Wheeler's top NHL prospect pool rankings 2026

[CallMeShaft]

NHL prospect pool rankings 2026: Scott Wheeler’s evaluations of all 32 teams’ systems

Welcome to the 2026 edition of Scott Wheeler's ranking of the NHL's 32 prospect pools.

www.nytimes.com

Didn't see a thread for this. Over the last month, Scott Wheeler (of The Athletic) has been posting his rankings for prospect pools, with his top two being revealed today. Next week he's going to post a top 100 NHL affiliated skater prospects list and a top 20 NHL affiliated goalie prospects list.

 

[qcal1427]

SJS, Detroit, and especially Calgary too high. Utah, STL, Washington too low. As always goalies are way overvalued in these lists.

 

[Lavar Ball]

I have some qualms with the player ordering in some of the lists, but the overall team order is quite good IMO. Could shift some around (I'd swap Calgary and Utah) but I think it's pretty accurate overall

 

[JohnLennon]

It's really high-quality work. My only gripe is the Tier system. The Florida Panthers have ten Tier 1 guys and they are ranked last, while the Blackhawks have only one Tier 1 guy and yet are ranked first. I guess I'm just not understanding the point of tiers in the overall context of the rankings.

Maybe it is something that will be fixed when he releases his full list?

 

[Lavar Ball]

It's really high-quality work. My only gripe is the Tier system. The Florida Panthers have ten Tier 1 guys and they are ranked last, while the Blackhawks have only one Tier 1 guy and yet are ranked first. I guess I'm just not understanding the pint of tiers in the overall context of the rankings.

Maybe it is something that will be fixed when he releases his full list?

Great point I also thought about this while reading. I guess he used them as a way to break up the quality of players within each system, not to be compared across teams

 

[HawksDub89]

Great point I also thought about this while reading. I guess he used them as a way to break up the quality of players within each system, not to be compared across teams

This is exactly what it is.

Florida doesn’t have 9 prospects in the same tier as guys like Frondell/Misa.

I admittedly don’t love the tier thing either. A bit wonky.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

SJS, Detroit, and especially Calgary too high. Utah, STL, Washington too low. As always goalies are way overvalued in these lists.

Calgary is too high?

Just cause we don’t rub our prospects in other teams faces like most teams do doesn’t mean it’s true.

Parekh-one of the best young players in the world.
Gridin-low-key future star forward.
Reschny-1C on North Dakota as a freshmen.
Potter-over PPG in the NCAA (draft + 1)
Brustewicz- low key top 4 D.
Wyttenbach- led NCAA in scoring as a freshmen
Mews-PPG as a freshmen D (D+2) before his injury

Lots of other guys beyond that

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's really high-quality work. My only gripe is the Tier system. The Florida Panthers have ten Tier 1 guys and they are ranked last, while the Blackhawks have only one Tier 1 guy and yet are ranked first. I guess I'm just not understanding the point of tiers in the overall context of the rankings.

Maybe it is something that will be fixed when he releases his full list?

I don’t understand it, one of Floridas 10 top tier one prospects says, why is that tier one.

With continued work in the gym and patience when he gets to the AHL, he might have a chance. There’s also a very early chance he just becomes a second-line AHL producer, though.

 

[CallMeShaft]

I don’t understand it, one of Floridas 10 top tier one prospects says, why is that tier one.

With continued work in the gym and patience when he gets to the AHL, he might have a chance. There’s also a very early chance he just becomes a second-line AHL producer, though.

The tiers are team specific. Tier 1 for Florida is not the same tier 1 for Chicago.

Florida has 10 players at the top who are all similarly ranked, but none of those guys have a good chance at sticking in the NHL.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The tiers are team specific. Tier 1 for Florida is not the same tier 1 for Chicago.

Florida has 10 players at the top who are all similarly ranked, but none of those guys have a good chance at sticking in the NHL.

Thanks, but seems a strange way of doing it.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Comparisons of prospect pools are fun but it doesn't equalize the discrepancy between teams with more and less of their young players already graduated to the NHL. Looking at the San Jose and Chicago prospect pools - they both have a bunch of guys already playing big minutes and key roles in the NHL who aren't considered s prospects by Wheeler and I assume many other teams can make the same claim but it isn't uniform across the league. Therefore I think a better show of strength of up and coming teams would be something along the lines of all u23 or u25 players for each team.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Comparisons of prospect pools are fun but it doesn't equalize the discrepancy between teams with more and less of their young players already graduated to the NHL. Looking at the San Jose and Chicago prospect pools - they both have a bunch of guys already playing big minutes and key roles in the NHL who aren't considered s prospects by Wheeler and I assume many other teams can make the same claim but it isn't uniform across the league. Therefore I think a better show of strength of up and coming teams would be something along the lines of all u23 or u25 players for each team.

Ya I like U23 rankings as well, despite having to convince some that 23 isn’t U23.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Comparisons of prospect pools are fun but it doesn't equalize the discrepancy between teams with more and less of their young players already graduated to the NHL. Looking at the San Jose and Chicago prospect pools - they both have a bunch of guys already playing big minutes and key roles in the NHL who aren't considered s prospects by Wheeler and I assume many other teams can make the same claim but it isn't uniform across the league. Therefore I think a better show of strength of up and coming teams would be something along the lines of all u23 or u25 players for each team.

Both concepts are useful in their own right. U25 is the most holistic, “prospects” can predict future swings.

 

[Kaners PPGs]

I have some qualms with the player ordering in some of the lists, but the overall team order is quite good IMO. Could shift some around (I'd swap Calgary and Utah) but I think it's pretty accurate overall

I agree. I like Utah over Calgary too but I'd slide Detroit behind Calgary. Detroit has goalies 1 and 2 and no real impact players after that. Good depth though.

 

[wintersej]

Comparisons of prospect pools are fun but it doesn't equalize the discrepancy between teams with more and less of their young players already graduated to the NHL. Looking at the San Jose and Chicago prospect pools - they both have a bunch of guys already playing big minutes and key roles in the NHL who aren't considered s prospects by Wheeler and I assume many other teams can make the same claim but it isn't uniform across the league. Therefore I think a better show of strength of up and coming teams would be something along the lines of all u23 or u25 players for each team.

Also, going back and looking at the top 10 prospect pools from 5 years ago every year is a great way to get a good laugh.

 

[Bounces R Way]

This is the best shape I think I've seen the Flames' pool in ever. Very deep and diverse(other than RHS fwds). Add a star fwd this year capable of carrying the mail and maybe another in 2027 and they should be cooking with gas once the new arena opens. All the mid forever never rebuilding takes on this forum from posters are a couple years out of date.

Top 2 are fairly evident but 3-6 are all about equal IMO. My main quibble with this list is the Wild and Hurricanes are way too low.

 

[LinkGaetz23]

U23 seems like a better way to do it but I get the idea behind listing prospects only. The idea is those players aren't part of their NHL teams yet (or have played a limited number of games) so that's what those organizations have in store that will be additive. Anyway, not sure I agree Sharks have the best prospect pool but we do have the best U23 player pool.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

U23 seems like a better way to do it but I get the idea behind listing prospects only. The idea is those players aren't part of their NHL teams yet (or have played a limited number of games) so that's what those organizations have in store that will be additive. Anyway, not sure I agree Sharks have the best prospect pool but we do have the best U23 player pool.

I'm not going to put in the effort to look at every team but I have to think the Sharks and Hawks are the top two in the u23 category too. Just looking at the u23 players in the current NHL lineup most of which are already high profile players:

Sharks u23 (6): Celebrini, Smith, Misa, Chernyshov, Ostapchuk, Dickenson
Hawks u23 (10): Bedard, Nazar, Frondell, Boisvert, Lardis, Moore, Greene, Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski

If we did u25 - add 4 more for Sharks: Graf, Eklund, Mukhamadullin, and Askarov - that's half the starting lineup under 25.

If we did u25 - add 6 more for Hawks: Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Crevier, del Mastro, Knight - that's 16 of 20 under 25, including all 7 d-men.

 

[EveryDay]

I'm not going to put in the effort to look at every team but I have to think the Sharks and Hawks are the top two in the u23 category too. Just looking at the u23 players in the current NHL lineup most of which are already high profile players:

Sharks u23 (6): Celebrini, Smith, Misa, Chernyshov, Ostapchuk, Dickenson
Hawks u23 (10): Bedard, Nazar, Frondell, Boisvert, Lardis, Moore, Greene, Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski

If we did u25 - add 4 more for Sharks: Graf, Eklund, Mukhamadullin, and Askarov - that's half the starting lineup under 25.

If we did u25 - add 6 more for Hawks: Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Crevier, del Mastro, Knight - that's 16 of 20 under 25, including all 7 d-men.

Montreal U23 is right there with SJ and Chicago.

Demidov Slafkovski Hutson Kapanen Fowler Hage Zharovski Reinbacher.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Nice to see for Hawks even if its just one guys opinion

Hawks are set to add another blue chip prospect with this years 1st rounder as well and possibly may be able to trade back into 1st round to add another as they have assets via picks to potentially use to trade back in to this years 1st if they really love someone there

Hawks 2026 2nd
Leafs 2026 2nd
Islanders 2026 2nd
Hawks 2027 1st
Panthers 2027 1st
Oilers 2027 1st
Hawks 2027 2nd
Canucks 2027 2nd
Hawks 2028 1st
Oilers 2028 2nd

Or Hawks just hold onto picks and continue stocking system and use some for trade chips for established NHL talent

Pretty good situation Hawks find themselves in with youth on roster, prospects in pipeline and bevy of future picks

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Montreal U23 is right there with SJ and Chicago.

Demidov Slafkovski Hutson Kapanen Fowler Hage Zharovski Reinbacher.

Yep, although for the u23 and u25 lists I included only those players already on the NHL roster - but still that's a very impressive list.

The Hawks expect Kantserov to come over and play a key role in 2026/27 so he would be on the u23 list. When are you expecting Zharovsky to come over?

 

[wetcoast]

Calgary is too high?

Just cause we don’t rub our prospects in other teams faces like most teams do doesn’t mean it’s true.

Parekh-one of the best young players in the world.
Gridin-low-key future star forward.
Reschny-1C on North Dakota as a freshmen.
Potter-over PPG in the NCAA (draft + 1)
Brustewicz- low key top 4 D.
Wyttenbach- led NCAA in scoring as a freshmen
Mews-PPG as a freshmen D (D+2) before his injury

Lots of other guys beyond that

The thing is that aside from Parekh who also might drop into the overall Calgary mix, is that all of these players might turn out to be good or even very good players but don't stand out as guys on a SC contender given their top projection roles, still support or flawed typed of players and not elite workhorses than can drag an NHL team anywhere.

Canucks at 15 seems high unless it includes 3 Dmen currently on the NHL roster.

 

[LinkGaetz23]

I'm not going to put in the effort to look at every team but I have to think the Sharks and Hawks are the top two in the u23 category too. Just looking at the u23 players in the current NHL lineup most of which are already high profile players:

Sharks u23 (6): Celebrini, Smith, Misa, Chernyshov, Ostapchuk, Dickenson
Hawks u23 (10): Bedard, Nazar, Frondell, Boisvert, Lardis, Moore, Greene, Levshunov, Rinzel, Korchinski

If we did u25 - add 4 more for Sharks: Graf, Eklund, Mukhamadullin, and Askarov - that's half the starting lineup under 25.

If we did u25 - add 6 more for Hawks: Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Crevier, del Mastro, Knight - that's 16 of 20 under 25, including all 7 d-men.

The problem for Chicago is that most of the Sharks are better than their counterparts who are the same age or younger. As much as many Hawks fans want to screech otherwise, Bedard isn't really close to Celebrini's level and is a year older. Smith is better than Nazar and a year younger. Probably a little early to make a judgment on Misa vs Frondell but I'm still drafting Misa over him if there was a redraft. Of course, it is worth saying that the Sharks don't have the depth of defensive prospects that the Hawks have. The counterpoint is that none of the Hawks' u23 defensemen have been even competent at NHL level so far. Dickinson hasn't either, of course. Defensemen can develop late and not all development is linear so it's no guarantee those Sharks mentioned remain better than their Blackhawks' counterparts but I like the Sharks' u23 pool quite a bit more right now, even when you include the non-NHL u23 prospects.

 

[HighLifeMan]

The thing is that aside from Parekh who also might drop into the overall Calgary mix, is that all of these players might turn out to be good or even very good players but don't stand out as guys on a SC contender given their top projection roles, still support or flawed typed of players and not elite workhorses than can drag an NHL team anywhere.

Canucks at 15 seems high unless it includes 3 Dmen currently on the NHL roster.

That could be said for all 32 NHL teams though.

How many prospects in the league project comfortably as "elite work horses" that could stand out on SC contenders? 5-10?

Based on Wheeler's criteria no NHL team has multiple players that fit that definition.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The problem for Chicago is that most of the Sharks are better than their counterparts who are the same age or younger. As much as many Hawks fans want to screech otherwise, Bedard isn't really close to Celebrini's level and is a year older. Smith is better than Nazar and a year younger. Probably a little early to make a judgment on Misa vs Frondell but I'm still drafting Misa over him if there was a redraft. Of course, it is worth saying that the Sharks don't have the depth of defensive prospects that the Hawks have. The counterpoint is that none of the Hawks' u23 defensemen have been even competent at NHL level so far. Dickinson hasn't either, of course. Defensemen can develop late and not all development is linear so it's no guarantee those Sharks mentioned remain better than their Blackhawks' counterparts but I like the Sharks' u23 pool quite a bit more right now, even when you include the non-NHL u23 prospects.

if Hawks add a top forward this year draft, then they're basically right there at FWD with only difference whatever gap is between Celebrini/Bedard and then Hawks have a big edge on D once kicked out to 2001-2003 births as well imo. Vlasic, Crevier, Kaiser, Del Mastro vs. Mukhamadullin and Allan (who came in 5th place amongst that three year D age for Chicago and got sent there).

Adding in that as you noted, D take longer to develop this puts Chicago in a better spot on defense as SJ will likely be breaking in their 04-06 D the way Chicago already has with the slightly older and Chicago also still has three high picks from 04-05 working in as well.