The Athletic Hockey Show - NHL prospect pipelines: Wild, Red Wings in No. 16-9

Episode Date: August 27, 2025

Max and Corey break down the No. 16-9 teams in Corey’s annual NHL pipeline rankings including the St. Louis Blues, the New Jersey Devils, and the New York Islanders, and discuss the best prospects for each franchise in the group.We want to hear from you! Please fill out our listener survey: https://forms.gle/CDbF51vAPngm2ZYS6Hosts: Max Bultman and Corey PronmanExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris Flannery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. Hey, everybody, Max Bolman here alongside Corey Promen for another episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. Continuing our rundown through Corey's pipeline rankings, we're counting down. Today, we're into the top half. So we're going to start with the St. Louis Blues at number 16. And Corey, right off the hop here. One of the most interesting things about your blues list is where you have, who I would have maybe expected to be at the top of it, Delabor Divorsky, the highest draft pick they've made in this kind of era of blues hockey at number 10 in 2023.

He's checking in at number four for you. Does that say more about how highly you think of Jimmy Snuggaroo, Adam Yurecheck, Justin Carboneau? Or are you a little worried about Dvorke? Well, first, their number one rated prospect, which is Jimmy Snugglerud. I think, you know, it was great in college. When he signed and played at the Blues, he looked like he belonged right away. and I, you know, between his hockey sense, his work ethic, his skill, is shot. There's a lot of things there to be excited about.

And I think he absolutely showed he could be a top six forward in the NHL. Year check, obviously was hurt at points this year, but he was healthy between the world juniors and the OHL. I think showed a lot of things that made you excited about him, a big right shot, D, who could skate. He's got some hardness in his game. He can make a reliable first pass. I think it's a lot of traits there that make you think he could be a steady,

second pair of defensemen in the NHL. And, you know, Carbono, we talked about him a lot from the recent draft. Dvorsky's always been a guy I have struggled with a little bit. Obviously, he's super skilled and he has a great shot. There is some parts of that his games, are you worried about how it's going to translate

with the pro game? And he's had some really good stretches of pro hockey, and there's been some stretches where have been a little bit more average. You worry about his skating a little bit. You worry about how his effort level isn't always, you know, it's fine, it's good enough. It's not a calling card of his game. So I'm a little worried about how his game will translate into the NHL.

I think he plays in the NHL. I think he's going to score in the NHL. I don't know, especially as a center, if he's really going to drive play, though, in the NHL. What about with Yurichick? Because he's a player who had the injury in his draft year and obviously it still kind of affects him coming out of that. But when you watch Adam Yurechek play, like what is the caliber of defensemen that

we're talking about here? Like I said, I think a top four defensemen who can play both ways. I don't know if he's really a power play guy in the NHL. I probably would lean to no in that regard, but I think he'll chip in offense, he can make a good pass, he has skill. I like the physicality in his game. He makes a lot of stops.

He was a very important part of a top brand for team this season when he was healthy. And honestly, whenever I've seen him when healthy, I thought he's been an impactful player, especially at the international level. All right, let's go to the number 15 team then. That's the Washington Capitol.

and you got a cluster of three players here at the top. I don't think anyone's going to be surprised by the first one. That is Ryan Leonard of those top three. He's a player who had a tremendous year in college hockey. He does get up to the NHL. I don't know that he was as productive in the NHL as maybe you would have hoped, but for the first 17 games, you're probably not putting too much stock in that. Is that fair to say?

Yeah, he's a teenager too. It's a play to the playoffs. Like those are, that's hard to expect immediate production out of it. And I, you know, we could debate exactly how much offense. I think Ryan Leder is going to have. I think he's going to be a top six forward. I don't know if it's going to be a prolific offense. And there are some of the league who think he could be that,

who think he's going to have like Brady Kachuk-like type of production. And I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I don't think it could be too far off. I think he's going to be a top six scoring winger who plays a highly abrasive style and that Washington Capitals fans are going to love. So with that review, I think it maybe makes it even more notable then that this next player is in the same tier as him. And that's Cole Hudson, right? And Cole Hudson, we saw be outstanding at the World Juniors.

I think for a lot of people, that was really a wow moment, putting him on their radar. But to see Cole Hudson in this category, you think very highly of this young defenseman. And I wonder how similarly or differently. How would you compare and contrast him to Lane? Probably a better skater than Lane was at the same age. Maybe not quite as much offense, although I do think his office. offensive abilities are tremendous. But, you know, Lane's hockey sense is special.

But I think Cole, definitely a better skater. He's also taller. I think by an inch and a half taller than Lane was, you know, a little bit more confident and how he's going to defend at the next level, even if I don't think it's going to be his calling card. I do think he competes well enough. And just like I said, he still has tremendous offensive abilities. I think he's got the traits to run our first power play in the NHL. And, you know, you're kind of looking like apples to apples.

You saw what Lane Hudson did when he was at Boston University. you look at what Cole Hudson did at Boston University. It was just as good, if not, just as good a first year, had a better world junior than Lane did when he was, you know, as an 18-year-old and you're thinking, well, maybe he could do the same thing too. And we're going to get into this conversation next episode about Lane Hudson, I'm sure, but quite honestly, I think they're close as players. Yeah, I mean, I think Cole Hudson's going to be a really good top four defenseman in the NHL.

It's exciting for the capitals too, right? Because there was a chance. If you talked about the capitals and the penguins three years ago, I don't know that you would have had a real strong opinion that one of these two teams was going to have a vastly different trajectory coming out of the kind of like, you know, premium era with Crosby and Ovechkin. Right now, like the capitals look like they may be able to weather this and stay a competitive team, partly because of how strong the system is. And the fact they've been able to find a couple guys like Lennon. like Cole Hudson and like Ivan Mara Shichenko potentially who he's been through a lot. This was not a given that he was going to be the third player in this tier for you. Yeah, you get a guy like Alexei Prodis in the mid rounds too.

Kodar McMichael becomes a good player for them. Martin Feravari in the second round. A lot of things have to go right in the draft and then to remain competitive. But I think that's the case. And Miroschenko was a risk, obviously, with the cancer diagnosis he had in his draft year. You know, he still hasn't broken through as a full-time NHL player yet. But you look what he does in the American League. you're very optimistic.

You know, he's helped, you know, top Hershey teams win. He's a competitive player, fantastic shot, big strong winger who can skate well. I think there's still a lot

pointing towards this player being a very dependable top six wing in the NHL, a guy who, you know, kind of like Leonard's going to play a very likable style the coaches are going to like

and that could win in the playoffs. A lot of different flavors here. You mentioned Lexi Proto. There's also another protis. Ilia Protis is coming. And I saw him be very good in Windsor last year. Yeah,

I mean, you could, I would argue, year over year, he might have been one of the most improved players in junior hockey. I have him rated as like a low first rounder right now. There would be scouts I've talked to, though, who would say, you should, you know, you got to get pro raked higher. That's, you know, this looks like a guy, like, on the path, becoming a legit, dangerous NHL forward. And I probably want more than one year of data before I get all the way there.

But I think he's going to play. I think he's going to score and help a power play. He's a really smart big man with great touch, great vision. skating's an issue, but so was his brother. And I think there's a, you know, a lot of optimism around this prospect right now. There's a little bit of mini Mark Stone to the Protis brothers. And I know that's a big thing to say. I emphasize the mini, but there's a little bit of that flavor there.

I will say with the Capitals, I think you probably do want one of these small skill guys, whether it's Crystal or Parishak to really elevate so that you feel real confident that they have the staying power, but they got a great coach. They got some really young talent coming. Yeah, I think you're all. also looking at the system and being like, where are the for sure center is coming from? Like is Michael really a center or not? But it's a lot of wingers and defensemen.

But at the same point, when you're not, other than Leonard, when you're not really drafting super high, you can't get picky. And they've done a really good job just identifying talent. All right. Let's go to the number 14 team. That's the Minnesota Wild. And Corey, probably the best prospect we've talked about so far is headlining their system. That is the boo-ium.

I know you've always been a big boo-ium guy. And I don't think he did anything this past year to dissuade that, even if the playoff appearance like with Leonard, wasn't extremely loud right away. Yeah, the numbers year over year from his draft year to this year in college didn't take a step forward, but it was really hard to take a step forward. I mean, he was had one of the greatest years ever in college hockey. Still helps the Denver team be extremely competitive.

He's one of the best overall players in the country last year in college hockey. A huge reason why USA won gold at the world juniors, just a dynamic player. He's a little bit in his draft here. I think some people were concerned about his, you know, maybe not being a super physical guy, not being that big. You know, you see even now this last draft, just an emphasis on any defenseman who's 6-1, 6-2 are taller,

essentially, and he's a little bit under that. But I think he's a great skater. I think he competes. I think he, I don't think Minnesota didn't draft him for defending, but I don't think that's going to be a problem. Ben, the offense is just prolific, his stick, his vision, his creativity, it's just off the charts.

He's very elusive. I think he's going to be, impact player at the next level. And if Minnesota is kind of been a team teetering on like the playoff bubble, had trouble advancing in the playoffs and presuming they can keep Caprazov, I think getting a guy like Zee Boyn into your organization, he's got a chance to be a deference maker and a guy who can help get you over the hump. When they took Danila Yorov in 2022, they got him at the 24th pick.

I think you had him ranked significantly higher. And that was kind of early in the Russia invasion of Ukraine and who knows where it's all going to fall out. did they find a steal here by getting Yorov that late into the draft? I think we're still too early to say Steele. He was really good a season ago. In this past year, he was good, but he wasn't great. I think what's been really interesting about Yorov, though,

is that he's, I think you drafted me, you thought, oh, he could be a top, you know, a good middle six, top six wing, but he's played a lot of center in the K-HL and done so very effectively. So I think that's something exciting for Wildclans. Like, okay, well, you know, we have some options now where we get to, to put your off when he comes over. You like that he competes. You like that he's got still significant skill.

And yeah, I think he, I feel, like I said, too early, but I think it's still fair to be optimistic about this player if you're a wild fan. And if you are a wild fan and you're listening to this pod or you're reading these articles, obviously you're most happy to see Zeev Bouillon projected as an NHL All-Star. But probably the second happiest thing about your reading or listening experience is that Charlie Stramel, the first-round pick from 2023, has worked his way after a really tough start to his college career. First couple years, he's now back in the projected middle six player tier, right in between Liam Ogren and David Yurecheck, had a big year at Michigan State under Adam Nightingale.

Is that the big, I mean, what did you see in this most recent season to give you that much more confidence in Stramel? I mean, I saw what I thought Stramel was when he was a junior player. I saw a big athletic centerman, skates well, it's highly physical. and while his skill and his offense is not what gets you excited about him, that was still enough there, he made enough plays, it was a significant score for a top team in college hockey, played big minutes as their first line center, and I just think he's been a play and be a really effective NHL player.

I don't think he's going to land on highlight reels all that often, but you mentioned his draft year was fine, it wasn't great, but his post-draft year was a complete disaster. It was, he could barely get ice time in Wisconsin, and, you know, basically after being a two-trial. World Junior guy doesn't even get invited to Team USA for the World Junior's that year. It was going really poor. And I think you look at where he is now and you think, you know, he's kind of found his

game a little bit again and looks like he's on track as a, you know, it was a late first and he kind of looks like a late first again. Going the other way, you know, I think two years ago, Yesper Walsdet would have been very high on any one's NHL goalie prospect rankings. It was a tough year for him. A really tough year. Now there were some injuries in there too, but even when he was playing, and I think the player himself has even admitted he just didn't have a good year.

And so the issue with Wollstett is the bet on him was never about his tools. He's an average-sized goalie. He's never, he's never been the most natural athlete. He's not like a naturally quick guy. He doesn't have like a, you know, his frame's always been a little bulkier. You know, it was always just, he's super smart. He's super polished. Just, you know, just anticipates every play.

And so when you're not doing that at the lower levels, and you're not making a lot of stops. I can't hang my head on the fact that, well, you're so toolsy and athletic. You'll figure it out. So, like, when he has a year like this, it's like, well, what are you, you're basically betting on performance from years ago now at this stage to say that he's going to be a starting goalie. And I'm not sure that's enough evidence for me to say, I like the player still.

And it wouldn't surprise me if he became a starting goal in the NHL. But I think the facts to date do not suggest that at the moment. Big year for him in terms of kind of dictating his trajectory. take a quick break and we'll be right back with team number 13. All right, we're back. And before we dive back into the countdown listeners, we want to hear from you. Check out the link in the description and give us your feedback on the show, not just the prospect series, the athletic hockey show as a whole, the content you've enjoyed the most

and what you might want us to do differently going forward as we get ready for a new season. Certainly, we appreciate your continued support. And now let's get to number 13, Corey, the Buffalo Sabres. It's a team that's been very high in these rankings in the past. So 13, it's okay, right? I mean, you graduate talent, but I don't think for a team that still hasn't broken through, is this a little concerning for you? It would be a little bit.

And I still think you look at the Sabres, you know, organization as a whole and how much young talent on that team. I think you're still optimistic about the degree of, you know, skill that they have and that they could take steps forward. And there's a lot of high-end talent throughout the organization. various positions. But I think it's fair to say that some of the key young players that you've been, you know, there's been a reason why they haven't really taken a step forward.

And like I said, there's some key young players that I think you're looking at and you think, well, they're good players or they're very good players. But I'm not sure where the impact is coming from. And I think that really starts with the number one overall pick from a few years ago in Owen Power, who probably this year specifically, I'm not sure what you thought, Max, but I didn't really think he took a step forward. And I think there's, you love the size skates. accommodation. You love his hockey sense. I think you wonder, you know, is he an offense guy?

Is he a hard to play against guy? Definitely hasn't shown a lot on the ladder. So that's a mild concern there. And then I think the internet in general has just been higher on me than Zach Benson, who I appreciate how competitive he is, that he can kill penalties, that he has really good hockey sense. But I do wonder for a guy his size without top-end skating ability, whether there's going to be, if he could be a real difference maker, I'd even strengthen the NHL as opposed to like a really solid middle six wing. With Benson, like, I think in his draft year,

I believe that was the same year that Jonathan Marcheseau won the Khan-Smith. And I do still see a lot of rhyme in those two players. Now, you can argue, would you take Jonathan Marcheseau ninth overall? But I'd still think Zach Benson's going to be able to be an important player on that team, make a lot of plays. I think he's really likable, right? Even for the size, I think coaches are going to be willing to play him. And so I'm not super worried about him.

With power, he's a really good player. He's a top 4D all day. And I think when you consider that he's playing behind Rasmus Dahlin, I think you're even pretty okay with where his offense is at in that 40 to 50 point range. The issue to me is that when you draft a 6-6 defenseman, I don't want him to play like he's 6 foot 1. And power has not given me the level of physicality, the level of defending that I think that's what makes you want to take a guy like this,

number one overall. If I contrast him to Simon Edvenson, who's basically the same physical profile and the same draft class, same age and everything, like power outscored Edmondson, but, you know, I think you're going to trust Edvinson in tough minutes a little bit more. And so it probably washes out, but one guy went first overall and one guy went six, then I think that's where my disappointment in power would lie. Not that he's not still a really good player that I would want to give 22 minutes a night, but it's that, do I really want him out there against another team's best players night in night out. And I think that's the question in terms of whether Buffalo becomes a consistent playoff team or not is do they have those guys who they can feel comfortable shutting down top players

and excelling in those situations? Yeah, I think if you can get power to just play a little bit more physical, it solves a lot of those problems. And maybe that's coming. Like he's still very young, but that it would be my biggest thing I want to see. Now, here's what I'll say. Whenever we've talked about Buffalo and past years, Corey, I feel like the conversation is always how many, small skill guys can you have on one team and it succeeds. I think we've seen this system start to transform a little bit. And part of that is, you know, not so much in the pipeline, but you add a guy like Ryan McLeod, and suddenly you can see where the smaller guys fit in a little bit easier. But while you do still have Consta Heleneas and Noah O'Sland and Benson, it's rounded out

a little bit more. Now they add ready Merck in this past draft, Uri Kulik, you know, look at an Anton Wahlberg and Adam Kleber. There's way more variety in this system than there's been in years past. Maxim Sturback as well in Michigan State. Yeah, I'm with you on that front, especially when they took Merka this past year. I mean, that that was something they really needed in their system. And I think there's definitely a little bit more size, a little bit more toughness now in their system,

guys who are not just pure skill, power play guys, guys you can see filling rules throughout the roster because they have a lot of those skill guys. And frankly, they're running out of spots for them. So, I mean, you saw that this past summer with having to move JJ Petirka. Yeah. And the year before that, they traded Savoy for McLeod, right?

Like, you had this surplus. And I think they did pretty well in how they did on the Savoy McLeod trade. Time will tell on the Peturca deal. But there is definitely a little transformation happening in Buffalo. And we'll see if it's enough to get them over the hump. Let's go now to our number 12 team. And that's the New Jersey Devils. Corey, that conversation's already going to start with a young player who was already in the NHL.

Won't be on these lists too much longer here. But that's Luke Hughes. Yeah, I mean, he might be an Olympic. pick player for all we know in the not too distant future, maybe not this year, but I wouldn't rule it out, quite frankly. I mean, I think this guy's a dynamic player. He's one of the best athletes in the NHL. I mean, his size skating combinations off the charts good. He has offense. He makes plays. His defending isn't, you know, what gets you super excited about him? But I think with how well he moves, he will figure out a way to make enough stops. And I think, you know, he has some real wow

factor in his game that makes you excited if you're a Devils fan and that makes you think this guy could be an impact defenseman. Really, this system is defined by defensemen. I mean, it's Luke Hughes. It's Anton Selyev, who they took 10th overall in 2024. It's Simon Nemitz, who they took second overall in 2022. Shamis Casey, a big riser, the second rounder, who's been quite good. You can debate, I think, whether he's on that level. If not, he's not too far behind them. Yeah, I think the issue with Casey's just where does he fit in this organization. I think there's been a lot of people in the league wondering if there's a trade coming there. Well, you know, him or Nemitz, like one of those guys has to move eventually.

There's not enough power play jobs in New Jersey. Do you think Nemitz has to play? I think Casey has to play a power play. Do you think Nemet has to? He doesn't have to, but I think you're leaving value at the table there if he's not in at least a second power play rule. I think he's not an elite skater. He's not huge.

So, I mean, I don't think, I think he works. hard and he's very smart, but I don't think you drafted him to be a premium defender. You remember in Salive's draft year, I mean, he burst onto the scene because he had this outpouring of offense for a top team in Russia for ska. Over the course of the year, it kind of dwindled. It didn't really reappear in his draft plus one. Does that change? I mean, I don't think he has to have much power play time. He's a 660 who skates really well and can be mean. Does it change your outlook on Salaya of it all, though, just when the offense didn't kind of repeat. A little bit, yeah.

Now, he got some consistent power play time in his draft tree. He didn't get any of that this past year, so that was contributing a factor, but there's a reason. And I think that's something that you saw from him coming up is that he was never really viewed as an offense guy. And I think that's kind of what he's settled into now. He is a 6-6-7D who can move pretty well and is very physical and mean. I still don't think he has zero offense. He showed in the KHL he could make a reliable outlet pass that he could move.

pucks up the ice with his feet in transition, that he has a little bit of creativity. But I think when the offense was really coming, you're thinking, man, the sky's the limit for this guy. Like, you, I heard from numerous, and I mean, like, not just a couple, like a lot of NHL people who said, this guy might be Victor Headman.

You started thinking, like, this guy's got sky high potential, but I think, you know, you know, he's found his level here a little bit, and he's just thinking, okay, he's going to be a really good top board offensemen, but you might have to, like, you know, keep your expectations tempered

on what the offensive seal. here is a little bit. So right after the three top 10 pick defensemen on your list is a guy who was a late second round pick as a goalie in Mikhail Yeagerov. And he has kind of shot up and he's, you have him in the same tier as Nemitz here. So what is Yeagerov done to put himself in that kind of company? Well, you watched Yeagerov in his draft here in Omaha. They were a brutal team in the USHL and then they were again to start this past year when he started there. You saw this really tools he defense, uh, goalie not defamation. Uh, you know, he's 6.5.

He's very athletic. He made like some really difficult elite, like pro caliber saves. Uh, but the numbers were ugly. I think his safe percentages were somewhere in the 800s, uh, in his draft year, or ran around there. And, but all you did was see him make difficult stop after difficult stop, you know, after he was just getting clobbered with shots and scoring chances. And I think there was a really,

really, you know, good debate about is this guy too raw? Is it the team? Does he have hockey sense issues? What's going on with his numbers here? Again, it starts the year in the USHL. He's pretty good. He's not spectacular. And then he comes into BU in the second half of the year. He leaves Omaha. And they give him the reins right away. And he's probably the best goal in college from the second he gets there in front of a real team. Helps them make that, you know, that he's a massive contributor for why they made that deep run. in the NCAA tournament. And I look at a guy now with production now to go with the fantastic tools and a guy who just passes the eye test and makes a lot of difficult saves whenever you watch him.

I think, you know, this guy looks like a starting goal in the NHL. You know, he looks, you know, whatever you know, like an Aiden Hill type, whatever you want to call it, like he looks like that type of prospect. All right. So one thing we have not talked about in this system is any forwards. And you do have one ranked fairly. really high here. Lenny, I'm going to say this name horribly.

Haminajo, but it's not a splashy forward group here. Does that concern you at all, or are there enough good young forwards already in New Jersey that it's not a huge deal? If they have a move, Casey, you've got to imagine it would be for a board of some kind. But Haminajo, I mean, very nice here in Finland. You know, you put up massive numbers there in Liga. And he got some time with the Finland's senior national team. You like the way he works.

You like the skill. You like the skating. and I think like Yeageroff's second round pick, you think now it looks like an NHL player. Those are positives if you're a Devils fan. All right. Let's take another break right there. We'll be back with the Detroit Red Wings at number 11.

All right, we're back, Corey. And at number 11 is a farm system I'm a little more familiar with than some of these. That's the Detroit Red Wings. And right off the hop, I was very surprised. I thought both Marco Casper and Simon Edvinson had really good, basically rookie seasons last year. Edvinson didn't technically meet the rookie criteria. But first full season.

you've got Nate Danielson ahead of both of them. You have them high, but you got Danielson above him. So talk me through that really quick. Yeah, no, obviously, I think long-time listeners know that I'm a big fan of Danielson's game. And it's not that I'm not a fan of Evanston or Casper's game. I think Evanson is going to be a really good top 4D. I think Casper is a legit top six forward, whatever second line center, two-way guy. I think that's what he projects as long term.

And, you know, these are guys that I've been fans of, particularly Casper. And I still am. with Danielson, I know there's always been a little bit of debate with this player, but I look at whenever I watch this player, including the American League this year, where I see a guy who just,

even if the stats didn't come this year, like you hope they would, still one of the youngest players in the American League, played huge minutes for a good Grand Rapids team, was I thought really impactful. You love his skating, you love, you know, I think his skill level really pops out

whenever you watch him, even if the points didn't, translate completely to the pro hockey game this year. You like the way he plays both ways. You like the size. And the way I'm looking at this, I still see a lot of the positive indicators. I'm not willing to say the offense is a significant yet in his game because I think it is.

You look at the points like to Casper the year ago, same point in the development. I think it's right at the same level. And I think you'd argue Danielson's even a little bit more toolsy. And I'd be willing to bet one more year of giving him some leeway on letting it translate before I'm willing to kind of level off how much I think offense he's going to have in the NHL.

But if he does have offense and he's that size with that skating and a good compete level, I think this is a guy who could be a really good, top six forward, you know, maybe not with the physicality of Casper, but I think he could have more offense. Yeah, I mean, a year ago,

I think I did have Danielson head of Casper, but it's just when you see Casper do it in the NHL, it's really hard to, for me, to overlook that. But I am with you. I really like Nate Danielson, right? And I think there are going to be Red Wings fans who were shocked to see Danielson above Axel Sandine Pelica here. But I do think at some point you want to see the production materialize,

and it did for Casper. I mean, didn't they playing the playoffs together? And like one guy was like playing like 18 minutes and night. The other guy was playing like 10? I don't know exactly what the numbers were, but Danielson was a significant piece of that Griffin's playoff team and Sanding Pelica. You know,

and granted, he's coming over from Sweden. It's a different ice sheet. I get it. He wasn't playing with the team the whole year. Yeah, but one guy's 511.

One guy's like 6-2, six to half, whatever kind of thing. Yeah, I understand. Sanding Pelica is going to be fascinating because his offense is special, but without scaring Red Wings fans too much,

the story reminds me a little bit of David Runble out a little bit. It reminds me of Neil's Lunkfist a little bit. Like, we get it. You have offense, but you need to defend really well at that size to be able to be a legit top 4D. And I think he can.

I think he has more compete in his game than Runblad and Lungfist did and maybe even more pure puck play than Lungfist did as well. So I think he's going to make it. I think he'll succeed. But there are much more risk variables in his game. It's totally possible that Sandin Pellica is a power play quarterback, but a third pair D. And that's still a good player. I think that's more or less what Shane Gossis pair has been.

for much of his degree. He's been kind of a 4-5D and a really excellent power play quarterback. If Shandy Pelican, Shane Gossiper, I don't think anyone should be upset. But I do think that explains why you take a guy like Daniels, and even if you're not sure that it's substantial offense versus like, you know, middle-six-center offense,

middle-sixthcenter plays a lot. That's 18, 19 minutes, usually hard minutes, usually important minutes. So I think that's the distinction there. I did want to ask you, too, before we move on to the next team, just about some of the, you know, the Red Wings have this reputation of having a type. It's the gritty guy, the smart guy, more so than the flight.

flashy skill guy. They've assembled a few of them now. One of them's Casper. That's going pretty well. The other two, Carter Bear, Michael Brancick, Neegard. You have them, you know, back to back within a tier. So clearly you like them similar. But do you feel like the offense in those two players, in addition to the grit, obviously? But is the offense there's significant enough that when they get to the Red Wings, they make a difference? Maybe more with Bear than Brancet and Neegar. I think both could be second power play guys. I think with Bear, there's a chance to be more. I don't know if Branson and Negard is like a true high-end puck type, whereas Baria saw some flashes of that at times.

Yeah. It's more of a shot thing for Brantzic Neguard. He's the sniper. I guess one more question actually on this. You have the goalies, a little separation between Kosa and Augustina. I don't know that I would share that opinion. I don't know if that's a consensus opinion. Where do you arrive at that with Kosa a little ahead of Augustine?

That's a kind of a tools thing for me. Whereas Kosa, I know he's been up and down as a pro, but he's a huge goalie who moves pretty, pretty well and as least shown he can translate it up a level a little bit at times. With Augustine, he's been a tremendous junior goalie, a tremendous college goalie, but he's not a premier, you know, quick twitch type, which at that size is a little concerning. I've seen a lot of goalies like that, and I do, sometimes they hit and they become Jeremy Swayman, and sometimes they do not and they don't even get close. So I think there's some risk variables there where I'd be hesitant to,

to elevate him to that next level until I see how he does in pro hockey, which is going to obviously take some time now because he's going back to school again. All right. Well, speaking to elevate to the next level, we've arrived at the top 10. And that begins with the Nashville Predators. Corr, this is a good system. It's a deep system. I'm wondering where exactly the star power is.

It could be in Brady Martin, who they just took fifth overall. Certainly the Predators are hoping that they have just found a player who can be that kind of have it all. He can score. He can be gritty. He can be a two-way center. David Edstrom, Tatar Mollendike, Cam Reed, Igor Surin, Matthew Wood, Jack Ivan Kovic, Fedorz Fetchkov, Andrew Gibson, Felix Nilsson.

These are good players. Is there a guy who screams star potential, though? Not for me. I mean, obviously, when you pick a guy fifth overall and Brady Martin, I imagine they think so. That doesn't mean, I mean, I could be wrong. They could be wrong. Time will tell.

I think Brady Martin's going to be a really good top six center in the IHL. I don't know whether it's elite offense coming out of it. his game long term. They're in a fascinating position because obviously they had a really tough year this past year. When he listened to their manager, Barry Trott's talk about the future, he doesn't seem like he's inclined for a long rebuilds here. I think he wants to try and get back to the playoffs as soon as possible, which I understand, and I'm sure everybody would want to do in a similar position.

But I kind of do wonder whether they need to bottom out here and really get some premier skill into the organization at some point. Yeah. there's just a lot of similar. They're kind of the reverse sabres that we were talking about earlier, where it's like, you almost wonder if these two teams should link up and make a swap or something, get a little more of that soft skill or something into Nashville. A year out from the Ascarov trade, do you think that's looking like a mistake for the predators,

given what the trajectory is, or are you okay with it a year later? I think you're a little bit worried about it because Saros didn't have a great year. But, I mean, I think David Edstrom had a great year in Sweet. and it was a really important part of Rolanda. He looked good versus men. I think he's going to be a really nice center in the NHL. So I think on that front, you're not concerned. I think that they basically,

they were like pretty honest before the draft this year that they needed to take a goalie. And then they, I don't know who their goalie preference was, but they take Jack and having COVID in the second round there. I'm sure they, you know, in hindsight, they wish they could have made it work with Ascaroll. But Ascarov hasn't broken through the NHL yet. So I don't, I wouldn't go.

saying they made a mistake yet, even though I think he's outstanding. He actually hasn't made it yet to say that they definitely made a mistake. One player in this predator system that I do really like is Cam Reed. And I remember you, Scott and I linked up for if I were a GM mock draft. And I chose Reed for the Predators, but I did so a little nervously knowing they already had Tanner Mullendike. And there's some profile rhyme in there. I don't think Cam Reed has to be on your power play to help you. I think he's really smart and he can make a positive puck moving impact for you at any strength. But how do you kind of see this shaking out on the Predators Blue Line? Do they need kind of an alpha, so to speak, to emerge there? Yeah, I mean, I think the tool grades I have on

Mollandike and Reed are basically identical. I basically think they're the exact same player. I think it's fair to look at the system. You have Andrew Gibson in there. They have some good defense prospects, but I don't think they have a premier guy. They definitely don't have like a legit first power play type in the end up. And I think that kind of speaks to what I just said is that they have some really nice prospects. Yeah, it's why they're a top 10 system right now. They have a lot of really good players in the system, a lot of really likable players in the way they play.

I do think there is a little bit of a lack of elite talent. I think they were kind of hoping that was Matthew Wood at one point. His development's kind of been up and down since the draft. But they probably do need a little bit more of that. Speaking of elite talent, our number nine team, your number nine team, the New York Islanders, Has the reigning first overall pick in Matthew Schaefer. This is a system that's been transformed, frankly, in the last year and really two years. Their top four prospects were not in the system on New Year's Day.

So you got the three first round picks from this year, Matthew Schaefer, Victor Eklund, Kisholm. You got Callum Ritchie, who they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche. I don't remember where they ranked for you last year, Corey, but it's been a transformation on the island. Yeah, I would guess they were right towards the bottom. So absolutely. you look at the Islanders and you see a team that's been kind of like hanging around the middle of the league a little bit in terms of the standings. They didn't have a great system.

You want what's the direction here? I still think you wanted that a little bit because, yes, they have this great system, but they had to lose no adoption in part to create this great system. Obviously, they win the lottery. So things are still, I think you're somewhat optimistic with the direction they're heading in. Do they have enough here to go with what they have on their roster still to become a contender? maybe probably not. I'll be really interested to see what direction their new management group takes them in.

Do they try to bottom out here for a year or two, or do they try to remain competitive? Because I'd argue they, while they have some really good talent, Matthew Schaefer is a star. They have some really good players throughout the system right now. They probably still need a little bit more. We had a conversation a while back shortly after the draft about whether Matthew Schaefer was kind of a perfect fit to do this CHL to NCD. A pipeline thing, right? And he signed his ELC, so that's not happening. Would you, if you were the Islanders, how much, how tied would you be to the idea of Schaefer playing in the NHL this year, especially given how much time he missed? Yeah, it's been a common debate. I think he's so good

that you have to let him figure this out for you. I would guess from what I've seen of him, including at the World Junior Summer Showcase that has happened, I think he's going to look ready, quite frankly. Now, he is still very young. You mentioned the games. I don't mention also the age. He's a couple of weeks away from being eligible for this upcoming draft. So if he's physically not ready for the NHL, you don't want to force things.

But if I think he would with the junior, he just completely destroyed the OHL, quite frankly. We'll see how he looks at camp. Maybe he isn't ready. Maybe I'm a little too optimistic. My guess of what would be best for him is instead of doing the 10-game thing, you do the 40-game thing. bring him along until the world juniors and then kind of make a decision around then or whether we're sending him back or not.

But like I said, I think I don't have reservations with him playing in the NHL, at least a start. He's a special player. We mentioned Eklund and Acheson. Both guys that frankly could have gone in the top 10 of this past draft. They grab them at 16 and 17

with the picks they get from the Canadians and the Dobson deal. One more guy from this draft class, though, Corey. They get him in the mid-second round. I know you're a big fan at Danielle Prokerov in this class. Yeah, I think they got in, it was interesting. And Eklund, Aitchison, and Prokerov, I thought they got three of the most competitive players

in the draft. Eklund and Acheson have a little bit more offense in their game, especially Echlin. Prokerov's has skill, but it's not a calling card. But they got some really mean guys, guys who play really hard. And in Prokerov, he does that with significant size. If you're an islandist fan, I think you're very happy with how the first few months. of the new management group has gone. Yeah.

All right. Well, that is going to do it for us. Thanks for listening to today's episode of the Fuddick Hockey Show Prospect Series. We'll be back tomorrow to bring Corey's pipeline rankings home with the top eight. Talk to you then.