Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Ranking the top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects in hockey

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Monday, 09 March 2020 07:44

It's time for another run at ranking the best NHL prospects. More than 20 such players who were listed on our fall top 100 have graduated from prospect status, and nearly a full additional season since has seen plenty of players rise or fall in how we view their potential. So expect plenty of movement here in our updated top 50 ranking of the top prospects in hockey.

Perhaps the biggest change from the fall edition is the top of the list -- there is no longer a true No. 1. Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes have all graduated, leaving behind a bit of a debate atop the ranking.

Even so, there is a host of promising players in NHL pipelines. Here are my top 50 as of mid-March.

Criteria note: To be eligible for this list, players must under 26 years old and cannot have played in more than 25 NHL games this season. Players who are projected to lose rookie status over the course of this season or have spent the bulk of the season on the NHL roster were also removed from consideration (i.e. Arizona Coyotes forward Barrett Hayton, who has not yet crossed the games-played threshold but has been with the Coyotes all season).

1. Kirill Kaprizov, RW, Minnesota Wild

Age: 22 | Previous rank: 8
Current team: CSKA Moscow (KHL)

The wait may soon be over. Assuming Kaprizov signs as expected, he will come in as the reigning two-time KHL goal-scoring champion. Kaprizov has an Olympic gold medal and a Gagarin Cup title, and no player has posted more points in his KHL career before turning 24. He competes for pucks and makes plays. While there may be an adjustment to the North American style, the Wild should reasonably expect him to be an impact player, a Calder Trophy contender and quite possibly their biggest home-drafted star since Marian Gaborik.


2. Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks

Age: 18 | Previous rank: 9
Current team: Boston University (Hockey East)

One of the most dynamic talents with the puck on his stick currently outside of the NHL, Zegras' ability to find teammates and make quick decisions with the puck is at an elite level. His stickhandling can make defenders miss, but he still needs to add muscle to his frame and clean up the defensive elements of being a center. He is as dynamic as they come, and the Ducks have an exciting young talent on their hands.


3. Dylan Cozens, C/W, Buffalo Sabres

Age: 18 | Previous rank: 24
Current team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

There was a chance Cozens could have made the Sabres this season, but I think the team made a pragmatic decision in sending him back to the WHL. He is top-three in the WHL in points per game and was a force at the World Junior Championship. An absolute horse, Cozens can fly up and down the ice and is finishing plays a lot better than he did a season ago. There's a consistency to his game. He has gotten better and better as the season has worn on and looks far more prepared to step into the Sabres' lineup as early as next season.


4. Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Read 2963 times

Soccer

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season afte...

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- For 75 minutes on Tuesday night, Manchester...

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to Kim Min-...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramen...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated