Ranking the 10 Best NHL Prospects Who Will Make a Huge Impact in the Next 3 Years

There are a lot of prospects outside the NHL waiting to make their mark.

Not everyone's season is over yet—the CHL Memorial Cup is about to kick off, for one—but we have a pretty good idea of who these players are.

Criteria for inclusion in this list were:

• Age 23 or under 
• Hasn't played more than between 15-25 NHL games—enough that it's clear they're being regularly counted on by their NHL team 

Quite a few of these guys will at least make an appearance in the NHL next season, if not see regular time. For now, though, they're still prospects. Here are the top 10 who could explode on the scene in the next few years.

We've also got three honorable mentions for guys just outside the top 10 because evaluation is subjective and development is complicated, and there's a lot of talent out there.

• If this were a Top-11 list, defender Simon Edvinsson (DET) would certainly be next. (Spoiler: He and Shane Wright are a 10a/10b right now.) Like Brandt Clarke, he's played 25 NHL games across the last two seasons, but hasn't stuck as a regular yet. Edvinsson plays with a lot of poise and is a strong skater with good gap control, but the Red Wings have mentioned they'd like to see more 'urgency' in his game.    
• Rutger McGroarty (WPG) goes in the honorable mentions as well. The University of Michigan standout and World Juniors gold medal-winning captain didn't sign with the Winnipeg Jets when his NCAA season ended in April, and that's a good thing. His hockey IQ and tenacity are superb, but he needs to improve his skating speed to pair with them.  
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki (VAN) is another to keep a close eye on. The Swedish right wing and 2022 first-round pick won the SHL Rookie of the Year award this season and had an impressive performance at the 2024 World Juniors, taking home the tournament MVP title. He's known for being an excellent goal-scorer, but this season also saw improvement in his play in the defensive and neutral zones—something that bodes well for his transition to the NHL. 

The 16 games Wright has played at the NHL level are not necessarily representative of the type of player he's capable of being long-term.

As recently as last offseason, many were still speculating whether Wright was a bust. With the NHL and CHL agreeing to allow him to bypass the NHL-CHL agreement this season, though, the 20-year-old was able to see regular time with the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds and ended the regular season with 47 points (22G/25A) in 59 games. He also scored four goals in his eight NHL games this season.

When he's at his best, the center is a dynamic playmaker with high-end skating speed and a terrific shot. The Kraken will want to see consistency. That's why Wright getting to stay with the Firebirds this season—playing and adjusting his game against a higher level of competition, rather than blowing apart the OHL and not being challenged—was so important.

Next up for Wright is the AHL's Western Conference Finals. After that? Hopefully a full rookie season with the Kraken.

Putting Leonard at No. 9 is no slight—it just speaks to how good all the players listed here are, including three of his Boston College teammates: Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, and Gabe Perreault.

The Caps' prospect finished the NCAA season with 60 points (31G/29A) in 41 games—and was most often the driving force on the all-freshman line of himself, Smith, and Perreault. He has a terrific shot and quick hands and pairs those talents with better-than-average skating skills. He's deceptive, able to fool his opponents into thinking he's making one play while he's already made another.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Leonard's game is that the things he is good at are things he can translate to the NHL level. He's got a lethal shot, is relentless with the puck, and does a fantastic job of finding his teammates to facilitate plays. He's another who could benefit from more time in college hockey, but don't be surprised to see him with the Capitals sooner than later.

Lane Hutson is incredibly talented, but the 20-year-old Michigan native can also be incredibly frustrating. That's what happens when you draft a high-risk, high-reward offensive defenseman.

The 5'10" (yes, he's grown since the draft) defenseman debuted with the Montreal Canadiens after his Boston University Terriers were eliminated from the NCAA Frozen Four against Denver. He had two assists in two NHL games; during his NCAA season, he had 49 points, including 15 goals, in 38 games.

Hutson has elite skills, particularly regarding his vision and playmaking. He's agile and evasive, hard to contain offensively, with his skating allowing him to lead the rush. He does sometimes try to do it all—there were moments when this was occasionally an issue at the 2024 World Juniors, as he was relied on heavily.

Concerns about the defensive side of his game, however, have been largely overplayed. He's got great hockey sense and an active stick, and he can read where to break up opponents' plays to tilt the ice the other way.

Whether Alexander Nikishin will come over from the KHL to play for the Carolina Hurricanes is still up in the air.

What isn't in question is Nikishin's talent level.

The SKA St. Petersburg captain just finished back-to-back seasons as the highest-scoring defenseman in the KHL, and his improvement over the last several seasons has been impressive.

When he was drafted some of the prized aspects of his game were his physicality and his ability to use his size defensively, as well as some glimpses of puck-moving skills. Today, he is a playmaking defender who has improved vision and a heavy shot. While he isn't an offensive dynamo, pairing the movement he does have with his ability to read the ice and his improved defensive talent bodes well for his transition to the North American game.

The Hurricanes hope to learn soon whether Nikishin will be in Raleigh next season. Regardless of when, though, he will make a quick impact on their blue line.

Gabe Perreault is one of those players whose ceiling is so high that you want to take the risk. He's got the potential to really shine at the next level if he reaches that ceiling, or even gets close. Having him this high may ruffle some feathers, but sometimes you have to leap.

Perreault, another Boston College boy, finished the NCAA season with 60 points (19G/41A) in 39 games. He was also a key member of Team USA at the 2024 World Juniors, pushing the pace with his BC linemates. He's an extremely smart player, reading the ice at a much higher level than most of his peers. His hands can keep up with that high hockey IQ and elite vision.

All of this adds up to him being a dangerous playmaker.

He's a decent but not phenomenal skater, and ideally, he'll add power as he adds muscle. More time in college hockey—and the college hockey weight room—will be good for him.

Yes, that Cutter Gauthier.

We're past the drama and moving on like adults—these young players only have so much agency and they're allowed to exercise the little they do. He's a Duck now. Let's go.

Gauthier is the other player who finished ahead of Celebrini in NCAA scoring, after Boston College teammate Smith, with 65 points (38G/27A) in 41 games. He also had a terrific showing at the 2024 World Juniors, with 12 points in 7 games. In short, he's an offensive weapon—he moves the puck efficiently, wins battles, is tenacious on the forecheck, and has an elite shot.

He's young (still 20) and transitioning to the NHL always comes with growing pains. But being so versatile will be an asset for Gauthier as he evolves into the pro player that scouts know he can be—a relentless, 200-foot forward who will complement any linemates he plays with and get on the scoresheet.

Will Smith is often discussed as part of a trio with linemates Perreault and Leonard (WSH).

They set records at the NTDP. They wowed the fans of Boston College. They were a key part of Team USA's World Juniors gold medal win. And inevitably, they'll be split apart. (Not on this list, though.)

Smith was one of only two college players to pass Celebrini in scoring this season and was the only one above Celebrini in points-per-game, ending the season with 71 points (25G/46A) in 41 games. He's an incredible puck handler, and his elite vision and hockey sense, even at high speeds, allow him to identify opportunities and turn them into threats.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier noted during his exit interview in April that he feels Smith is ready to make the jump to the NHL. Whether he signs remains to be seen, but whenever he joins the Sharks he will be a valuable part of their offense.

Including Clarke here was a coin toss—not because he doesn't deserve to be near the top of this list (he certainly does) but because he's played 25 NHL games across two seasons.

Still, he's only 21, and he's spent most of his pro career in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. What we've seen there aligns more closely with the type of NHL player he has the potential to be.

Clarke, named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in April, ended the regular season with 46 points (10G/36A) in 50 AHL games. His vision and hockey sense are elite—he's got the ability to make reads that players around him can't—and while his skating could still use some improvement, it isn't holding him back. Getting regular AHL time allowed him to improve his defensive game this season.

Between his poise and intelligence, it likely won't be long before Clarke is a regular in the Kings' top four.

This placement of Macklin Celebrini may be a bit contentious, but he's 17 years old. He should be a high school senior right now, and instead, he spent the season tearing up college hockey.

Celebrini ended up third overall in NCAA scoring (second in PPG with 1.68) with 64 points (32G/32A) and projects to quickly make an impact with whatever NHL team he lands on next season.

(This will very likely be the San Jose Sharks, of course. If Celebrini isn't on their opening-night roster, I'll eat my hat.)

Celebrini is the consensus 2024 No. 1 overall pick for a laundry list of reasons. He's a phenomenal player at both ends of the ice who has superb skating—especially his acceleration and agility. His tenacity away from the puck also cannot be understated.

He doesn't just have high-hockey IQ which is a separating factor for elite players; he's able to use it at those top speeds. Nothing is set in stone, but don't be surprised if in the future he's discussed more on an equal field with Connor Bedard than people expect right now.

He's coming to the NHL. Or so some reports say.

Regardless of whether Matvei Michkov suits up for the Flyers this season or later, he's still currently the best prospect outside the NHL. Though SKA St. Petersburg holds his KHL rights, he was loaned to HC Sochi during the 2023-24 season and ended up with 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 47 games played.

Michkov has elite puck skills and is a very smart player—he's good at problem-solving in the moment and is very creative. The 19-year-old's playmaking is high-end, and so is his finishing talent. He's a threat from anywhere on the ice.

There's always a slight question of whether talent will transfer from one league to another, and Michkov can sometimes try to do too much. The 2023 No. 7 overall pick's ceiling is high, though, and his game appears very well suited to the current state of the NHL.