Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

1St. Louis Blues

Strengths: Going into the 2007-08 season, the best prospect in the NHL in Erik Johnson broke training camp firmly established on the NHL roster. But the defensive pool does not stop with Johnson as Ian Cole headlines the second tier of defensive prospects, each with legitimate NHL potential. Even with the graduation of Hannu Toivonen, the Blues can look to Marek Schwarz as a future NHL starter who could eventually surpass Toivonen in net. The forward corps contains both high-end talent, in skilled centers T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund and play-making wingers David Perron and Lars Eller, and depth as their second tier is packed with forwards of second line potential that, if only a couple out of the pack reach their full potential, the Blues will have a mostly homegrown second and third line in addition to their top stars. Weaknesses: Weaknesses are difficult to come by when you are at the top of the list. While the forwards are skilled and deep, they lack that one true franchise forward. Top five prospects: 1. Erik Johnson (D), 2. T.J. Oshie (C), 3. Marek Schwarz (G), 4. Patrik Berglund (C), 5. Lars Eller (LW). Key graduates: David Backes and Hannu Toivonen.

2Chicago Blackhawks

Strengths: Patience by Chicago has been rewarded, as years of poor performance on the ice and trades of veterans have produced a rich, deep talent pipeline, including three players in Hockey's Future top 15 -- Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Cam Barker. The organization has some softer spots, but the continual stockpiling of quality depth at most positions has vaulted the Blackhawks up the ladder again. At center, 2006 third overall draft pick Toews leads a depth chart that includes Dave Bolland, Petri Kontiola, Evan Brophey and Nathan Davis, all of whom project as possible future NHL starters. On the right wing, 2007 No. 1 overall selection Kane is already turning heads at the NHL level. Behind him is rugged, high-scoring Troy Brouwer, 2005 No. 7 overall pick Jack Skille and 2007 second rounder Akim Aliu, a player many felt could have been taken in the top 15 picks. Cam Barker, Dustin Byfuglien, Simon Danis-Pepin and Niklas Hjalmarsson should help continue the Hawks' recent success with young defense prospects. Byfuglien might just be a revelation at defense. Weaknesses: Corey Crawford is a solid, but not spectacular prospect as a No. 1 goaltender. After him lies a group of relatively unproven NCAA netminders. Left wing is also on the thin side. Top five prospects: 1. Jonathan Toews (C), 2. Patrick Kane (RW), 3. Cam Barker (D), 4. Troy Brouwer (RW), 5. Jack Skille (D). Key graduates: none.

3Phoenix Coyotes

Strengths: Phoenix's No. 3 overall selection in 2007, highly-touted BCHL center Kyle Turris joined a growing stable of elite offensive prospects that has propelled Phoenix up the Hockey's Future organizational rankings for the second straight season. Phoenix has two potential elite forwards in Turris, who has drawn comparisons to Joe Sakic, and rugged, talented WHL-veteran Peter Mueller. But the firepower doesn't stop there. Wingers Martin Hanzal and Blake Wheeler are two more offensively gifted forwards in the Phoenix pipeline. Hanzal and Mueller are playing significant minutes with the Coyotes this season and look to be sure-fire stars. Weaknesses: After the top four or five prospects, quality drops off significantly. Phoenix lacks overall quality and depth at goaltender, though Swede Joel Gistedt was believed to be a sleeper in the 2007 NHL draft. They also do not have any top pairing defensive prospects. Top five prospects: 1. Kyle Turris (C), 2. Peter Mueller (C), 3. Martin Hanzal (LW), 4. Blake Wheeler (RW), 5. Keith Yandle (D). Key graduates: Matt Jones.

4Montreal Canadiens

Strengths: The Habs have a bright future ahead and continue to boast one of the deepest prospect groups. They have elite prospects in Carey Price and talented Russians wingers Andrei Kostitsyn and Mikhail Grabovski. Complimenting the high-end talent is a group of solid if unspectacular players, including Alexei Emelin, Pavel Valentenko, and Ryan O'Byrne. There is also no shortage of two-way defensive minded forwards like Kyle Chipchura, Maxim Lapierre, Ben Maxwell, and Ryan White. Further down the depth chart are some offensively gifted projects Mathieu Aubin, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Corey Locke. Weaknesses: While there is no shortage of talent in the system, there is a clear lack of size and grit, especially among the forward prospects. In addition, though there are several offensive-minded prospects on the blueline, they still lack a power play quarterback and a solid defensive-minded defenseman who can log big minutes. On a whole, Montreal has plenty of quality in their system, but the top three organizations had just a little more. Top five prospects: 1. Carey Price (G), 2. Ryan McDonagh (D), 3. Andrei Kostitsyn (LW), 4. Kyle Chipchura (C), 5. Max Pacioretty (LW). Key graduates: none.

5Los Angeles Kings

Strengths: The Kings have top talent at every position except for left wing with the recent graduation of Patrick O'Sullivan. They are particularly strong on defense with 2005 Carolina first-round draftee Jack Johnson, acquired via trade, offensively gifted Thomas Hickey and long-term conversion project Brian Boyle who is showing good offensive skills but requires work on the defensive side. They are extremely deep in second tier defensive prospects, led by potential NHL starter Peter Harrold whom is already knocking on the door. The Kings also boast matching wings with top-six ability in Ted Purcell and Oscar Moller, a solid center prospect in Trevor Lewis, and a potential franchise goalie in Jonathan Bernier. Weaknesses: With the graduation of O'Sullivan, left wing is virtually empty of high-end talent and the depth at center is lacking. Top five prospects: 1. Jack Johnson (D), 2. Jonathan Bernier (G), 3. Thomas Hickey (D), 4. Trevor Lewis (C), 5. Brian Boyle (D). Key graduates: Patrick O'Sullivan.

6Washington Capitals

Strengths: Washington continues to have a solid tandem in net in Semen Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth. The addition of Karl Alzner adds a solid defenseman who could pay leadership dividends to the NHL roster very soon. Defensemen with size, in Jeff Schultz and Sasha Pokulok, lead a group who overall will do a great job of controlling the opposition in the defensive zone but may lack offensive skills relative to other defensive pools around the NHL. Solid down the middle with potential franchise center Nicklas Backstrom and a pair of diminutive centers Chris Bourque and Mathieu Perreault that will battle for time on the second or third line. Eric Fehr continues to knock on the door as a potential second line forward and sniper Francois Bouchard provides scoring depth to the right wing position. Weaknesses: The graduation of Tomas Fleischmann has made an already thin left wing position even thinner. Defense lacks top potential outside of Alzner and is thin in offensive defensemen. Top five prospects: 1. Nicklas Backstrom (C), 2. Karl Alzner (D), 3. Eric Fehr (RW), 4. Semen Varlamov (G), 5. Francois Bouchard (RW). Key graduates: Tomas Fleischmann.

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