Prospects Analysis: Atlantic Division Breakdown

The second entry in a four-part series, this piece breaks down the prospect pools of each franchise in the Atlantic Division, including the teams and leagues for which they played in 2015-16. The bolded numbers next to players' names represent their rank among the NHL's top 100 prospects, if applicable.

(Note: Players with 25 games or more of NHL regular-season experience are not eligible.)

Boston Bruins
1. Zachary Senyshyn, F, Sault Ste. Marie [OHL] 62
2. Jake DeBrusk, F, Red Deer/Swift Current [WHL] 66
3. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University [NCAA] 74
4. Jakub Zboril, D, Saint John [QMHJL] 78
5. Malcolm Subban, G, Providence [AHL] 83
6. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, F, Boston University [NCAA] 96
7. Brandon Carlo, D, Providence [AHL]/Tri-City [WHL]
8. Anders Bjork, F, University of Notre Dame [NCAA]
9. Ryan Donato, F, Harvard University [NCAA]
10. Ryan Fitzgerald, F, Boston College [NCAA]
Sleeper: Danton Heinen, F, Providence [AHL]/Univ. of Denver [NCAA]

Overview: Boston's six top-100 prospects tie them with Toronto for the second-most in the league. Their five top kids were all first-round selections. It's a deep group with potential future NHL regulars at every position.

Carlo (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) is a tank wearing skates. His offensive game is slowly improving, although he's more of a shutdown guy at this point. If he ever gets to the point where he can chip in 25 or 30 points a season, he could be a perennial All-Star. Bjork had 35 points in 35 games for the Irish and had a couple of beautiful goals for Team USA at the World Juniors. This could very easily be his last season of collegiate hockey. Donato had an inconsistent freshman season at Harvard (13 goals, 21 points in 32 games) and more will be expected of him this season with Jimmy Vesey having turned pro. He isn't very big (6-foot, 175 pounds) and he doesn't skate all that well, so he is going to have to continue to put up points in order to be a useful weapon. Fitzgerald (24 goals, 47 points in 40 games) was Boston College's leading scorer last season. There is little doubt about his ability to produce offensively, but perhaps the most positive sign of all was the fact he finished with a plus-24 rating just one season after going minus-four. This will be his third season with the Eagles. Heinen was so impressive over his first two seasons at Denver that the Bruins signed him in April and immediately plugged him into their AHL lineup. The 2014 fourth-round selection rarely gets talked about, but he may very well be the most underrated prospect in the entire Boston system.

Buffalo Sabres
1. Alexander Nylander, F, Mississauga [OHL] 24
2. Cliff Pu, F, London [OHL]
3. Hudson Fasching, F, Buffalo [NHL]/University of Minnesota [NCAA]
4. Casey Nelson, D, Buffalo [NHL]/Minnesota St. Mankato [NCAA]
5. Rasmus Asplund, F, Farjestad [SHL]
6. Justin Bailey, F, Buffalo [NHL]/Rochester [AHL]
7. Brendan Guhle, D, Prince Albert [WHL]
8. Casey Fitzgerald, D, Boston College [NCAA]
9. Linus Ullmark, G, Buffalo [NHL]/Rochester [AHL]
10. Vaclav Karabacek, F, Moncton [QMJHL]
Sleeper: Philip Nyberg, D, Linkoping Jr. [J20 SuperElit]

Overview: Virtually all of Buffalo's young talent is already playing in the NHL, and the end result is a team with just one top-100 prospect in the system. Pu is the only player above who I could see cracking the list for next season.

Pu played third-line minutes all season long for the best team in junior hockey, and his stats (12 goals, 31 points in 63 games) reflected that. With the Knights losing several of their best players to the pro ranks, his numbers figure to go through the roof this year. The 69th overall pick this past June, I had Pu ranked as a first-round talent. Fasching stepped off the Minnesota campus and into the NHL lineup, playing 10 games for the Sabres and notching two points. He's a big body who's at his best when he takes the puck to the net aggressively. Nelson signed with the Sabres as a free agent when his collegiate season ended and ended up dressing in seven games for Buffalo at the end of the season, registering four assists in the process. The Sabres don't have many offensive defensemen on their roster, so Nelson may be worth a flier in deeper leagues. Asplund is an intelligent, two-way player who makes smart decisions with the puck and makes his teammates better. He doesn't possess high-end skill, but he can impact a game in numerous other areas. Bailey had a nice season in Rochester (20 goals, 45 points), but he did nothing in eight games with the Sabres and I have doubts about his ability to score at the NHL level. On the other hand, he's a terrific skater and a large human being (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), so I think he can make it as a third-line energy player. Guhle nearly cracked the Buffalo roster to open last season as an 18-year-old. A heads-up player who doesn't try to do too much and can be an asset in all situations, he doesn't have much to gain by playing another season of junior hockey, but he's too young to play in the AHL. Thanks to one strong season at Boston College, Fitzgerald went from undrafted to a third-round pick in the span of one year. He had 27 points in 39 games in his freshman season, and while there are concerns about his ability to defend at the highest level, he's a terrific puck mover who can run a power play. Ullmark didn't play all that well in 20 NHL games (2.60 GAA, .913 save percentage) and was even worse in 28 AHL games (3.41 GAA, .902 save percentage). If he can develop into a steady, long-term backup, the Sabres will likely be thrilled. Karabacek's junior numbers have never been impressive. A lot of that has to do with injuries, but at some point your production has to match your talent level. He's a straight-line player who battles hard in the corners and does a lot of his damage from right in front of the opposition net. Nyberg figures to assume a prominent role immediately when he begins his freshman season at the University of Wisconsin this fall.

Detroit Red Wings
1. Anthony Mantha, F, Detroit [NHL]/Grand Rapids [AHL] 19
2. Evgeny Svechnikov, F, Cape Breton [QMJHL] 39
3. Joe Hicketts, D, Victoria [WHL]
4. Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack [BCHL]
5. Dylan Sadowy, F, Saginaw/Barrie [OHL]
6. Givani Smith, F, Guelph [OHL]
7. Vili Saarijarvi, D, Flint [OHL]
8. Filip Hronek, D, Hradec [Czech Extraliga]
9. Robbie Russo, D, Grand Rapids [AHL]
10. Tyler Bertuzzi, F, Grand Rapids [AHL]
Sleeper: Jordan Sambrook, D, Erie [OHL]

Overview: The Wings' system is full of players with NHL-caliber traits, but virtually all of them have holes in their games. Guys like Cholowski and Smith are long-term projects.

The rise of Hicketts, who has gone from undrafted to a fringe top-100 prospect, has been remarkable. Size (5-foot-8, 175 pounds) is a serious concern here, but Hicketts' offensive gifts can simply not be taught. He thinks the game at the highest level and that helps make up for any defensive struggles he may encounter as the result of his small stature. If he were even two or three inches taller, he would probably be a top-50 prospect. I would not have spent the 20th pick in June on Cholowski, but there were plenty of people who felt that he was a consensus first-round pick. He only has average size and isn't an asset in his own zone, so if his offensive game doesn't develop at St. Cloud State, there's bust potential here. Sadowy came over from San Jose in May in exchange for a third-round pick. The Wings immediately signed him to an entry-level contract, and he should spend this season in the AHL. He had 87 goals over his last two OHL seasons, so it's easy to see why Detroit was interested. Smith is built like a Mack truck, but is still learning the little intricacies of the game. In 65 OHL games last season, he had 23 goals and 146 penalty minutes. It was a strong season for Saarijarvi (43 points in 59 games) despite playing for the most dysfunctional franchise in junior hockey. His game is a lot like Hicketts' in that his smarts help him compensate for his lack of size. Hronek is a highly skilled offensive defenseman who needs to add a significant amount of muscle to his frame. The Wings signed him to an entry-level deal in July, but he should play this upcoming year with OHL Saginaw. Russo was a fourth-round pick of the Islanders in 2011. He played four years at Notre Dame, signed with the Wings as a free agent last summer, then posted 49 points in 71 games in his first pro season and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. Bertuzzi had 43 goals in his final junior season, but just 12 in his first AHL season. He plays every shift like it's his last and he loves to take the body, so he should make for an ideal fourth-liner. Sambrook is a big kid (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) with untapped offensively ability. He posted 27 points for Erie last season, and I think that number could easily double with the added responsibility he's expected to see this coming year.

Florida Panthers
1. Michael Matheson, D, Florida [NHL]/Portland [AHL] (69)
2. Jayce Hawryluk, F, Brandon [WHL] (95)
3. Ian McCoshen, D, Boston College [NCAA]
4. Adam Mascherin, F, Kitchener [OHL]
5. Henrik Borgstrom, F, HIFK [Liiga Jr.]
6. Juho Lammikko, F, Kingston [OHL]
7. Denis Malgin, F, Zurich SC [Swiss-A]
8. Samuel Montembeault, G, Blainsville-Boisbriand [QMJHL]
9. Kyle Rau, F, Florida [NHL]/Portland [AHL]
10. Maxim Mamin, F, CSKA Moscow [KHL]
Sleeper: Jonathan Ang, F, Peterborough [OHL]

Overview: Florida's system thins out considerably after the first five players, although there are some high-end lottery tickets, such as undrafted players Dryden Hunt and Linus Hultstrom. The Panthers' current NHL roster has a boatload of young talent, so they're in good shape moving forward.

There's a clear lack of offensive upside to McCoshen's game, but he plays physically and rarely makes mental mistakes. He signed his entry-level deal with Florida in June after an extensive negotiation. I think he could be a very solid fourth defenseman within the next year. Mascherin, the consummate sniper, was the 38th pick in June and would have gone 20 picks higher if he was two inches taller (he's listed at 5-foot-9). He's very difficult to knock off the puck and has a bomb of a shot. I was as high on Borgstrom as anyone entering this past June's draft, but even I thought taking him with the 23rd overall pick was a reach. He's tall (6-foot-3) and lanky and he has good hands, but I expect him to struggle early on in his freshman season at the University of Denver. A big bodied center (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who thinks the game well and can clear space for his teammates in the offensive zone, Lammikko has the potential to develop into a serviceable third-liner. He will turn pro this season. Malgin played exceptionally well in back-to-back World Juniors for his native Switzerland, and the Panthers smartly signed him to a contract in July; they plan on having him play this season in the AHL. He has brilliant hands and great vision, but is going to have a hard time in the NHL if he isn't playing in a top-six role. Montembeault struggled with consistency throughout his junior career, even on a game-by-game basis. He's big enough (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and athletic enough to put up better numbers. Rau had a remarkably steady three seasons at the University of Minnesota and scored 17 goals in his first AHL season. He even got into nine games with the Panthers, but I don't think he's strong enough to put up consistent offensive numbers at the NHL level. Mamin is big and raw, and he's gotten little ice time as a youngster in the KHL. Florida has to hope he gets an expanded role this season. He simply isn't developing. Ang is shifty in open space and can play center or wing, something that the Panthers found attractive. He could very easily improve on the 49 points he posted for Peterborough last season.

Montreal Canadiens
1. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor [OHL] 26
2. Michael McCarron, F, Montreal [NHL]/St. John's [AHL] 61
3. Charles Hudon, F, Montreal [NHL]/St. John's [AHL] 85
4. Nikita Scherbak, F, St. John's [AHL] 92
5. Noah Juulsen, D, Everett [WHL]
6. Artturi Lehkonen, F, Frolunda [SHL]
7. Victor Mete, D, London [OHL]
8. Charlie Lindgren, G, Montreal [NHL]/St. Cloud State [NCAA]
9. Will Bitten, F, Flint [OHL]
10. Zachary Fucale, G, St. John's [AHL]
Sleeper: Hayden Hawkey, G, Providence College [NCAA]

Overview: Outside of the 11 players listed above, there's not one prospect in the Montreal system who I can currently project as an NHL regular. No one is even close, really. The good news is that the Habs are a far better team than their record from last season would indicate, plus the top four guys on this list are all no more than a year away from helping the NHL club in some capacity.

Juulsen is not going to make his living in the NHL by leading the league in scoring, but it's inexcusable that he posted five fewer points this year (37) for Everett than two years ago (42). He's a heady player who knows his limitations, but I expected him to be more of a dominating force at the junior level. A second-round pick in 2013, Lehkonen won a title with Frolunda last season and led the league in playoff goals scored (11). A crafty winger who rarely gets hit, he should be able to help Montreal in some capacity later in the year. Mete has considerably more offensive ability than his numbers from last year (8 goals, 38 points in 68 games) would indicate. He doesn't have a huge shot, but his vision and puck distribution are Keith Yandle-esque. Lindgren was undrafted and signed with the Habs after three stellar seasons at St. Cloud State. He got into one game with Montreal at the tail end of what was a lost season and he will begin this coming year in the AHL. Bitten had a pretty strong season for Flint (30 goals, 65 points in 67 games) considering all the chaos that was surrounding the franchise. He works his tail off every single shift, so I like his chances of making it as an energy player. For all the hype that surrounded him at one point, Fucale posted lousy numbers in three of the last five seasons. His first AHL season was a monumental struggle (3.13 GAA, .903 save percentage) and he's closer to being a total non-prospect than he is to making an impact in the NHL. Hawkey had a 1.67 GAA and .940 save percentage during his freshman season at Providence, although he only played in five games. Last year's starter, Nick Ellis, has turned pro, so Hawkey should get a boatload more playing time this coming year.

Ottawa Senators
1. Colin White, F, Boston College [NCAA] 34
2. Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John [QMJHL] 54
3. Logan Brown, F, Windsor [OHL] 60
4. Nick Paul, F, Ottawa [NHL]/Binghamton [AHL]
5. Francis Perron, F, Rouyn Noranda [QMJHL]
6. Filip Chlapik, F, Charlottetown [QMJHL]
7. Jonathan Dahlen, F, Timra [Allsvenskan]
8. Gabriel Gagne, F, Shawinigan [QMJHL]
9. Andreas Englund, D, Djurgardens [SHL]
10. Matt O'Connor, G, Ottawa [NHL]/Binghamton [AHL]
Sleeper: Max Lajoie, D, Swift Current [WHL]

Overview: For a team that has been fairly mediocre in recent memory, Ottawa's system is in pretty bad shape. Guys like Perron and Chlapik have very high ceilings, but it's at least 50-50 that they max out as career minor leaguers. Agreeing to deal their 2017 second-round pick to the Rangers in the Derick Brassard trade was not a smart move.

Paul posted very modest numbers in his 24 games with Ottawa last season (two goals, five points), but he's a big body who can help carve out space for his teammates in the offensive zone, so he can be of some use offensively even if he isn't scoring. Perron won the QMJHL MVP award after posting 108 points in 62 games for the Huskies, then led the league in playoff scoring. He needs to add some weight to his frame when he turns pro this fall. One season after posting 33 goals for Charlottetown, Chlapik tallied just 12 times last season. It's an unacceptable total for a player of his skill level. There needs to be more consistency here. Dahlen has good puck skills and is an above-average playmaker, but his skating is suspect. If he can clean up his stride a bit, there's an outside chance he could develop into a top-six forward. Gagne moves very well for a kid who checks in at 6-foot-5. He's lanky and has dealt with numerous injuries, but there's a boatload of potential here if he's able to get through a full season in one piece. To term Englund a stay-at-home defenseman would be a gross understatement. It's rare to find a second-round pick (2014) with so little offensive ability, even a defenseman. He is scheduled to come to North America and play this season in the AHL. Numerous teams were after O'Connor as an undrafted free agent following his stellar season at Boston University in 2014-15. He opted to sign with Ottawa and then proceeded to post a 3.31 GAA and .895 save percentage in 34 AHL games last year, putting him on the verge of being labeled a non-prospect. Lajoie has the potential to help the Sens in all situations moving forward. He has a very high hockey IQ and rarely makes mistakes with the puck.

Tampa Bay Lightning
1. Brayden Point, F, Syracuse [AHL]/Moose Jaw [WHL] 37
2. Adam Erne, F, Syracuse [AHL] 68
3. Mitchell Stephens, F, Syracuse [AHL]/Saginaw [OHL]
4. Slater Koekkoek, D, Tampa Bay [NHL]/Syracuse [AHL]
5. Libor Hajek, D, Saskatoon [WHL]
6. Brett Howden, F, Moose Jaw [WHL]
7. Dominik Masin, D, Peterborough [OHL]
8. Matthew Peca, F, Syracuse [AHL]
9. Nikita Gusev, F, SKA St. Petersburg [KHL]
10. Anthony Cirelli, F, Oshawa [OHL]
Sleeper: Conor Ingram, G, Kamloops [WHL]

Overview: The Lightning have countless talented young forwards on their NHL roster, so they're in good shape even though the majority of their top 10 is depth defensemen and role players. Both Point and Erne have All-Star potential.

Stephens, a second-round pick in 2015, has the look of a serviceable pro who can help the Lightning in numerous areas. He has a very high floor. Koekkoek has actually played some forward in his professional career, but his value is as a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He should begin the season in Tampa Bay. I like Hajek as a potential shutdown defenseman, although the Bolts' decision to trade top prospect Anthony DeAngelo to acquire the pick they used on him was simply mind-boggling. For a player who seems to have a boatload of physical gifts, Howden simply doesn't get enough done on the ice. Tampa took him with the 27th overall pick this summer; I would have gone elsewhere at that spot. "The Machine" (that's Masin) had 40 points in 57 games for Peterborough. There is an outside chance that he could develop into a second-pairing defender. Peca is a far better playmaker than finisher, and that was evident in his first AHL season – 35 of his 43 points were assists. He was pick No. 201 in 2011. Gusev has been one of the best players in the KHL over the past few years. He could probably play a top-six role in the NHL right now, but I highly doubt we'll ever see him in North America. He turned 24 years old this summer. Cirelli wasn't much of a prospect when he won Oshawa the Memorial Cup with his overtime winner in May 2015, but his game has improved considerably since then. I like his chances of developing into a serviceable role player. Ingram was eligible for the 2015 draft and wasn't selected. One year later, Tampa nabbed him with a third-round pick. It seemed like a reach at the time, but he has good size and is going to get all the playing time he can handle in Kamloops this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs
1. Auston Matthews, F, Zurich SC [Swiss-A] 1
2. Mitch Marner, F, London [OHL] 3
3. William Nylander, F, Toronto [NHL]/AHL) 8
4. Kasperi Kapanen, F, Toronto [NHL]/AHL) 58
5. Connor Brown, F, Toronto [NHL]/AHL) 77
6. Jeremy Bracco, F, Kitchener [OHL] 86
7. Nikita Zaitsev, D, CSKA Moscow [KHL]
8. Travis Dermott, D, Erie [OHL]
9. Yegor Korshkov, F, Yaroslavl [KHL]
10. Dmytro Timashov, F, Shawinigan/Quebec [QMJHL]
Sleeper: Joseph Woll, G, USA U-18 [NTDP]

Overview: In addition to their six top-100 prospects, the Leafs' list is full of players who have a chance to turn into above-average NHL regulars. Zaitsev and Dermott both just missed cracking the top 100. Toronto's system is a good 15 or 16 players deep. Guys like forward Tobias Lindberg and defenseman Rinat Valiev aren't even mentioned here. Toronto has been a bad hockey team for a quite a while, but help is coming in a major way.

The Leafs are going to score a ton of goals this season, but their defense is still suspect. Zaitsev, who has been playing in the KHL since age 17, should be able to help immediately. Depending on how quickly he adapts to the bigger ice surfaces of North America, he could get top-pairing minutes early on. Dermott may be a liability defensively his entire career, but few players of his age can run a power play as well as he can. He does it with skill and smarts as opposed to power. Korshkov was the first pick of the second round this past June. He's going to need another couple seasons in the KHL, but the potential is there of a high-end offensive weapon. Timashov was dominant with Quebec, but struggled after a midseason trade to Shawinigan. He has the ability to bring fans out of their seats every time he touches the puck, but consistency is a major issue here. Woll stands a decent chance of starting the season as Boston College's No. 1 goaltender despite being a freshman. The Eagles are going to be working a bunch of new players into their lineup this season, so it could be a struggle for the entire group early on.