NHL success. Think '08 Red Wings, recent Penguins, current Bruins...most teams with sustained NHL success in the cap era...
  • 32.. FLA [-8]: Bad. No depth, no top talent, names of players feel AI-generated. Next...

🔼🔼Tier: ASS🔼🔼

 

Again...Scott's Criteria

Skaters: To be considered a prospect, a skater must be under 23 years old and not established as a full-time NHL player with their club. The latter qualifier is the arbitrary section of the criteria. There, I trust my judgment for whether or not a rostered NHL player could still play games outside the NHL more than I trust any predetermined games-played cutoff. Preference for inclusion as an NHL prospect is more likely to be given to teenagers than 22-year-olds.

Goalies: To be considered a prospect, a goalie must be under 25 years old and not currently established as one of their NHL club’s two go-to options. This age criteria is more reflective of the typical goalie trajectory, allowing for the continued consideration of a small number of 23- and 24-year-old goalies.

E: to clarify Celebrini is not considered in SJS pool, nor has he ever been.

E2: clarified verbiage on Boston's 1st/2nd round selections, added note about the trades recently and timing with when the team ranking dropped.

E3: went back and tried to fix a handful of typos and sloppy grammar I hadnt caught before. Appreciate everyone's engagement. I'm not even remotely close to a prospect expert, but I love tracking these types of things because it feels important and beneficial to have some league context when following my own team.