The Hockey News

Our annual Future Watch edition is now 116 pages packed with info examining the prospect pipeline for each NHL club and counting down the top 100 prospects in the game. In our NHL Team Reports, you'll find scouting reports for the top 10 prospects for each organization. In addition, we take an in-depth look at two teams with the best systems: the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings. And we also have features on several of the game's best youngsters, including Matvei Michkov, Will Smith, Liam Ohgren and Adam Gajan.

The Hockey News

STARS DON’T ALWAYS ALIGN

IRONMEN

MAKING THE JUMP • Going straight from the draft to the NHL is a daunting challenge for teenage players, with on- and off-ice obstacles that need to be navigated for a successful transition

BEHIND THE MASK

JERSEY HOUND

TOP THREE-O-METER • High draft picks can breathe life into a franchise, but even those teams who’ve had the good fortune to select in the top three can sometimes squander the opportunity. Which clubs have had the most top-three picks over the past 40 years?

NEW MANDATE AIMS TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURIES • After tragedy, USA Hockey adds ‘neck laceration protection’ rule for players under the age of 18

HOPE ON HORIZON • Based on the 2024 WJC, there’s help on the way for Buffalo

THE COUNTDOWN • A look at the past 20 years of Future Watch team rankingsindicates that there’s more than one way to build a powerhouse. But drafting well never hurts

PUCK CULTURE • In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, here are eight cards featuring some of the most memorable women in hockey

BABY BLUES • IT’S NOT A REBUILD, IT’S A ‘RE-WHATEVER-THIS-IS.’ BUT HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LABEL IT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALONG TIME, THE ST. LOUIS BLUES’ PROSPECT PIPELINE IS POSITIVELY PACKED WITH TALENT

LEARNING TO FLY • STEVE YZERMAN KNEW THE REBUILD WAS GOING TO TAKE TIME, BUT EVEN HE HAD HIS LIMITS. SO, A CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY ENSUED, AND NOW, THE DETROIT RED WINGS ARE BACK IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT WHILE THE FUTURE CONTINUES TO LOOK BRIGHT

WORTH THE WAIT • We’re likely not going to see Matvei Michkov until 2026, but getting a ready-to-roll prospect at that time might be perfect for a Flyers team that’s on the upswing

A MAN AMONG MEN • Though he just turned 20, Liam Ohgren has proven for the past two seasons that he can hang with the big boys. And that will serve him well when he makes the transition to North America. After all, he doesn’t just want to be an NHL player, he wants to be a go-to guy

GOLD SMITH NEAR ME • He may be hard to pin down with just one Google search, butWill Smith stands out at Boston College. And he’s not far from being an impact NHLer with San Jose, either

GoPro TO GO PRO • Adam Gajan’s ingenuity opened the door, and then he kicked it down with an out-of-nowhere WJC performance that helped make him the first goalie drafted in 2023

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE GOALIE RACE • History tells us it’s better not to rush goalies to the NHL, so expect to see half of these eight on our Future Watch list for at least a couple more years

GO GREEN! GO WHITE! • It’s been a while since Michigan State fans have had a contender to cheer for, but thanks to a new staff and upgraded facilities, the Spartans have once again become a talent factory

NCAA FREE AGENTS 2023 • These eight undrafted players will be up for grabs once their college seasons are over. There will be plenty of interest from NHL teams looking to beef up their systems with some seasoned prospects

WHAT’S INSIDE

GRADES WITH TEETH • Comparing a team’s report-card rating with how early they draft gives Future Watch grades more perspective

2024 TOP 100 PROSPECTS • The next wave of NHL stars is upon us before the last one...