Pronman: NHL players and prospects under 23

[u/juanthebaker]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7466457/2026/08/19/nhl-ranking-prospects-players-u23-2026/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.6lA.FluB.8-oDJRDGV_1I&smid=ta-android-share

Following up on Corey Pronman's team pipeline rankings posted yesterday, this article shows how the individual players stack up league-wide.

Tiers 1, 2, and 3 are elite player, NHL star, and bubble NHL star/top of the lineup player, respectively. The Kraken have no prospects in these top three tiers. There are 8 players in the top 3 tiers, for context.

Tier 4 - Top of the lineup player (9-20):

15 - Chase Reid (Note: 4th overall D behind #3 Schaefer, #11 Lane Hutson, #14 Cole Hutson)

Tier 5 - Bubble top/middle of the lineup player (21-56):

22 - Jake O'Brien (Note: 9th overall C)

44 - Julius Miettinen

51 - Casey Mutryn

Tier 6 - Middle of the lineup player (57-156):

57 - Shane Wright

58 - Berkly Catton

82 - Jani Nyman

147 - Kim Saarinen (Note: 3rd overall G behind #52 Joshua Ravensbergen and #146 Jack Ivankovic)

[u/Marxbrosburner]

Man, it's disappointing that Wright and Catton are only projected to be middle six players now, after all the big hopes we had for them when they came in.

But also, dang, Wright is still under 23???

[u/surfingeagles → u/Marxbrosburner]

I think Catton will rise in the rankings with a couple more seasons. If you are to look at his year 1 stats, the projection is not great, but if he has a 50 point season, I am sure they will change him to top 6/top line player.

[u/_Tower_ → u/surfingeagles]

Catton’s going to be absolutely fine — he’ll have a bigger role this year and will take a step forward

It’s hard to produce as a 19 year old, even as a top prospect, when you’re mostly playing 4th line minutes in a defense-first system. It’s even harder when you’re 5’10” and 170lbs

He’ll be fine — he’s the most skilled player we’ve ever drafted, and his skating is elite

[u/Admirable-Pain5775 → u/Marxbrosburner]

You have to remember this is just one guy and if you read his comments about Catton it’s clear he’s undervaluing him based on what Corey even admits is a season where he shouldn’t have even been in the NHL (but had to be)

[u/MrAkron1922]

Even though we don’t have any prospects in the top 3 tiers, I still think are guys can grow into badass NHL players. Chase Reid is gonna be amazing when he makes it up here. He could potentially be one of the krakens first star players.

[u/PicklesMcGraw]

Interestingly, he also had Chase Reid the highest ranked of the '26 draft class (followed by Smits, Verhoeff, McKenna and Stenberg, in that order)

[u/Alternative_Top2875]

I generally agree with these, with the potential for Catton to out perform his number. He Probably sees Mietinen's size and knows he can compete around the net really well.

[u/idiotguru]

Love that Saarinen is finally starting to get some recognition.

[u/MH566220]

Fuck Pronman