Welcome to the prospect ramblings. You may be wondering what this topic means but it is quite simple. Based on free agency, trades, and the draft, what prospects find themselves in a better environment to succeed versus those that now have more barriers.

***

Winners

Matthew Schaefer, D – NYI

This is the easiest one to claim as a winner. Selected first overall, Schaefer is now the golden boy on the Island. I am interested to see if he makes the NHL roster full-time for 2025-26 but it will be tough, especially as a defenseman. My gut is saying nine games, yet history shows that the team will likely keep him up all season and just give him some scratches early on.

James Hagens, C – BOS

Hagens, more than any other prospect drafted between two and six, immediately becomes the best forward prospect Boston has had in ages and they will do everything they can to get him to succeed. This slightly hurts Poitras but he should have plenty of time to establish himself before Hages is ready. Unless Boston manages to finish as bad, or worse, for 2025-56, then Hagens should remain the top prospect in the system.

Logan Mailloux, D – STL

When Montreal added Dobson, all Mailloux stocks dropped. Then he was traded to St. Louis for a good young NHL player without even establishing himself at the NHL level. The Blues obviously see a future powerplay quarterback here, or at least a middle-pairing defenseman, and put the chips in to make the bet. In my opinion the Canadiens won this deal, but it could swing St. Louis’ way if Mailloux can post great numbers running the powerplay and learns how to play defense at the NHL level.

Justin Sourdif, RW – WSH

Washington traded a second and a sixth-round pick for him, yes you read that right a second and an extra pick. Do not look at the fact that more established NHLers went for less (Jordan Spence going for a third and a sixth) or that Sourdif has just four NHL games and never posted better than 0.79 points per game in the AHL. The Capitals obviously see something, especially as the Checkers eliminated the Bears from the Calder Cup playoffs. Sourdif only had 10 points in the 18 Checkers games he played. All signs point to Sourdif making the Capitals roster, likely in a bottom-line role, but they must see big things for his future.

Josh Doan, RW – BUF

Coming over in the trade from Utah, the Sabres value what Doan can bring. He will have a great chance to make the roster based on the fact that he can play all over, which may give him a leg up on other high-end prospects in Buffalo’s system. Doan also has the shine of being the shiny new toy that a top-six forward was traded for. He is also a player that has a high drive and can lift his teammates, which is what the team needs to make the playoffs.

Jet Greaves, G – CBJ

With Tarasov shipped out of town, Merzlinkins routinely injured, and that insane run Greaves had to end the season, all eyes are on him to make an impact. Greaves does not have the contract to get the starting role to begin the season, but thanks to Merzlikins’ injury history there is a prime opportunity for Greaves to become the starter in Columbus this season and possibly long-term.

***

Losers

Danila Yurov, RW and Liam Ohgren, LW – MIN

The Wild traded for Tarasenko, who thanks to injury is not the player he once was way sooner than he should have been. Adding him, and keeping Johansson, fills up the top seven winger spots, which both Ohgren and Yurov could have been fighting over and now they can possibly attempt to play with Foligno, Aube-Kubel and Trenin. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for fantasy.

Ryan Ufko, D – NSH

With Nashville adding Hague (and paying him so much money!) and Perbix, while also having Barron, Englund, Blankenburg and Stastney on one-way deals, there is no room for Ufko in the near future. Heck there may not even be room for Blankenburg who just cannot catch an off-season break. Ufko is pretty close to making it so this only delays the inevitable, yet it will start in a bottom-pairing role.

Vincent Iorio, D and Ryan Chesley, D – WSH

Adding Chisholm, and signing him, along with giving an extension to McIlrath haults any chance of Iorio or Chesley making the roster for 2025-26. If the team moves on from TVR then those two will battle for a bottom-pairing role. They are not really fantasy relevant but the Capitals will need to do something with the pair sooner than later.

One of or both Hendrix Lapierre, C and Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW/RW – WSH

Adding Sourdif, re-signing Beauvillier, Leonard not going anywhere, and Milano coming back to full health zaps up 12 roster spots. Milano will likely be moved but if not, then that means Miroshnichenko starts again in Hershey and Lapierre sits as the 13^th forward as he is eligible for waivers. In my opinion Miroshnichenko is NHL ready but he will have to wait to play in the NHL at least another year. Lapierre needs a bounce back season as well, so he will have to earn a spot before the season starts or he could be placed on waivers.

Prospects in Seattle

Seattle added Marchment and Gaudreau up front, after moving Bjorkstrand and Gourde at the deadline, further adding to the mediocrity of the line up. This keeps Nyman and Firkus in the AHL longer, and Sale and Goyette are at least a couple seasons out. There is rumour they may move McCann as well, so that would open a roster spot for someone up front, but would also remove the teams best goal scorer.

On the back end the team added Ryan Lindgren, while not really removing anyone, making it tough for Ryker Evans to get more minutes for one. The Kraken likely have no one that close to making the team on defense, but this also does not help players like Nelson and Dragicevic.

***

Thanks for reading, follow my twitter: @FHPQuinn

Pat Quinn