Top 10 NHL prospects thriving in the WHL in 2024-25
The past few weeks, we’ve been looking at some of the top NHL prospects in their respective leagues.
From the college ranks of the NCAA, the pro level in the KHL or the major junior powerhouse that is the OHL, there’s been plenty of prospects profiled as we try and establish the best of the best.
Today, we’re sticking in the Canadian Hockey League with the WHL. While it might not have the sheer number of high-end prospects the OHL has, they don’t lack quality. The WHL has been well represented in the first few rounds of the NHL Draft the past few seasons and will continue to do so, with Gavin McKenna (2026) and Landon DuPont (2027) projected to go first overall in each of the next two seasons.
Injuries have kept some players from fully blooming this year Carter Yakemchuk and Cayden Lindstrom, for example. But for these 10, they’ve managed to play some excellent hockey in Western Canada:
Evan Gardner, G (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Team: Saskatoon Blades
Many believed Gardner deserved a shot at making Canada’s World Junior team, and it’s hard to disagree. He leads all drafted prospects in wins this season, and while his stats have quieted down a bit, he more often than not has to do some heavy lifting for a mid-pack Eastern Conference Blades team. Gardner was taken 60th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2024 because of his patience and mobility, and while there’s nothing about his game that he was better at than any other goalie taken, he was pretty solid across the board. The Blue Jackets banked heavily on his 30-game sample size this year, and it’s already paying off, as he’s one of the top goalie prospects in the CHL for how well he plays when Saskatoon needs him the most.
Emmitt Finnie, C (Detroit Red Wings)
Team: Kamloops Blazers
The Red Wings built a reputation in the 90s and early 00s for finding talent in the later rounds of the NHL Draft. Is Finnie – a seventh-rounder in 2023 – next on the list? The 6-foot-1 forward had a solid 59-point season a year ago, but he’s on pace for just under 100 in his fourth season with Kamloops. When he was drafted, he was more of a depth player who just got lost in the shuffle. Now, he’s an energetic forward who has dominated Kamloops’ scoring race and he rarely makes a bad mistake while in a battle. Many scouts think his scoring won’t translate to the NHL – he’s not overly deceptive or anything – but he’s got the work ethic you’d want from someone who can be a nice depth producer, and that’s great from a player taken 201st overall.
Riley Heidt, C (Minnesota Wild)
Team: Prince George Cougars
The Wild have one of the top prospects pools in the NHL, and Heidt is a big part of that. While some scouts wonder what type of player he’ll become at the next level (his two difficult World Junior selection camp showings with Canada didn’t help), most agree he’s a mighty fine major junior player. The 19-year-old is a stout playmaker who had 80 assists and 117 points a year ago. He won’t match that this year, but he should at least break the 90-point mark for the third consecutive season. Heidt has been excellent for a Cougars team that has spent most of the season in the top 10 in WHL points, but still look ways away from being a legit title contender. But Heidt is doing everything in his power to try and take them far, and he’s playing just as well as ever.
Tanner Molendyk, D (Nashville Predators)
Team: Medicine Hat Tigers
Molendyk’s numbers aren’t explosive by any means, but he’s been so important for both Saskatoon and Medicine Hat this year. Nashville’s top prospect is mobile, smart and an excellent puck distributor. He’s a much better two-way threat than he was in his draft year, allowing him to become more effective without the puck as well. It feels like Molendyk focused on building out his weaknesses – which often came down to defensive reads and positioning – to become a more polished threat. And while that hasn’t translated into Carter Yakmechuk-like numbers, it feels like Molendyk has the upper hand to win top defenseman honors this coming spring. For what it’s worth, Molendyk was also one of the few bright spots for Canada at the World Juniors, too.
Berkly Catton, C (Seattle Kraken)
Team: Spokane Chiefs
The Kraken seemingly love to scout the WHL – they have plenty of talented prospects out west But none are as good as Catton, who looks destined to smash the 110-point mark for the second straight year. The 5-foot-10 center isn’t big for a middleman, but he’s extremely skilled with outstanding high-end speed and excellent hands. Catton is one of the WHL’s best setup men, but he also had 54 goals a year ago, too. Catton failed to register a point in his first game back from the World Juniors, but with Andrew Cristall at his side, Catton managed to put up 34 points in his next 12 games with Spokane. Absolute insanity. I can’t wait to see how his game translates to the NHL because I think he was truly one of the most underrated talents from the 2024 draft.
Tyson Jugnauth, D (Seattle Kraken)
Team: Portland Winterhawks
You always expect big things from a 20-year-old defenseman, but the fact that 100 points is still on the table for Jugnauth is pretty special. His development has been a bit different than some others on this list: he played a year and a half at the University of Wisconsin before jetting off to the WHL last year. He had a point-per-game through 41 outings, but has been a driving force for the Winterhawks all season long in his final year of junior. He’s set to join Michigan State next year, and while his lack of size on the back end will likely hurt his NHL potential, he’s going out of the WHL with a bang.
Tomas Mrsic, C (St. Louis Blues)
Team: Prince Albert Raiders
A solid fourth-round pick in 2024, Mrsic has been near the top of the WHL scoring charts all season long. A move from Medicine Hat to Prince George has allowed him to play an even bigger role, and he’s on track for 100 points – a nice boost from his 62 a year ago. But what stands out about his game is just pure power. He has a great shot release and often beats goalie with extreme precision and velocity. He’s also a great skater, too. There’s some concern he’s the type of guy that needs to be in a scoring role to succeed, but he’s decent physically despite not being a huge prospect. For now, I’d like to see him become a more dynamic playmaker, but his shot and speed make him intriguing as a potential middle-six threat.
Andrew Cristall, LW (Washington Capitals)
Team: Spokane Chiefs
Few WHLers have dominated the game the way Cristall has dating back to 2021. He had an insane 60 points in just 28 games with Kelowna before getting traded to Spokane to chase the Memorial Cup. There, he is producing at well over two points a night, giving him a full-season pace for of 132 points. Considering he had 111 last year, it’s incredible to think. Cristall’s lack of size and below-average skating could have prevented him from being a high-impact NHLer. But right now, few junior players are as offensively gifted as Cristall is. I’d bet my life savings he could go 1-on-1 with anyone in the CHL and come out on top.
Terik Parascak RW (Washington Capitals)
Team: Prince George Cougars
After a breakout season in Prince George a year ago, Parascak has kept things going with a 91-point pace. There’s something to be said about players who are in the right spot at the right time and few wingers use open space to create chances like Parascak does. Last year, he had two outstanding WHL linemates in Zac Funk and Ondrej Becher. This year, he’s the one often driving the offense with his speed and excellent shot. He’s also a little bigger than he was in his draft year, too. I still think Parascak needs to evolve his all-around game, but he’s got some real middle-six potential in the NHL.
Brayden Yager, C (Winnipeg Jets)
Team: Lethbridge Hurricanes
A pre-World Junior trade from Moose Jaw to Lethbridge has given Yager a chance to go for the WHL title for the second straight year. He is on pace for around 90 points this year, while also showing why he’s a stout two-way threat. He works hard, battles harder and can beat you with pure hockey IQ. Beyond the puck, Yager can kill penalties and win quite a few faceoffs while also being a good straight-line skater. Will he be a game-breaker in the NHL? Unlikely, but he’s toolsy and useful in so many other facets of the game that I think he’ll have a solid NHL career.
Other notables: Carson Bjarnason, G (Philadelphia Flyers); Tij Iginla, LW (Utah Hockey Club); Gracyn Sawchyn, C (Florida Panthers); Clarke Caswell, LW (Seattle Kraken); Lukas Dragicevic, D (Seattle Kraken); Carter Yakemchuk, D (Ottawa Senators)
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