The Athletic Hockey Show - Which top NHL prospects could be dealt by the trade deadline?

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

Today, Corey and Scott compare and contrast their latest NHL Draft rankings, highlighting the big differences in each of their lists. Before that, the guys discuss some of the top prospects Stanley Cup contenders could look to move before the trade deadline to solidify their chances of being the last team standing in June. Hosts: Max Bultman, Corey Pronman, and Scott WheelerWith: FloHockey’s Chris PetersExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryTake our listener survey: http://theathletic.com/survey26Got a question? Ask it here: t.co/fYieuQEg14Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. Hey, everybody, Max Boltman here alongside the athletic, Scott Wheeler and Corey Prondman, as well as Flow Hockey's, Chris Peters, for another episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. We got a fun show on tap today, both Scott and Corey, new 2026 draft rankings out. We're going to get to that in a minute. But first, Corey, you had an interesting article this week, and it was trade targets from teams who are contending that we expect to be buyers and the prospects that they could deal from. My first thought on it, that is a whole lot of Detroit and Montreal. Right. And I think what's going to be interesting is, obviously, these are two teams that have had a lot of draft picks the last few years.

These are teams that have basically been in a rebuild, basically coming into this season. We thought them as rebuilders. And now we've kind of seen this shift in the Atlantic Division where you have them in Buffalo in a playoff mix right now. And I think there's going to be some real strong internal debate. within that management group in both Detroit and Montreal of are they ready to make the big step? Are they ready to push the chips in here and move a major young asset? I'd be on the fence for both. I think both have looked like really good teams this year.

Both look like legit playoff teams. I don't know if I would consider either of them true contenders in this current year. I mean, that being said, I probably only really would call Colorado, Carolina, Tampa, as like the no doubt contenders and you have like second tier, maybe it's, you know, Edmonton,

Vegas, whatever. I'm not sure that they would be in that kind of elite group for me, but I think they could be considered good enough

or maybe, you know, I have like the premium assets at the top, guys like Michael Hage on Montreal or Branson, Neegard,

or Nate Danielson and Detroit. I don't know if I would move any of those pieces if I was those teams, but the next group I would think about

if I was Detroit. You know, I think they have two really good young goalies there, Trey Augustine and Sebastian Kosa. I think they're in a position where they could, you know, float one of those names out there. COSA's been very good in the American League this year. Augustine's been a dominant college goalie.

I think they could try and see what the mark would be like for them. You know, with Montreal, they have some good young keys in the American league, be a defenseman like Adam Engstrom or David Reinbacker. They have, you know, guys, you know, young players like Owen. back, you know, maybe like those level of pieces would be more realistic for them to move. But we'll see what they decided. If they decide that they think they are going to try and make a real run for it this spring. Yeah, to me, the answer, especially, you know, covering Detroit, I think the key is just,

there's got to be term. I don't see Detroit parting with a Danielson or a Brancic knee guard for a guy who's going to be around for just one year or even a year or two years. Like, those are names you bring up if you can get someone who's young, cost-controlled, like can be around a while. Obviously, Robert Thomas is the name on Chris Johnson's trade board that I think raised the most eyebrows, at least in that category.

And so that stuff's really interesting. And there's other kind of factors to consider too, right? I mean, we've talked on this show about how the Red Wings have drafted a lot of similar player types. And while I think there is validity to that criticism, it tends to be a valuable one, right? Like those are the kind of prospects, you know,

complete centers and wingers with edge and compete. like you could see how that could be a position they can deal from strength, Chris. I think they can deal from strength, but I also think, you know, if you're going to be making these, these types of prospect trades, you're looking to make the biggest splash. And like, I think a Danielson potentially could be that. I think I agree with you. It's going to have to be something significant.

And the Robert Thomas name is one of those out there where it's just like, boy, you know, that's a guy that still has plenty of runway left in his career, you know, and those are the types of things you look. for. You know, it always seems like, you know, prospect trades, the ones that, those might not be the guys that you get super excited about if you're a fan, like the Brantz and the knee guards and but you probably should because they don't move all that easily and usually not without a good deal on top of it. So, you know, it's a really interesting time for some of these teams, too, but I think because of the surplus that you're working from,

it does make it a little bit easier. And I mean, Detroit has depth in various positions of value, which is a great place to be. I think you can say the same thing about Montreal. It's going to be fascinating to see what the Minnesota Wilder are able to do with players in multiple premium positions that should have increased their value over the last year plus. So a lot of intrigue there.

And, you know, looking at Corey's list, that he had on the athletic. I mean, there's a lot of, I think there are exciting names on that list. And if you can secure one of those players in a trade, I think it makes for a much more exciting trade and something you're a little bit more, you know, you're a little less reluctant to part with when you see that potential for that return. When I was going through this exercise, I was talking to our insider Chris Johnson to get his idea of who the buyers would be this year.

And one of the reasons it was proliferated, with Montreal and Detroit, wasn't part because they've had a lot of picks and have made some good selections with those picks. But the other guys, the other team, sorry, that Chris qualified as buyers, Edmonton, Dallas, Vegas,

Carolina to an extent, but Colorado, these are all teams that have pretty much dealt all of their futures. These are not teams that have high picks. These are not teams that have made any high picks really in recent years. So as part, do how much,

Montreal and Detroit had, but also due to how little some of these other buyers really have left in their pipeline as draft picks in 2026. You talk about for those teams going into the 2027 first in a lot of cases to trade a first round pick. So I think with your Montreal and Detroit, you may not feel as leverage to trade your premium young guys because I feel like even those other contenders don't really even have that next level of asset really to trade. So maybe you can have at least a little bit of wiggle room to not trade maybe your most valuable young assets if you want to get a good young player at the deadline.

Do you think, Max, that Carter Bear is in a similar conversation still to what Danielson and Neegard represent? Or would they be more inclined to move him for a rental type? He hasn't had a great year, is why I don't think they would do it for a rental type still. But I do think those other two are a tier above him as a prospect. I mean, I think there's just a, there's a proven pro element to it that always makes you a little more valuable. Proximity to the NHL makes you more valuable. But I just don't think that the Red Wings are a team that certainly not until they're even further along and more cemented that you're going to see make super expensive rental plays. You know, there are other ways to do this, you know, that you can trade your first round pick, for example.

Now, I don't think for a rental, but maybe for something shorter. Like if there's a guy with this year plus next or something, I think that starts to be more of a conversation. conversation. But I don't see him giving up like a guy that they liked enough to draft at the, I forget if bear, I think he was the 13th overall pick for, you know, one playoff run. There's, there's risk to all of this, though, right? I mean, you, in your backyard, Scott, like the Toronto Maple Leafs are without what could be a top 10 pick and Fraser Minton, who is red hot for the Boston Bruins right now. And it is a reminder that, man, sometimes it feels good. And they got a guy with term. They got Brandon Carlo, who was a second parody with term. And boy, is that a trade that

I'm sure they're regretting right now. And Scott Lotton with 50% retention at 1.25 or whatever, they're paying Scott Lotton, which for Scott Lotton and the impact that he's had on the Leaps is obviously good value, but it's not good enough if you're going to miss the playoffs with both of those players as important pieces. And they're not just missing a potential top 10 pick this year. They've, they dealt two first rounders for those two players. So they're also without their 2027 first round pick already. So you start to dig that hole.

And if you're not in the cream of the crop, if you're not, not Florida, what Florida has been recently, what Tampa has been recently, the teams that have spent and spent and spent, the Vegas gold nights, like, if you're going to spend and spend and spend, you better be damn sure that your NHL roster is not just a playoff team, but a contending team. Because then when you hit that cliff and you're without any draft capital, you're without any notable prospects, and now that Easton Cowan has graduated, the Leafs have virtually absolutely nothing coming, right? So it's a, that's when you're, you start to look, okay, we're in a dangerous, dangerous situation.

And that's when Austin Matthews and Willie Neander and the stars of the team start to ask questions. And it can get pretty toxic pretty quickly. And I think we're already kind of moving in that direction here in Toronto. So if you're going to, if you're the Detroit Red Wings and you're going to pull that trigger on Bransig knee guard or whoever it is, Trey Augustine, you better be sure that you're getting a player who can actually move the needle back because guys like Carlo and Lotton don't necessarily do that. And the Leafs have gone to that well over and over again, right? Shen,

Folino, they've spent first, second round picks on these guys over the years, and it just has not made the kind of impact that you'd hope for when you're using that kind of an asset. And then you watch teams like Montreal go and acquire for basically what the Leaf spent on Carlo and Lotton go out and acquire Noah Dobbson, who's an actual needle mover. So it's a tricky game at the deadline that these teams play. And the Red Wings are like the Red Wings and the Sabres. These are teams that are just tasting this for the first time in a long time now. And it's, it can be intoxicated. Yes. Yes. Max, I do think the one thing Detroit has to figure out this trade deadline season is they

don't have a firm decision, but I think they got to have some idea where the goaltending is going. Just because Sebastian Kosa, their 15th overall pick about four or so five years ago, is going to be eligible for waivers this coming fall. So, you know, you've seen COSA for a while. You've seen him. You know, we've seen Augustine. Obviously, they've been getting some good goal tending in Detroit recently. What do you think they're going to do with the young goalie situation? If it comes down to, we've got to pick one of these two kids at the deadline here and we're going to move the other one, or at least think about moving one of them. The thing is with the way their timelines are structured, I don't know that they do have to pick. like COSA will be in the NHL next year I fully expect.

Like he said, he's going to be not able to skip waivers anymore, no longer to be waiver exempt. In Augustine will be coming up turning pro, assuming that they can get him signed, and then he can start in Grand Rapids. So there's a clear path to playing time for him in the AHL. Kosa could back up John Gibson, who will have one year left on his deal. And they'll get an idea for what that is. The bigger pressure point is going to be whether to resign John Gibson a year from now, who's been excellent for them for the last two months after a rocky start. So it's probably a good problem to have, I think. But I think that it's more a year out of where the big decision is.

And I think that decision is more so on Gibson a year from now and where they want to go with that. If any of you were Augustine's advisor right now, would you be advising at the time of Detroit this summer? He is the hometown kid. I mean, to me, when I look at Sebastian Kosa, he's a really talented goal. He's having a great season. So are a lot of the goalies in Grand Rapids. So that tells you, A, that's a good environment to be in. But B, I don't think that if you're Trey Augustine, you're overly frightened that you're behind the next big thing, that kind of deal.

Like, I think Trey Augustine is a competitor. He is proven at every single level that he wins. Like, I get it. Like, it's less of a clear path to playing time than he would get in probably 18 to 20 other markets. I mean, there's certainly goalies. Like, I wouldn't want to sign with the New York Rangers, New York Islanders that have Vezna guys for the next five, six, seven years, you would think at least. But I don't know that it's so solidified with Kosa yet. either. Like, this is not a guy that he has got great pedigree, but he's not proven

yet in the NHL to make me think, oh, I'm never going to have the net there. The situation is kind of similar to when Buffalo had Devin Levi. They just traded for him in the Sam Ryan Hart deal. And then they had Eric Portillo and Portillo basically forced his way out in saying he wasn't interested in trying to battle for I-type with the other. Augustine is a local kid. Like, I think that matters here too. Yep. No, I understand. And I think it could work. I just think it's, it's something that's hanging. in the background for sure. I think that's a question the organization has to feel really comfortable about because if we, if they don't sign them this summer, then things start getting

awkward. Ravensburg and committing to Michigan State this week, I think Detroit should take as a really promising indication that they can get Trey Augustine to turn pro. Yes, I agree with that. If I'm Trey, I probably see myself as an equal to COSA. Like I'm putting myself in his shoes. What more does he probably feel he has to show? And yet, his advisors need to get a pulse quickly on whether the Red Wings see him as an equal to COSA. Because if they don't, that's when things, I think, start to get Harry from a contract standpoint. I'm sure they'll tell him that, whether they believe it or not. I'm sure they'll tell him whatever he wants to hear. They're both like good assets, though, at this deadline, like to the broader point. Like, if it's the

difference between getting you the guy you want and not, it's a good position to be in to know that you can trade one of those guys. And it's not the same as, you know, it would have been if you didn't have the other and you're giving up your, your best shot at a goalie of the future. If you have two kind of equal ones. And there's nothing wrong with having two goalies. I mean, pretty much everyone in the league, there's very few 55, 60 game starters anymore. There's nothing wrong with having two really good goalies. And I think that's where the Minnesota Wilde situation is interesting. I don't know if you saw Chris Johnston's tradeboard 5.0 today. Yesper Walsdet is on that list. And they are one of those teams, Corey, that has that duo that you would covet. You have

Philip Gustafson and now you have this rising Yesper Walsdette. We know the Minnesota Wilde are all in. Charlie Stramel is on your list of prospects who could be dealt and their need is pretty obvious. They need a second line center. I was very surprised to see Yisper Walsett out there. And I've heard about this before, CJ's article. It raises two questions. One is where you stand on Wollstead because he's been a top prospect, a very likable prospect for years. When he turned pro, he was pro in SHL really good in Sweden, but his pro-time North America at the American League level was very up and down. And then this year he's been excellent in the NHL splitting starts with Phil Augustin.

So I think first you've got to figure out where you stand on Walsett. I think he's pretty good. I think he's probably a legit tandem starter in the NHL. Is he like a stud number one long term? maybe, maybe not. I think that's still an open question. And then the second question is, do we love Bill Gustafson that much?

I mean, I think he's good. I don't know if I would be super comfortable making him the guy without any competition going forward. So I think that's really where I have some issues with it. It's not that I think that Wollstead is considered just a decent trade piece and I'd be okay losing him, but I'm not sure Guseson, I feel so comfortable for years. on end with either.

So I get where they're coming from. They're trying to go all in here. They're trying to become a legit contender. I would guess Stramel to me makes more sense than Walsett right now as a trade piece. At least, but it's tough too because I feel like he would fit really well on that team next year as well. And then we mentioned those contenders. I said earlier, like is Minnesota at the moment a clear top three, top four team? in the league, I still would have issues getting them quite to that level.

Do any of you guys feel them off here on anything? I just think if there's a center out, like they clearly need the set. They need Robert Thomas, frankly. Like he would move the needle there, maybe more than anywhere else, just because you're not going to win a Stanley Cup with Danilla You're of, and you go down the list, Eric Seneck, like those guys as your top guys down the middle. But if it's not, I would be pretty reluctant to trade. uh yesper but if it's if it's a center i don't know like if it's a true true top six center i

think suddenly they're in that class with not with colorado but with vegas with dallas like that that feels like the the piece that's that's missing yeah yeah if you get robert thomas something like that then everything i just said goes out the window kind of thing because then that's like that's the walstead line right like you're not you're not getting robert thomas for Stramel, but you might for Stramel in Walsett or Walsett and something else. Yeah, that changed things a little bit. I think you just don't want to get yourself up from Minnesota where Quinn Hughes is a pending free agent and then you'd get a rental center for a premium piece and then you kind of hope

it all works. And if it doesn't, things can start to look pretty bleak. We talked about Trocheck for them on the Monday show and I think that's a nice fit. But there's even if you wanted to go one cost tiered down, like I think even Braden Shen he's not had a great year, but at least would give them a little bit of a boost there. Cadry too. Cadree's contract. Tricky, but yeah, yeah. I do think Gustafsson's excellent.

Like, Gustafsson's been one of the most consistent goalies in the league over the last three or four years. Like, I do think Gustafsson is capable if they were to move, move Walsett. The other thing, though, too, is if you are the Wilde and you do move Walsdet, what do you do in the goalie position?

At the backup position, yeah. You're one injury away from from, you know, Gustafsson not being the guy. And so there you look at down in the HAL right now, Samuel Hullavi would be the natural call-up. He'll be Slovakia's goalie at the Olympics, but has not had the level of production. And really, quite frankly, the Iowa Wild as a whole have not had the level of production. You know, they're in last place in the league. And, you know, that's a tough place to put him in.

I think Halavai could, you know, be a stop gap. But, I mean, you know, you think about a couple years ago when Thatcher Demko goes down, The Canucks have to go to Archer Silavs in his first, you know, kind of NHL action, you know, with limited experience. Yoho Lava has limited experience there too. So I do think that that what's next after that because, you know, then what kind of assets are you going to have to spend on potentially adding a backup goalie as a rental or something of that nature? I mean, I think one of the most common themes I've seen across the National Hockey League this season is so many good teams on. paper, don't have enough goal tend to. So I'd be really

scared of training a guy I think's an actual legit goalie. Yeah. It's a great article. A lot more to dig into there. We're going to take a quick break. But first, you listen to us. Now we want to hear from you. We're asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com

slash survey 26. Three lucky entries will win a $100 Amazon gift card. So whether you're a long-time listener or a new one, we want your feedback. Again, go to theathletic. com slash survey 26. That's theathletic.com slash survey 26. Links also on our episode description. Thank you. We'll be right back with some draft rankings. All right. We are back and we've got new draft rankings, Scott and Corey, both in the last week or so. And you have the same top four mix,

but a different order and a different tiering as well. So I want to start here, Corey. We've joked about doing as McKenna turns. He's at number four on your latest ranking. Penn State has played pretty well of late. And I think that's relevant, but McKenna sits at number four here. Talk me through kind of where you're at Gavin McKenna just past midseason. Excellent player coming off arguably, I think his best weekend of his freshman college season. He was really good against a really good team in Wisconsin, including a hat-trick performance in the first game. I think you really like what you've been seeing lately. I still think there are some stuff about his game that you don't really love. He's very perimeter.

not very physical, good, not elite skater. These are all things that are worrisome, but he's the most skilled player in the draft. You know, elite brain. I think you really love his offensive projection to the NHL. He's going to put a ton of points when he's first power play. I think you're wondering about certain other elements of his game.

Is he a play driver even strength? Is he a guy who can really take over in the playoffs? Those are going to be some minor questions as we get towards the draft. But I think he's still absolutely in the conversation to be a number one pick. and that was going to be a common theme when I'm going through my draft rankings is I feel like this was a very tight group and I felt like there was a lot of players

with a lot of strong arguments to be either a little bit up or a little bit down my board I felt like it was very congested among the more congested top five or six players that I've seen in recent years it kind of reminds me a little bit of the Owen Power draft a little bit

and I had I've had McKenna at one at different points of the year. I had Tyne and Lawrence at number one previously in my rank about a little over a month ago. Now I have Keaton Verhoff in North Dakota

as number one. In the power draft, I had I think I had Beniers, Genther, and Luke Hughes at one at different points before ultimately settling on power. And I kind of see that that's what this year's drafted. A lot of guys are really close.

And you can make really good arguments. Like I have that top seven, top eight are so congested for me in terms of how close they are and how I can move guys up and down. And it reflects the conversations I've been happening with people around the league. I have talked to scouts who have McKenna Fairhoff

at number one. I've talked to scouts who have Carson Carls or Chase Rita. One, I've talked to scouts who have Avich Smiths or Tyne and Lawrence at one. It's really, I think, going to set the draft with a lot of really great debates. And obviously, he's going to be centered around McKinna just because of the

profile, the high profile, and along history of scoring for this player. And I wouldn't question anybody who has him, you know, at two or one or whatever, or even quite frankly, as low as five or six. I think that's this kind of draft. Scott's got him at two. And I think it's interesting, Scott, because you have him behind Evar Stenberg. And to me, that one after the world juniors makes a lot of sense.

They're both wingers of a fairly similar profile. And we saw him at the same event. And Stenberg was extremely noticeable. So that becomes a fairly logical thing to do. The tough part is ranking, I think, McKenna against some of the top defensemen. And like Corey said, he's got Verhoff, number one. You've got a tier gap between Stenberg and McKenna and then Keaton Verhoff. I don't know if it's a huge tier gap.

It's obviously two of verse three still on your list. But talk me through kind of how you went about comparing McKenna and the talent, the skill, the scoring winger, to some of those big right-shot defensemen, Chase Reed, Keaton Verhoff. I do still think that McKenna and Stenberg are the top two prospects in the draft. And I've come to that conclusion just because I haven't been fully convinced by any of the defensemen. I think Albert Smith is awesome. He's six three.

He's talented. He can skate. He's made some highlight real plays this year. He's playing 20 minutes a night against men. I'm sure he'll play well at the Olympics. I'll be interested to see in what kind of a role for that Latvian blue line, which doesn't have names that people on this side of the pong. will be familiar with. Chase Reed, same thing.

Like the player, don't think he's an elite prospect. Don't think he's the kind of player that I'd step to the stage and take first or second all, second overall. And Keaton, I've just never been able to quite get there on the decision making at times and on the feet at times. And that has held him back. Like, I think those three defensemen are closer to each other than they are necessarily to Stenberg and McKenna.

I haven't quite been able to get that group of six, seven names that Corey and NHL scouts talk about in the same kind of conversation. It still feels to me like there's a bit of a gap. And I think it's been solidified by the way that both of those players have played since the world juniors. Stenberg has gone back and continued to produce and perform in the SHL. And McKenna has played his best hockey of the year across three weekends now. Just for context, that's six goals, 11 points in his.

last five games. He's got 24 shots in that period. He's plus six in that period. And people wanted to see him start to perform more and drive more at five on five. And they've swept Wisconsin, Minnesota and Notre Dame. It's been a really, really high level for McKenna here. And he's still an imperfect player and he still needs to work harder off the puck. And he still doesn't sort of empty the tank to get to the wall and win battles and all of that. But those are two highly, highly, highly gifted offensive players. And I just don't think any of those 3D have screamed, I'm a stud number one.

Like I'm a Rasmus Dahlene. I'm a true, true, no doubt, top of the lineup player. I think they're all going to be very, very good players. I'm not sure there's a future Norris trophy winner, that kind of player in there. And as a result, I would lean towards the premium first line winger. I don't disagree with that assessment. I just disagree on the value of the play.

player, I guess. Like, I think you're completely right. I don't think any of these D or Raspis DALine or anything of anything of that nature. I just think that if I can project the guys a 22, 23 minute a night defenseman in the NHL who will score, who will play tough matchups, who will play heavy minutes in the power, you know, in the playoffs for a team, both special teams. I think that's still a really valuable player over a 511 winger who I think I have some question still on both of them.

I'm going to be like a hundred point 90 point wingers in the NHL. I think they could be, but I'm not convinced that's for sure going to happen. And that's why I think it's closer for me. I can still, I don't think it's unreasonable to have Stenberger McKenna at one. I just would have issues saying that there's a clear delineation there. I don't,

neither of them are elite skaters. You know, you know, there's some risk on that projection there. And even if they hit what we think they're probably going to become, I don't know if that play. type is the most valuable, the 5-11 scoring winger. Do you like Stenberg and McKenna more now than you liked Tim Stutzler?

And do you like any of those D more now than you liked Jake Sanderson? And then I guess my question would be, would you take Tim Stutzler or Jake Sanderson? I probably would like Stutzler more at the time that I liked either of those winger, just because he's 606-1, he'll lead skater, competitive. Like I think that player type was just more valuable. and I was off on Sanderson, but I think Jake Sanderson's like a monster. Like he's a top

10, maybe top five defensemen in the league. So like, I mean, I don't think any of those guys are close. But I also didn't think Sanders was going to have this level of offense when he got there. But I think with how good a skater he is, none of these defensemen and this draft have that level of skating. Like he's a better skater than Smets.

He's a better skater than Verhoff, a better skater than Carl's or Reed. Probably doesn't have Reed's level of offense, but probably would take him. over those defensemen. Corey, what you said there about the position of value, I'm kind of sticking with, and I want to get all three of your thoughts here,

but I'm going to start with Chris. If you go back to that analog of the Owen Power draft, and I gave you Chris Owen Power or Dylan Genther today, I feel like the consensus might be more toward Genther right now, but am I off on that? No, I would think that you're right. I mean, I just don't think that, you know, as good as Owen Power is,

and he is a good player, I don't think he's nearly the difference maker that Genter is. And certainly, you know, I mean, just you look at this argument here. What I keep, what I've come back to a lot over the course of this draft year is, like, I think they're all really good players. We don't have a number one pick in this draft. We really don't. I don't, you know, in relative to the years past where I felt like, you know,

I think a lot of these guys are going to make an impact at the NHL level. I think they're going to be good players. But like, you know, and somebody will go number one. I'm not super excited about any of them. And that's not a great place to be, especially if you're a fan of a team that's in this kind of rebuilding stage. I think they'll help. You know, probably McKenna is the most exciting.

But really at the, at the end of it, there's a ton of questions about him. And I've been having those conversations. I talked to guys that were at the four-point game against Wisconsin. and they still didn't like them. They were like, yeah, okay, that was fine.

Like, you know, and like that's, that's not encouraging. It's not. I don't think people felt that way about it. Because they felt like it's the same game we see all the time. And that's,

and sometimes there are points and sometimes there are not. And so that's, that's a really interesting thing. Now, I would push back a little bit on that because I do think that there was absolutely, and has been more get up and goal from that. That second goalie's score was so sick. Well,

yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So, so yeah, I mean, like, he makes, he still can do spectacular things. And I think that that's, in the end,

maybe where he's going to start going. But yeah, I mean, to me, you look at that, the Gentther power comparison. I mean, you go, there are so many different drafts

that we can go back and forth to. I think Slapkowski draft reminds me of that one, too, a little bit. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. No. So, I mean, you know,

so in the end, you know, they're going to be good players to be had here, but it is kind of a tough place to be if you are one of the fans of a team that's really mired in the muck right now. Because I don't think Stenberg is a guy that pulls you out of that. I don't think that McKenna pulls you out of that. So those are some things that I'm uncertain about. I think your assessment is mostly shared in the league.

I think if there's one player that at least some corners of the league feel has distinguished himself, it would be Stenberg. I think if you're sold that this offense is going to be. like an 80-90 plus point guy who's going to compete hard and, you know, can win battles against pros. Like, I think even at 5-11 without elite feet, like, that's still a really, really exciting player, a potential difference maker at the next level. But I think there's some open questions there. Like, I think despite his record-setting season and his great world juniors,

I still think you can look at him and not be completely sold. It's going to translate, at least to the highest echelon. Like, to be a difference maker. Like, you basically got to do with a Kutrov and Mark. or doing a consistent basis, right? So it's like, it's a high bar and he could, and he could get there. Corey, you mentioned all the players you've had at one this year. And on the previous list, it was Tyne and Lawrence. He's dropped not only down to five on the list, but into a different tier. And I know you talked about the number of guys that you could see going number one. I'm sure he's

one of those six, seven, eight that you were mentioning. But just talk me that. He obviously made the transition from the USHL to BU, quiet or start from him there. Like, what has that jump looked like in your eyes? He was really quiet those first few weekends with BU. I thought he really struggled with the physicality of Kalataki, obviously coming in a 17-year-old in the middle of the season, right into the conference games. It's a big jump for a 17-year-old.

I thought this past weekend against Providence, where he scored a nice goal. But in general, I thought he played big minutes, and I thought he was impacting the play to even strength. And he looks more comfortable this past weekend against a good team. But just, you know, he's strong. struggled. And I think you get data like that, just as we did with McKenna and you say, well, this is data at a higher level. You got to do the same thing with Lawrence, even though

with seven or eight games. But that being said, as I said before, it's really close. Like my two, three four was, I think Stenberg, Chase Reed, McKenna. I basically think those three for me are nearly a three-way tie, really, in terms of how I rate those players as NHL prospects. And then if I went like one small nudge lower, Lawrence would be there at five. Like I still I try to emphasize this over and go over again. It's really close. I could see if Lawrence goes on some sort of tear here, and he looks really, really impressive in the next two months.

I absolutely can see him just get right back up there. But, I mean, it's hard to take, you look what those four guys are doing, how talented they are, how productive they are. It's hard. It would be hard to take the guy with one goal and zero assist in college right now over him, despite his tremendous junior career. And I think just a really good pro profile, being one of the best skaters in the draft,

a highly competitive centerman. And what's interesting, too, is I think when we made that, when he made that jump, the thought was, he's the best center in the draft. If he has a really good start here, he could go number one, number two, whatever kind of thing. He hasn't done very well.

And Caleb Malhotra at Brantford is just killing it right now. And I don't think it's a given that Lawrence is going to be the first center picked in the draft. There are scouts, I know, who have it the other way around, who have Malhotra, top three, top four, whatever. Like I think those two are very close for me.

Yeah. Yeah. And I think, you know, we all kind of see when when June rolls around, centers in D, you know, make the world go around. And it wouldn't surprise me of both of those guys go top five, be quite honest. But I think for right now, I don't know if either have the lead enough offense at this current stage to get there. But all Malhotra is doing is scoring and scoring a lot and helping a really good team win a lot of games. But yeah, for Lawrence, that's kind of why I kind of moved him down a little bit. The important part for Malholtra, too, over the last couple of months here, has been that even after they added, even after they brought in Jetluchenko, another center, they've got Jake O'Brien a center, Adam Banash, a center, they've moved other guys to the wing to accommodate him.

His role in the power play has not been reduced. His role in that lineup has not been reduced. His minutes have not been cut. He's still a go-to guy on the PK. that has spoke volumes. Like he's playing with three or four or five of the best forwards in the OHL, the best forwards in junior hockey, frankly. And on most nights, he's as impactful, if not the most impactful of that bunch.

So there were a lot of people who thought his production might start to dip once they added Luchenko in particular. And that just hasn't happened. We look at a size skating profile offense. Like, I mean, he's at the same age. He's got to get stronger. He's easily at his skinny and Lennon,

De Noye, right? Like, he's got to get the same conversation, right? I had a question at De Noye, Caleb versus Caleb question in my mailbag this week.

And I think De Nyei, who went forth and Malhotra are very comparable prospects. Now, Caleb won QMJHL playoff MVP and led his team in the most important moments. And that's De Nye,

that is. But Malholtra's got an opportunity to do that. And they could both win their championships and play in the Memorial Cup. And it could be a very, similar path, those two kids.

Let me stick on the center here then, because Ilya Morozov was a guy that was really high on Central's North American list. And this is a player who, for Miami of Ohio, like flies a little bit under the radar. But Corey, you've got him pretty high on yours up at number 17. Scott, you've got him at 28. We'd love to hear the two different viewpoints on that one, Corey, if you want to start. Reminds me a lot of a player we mentioned earlier in this show in Charlie Stramel, where he's this big, highly competitive, athletic centerman.

He's got good offensive skills. I don't know if his pure scoring is ever really going to be, you know, a true selling point in his game. But Morozov is a player who's absolutely driving, getting a ton of interest from NHL people. There's, you know, a lot of scouts going into watch every single one of Miami's games to see a 6-3 center who can skate, who's a first line center on University of Miami playing real minutes as a 17-year-old. He has a really exciting profile, and I think he's got a really good chance to be a lottery pick when it's all sudden done. You're hoping for a really hard second-line center or like a really high-end third-line center, I think, when it's all sudden done. I've just worried a little bit about the offense.

He's got one assist in his last 10 games, dating back to the first. weekend in December. His minutes have been reduced a little bit there. He's now, I think, like, 8th or 9th on that team in scoring after he was first and second through the first couple of months of the season. It just hasn't, there hasn't been a ton of offense of late, and that has made it harder for me as the conversation around him grows to put him in that sort of top 10, top 15, top 20 tier.

Like I had like a top 17 on my last list and I could have debated him anywhere from sort of 18 to 28, which is where I had him. But getting into that next, like I just haven't seen enough from him to get him into that sort of top 17 group that I have. He's a very good player. But I think about him and Suvanto kind of the same way where it's like how much offense are these kids really going to have? Same with Jack Nesbitt a year ago when Nesbit went 12. Like it just is there going to be enough? offense there to justify taking him in the, in the teens of the draft or even closer to, like Nesbit, closer to the top 10 of the draft. And I just, with both him and Suvanto, I haven't

quite been able to get there, even though NHL scouts are talking about them in that range. I see it with Moro. I think Savanto's got legit skill. Like, this is a guy who's like power, you know, power by guy to world juniors. No, no, he doesn't. But neither did like Lendell. Like, you know, Like I think that this is a guy who's like two days away from being 27 eligible. And I think what he's done so far is pretty impressive. His feet are a major issue though for me. Chris, any thoughts on Merozoff? Well, you know, I think it's he's such an interesting player because I think that there's,

anybody that saw him last season could see the, the makings of something. But you could, he never really put it all together in the USHL. And you'd say, you know, I remember coming away from that fall classic and just like he was one of the guys that was most talked about as, you know, even more so than some of the top draft prospects that were there. And so he's, he's since then, you know, I've been intrigued to track him and he's been all over the map. And as Scott mentioned, the production has dipped considerably in the last little while here. But I do think that there is an element of environment, you know, Miami is still trying to find their way. They're much better than they have been in years past. You got to give a ton of

credit to them being aggressive in bringing in Morozov a year early. You know, they didn't necessarily have top players that they desperately needed top of the lineup players. And the fact that he's been able to come in as a younger than true freshman and then able to do what he's done is really intriguing to me. I think there's a high ceiling on this player. I do think that some of the things that have been noted as deficiencies are absolutely there. But for me, like I look at this player similar, you know, when my list comes out,

be in a similar range to where Corey is at. And he's a guy that I feel like is only starting to scratch the surface. And those are always tough to put in these scenarios. In this year's draft class, there are so few prospects I'm super confident in that players like him where there's that kind of potential and that ceiling that I see for him. And I do think there's a little more offense here than we've seen so far. I have some concerns, but I do think that there's a little bit more to dig out of him. I think he's going to be a very strong collegiate player next season,

and then maybe even the season after that, or maybe he's in the HL, you know, you're not really sure. But this is a player that I do think that upside is a bet worth making in that middle of the first round range. And I think a lot of teams are discussing that very thing. As Corey mentioned, there's a lot of guys going out to Oxford, and that's been a long time since they've had anybody that anybody wanted to look at. So really, really fascinating to watch that happen. Every year by the time we get to the point where Scott and Corey's finalist comes out,

we do a fun article called Promen versus Wheeler, where we have the guys kind of debate really in full their final rankings on players. And Morozov may be a guy that we're talking about by then. One guy I am already certain here in late January that we're going to be talking about is Ryan Lynn. And Scott, he's a guy that you have really high in your list at number seven. Corey, you've got him early 20s.

I think he's 23 for you. So let's give a little preview for what that problem in verse wheeler is going to look like. Scott, I'll let you begin on Ryan Lynn. Yeah, we've already had this conversation on the pod a little bit. I know, but we might be having it three or four times by the time we get there. Look, I just think that Ryan Lynn and what he has shown over the last two years in the W.HL has been extremely impressive. I think he's a phenomenal player. he checks outside of not having the sort of elite, elite sort of straight line speed.

And I think his edges are excellent. Like he surfs extremely well and he pivots extremely well. And he breaks past that first layer of coverage extremely well. But he's not like a burner going north-south. Outside of that, I think he checks every box. He's got one of the best sticks in the draft. He's one of the more competitive defensemen in the draft for me. He's one of the smartest players in the draft for me.

he has one of the strongest statistical track records in the draft. I think he's one of the more well-rounded players in this class, and I think he's going to get hurt by the fact that he's somewhere between 5-11 and 6 feet tall, and he's not going to go as high as I have him. But I don't think we're talking about the Vili Hainoll or Victor Soderstrom or some of these sort of 5-11D that have gone in the first round in recent years. Bochrist obviously went top 10. Like I think he's a much more complete player.

at this age than Adam Bokevist was at the same age and has been just as every but as productive. It hasn't been as maybe flashy as a player like Bokwist was at the junior level, but he is just such an efficient, effective hockey player, and I think it's going to work and be very successful for him throughout his NHL career.

I truly, truly believe that Ryan Lynn's going to be a top four defenseman in the NHL for a long, long time and have a tremendous career. So my first question would be, can I hear you compare and contrast Lynn who you have, do you say it was six or seven, seven, seven to another right shot D in the Western League in Daxon Rudolph, who you have at 12? Can you explain why, how you would compare and contrast those two players? he's i would say that ryan is the smarter player that he's the more polished defender at this age and he has he has been more productive at this age you've got a little bit more so yes not this year not this this their numbers outside their numbers are almost identical this year and he was he's got

much more productive last year he has he rudolph has 10 more goals and i think four or five more points this year. He's also playing on a better team. Okay. Statistically, I think we're talking about virtually identical players this year, considering the context. And Lynn was considerably more productive last year. Yeah?

Was he considerably more productive? Rudolph had like just a, you know, 40 points. 30 something points last year? 41. 40 points and 12 in the playoffs. Yeah. I think Rudolph's pro that that's just my like I'm I'm looking at this and seeing they're in the same tier two they're in the same tier for me like I have I have Lynn seven and Rudolph 12 I believe um but they're both in that in that second tier for me I'm asking this because I see two six six two right shot d mid in the same league I think both have been very impressive offensively I don't think I would qualify one over the other in terms of their offensive profiles I think they've both. shown a lot of offense.

I don't know if either shown elite elite, like special offense. Like, again, off the charts, like what Chase Reed's doing right now in the OHL. And then I would say, okay, well, Lynn probably competes harder, better defender at the junior level. But then you have Rudolph, who's just as good as skater and is nearly three inches taller, maybe even more than three inches taller. And then I would say, like, that profile to me is probably more impressive for the NHL or at least like so close enough I would I don't see how there could be a five spot separation in favor of of Lynn there from what I've seen but that's that's that's that's got my

first instinct there is like I'm like what am I not seeing here that you're seeing on Lynn like I think I think it's just like I think you probably just range so like off off the charts smarter and more well-rounded defensively would be the distinction for me so you said you you drew a distinction between some of the guys, I'm trying to remember what he said. You said Bochrist, you said Soderstrum, Hey, Nola. How would you compliment to like Sandin Pelica in Detroit? Pelica had the big shot that Lynn doesn't have. That would be the biggest distinguishing factor. But I think there are some similarities. Five-11. They're both competitive. They're both battle. I would say that Lynn's probably a smarter player at the same age

than Pelica was. Pelica played more on instinct. There's some similarities there. I'm just asking because Pelica goes mid-teens, I think. He was 16, 15th or 16. Which is where Lynn is, like, not going to go. Yeah. Yeah. It's always interesting, like, because, yeah,

because, I mean, we can have these debates among ourselves. In the end, we know, like, we kind of know how the NHL thinks about these things and where he's more likely to go. It's going to be fascinating to follow their careers. you know, just the two of them together. But I mean, like, Rudolph has a lot of fans, but he also has his fair share of detractors, too. Whereas I feel like Lynn has a few fans, like in the NHL spaces, like guys that believe in him. But I think that in the conversations I've had, there's a lot of projecting going on that he's going to be in that, you know, basically 20-ish, 20, you know, potentially sub-20 range.

but you know it's interesting at this point because of how many defensemen there are in this draft. We're talking about guys that are probably going to be in the end a little bit outside of that top tier of the defensemen in this class. But I think those are the guys, one of those guys, you know, you pick them and they do have that potential to supersede some of the players that are going to go ahead of them. I think both Lynn and Rudolph and even Villanue for that matter have that capability to, potentially supersede what we're going to see. So we'll, you know, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, as, the, last, CHL top 10 came out. I think Prince Albert was number one.

Leading score on Prince Albert currently is Daxon Rudolph. Is that good? I, I mean, he might be the best player on the best team in the C.H. Yeah. I just like, yeah. Well, I don't think PA is the best team in the C HL, but. I think you guys are... The CHL seems too.

You guys are very close on Dax and Rudolph for what it's worth. Corey's got him 10, Scott's got him 12. So the debate here is more Lynn. But I get what you're doing, Corey. You're just trying to make the point is why would Lynn be five spots above? That's just a taste. We got a whole lot more... If Ryan Lynn were playing on Prince Albert,

he would also be leading Prince Albert and scoring it for the record. Hey, save something for the article, guys. Let's wrap there. That's going to do it for us today. Make sure you go read both those articles. Scott and Corey's latest 2026 NHL draft ranking. Tons of good stuff in both of them. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect series.

You can, of course, catch more of Chris over at Flow Hockey and on his podcast called up. We'll talk to you soon.