It’s officially draft week here at Sound Of Hockey. While the Seattle Kraken made waves over the weekend by trading for Mackie Samoskevich and re-signing Bobby McMann to a five-year, $34.5 million contract, they also must now quickly shift their attention to how they will continue to stockpile young prospects into the organization.
You can expect a wave of information and articles leading up to the draft that kicks off Friday, but before that, I thought it would be a good opportunity to check in on how the Seattle Kraken have drafted to date, class by class.
I’m going to attempt to be as objective as possible, which can be challenging. Evaluating a draft class for an individual team is tricky because there are so many variables at play. I tend to look at games played, points, and goals and compare those metrics with historical averages for similar picks and player positions. To get some sense of expectations for each player, I compare them to numbers for players drafted in the same cohort and look at NHL games played, points, and goals in relation to their draft year.
That only goes so far, though, since most of the prospects haven’t played NHL games. That is where the subjectivity needs to come into play. I’ll share more of this as I go, but to illustrate expectations, here is a look at the average games played by round selected in the draft by season from draft.
There’s significant variability within the first round itself, with top‑five selections historically producing far more impact than picks later in the round. Beyond that, the gaps between rounds narrow considerably. Because first‑rounders carry the highest expectations, their outcomes weigh more heavily in my evaluation of each draft class.
What adds to this complexity is that not all drafts are created equal, and a first‑round pick in one year might not carry the same value as the exact same pick the following year. Bottom line, no evaluation criteria can be perfect.
Also important to note: I will not do revisionist history where I criticize the Kraken for not picking “player X” who was taken immediately after their selection, implying they “missed.” An example is Lane Hutson, who was picked No. 62 in the 2022 NHL Draft, one spot after the Kraken selected David Goyette. It’s obvious the Kraken would rather have Hutson at this point, but as The Athletic pointed out, Hutson would likely be drafted in the top five in a re‑draft, knowing what we know now. That would imply 27 teams missed him, including Montreal twice, since the Canadiens had the 26th and 33rd picks in that draft. That kind of logic doesn’t really tell us anything useful about Seattle’s process, so I won’t be doing it.
I will also not be evaluating goalies. Their path to the NHL is longer, less predictable, and far more variable than that of skaters, which makes early assessments unreliable. The Kraken have drafted four goalies to date, and while each has shown encouraging signs, it will take several more seasons before we can meaningfully evaluate their NHL potential.
2021 Seattle Kraken draft class
The Kraken’s first draft class was also the only one in which they had only their original picks—no more, no less.
They drafted second overall and selected Matty Beniers. Although there has been some narrative that he might not be the true No. 1 center the fanbase was anticipating, he is still a very solid NHL player. Comparing him against top‑drafted first‑rounders between 2005 and 2020, he looks average for his draft cohort, but when you compare him against the top 10 forwards selected in his draft, he looks above average. It’s also worth noting that he looks better when compared to the two other forwards selected in the top five of his draft year: Mason McTavish and Kent Johnson. The disconnect between those two charts implies it wasn’t a great draft class at the very top.
Overall, the team did great in selecting Matty second overall in this draft, but where they really excelled was with their later‑round picks.
Through the 2025 season, the Kraken have the third‑most NHL games played from their 2021 draft class. Ryker Evans, Ryan Winterton, and Jacob Melanson were contributors for the Kraken last season, which is a remarkable hit rate considering they were all selected after the first round. An argument could be made about whether these players would be in the lineup on a stronger team, and that’s debatable. But for now, they are far exceeding expectations based on their draft positions.
As for the other players drafted in 2021, it is not certain if Ville Ottavainen will spend the bulk of his pro career in the NHL. Semyon Vyazovoi had a very good season in the Kontinental Hockey League last year and is expected to play in North America next season. Justin Janicke is unlikely to play in the NHL, but that was always the case for any player selected after the second round.
With the solid performance of Beniers in relation to his draft‑class peer group and the production from their second‑and‑later‑round picks, I give this draft class a B+.
2022 Seattle Kraken draft class
There is probably no Kraken‑drafted player more controversial than Shane Wright, and that’s what makes evaluating this draft class tricky, even before we get to the other players.
After a slow start, Wright appeared to be on the right path in his third season since his draft year. After starting the season a little cold, he showed a lot of promise over the 2024‑25 NHL season, posting 19 goals and 25 assists. That put him slightly above average in his peer group and among the top 10 drafted forwards from his draft class.
The problem was last season. His production not only failed to keep pace with his expected trajectory based on his draft position, it dropped. There are plenty of examples of players bouncing back from a dip in production at this point in their development cycle, but as of now, Wright has fallen short of expectations.
As for the rest of the draft class, there are some promising chips on the roulette table, but we still don’t know how any of these players will fare in the NHL. Jani Nyman showcased extremely well at the tail end of the 2024‑25 season but looked overwhelmed when he started the 2025‑26 season with the Kraken. He was reassigned to Coachella Valley in December and only got four more games with the Kraken after the Olympic break.
The narrative about Nyman when he was drafted was that he has a booming shot but isn’t a great skater, and that still holds based on last season’s views. The jury is still out on whether he can be an everyday NHLer.
Jagger Firkus had an excellent season for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, but an injury late in the season prevented him from getting NHL games toward the end of the Kraken season to see if his game can translate to the top level. I expect him to play some games in the NHL next season, but we still don’t know if he will make it as a regular.
As for the rest of the class, Tyson Jugnauth and Ty Nelson are the next best bets to make the NHL. Based on their draft positions, they were longshots to make it, but both have improved their odds based on their play last season. It’s important to note that defensemen tend to be a little bit older compared to forwards when they break into the NHL, so even if they don’t stick next season, that should not be cause for alarm.
As promising as this draft class seemed a year ago, I have no choice but to give it a C based on the production and trajectory we saw last season.
2023 Seattle Kraken draft class
Three years really isn’t enough of a runway for this kind of assessment, but we’re going to do it anyway.
Late‑ish first‑round picks are not guaranteed to be regular NHLers, but it is impossible to ignore that Eduard Šalé’s trajectory has been very disappointing. Šalé is still likely to play in the NHL someday, but except for the occasional streak of games here and there, his performance has been underwhelming for a first‑round draft pick. He had 13 goals and 14 assists in his second AHL season last year, which is not bad, but you would expect more out of a first‑round pick in his third season since the draft.
Of the second‑round picks from this draft class, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is ahead of schedule. Mølgaard’s strength is his two‑way game, which should translate to the NHL a bit quicker and allow coaches to trust him more. He was called up for 13 games with the Kraken this season and seemed to gain confidence with each game.
The rest of the picks seem to be tracking fine based on their draft positions, with several of them having only one season of North American pro hockey under their belts. In short, it is much too early to draw any firm conclusions on them.
I give this draft class a generous B‑, but it is more realistically an incomplete, since we don’t have enough information to give a true grade.
2024 Seattle Kraken draft class
Like the 2023 draft class, it is too early to give a final grade here, but Berkly Catton spending the full season in the NHL and showing progression inside the season is very encouraging for Kraken fans. He didn’t put up big numbers, but there were signs of the elite talent you want and hope for out of a top‑10 draft pick.
Both Julius Miettinen and Nathan Villeneuve had monster years for their respective junior teams. That is no guarantee of success in the NHL, but you want to see progression from season to season regardless of the league, and they delivered.
Meanwhile, Oliver Josephson, Clarke Caswell, and Jakub Fibigr had good years for their respective teams. Josephson and Caswell made the jump to the NCAA last season and adjusted well to the structured and often heavier game of college hockey. Fibigr, who has always been a longshot to make the NHL, is taking another step in his career this coming season and will be headed to Ohio State, which should help his development.
I am giving this draft class a B+ because most of the players have taken a step in the right direction, and that’s all you can hope for at this point in their development cycle.
2025 Seattle Kraken draft class
Way, way too early on this one.
Jake O’Brien had a very good season in the OHL and is likely headed to Coachella Valley next season. Blake Fiddler is another Kraken prospect headed to the NCAA next season, where he will play for the University of Denver.
After already giving “incompletes” to the 2023 and 2024 draft classes, I have to give this one an incomplete as well.
Overall
Like all teams’ draft classes, there will be hits and there will be misses, and it is hard to say definitively yet whether the Kraken have true hits or misses. The strength of the Kraken prospect pool is really the volume of prospects in it. Will they find gold with one of their non‑first‑round picks popping off to become a high‑end NHL player? We don’t know, but the more swings you have, the better your odds of really connecting on one and hitting it out of the park.
My overall grade for their draft classes through five years is a solid B, with some potential to upgrade to an A… or even slip into the C category.
When the Seattle Kraken drafted Julius Miettinen No. 40 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they selected him for his size and his ability to impose himself in the offensive zone.
Though he plays with a lot of intensity on the ice, off the ice he couldn’t be further from that. With a beaming smile, the Kraken are getting one of the brightest, most charming personalities in the WHL.
The 20-year-old from Helsinki, Finland, has enjoyed plenty of success this season with the Everett Silvertips. He has 26 goals, 38 assists, and a plus-51 rating, including a hat trick and two assists last night, Feb. 27, against the Kamloops Blazers. His five-point performance marked a WHL career high.
Now, in what is likely his final season with the Tips before turning pro, Miettinen is looking to lead the franchise to its first WHL championship in team history. He’s focused on leading his team by dominating in tight areas.
“Just small details that the pro game needs you to have. Those are what I’ve been focusing on right now because the jump (to the pros) is gonna be hard,” Miettinen said. “Now I feel like I’m so much better than I was. And I mean, just everything you do as a center affects the game so much.”
Miettinen played in his second World Junior Championship in Minnesota. While wearing an A, he had two goals and two assists in six games, helping lead the team to a silver medal.
“It was awesome,” Miettinen said. “To be there with the Finnish guys as a second-year player, and having that first-year experience under your belt, helped so much.”
According to Miettinen, the Kraken have been paying close attention, monitoring his development ahead of the jump to the pros. He’s worked on his skating and edge work over the last two seasons since being drafted.
He has been in a locker room filled with NHL talent over the past four seasons, including former Silvertips captains Austin Roest and Ben Hemmerling. He named those players as guys who made the jump to the pros and lead by example.
“New place, new guys, new team — that’s always a jump. But I try to live in the moment,” Miettinen said. “It’s cool to see guys live their dreams. Not a lot of guys get the chance to do that. But from their last years, just seeing how they do things, like the life they live — you gotta be a pro.”
Plus, playing with that Landon DuPont guy has been pretty cool, too.
“That guy’s just unbelievable at everything he does,” Miettinen said. “He is so mature. I wouldn’t believe he’s 16 if I didn’t know. How he practices, how he treats his body — it’s just unbelievable. Just everything he does, he’s a pro.”
It’s been an incredible year for the green and white once again. At 47-7-2-1 with 97 points and first place in the Western Conference, they sit a staggering 36 points ahead of the second-place team in the U.S. Division.
The Silvertips seem to be well on their way to another deep playoff run with Miettinen at the helm. The team has fallen short in prior years, but this year feels more promising to him.
“Every year is a new year. You have a different team, different guys with you. But I feel like this year is different. I don’t know how many games we’ve been trailing in the last period, and then we just find a way to come back and win the games.
From the experience of last year, we know what it’s like. We know it’s a battle. It’s one game at a time. We’ve got to focus on the little details. One shift might change the whole season.”
Photo Courtesy of Evan Morud and the Everett Silvertips
With Berkly Catton on the shelf for the foreseeable future, out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, it puts a pause to his much anticipated rookie season.
It was promising to see him out with a red sweater at morning skate on Sunday morning, but coach Lane Lambert said he’s still pretty far from a return.
20 games (well, 21 now) into his NHL career, the 19-year-old remains one of the youngest players in the league. Yet, it’s looking more and more like he will stay with the team for the entire season.
There are a lot of high hopes for Catton among Kraken faithful, with many thinking his playmaking abilities would pay dividends right away for a team that has struggled to find a consistent source of offense. In certain ways he has helped in this regard, but the player who once scored 54 goals in a season in the WHL has yet to find the back of the net as a pro, so the scoring touch hasn’t yet translated.
Obviously, the first 20 games are not going to define the next 20, the next 200 or an entire career. Not all development paths are created equal, but this is a large enough sample size to begin comparing and contrasting.
So, while his season is on pause, let’s take some time to compare Catton’s first 20 games with the other two Kraken first-rounders to reach that mark: Matty Beniers and Shane Wright.
Catton’s first 20
The Kraken had the option of sending Catton back to the Spokane Chiefs for another season, where he did not have much left to prove, or keeping him in the NHL for a full year and burning a season of his entry-level contract.
Drafted No. 8 overall by the Kraken in 2024, the decision to have him spend his first season in the pro ranks was a heavily calculated one by the front office and coaching staff, who felt it was in his best interest to stay in the NHL and learn the ropes a little earlier than normal.
Catton has experienced some ups and downs to start his NHL career. He came out of the gates hot with three assists in his first five games, including an assist in his debut.
But he went quiet over his next 15, recording only two helpers. He’s totaled 17 shots on goal so far with some quality chances, but he just hasn’t been able to finish.
He’s getting close, though, and gaining confidence along the way. Here’s one of those opportunities he had against the Islanders on Nov. 23.
Golden opportunity for Berkly Catton to get his first NHL goal, but Rittich shuts it down.
Catton has spent the majority of his young career playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and the aforementioned Wright, but he has also seen his fair share of different combinations—six in total, according to MoneyPuck.
He was averaging a little more than 12 minutes per night, with that number fluctuating game-to-game, as it often does for players his age.
Comparing it to Wright and Beniers
Wright, drafted No. 4 overall by the Kraken in 2022, split his first 20 NHL games across three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-2025. He spent time in the OHL, AHL and at World Juniors between his NHL debut and reaching the 20-game mark.
When he was on the ice with the Kraken during those early stints, he produced at roughly the same pace he is producing at now, totaling five goals and two assists while getting about 11 minutes a game. It took Wright until the eighth game of his career to score his first NHL goal, memorably against Montreal.
While Wright hasn’t been the world-breaker he was hyped to be during his junior career, he has still developed into a solid NHL producer, with 63 points in 124 games.
Matty Beniers, meanwhile, is much more of an outlier when it comes to early-career production for the Kraken. His Rookie of the Year award and scoring in just his second ever game underscore that point.
Through his first 20 games, 10 at the end of the 2021-22 season and 10 in 2022-23, Beniers averaged nearly a point per game at seven goals and 10 assists. He was playing more than 18 minutes per night, a luxury that came when the Kraken were just starting out and building their foundation.
What’s to come…
In terms of production, it’s safe to say Catton’s first 20 games looked far more like Wright’s than Beniers’, although his path to 20 has been far more linear than that of Wright. While Catton is probably the most offensively gifted player of the three, it was always going to take something monumental to match Beniers’ first-year totals.
Many different factors play into these development paths. Top picks are always given plenty of runway, and Catton, like the rest of the Kraken’s first-rounders (all of whom are still under the age of 23), undoubtedly has way more time to become the player he was drafted to be. Benchmarks like these simply give context for what may come next.
So when he gets back, how do you think the next 20 games will look for Catton?
As Kraken training camp gets into full swing, it’s a good time to also review the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster. Which new prospects are eligible to join, which veterans remain, and how will they impact the AHL’s veteran rule?
Veterans returning
The AHL is a development league, and teams are limited to five veteran players in a gameday lineup. Veterans are defined as those with more than 260 games of professional experience.
*Ian McKinnon was incorrectly included above, but has not played the required number of games to be classified with veteran status. At 27 years old, McKinnon has played 130 professional games prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
Above are six players who fall into the veteran category and could see significant time in the AHL. However, one of these and possibly up to three players may start the season with the Kraken. Seattle currently has only 11 forwards locked into NHL roster spots, leaving one fourth-line role and as many as two healthy-scratch spots open. Most likely, either John Hayden or Mitchell Stephens makes the Kraken roster, with younger players like Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton filling the other openings.
If one veteran sticks in Seattle, the Firebirds would have five veterans to rotate while staying under the AHL limit. Ian McKinnon and Gustav Olofsson are on AHL-only contracts, so NHL time isn’t an option for them (unless Seattle wanted to elevate one of them, in which case the team could sign the player to an NHL contract).
McCormick played just 19 games last year before suffering an undisclosed injury and enters camp still on that designation. Fleury could see NHL minutes, but Seattle’s addition of Ryan Lindgren pushed him to eighth on the depth chart. NHL teams usually carry seven defensemen, although the Kraken have occasionally carried eight in past seasons. Being eighth likely means Fleury begins the season in Coachella Valley.
Prospects with AHL experience
As the Kraken enter their fifth season, their prospect pipeline continues to deepen. The Firebirds will have 11 development players with at least one full season of AHL experience:
Nyman could also join this list, but for now we’ll assume he starts the year in Seattle. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown wrote about prospects to watch, including Melanson, who may push for NHL minutes. Ottavainen is also close to NHL-ready, but Seattle’s offseason moves created a defensive logjam. Because of that, he projects as a call-up option.
Fresh faces
Adding the veteran players and experienced prospects gives Coachella Valley 11 forwards and four defensemen. That leaves one forward and two defense spots open on a typical gameday roster. The AHL has no hard roster limit, so more players can be carried over the NHL’s 23-man cap.
This year, eight new prospects could suit up in the AHL:
Tyson Jugnauth, Andrei Loshko Justin Janicke, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard are strong candidates to be in Coachella Valley—Jugnauth and Loshko have aged out of the WHL, Janicke has finished his college career, and Mølgaard has made the jump from the Swedish Elite League (SEL). The other five are 20-year-olds still eligible to return to the CHL, though all will push for AHL roles during training camp.
Given that only four defensemen are returning from last year’s team, it’s possible all four newcomers make the Firebirds roster, though it isn’t guaranteed. With Fleury and Ottavainen ready to step into a Kraken role if a need arises, the youngsters could fill any vacancies.
Among the forwards, Janicke is unique—he’s on an AHL-only deal and could be pushed to Kansas City in the ECHL if space runs out. Players on entry-level contracts (ELC) are also eligible to play in the ECHL, but overagers (20-year-olds) remain eligible for the CHL. Typically, those players would be returned to juniors for development rather than being assigned to the ECHL.
In short, performance at training camp will dictate outcomes, but with Seattle pulling some AHL veterans up, the odds are good that most, if not all, of these players land in Coachella Valley.
What about goalies?
The veteran rule does not apply to goaltenders. With journeyman Matt Murray joining the organization and Nikke Kokko ready for a bigger role, the Firebirds appear set in net. Victor Ostman is likely to get playing time in the ECHL to continue his development.
Wrapping up:
Training camp is just beginning, and nothing is finalized. Roster battles remain, and the picture will continue to evolve. While the big question is whether any of the 20-year-old prospects are returned to their junior teams, my view is that all eight will earn spots in Coachella Valley. That sets up a deep, competitive group ready to build on last season.
Key battles to watch in training camp include whether Nyman makes the Kraken, which would leave another forward spot in Coachella Valley, and who secures the right-wing role on the fourth line between Hayden and Melanson. If Berkly Catton makes the Kraken, that could also bump a top-nine forward into that mix. Watching Seattle’s young talent take on larger roles in Coachella Valley makes the future of Kraken hockey look even brighter.
Which Firebirds player are you most excited to watch take a step forward this season?
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
We are so back! The Seattle Kraken kick off their rookie camp on Wednesday at the Kraken Community Iceplex, which gives us another chance to check out players from their impressive prospect pool.
It goes without saying that Berkly Catton and Jani Nyman should be watched closely, as they figure to be in the conversation for the NHL roster, but we’re digging a bit deeper here to consider a few less-touted players that I’ll be closely monitoring.
I’m always excited for rookie camp to see how these prospects are sizing up in a slightly more competitive environment compared to development camp earlier in the summer. Without further ado, here are four players to keep an eye on in rookie camp.
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard
“OFM” has been one of my favorite Kraken prospects since he was drafted. He’s been a strong two-way center for HV71 over the last three seasons, and he’s still just 20 years old. Mølgaard has attended three development camps with the Kraken, but this will be his first rookie/training camp.
His stat line from last season of five goals and 14 assists in 38 SHL games doesn’t exactly leap off the page. But considering the SHL’s lower-scoring environment, his age, and his role, that production is very good. Add in his experience playing for Denmark in Olympic qualifiers and World Championships over the last 12 months, and you’ve got a guy who already knows what it’s like to compete against NHLers.
When you watch him, pay attention to his defensive game. Many prospects struggle with that transition against NHL competition, but Mølgaard is ahead of the curve there. Don’t be surprised if he earns at least one preseason game… or two.
Tyson Jugnauth
The left-shot defenseman’s development path has been well-documented here. Drafted in the fourth round in 2022, Jugnauth spent a season and a half at Wisconsin before moving on to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Late this past spring, he committed to Michigan State but ultimately chose to sign his entry-level deal with the Kraken.
Since joining Portland, Jugnauth has been a game breaker, racking up 179 points in 142 combined regular-season and playoff games. This summer, he took things a step further by moving to Seattle to train with Kraken staff, adding muscle and strength to his game.
On the ice, he’s always showcased plenty of skill, but now it will be interesting to see how that added strength helps him compete against pro-level players. Winning puck battles, holding opponents up defensively, and showing he can translate his WHL success are the big things to watch as rookie camp blends into main camp next week.
A right-shot defenseman taken in the second round of the 2023 draft, Dragicevic is one of seven Kraken prospects expected to play his first full pro season in North America this year.
A former forward, his calling card has always been his offensive ability, with the defensive side of his game lagging a bit. Word is he’s been focusing on his defensive play, so camp will be a good test of how far he’s come. He has the skill to create highlight-reel plays, but adjusting to the AHL level will be the next hurdle.
It’s worth remembering he looked out of place against Calgary in preseason last year, so I’ll be watching to see if he looks more comfortable this time around.
Carson Rehkopf
Since the team’s inception, Kraken fans have been clamoring for a true goal scorer. Carson Rehkopf might develop to be that guy. Selected 50th overall in the 2023 draft, his shot has impressed me more than anyone else’s in the system (although Jani Nyman’s shot is lethal too).
He scored 52 goals in 60 games in the OHL in 2023–24, then followed it up with 42 in 57 games in 2024–25. The dip in production isn’t a concern, but to stick in the NHL, Rehkopf needs to round out his two-way game. Honestly, I think he would have benefitted from playing NCAA hockey last season (if the CHL/NCAA eligibility rule had changed just one year earlier). The AHL will now provide that same test of structure and responsibility.
This year in Coachella Valley should give us early clues about what kind of player he could become at the NHL level.
Other quick thoughts on players of note:
Caden Price – The 2023 third-round pick continues to fly under the radar. He’s ranked higher on the Kraken’s internal prospect lists than most public analysts give him credit for.
David Goyette – A dynamo in junior, Goyette’s first year in Coachella Valley felt a bit underwhelming compared to the astronomical numbers he put up in the OHL. This season will be a big one for his development.
Eduard Šalé – The 2023 first-rounder had an ok year in the AHL as a 19-year-old, but for a first-round pick, you’d hope for a little more. Rookie and training camp could give us an early glimpse of him taking that next step.
Logan Morrison – We didn’t mention him on last week’s prospect-heavy Sound Of Hockey Podcast, but “LoMo” might just be a dark horse to crack the Kraken lineup at some point this season.
Rookie camp is here
The Kraken’s rookie camp is always fun, but this year feels especially intriguing with the influx of prospects expected to play in Coachella Valley this season. Some of these guys could be knocking on the NHL door sooner rather than later, and for others, it is going to be fun to see how they adjust to the next level. For fans, it provides a glimpse into the future and a benchmark to see these players in their respective development journeys.
Welcome to our third annual analysis of all NHL-affiliated prospects and each organization’s prospect pipeline. With rookie camps and tournaments right around the corner and training camps following soon thereafter, there is no better time to get up to speed on the players that will soon take center stage across the league.
The “data score” approach
Today’s analysis is a “data-only” look at the prospect landscape. This is not a traditional scouting assessment of prospects or organizational prospect pools. Think of it, instead, as a supplement to the scouting and analytical work on prospects being published by other sources like Elite Prospects and The Athleticat this time of year.
What do I mean by a “data-only” analysis? As I have done in years past when looking at NHL-affiliated players (or draft prospects), I have organized this player list by “Data Score”—a rough metric we came up with here at Sound Of Hockey. Data Score begins with the bedrock of an NHL equivalency (“NHLe”). NHLe is a method to compare the scoring proficiency of players in the various professional and junior leagues across the globe. I used Thibaud Chatel’s model, which is the most up-to-date public research in the area. Check out Chatel’s Substack for an in-depth discussion of NHLe. For this project, I used Chatel’s newest model, which has been updated to account for 2024-25 season data.
In contrast with years past when I looked at only a one-year sample to create this list, this year, I applied this NHLe to three years of scoring data—from the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 seasons. More recent play is given more weight. I think this is an important upgrade to the approach and one I will be continuing to iterate on moving forward.
After deriving an NHLe from the scoring data, I then make adjustments for age, height, and position, as well as a modest upward adjustment to the NHLe for low-scoring players playing in high-level professional leagues. I then normalize the resulting output and call it the prospect’s “Data Score.” This number no longer projects NHL scoring but is (hopefully) useful in describing the relative strength of prospects. I’ve gone through the methodology in more detail previously here and here.
NHL-affiliated prospects list eligibility
To be eligible for this list, the player (1) must be a skater on the roster or reserve list of an NHL team, (2) must be younger than 24 years old as of Sept. 1, 2025, and (3) cannot have played more than 50 NHL games. (I adjusted the age threshold downward from 25 years old this year.) This approach yielded approximately 850 players. The full list will be published shortly on the Sound Of Hockey Patreon. Let’s get into the top 200 players and prospect pipelines here.
Top-200 NHL-Affiliated Prospects
While the flow of talent from Russia and Belarus has understandably ebbed in recent years, two players from each country appear in the top ten in our NHL-affiliated prospects list.
Russian Ivan Demidov was widely regarded as one of the most talented players outside of the NHL until his debut late in the 2024-25 season. Igor Chernyshov, also of Russia, boosted his stock in the eyes of scouts and in this data-only analysis by posting 55 points in 23 OHL games in his first North American action. Belarussian forward Ilya Protas followed a similar upward trajectory after lighting up the OHL last season for 124 points in 61 games. Finally, Belarussian defenseman and 2024 No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov performed well in his first AHL year, posting 22 points in 52 games.
The OHL accounts for half of the top 10, with 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa, defenseman Zayne Parekh, and forward Porter Martone joining Chernyshov and Protas. On the college side, Zeev Buium, who played for the University of Denver before debuting for the Wild late in the 2024-25 season, is the sole college hockey representative in the top 10.
Finally, three AHL players round out the top 10: former University of Maine forward Bradly Nadeau, Levshunov, and former Liiga standout and Kraken prospect Jani Nyman.
It may be surprising at first to see Nyman so high on this list, but that’s because he’s been a bit under-considered behind the high-profile centers Seattle has drafted. Two years ago, he scored the most goals by a 19-year-old in Liiga play in 40 years. This past year, Nyman was second in the AHL in goals among rookies, behind only Nadeau. He has scored in exemplary fashion at levels that fellow prospects Berkly Catton and Jake O’Brien have not yet reached. Nyman’s profile heralds a prolific NHL scorer.
Prospect pipelines and organizational outlook
The San Jose Sharks appear primed to improve—and quickly. Even after graduating prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, the Sharks have three of the top 18 NHL-affiliated prospects by our Data Score method: Misa, Chernyshov, and defenseman Sam Dickinson.
The Calgary Flames had the most prospects overall in the top 100 with eight. The Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Washington Capitals are next with six. The Seattle Kraken round out the top quarter of the league, as the only team with five prospects in the top 100.
Visualizing each organization’s top 100 prospects against 2024-25 regular-season standings points, we see which teams are well positioned now and into the future. Interestingly, only five teams were better than average in the 2024-25 standings and have more than the average number of top 100 prospects (i.e., at least four): Montreal, Calgary, Minnesota, Washington, and Winnipeg. Otherwise, teams are clustered in either the “win now” range (with productive NHL rosters but few top-scoring prospects) or the rebuilding range.
Digging deeper into the list, the Flames and Kraken are tied for the most prospects within the top 200, with 12 apiece.
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[Author’s Note: The ranking and article were updated on Sept. 6, 2025, after an error in the age adjustments was discovered. For example, Jani Nyman moved No. 7 on the originally-published list to No. 9 in this corrected list. I apologize for the inconvenience.]
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Did we miss a player? (It’s possible; the information gathering for this project is challenging.) Do you have any questions? Reach out to us in the comments below or on Twitter/X @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey or on BlueSky at @deepseahockey or @soundofhockey.com.
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
