Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects: 50-31
With NHL training camps approaching, theScore's Kyle Cushman and Josh Wegman unveil their top 50 prospects. Only players already drafted to the league were included, and any player who's already exceeded his 2025 Calder Trophy eligibility was excluded. The three-part series begins with prospects ranked 50-31.
Cossa enjoyed a seamless transition to the AHL last season, posting a 22-9-9 record and claiming the starting gig in Grand Rapids over veteran Michael Hutchinson. With three NHL goaltenders under contract in Detroit, don't expect Cossa to push for big-league minutes until 2025-26.
Bonk, the son of former NHLer Radek Bonk, projects to be a key member of the Flyers' future blue line. Bonk improved his offensive output by 27 points last season with the esteemed London Knights junior program despite playing seven fewer games. In 2024-25, he figures to be a key cog on Canada's World Junior team and help the Knights return to the Memorial Cup before competing for an NHL job in 2025-26.
Fowler has proven to be an elite goaltender on top teams after winning the USHL title with Youngstown and the Hockey East conference with Boston College the past two years. Conditioning remains an area for improvement.
Speed is the name of Moore's game. He's one of the most electrifying skaters outside of the NHL, giving him a relatively stable floor as a prospect. He doesn't have game-breaking offensive skills, but he's still a threat off the rush. Even if he doesn't take a major leap offensively, a Todd Marchant-like career is still well within reach.
Lambert was the top-scoring 2022 draft pick in the AHL last season, besting Shane Wright by eight. His excellent rookie campaign helped his stock rise again after it plummeted in his draft year. Lambert's electrifying speed is a high-end, dynamic quality.
But only played 9:26 per game for the KHL's Lokomotiv but still managed to tally 10 goals and 21 points. He remains a long-term project with a tantalizing blend of size and scoring.
Kemell is coming off a strong season in the AHL. While small in stature, the 19-year-old has the potential to be a top-six winger thanks to his offensive traits. He's more of a shooter than a passer, as he can really rip the puck. Expect him to play NHL games at some point in 2024-25.
Nadeau made quick work of the NCAA. He led Maine with 46 points as a freshman and signed an entry-level contract to turn pro at the end of the campaign. If he isn't playing a regular shift for the Hurricanes, look for Nadeau to be a rare AHLer on Canada's roster at the world juniors.
After a significant injury derailed his freshman campaign at Michigan, Nazar got back on track as a sophomore. He turned pro at season's end, registering his first NHL goal on his first shot. A skilled, speedy center, a full campaign in the AHL is likely best for Nazar's development.
Logan Stankoven's head-turning rookie campaign meant Bourque got overlooked. The Quebec native was the AHL MVP with a league-best 77 points and is ready for a jump to the NHL. Expect the playmaker to be a top-nine forward on a Cup contender in Dallas this season.
Sandin Pellikka took major strides last season in Sweden's top professional league, becoming a true offensive threat. He dominated against players his age at this year's world juniors, where he was named the tournament's top defenseman after leading Sweden to a silver medal with six points in seven games.
Musty could be an ideal linemate for either Macklin Celebrini or Will Smith one day. He has good skill for a player of his size, and his frame and physicality can make him a handful to deal with for smaller defensemen. After increasing his offensive output by 25 points, look for Musty to represent the U.S. at next year's world juniors.
As a freshman, Augustine backstopped Michigan State to its first conference title in 18 years. He went 4-0-0 as USA's starter at the world juniors en route to a gold medal. He even played four games at the World Championship. No matter the competition, Augustine has looked the part of an elite goaltending prospect.
Equally smooth and explosive, Molendyk is one of the most gifted skaters in the sport. He doesn't shy away from physicality, either, despite his slight frame. Molendyk could still stand to add weight and continue to develop the nuances of his game before competing for an NHL job in 2025-26.
The Sabres' willingness to deal Savoie to the Oilers in a trade that included Ryan McLeod was more of a testament to the depth of Buffalo's prospect pipeline and the urgency to add immediate help. Savoie is undersized, but he has potentially game-breaking offensive talent and could become a legitimate running mate for Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl as early as this coming season.
Cowan has been on an upward trajectory for nearly two years. A strong finish to the 2022-23 season led to the Leafs shocking everyone by selecting him in the first round, even though several pundits considered him a third-rounder. He went on to make Toronto's scouting department look like geniuses by winning the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's Most Outstanding Player in 2023-24. The Leafs will likely give him every opportunity to earn a job out of camp.
Willander jumped from the Swedish junior rank to the NCAA last year and performed admirably as a top-four blue-liner on a top team at Boston University. He's not going to flash gaudy point totals, but Willander has the makings of a minute-munching, two-way rearguard.
Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies, Snuggerud's linemates in his superb freshman campaign, both went pro last season. That impacted his point total, which dropped by 16, but Snuggerud still bagged 21 goals for a second consecutive campaign. Expect him to join the Blues after completing his junior season.
Danielson didn't take the offensive strides in 2023-24 that the Red Wings would've hoped for, but he remains a very intriguing prospect given his physical tools. The big, powerful center with soft hands and good vision still carries plenty of upside.
Mateychuk is a supremely creative offensive defenseman who should be able to overcome his lack of size in the NHL thanks to his skating and puck-moving ability. A Mateychuk-David Jiricek pairing down the line has the potential to be very special.