Ranking the 32-team BEARD Hockey Prospect Pools

Minnesota GM Josh Rose offers his thoughts on all 32 clubs in BEARD Hockey when it comes to their young guns on their prospect lists.

Prospect systems ranked 1 to 32 in terms of depth and overall potential. (Only notable prospects listed, not including guys who have played plenty of pro games in the NHL/AHL)

1) Calgary:

Kirill Kaprizov

Marco Rossi

Cole Caufield

Matthew Boldy

Alexander Khovanov

Adam Beckman

Jeremy Poirier

Vladislav Firtsov

Analysis: Top to bottom I think Calgary has the most impressive group of young talent in the league. A lot of high end forwards with tremendous potential.

Strengths: Elite Forwards, Depth

Weakness: Defense

2) Colorado:

Ty Smith

Connor Zary

Victor Soderstrom

Nolan Foote

Philip Tomasino

Calen Addison

Ridly Greig

Analysis: Collectively the most balanced group of prospects out of all the systems, they are solid in many areas, a lot of really high end prospects but lacking a truly elite talent.

Strengths: Forwards, Defense, Depth

Weakness: Goaltending

3) New York Rangers:

Alexander Holtz

Philip Broberg

Dawson Mercer

Jakob Pelletier

Mavrik Bourque

Patrik Puistola

Emil Andrae

Vasily Pomomarev

Analysis: The Rangers are rich in talent especially up front, and have some nice pieces on the backend in Broberg and Andrae.

Strengths: Forwards, Defense, Depth

Weaknesses: Goaltending

4) Washington:

Trevor Zegras

Jack Quinn

Kaiden Guhle

Benoit-Olivier Groulx

Blake McLaughlin

Jackson Lacombe

Ian Moore

Lukas Dostal

Analysis: Washington has assembled a really quality nucleus of talent with really talented forwards up front and some nice pieces in the backend. Lukas Dostal is a quality young goaltender too.

Strengths: Organizational depth

Weaknesses: Goaltending depth

5) Minnesota:

Bowen Byram

Cole Perfetti

Alex Newhook

Johnny Beecher

Luke Tuch

Justus Annunen

Alex Beaucage

Mason Lohrei

Analysis: Minnesota has some really high end players in Byram, Perfetti, and Newhook. Mason Lohrei is a long term project.

Strengths: High end talent, depth at every position

Weaknesses: Defensive depth

6) Chicago:

Tim Stuetzle

Lucas Raymond

Spencer Knight

Jack Finley

Alexei Protas

Analysis: The Hawks are loaded with stud prospects in Stuetzel and Raymond with Spencer Knight in goal. Protas and Finley could reward him with some good depth down the line.

Strengths: Elite Forwards, Top Goaltender

Weaknesses: Defensemen, overall depth

7) Pittsburgh:

Alex Turcotte

Rodion Amirov

Artur Kaliyev

JJ Peterka

Akil Thomas

Samuel Fagemo

Aidan Dudas

Tyler Madden

Lukas Parik

Analysis: The Pens are loaded up front with quality forward prospects, Alex Turcotte is a real difference maker, and Amirov, Kaliyev, and Peterka each offer boom or bust potential.

Strengths: Scoring Forwards, depth up front

Weaknesses: Defense

8) New Jersey

K'Andre Miller

Braden Schneider

Nils Lundqvist

Matthew Robertson

Jan Jenik

Alex Vlasic

Zachary Jones

Karl Henriksson

Analysis: New Jersey has the deepest group of defense prospects in the league in my opinion. None of these guy have star qualities but they are all very talented. Need to improve the forward depth.

Strengths: Quality Defensive depth

Weaknesses: Lack of capable Forwards, Goaltending

9) Ottawa:

Jamie Drysdale

Bobby Brink

Cameron York

Jay O'Brien

Roby Jarventie

Yegor Zamula

Analysis: I really love the defensive prospects Ottawa has added to their organization. Drysdale is the total package and York and Zamula both offer really unique qualities. No real star prospects among the forwards but some pretty good players to insulate into their lineup down the road.

Strengths: Quality Defense, depth Forwards

Weaknesses: Top Line forwards, Goaltending

10) St. Louis:

Alexis Lafreniere

Dylan Cozens

Mattias Samuelsson

Jean-Luc Foudy

Erik Portillo

Analysis: With Alexis Lafreniere in the fold, it was very hard not to rank St. Louis higher because he’s such an exceptional talent. Cozens adds another high end forward. Aside from that, they have a few nice potential depth pieces but lack in quality organizational depth.

Strengths: Elite Forwards

Weaknesses: Organizational Prospect depth

11) Seattle:

Vasili Podkolzin

Dominik Bokk

Ozzy Wiesblatt

Egor Sokolov

Jack Drury

Jamieson Rees

Ryan Suzuki

Nico Daws

Analysis: The Kraken have assembled a nice young group of quality forward prospects. They have a few guys with top-line potential as well as guys that can help them in the bottom six. They have a real lack of quality defensemen in the organization.

Strengths: Organizational depth at forward

Weaknesses: Lack or quality defense prospects

12) Dallas:

Yaroslav Askarov

Connor McMichael

Jonatan Berggren

Johnny Ludvig

Danil Gushchin

Max Gildon

Analysis: I have a lot of time for quality prospects like McMichael and Berggren, and Askarov is an elite goaltender to shore up the crease. High-end defensive prospects are an issue despite having some interesting pieces in Ludvig and Gildon.

Strengths: Elite Goaltender, Quality Forwards

Weaknesses: Poor defensive depth

13) Florida:

Peyton Krebs

Anton Lundell

Justin Barron

Kaeden Korczak

Ivan Morozov

Pavel Dorofeyev

Jack Dugan

Analysis: Florida has two top-six forward prospects in Krebs and Lundell, both difference makers. The organization also has a few interesting depth forwards. Barron and Korczak offer some good defensive talent.

Strengths: Strong Forward Group

Weaknesses: Goaltending

14) San Jose:

Jacob Bernard-Docker

Lassi Thomson

Shane Pinto

Lukas Reichel

Jan Mysak

Mads Sogaard

Analysis: The Sharks have quite balanced prospect depth. Thomson and Bernard Docker both are capable NHL prospects, and Pinto, Reichel, and Mysak are all really unique prospects to build with at forward. Mads Sogaard is a goalie with some talent that may need patience to develop him well.

Strengths: Defense, Depth Forwards

Weaknesses: High-end Scoring

15) Anaheim:

Samuel Poulin

Jake Sanderson

Tyler Kleven

Brock Faber

Drew Commesso

Analysis: Jake Sanderson was one of the highest risers over the last year. He’s an exceptional skater and the potential is great. Pouliot is an interesting talent up front. Anaheim made a nice trade bringing in Commesso to shore up their goaltending future.

Strengths: Defense

Weaknesses: Lack of good Forwards

16) Philadelphia:

Ty Dellandrea

Thomas Harley

Helge Grans

Martin Chromiak

Keith Petruzzelli

Analysis: Ty Dellandrea is the prototypical guy that can help you up and down your lineup. He can play any role and help you in so many ways. Thomas Harley is a real quality defense prospect. Two of my favorite prospects from the past draft were Helge Grans and Martin Chromiak. I think Philly did well to add a couple potential steals.

Strengths: Character players, good depth

Weaknesses: Lack of quality Future goaltenders

17) Buffalo:

Raphael Lavoie

Ryan Merkley

Serron Noel

Olivier Rodrigue

Matias Maccelli

William Wallinder

Analysis: Buffalo has some interesting players. The enigma that is Ryan Merkley - his offensive ceiling is high but I don’t know about the rest of his game. I like the forwards the team has assembled. Matias Macceli was a sneaky good pickup and I really like his skill level.

Strengths: Quality Wingers

Weaknesses: Center Depth

18) Montreal:

Ville Heinola

Brayden Tracey

Nils Hoglander

Jett Woo

Analysis: Montreal isn’t deep at any position really. But they do have some real quality players to build with. I personally am very high on Nils Hoglander, and Brayden Tracey has a lot of skill as well. Ville Heinola and Jett Woo give some good young pieces to build with on the backend too.

Strengths: Defense, Wingers

Weaknesses: Goaltending, Center

19) Nashville:

Tyson Foerster

Antti Tuomisto

Jared McIsaac

Luke Evangelista

Robert Mastrosimone

Analysis: I really like the talent Nashville has up front with Foerster, Mastrosimone, and Evangelista. While none of them are sexy prospects I think they all offer some untapped upside. Tuomisto and McIsaac are really quality puck movers on the backend too.

Strengths: Depth Forwards, Puck Moving Defensemen

Weaknesses: Shutdown Defense, Star Quality forwards

20) Winnipeg:

Dylan Holloway

Liam Foudy

Yegor Chinakhov

Kirill Marchenko

Analysis: The Jets are very fortunate to have selected Dylan Holloway rather late in Round 1 of the most recent draft. I think this player is gonna be a steal. Liam Foudy is also a really skilled and fast player up front. Marchenko and Chinakhov each offer boom or bust potential.

Strengths: Speed and Skill at forward

Weaknesses: Depth on Defense and Goaltending

21) Toronto:

Seth Jarvis

Jacob Perreault

Tristen Robins

Lukas Cormier

John Farinacci

Analysis: Seth Jarvis and Jacob Perreault both offer the Leafs a ton of skill. They both have loads of potential, particularly Jarvis, to be difference makers. Also have some nice depth forwards to develop with patience.

Strengths: Skilled Forwards, Depth up front

Weaknesses: Lacking difference makers on Defense, quality goaltenders

22) Columbus:

Ilya Sorokin

Jake Neighbours

Thomas Bordeleau

Ruslan Ishakov

Sam Colangelo

Analysis: Ilya Sorokin is a real quality netminder to build around. Neighbours is an extremely hard-working forward who plays a complete game. Bordeleau also has some real unique qualities.

Strengths: Good Goaltending, 2-way Forwards

Weaknesses: Need to improve on Defense

23) Arizona:

Hendrix Lapierre

Simon Holmstrom

David Farrance

Yegor Afanasyev

Analysis: Hendrix Lapierre is a highly touted piece that had a tough junior career with injuries but is a real intriguing player. Simon Holmstrom is a player who’s gotten better and better in the Swedish hockey system. David Farrance is a real quality offensive defender who has improved every year in NCAA.

Strengths: Offensive Forwards, Skill

Weaknesses: Shutdown Defense, Goaltending

24) Boston:

Alexander Romanov

Noel Gunler

Gabriel Fortier

Hugo Alnefelt

Analysis: Alexander Romanov might be my absolute favorite pick from the Entry Draft. He’s done nothing but shine every time I see him play. He’s a really quality prospect. Gunler and Fortier each have some inconsistency in their game but both have potential if developed properly.

Strengths: Defense, Skill

Weaknesses: Star Power at Forward

25) Tampa Bay:

Nicholas Robertson

Nicolas Abruzzese

Theodor Niederbach

Mikko Kokkonen

Analysis: Nicholas Robertson is one of the more intriguing prospects in this Bolts organization exceeding well past his draft position. He became quite the prolific point producer in junior, so we will see how his game translates to pro hockey. Also have some good skill players in Abruzzese and Niederbach.

Strengths: Offensice Skill at Forward

Weaknesses: Quality Defense, Goaltending

26) Los Angeles:

Brendan Brisson

Ian Mitchell

Evan Barratt

Alec Regula

Analysis: The first thing that jumps out at me with LA is the quality of the puck-moving D-men. I really like Ian Mitchell, and Alec Regula has really improved as well. Brendan Brisson has some untapped offensive upside as well.

Strengths: Puck movers on Defense

Weaknesses: Skilled Forward

27) New York Islanders:

Jordan Harris

Jayden Struble

Roni Hirvonen

Jacob Olofsson

Analysis: Lacking real quality assets throughout the organization, I do like Harris and Struble quite a bit but no guarantees with either defenseman. Severely lacking skilled forwards

Strengths: Depth Defensemen

Weaknesses: Lack of Skilled Forwards, Goaltending

28) Edmonton:

Nikita Alexandrov

Joel Hofer

Scott Perunovich

Eemeli Rasanen

Analysis: Joel Hofer is a nice piece in net for the Oilers, and Perunovich offers some puck moving ability. Rasanen is polar opposite and really takes care of his own zone. Alexandrov has some potential to become a good offensive player.

Strengths: Key depth players, Good Goaltender

Weaknesses: Overall Depth in the organization

29) Vegas:

Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson

Landon Slaggert

Oliver Tarnstrom

Jeremy Swayman

Analysis: There’s not a lot to be excited about in Vegas. Forsbacka-Karlsson offers the most potential but he’s not a flashy player. Tarnstrom is small and skilled but a bit of a long shot. Swayman is a goalie who has had an excellent NCAA career, so we shall see if he can put it together in the pros.

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: Depth at all positions

30) Detroit:

Dillon Hamaliuk

Jonathan Dahlen

Filip Hallander

Olof Lindblom

Analysis: Cleary GM Mathias Lundgren likes Swedish prospects. Dahlen and Hallander both offer some upside offensively. Hamaliuk fits the mold of a two-way player but he’s had health issues. Lindblom is a bit of a project.

Strengths: Skilled up Front

Weaknesses: Inconsistent Forwards, Defensemen

31) Carolina:

Ryan O'Rourke

Brandon Koe

Kim Nousiainen

Analysis: Carolina looks pretty bleak in the prospects department. Outside of Ryan O’Rourke, there’s not a whole lot to build around. Brandon Koe and Kim Nousiainen offer some ability if developed properly.

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: Depth, Goaltending

32) Vancouver:

Simon Lundmark

Pyotr Kochetkov

Nathan Smith

Analysis: Someone has to hold the home of poorest prospect system and for me that is none other than the Canucks. I’m not really confident in a single prospect in this organization becoming a capable player.

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: Everything