Upcoming Talents in Ice Hockey
In the realm of ice hockey, upcoming talents are showcased in The Hockey News’ annual Prospects Unlimited edition. This enlightening issue unveils a fresh roster of the top 100 hockey players aged 21 and younger, curated by Ryan Kennedy. Unlike the Future Watch rankings, which rely on feedback from NHL scouts, this top 100 list is purely based on Kennedy’s independent evaluations and forecasts regarding the future performance of each player when they reach their peak years.
Player Maturity and Eligibility
It is important to note that players mature at different intervals; for instance, forwards are projected to hit their peak by the ages of 23 or 24, while defensemen and goalies are expected to bloom at 24-25 and 25-26, respectively. The cutoff for eligible birth years for this edition is set at 2004, permitting players like Edmonton’s Matt Savoie, born on January 1, 2004, but excluding others such as Minnesota’s Danila Yurov, born December 22, 2003. While there is no minimum age limit for players to feature on this list, younger players are often unpredictable, which is why you won’t find any entries from those as young as 13 years old.
The youngest name gracing this year’s rankings is Maddox Schultz from the Regina Pats, who at just 15 years of age and born in 2010, is already making waves as the first overall pick in the anticipated 2025 WHL draft.
Ranked Talents from 81st to 100th
Readers who are keen to explore the comprehensive list of ranked talents, complete with detailed player biographies and draft information, can find this exclusive content on TheHockeyNews.com, accessible to subscribers and magazine holders alike.
Let’s dive into the first set of players awash with potential, ranked from 81st to 100th:
- 100. Maddox Schultz, C, 15, Regina (WHL) – NHL Draft: 2028
- 99. Konsta Helenius, C, 19, Buffalo Sabres – Rochester (AHL)
- 98. Daniil But, LW, 20, Utah Mammoth – Tucson (AHL)
- 97. David Reinbacher, D, 20, Montreal Canadiens – Laval (AHL)
- 96. Harrison Brunicke, D, 19, Pittsburgh Penguins – Pittsburgh (NHL)
- 95. Easton Cowan, RW, 20, Toronto Maple Leafs – Toronto (AHL)
- 94. Mathis Preston, C, 17, Spokane (WHL) – NHL Draft: 2026
- 93. Will Horcoff, C, 18, Pittsburgh Penguins – Michigan (Big Ten)
- 92. Ben Kindel, C, 18, Pittsburgh Penguins – Pittsburgh (NHL)
- 91. Oliver Moore, C, 20, Chicago Blackhawks – Rockford (AHL)
- 90. Tanner Molendyk, D, 20, Nashville Predators – Milwaukee (AHL)
- 89. Semyon Frolov, G, 18, Carolina Hurricanes – Spartak Moscow Jr. (Rus.)
- 88. Charlie Cerrato, C, 20, Carolina Hurricanes – Penn State (Big Ten)
- 87. Emmitt Finnie, LW, 20, Detroit Red Wings – Detroit (NHL)
- 86. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, 19, Detroit Red Wings – Grand Rapids (AHL)
- 85. Liam Ohgren, LW, 21, Minnesota Wild – Iowa (AHL)
- 84. Simon Nemec, D, 21, New Jersey Devils – New Jersey (NHL)
- 83. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, 21, Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver (NHL)
- 82. Dalibor Dvorksy, RW, 20, St. Louis Blues – Springfield (AHL)
- 81. Brock Cripps, D, 16, Prince Albert (WHL) – NHL Draft: 2027
Further Engagement
For those interested in more exciting articles, full access to the magazine’s archives, and a complimentary issue, visit The Hockey News website at THN.com/free. Additionally, stay up to date with the latest trends and stories by subscribing to our newsletter or engaging with the community via comments and posts on THN.com.
