NHL TEAM PROSPECT POOL STRENGTH RANKINGS (JULY 2021 - POST DRAFT) 
1. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings already had the best prospect system in the NHL and they added to it with Brandt Clarke, one of the very best prospects in the 2021 draft. All the system needs is an elite goalie prospect. It's loaded everywhere else.
The Kings already had the best prospect system in the NHL and they added to it with Brandt Clarke, one of the very best prospects in the 2021 draft. All the system needs is an elite goalie prospect. It's loaded everywhere else.
2. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks jumped up 5 spots based on what they did at the 2021 draft. Adding Zellweger and Pastujov to an already stocked pool was big! McTavish, having mostly lost his dy, doesn't profile well now but could really shoot up in the coming years too.
The Ducks jumped up 5 spots based on what they did at the 2021 draft. Adding Zellweger and Pastujov to an already stocked pool was big! McTavish, having mostly lost his dy, doesn't profile well now but could really shoot up in the coming years too.
3. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have one of the best top 5 prospects in the NHL. At the draft they added the elite goalie prospect in Wallstedt. The skaters they drafted in 2021 aren't popping off the charts but they didn't take many low prob. gambles either. Good depth pieces.
The Wild have one of the best top 5 prospects in the NHL. At the draft they added the elite goalie prospect in Wallstedt. The skaters they drafted in 2021 aren't popping off the charts but they didn't take many low prob. gambles either. Good depth pieces.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have a good top 5 (good star and NHLer potential) and an amazing amount of potential NHLers in their system. They didn't have many picks at the draft but used them wisely with Knies and Voit. For a division winner, they are stocked nicely.
The Maple Leafs have a good top 5 (good star and NHLer potential) and an amazing amount of potential NHLers in their system. They didn't have many picks at the draft but used them wisely with Knies and Voit. For a division winner, they are stocked nicely.
5. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have a ton of potential NHLers. Their top 5 is now starting to round into form with Eklund, Merkley and Dahlen too. Also, the addition of Hill, with Melnichuk already in the system, catapulted them to the top goalie ranking.
The Sharks have a ton of potential NHLers. Their top 5 is now starting to round into form with Eklund, Merkley and Dahlen too. Also, the addition of Hill, with Melnichuk already in the system, catapulted them to the top goalie ranking.
The Sharks have done well at adding solid depth the last few drafts and not wasting picks on players that have very little chance. Adding a couple big, potential star, pieces in 2022 and 2023 and this system will be ready to roll!
6. Calgary Flames
Over the past two drafts, the Flames have added a lot of good pieces to the system (notably Coronato and Zary). They aren't reaching and are drafting good value. The Flames also picked up G prospects Vladar and Werner which helped re-shape a lackluster G pool.
Over the past two drafts, the Flames have added a lot of good pieces to the system (notably Coronato and Zary). They aren't reaching and are drafting good value. The Flames also picked up G prospects Vladar and Werner which helped re-shape a lackluster G pool.
7. New York Rangers
A few of the Rangers big pieces (Kakko and Fox) have graduated out of being prospects but they still have a good pool with numerous potential impactful future NHLers.
A few of the Rangers big pieces (Kakko and Fox) have graduated out of being prospects but they still have a good pool with numerous potential impactful future NHLers.
The Rangers 2021 draft was only ok. They missed out on on more than one high prob. guys (Lucius, Zellweger, Pastujov). But Brody Lamb, 4th rd high school selection of the Rangers, is a player I'm very interested in going forward. He has some potential to hit very big!
8. New Jersey Devils
Outside of Luke Hughes, the Devils don't appear to have added anything too substantial at the draft. Other teams had stronger drafts. That dropped them back. Still a good pool with good pieces. Luke Hughes has the potential to be a big star though.
Outside of Luke Hughes, the Devils don't appear to have added anything too substantial at the draft. Other teams had stronger drafts. That dropped them back. Still a good pool with good pieces. Luke Hughes has the potential to be a big star though.
9. Ottawa Senators
The Senators have a good prospect pool, especially at the top end. But, just like 2020, they missed out on some opportunities to add big value at the 2021 draft. Boucher seemed like a reach (most had him as a 2nd round pick), there were reaches throughout.
The Senators have a good prospect pool, especially at the top end. But, just like 2020, they missed out on some opportunities to add big value at the 2021 draft. Boucher seemed like a reach (most had him as a 2nd round pick), there were reaches throughout.
10. Nashville Predators
The Predators moved up a few times and got a few good prospects in Svechkov and L'Heureux. They also acquired Cody Glass just prior to the draft. Additionally, Askarov (drafted in 2020) looks to be an exceptional goalie prospect.
The Predators moved up a few times and got a few good prospects in Svechkov and L'Heureux. They also acquired Cody Glass just prior to the draft. Additionally, Askarov (drafted in 2020) looks to be an exceptional goalie prospect.
11. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets, prior to the draft, had a bottom 10 prospect pool, However, acquiring Boqvist (Jones deal) and Bean (2nd) as it was getting going as well as drafting Johnson, Sillinger and Ceulemans really increased the quality of their pool.
The Blue Jackets, prior to the draft, had a bottom 10 prospect pool, However, acquiring Boqvist (Jones deal) and Bean (2nd) as it was getting going as well as drafting Johnson, Sillinger and Ceulemans really increased the quality of their pool.
In total, the Blue Jackets shot up 14 spots with their acquisitions and subsequent draft. That is how you re-stock a depleted prospect pool in a hurry! This could be a very good pool in a few years.
12. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers' prospect pool is average across the board. Bouchard is their big piece, the top 5 is relatively mediocre beyond that. Their work at the 2021 draft was similar. Good depth pieces but likely nothing that's going to evolve into a star.
The Oilers' prospect pool is average across the board. Bouchard is their big piece, the top 5 is relatively mediocre beyond that. Their work at the 2021 draft was similar. Good depth pieces but likely nothing that's going to evolve into a star.
13. Detroit Red Wings
This one might be a surprise. The Red Wings have a lot of potential NHLer pieces. But they don't have a lot of high prob. star pieces. Although, a number of their pieces are really young and still developing so they could grow over time.
This one might be a surprise. The Red Wings have a lot of potential NHLer pieces. But they don't have a lot of high prob. star pieces. Although, a number of their pieces are really young and still developing so they could grow over time.
14. Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers fall back 5 spots. They didn't really have a great draft (especially trading away their 1st for Ristolainen). The teams around them added to their pools and the Flyers didn't really.
The Flyers fall back 5 spots. They didn't really have a great draft (especially trading away their 1st for Ristolainen). The teams around them added to their pools and the Flyers didn't really.
15. Dallas Stars
The Stars find themselves mostly where they were before the draft started. However, the ranking doesn't reflect them snagging Stankoven in the 2nd round. He doesn't profile like he should in the model because he mostly lost his dy but should make big jumps.
The Stars find themselves mostly where they were before the draft started. However, the ranking doesn't reflect them snagging Stankoven in the 2nd round. He doesn't profile like he should in the model because he mostly lost his dy but should make big jumps.
16. Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus' gain in the Jones deal was the Blackhawks' loss in their prospect pool. Losing their best prospect in Boqvist is a killer and their subsequent draft didn't likely yield much. They fell back 10 spots from their previous ranking.
Columbus' gain in the Jones deal was the Blackhawks' loss in their prospect pool. Losing their best prospect in Boqvist is a killer and their subsequent draft didn't likely yield much. They fell back 10 spots from their previous ranking.
17. Florida Panthers
No movement really for the Panthers. Mostly average across the board and added average value at the draft.
No movement really for the Panthers. Mostly average across the board and added average value at the draft.
18. Carolina Hurricanes
Nobody in the league has more potential NHLer pieces than the Hurricanes and they added another handful of them this year at the draft. Young, good value bets with runway to improve is the name of the game for the Canes.
Nobody in the league has more potential NHLer pieces than the Hurricanes and they added another handful of them this year at the draft. Young, good value bets with runway to improve is the name of the game for the Canes.
Where the Canes system lacks is star potential. Outside of Seth Jarvis, the pool doesn't have a whole lot of star potential to it. Their top 5 needs a few big pieces.
19. Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes jump up 5 spots mostly due to trading back into the 1st round with the Garland/OEL trade and selecting Dylan Guenther 9th overall. Guenther was the highest ranked forward at Hockey Prospecting. Huge star potential there.
The Coyotes jump up 5 spots mostly due to trading back into the 1st round with the Garland/OEL trade and selecting Dylan Guenther 9th overall. Guenther was the highest ranked forward at Hockey Prospecting. Huge star potential there.
The Coyotes are now loading up for the 2022 draft (having already acquired several picks high picks for the draft). The Coyotes are going for the rebuild. Hopefully they can build a lacking pool into a monster over the coming years.
I'll be back in a bit to round out the bottom 13 teams.
20. Vegas Golden Knights
The Knights hold mostly the same spot as they have the past year. They haven't been around long. They've traded away a lot of their big pieces (Suzuki, Brannstrom, Glass). And they're a perpetual contender that finishes with a lower draft spot.
The Knights hold mostly the same spot as they have the past year. They haven't been around long. They've traded away a lot of their big pieces (Suzuki, Brannstrom, Glass). And they're a perpetual contender that finishes with a lower draft spot.
21. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have lots of potential NHLer pieces in their system (ranking 5th) but outside of Caufield they don't have much in terms of star potential. Suzuki doesn't count as a prospect anymore, btw.
The Canadiens have lots of potential NHLer pieces in their system (ranking 5th) but outside of Caufield they don't have much in terms of star potential. Suzuki doesn't count as a prospect anymore, btw.
22. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are slowly moving their way up the board with their 2020 and 2021 drafts. The pool once had very little but adding Perfetti and Lucius in the past two drafts has added significantly to their top end prospect pool.
The Jets are slowly moving their way up the board with their 2020 and 2021 drafts. The pool once had very little but adding Perfetti and Lucius in the past two drafts has added significantly to their top end prospect pool.
23. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks are rapidly tumbling down the Hockey Prospecting rankings (they dropped another 7 spots with this update).
The Canucks are rapidly tumbling down the Hockey Prospecting rankings (they dropped another 7 spots with this update).
Pettersson and Hughes (two superstars in the making) don't count as prospects anymore and they haven't had high picks for the last two years. They don't have a ton of depth to their system and they're not adding much to it of late.
Here's a breakdown of what's all included in the rankings and how they are determined...
24. Buffalo Sabres
After years of 'rebuilding' the Sabres don't have a very good team nor a top prospect pool, unfortunately. They're going full rebuild again. If done right, in a few years they could have a top prospect pool. Doing right is the key though!
After years of 'rebuilding' the Sabres don't have a very good team nor a top prospect pool, unfortunately. They're going full rebuild again. If done right, in a few years they could have a top prospect pool. Doing right is the key though!
The Sabres' 2021 draft wasn't bad (they drafted right to the expectations of their draft slot overall). With the 1st overall pick, they got consensus #1 Owen Power. Power will have a long notable NHL career. But may not be the best prospect to come out of the draft.
My money is on Clarke, Guenther, Eklund or Wallstedt being the best to come out of 2021.
The Sabres, however, are expected to trade franchise center Jack Eichel any day now and are looking for all futures back. If they can get back a few high star prob. younger prospects back as well high picks back, this can help re-shape the pool, very quickly.
25. Through 32. I won't go into each one of these. These prospect pools are mostly recent cup contenders who have very little in the cupboards. And the Kraken, who didn't exist 2 weeks ago.
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