The 20 best prospects to stash in fantasy hockey keeper leagues for 2023-24

Credit: Logan Cooley (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

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It’s fantasy playoff season…for many of us. That’s not the case for all of us. Plenty of devoted GMs just didn’t have the touch this year and missed the playoffs. But the work is never done. If you’re in a keeper or dynasty format, now is the time to start speculating on how to win next season.

One great way to get ahead of your competition? Scooping prospects who have strong odds of contributing in the NHL the following season. Most formats don’t allow you to pick up any 2023 NHL Draft eligible players yet, so we can set aside the Connor Bedard fantasy. But most prospects who have already been drafted by NHL teams are eligible to be picked up in fantasy leagues right now. The exceptions, of course, are the NCAA kids who haven’t turned pro and signed contracts yet, but they absolutely should be on your radar in case they do so before this season ends and get into a few games.

Who are my most recommended prospects to stash right now for next season? I present to you my top 20. But first, a few important disclaimers:

– This is not a complete list of the best prospects in the NHL. It’s a ranking of the players with the best chance to contribute next season. You won’t find elite netminding prospects Yaroslav Askarov and Jesper Wallstedt in my top 20, for instance, because each is blocked by two veterans who are signed or under team control through next season.

– Just a reminder for any prospect hounds who stumble upon this piece: these are fantasy rankings, so the players are ordered by how much I expect them to help in pools. No points awarded for gap control or intangibles, in other words.

– The NCAA prospects who do make the list are the ones I anticipate will turn pro in time for next season.

– The list skews heaviest toward prospects who are (a) already competing in North America and (b) competing in the AHL or NCAA, because playing against men in those environments increases the likelihood of making the jump by next season.

– Prospects who have graduated and are currently toiling in the NHL don’t qualify. Example: Chicago Blackhawks center Lukas Reichel. Carolina Hurricanes rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov would rank, at worst, No. 2 on this list, but he doesn’t qualify since he’s currently on the NHL roster. If he’s available in any keeper league, however, grab him immediately. With Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta both UFAs, Kochetkov has the inside track on the starting job – and top-five upside at his position – for 2023-24. Also keep an eye on Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks. Is he already better than John Gibson?

On to the list!

1. Logan Cooley, C, Arizona Coyotes

If it weren’t for Adam Fantilli, Cooley might be leading the Hobey Baker discussion as a freshman. With a dynamic cocktail of hands, vision and speed, he has formed a powerhouse line at the University of Minnesota with Matthew Knies and Jimmy Snuggerud. Cooley projects as a big-time point accumulator in the NHL and should slide right into top-six work as a rookie once he goes pro. If it weren’t for the generationally epic 2023 Draft Class, Cooley would be the Calder Trophy frontrunner for 2023-24.

2. Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

Two of the three Hughes brothers may soon make sweet magic in New Jersey. Luke, who has the raw offensive acumen on ‘D’ to rival brother Quinn but is much bigger at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, has torn it up as a freshman on a stacked Michigan team. The plan is for Luke to turn pro before the season ends. And we might even see him make an impact in the Stanley Cup playoffs coming right out of college, like Cale Makar did for the Colorado Avalanche in 2018-19. What makes Hughes extra exciting as a fantasy prospect: unlike so many other players on this list, he won’t be walking in to the early stages of a rebuild. The Devils, led by his older brother Jack, are a very good team right now. It also helps that Luke is a left shot, as the Devils aren’t nearly as dynamic on the left side and thus could use Luke’s skillset immediately.

3. David Jiricek, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek just does so many things well, and that really matters for fantasy hockey purposes given how many formats use banger categories now. Already built like a man as a teenager, he has more than held his own as a two-way force in the AHL and has played a pair of NHL games, too. Oddly enough, I see Jiricek’s fantasy impact being very similar to what Seth Jones originally brought to Columbus: solid point totals and nice contributions to the other volume categories, from shots to hits to blocks. In Jiricek’s two-game sample, he averaged two shots, two blocks and 2.5 hits. I could see him maintaining those paces and contributing 30 points as a stat-stuffing rookie next season.

4. Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken

I figured Wright was as likely as any 2022 draftee to make the immediate jump given he’s such an intelligent player and was joining a team that, theoretically, needed him. Alas, the 2022-23 Kraken turned out to be deeper and more competitive than anticipated and mothballed Wright on and off before bouncing him to the AHL, the World Junior Championship and then back to major junior – before he broke the nine-game threshold, thus ensuring his entry-level contract would slide a year. What we needed to see from Wright back in the OHL this time: domination. And he’s finally shown that after a trade to Windsor, ripping it up for almost two points a game. With his quick release, I think he has 20 goals in his stick as an NHL rookie in 2023-24.

5. Dylan Guenther, RW, Arizona Coyotes

Guenther won’t even be Calder Trophy eligible next season, but he cracks the list after being returned to major junior this winter. He has a bigger NHL sample to draw from than the other players on this list: 33 games, during which popped six goals and managed 53 shots while logging 13:07 per night. The Yotes will add Cooley and quite possibly an all-world 2023 Draftee like Bedard or Fantilli to their lineup next season, meaning we could see a much more fantasy friendly environment at Mullett Arena. The elite-skating Guenther can keep up, and I don’t think he’ll need AHL seasoning given how long of a look he’s already received in the NHL. That he can score goals with aplomb but also make plays to set up teammates elevates his scoring ceiling, too.

6. Alexander Holtz, RW, New Jersey Devils

Holtz, the Devils’ best pure goal-scoring prospect, wasn’t quite ready to make a consistent splash at the NHL level this season, so the Devils went out and got Timo Meier for an immediate impact forward. They managed to do so without sacrificing Holtz in the trade with San Jose, meaning he’ll get another chance to establish himself as a power-play threat next season. It’s encouraging to see him lighting up the AHL. He passes the “score at every level” test and it still just 21, so there’s no reason to quit on him yet in fantasy. The hurdle for him is that the Devils are quite deep at forward now, and his offensive toolbelt suits him best for top-six duty – whether that’s in the NHL or AHL.

7. Brandt Clarke, D, Los Angeles Kings

Clarke has lit it up with OHL Barrie this season, tracking for almost two points per game. His fantasy upside is absolutely tantalizing, especially when the Kings are just beginning what should be a long contention window. It sounds like he should rank higher, right? Just keep in mind that the Kings have a logjam on the right side of their D-corps, so Clarke won’t necessarily be gifted a job and/or a plum role. That was likely one reason they felt comfortable sending him back after a nine-game cup of coffee this season. Once Clarke sticks, though, he’ll be fun to watch.

8. Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings

Don’t forget: Edvinsson was awfully close to making Detroit this season. I’ve heard scouts compare the 6-foot-6 monster to Victor Hedman, and I could see a similar trajectory. After cutting his teeth in the AHL this season, I expect Edvinsson to be a full-time NHLer in 2023-23. He has serious puck-moving skill for a big man, but that might not translate to big point totals right away, which is why I have him lower here than I would in real-life rankings. That said, I expect him to be a banger-league asset from the start.

9. Dylan Holloway, LW, Edmonton Oilers

One could argue Holloway doesn’t have the same offensive ceiling as some other names on this list. But when you play a feisty, physical game like he does, it’s actionable in fantasy because (a) it means he doesn’t have to play in the top six to make the NHL club and (b) when he does stick, he can be an asset in banger categories. He last suited up for the Oilers in February. They sent him down to AHL Bakersfield, where he got hurt after one game. He’s now firmly off the fantasy radar, which is great news for you: he’s rostered in just one percent of Yahoo leagues. He can be a viable deep-league asset at worst next season, with a range of outcomes that includes a massive breakout if he finds his way onto a scoring line with you-know-who or you-know-who.

10. Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild

The Wild still badly need a long-term weapon to center a scoring line. They also need contributors on entry-level AAVs next season, when their buyout penalties for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter shoot skyward of $14 million. I thought Rossi was going to stick and challenge for the Calder Trophy this season after he led the NHL pre-season in scoring. It didn’t happen, but I’m not out on him yet. He has been a star with AHL Iowa this season and he has an intriguing blend of intelligence and never-quit attitude. If he can just find a way onto a line with Kirill Kaprizov at some point, the possibilities are really exciting.

11. Logan Stankoven, C, Dallas Stars: Dynamic scorer has rocketed up prospect rankings, but Dallas is crowded up the middle, so he’ll have to earn his way onto the team.

12. Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils: Will be a star. Devils have more competition for fantasy-friendly work on right side of blueline than left in short term, though.

13. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues: Interesting goal-scoring upside for fast-rising prospect if he turns pro.

14. Fabian Lysell, LW, Boston Bruins: Too bad he doesn’t play center. Bruins have long-term question marks there but are deep on the wings, meaning Lysell still has to fight his way into the NHL lineup despite his considerable offensive talent.

15. Jiri Kulich, LW, Buffalo Sabres: Enjoyed the Euro-import advantage of getting to play in AHL as a teenager. Has shown lots of promise as a scorer there.

16. Cutter Gauthier, LW, Philadelphia Flyers: His versatility ups the odds of him sticking with the Flyers if he goes pro. Good defensively and can play wing or center.

17. Matt Coronato, RW, Calgary Flames: Not the highest-upside prospect on this list, but his hardworking demeanor could endear him to coach Darryl Sutter and fast track him onto the NHL roster if he turns pro.

18. Ridly Greig, C, Ottawa Senators: Was already on the banger-league radar during his first recall this season. I expect the feisty pivot to break camp with Sens next year.

19. Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: Left wing is a revolving door for the Leafs, so it’s not inconceivable that the soft-handed big man gets a look in a meaningful role on a dangerous offensive team in short order.

20. Olen Zellweger, D, Anaheim Ducks: Not a lock to break camp with Anaheim but should get a real look. Major upside as an offensive defenseman.

Not yet: Matt Savoie, Marco Kasper, Jesper Wallstedt, Yaroslav Askarov, Frank Nazar, Pavel Mintyukov, Kevin Korchinski, Jordan Dumais