Prospects Analysis: Metropolitan Division

This is the first 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. 

CAROLINA HURRICANES
Overview: No team in the NHL had a better 2019 draft than the Hurricanes. They found value all over the place, and the end result was Carolina finishing with 11 players in my top-200 (tied with the Flyers), trailing only Los Angeles. Carolina's system is a tad light on defensive prospects, but that is an area of strength on their current NHL roster. The addition of Chase Priskie in August gave this group a much-needed boost on the back end. 
1- Martin Necas (C) (9)
2- Ryan Suzuki (C) (63)
3- Patrik Puistola (LW) (133)
4- Jake Bean (D) (136)
5- Janne Kuokkanen (C) (151)
6- Eetu Luostarinen (LW) (180)
7- Morgan Geekie (C) (185)
8- Alex Nedeljkovic (G) (192)
9- Stelio Mattheos (RW) (195)
10- Anttoni Honka (D) (196)
11- Pyotr Kochetkov (G) (199)
12- Jamieson Rees (C) 
13- Chase Priskie (D)
14- Julien Gauthier (RW)
15- Jack Drury (C)
Sleeper: Kirill Slepets (RW)
Summary: Puistola is a talented offensive player who was seen by some as a potential first-round talent this past June. Carolina ended up nabbing him at No. 73. Bean had another solid AHL campaign (44 points in 70 games) and finally made his NHL debut. He will compete for playing time in Carolina this season. Kuokkanen is the one player in the system who has really seen his stock drop. His AHL numbers were fine (38 points in 48 games), but he's never made an impact when given a look at the NHL level. I remain a believer in his offensive skill set. Luostarinen is set to make his North American debut (almost certainly in the AHL) this fall. After posting 46 points in his first AHL campaign, Geekie led all AHL rookies in playoff goals (eight) and points (18). Nedeljkovic is probably a long-term backup with a slight chance for more. He should play for the Hurricanes this season. Mattheos is a solid two-way guy who had 96 points for WHL Brandon last season. He was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer and will miss training camp as he continues to undergo treatment. Honka is a million-dollar talent with poor hockey sense. He was well worth the risk at No. 83 overall this past June because you can't teach his talent, but he won't play in the NHL unless his defensive game massively improves. Kochetkov turned a brilliant effort at the World Juniors into an early second-round selection (36th overall) in the 2019 draft. I'm not sold on Rees' offensive skill set, but he skates well and works hard. Priskie was originally a sixth-round pick of Washington in 2016. Carolina tried to acquire his rights at the draft in June, and then signed him after he became an unrestricted free agent in August following four seasons at Quinnipiac. He won't make anyone in Carolina forget about the loss of Adam Fox, but he's a talented defenseman who is just about ready to help the NHL club. Gauthier scored 27 goals for AHL Charlotte this past season, but he is a one-trick pony, and of limited use defensively. He might be able to carve out a career as a power-play specialist/depth player. Drury was Team USA's 13th forward at the World Juniors. He might make it as a fourth-line pivot because he thinks the game so well. The 20-year-old Slepets was teammates on the Russian World Junior team with Kochetkov and equally impressive. He posted five goals and seven points in seven games and the Hurricanes smartly spent a 2019 fifth-round selection (152nd overall) to secure his rights. Slepets is reportedly under contract in the KHL for two more seasons.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Overview: Columbus' prospect pool is in pretty decent shape considering how competitive their NHL club has been over the past several seasons. They're loaded with international prospects and have several goaltenders in the system with legitimate long-term potential. The Blue Jackets' biggest issue is the lack of upside among the players in the bottom half of their system. 
1- Emil Bemstrom (C) (40)
2- Alexandre Texier (C) (44)
3- Liam Foudy (C) (69) 
4- Elvis Merzlikins (G) (85)
5- Kirill Marchenko (LW) (101)
6- Daniil Tarasov (G) (130)
7- Vladislav Gavrikov (D)
8- Andrew Peeke (D)
9- Kevin Stenlund (C)
10- Jakob Lilja (LW)
11- Veini Vehvilainen (G)
12- Dmitri Voronkov (LW)
13- Kale Howarth (LW)
14- Marcus Karlberg (RW)
15- Gabriel Carlsson (D)
Sleeper: Trey Fix-Wolansky (RW)
Summary: Marchenko is a big, strong winger who has yet to get significant playing time in the KHL. He slipped in the draft (49th overall, 2018) because teams have no idea when he plans on coming over to North America. He might be a top-50 guy if he was playing in the CHL.  Tarasov dominated the Russian Jr. league last season (1.71 GAA, .928 save percentage in 25 games) and signed with the Jackets in May. He's expected to be loaned to Assat of the Finnish league for the 2019-20 season. Gavrikov, a 23-year-old KHL veteran, made his NHL debut in the postseason for Columbus. He should be a regular on their blueline this season, albeit one without a ton of upside. Peeke will play in the AHL after three seasons at Notre Dame. He never contributed much offense in college, but he skates well and has a big shot. Stenlund got a four-game stint in Columbus, but spent most of the season in the AHL. He has the size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) to carve out a roll as a bottom-six center. I don't see enough consistency to project him any higher than that. The 26-year-old Lilja signed with the Jackets after leading Djurgardens of the SHL in scoring (37 points in 52 games) last season. He will be given a long look in training camp. Vehvilainen has been named the top goaltender in the Finnish league in each of the past two seasons. The 22-year-old should begin the season as the starter for AHL Cleveland. The fact that he went undrafted three times isn't great, but he has a shot. Voronkov's combination of size (6-foot-3), skill and skating ability make him a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop in Russia. Howarth is intriguing because he stands at 6-foot-5. He's already 22 years old and is entering his sophomore season at UConn, so his margin for error is nonexistent. Karlberg is a hard working, severely undersized offensive prospect who figures to struggle against bigger defensemen. Carlsson, the 29th overall selection in 2015, would do well to carve out a career as a number-six defender. Fix-Wolansky is coming off a season in which he finished tied for fourth (102 points in 65 games) in WHL scoring. He's probably a minor-leaguer, but the early returns on the 2018 seventh-rounder (204th overall) have been strong. He'll play in the AHL this season. 

NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Overview: To the surprise of absolutely no one, the addition of the first-overall selection (Hughes) and the best player in the world outside of the NHL (Gusev) has improved New Jersey's prospect pool. It's still extremely top heavy and they're painfully thin in goal, but the Devils have some interesting lottery tickets mixed in there. They are trending in the right direction. On the whole, I'd rank the system somewhere in the 5-to-8 range. 
1- Jack Hughes (C) (1)
2- Ty Smith (D) (17)
3- Nikita Gusev (LW) (30)
4- Jesper Boqvist (C) (103)
5- Michael McLeod (C) (114)
6- Aarne Talvitie (LW) (186)
7- Reilly Walsh (D)
8- Mikhail Maltsev (C)
9- Case McCarthy (D)
10- Daniil Misyul (D)
11- Fabian Zetterlund (LW)
12- Graeme Clarke (RW)
13- Michael Vukojevic (D)
14- Nikita Okhotyuk (D)
15- Colton White (D)
Sleeper: Gilles Senn (G)
Summary: I gave serious consideration to putting Boqvist on my top 100. The 20-year-old is a terrific offensive player with high-end puck skills. At this point, I expect him to make the New Jersey roster out of camp. McLeod has gone backwards since being selected 12th overall in 2016. He had just two assists in 21 games with New Jersey last season and managed just six goals (33 points) in 55 AHL contests. The 21-year-old is facing a make-or-break season. Talvitie had a terrific World Juniors where he captained the eventual gold-medal winning Finnish squad. Unfortunately he injured his knee in the finals, underwent surgery, and missed the rest of the year. He is set to enter his sophomore season at Penn State. Walsh has long been a favorite of mine. An excellent offensive defenseman, the former third-rounder (81st overall, 2017) is set for his third year at Harvard. Maltsev will debut stateside this fall after several seasons in Russia. He should begin the year in the AHL. McCarthy was the unheralded member of the loaded US NTDP defensive corps. He should earn an immediate role at Boston University. Misyul is an effective three-zone defenseman. He's a long-term play for New Jersey. Zetterlund's offensive game hasn't really developed since New Jersey spent a third-round pick on him (63rd overall) in 2017. He spent this offseason rehabbing a knee injury. Clarke is a good offensive player but a poor skater. He figures to struggle with the professional pace. Vukojevic is a physical, stay-at-home defender. He could be an asset down the road if deployed correctly. Okhotyuk was a surprise second-round pick (61st overall) this past June. White got into three games with New Jersey last season. He makes for useful depth. The 23-year-old Senn signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Devils in April. A native of Switzerland, any young goaltender with a pulse is worth keeping an eye on in the thin New Jersey system. 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Overview: The Islanders' system carries considerably more risk than most. There are serious questions surrounding every prospect listed below other than Dobson. I loved what they did in the 2018 draft, but I thought the Isles got a little too cute in this past June's draft, reaching for players on multiple occasions. The end result is a middle-of-the-pack prospect pool that probably should be a top-ten group. 
1- Noah Dobson (D) (19)
2- Ilya Sorokin (G) (21)
3- Oliver Wahlstrom (LW) (41)
4- Bode Wilde (D) (57)
5- Kieffer Bellows (RW) (89)
6- Otto Koivula (LW) (122)
7- Ruslan Iskhakov (LW) (145)
8- Jakub Skarek (G) (167)
9- Simon Holmstrom (RW) (189)
10- Samuel Bolduc (D)
11- Linus Soderstrom (G)
12- Robin Salo (D)
13- Blade Jenkins (C)
14- Mitchell Vande Sompel (D)
15- Anatoli Golyshev (LW)
Sleeper: Logan Cockerill (RW)
Summary: Koivula parlayed a strong second half to finish with decent numbers (21 goals, 46 points in 69 games) in his first AHL season. There has been talk of him potentially getting a look at center with the Isles, but his biggest flaw is his skating, so I don't think that would work. He's quite the offensive prospect outside of his lack of speed. Iskhakov's freshman season at the University of Connecticut featured what many expected, some highlight reel plays, and plenty of nights in which he was invisible. Iskhakov is barely 160 pounds, so he's going to have a difficult time making it as a pro. However, his talent isn't in question and I could see a sophomore-year breakout coming. Skarek signed his entry-level deal in July. The plan was for him to be loaned to the Pelicans of the Finnish league this season, but he was spotted working at the Islanders' practice facility in early September. He's a big goalie (6-foot-3) that moves exceptionally well side-to-side. The Isles' selection of Holmstrom at No. 23 overall this past June was flat out strange. Not only were there better players on the board, but Holmstrom has the reputation of being injury prone. It may work out just fine given the fact that Homlstrom is a good offensive player, but it seemed like an unnecessary risk. Bolduc is a strong kid with a monster shot and questionable hockey sense. Soderstrom missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury. He will get a chance to make an impact in the AHL this year. Salo continues to develop in Finland. His ceiling is that of a third-pairing regular. Jenkins, who will return for one final OHL season, is a pretty good all-around player who's held back by a lack of foot speed. Vande Sompel is a quality AHL defenseman who's probably nothing more than an up-and-down guy. I expect him to head overseas at some point. Golyshev appeared certain to sign with New York this spring before deciding to re-up with his KHL club. Set to turn 25 years old in February, it seems unlikely that we ever see him in North America. A surprise addition to the US World Junior team, Cockerill, a junior at Boston University, has the look of a multi-faceted depth player.  

NEW YORK RANGERS
Overview: A year and a half after the Rangers sent out "the letter," they are the proud owners of one of the best prospect pools in the league, if not the best. There is a ton of depth everywhere, particularly on defense and in goal. The list below doesn't even include guys like Ryan Lindgren, Sean Day, Gabriel Fontaine, Tyler Wall and Tim Gettinger.
1- Kaapo Kakko (RW) (2)
2- Vitali Kravtsov (RW) (8)
3- Igor Shesterkin (G) (20)
4- Adam Fox (D) (34)
5- K'Andre Miller (D) (39)
6- Libor Hajek (D) (160)
7- Matthew Robertson (D) (175)
8- Morgan Barron (LW) (176)
9- Joey Keane (D) (187)
10- Yegor Rykov (D)
11- Tarmo Reunanen (D) 
12- Karl Henriksson (C)
13- Leevi Aaltonen (LW)
14- Adam Huska (G)
15- Olof Lindbom (G)
Sleeper: Zachary Jones (D)
Summary: Hajek was dreadful in his first AHL campaign (five assists in 58 games) and then looked terrific in a brief five-game trial with the Rangers before a separated shoulder ended his year. Hartford was a mess (again), so I'm inclined to give him a pass for his first-year woes. He probably has the inside track for the No. 6 defenseman spot heading into camp. Robertson got some buzz as a potential late first-rounder this past June before dropping to the Rangers at No. 49. I have questions about how much offense he'll provide, but he's a good skater, responsible defensively, and should have gone a good ten picks earlier than he did. Barron, a sixth-round pick in 2017 (174th overall), has seen his stock skyrocket over the course of his two seasons at Cornell. A physically mature 20-year-old, Barron is probably ready for the AHL, but elected to return to college for his junior year. I wouldn't be shocked if he's among the nation's leaders in scoring. Keane's point production plummeted following a mid-season trade from OHL Barrie to London, but he actually played much better hockey after the move. He's an excellent skater and should begin this year in the AHL. If Hajek doesn't crack the team out of camp, it will almost certainly be Rykov instead. He should probably be higher on this list. The Russian import is coming off a fine season with HK Sochi of the KHL and is just about NHL-ready. Finally healthy and given a consistent role, Reunanen had a breakout season (25 points in 58 games) for Lukko of the Finnish league. The 21-year-old will be in training camp this fall before presumably being loaned back to Europe for another season. If not, he too will begin the year with Hartford. Henriksson made his name on the international scene playing alongside top 2020 draft prospects Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz. He will never be mistaken for either of those two, but he's a good offensive player who will be given a couple years to marinate in Sweden. Aaltonen is a speedy winger in the mold of Carl Hagelin. A good player, but a limited offensive talent. Huska was remarkably inconsistent during his three seasons at the University of Connecticut. I thought he would return for a senior season given his struggles, but the Rangers signed him late in the year. He might have to begin his first full professional season in the ECHL. Lindbom was the first goaltender selected in the 2018 draft (39th overall) but a concussion all but eliminated his 2018-19 campaign. He is finally healthy and a candidate to be Sweden's starter at the World Juniors. Jones is a confident puck-mover with the potential to quarterback a power play one day. The departure of Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro to the pros should ensure Jones earns an immediate, significant role at UMass-Amherst this fall. 

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Overview: Philadelphia's prospect pool is exceptional. Only Vancouver (seven) placed more players in my top 100 than the Flyers' six, and only Los Angeles (12) had more players in my top 200 than Philadelphia's 11. There are at least four additional prospects in the system (Wade Allison, Matthew Strome, Jack St. Ivany, Jay O'Brien) who would be among the top 15 of virtually any other team. Philadelphia's prospect pool is legitimately 20-players deep and I had a very difficult time arranging the last half dozen names. I think they're all fairly interchangeable. 
1- Joel Farabee (LW) (22)
2- Morgan Frost (C) (36)
3- Cam York (D) (48)
4- Philippe Myers (D) (62)
5- Isaac Ratcliffe (LW) (67)
6- Bobby Brink (RW) (73)
7- German Rubtsov (C) (124)
8- Mikhail Vorobyov (C) (152)
9- Samuel Ersson (G) (169)
10- Tanner Laczynski (C) (183)
11- Wyatt Kalynuk (D) (197)
12- Yegor Zamula (D)
13- Adam Ginning (D)
14- Kirill Ustimenko (G)
15- Felix Sandstrom (G)
Sleeper: Ronnie Attard (D)
Summary: Rubtsov was off to a surprisingly strong start in his first AHL campaign (10 points in 14 games) before a shoulder injury wiped out the remainder of his season. He should make his NHL debut at some point this coming year. I'm still a believer in Vorobyov, but his stock has dipped and he's in serious danger of tumbling down these rankings. Ersson was named the best player in the Swedish junior league on the heels of a 1.95 GAA and .933 save percentage in 36 games. He is due to play this season with Brynas of the SHL. Laczynski has averaged more than a point-per-game in each of the past two seasons, but he's declined every overture from the Flyers to sign with the club. Entering his senior season, Laczysnki will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2020. At this point, I'd guess he ends up signing elsewhere. Kalynuk is a minute-eating, two-way defender with an underrated offensive game. He's set for his third season at the University of Wisconsin. Zamula has quickly and unexpectedly developed into one of the WHL's better offensive defensemen. Undrafted, he signed with Philadelphia last December. Ginning's offensive upside is minuscule, but his floor is so high that I had to rank him fairly high. Ustimenko made a mockery of the Russian MHL (1.78, .927 save percentage in 46 games) and will join the AHL Phantoms this season. Once viewed as the savior in net for the Flyers, Sandstrom, through no fault of his own,  has been passed by numerous other goaltenders in the organization. He'll make his full-season debut in the AHL this fall and has the talent to rise in the rankings once again. Attard is coming off a season in which he set the all-time USHL record for goals in a season by a defenseman with 30. He's already 20 years of age and should be an immediate contributor at Western Michigan University this season. 

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Overview: Pittsburgh's prospect pool has improved, but it remains the worst in the league in my opinion. They've made just one first-round selection (Poulin) since 2014, and in the rare instances in which they have made picks, they've been ones that I've disagreed with. They were just one of two teams (Boston) to not place a player in my top-100. With the core of their NHL club starting to age, it's imperative that the Pens start to inject some talent into their system sooner rather than later.
1- Samuel Poulin (RW) (142)
2- Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D) (164)
3- Calen Addison (D) (182)
4- Nathan Legare (RW) (193)
5- Kasper Bjorkqvist (RW) (194)
6- Filip Hallander (C)
7- Jordy Bellerive (C)
8- Judd Caulfield (C)
9- John Marino (D)
10- Oula Palve (C)
11- Niclas Almari (D)
12- Emil Larmi (G)
13- Sam Lafferty (LW)
14- Nikita Pavlychev (C)
15- Will Reilly (D)
Sleeper: Justin Almeida (C)
Summary: Poulin is a heady, hard-working power forward whose chances of developing into an above-average regular hinge on his ability to improve his foot speed. Joseph came over in the deal that sent Phil Kessel to Arizona. A former first-round pick in his own right (23rd overall, 2017), Joseph has seen his stock dip recently. He's a solid puck-mover with limited upside. Addison is an excellent offensive defenseman with a limited physical presence. He could be a power-play quarterback in the league. Legare scored 45 goals in 68 QMJHL games last season. He's a legitimate sniper, but he can't skate. However, he's still a legitimate prospect because his power-play production gives him a high floor. Bjorkqvist turned pro after three years at Providence and should begin this season in the AHL. I like his versatility and work ethic. Hallander was the 58th overall pick in 2018. He has a chance to make it as a bottom-six, two-way center. Bellerive can do it all, but I'm not convinced that he has enough natural talent to be a top six-option. He could make for a useful third-liner. Caulfield is a big (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) kid who is willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice to make a play. He works his tail off, but it's difficult to imagine him as anything more than a complementary piece as a pro. Marino was acquired from Edmonton in August for a draft pick. He quickly signed an entry-level deal with Pittsburgh and should begin this season in the AHL. He plays a simple, direct game and I like his chances of making it as a depth guy. Palve, Almari, and Larmi are all reinforcements from Finland. Palve and Larmi were signed as free agents, while Almari was a fifth-round pick in 2016. All three should spend this coming year in the AHL. Lafferty, a 2014 fourth-round pick, had 49 points in his first AHL season. He might get a shot with the Pens later this year in a depth role. Pavlychev is intriguing because he stands at 6-foot-7 and has a decent amount of skill for such a big kid. He's heading into his senior season at Penn State. Reilly will be a senior at R.P.I. He has shown enough during his first three collegiate seasons to make him worthy of an entry-level deal as a potential future depth defenseman. Almeida is coming off a year in which he led the WHL in assists (78) and finished third in scoring (111 points). He's ridiculously slight -- even by today's standards -- and will probably top out as a minor-leauger. Still, he's a worthwhile risk for the Pens since they signed him in March as an undrafted free agent. 

WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Overview: The Caps have slowly begun adding depth to their prospect pool. It's still a bottom-five system for me, but it's slowly improving. I thought they had a nice draft in June when they acquired McMichael and Leason and there are a few other players in the system who aren't far away from helping the NHL club. The biggest issue at this point is the fact that there isn't a future sure-fire, top-six forward or top-pairing defenseman in their system. 
1- Ilya Samsonov (G) (24)
2- Connor McMichael (C) (126)
3- Alexander Alexeyev (D) (146)
4- Brett Leason (RW) (156)
5- Lucas Johansen (D)
6- Martin Fehervary (D)
7- Riley Sutter (RW)
8- Kody Clark (RW)
9- Damien Riat (LW)
10- Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (LW)
11- Martin Hugo Has (D)
12- Bobby Nardella (D)
13- Joe Snively (LW)
14- Vitek Vanecek (G)
15- Tyler Lewington (D)
Sleeper: Alexei Protas (C) 
Summary: McMichael's calling card is his versatility. He has the skill and smarts to play up and down a lineup. His ultimate role is probably that of a really good third-line center who can fill a top-six role when injuries strike. Alexeyev has continued to improve throughout the course of his WHL career. He's dependable in his own zone and has enough skill to help on the power play. He'll begin this season in the AHL. Passed over in the 2018 draft, the Caps nabbed Leason at 56th overall in June. Opinions on his future are decidedly mixed, but he's a 6-foot-4, right-handed shooting forward who scored 89 points in 55 WHL games last season. Because of his age, Leason is eligible to play in the AHL immediately. Johansen, another former first-round pick (28th overall, 2016), has struggled to generate offense as a pro, but he still has a chance to develop into an NHL regular due to his mobility. Fehervary is set to join AHL Hershey after spending last season taking a regular shift in the SHL as a 19-year-old. His speed is his biggest asset. Sutter and Clark are both big bodies with a limited amount of offensive skill.  Riat is far from a finished product, but I think there's something there. It remains to be seen how effective the Swiss national will be on the smaller ice surfaces of North America. Jonsson-Fjallby has awesome hair, great speed, and not much else. He would do well to develop into a fourth-line penalty killer. Hugo Has is a physical specimen who's still learning the finer points of the game. Nardella will turn pro as a 23-year-old following a productive four-year career at Notre Dame. Same goes for Snively, who spent the past four years at Yale. Both were undrafted. Vanecek has some potential, but he really struggles to use his size to his advantage. Lewington is an up-and-down guy. He might be able to make it as a seventh defenseman. Protas is a long shot, but any 6-foot-5 18-year-old with some skill is worth monitoring. The Caps thought enough of Protas to sign him to an entry-level deal just days after they spent a third-round (91st overall) pick on him this summer. No one had him going that high.