Top 15 NHL-affiliated defensive prospects in 2024-25

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Fans like debating things online, right? So let’s have some fun.

Everybody wants their prospects to be the best of the best. And, usually, they won’t follow how other teams’ top youngsters are doing. That’s why top prospect lists can cause some heated debates.

Today, we’re spicing things up by looking at 15 of the best defensive prospects in the game today. Indeed, it’s a deep group – there are plenty of high-end options who appear on their way to becoming impact NHLers who just missed the cut. Chicago’s Kevin Korchinski, Columbus’ David Jiricek and New Jersey’s Simon Nemec are not included due to their NHL experience.

Let’s not waste and time – here’s a look at 15 of the best defensive prospects in the game right now:

1. Zeev Buium, Minnesota Wild

Team: University of Denver, NCAA

There’s an argument to be made that Buium is the best prospect in hockey right now, although Ivan Demidov might say otherwise. But Buium is a truly remarkable defender, and his stock his sky-high right now. Since Jan. 2024, Buium has won two World Junior Championships with USA and a national NCAA title with the University of Denver. And Buium has been a key part of all of that, playing important minutes while establishing himself as a play-driving, all-around defender. He’s so effective at both ends of the ice, and he’s a truly remarkable skater. Buium isn’t particularly big or strong, but many scouts aren’t worried because his hockey IQ and pure skill are so high-end already. Look for Buium to push for an NHL spot next year.

2. Alexander Nikishin, Carolina Hurricanes

Team: SKA St. Petersburg, KHL

He’s 23, so many don’t consider the SKA St. Petersburg star a prospect anymore. But we’re focusing on players 23 and under, so we’ll count him. Drafted 69th overall in 2020, Nikishin isn’t likely to surpass the 50-point barrier after doing so the past two years. But he’s by far the most productive KHL defenseman from the past three years and has the seventh-most points at any position. His past two seasons are among the best ever seen by a KHL defender, and no blueliner is remotely close to touching his 140 points from the past three years combined. Oh, and he’s also a mobile 6-foot-4 rearguard, too – that doesn’t hurt. Many believe Nikishin can take on a big role in the NHL immediately next year, which would give the Hurricanes a significant boost.

3. Zayne Parekh, Calgary Flames

Team: Saginaw Spirit, OHL

There was a point where Parekh was on pace for about 85 points this year – which would have still been good, but a step behind his 96 from his draft season. Instead, Parekh is tracking for more than 100 points and a second 30-goal season – simply unheard of these days. Parekh is too good for the OHL at this point, reigniting the conversation about whether or not 19-year-olds should be allowed to play in the American Hockey League. Since he already has his NHL contract, the options are to either make the Flames out of training camp (which isn’t ideal) or send him back to dominate in Saginaw again (which is even less ideal). That’s a testament to just how good Parekh is – he’s the most dynamic, dominant offensive defenseman we’ve seen in the CHL in quite some time.

4. Artyom Levshunov, Chicago Blackhawks

Team: Rockford IceHogs, AHL

A preseason injury knocked Levshunov off the ice to start the season, but he wasted no time making a big impact in Rockford. He’s tracking to finish with around 30 points, which is a tremendous number for a 19-year-old jumping up to pro hockey. The last few years have been full of change for Levshunov, who has played in four different leagues in the past four years. That’s what’s so impressive with Levshunov – every time he takes a jump forward, he doesn’t take long to find his groove. I hope to see the Hawks give Levshunov an NHL game before the year is over.

5. Sam Dickinson, San Jose Sharks

Team: London Knights, OHL

*Sam Dickinson (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Sure, Dickinson struggled in the World Juniors. But we’ve seen enough of Dickinson to know he’s much better than that. He’s on pace for around 30 goals and 90 points, which, like Parekh, is quite remarkable. The 6-foot-3 blueliner is one of the best two-way guys in the OHL and could finish as London’s top scorer this year. We’ve only seen three OHL defensemen break past the 90-point barrier over the past 20 years – Ryan Ellis in 2010-11 (100) and Parekh (96) and Hunter Brzustewicz (92) just last year. Nobody would be surprised to see Dickinson join the elusive group.

6. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Detroit Red Wings

Team: Skellefteå AIK, SHL

Some scouts were wondering at the World Juniors what type of player ASP is going to be in the NHL. He was named top defensemen in the past two tournaments, so the timing was funny. He’s so incredibly skilled with the puck and rarely isn’t involved offensively during a game. Sandin-Pellikka is playing around 20 minutes a night against quality competition in Sweden, which is very impressive for his age. One concern, though, is that he isn’t physically strong at 5-foot-11 and can get caught making careless plays a bit too often. The good news is that he’s set to head to North America for the 2025-26 season, so we could see the Red Wings give him some time in Grand Rapids to further refine his game before making the big club the following year.

7. Anton Silayev, New Jersey Devils

Team: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL

Silayev might be the most fascinating prospect around right now. The 6-foot-7 defenseman can obviously beat players with his physicality. But he also has plenty of speed and is quite mobile overall, which is rare for someone his size. His numbers won’t blow you away, but he’s one of just two U-19 players to register double-digit points and is the only defenseman with more than one. The fact he’s playing 17 minutes a night – and more, on some occasions – is impressive for someone his age. Silayev can clearly handle the physical side of things, but his ability to be involved with the puck is very impressive. Don’t expect him to become a high-end offensive threat in the NHL, but his ability to make himself useful with and without the puck will help open doors for him in New Jersey.

8. Denton Mateychuk, Columbus Blue Jackets

Team: Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL

Mateychuk has nearly lost his Calder Trophy eligibility for 2025-26 after spending the past two months in the NHL, but he’s not going to care. The former Moose Jaw Warriors captain proved to be too good for the AHL and has been up with the big club since late December. Mateychuk is still learning how to adjust to the speed and skill of the NHL but we’re already seeing him playing around 20 minutes a night in some games. His confidence is among the best you’ll find of any young defensive prospect, and his emergence made it easily for the Blue Jackets to move on from David Jiricek. Mateychuk might be on the smaller side at 5-foot-11, but he makes up for it with outstanding hockey sense and an overall rounded skill set.

9. Tanner Molendyk, Nashville Predators

Team: Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL

Molendyk’s numbers aren’t explosive, but he’s been crucial 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. Molendyk was also one of the few bright spots for Canada at the World Juniors, which wasn’t surprising.

10. Carter Yakemchuk, Ottawa Senators

Team: Calgary Hitmen, WHL

*Carter Yakemchuk (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Yakemchuk won’t come close to the 30 goals and 71 points he had a year ago (injuries didn’t help him), but it’s still been a solid season for the 2024 first-rounder. Scouts like his 6-foot-3, 201-pound frame, and he clearly knows how to outskill just about anyone. His confidence level is as high as you’ll find at this age, which you like to see. He can be a bit hot and cold – he struggled at the Buffalo Prospects Challenge in September but was excellent during the preseason a week later. But when he’s hot, Yakemchuk has so many pro tools, such as a booming shot, great size and stout physicality. The biggest knock against him is still his own-zone defensive reads, but I feel like he’s not getting burned at the same rate he was last year.

11. David Reinbacher, Montreal Canadiens

Team: Laval Rocket, AHL

It’s been tough to truly judge Reinbacher’s career since getting drafted fifth overall in 2023. He played on an EHC Kloten team that cycled through coaches and struggled in every way imaginable. Reinbacher started the season by playing some solid hockey for Austria at the Olympic qualification tournament, but then got injured in the preseason and has been limited to just a handful of games in Laval. Right now, the biggest focus is trying to get his game back on track, and some early viewings have suggested that he’s doing OK. Reinbacher looked uncomfortable at points during his short stint with Laval last year – but when he was playing with confidence, he was hard to contain. He’s catching up for lost time, but many still believe in his ability to become a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL.

12. Cole Hutson, Washington Capitals

Team: Boston University, NCAA

Hutson has been a hot commodity in recent weeks, starting by leading the World Juniors in scoring en route to a gold medal. At BU, Hutson is producing at more than a point-per-game pace, filling in for his brother, Lane, quite nicely. He’s not going to be as productive as Lane was as a freshman, but Cole is still putting up one of the best seasons by any defenseman, which isn’t surprising if you watched him with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program last year. Cole isn’t exactly his brother – although they’ve got similar skating and puck skills – but Cole is a bit stronger and lands more hits. Scouts will be quick to note that he isn’t as smart as his older brother. But Caps fans will be happy to know Cole is tracking to be a difference-maker, regardless.

13. Dmitri Simashev, Utah Hockey Club

Team: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL

Simashev is a mobile, 6-foot-5 defenseman who plays a ton of hockey for Yaroslavl. Like Silayev, Simashev plays around 17 minutes a night and is quite impressive defensively. Simashev doesn’t do a ton offensively, and his numbers haven’t really improved this season, but some scouts have noted that he doesn’t get caught chasing the puck as often in his own zone. He’s a good transitional player who can also play on the penalty kill, and I like his shot, despite him not showing it too often. I think he can become a decent second-pairing defenseman who can help feed a more skilled, puck-moving blueliner.

14. Tom Willander, Vancouver Canucks

Team: Boston College, NCAA

Willander is having another solid season at BU, and he earned some top defenseman votes for his play with Sweden at the 2025 World Juniors. The big thing about his game is that he doesn’t need to be productive to be effective. He has good gap control, excellent mobility and is quite smart. The fact he can also run a power play is just icing on the cake. Willander is one of the most mobile, athletic prospects you’ll find, and he’s got a good head on his shoulders. I don’t expect Willander to put up a ton of points in the NHL, but he’s a top-four defenseman (I lean more on the second pairing) who can beat opponents with his pure competitiveness.

15. Scott Morrow, Carolina Hurricanes

Team: Chicago Wolves, AHL

*Scott Morrow (James Guillory-Imagn Images)*

Morrow earned a two-game NHL stint last spring and recently skated in another two games on Carolina’s bottom pair. For now, he’s still a work in progress, but Morrow has looked fantastic in the AHL. He’s on track for more than 50 points as a rookie blueliner, and while he might be older at 22, those are still fantastic numbers. The right-handed defender has good size, great handling skills, and doesn’t have many brainfarts in his zone. Morrow showed tremendous improvement in each of his three years at UMass, and he’s now playing with a ton of momentum with the Wolves. I hope Morrow gets power-play work when he makes it to the NHL full-time.

Other notables: Tristan Luneau, Anaheim Ducks; Sam Rinzel, Chicago Blackhawks; Logan Mailloux, Montreal Canadiens; Seamus Casey, New Jersey Devils; Oliver Bonk, Philadelphia Flyers; Maveric Lamoureux, Utah Hockey Club

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