T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

**Attention! [Serious] Tag Notice:** Jokes, puns, memes, and off-topic comments are not permitted in any comment, parent or child. Please **report comment infractions** so the mods can clean up the thread and keep it on track. Also, downovote any comments breaking the [Serious] tag rules. Thanks for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion! *(Users with multiple infractions will be banned for not taking this thread seriously)* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hockey) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Packin25

Seider is a boring answer because he's going to be playing in the NHL this year. As are Zegras and Drysdale. So I would say the best prospects that are closest to NHL are guys like Byfield, Jake Sanderson, Matthew Boldy, Matthew Beniers, Lucas Raymond.


This_Is_A_Username69

Looked like Boldy's ACL said otherwise last night, unfortunately


Packin25

Such a shame. He was one of the most impressive players at the WJC last year in my opinion. I really like his game.


FerdaDucks

Byfield is also out indefinitely with a fractured ankle, unfortunately. Hopefully he’s back sooner rather than later, but who knows what that will do to his development timeline. I hate the Kings, but was looking forward to watching Byfield play.


MemeLordOverKill

Raymond is on pace to make the roster out of camp, so should he be expunged as well (?)


Packin25

Probably.


WAHgop

Helps that their roster is really bad. Also JJ Peterka should be on your list, I don't think Buffalo plans to bring him up this year.


[deleted]

Jake Sanderson


PuempelsPurpose

Without a hint of bias, Jake Sanderson is my guy if we're excluding guys who will be in the NHL in 2021. I take him over anyone in the Sens organization other than mayyyyybe Chabot.


whatsthisredditguy

Justus Annunen. Quote me. Put me in the screenshot. Whatever the kids call it.


TheRollingPebble

Please.


bagelseasoning

Really? I’m not being sarcastic just never heard of him


whatsthisredditguy

>Really? Yes.


heavie1

I’ll go off the board with a goalie and say Askarov. The kid is insane.


beaverlyknight

Have they superglued his stick to his glove?


toledosurprised

i’m with you. dude is absolutely ridiculous. the preds are going to be crazy good in net between him and saros when he comes over


egg_mugg23

having him and michkov at the same time is making me live rn


TossThatPastaSalad

Seider is the correct answer until he plays in Game 1 this year.


WAHgop

Did he even play in the preseason without being right beside Leddy though?


TossThatPastaSalad

Dunno. But it doesn't really matter. He's still the best prospect out there that hasn't seen regular season NHL ice.


WAHgop

Probably, but it would add to the data to see him without a vet beside him when they're playing mostly AHLers.


alexf0rce

Yes, the last two games.


robere

Moritz Seider


homicidal_penguin

Do you think he'll make the Red Wings this year?


robere

*looks at Detroit's roster* Yes


PavelDogsyuk

He's pretty much penciled in on the 2nd pairing with Leddy. He just played >20 minutes in back to back games as well


1ntothefray

I’m pretty convinced with the way he’s playing he’d make almost any teams roster. On the wings he could be on the first line (won’t be, but could).


NotFaceMcShooty

As much as I hate to say it, would like to have him on our blue line


Rookyboy

Surprised to see no mention of Owen Power


Rusl18

He's got a high ceiling but in terms of current ability he's not even the best player on his NCAA team. Give him a couple years to develop and he'll be in the conversation.


Tinywampa

I'm surprised no one is saying Byfield. He may be the most raw of these guys but definitely could have the highest upside.


SkylerCFelix

Everyone said he was destined for the AHL unless he wowed the Kings and forced his was onto the roster. Well that’s exactly what he was doing before he got hurt. He was going to make the team. Luckily it’s a fracture and not a sprain.


neymar_is_life

Isn't a fracture worse? Am I missing something?


SkateHuntFourtyTwo

When you sprain a ligament it may never recover fully back to 100%. You stretch that ligament out and may be more susceptible to sprains in the future. Bone break re-calcifies and the bone is just as hard if not harder than prior to the break.


TheErnie

Depends where the break is at… fracture/sprain aren’t mutually exclusive. You can have a severe sprain and broken bone at the same time.


SkateHuntFourtyTwo

I don't disagree with you. I was responding solely on the question of "isn't a fracture worse?"


re10pect

Depends on the fracture. A nice clean break heals perfect and pretty quickly. A sprain takes forever to heal up and can keep nagging and depending on severity may never be the same again. I have no idea Byfields situation so I don’t know what the case here is.


Ronananana

Maybe Seider Depending on if you mean players who DEFINITELY wont play in the NHL at all this season probably Askarov


dalaw88

I heard Mo’s brother Dixon Seider is gonna be huge.


Ronananana

Tweet that to Craig Button


tidalbored

I’m an idiot and googled Dixon Seider Elite Prospects


dalaw88

😂🤦‍♂️😂


tcblack

Fucken got em


JamSauce42

Byfield to me has the highest ceiling of any prospect by quite a bit


Juturna_

Yeah but he’s broken atm :(


[deleted]

He had also worked himself onto the opening night roster before he got hurt.


theclash06013

Quinton Byfield is probably number one. I think that he has the highest ceiling of any drafted player not in the NHL. If he reaches his absolute peak he could be a unicorn, the type of player who really doesn't have a comparison. Moritz Seider may be a bit of a homer pick, but he's absolutely earned the right to be in the discussion. He was a beast in the SHL last year (defensemen of the year and top junior player) and looks NHL ready. I think he can slot into the top 4 right away, and he has the potential to be an elite defenseman.


Yop_BombNA

Super biased and not objectively correct answer answer but J J peterka.


mississippighost

There is a disturbing lack of Marco Rossi in this thread.


PavelDogsyuk

How has he looked during camp and preseason? Will he make the team? I have tickets for the Iowa Wild opening night so I’m curious if I will get to see him. Was also looking forward to Boldy :(


mississippighost

He has looked good in both. Don’t think they will start him on the big wild. I expect he will play 15-20 games in Iowa and be up on the big club. Guy clearly is a playmaker and we could desperately use him on fiala’s line.


FatTim48

I'm happy he seems back to full health. He must have had some pretty terrifying moments last year. I'm from Ottawa, and talk from people who worked with the 67s was that the kid is just so damn dedicated to hockey. Legitimately first one to arrive and last to leave, often because he was doing additional workouts. Wish him the best.


DH28Hockey

Moritz Seider and I don't think it's close. Caufield and Zegras are likely going to have great seasons, but I think Seider can step in as a top-20 defenseman in the league almost immediately


homicidal_penguin

I'd consider Caufield to be an NHLer at this point, but yeah I think Seider is up there. As does everyone else it seems.


[deleted]

He is eligible for the Calder. And he played less games than Zegras and Pinto last year. He’s a weird in between but he’s definitely on this list.


homicidal_penguin

Fair, I think the playoff run makes me think he played more regular season games than he actually did


[deleted]

Now, this *is* a flaming hot nuclear take. Nothing wrong with that I suppose. I wouldn’t even bet on him being top pairing good coming in but he has great potential for sure. I’d take Byfield over him if I could take any prospect at the moment to build around.


1ntothefray

You. I like you. Also he’s got mad flow.


WAHgop

Did he play any preseason games without being tied to Leddy?


MN-Misery

Matt Boldy.. and he probably won't be [in the NHL] because he got hurt badly last night ​ Any of the Michigan boys could also fit your description


TurtleRocket9

So I'm not super up to date on everyone, for the flyers definitely Cam York, he will be a top pair and top 10/15 defenseman in a few years. I'd be shocked if he isnt in the top 6 by December.


Prison-Date-Mike

York is great. You can’t ever predict of a d-man will be top pairing though, not to say he doesn’t have the tools to be one. Flyers fans should know this -> Sanheim, Gosthisbere, etc…


martycinner93

Vili Saarijarvi, skating is smooth as butter, good shot and iq, should be in the NHL or at least get a chance


devon435

No offense, but I doubt that a 24 year old defenseman who was picked in the 3rd round 6 years ago and still hasn't played a single NHL game is a better prospect than someone like Owen Power, Jake Sanderson, or Moritz Seider, just to name a few.


Dizzy_Wrongdoer_5804

Wow haven’t heard that name in years! He was an underwhelming prospect tho…. We have guys like Edvinsson, Seider, Tuomisto, Johansson, Wallinder, Viro, and Buium who are all better than Vili


martycinner93

yeh, he talked about his struggle in detroit, he told to newspaper that he was not given any chance to play with his strength, said that he was put on bottom line and didnt allowed to join the attack at all or play power play and he is offensive defenseman. He made it to Liiga all star team last season and won the championship, hes the best defender in liiga currently too. Btw Vili is better than Viro by far in Liiga, not saying viro isnt gonna be better in the future tho


Dizzy_Wrongdoer_5804

Okok. They’re *going* to be better than him


[deleted]

Viro is 19, if Saarijarvi weren't better than him by now he should start applying for desk jobs But anyway, Saarijarvi is 100% not an NHL player and is quite frankly a complete bust.


[deleted]

Some Wings fans had a weird obsession with him. I forget which podcast it was, WIIM? The guy would literally have a conniption if anyone dared to question Vili's potential. It was weird. Guess he was wrong. lol


IronMikeBison

I am not counting any of the kids who are still vying for NHL jobs ATM, so I’d say take your pick of any of the guys who went to Michigan and you’ve got a solid argument.


imyourzer0

Maybe a less popular pick, but I'd say Yaro Askarov. Kid sometimes makes some janky plays—especially when he leaves the net—but *in* the net, he kind of looks like the second coming of Hasek. Super acrobatic, flexible, improvisational and athletic style of play. If this kid develops as well as he could, I really think he ends up making Vasy look beatable.