Youth is always served in The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue, and in the coming days, you will get a taste of what's to come in hockey.

Our annual list of the top 100 players 21-and-under is compiled by Ryan Kennedy, and while he uses our Future Watch rankings as a resource, this is a completely independent compilation.

Future Watch is based on a survey of NHL scouts, while the PU Top 100 is cobbled together by Kennedy based on his projections of what the players will be once they hit their primes.

Since players reach that apex at different times depending on their position, take that to mean we are projecting how good these forwards will be when they are 23 or 24 years old, the defensemen when they are 24 or 25 and the goalies when they are 25 or 26.

The birth year cutoff for this year’s list is 2004, so Edmonton’s Matt Savoie (born on Jan. 1, 2004) was eligible, but Minnesota’s Danila Yurov (Dec. 22, 2003) was not. Ages noted are as of Oct. 1.

There is no limit to how young a player can be for the list, but since it’s incredibly hard to project what the future holds for a 13-year-old, you won’t find any on this ranking. In fact, the youngest player on the list is Maddox Schultz of the Regina Pats, a 2010 birth year and the first overall pick in the 2025 WHL draft.

As we share the top 100 list on TheHockeyNews.com, you can see the full list with player bios and draft information for each of them right now by being a subscriber to The Hockey News and accessing the Archive or by opening the magazine if you've already received it in your mailbox.

Let's begin with the players ranked from 81st to 100th. Player bios were written by Kennedy and Jared Clinton.

100. Maddox Schultz, C, 15 years old, Regina (WHL)
NHL Draft: 2028

99. Konsta Helenius, C, 19, Buffalo Sabres
Rochester (AHL)

98. Daniil But, LW, 20, Utah Mammoth
Tucson (AHL)

97. David Reinbacher, D, 20, Montreal Canadiens
Laval (AHL)

96. Harrison Brunicke, D, 19, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh (NHL)

95. Easton Cowan, RW, 20, Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto (AHL)

94. Mathis Preston, C, 17, Spokane (WHL)
NHL Draft: 2026

93. Will Horcoff, C, 18, Pittsburgh Penguins
Michigan (Big Ten)

92. Ben Kindel, C, 18, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh (NHL)

91. Oliver Moore, C, 20, Chicago Blackhawks
Rockford (AHL)

90. Tanner Molendyk, D, 20, Nashville Predators
Milwaukee (AHL)

89. Semyon Frolov, G, 18, Carolina Hurricanes
Spartak Moscow Jr. (Rus.)

88. Charlie Cerrato, C, 20, Carolina Hurricanes
Penn State (Big Ten)

87. Emmitt Finnie, LW, 20, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit (NHL)

86. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, 19, Detroit Red Wings
Grand Rapids (AHL)

85. Liam Ohgren, LW, 21, Minnesota Wild
Iowa (AHL)

84. Simon Nemec, D, 21, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey (NHL)

83. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, 21, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver (NHL)

82. Dalibor Dvorksy, RW, 20, St. Louis Blues
Springfield (AHL)

81. Brock Cripps, D, 16, Prince Albert (WHL)
NHL Draft: 2027

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (21) was a surprising name that popped up in the NHL’s national media sphere last week. Though his game was coming around after a less-than-ideal start to the season for the third year blueliner, where he’d only managed three points (0-3=3) in 18 games while struggling to adapt to a new coaching staff and system, he was scratched for three consecutive games, following the return of Ducks’ captain Radko Gudas and the emergence of rookie Ian Moore, who’s advanced defensive habits pleasantly surprised most.

Immediately following the Ducks' 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, Mintyukov’s second consecutive healthy scratch, premier NHL insider, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, dropped a sizable news nugget in his “32 Thoughts” column, stating Mintyukov “would like to be moved if he’s not going to play.”

It may have been a bit surprising, but perhaps understandable given that Mintyukov, along with fellow young Ducks left shot defenseman Olen Zellweger, fell victim to a logjam on the Ducks’ blueline a year ago, forcing the pair to alternate healthy scratch assignments for large portions of the season. It potentially impacted the duo’s development, as their offensive limitations were hindered by a fear of being sent back to the press box for the next game should they make a mistake. Mintyukov served as a healthy scratch for 14 games in 2024-25, only tallying 19 points (5-14=19) in 68 games.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 OT Win over the Golden Knights

Game #22: Ducks vs. Golden Knights Gameday Preview (11/22/25)

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Loss to the Senators

Insider Chris Johnston chimed in during Thursday’s iteration of “Insider Trading” on TSN.

“He’s been scratched for a couple games this week. He’s not happy about that, as we wouldn’t expect any player to be,” Johnston said. “There has been dialogue between the Ducks management and his agent, Dan Milstein, about, if this continues, I think he’d prefer to be somewhere else where he can play. We’re not at the stage where this is a full-blown ‘he’s being traded,’ but if he’s watching a lot of games, it’s something to keep an eye on.”

Friedman expanded his thoughts on Mintyukov and the Ducks during his “32 Thoughts” podcast on Friday morning.

"Now, I will say this. I had a couple people that didn’t like (that) it came out while Anaheim’s doing really well,” Friedman said. Like, ‘Anaheim’s going really well. This isn’t the time for this.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, fair. I completely understand it, but it is out there.’

“So, number one, I think (ducks general manager Pat Verbeek’s) going to kind of say, ‘Hey, I’ll do this on my time.’ They’ve had a lot of young players who are really popping right now, to their credit. They’ve done a really nice job, but, at different times, some of these players have had issues with their ice time. And he’s always said, ‘I’m not giving you the easy way out. You’re going to earn your ice time.’

“That’s kind of his philosophy. No easy way out. Earn it. Now, maybe this is different. I don’t know. We’ll see in the future. But I do know that he won’t be pushed into doing anything. That’s for sure.”

On paper, it seemed as though the Ducks hiring Joel Quenneville as head coach over the offseason would have been a perfect fit for a player like Mintyukov. Through the preseason, Quenneville reiterated to his players not to be afraid to make mistakes, to play freer, and to use their instincts. Mintyukov didn’t exactly seize that opportunity as Zellweger had through the first quarter of the season.

The Ducks lost their matchup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators 3-2, and Quenneville decided to insert Mintyukov back into the lineup in place of Moore and on the left side of Gudas for the Ducks’ next game on Saturday against the Golden Knights. Before the game, after morning skate, Quenneville was asked about what he needed to see from Mintyukov and answered by highlighting the importance of having a stable of NHL-caliber defensemen well over six players deep.

“I just think you got seven D over the course of a year, everybody’s gonna get stretches where you’re playing and not playing,” Quenneville said. “You got to make some tough decisions sometimes, and that’s where he is. I thought he was making some progress from the start of the year to where we’re at today. He’s killing penalties, coming off a good game in that area. I think offensively, there’s something there. I think he can add to our game, and his game. I think he’s been okay.”

Quenneville expanded when asked about the messaging to Mintyukov during these moments and how he’s responded.

“He’s kind of quiet. I think everybody’s different in their demeanor. Nobody wants to not play,” Quenneville said. “That’s where it’s at, but we try to encourage him (to) take advantage of days where you’re not playing. You got to put some work in and keep yourself game-ready and watch the game, and try to put yourself in positions where you can see yourself handling the different players in the game and different areas of the game you can improve upon. Next time you get in there, let it work.”

The Ducks defeated the Knights 4-3 in OT on Saturday, and Mintyukov turned in what was likely his best single-game performance since his rookie season. He played 21:15 TOI, good enough for third among Ducks defensemen, including 18:55 at 5v5 and 1:08 shorthanded. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks held a 23-16 shot attempt advantage, a 10-7 shots on goal advantage, and a whopping 79.31% (.89-.23) of the expected goals share.

He wasn’t much of an offensive factor with the puck on his stick, but he wasn’t hesitant to jump into a play or rush from the far side, often leaving the opposing defenders to struggle when sorting out their assignments. On the defensive side of the puck is where he thrived in this game. He made a positive impact on breakouts and regroups, often evading opposing F1 pressure. He read developing plays and was a disruptive force in the neutral zone, perhaps his greatest strength as a player. He was mistake-free in his coverage assignments and perfectly displayed textbook gaps and active sticks against the rush.

During his postgame media scrum, Quenneville was asked about Mintyukov’s return to the lineup, and in classic Quenneville fashion, remained even-keeled and concise.

“I thought he was good with the puck. I thought he was handy killing plays,” Quenneville said. “I thought he was quick with the puck. I thought his play selection was good, gap was way better, and I think that pair played a lot of key minutes.”

For several who watched closely, Mintyukov displayed many of the traits that elevated him to the tenth overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, where he represents Verbeek’s first-ever pick as an NHL general manager, and those are traits he flashed during his rookie season as well. It was an encouraging return to form for the skillful defender, who is now 150 games into his NHL career and just a day shy of his 22nd birthday.

Not all development is linear; some players ebb and flow, and some will take longer to solidify into the player they’re going to be in the NHL for their careers. Mintyukov was one of four defensemen selected in the top ten of the 2022 NHL Draft, along with Simon Nemec, David Jiricek, and Kevin Korchinski. Of the four, Mintyukov has the most experience and success at the NHL level.

All four players have struggled to earn full-time and consistent NHL minutes. Reports of Nemec’s and Jiricek’s displeasure surfaced to varying degrees over the past year. Nemec is only now receiving top-four minutes in the New Jersey Devils’ lineup, and much of that is likely due to injuries on their blueline. Jiricek was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Minnesota Wild, where he now resides on the AHL/NHL bubble (currently in the AHL). Korchinski played his entire rookie season in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, but has only played 16 NHL games since, and has spent the entire 2025-26 season so far in the AHL.

All that to say, Mintyukov’s situation isn’t unique, especially when evaluating comparable players in his own draft year. His frustration is also understandable given the logjam situation he went through in 2024-25. If performances like Saturday’s become the norm for Mintyukov, he’ll have accomplished one of two things in short order: 1) Solidified his spot in the lineup and will make positive impacts for the foreseeable future, or 2) Drove up the acquisition cost for inquiring teams in search of a potential trade. There would likely be no shortage of interested teams, as Mintyukov’s potential is that of a top-four defenseman and a 200-foot menace.

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Takeaways from the Ducks' 4-3 Win over the Bruins

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko has spent the last two seasons doing something that isn’t especially common among elite junior players: he stayed loyal to a rebuilding team and made the best of it.

In Guelph, he wasn’t just the Storm’s top center—he was their star. 

So when the news broke on Monday morning that the Guelph Storm had traded Luchanko to the Brantford Bulldogs, the reaction was equal parts shock, relief, and curiosity.

Can confirm that #Flyers 2024 first-rounder Jett Luchanko has been traded to Brantford. Jay McKee, a former teammate of GM Danny Brière, is the head coach. @JeffMarek first to report.

— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) November 24, 2025

Shock because Luchanko always seemed comfortable in Guelph. Relief because—let’s be honest—he deserved a real supporting cast. And curiosity because the question now becomes: How high can he climb when he’s finally insulated by a competitive roster?

Spoiler: probably pretty high.

Loyalty And Limitation: What Luchanko Was in Guelph

Guelph wasn’t hopeless; they were simply caught in that awkward junior-hockey middle ground where the kids weren’t quite ready and the structure wasn’t quite enough. Luchanko, meanwhile, was more than ready. He was the Storm’s best transition player, their best distributor, one of their most responsible forwards, and their primary entry machine. When they needed tempo, he supplied it. When they needed a clean exit, he solved it. When they needed a heartbeat, he was often the pulse.

That’s not hyperbole—that’s the reality of being the singular high-end talent on a middling roster.

Jett Luchanko had five assists in Guelph’s 10-7 loss to Owen Sound tonight.

Luchanko has two goals and 14 assists in nine games since returning to the OHL.pic.twitter.com/xqPTKAUlz4

— Andrew Coté (@acote_88) November 22, 2025

But that environment also capped him. There’s only so far a center—even one with Luchanko’s skating and intelligence—can push a team on his own. You can read plays as quickly as you want, but if your wingers aren’t on the same beat, the music doesn’t land. You can drive possession, but if you never get to spend extended time in the offensive zone, your ceiling flattens.

In Guelph, Luchanko hit the ceiling. Or rather, he pressed his hands against it and waited for the rest of the roster to catch up.

Now? The roof’s been blown off.

The Flyers' Jett Luchanko Conundrum: Too Good for Juniors, Not Quite Ready for the NHLThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> knew exactly what they were getting when they selected Jett Luchanko in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft: a remarkably poised, intelligent, and versatile player who was far ahead of his age curve.

Welcome to Brantford: A Legitimate Contender With an Identity

The Brantford Bulldogs are not Guelph. They do not operate in a fog of “maybe next year.” They’re a properly built, structurally sound, competitive OHL organization with expectations.

A quick profile for anyone not fully looped in:

What the Bulldogs are:

• Heavy-on-pace team: They play fast, but they’re disciplined about it. Their breakouts are quick, layered, and intentional—perfect for a transition gem like Luchanko.
• Deep down the middle: Even before this trade, they were strong at center. Adding Luchanko gives them a true 1C who actually elevates the lineup around him.
• Hard to play against: They forecheck in waves and defend with real structure, giving players like Luchanko more runway to focus on creation rather than constant damage control.
• Loaded with real talent: Not superstar-laden, but deep—the kind of team where skill is spread enough that one player doesn’t have to carry the weight of four lines.

This is a place where a high-IQ, high-skill center can flourish. And they know it.

The significance of acquiring a player like Luchanko, in what will almost certainly be his final OHL season before making a serious push for the NHL, is obvious: the Bulldogs want to win, and they want to win now.

What Luchanko Brings to the Bulldogs

This is where it gets fun. Because Luchanko isn’t merely a greatly promising player—you don’t trade for a prospect of his caliber just for “solid contributions.” You trade for him because he can immediately better your roster

1. A True Speed-Based Play Driver

Luchanko doesn’t just skate fast. He processes fast. His north-south acceleration opens passing lanes that don’t exist for other players. He manipulates defenders by changing angles at high speed. The Bulldogs already move well, but Luchanko takes them from “fast team” to “constant threat.”

2. Reliable, Pro-Style Center Play

He’s already one of the most polished two-way centers in the OHL. He supports the puck low, wins touches in his own end, and can be trusted on both special teams. Brantford doesn’t need him to reinvent himself—they just need him to do what he already does with better teammates around him.

3. A Multiplier Effect on Wingers

Stick him with finishers and his assist totals could explode. In Guelph, a lot of his best plays dissolved into missed connections or second-chance scrambles. In Brantford, those plays become goals.

4. A Playoff Mindset

The Bulldogs are built for postseason hockey. They want to grind, wear teams down, and control pace. Luchanko fits that philosophy perfectly. He doesn’t shy away from contact; he uses it. He doesn’t panic under pressure; he thrives in it.

5. A Player Ready for His Leap Year

Every NHL-leaning OHL star has that one final season where everything clicks—where the game slows down for them while they speed up for everyone else. This environment is the ideal stage for Luchanko’s leap year.

What Did the Flyers Learn from Jett Luchanko's Second NHL Stint?There’s something quietly fascinating about watching a player like Jett Luchanko at this stage of his career — the part of the story where everything is still elastic.&nbsp;

Why This Move Matters for the Flyers

From Philadelphia’s perspective, this is exactly what you want for a top center prospect before he turns pro.

Guelph gave him responsibility. Brantford will give him opportunity.

He’ll play meaningful games late in the season. He’ll play in high-pressure playoff rounds. He’ll learn how to operate inside a structure where he isn’t the lone focal point, but rather the driver of a high-functioning machine.

That matters immensely for a prospect projected to be an NHL top-six center.

Players who come from winning junior environments—ones where they’re forced to perform under real expectations—tend to transition more smoothly to the pro game. It’s not that Guelph didn’t develop him well; they did. It’s that Brantford can refine him in ways Guelph simply couldn’t.

What’s Next?

This trade marks the start of the most important chapter of Jett Luchanko’s pre-NHL career.

He is stepping into a team that can match his pace, think with him, finish his plays, and demand excellence from him on a nightly basis. It’s the kind of environment where high-end prospects evolve from “really good” to “undeniably ready.”

For the Flyers, the message is even clearer: Your best center prospect is about to play some of the highest-quality hockey of his career up to this point.

And for Luchanko? It’s finally time to see what he looks like when the weight is shared—when he’s free to attack, to lead, and to take the next step in a system built to amplify everything he does well.

Brantford didn’t just trade for a top player. They traded for the version of Jett Luchanko that can only exist on a contender.

On Saturday, the Florida Panthers found themselves in a situation where it was best that Sergei Bobrovsky be pulled from his crease. 

The Edmonton Oilers were having no trouble getting pucks by the 37-year-old Russian, allowing four goals on 17 shots. Coach Paul Maurice made the move to bring in Daniil Tarasov in relief, and it sparked a change.

Tarasov would turn away all 12 shots he faced, continuing his streak of never allowing a goal when coming in relief. The Panthers brought the game within one goal, but ultimately, two empty net goals sealed the win for the Oilers. 

This wasn't the 26-year-old's first standout performance of the season, but it may have been one that begins to ignite some change in Florida. Throughout Bobrovsky's tenure, he has been the workhorse, skating in 50 or more games in every season as a Panther, except for the COVID-19 season. But he's aging, and his stats have taken a step back this season, and it might just be time to trust Tarasov to start additional games.

In six games this season, Tarasov has recorded a .910 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average, yet he has earned just one victory. His goal support has been rather weak in his starts. In his season debut, which was likely his worst game as a Panther, the Panthers lost 5-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Following that was a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks, a 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks and a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals.

In his losses, Tarasov has received just six goals of offensive support. 

The Panthers take on a weaker Nashville Predators team tonight, which provides Tarasov an excellent opportunity to prove to the coaching staff that he is deserving of more starts. On the road, Tarasov needs to simplify his game and continue to turn away pucks, giving his team every chance to pot a few goals and leave with the two points. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Panthers make quick trip to Nashville for matchup with league-worst PredatorsPanthers face league-worst Predators after tough loss to Edmoton, with Florida backup goalie Daniil Tarasov aiming to continue a stretch of strong play.

The New York Islanders loaned defenseman Marshall Warren back to the Bridgeport Islanders on Monday. 

#Isles have returned Marshall Warren to Bridgeport.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 24, 2025

The 24-year-old defenseman, who played two games earlier in the season-- two assists in his NHL debut -- had sat out the last three games as the club's seventh defenseman. 

Adam Boqvist, who had been serving that role, is back in the lineup with defenseman Alexander Romanov out five-to-six to six months as he'll need right shoulder surgery. He's played in each of the last five games, averaging 13:50 minutes, and seems to have won the job, for now. 

BREAKING: Islanders' Alexander Romanov To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months Devastating blow for the Islanders: Romanov's season ends abruptly due to shoulder surgery after a controversial hit. Recovery targets next season.

With Warren back in Bridgeport, the Islanders are now accruing cap space. Warren's $825,000 cap hit forced the Islanders to dip into their LTIR pool. 

After a Monday off day following a 1-0 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken, the Islanders will return to the practice ice on Tuesday in preparation for their Wednesday night showdown against the Boston Bruins. 

Traktor Chelyabinsk and goaltender Chris Driedger have terminated their contract upon mutual agreement, the KHL club announced on Sunday.

The news came two days after it was announced that Connor Hellebuyck would be out of the Winnipeg Jets’ lineup for four to six weeks. The Jets retained Driedger’s NHL rights when he signed with Chelyabinsk in June.

The Jets called up 22-year-old Thomas Milic from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and called up Isaac Poulter from the ECHL to Manitoba. The Jets might plan to assign Driedger to the Moose as insurance if the duo of Milic and Eric Comrie falters before Hellebuyck returns. 

In 23 games this season with Traktor, Driedger has a goals-against average of 3.05, a .917 save percentage, one shutout and a record of 8-9-1. Traktor currently sits fifth in the KHL’s 11-team Western Conference with a record of 13-12-5.

Driedger, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, played junior hockey for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and Calgary Hitmen, was chosen in the third round, 76th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Spencer Martin's KHL Journey Ends After 14 Games Ex-NHL goalie Spencer Martin's KHL journey ends abruptly. After signing with CSKA Moscow, his tenure was cut short amidst team struggles and the performance a younger netminder.

Between 2014 and 2024, Driedger played 67 NHL regular-season games for the Senators, Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken, compiling a record of 31-24-5 with a goals-against average of 2.45, a save percentage of .917 and five shutouts. He also played three playoff games for Florida in 2021.

Winnipeg acquired Driedger in a trade with Florida in 2025 – he played only five AHL games with the Moose at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Internationally, Driedger played in six of Canada’s 10 games at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, backstopping the team to a silver medal.

Jets Prospect Viktor Klingsell Shines and Sparks Helmet DebateWinnipeg Jets prospect Viktor Klingsell continues to dominate Sweden’s U20 league and has broken into the SHL, drawing attention both for his standout play and his decision to wear a full fishbowl for added protection.