Welcome again to The Journey, the place we monitor the event of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push in the direction of stardom.
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This week, we’re diving into the April version of Dobber’s top-50 points-only dynasty protection prospects rating. Though it is a points-only standards, I’ll nonetheless contact on the multi-cat potential for a couple of of those prospects. There’s a stable mixture of intriguing prospects on the market, some already on rosters providing quick worth, and others ready for his or her massive break. Let’s kick issues off with the one prospect who made an enormous bounce up the rankings.
Risers:
Calgary Flames
February: 8 / March: 7 / April: 3
Parekh’s inventory elevated in a significant method this season with a record-breaking run for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, recording 107 factors (33 targets, 74 assists) over simply 57 video games. He then capped off an excellent 12 months by making his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames, scoring his first profession purpose in a 5–1 victory over the LA Kings. Parekh sees the ice at an elite degree; threading passes via tight lanes and controlling the ability play with confidence and composure. His NHLe score of 46.4 factors to robust top-four upside and a respectable shot at operating a future NHL energy play. The instruments are all there and Parekh seems very near being NHL prepared.
Dallas Stars
February: 57 / March: 52 / April: 21
Bichsel’s path to the NHL included time within the SHL with Rögle BK earlier than making the bounce to North America. In his first stretch with the Texas Stars (AHL), he registered 9 factors throughout 21 video games. As a 6-foot-6, 233-pound defender, Bichsel brings a naturally bodily edge and a gentle, reliable presence on the again finish. He made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars in mid-December this season and has caught with the staff since.
Offense is just not the main target of Bichsel’s sport. As a substitute, he leans into physicality and sound defensive play, and in 38 regular-season video games, he posted 9 factors and delivered 155 hits, quietly providing fantasy worth in codecs that reward peripherals. With Miro Heiskanen sidelined with an harm, Dallas has relied on a committee strategy to fill the void, and Bichsel’s shutdown type has taken on added significance, particularly because the Stars playoff run continues.
Vancouver Canucks
February: 67 / March: 68 / April: 34
Pettersson’s rating jumped from 68th in March to thirty fourth in April and it felt pushed extra by circumstance than by pure efficiency. The final quarter of the Canucks’ season noticed a number of turbulence—key accidents to Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, the JT Miller commerce, plus setbacks to depth defensive items like Derek Forbort and Tyler Myers, created a vacuum on the blue line. His call-up seemed extra like a transfer out of necessity than a mirrored image of developmental timing. That stated, with 46 AHL video games throughout two seasons and 34 video games in HockeyAllsvenskan already on his résumé, there’s a case to be made that he was NHL-ready. Nonetheless, the query lingers, if the roster had stayed wholesome, would he have seen 28 video games of NHL motion this 12 months?
To his credit score, Pettersson made the a lot of the alternative. He recorded three factors whereas averaging 12:49 in ice time and did see a rise in his TOI within the final 10 video games of the season. No matter that, he continues to carry his place as a top-three prospect within the Canucks’ pipeline. He’s a bodily, defense-first blueliner who can carry worth via consciousness and edge greater than offensive upside.
New Jersey Devils
February: 76 / March: 76 / April: 39
Very like the Chicago Blackhawks, the New Jersey Devils are loaded on the again finish in the case of prospect depth. With Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes already fixtures within the NHL, and each Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey getting a style of big-league minutes, it looks like solely a matter of time earlier than Silayev joins the combo. That stated, his timeline seems just a little additional out.
Skating for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod within the KHL this season, he posted 2 targets and 10 assists over 63 video games. It isn’t an insane stat line however Silayev is 6-foot-7, 211 kilos, competing towards grown males in one of many world’s hardest leagues, at simply 18 years outdated. Let that sink in. He combines uncommon measurement and physicality with elite skating. His edge work and mobility permit him to shut gaps and transition the play into offense rapidly. The important thing query shifting ahead is how his body will evolve and whether or not added muscle impacts his agility or tempo. Even so, the upside right here is gigantic.
St. Louis Blues
February: 135 / March: 131 / April: 45
Jiricek’s 12 months has been something however clean, outlined by a tricky restoration course of. He skilled two knee accidents—one suffered simply earlier than the World Juniors and one other early within the match, with the latter requiring surgical procedure that in the end ending his season. He made his return in early March, becoming a member of the Brantford Bulldogs within the OHL. Over 27 video games to shut out the 12 months, he posted 4 targets and eight assists, a stable displaying given the prolonged absence from the sport.
Attempting to judge Jiricek’s full sport is a problem contemplating the accidents and time missed. His potential to battle again speaks volumes and the hope stays that he can get again on monitor and develop right into a reliable, two-way presence on the blue line.
Montreal Canadians
February: 129 / March: 124 / April: 45
Engström has made a seamless bounce from Rögle BK within the SHL to the Laval Rocket within the AHL. He wrapped up his first 12 months in North America with 5 targets and 22 assists over 66 video games, robust manufacturing for a rookie adjusting to a sooner, extra bodily league. He has dealt with the physicality and tighter defensive calls for properly, and his skating continues to face out as a key energy. With good measurement and mobility, he already seems bodily ready for NHL minutes. Whereas he might not sit on the high of Montreal’s blueline prospect depth chart, Engström brings worth as a gentle, well-rounded choice with room to develop.
Philadelphia Flyers
February: 147 / March: 144 / April: 46
Bonk is broadly seen as one of many high two prospects within the Flyers system and Philadelphia seems totally invested in his trajectory and desperate to see how he develops on the NHL degree. This season didn’t match the offensive output he posted final 12 months, when he put up 67 factors in 60 video games with the London Knights. He nonetheless turned in a stable effort, ending with 11 targets and 29 assists in 52 video games (0.77 factors per sport).
He has nonetheless, stepped up within the playoffs, including 10 factors via 13 video games because the Knights put together to face the Oshawa Generals (Recreation 2) tonight at 7 p.m. in what ought to be an thrilling finals matchup. His pleasure for the Flyers and connection to town of Philadelphia solely add to the optimistic indicators as he continues to push towards the NHL.
Dallas Stars
February: 140 / March: 136 / April: 50
Bertucci was a shiny spot on a tricky Flint Firebirds roster final season, placing up 44 factors in 61 video games whereas logging heavy minutes. That set the stage for one more robust 12 months following his transfer to the Barrie Colts. He adopted it up with seven targets and 30 assists over 52 regular-season video games, carefully matching his earlier point-per-game manufacturing.
Very like Bonk within the playoffs, Bertucci took one other step ahead. He recorded 18 factors in 16 video games as Barrie superior to the OHL semi-finals earlier than falling to the Oshawa Generals. That postseason push helped vault him into the highest 50 prospect rankings. Bertucci remains to be anticipated to proceed his growth on the professional degree. With a deep defensive core already in place in Dallas, there isn’t any stress to hurry him, giving him the runway he must spherical out his sport.
Fallers:
Utah Mammoth
February: 26 / March: 25 / April: 40
There weren’t many vital fallers within the newest rankings, however one title that drew a little bit of consideration was Duda of the newly named Utah Mammoth. There isn’t any actual concern right here, as Duda is solely going via the adjustment course of that comes with adapting to the North American sport.
Duda held his personal final season with Toronto Metropolitan College within the USports League earlier than making the bounce to the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners. Contemplating the leap from the MHL to USports and now to the AHL, he has managed the transition fairly properly. That stated, it’s clear he stays in a developmental part and can want extra time to settle in and spherical out his sport.
Thanks for studying! See you subsequent week. For extra content material/fantasy hockey evaluation, or if there’s a prospect, you’d like me to cowl, comply with and message me on X @Punters_hockey.
