Top 10 2023-24 NHL prospect tournament standouts

Miquel Tourigny (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Now, the real fun can begin.

With NHL training camps set to open later this week, teams around the league took part in regional prospect tournaments, with events in Buffalo, Traverse City, Vegas, Florida, Penticton and Minnesota.

Many of the game’s top prospects took part, including Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, Simon Nemec and Logan Cooley. There were also a number of players on each team vying for training camp roster invites, or, in some cases, just somewhere to play for 2023-24.

You can’t take too much out of it. It’s still September hockey, and with varying levels of quality between players on each team, it’s not a true representation of a prospect’s value. But what we saw were NHL teams playing against other NHL teams, and you can’t go wrong with that.

I was in person for all three days of the Buffalo Prospect Challenge, but I also kept a close eye on other events going on around the league over the weekend. Here’s a look at 10 of the best players from a weekend of action:

Jordan Dumais, RW (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Dumais had the single-best performance of any player over the weekend, scoring two goals and adding four assists in a 10-7 win over Detroit – a game that saw the Red Wings take a 4-1 lead early. He also had two goals against Toronto in a 7-3 win, giving him a Traverse City-leading four goals and eight points in just two games. He had a .667 shooting percentage on six shots, which, after seeing him put up 54 goals and 140 points with Halifax last year, isn’t too surprising. Dumais will return to the QMJHL; you can only imagine how many points he’ll put up as a fourth-year player.

*Isak Rosen (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Isak Rosén, LW (Buffalo Sabres)

With three points against Montreal and a second goal against New Jersey, Rosén showed why Sabres fans are so excited about him. The winger is a solid two-way player who impresses in the defensive zone, something he showed specifically against New Jersey. He added another 10 pounds to his frame over the summer, which showed in his ability to fight past a few of Montreal’s biggest players in the first game. Matthew Savoie was also a standout for the Sabres, but that’s to be expected. For Rosén, Sabres fans have yet another good young winger to be pumped about.

Miguel Tourigny, D (Montreal Canadiens)

While most were following the Canadiens to keep up with David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux, Tourigny caught the scouts’ attention. Montreal holds the 21-year-old’s rights, but he’s still unsigned after spending last year with HK Dukla Trencin. He played a solid two-way game, looking confident and quick with the puck. Tourigny is signed to an AHL deal with Laval for 2023-24, but the Canadiens’ management brass noticed how he commanded the play in Buffalo. The one downside: he got pushed around quite a bit, and at 5-foot-8, you can see the problem.

Akito Hirose, D (Vancouver Canucks)

With four points in two games, Hirose – who saw some NHL action with the Canucks last year – made his presence known. The Canucks signed Hirose out of college last year and he impressed in his limited action, but the competition to make the team out of camp is going to be difficult. Hirose’s performance on the power play showed a side of him he didn’t get to display in the NHL, but it could make him more valuable down the line.

*Easton Cowan (Photo by Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Easton Cowan, C (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Many criticized the Leafs for taking Cowan in the first round – myself included. But a six-point run with Toronto in Traverse City allowed him to finish with the scoring lead, with his four assists tying him for the team lead. Matthew Knies had the star factor, but Cowan – a forward with the London Knights – looked hungry to prove why the Leafs believed in him so much. He’s a good defensive player, too, and he doesn’t get enough credit for it. The Leafs had their ups and downs in Michigan, but Cowan was consistently one to watch.

Connor Bedard, C (Chicago Blackhawks)

Bedard played just one game for the Blackhawks, and, as expected, looked incredible with three goals and an assist. His wrist shot release is among the best I’ve ever seen in person, and there was no chance Colten Ellis was stopping any of the goals that Bedard scored. It seems like he never scores a garbage goal – everything is earned. It was nice that he wanted to be part of Chicago’s rookie lineup when many other top prospects didn’t participate, but, come on. He’s bound to have one of the best rookie campaigns we’ve seen in decades.

Josh Doan, RW (Arizona Coyotes)

The son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, Doan had four goals and seven points in three games in his first run of games with Arizona. The talent pool at the Vegas tournament wasn’t tremendous by any means, and Dylan Guenther was with the main Coyotes squad in Australia, but the 21-year-old just edged out Connor Geekie by a point to lead all players. Doan looked energized, took control of the puck and everything seemed to have just clicked.

Beau Akey, D (Edmonton Oilers)

It was hard to find a negative comment about Akey, who looked a step above the rest throughout his time in Penticton. He had three points in two games, showing his usual confidence with the puck. Akey plays a stout heads-up game, allowing him to make quick plays under pressure and create chances. He has an excellent release and is a strong skater, giving him an excellent offensive toolkit to work with from the point. Many thought the Oilers got a steal in him at 56th overall, and this helped show why.

*Leevi Merilainen (Photo from Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Leevi Meriläinen, G (Ottawa Senators)

Meriläinen started two games and was a difference-maker in both. He made 30 stops against a New Jersey Devils team with a bit more depth, and then turned away 33 of 35 shots in a close 2-1 game against Montreal. Given Ottawa had just three shots in a 30-minute span against Montreal on Monday, Meriläinen had to be special, and he was. With Ottawa looking like a team on the move, they’re still trying to figure out their long-term goaltending options. Meriläinen has to spend the next little bit with Belleville in the AHL, but many scouts think he has the toolkit to be the answer in net.

Tarun Fizer, RW (Ottawa Senators)

Expectations were low for Fizer, who spent most of 2023-24 with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. An undrafted free agent invite, Fizer made a huge impact with a hat-trick against New Jersey and another goal against Pittsburgh. He was arguably the best UFA invite from any team, someone with no NHL contract to date. While he had his moments of floating around, he was easily Ottawa’s best player throughout camp and deserves a chance at main camp to prove himself.

Other Notables: Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets), Jakob Dobes (Montreal Canadiens), Etienne Morin (Calgary Flames), Tristan Luneau (Anaheim Ducks), Vadim Zherenko (St. Louis Blues), Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks), Matthew Savoie (Buffalo Sabres), Brayden Yager (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mack Guzda (Florida Panthers)

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