Welcome to The Athletic’s NHL Pipeline Rankings for the 2023-24 season! In this edition, we will be taking a look at each team’s best young players and their projected potential. Additionally, we will be ranking each team’s core group to determine how they stack up against the rest of the league.
Before we dive into the rankings, let’s establish the criteria for player eligibility. Players must be 22 years old or younger as of September 15, 2023, which includes prospects selected in the NHL drafts between 2019 and 2023. This allows us to include a team’s top prospects without prematurely promoting players who still have significant development years ahead of them. However, it may also result in the inclusion of established NHL stars while excluding players who are currently in the minor leagues but have the potential to make a league impact.
Moving on to the rankings, each team will receive a full evaluation of their players, complete with tool grades and tiers. This provides a comprehensive analysis that can be applied consistently across all teams.
Over the next four days, we will be unveiling the rankings in groups of eight teams per day. So, make sure to check back here tomorrow for the latest update.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the rankings for today:
17. Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars organization boasts an impressive group of young talents. With promising prospects in their pipeline, the Stars are poised to strengthen their future roster. Keep an eye on their young players as they continue to develop and potentially make their mark in the NHL.
18. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues also have a solid pool of young talent, albeit slightly lower in the rankings. However, this doesn’t indicate a lack of potential. The Blues’ prospects have plenty of room to grow and could play a crucial role in shaping the team’s success in the coming years.
Stay tuned as we continue to unveil the NHL Pipeline Rankings over the next few days. The future of the NHL is bright, and we can’t wait to see these young players flourish on the ice.