Locked On NHL Prospects

Gavin McKenna has been a superstar in the making for nearly 4 years now, but could his grasp on #1 in the 2026 NHL Draft be slipping? We discuss his boundless creativity and dynamism alongside his three biggest contenders for the top spot in the class. Ethan Belchetz has all the makings of an elite power playmaker in the NHL, while Ivar Stenberg's elite skill is supported by the details and habits...

Lane Hutson shook off any looming stress of an ongoing negotiation by signing the dotted line on a contract that will only look better as time goes on and the cap continues to rise. We break down how his deal compares to contracts signed by other Habs stars, the top defencemen around the league, and what his path to NHL stardom has looked like, going back to some game reports from his draft year i...

The 2025-26 season is upon us, and to celebrate, let us break down the Calder Trophy race, featuring some elite-level talent. First, we spend ten minutes looking at the favourite, Ivan Demidov, what he does well, where he slots in the Habs lineup, and predict his rookie point tally. Next, we look at his four top competitors: Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium, Alex Nikishin, & Ryan Leonard. Finally, we wrap...

The 2025-26 season is upon us, and to celebrate, let us break down the NTDP U18 depth chart for this season, highlighting the standout prospects who could push for the first rounds, the riser candidates to enter that conversation, and the wild card who could make their mark with improved details. Luke Schairer, Casey Mutryn, and Mikey Berchild highlight the group with projectable elements, NHL ski...

With Bob McKenzie's retirement, there is a hole for NHL scout-polled rankings; in steps Cam Robinson. We break down the September top 15 of eight NHL scouts, featuring a surprise at #2 and a whole lot of winger and defencemen. The skill in this class is tremendous, but how will the lack of centre depth and size at the top end of the draft evolve?   Elite Prospects Ranking Article: https://www.elit...

The Toronto Maple Leafs are far from the deepest NHL team in prospect upside or depth but they have some of the most lovable -- or hateable -- prospects in the league, highlighted by Easton Cowan. With a couple NHL shoo-ins within a few years like Ben Danford, Toronto has made the most of their limited assets in acquiring young talent. What are your hopes for the youth in Canada's biggest city?  ...

The Anaheim Ducks have been hoarding young talent in the past few years, and the addition of Roger McQueen brings significant dynamism. Will Beckett Sennecke be NHL-ready this season? We answer all the questions about Anaheim's prospect pool alongside Ducks host Kyle Kjer.   Locked On Ducks: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@LockedOnAnaheimDucks⁩     Elite Prospects Ranking Article: https://www.elitepros...

The Utah organization has approached the previous three drafts with very clear goals in mind: get bigger and play hard. With one of the best Top-5 prospect collections in the league, the Mammoth have play-killers and game-breakers alike, and they all relish the physical game. From Dmitri Simashev to Tij Iginla and Daniil But, there's no shortage of young, toolsy talent on the shores of Great Salt...

After spending the past decade with a middling prospect pool, the New York Islanders took one big U-turn this past year, accumulating assets and winning the lottery. The additions of Matthew Schaefer, Calum Ritchie, Victor Eklund, and Kashawn Aitcheson completely shift the outlook of the future on Long Island. They's added swaths of top-end talent, but still need to build up more depth in the pool...

Among 32 NHL teams, one stood out this summer as the deepest in blue-chip talent and strongest across the board: the San Jose Sharks. Michael Misa adds a deadly one-two punch down the middle, while Sam Dickinson could emerge as an offensive and physical specimen in the NHL as early as this season, and Yaroslav Askarov takes strides toward a starting role in net. The depth of the pool stands out, t...

The 2026 Draft cycle is upon us, and we kick off our coverage by breaking down our first Elite Prospects ranking of the season. Gavin McKenna is the potential superstar at #1, but there are so many potential game-breakers through the top-10 and beyond, with a whole lot of blueline quality and a bit less depth at centre.   Elite Prospects Ranking Article: https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/2026-nh...

Despite the graduation of Lane Hutson, the Canadiens hung on to the #4 spot in our Elite Prospects NHL pool rankings, led by the dynamic Ivan Demidov. With strong pieces in all positions, whether Reinbacher on defence or Jacob Fowler in net, the Habs have a depth and breadth of talent that surpasses every other NHL organization. Some depth favourites include the hyper-intense Vinzenz Rohrer and th...

Through two preseason games, almost every Habs player has gotten the chance to showcase their skills, so we look at the winners, losers, and underdogs. Ivan Demidov's raw skill was a step above the rest against Pittsburgh, David Reinbacher's seen some struggles, and players on the brink like Owen Beck and Adam Engström continue pushing for an NHL spot. We also look at which players might crack the...

Just how good is James Hagens? Well, good enough to catapult the Bruins from the very worst prospect pool in the league last year to middle of the pack this time around. Alongside high-upside players like Dean Letourneau, Will Zellers, and Fraser Minten, Hagens' ability brings light to the Bruins' future. While the depth drops off in the pool at a certain point, there are a number of guys who coul...

On today's show, we have a very special guest, as Václav Nestrašil joins for a chat in the offseason following his 25th overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks. First, we talk about his most recent season, one that saw a significant evolution to his style and approach to physical hockey and culminated with a USHL championship and draft selection by his childhood team. Next, we look back at the...

On today's show, we break down the prospect swap trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning, sending Isaac Howard to Alberta and Sam O'Reilly to balmy Florida. First, we break down the trade and the circumstances leading to it. Next, we analyze Sam O'Reilly's game and how he fits into the Lightning system as a two-way potential 3C. Finally, we look at Ike Howard's dynamic -- if inco...

On today's show, we break down the recent signing of Gavin McKenna with the Penn State Nittany Lions and discuss his attributes and upside at both the college and NHL levels. First, we break down the news, present McKenna's profile, and see how he fits in with the rest of Penn State's roster. Next, we look ahead at our predictions for McKenna's freshman campaign and discuss the other big names tak...

On today's show, we breakdown the selections of each and every USHL player from the 2025 NHL Draft. We kick it off with the Top 64 selections, highlighted by the likes of William Horcoff, Vaclav Nestrasil, and Ryker Lee. Next, we dig into rounds 3 and 4, where NHL teams found strong value amongst USHL talent, including Cooper Simpson and L.J. Mooney. Finally, we wrap it up with the late-round swin...

On today's show, we breakdown the selections that I would have made at the Draft. Every year since 2020, I have been tracking my selections while the Canadiens are on the clock. This year, I made 9 selections, which we will be breaking down on today's show alongside the actual picks made by the Habs. First, we look at the two Top 75 picks, where I swung on upside and tools with Blake Fiddler and C...

On today's show, we highlight the best, worst, and most interesting draft hauls of the 2025 NHL Draft. First, we look at 7 winners, including the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, and Montreal Canadiens. Next, we focus on the teams who left some value on the board and lacked the resources to swing big, such as the Colorado Avalanche. Finally, we wrap up the show with another 7 notable draft hauls...

On today's show, we highlight notable hits (excellent fits), misses (leaving value on the board), and late-round gems from the draft. First, we break down  9 high-value selections, most of them in the 1st round, featuring Michael Misa at 2 and Ivan Ryabkin at 62. Next, we look at a handful of misses, where teams left upside or better fits on the board, such as Anton Frondell at 2 and Jack Nesbitt...

On today's show, we break down the sole blockbuster trade of the 2025 NHL Draft, sending Noah Dobson from Long Island to Montreal in exchange for Emil Heineman and the 16th & 17th overall selections, used to select Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson. First, we dive into Dobson's game, and look at how his profile and style fit into the Canadiens' roster. Next, we focus on the New York Islanders, w...

On today's show, we highlight 16 of the biggest steals from the 2025 NHL Draft, working our way down from 16 to 1. First, we break down value selections such as Harry Nansi (TOR), Hayden Paupanekis (MTL), and Malcolm Spence (NYR). Next, we break down a couple swings for the fences, highlighted by Kurban Limatov (CAR) and L.J. Mooney (MTL). Finally, we wrap up the show with the Top 5, headlined by...

On today's show, we go through the highlights of our livestream on Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft. First, we parse through the early second round, dominated by massive players, clearly showing the impact of Florida's back-to-back Stanley Cups. Next, we dig into some more highlights, including the Capitals swinging on mobility and size with Sean Barnhill in the 3rd round. Finally, we wrap up the show...

On today's show, we go through the highlights of our 1st round livestream, with Sebastian High's reactions and analyses to each Top 17 selection. First, we parse through the Top 5, with centres dominating the draft. Next, we dig into the 6 to 10 range, highlighted by Boston landing James Hagens and the Anaheim Ducks securing the services of (Lightning) McQueen. Finally, we wrap up the show with so...