Most underrated prospects in hockey

[wetcoast]

Who are some of the most underrated prospects in hockey?

Only parameter to this question is you can’t name someone in the organization of your own NHL team.

Going from the last set of prospect polls it's Josh Doan for me off the top of my head.

 

[Tube Skates]

Lots of 1st round picks being listed in an 'underrated prospect' thread.

Yan Kuznetsov who is a Calgary prospect in the AHL for them last year doesn't jump off the page in terms of points or draft position but he stuck out to me every time I watched him last year - big, very mobile, positionally sound defender. Good bet to be a Carson Soucy-type in the NHL.

You have a good eye for talent. He was really good all game that I watched him in the Q

 

[Chainshot]

I am looking forward to the various prospect tournament games coming up in the next week as a way to get a look at more guys against their various age groups.

Another player came to mind while I was driving today - Yegor Sidorov, a Duck draft pick. Every year when looking in on Blades games, he drew my eye, particularly in both this year's and last year's playoffs. He feels like someone who just gets it and I wouldn't be surprised if makes it.

 

[OKR]

Jani Nyman gets very little attention, 43 points and 26 goals in 48 games in the Liiga as a 19 year old. 6’2 and a heavy shot but can score in multitude of ways, isn’t scared of driving the net and has very advanced board play for his age.

Kinda fell off in the Playoffs for both Liiga team and AHL team’s last season, and not the fastest skater, so a long shot to become a sstar in the NHL but you’d think there would at least be some talk about him with his ”merits”.

 

[BKarchitect]

Favorite picks so far (non-top pick variety):

- Ryker Evans: Started to make headway on that crowded Kraken blueline last year. I think trading Dumoulin cleared the path for him for a full-time role this year. He's been a two-way analytical darling since his WHL days and has gone from strength to strength at each jump in competition.

- FUS: Needs a lot more hype for how quickly he improved in the second half of last year and making Team Sweden for the World Championships at his age - over many other more experienced or bigger name players. Also started to get experience playing center. Keep in mind FUS was one day from not being draft eligible until just this spring's 2024 draft. Needs to gain more strength for the next level but RBA is going to LOVE him.

- Oliver Kapanen: What a year. Went almost instantly from important international Finnish player for the junior team to important player for the men's team. Productive Liiga season highlighted by absurd Liiga playoffs and World Championships. Great trajectory. Interested to see if he is actually loaned to Timra this year or stays in Laval/Montreal? Does his contract have a clause that if he doesn't make the Habs, he's going to the SHL? Either way - SHL/AHL is a good step.

- Eric Pohlkamp: I think he's the actual underrated Sharks defensive prospect. I'm not saying he's going to be better than Shakir, but it is pretty clear by this thread a ton of people really like Mukhmadullin. Pohlkamp was ranked #14 in the Sharks own pool on HFB this summer - which I think is insane, even given their deep pool. I'll eat my hat if guys like Gushchin and Emberson have better NHL careers than him. This kid is a player, great offensive instincts, great shot, built like a tank. Transferring to DU to star for the defending champs is gonna help his stock a lot. Future top 4 guy IMO.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Keep an eye on Kapanen and Engstrom in Montreal.

As a Habs fan, I’m not too excited, tbh. I think Kapanen’s upside is a middle-six forward in the best case scenario. Meh.

Engstrom seems like the next overhyped boring Swedish defenseman who turns out to be nothing a la Nygren, Norlinder. Habs fans love hyping those guys for some reason and it never works out.

 

[BKarchitect]

As a Habs fan, I’m not too excited, tbh. I think Kapanen’s upside is a middle-six forward in the best case scenario. Meh.

Engstrom seems like the next overhyped boring Swedish defenseman who turns out to be nothing a la Nygren, Norlinder. Habs fans love hyping those guys for some reason and it never works out.

I agree on Engstrom being much more wait and see given how flat Norlinder fell.

Kapanen needs to do it in a higher situation than Liiga to be totally convincing - but I’d say middle six upside for a late 2nd is a very good pick. His physical tools don’t pop tremendously but he’s got versatility for days which I think gives him a wide path to a role if his trajectory continues…

 

[Sticktape]

Charles Alexis-Legault
Ivan Ivan
Filip Eriksson

 

[Top cheese Gaz]

Charles Alexis-Legault
Ivan Ivan
Filip Eriksson

Love I.Ivan, I think he will see some action in the NHL this year

 

[Sombastate]

I meant to add Bogdan Konyushkov to my earlier list. I know the Habs are loaded with D prospects, but I think he'll be a solid 2nd pairing guy

 

[Eegs]

As a Habs fan, I’m not too excited, tbh. I think Kapanen’s upside is a middle-six forward in the best case scenario. Meh.

Engstrom seems like the next overhyped boring Swedish defenseman who turns out to be nothing a la Nygren, Norlinder. Habs fans love hyping those guys for some reason and it never works out.

Engstrom and Norlinder are nothing alike, though I get the hesitancy in not wanting to get burnt again.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I really like a couple Shark guys that tend to not get enough love
Mukhamadullin, I was one of the few that would have rather given up Holtz than him. I think he's going to be a top 4 D
Musty, loved this player in his draft year and think he'll be top 6 player. Made it so much worse that SJ took him with the Devils pick too.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Engstrom and Norlinder are nothing alike, though I get the hesitancy in not wanting to get burnt again.

In terms of what, playing style only? Yeah, there are some differences. In terms of results? They are more similar than not. They are both slightly undersized to average Swedish D taken in the 3rd round by MTL, and they produced at nearly identical levels at the same age in the same leagues in juniors. If Engstrom was bigger and more physical and more of a defensive specialist than he is, I’d be more excited, but that isn’t the case. He’s a boring vanilla defenseman with bottom pairing upside in all likelihood. As of now, he’s another long shot Swedish D prospect. It’s hard to get excited about that given recent history with those for our team.

 

[Antonche]

Logan Mailloux

 

[Eegs]

In terms of what, playing style only? Yeah, there are some differences. In terms of results? They are more similar than not. They are both slightly undersized to average Swedish D taken in the 3rd round by MTL, and they produced at nearly identical levels at the same age in the same leagues in juniors. If Engstrom was bigger and more physical and more of a defensive specialist than he is, I’d be more excited, but that isn’t the case. He’s a boring vanilla defenseman with bottom pairing upside in all likelihood. As of now, he’s another long shot Swedish D prospect. It’s hard to get excited about that given recent history with those for our team.

Results are much different. Engstrom out produced Norlinder in the SHL by a fair margin while being 2 years younger.

 

[Sombastate]

- Eric Pohlkamp: I think he's the actual underrated Sharks defensive prospect. I'm not saying he's going to be better than Shakir, but it is pretty clear by this thread a ton of people really like Mukhmadullin. Pohlkamp was ranked #14 in the Sharks own pool on HFB this summer - which I think is insane, even given their deep pool. I'll eat my hat if guys like Gushchin and Emberson have better NHL careers than him. This kid is a player, great offensive instincts, great shot, built like a tank. Transferring to DU to star for the defending champs is gonna help his stock a lot. Future top 4 guy IMO.

Really glad someone else has him on their list. I think he's great

 

[viceroy]

- Oliver Kapanen: Interested to see if he is actually loaned to Timra this year or stays in Laval/Montreal? Does his contract have a clause that if he doesn't make the Habs, he's going to the SHL? Either way - SHL/AHL is a good step.

I heard it's SHL or NHL no AHL.

Engstrom seems like the next overhyped boring Swedish defenseman hockey player who turns out to be nothing.

MTL and whiffing on Swedish players, name a more iconic duo.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Engstrom seems like the next overhyped boring Swedish defenseman who turns out to be nothing a la Nygren, Norlinder. Habs fans love hyping those guys for some reason and it never works out.

Engström was awesome in his d+1. Kind of regressed in my eyes in his d+2, or at least didn't take much of a step forward, which deflated hype.

 

[SI90]

Brett Berard

First guy who came to my mind. I hate that he’s a Rangers prospect. Love his game and he’s taken such a solid and steady development path. Just feels like a guy that’s going to be a solid all around forward for a long time.

 

[CanadienShark]

Shakir Mukhamadullin.

He's going to really help the Sharks this upcoming year.

+Good Crease clearer
+ good at Takeaways and board battles
+ Good Passer
+Good Shot from the point.

Basically going to be Adam Larsson but with more offensive talent.

You're more optimistic than me, but damn I hope you're right!

 

[barriers]

Another vote for Dmitiri Buchelnikov. He's been fun to watch and he may never be able to crack the NHL as an undersized player without exceptional skating ability but I'll be cheering for him.

 

[saska sault]

Brady Cleveland.

 

[emptyNedder]

Oskar Fisker-Molgaard

Agreed--should develop into a solid middle-6er. Really solid, if unspectacular player.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Felix Unger-Sorum
Trey Augustine
Oscar Fisker-Molgaard
Alexander Rykov
Nick Lardis
Ryan Ufko
Linus Eriksson
Marek Vanacker

Cheating and listing a Blues prospect: Theo Lindstein. I think he’s highly underrated and is going to surprise some people.

 

[Wats]

Engström was awesome in his d+1. Kind of regressed in my eyes in his d+2, or at least didn't take much of a step forward, which deflated hype.

Agreed, if there is no real boom in production I'd say he's definitely another Nygren/Norlinder.