We’re getting to the really good pools here. These are the teams that are part of the best of the best, and the ones that every team aspires to be like.

6. Detroit Red Wings – 84.0

Harling – 86

Quinn – 85

High – 76

Rines – 83

Gehrels – 90

Nuno – 85

Itovitch – 83

The Yzerman “Yzerplan” has run its course, and it’s definitely looking like it’s coming to an inflection point.

If the Detroit Red Wings weren’t in the Eastern Conference, they’d be playoff locks next year, but with a budding d-corps, some NHL-ready forward prospects in Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom, and a 20-year-old goalie destroying the ECHL, they will only get better over the next few years. With one more lottery pick (9) to make in a stacked draft, and the 17th overall pick from the Filip Hronek trade, the Red Wings will only get deeper this year.

Consensus Top 15 Prospects:

(Dobbers prospect rankings by position in brackets, as of April 2023)

1. Simon Edvinsson (6 – D)
2. Marco Kasper (52)
3. Jonatan Berggren (8)
4. Sebastian Cossa
5. William Wallinder
6. Carter Mazur (165)
7. Elmer Soderblom
8. Albert Johansson
9. Dimitri Buchelnikov
10. Amadeus Lombardi
11. Shai Buium
12. Kirill Tyutyayev (198)
13. Donovan Sebrango
14. Jared McIsaac
15. Red Savage

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5. Anaheim Ducks – 84.0

Harling – 86

High – 77

Quinn – 84

Rines – 87

Gehrels – 87

Nuno – 90

Itovitch – 82

Coming off some lottery ball luck (they lost first, but they still won second!), the Anaheim Ducks are about to add an incredible prospect to the squad.

With one of the best defensive prospect groups in the league, featuring Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, Noah Warren, and Tristan Luneau, the Ducks have depth at every position.

Both Zellweger and Mintyukov are offensive forces, but when the defense slips, top goaltender prospect Lukas Dostal will be able to cover for it.

Adding what will most likely be Adam Fantilli to this group will make it very scary.

Consensus Top 15 Prospects:

(Dobbers prospect rankings by position in brackets, as of April 2023)

1. Mason McTavish
2. Olen Zellweger (8)
3. Pavel Mintyukov (12)
4. Lukas Dostal
5. Sasha Pastujov (87)
6. Nathan Gaucher (175)
7. Tristan Luneau
8. Jackson Lacombe (35)
9. Jacob Perreault (98)
10. Brayden Tracey (85)
11. Calle Clang
12. Noah Warren
13. Drew Helleson
14. Nikita Nesterenko
15. Tyson Hinds

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Harling – 82

High – 85.5

Quinn – 90

Rines – 87

Gehrels – 94

Nuno – 95

Itovitch – 92

The Montreal Canadiens very fittingly have the fifth overall spot in these rankings, as they were the fifth worst team in the league this past year. Highlighted by 2022 1st overall pick Juraj Slafkovsly, the Canadiens have a lot of good prospects, but few that are truly elite.

Lane Hutson has the upside of being a true force, and he slots in as the second highest ranked player by our team.

The bulk of good prospects at LD, including the aforementioned Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, and Nicolas Beaudin, as well as a centre give the Habs a lot of trade pieces, but their lack of gritty bottom-sixers and right-handed defensemen will continue to loom on the organization.

With the fifth overall pick in 2023, we will see if the Canadiens opt to fill a positional need or simply take the best player available. It is safe to say that this pool needs stars, however.

Consensus Top 15 Prospects:

(Dobbers prospect rankings by position in brackets, as of April 2023)

1. Juraj Slafkovsky (7)
2. Lane Hutson (38)
3. Kaiden Guhle
4. Sean Farrell (80)
5. Justin Barron (15)
6. Owen Beck (121)
7. Filip Mesar (158)
8. Joshua Roy (29)
9. Arber Xhekaj
10. Adam Engsrom
11. Riley Kidney (132)
12. Emil Heineman
13. Vincenz Rohrer
14. Jesse Ylonen (37)
15. Logan Mailloux