The Hockey News

In the 2024-25 edition of our annual Prospects Unlimited issue, we count down the top 100 21-and-under players in the world (with features on Bedard, Celebrini, Demidov, McGroarty and Benson) and profile the Washingon Capitals development system. In addition, we have NHL team pages with features, grades and full rosters for each organization.

STICK TAP FOR THE SCOUTS

MASTHEAD

WAR ON HOCKEY THE DOCUMENTARY

U.S. COLLEGE KIDS VS. CANADIAN JUNIORS • The two-game CHL USA Prospects Challenge features top talents for the 2025 NHL draft – and it arrives at the same time the NCAA mulls allowing major-junior players

BEHIND THE MASK

JERSEY HOUND

NEXT GEN-O-METER • A good indication of a team on the rise is the effectiveness of its young stars, and last season saw several clubs encouraged by the production of their cadres of under-21 skaters. But which teams had the highest-scoring youth?

IN THE CARDS

THE COUNTDOWN • We’re still a long way away from the 2025 prospect call, but it’s fun to look at who could go where

PUCK CULTURE • Before going pro – and getting an NHL rookie card – most players already have at least one card picturing them with their junior, college or international team. Here are 10 interesting ‘pre-rookie’ cards of some of today’s biggest stars

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES, EH? • A recent study suggests that American hockey players adopt accents to sound more ‘Canadian’

CONNECT FOUR • North Dakota alums Sanderson, Pinto, Bernard-Docker and Kleven bring a special bond to the Senators

KIDS, CANDY & CALDER CUPS • For Washington Capitals prospects, the road to the NHL is paved with chocolate – and Hershey’s AHL championship success is pretty sweet, too

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 1. CONNOR BEDARD • Sophomore slump? Not likely. Last year’s Calder winner did all he could to ensure he doesn’t take a step back but instead enters the echelon of superstars

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER 2. MACKLIN CELEBRINI • Whether it’s Big Joe or last year’s No. 1 pick, the superb Sharks rookie has plenty of support in Year 1

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 3-9

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 10-17

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 18-24

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 25. IVAN DEMIDOV • Help is on the way: the Canadiens landed a scoring winger with a winning pedigree with the No. 5 pick in the ’24 draft

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 26-31

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 32-39

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 40-47

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 48. RUTGER MCGROARTY • After a trade, the two-way stud is on a path to becoming a leader in Pittsburgh. But not before learning a thing or two from some future Hall of Famers

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 49-56

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 57-63

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 64. ZACH BENSON • The Sabres’ sparkplug has had plenty of doubters because of his size, but there’s no questioning his talent – on the ice or at the donut machine

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 65-70

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 71-76

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 77-82

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 83-88

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 89-94

TOP 100 21 AND UNDER: 95-100

NEED TO KNOW

ANAHEIM DUCKS

BOSTON BRUINS

BUFFALO SABRES

CALGARY FLAMES

CAROLINA HURRICANES

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

COLORADO AVALANCHE

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

DALLAS STARS

DETROIT RED WINGS

EDMONTON OILERS

FLORIDA PANTHERS

LOS ANGELES KINGS

MINNESOTA WILD

MONTREAL CANADIENS

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

NEW YORK RANGERS

OTTAWA SENATORS

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

ST. LOUIS BLUES

SAN JOSE...