2023 NHL Draft

When Can Newly-Drafted Prospects Break Through Into The NHL?

When do or can prospects make the jump to the NHL/AHL level? Most NHL prospects take 3-5 years post-draft to reach the NHL, with less than a third of first-rounders making an NHL team. Factors like skill development and individual progression dictate the timeline. Additionally, a strict NHL-CHL agreement impacts where prospects can play, depending on age. Any player under the age of 20 is ineligible to play in the AHL. NHL Entry Draft intricacies, entry-level contracts, Russian political issues and AHL stints shape a prospect’s journey.

Managing Leo Carlsson’s Workload

Leo Carlsson, the 2023 second-overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks, was scratched for the second time in as many games on Tuesday night when the Ducks traveled to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. Carlsson was neither injured nor benched for performance reasons but has missed the team’s last two games as part of […]

Bruins Prospect Wins USHL Forward of the Week Award

The Boston Bruins look like they made the most of their first draft pick from the 2023 NHL Draft by selecting forward Chris Pelosi in the third round with the 92nd overall pick. Pelosi has started the season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL and has become one of the league’s top players. […]

Quentin Musty Signs Entry-Level Contract With The Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have signed first-round pick Quentin Musty to a standard entry-level contract. Musty was the 26th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft from the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. A former first-overall pick in the OHL draft, Musty scored 26 goals and 78 points in 53 games last season. Despite […]

Winnipeg Jets Sign Colby Barlow to Entry-Level Contract

The Winnipeg Jets announced on Thursday, September 21st, that they’ve agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with their 2023 18th overall draft selection Colby Barlow. Barlow’s three-year entry-level contract carries an average annual value of $1.2 million per season. Barlow’s salary will be made up of $855,000 in base salary and $95,000 in […]

Carolina Hurricanes Top 10 Prospects 2023-24

One of the most difficult parts of being a good NHL team is trying to balance the present with the future. A contending team’s salary cap room slowly dissolves as they add free agents or extend their core pieces. Their draft capital can dwindle if the General Manager isn’t wary about sacrificing too many of […]

4 Thoughts About the Dallas Stars’ Moves

The Dallas Stars made a series of moves this past week. Previously, the Stars’ memorable season ended with a thud as they closed the 2023 postseason with a lopsided 6-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on May 29th. Whether you agree or disagree with the Stars’ […]

Sharks Laying a Foundation for Success

Nashville – When asked about Matvei Michkov, San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier paused, smiled, and said, “We are really happy with Will.” Many Sharks fans clamored for the uber-talented Russian winger, whose selection would be the dominant conversation leading into draft night. The Sharks went a different route with USNDTP Will Smith. The […]

Penguins Draft Forward Brayden Yager 14th Overall

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected forward Brayden Yager with the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft last night. Yager is 5’11” and weighs 170 pounds. He played for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League last season. He was originally listed 11th among North American skaters in the draft Prospect rankings. […]

Sharks select Quentin Musty with the 26th pick.

With the 26th pick, the San Jose Sharks select Quentin Musty from Sudbury Wolves in the OHL. Musty scored 26 goals and 52 points in 53 games for the Wolves. The alternate captain also added 4 points in 4 playoff games. “The draw with Musty was always obvious. He brings a little bit of everything […]