Prospects Analysis: Atlantic Division

This is the second of a four-part series that will cover, dissect, and rank the top prospects of each NHL organization. I covered 15 prospects for each club along with a potential sleeper. Some NHL organizations have considerably more than 15 players who project as potential assets down the line while other clubs barely made it to double digits. 

If a player has a number next to his name, it represents his overall ranking in our top-200. Scouting reports for the top-100 can be found here...
Part 1
Part 2

Note: Players with 25 games or more of regular-season NHL experience are not eligible for this list. 

BOSTON BRUINS
Overview: Boston's system is in the bottom-third of the league. They, along with Pittsburgh, were the only team to not place a player in my top-100. Oddly enough, the majority of their better draft picks have come after Round 1. With the exception of a handful of guys, the upside of the players listed below is generally fairly limited.
1- Jack Studnicka (C) (107)
2- John Beecher (C) (120)
3- Oskar Steen (C) (123)
4- Urho Vaakanainen (D) (129)
5- Jakub Lauko (C) (144)
6- Trent Frederic (C) (171)
7- Karson Kuhlman (C)
8- Zachary Senyshyn (RW)
9- Axel Andersson (D)
10- Kyle Keyser (G)
11- Curtis Hall (C)
12- Jeremy Lauzon (D)
13- Jakub Zboril (D)
14- Jeremy Swayman (G)
15- Quinn Olson (LW)
Sleeper: Pavel Shen (C)
Summary: Studnicka is a do-it-all, right-handed shooting center who is just about NHL ready. His floor is exceptionally high. I severely underrated Beecher coming into the 2019 draft. I had him No. 45 on my board (Boston took him 30th) as I saw a player with elite speed and limited offensive ability. He still has the speed, but the more I've watched him play, the more I've come to appreciate his nose for the net. Beecher, a University of Michigan commit, has the highest ceiling in the system. Steen is the system's biggest riser on the heels of an SHL season in which he posted 37 points in 46 games. He is slated to begin this year with AHL Providence. Vaakanainen played just 32 games last season (30 with Providence, two with Boston) due to injury. He's a capable two-way guy who can chip in some offense here and there. Lauko is a speed demon who uses his feet to create scoring chances. He's not a natural finisher. Frederic has a good offensive skill set for such a big kid but I think he'll be best served in a depth role as a pro. He could spend a good chunk of this season in Boston. Kuhlman showed enough in an 11-game stint with the big club last season (three goals, five points) to prove he has an NHL future in some capacity. Senyshyn has been a massive disappointment since being selected 15th overall in 2015. He has scored no more than 26 points in each of his first two AHL seasons. He skates like the wind but generates a limited number of offensive chances due to his poor hockey sense. I hate to write him off completely given how well he moves, but time is running out. The 19-year-old Andersson will be given a chance to earn a full-time role in Providence this season. Keyser, a 20-year-old undrafted free agent from Florida, will turn pro following a nice career with OHL Oshawa. Hall predictably struggled (five goals, 11 points in 24 games) in his freshman season at Yale. He was always seen as a long-term play. Lauzon (52nd overall) and Zboril (13th overall) were both high picks in 2015. Neither has shown much as a pro. Zboril has a bit more offensive upside, while Lauzon has a slightly better chance of carving out an NHL career. Swayman might have had an outside shot at Hockey East Goaltender of the Year this season had Panthers uber-prospect Spencer Knight not been entering the conference. No one seems to know much of anything about Olson. The Bruins shocked many by taking him in the third round this past June. He's a 2020-21 commit to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 19-year-old Shen, a seventh-round selection in 2019, has already been signed to an entry-level deal. The Russian should make for an excellent fourth-line depth option in the future and is a dark horse candidate to spend part of this season in Boston. 

BUFFALO SABRES
Overview: The Sabres' prospect pool isn't as deep as you'd think considering their struggles in recent years, but they have depth everywhere and plenty of younger players on their NHL roster. GM Jason Botterill needs to stay the course and add talent wherever he can find it. I still think they're a year or two away from being a playoff team. However, I did like the hire of Ralph Krueger as head coach. 
1- Dylan Cozens (C) (18)
2- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G) (49)
3- Victor Olofsson (RW) (64)
4- Oskari Laaksonen (D) (128)
5- Ryan Johnson (137) (D)
6- Mattias Samuelsson (D)
7- Marcus Davidsson (C)
8- Rasmus Asplund (C)
9- Erik Portillo (G)
10- Matej Pekar (C)
11- Casey Fitzgerald (D)
12- Jacob Bryson (D)
13- Arttu Ruotsalainen (C)
14- Will Borgen (D)
15- Brett Murray (LW)
Sleeper: Aaron Huglen (RW)
Summary: Laaksonen is fresh off a season in which he was one of the better defenseman in the Finnish league (24 points in 46 games) as a 19-year-old. He has yet to sign with Buffalo. Johnson is a mobile defenseman with the ability to skate the puck out of his own zone at the drop of a dime. He was the final pick of the first round this past June and is off to the University of Minnesota this season. Samuelsson is a solid, stay-at-home defenseman with a bit more offensive ability than he gets credit for. He will serve as captain in his sophomore season at Western Michigan University. Davidsson, a second-round pick (37th overall) in 2017, will continue to develop in Sweden. Asplund salvaged his first AHL season with a strong second half. His final numbers (41 points in 75 games) look a bit better than he actually played. Portillo, who stands 6-foot-6, is an unknown quantity despite being a third-round pick in June. He will play this season in the USHL before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall of 2020. His size alone makes him highly intriguing. Pekar could be looking at time in the ECHL in his first pro season. He'll probably develop into a useful bottom-six guy who can chip in a handful of goals during any given season. I have long liked Fitzgerald more than most. I think he has a chance to make it as a depth/PP guy. Bryson bailed on his senior season at Providence College to sign with Buffalo. He's a dark horse candidate to spend part of this season in the NHL. Ruotsalainen arrives stateside this fall after signing with Buffalo as a free agent. He is coming off a strong season (21 goals, 42 points in 59 games) in his native Finland. He'll get a long look in camp, but figures to begin the year in the AHL. The 22-year-old Borgen is the very definition of defensive depth. He's an up-and-down guy. Murray lead the USHL in goals last season with 41. The down side is that he played the entire year at age 20 and showed no tangible progress in two prior seasons at Penn State.  Huglen is an interesting project, but he remains a full season away from even playing collegiate hockey at Minnesota.  

DETROIT RED WINGS
Overview: The Red Wings have been a bad hockey club for several years now, but help is on the way. I really didn't like the pick of Seider at sixth-overall this past June, but their system is buoyed by several players who inexplicably fell to them and several others who have already outplayed their draft position. One of the first franchises to focus on bringing players over from Europe, it comes as no surprise that the vast majority of Detroit's prospects are of the international variety. 
1- Filip Zadina (LW) (10)
2- Joe Veleno (C) (52)
3- Moritz Seider (D) (65)
4- Jared McIsaac (D) (96)
5- Robert Mastrosimone (LW) (111)
6- Jonatan Berggren (RW) (173)
7- Albin Grewe (RW) (181)
8- Filip Larsson (G)
9- Albert Johansson (D)
10- Antti Tuomisto (D)
11- Taro Hirose (LW)
12- Alec Regula (D)
13- Gustav Lindstrom (D)
14- Keith Petruzzelli (G)
15- Jesper Eliasson (G)
Sleeper: Oliwer Kaski (D)
Summary: Mastrosimone was one of my favorite under-the-radar players in June's draft. He ended up going 54th overall, but he was a first-round talent. He was injured during Detroit's development camp, but should be ready to go for Boston University's season opener. Berggren managed just three assists in 16 SHL contests before a back injury ended his year. A major injury is definitely a concern for a player who's biggest weakness appears to be his lack of durability. He's young enough (19 this past July) to turn things around, but he's off to a bad start. The fact that he's still on my top-200 is a testament to his natural ability. Grewe made it through the 2018 draft without being selected, but there's no way that was happening a second time. Detroit took him 66th overall. A gritty player and future fan favorite, Grewe is far closer to being NHL-ready than most 18 year olds. Larsson, a sixth-rounder in 2016, shocked many by turning pro after just one spectacular (1.95 GAA, .932 save percentage in 22 games) season at the University of Denver. He's one of the better unheralded goaltending prospects in the game. Johansson and Tuomisto were both 2019 second-round picks. Both will likely spend the next few seasons in Europe. Hirose, an undrafted free agent, signed with the Wings in March following an impressive three-year career at Michigan State. He posted seven points in 10 games with Detroit late in the season and should crack the NHL roster out of training camp. Regula is a big, rangy kid who keeps it simple offensively. Lindstrom will make his North American debut following a poor offensive season (three goals, six points in 40 games) in the SHL. Petruzzelli is a long-term project. He's entering his junior season at Quinnipiac. Eliasson is arguably the most talented goalie in the system, but he has yet to play against men in Sweden. Kaski is fresh off a season in which he was named MVP of the Finnish league. He's an excellent offensive defenseman who signed with Detroit as a free agent in May. The odds are better than 50/50 that he begins this season in the NHL. 

FLORIDA PANTHERS
Overview: Florida's system is ridiculously top heavy, which is fine considering the amount of talent already present on their NHL roster. Their top five can stand toe-to-toe with any team in the league, but it's a sudden and steep drop off after that. Their depth is non existent. 
1- Grigori Denisenko (LW) (13)
2- Owen Tippett (RW) (35)
3- Aleksi Heponiemi (LW) (42)
4- Spencer Knight (G) (54)
5- Serron Noel (RW) (59)
6- Vladislav Kolyachonok (D) (158)
7- Brady Keeper (D)
8- Logan Hutsko (RW)
9- Ben Finkelstein (D)
10- Owen Lindmark (C)
11-  Max Gildon (D)
12- Jonathan Ang (C)
13- Cliff Pu (C)
14- Riley Stillman (D) 
15- Henrik Rybinski (RW)
Sleeper: Carter Berger (D)
Summary: Kolyachonok earned praise from scouts for his strong, competitive season with a dreadful Flint (OHL) team. He boasts a nice combination of size and skill. Keeper should be an asset for the Panthers if deployed in a depth/defensive role. He was undrafted out of the University of Maine. Hutsko, the 2017-18 Hockey East Rookie of the Year, scored just six goals in 36 games with Boston College last season. Finkelstein has some talent, but it might not be enough for a kid who stands just 5-foot-9. He's teammates with Hutsko at BC. Lindmark, who is off to the University of Wisconsin, has a chance to make it in a depth role. He offers little offensively. There isn't a lot of flash to Gildon's game, but he's capable at both ends of the rink and might be one of those rare prospects who looks better once he gets into a professional NHL system. He'll be a junior at the University of New Hampshire.  Ang, Pu and Stillman are all former highly-rated prospects who appear to be career minor-leaguers. Rybinski played quite well following a trade from WHL Medicine Hat to Seattle. The 2019 fifth-rounder should be one of the Thunderbirds' top offensive players this season. Berger was a fourth-round pick in 2019. He led all BCHL defensemen in scoring (27 goals, 63 points in 54 games) last season. He'll play at UConn this season. 

Montreal Canadiens
Overview: One big trade and a few shrewd selections later and the Canadiens' prospect pool is clearly on the upswing. They have depth everywhere except in goal. Suzuki and Poehling should arrive this season. The vast majority of the remaining names are further away. The rate at which they have rebuilt their system is impressive. 
1- Cole Caufield (RW) (16)
2- Nick Suzuki (C) (27)
3- Ryan Poehling (C) (43)
4- Alexander Romanov (D) (97)
5- Josh Brook (D) (99)
6- Jesse Ylonen (LW) (104)
7- Cayden Primeau (G) (112)
8- Jayden Struble (D)
9- Jordan Harris (D)
10- Jake Evans (LW)
11- Rhett Pitlick (LW)
12- Mattias Norlinder (D)
13- Cameron Hillis (C)
14- Cole Fonstad (C)
15- Allan McShane (LW)
Sleeper: Otto Leskinen (D)
Summary: Ylonen has all the talent in the world, but needs to work on impacting the game on a more consistent basis. Primeau, a former seventh-round pick (199th overall) in 2017, is the leading candidate to take over for Carey Price down the road. He'll make his professional debut this fall in the AHL. One of the younger players in June's draft, Struble saw his draft stock skyrocket following a brilliant performance at the NHL's Scouting Combine. He's off to Northeastern for the upcoming campaign. Harris, another Northeastern property, is a mobile, undersized puck-moving defender. Evans had a highly productive (45 points in 67 games) first AHL campaign. He should make his NHL debut at some point this year. Pitlick spent the past year dominating poor high school kids in Minnesota. He will play this season in the USHL before heading to the University of Minnesota in 2020-21. Norlinder is an exceptional skater who lacks physicality. His ceiling is high and his floor is low. Hillis needs to rebound from a 2018-19 season in which he played just 33 games (22 points) for OHL Guelph. After averaging more than a point-per-game for WHL Prince Albert (29 goals, 73 points in 67 games), Fonstad disappeared (two goals, eight points in 21 games) during their run to the WHL Championship. McShane is a smart offensive player who might be held back by a lack of foot speed. The 22-year-old Leskinen was signed in May as an undrafted free agent out of Finland. He'll get a look in camp, but figures to begin the year in the AHL. He'll provide useful depth for the Habs. 

OTTAWA SENATORS
Overview: The Sens are going to be a bad hockey club for quite a while, so expect this list to improve considerably over the next couple years. Ottawa's system is chock full of guys who project as middle-six forwards or bottom-pairing defenders, but they lack potential impact stars. The team is going to need some of the players mentioned below to take a significant, unexpected step forward this season. 
1- Erik Brannstrom (D) (23)
2- Logan Brown (C) (74)
3- Drake Batherson (RW) (81)
4- Alex Formenton (LW) (88)
5- Joshua Norris (C) (108)
6- Jacob Bernard-Docker (D) (131)
7- Vitali Abramov (RW) (134)
8- Lassi Thomson (D) (190)
9- Shane Pinto (C) (198)
10- Jonathan Davidsson (RW) 
11- Jonathan Tychonick (D)
12- Johnny Gruden (LW)
13- Mads Sogaard (G)
14- Max Veronneau (RW)
15- Joey Daccord (G)
Sleeper: Angus Crookshank (LW)
Summary: Norris, a former first-round pick (19th overall, '17) who came over from San Jose in the Erik Karlsson trade, will turn pro this year. He'll probably develop into a good third-line center who can move up if injuries strike. Bernard-Docker keeps thing simple and has excellent hockey sense. He's a lock to play in the NHL. Abramov joined from Columbus as part of the Matt Duchene deal. The former QMJHL Rookie of the Year and MVP has struggled to consistently generate offense at the AHL level. I wasn't a fan of the selection of Thomson at 19th overall this past June, but he has the potential to develop into a useful two-way defenseman. He'll return to play in the Finnish league this season. Pinto is a big body with a nice set of hands who is off to the University of North Dakota where he'll be teammates with both Bernard-Docker and Tychonick. Fresh off three seasons in the SHL, the 22-year-old Davidsson could be an option for Ottawa later in the year. Tychonick filled a depth role in his freshman season at NoDak and his numbers (0 goals, four assists in 28 games) reflected that. He should be in line for more ice time this season. Gruden is the son of a coach, so you know his hockey sense is good. How much offense he'll provide remains up for debate. Sogaard is a 6-foot-7 goaltender with plenty of admirable traits who is years away from making an impact. Veronneau had four points in 12 games with Ottawa last season after completing his collegiate career at Princeton. He should compete for a bottom-six role in camp. Daccord should open the season as the starter for AHL Belleville. Crookshank had a surprisingly strong freshman campaign (23 points in 36 games) at the University of New Hampshire and more is expected in his second go-round. 

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Overview: Tampa's prospect pool is fascinating. Their top guy (Barre-Boulet) arrived as an undrafted free agent and they've had multiple prospects (Raddysh, Katchouk) who have underachieved since turning pro. The Lightning do an excellent job of targeting upside talents in the later rounds.
1- Alex Barre-Boulet (C) (70)
2- Gabriel Fortier (LW) (113)
3- Taylor Raddysh (RW) (132)
4- Cal Foote (D) (149)
5- Alexander Volkov (LW) (155)
6- Mitchell Stephens (C) (168)
7- Maxim Cajkovic (RW) (170)
8- Nolan Foote (LW)
9- Boris Katchouk (LW)
10- Hugo Alnefelt (G)
11- Nick Perbix (D)
12- Mikhail Shalagin (RW)
13- Otto Somppi (C) 
14- Dmitri Semykin (D)
15- Jimmy Huntington (C)
Sleeper: Samuel Walker (RW)
Summary: Fortier scored 35 goals in the QMJHL last season. He creates havoc with his speed. Raddysh had 18 goals and 46 points in his first AHL campaign. He's a former top-100 guy who has been passed by other players with more upside. I expect Cal Foote to give Tampa upwards of a dozen years of solid, unheralded service. Volkov is a dark horse candidate to spend a chunk of the season in the NHL. He has adjusted well to North American hockey and could provide some offense in a depth role this year. Stephens is definitely ready to play in the NHL, but there's no room at the inn right now. Cajkovic is a typical Tampa draft pick in the sense that he's a skill guy who had no business falling to the late third round (89th overall) this past June. He could be a steal. Nolan Foote's lack of foot speed -- no pun intended -- concerns me. He's otherwise a pretty good player, but I think he's going to be limited as a pro unless he picks up the pace. Katchouk probably needs a trade to another organization. As is, he's probably an up-and-down guy unless his role changes. Alnefelt, the 71st overall selection in 2019, gives the Lightning another goaltending prospect to stash in Europe. Perbix has size and skill, but he doesn't defend well enough for a 6-foot-3 kid. Shalagin set the Russian Junior league (MHL) goal scoring record this past season with 48. It was likely the result of an older player beating up on younger competition, but Tampa was wise to spend a seventh-rounder to find out if that is indeed the case. Somppi spent a good majority of his first pro season in the ECHL and that's generally a bad sign. Semykin is another perfectly reasonable draft-and-stash prospect. I probably wouldn't have spent the 90th overall selection on him in 2018, but there's some upside. Huntington scored 40 goals and 92 points in 66 QMJHL games last season. Considering he cost nothing more than an entry-level deal, Huntington was a worthwhile risk as the soon-to-be 21-year-old gets set to turn pro. Walker's freshman season at the University of Minnesota was a resounding success (26 points in 37 games). Not bad for a former 200th overall (2017) selection. 

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Overview: Toronto's system is filled with high-ceiling/low-floor prospects, which is fine given how good their current NHL roster is. If even two of these guys develop into top-six forwards or top-three defenders, the Leafs will be in good shape. Multiple players listed below are ready to help Toronto now, but there's virtually no room on the big club's roster. 
1- Rasmus Sandin (D) (55)
2- Jeremy Bracco (RW) (58)
3- Timothy Liljegren (D) (66)
4- Nick Robertson (LW) (102)
5- Joseph Woll (G) (127)
6- Ian Scott (G) (147)
7- Ilya Mikheyev (RW) (163)
8- Mikko Kokkonen (D)
9- Yegor Korshkov (RW)
10- Mikhail Abramov (C)
11- Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C)
12- Dmytro Timashov (LW)
13- Eemeli Rasanen (D)
14- Riley Stotts (C)
15- Adam Brooks (C)
Sleeper: Mac Hollowell (D)
Summary: This is probably too low for Robertson. He was a first-round talent who dropped to the 53rd overall pick this past June. He has top-line potential if he's able to play just a bit smarter. Woll and Scott are the two-top goaltending prospects in the Toronto system and both will battle for playing time at the AHL level this season. The crease for the Marlies looks awfully crowded at the moment. Mikheyev signed a one-year deal with the Leafs after a successful run in the KHL. His 925k cap hit has to look awful intriguing for an organization that always operates right near the salary cap. Kokkonen took a regular shift as one of the youngest players in the Finnish league last year. He'll continue to develop overseas. Korshkov is a big body who might be able to fill a depth role in Toronto as soon as this season. Abramov, Der-Aguchintsev, and Timashov are all undersized forwards with a boatload of offensive talent. Rasanen is your rare 6-foot-7 defenseman. The odds are against him, but the Leafs have nothing to lose by letting him marinate overseas. Stotts has some talent, but struggles with consistency. He's slated for one final WHL season. Brooks is a former WHL Scoring Champion who has slowly found his offensive game in the AHL. Hollowell had 24 goals and 77 points in 64 games for OHL Sault Ste. Marie last season. He should begin this year in the AHL and could be an emergency call-up for the Leafs late in the year.