The 2024-25 NHL season is off to a great start, and it’s time to take a closer look at the top prospects in the league. Rachel Doerrie, a professional data consultant with a background in the NHL, has put together a ranking of all 32 teams’ prospect pipelines. These rankings have been updated to reflect the changes that occurred during the offseason compared to April’s edition.
Some of these prospects are currently getting a nine-game trial in the NHL before their team needs to make a decision on whether to send them back to the Canadian junior leagues. Others have already started their seasons in various leagues such as the NCAA or internationally. To be considered a prospect for this list, the player must be under 23 years old and have their rights owned by an NHL team.
Players who are expected to be on the NHL roster for the majority of the season are not included in these rankings. Some notable players in this category are Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Matvei Michkov, Cutter Gauthier, Shane Wright, Logan Stankoven, Brandt Clarke, and Rutger McGroarty.
It’s always exciting to see how these young players develop and make their mark in the NHL. Keep an eye on these prospects throughout the season to see who rises to the top and becomes a future star in the league. The future of the NHL is bright, and these prospects are a big part of that.