Upcoming NHL Season and Young Talent Rankings
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming NHL season, The Hockey News is unveiling its annual ranking of the league’s top young talents aged 21 and under. This exciting initiative, spearheaded by journalist Ryan Kennedy, is a feature of the Prospects Unlimited issue and aims to spotlight hockey’s brightest young stars, distinct from the Future Watch rankings which are derived from NHL scout surveys.
Independent Assessment of Young Athletes
Kennedy’s list is an independent assessment, predicting how these athletes will develop by the time they reach their prime years, typically defined as 23-26 depending on their position. This year’s cutoff for eligible players was set at those born in 2004, with ages considered as of October 1st.
Exclusive Access for Subscribers
Subscribers to The Hockey News have exclusive access to the complete list, which includes player biographies and draft details, available online or through the magazine itself. Recent rankings from 41st to 100th have been shared, revealing names poised for impressive futures in professional hockey.
Next Tier of Young Talent (21st to 40th)
- 40. Ryan Lin, D, 17 years old, Vancouver Giants (WHL) – NHL Draft: 2026
- 39. Cole Hutson, D, 19, Washington Capitals, Boston University (HE)
- 38. Ryan Roobroeck, LW, 16, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) – NHL Draft: 2026
- 37. Radim Mrtka, D, 18, Buffalo Sabres, Seattle (WHL)
- 36. Sam Rinzel, D, 21, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- 35. Frank Nazar, C, 21, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- 34. Cayden Lindstrom, C, 19, Columbus Blue Jackets, Michigan State (Big Ten)
- 33. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, 20, Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
- 32. Jake O’Brien, C, 18, Seattle Kraken, Brantford (WHL)
- 31. Roger McQueen, C, 18, Anaheim Ducks, Providence College (HE)
- 30. Cutter Gauthier, LW, 21, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
- 29. Caleb Desnoyers, C, 18, Utah Mammoth, Moncton (QMJHL)
- 28. Michael Hrabal, G, 20, Utah Mammoth, UMass (HE)
- 27. Ethan Belchetz, LW, 17, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) – NHL Draft: 2026
- 26. Brady Martin, C, 18, Nashville Predators, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- 25. Will Smith, C, 20, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
- 24. Ryan Leonard, RW, 20, Washington Capitals (NHL)
- 23. Carter George, G, 19, Los Angeles Kings, Owen Sound (OHL)
- 22. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, 21, St. Louis Blues (NHL)
- 21. Sam Dickinson, D, 19, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Stay Updated
For all the latest developments, insights from experts, and access to the entirety of the magazine’s archives, fans can subscribe at THN.com/free. Readers are also encouraged to engage by sharing their thoughts in the community forums and staying updated through The Hockey News newsletter.
