50). He brings tremendous confidence to the ice, initiating plays instead of waiting for the action to come to him. Cap concerns have displaced a number of quality players into free agency, Leafs aim to ‘make life hard’ on teams next season. While the numbers weren’t up to expectations, his process was solid. Grigori Denisenko, Florida Panthers Note: The first column in the table below indicates the prospect’s placement in our 2019 rankings: There's never a dull moment with Canada's Bowen Byram. 7. With the NHL Draft Lottery just days away, the New Jersey Devils have a 7.5 percent chance at claiming the top billing. Shesterkin is joined in the top five by Florida Panthers prospect Grigori Denisenko (No. 1 on TSN’s mid-season list in January. Bowen Byram is elite on the ice, sure, but he’s also one of the best in the biz at keeping the room loose. Cap concerns have displaced a number of quality players into free agency, Leafs aim to ‘make life hard’ on teams next season, William Nylander PLAYER STATS; PLAYER INFO; TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING . 5. 1. 21). But how do they all compare together? Dustin Wolf probably could’ve merited consideration based on his body of work in the WHL. Either way, it speaks to the lack of high-end depth in the Flames prospect pool right now. NHL Draft Top 31 prospects eligible for 2020 NHL Draft Lafreniere, Stuetzle, Byfield remain top three players, according to NHL.com by Mike G. Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer Two Coyotes prospects come in at spots two and three this year. 40). The World Juniors poses different challenges for players, and it was no different for Caufield, who finished with just one goal and one assist in five games. In a bit of a surprise, zero Calgary Flames prospects have made his list. TSN prospect guru Craig Button has released his annual listing of the top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects. While there is only eight prospects in the top 50 who belong to Canadian organizations, three of the top six and six of the top 20 are property of Canadian clubs. Only players considered to have not achieved full-time NHL status are included in the list. In fifth is Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Kyle Connor, who is tied for the scoring lead in the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines as a freshman. The Maple Leafs (Sandin and No. The lone non-Russian in the top five is 18-year-old Canadian defenceman Bowen Byram (No. Every NHL team has articles ranking their top prospects. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild If it makes everyone feel any better, zero Edmonton Oilers prospects hit Button’s list ether. In a bit of a surprise, zero Calgary Flames prospects have made his list. Button also published his top five Flames-affiliated prospects: Raise your hand if you’re shocked by zero goaltenders or defenders being on this list. 9. ... NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING TOP 31 EU DOBBERPROSPECTS/ROBINSON TOP 31 CONSOLIDATED RANKING TOP 31 TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING . The experience will be beneficial to his overall development. R N Player Team League GP G A TP PIM; TOP PROSPECTS 1 Alexis Lafrenière (LW) … The encouraging sign was that he looked more dangerous with each passing game at the tournament, displaying the mind of a goal scorer and working to generate opportunities. Please enter your email address to reset your password. The prospect cupboard for the Coyotes is well stocked with five players in the top 50, including the dynamic and dangerous Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats (22) who was the MVP in the QMJHL last season and is the runaway scoring leader this season. 2. Toronto Maple Leafs blue chipper William Nylander has all the essential skills that put him on top of TSN Hockey’s Top 50 NHL-affiliated Prospects list by TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button. Nylander has all the essential skills to contribute offensively at the NHL level, but his imagination, creativity and tremendous poise separates him and puts him in an elite class of talent. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers 5), a 20-year-old Montreal Canadiens prospect who is also playing for CSKA Moscow this year. Elsewhere in the top 10, Toronto Maple Leafs defence prospect Rasmus Sandin jumped 20 spots from last year, landing at No. ... NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING TOP 31 EU DOBBERPROSPECTS/ROBINSON TOP 31 CONSOLIDATED RANKING TOP 31 TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING . 2 for a second consecutive year), a 19-year-old Lokomotiv Yaroslavl right wing who had nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games for Russia at the World Juniors; Minnesota Wild property Kirill Kaprizov (No. Emerging Russian players dominate the top of the 2020 edition of TSN Hockey’s list of the Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects, taking four of the first five spots in our annual rankings. PLAYER STATS; PLAYER INFO; TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING . 6 in these rankings. This list takes a look at the top-100 NHL prospects. Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens. But considering the rest of the Flames goalie prospects are in their 20s, it makes sense. With players such as Jared McCann, Jake Virtanen, Sam Bennett, Connor McDavid and Nikolaj Ehlers all playing as teenagers in the NHL, there is no lack of young and promising talent amongst the Canadian teams. Nikolayev seems a tad high, and I wonder where Button sits on Dmitry Zavgorodniy. 1 on TSN’s preseason list in September and No. Unfortunately, his tournament ended less than 15 minutes later after he took an illegal hit from a Swiss opponent. 3), the fourth-overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019 who is currently playing for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. 24), Ives Tampere blueliner Lassi Thomson (No. 1 spot on the list last year. TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING for the NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers didn’t have any prospects make the list. 32), University of North Dakota defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker (No. 10), a 19-year-old American right wing who has 12 goals in 18 games for the University of Wisconsin this season. Ten out of 10 NHL scouts surveyed by TSN ranked Lafreniere first overall, as was the case when he was No. New York Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov barely edges out fellow Russian winger Grigori Denisenko of the Florida Panthers to lead the way in the 2019 … Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak are excellent centres who can play any situation in the game. Bowen Byram, Colorado Avalanche Max Domi has been a terrific rookie for the Arizona Coyotes after earning the No. He mixes an exceptional hockey IQ with a lightning-quick processor. Here’s the top 10: Emerging Russian players dominate the top of the 2020 edition of TSN Hockey’s list of the Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects, taking four of the first five spots in our annual rankings. What could have been will never be known. With the first phase of the NHL Draft Lottery scheduled for Friday night, Sam Cosentino has updated his top 31 prospect rankings for this year. Rankings from NHL Central Scouting for all 2016 NHL Draft prospects. 7), a 19-year-old Czech winger who has 22 goals and 56 points in 27 games for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs but suffered a significant knee injury at the World Juniors that will keep him out indefinitely; Anaheim Ducks Trevor Zegras (No. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect is an outstanding player and his time in the NHL doesn’t look to be far off. 3. 9), an 18-year-old centre who returns to the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes after helping Team Canada to gold at the World Juniors; and Canadiens pick Cole Caufield (No. Darren Yourk, TSN.ca Staff Rimouski Oceanic left wing Alexis Lafreniere has strengthened … 6. Fourth on the list is defenceman Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Romanov showed what a bold player he can be at the World Juniors, commanding games with his hockey IQ, enthusiasm, competitiveness and skill level. Rasmus Sandin, Toronto Maple Leafs The 19-year-old opened the season by playing in six games for the Leafs before being sent back to the AHL Marlies. Alexander Romanov, Montreal Canadiens TSN/CRAIG BUTTON TOP 31 - FINAL RANKING for the NHL Entry Draft. Flamesnation is a fan site with no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, NHL, or NHLPA, No Flames on TSN’s top NHL prospects list, zero Calgary Flames prospects have made his list, Jakob Pelletier – Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), Emilio Pettersen – Denver Pioneers (NCAA). 17 Nick Robertson) and Canadiens (Romanov and Caufield) had two players each, while the Winnipeg Jets’ lone representative is Lukko defenceman Ville Heinola (No. The rest of the top 10 consists of Arizona Coyotes pick Jan Jenik (No. Connor could accomplish what Jack Eichel did last year, winning the Hobey Baker Award for best college player as a freshman. 3), a 22-year-old CSKA Moscow left winger who has 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists) in 39 KHL games this season; and defenceman Alexander Romanov (No. Often without even trying. 8. TSN prospect guru Craig Button has released his annual listing of the top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects. 44) and North Dakota forward Shane Pinto (No. R N Player Team League GP G A TP PIM; TOP PROSPECTS 1 Alexis Lafrenière (LW) … He was also a huge part of Sweden’s run to a bronze medal at the World Juniors, serving as an alternate captian and scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven games. Shesterkin gave up two goals on Colorado's first three shots in his NHL debut Tuesday night before settling down to finish with 29 saves in a 5-3 win over the Avalanche. Sandin makes plays in every single area of the game and in all situations. Jan Jenik, Arizona Coyotes The Vancouver Canucks lead the rest of the Canadian clubs with three players – SKA right wing Vasili Podkolzin (No. Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach Mike Babcock recently said, “I’m dying for somebody to score.” Death, taxes and Nylander producing points are certainties, so while the Leafs continue along a path of patient development, Babcock can take comfort in knowing that scoring prowess is in the system. Caufield is one of the leading goal scorers in the NCAA as a freshman. 14), Rogle left wing Nils Hoglander (No. Ninety-three players and seven honourable mentions - headlined by Rimouski's Alexis Lafreniere - make up TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie's final player ranking ahead of the 2020 NHL … Dylan Cozens, Buffalo Sabres It’s a tenet of successful team building that strength down the middle is mandatory. On the team side, the Ottawa Senators lead the way with five players in the top 50 – Belleville Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom (No. That mix of skills puts him on top of TSN Hockey’s Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list. 8), an 18-year-old Boston University forward who led the World Juniors with nine assists in five games for Team USA; Buffalo Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens (No. New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who dominated the AHL with a 1.93 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 23 starts for the Hartford Wolf Pack before being recalled on Jan. 6, takes top spot this year after being 10th in last year’s rankings. 10. He has all the tools necessary – skill, poise, sense and technical ability – to be a success at the NHL level and is the heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist on Broadway. 35) and Northeastern University forward Tyler Madden (No. 42), Belleville centre Josh Norris (No. 4. William Nylander scored on his first shift at the World Junior Championship, serving notice that the tournament would be his platform to shine among his peers. , Getty Images. In just over a year since joining the Toronto Marlies and playing in the AHL as teenager, Nylander has produced 29 goals and 72 points in 67 games played.