So we could theoretically be here next year and on a 22-and-under list include Filip Chytil with 200+ games played. Doesn't that seem kind of out of whack? On a list with guys who are still in amateur hockey?
I think if you're going to do a list of players X-and-under, you just call it "Ranking the players X-and-under" because you'll run into guys who are really in a completely different class than your traditional "prospects." You could see the same thing with Lafreniere in three years--he'll be 22 with 200+ games and he could be an absolute star. Kakko, as well, could theoretically be over 300 games.
I've always liked 25-and-under as a good barometer for young organizational talent. But that's very different than "prospects" and I think 22-and-under is, as well. You also immediately then disqualify someone like Shesterkin, Rueschhoff, and Huska. Two guys who are second-year NA pros and one guy who is just starting his career.
This is why HF always used a combination of games played and age, and also had different criteria for players who signed later (like NCAA guys or Europeans).