Podcast Summary: The Athletic Hockey Show — Who are the NHL’s Top 100 Prospects?

Date: April 14, 2026
Hosts: Max Boltman & Scott Wheeler

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Athletic Hockey Show (Prospect Series), hosts Max Boltman and lead NHL prospect writer Scott Wheeler dive deep into Scott's annual "Top 100 Drafted NHL Prospects" list. They analyze the emerging elite talents, risers, and some challenging rankings, discussing which NHL teams have the strongest prospect pools, and sifting through the most fascinating player development stories of the season. The conversation highlights individual standouts, intriguing sleepers, prospect comparison debates, as well as insights into the current landscape of goaltending prospects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Elite Tier: Michael Misa and Porter Martone

[01:44–04:30]

• Who’s at the Top and Why?
  Scott’s top tier is a "bubble of their own" featuring Michael Misa (likely 2025 1st overall pick) and Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers), with Martone described as one of the best NHL rookies this season.

  • “Martone has stepped in and immediately not just been a good player for them, but on most nights been one of their very best players.” (Scott Wheeler, [02:16])
  • Misa’s “skating and position tipped the scales,” but Martone’s physicality, competitiveness, and ability to keep up at NHL pace make the gap small.

• Why not a Bigger Top Tier?

  • Earlier in the year, the top group might have included more names.
  • Notable prospects just below the top two: TJ Iginla, Berkly Catton, Jake O'Brien, Roger McQueen, Michael Hage, Anton Frondell.

2. Frondell vs. Martone, and Team Prospect Depth

[04:30–08:31]

• Anton Frondell (Chicago Blackhawks):

  • Elevated play as an 18-minute-a-night center, driving his own line (even without Bedard).
    • “I do still wonder a little bit with Anton about the playmaking… but he’s right in that top ten, right in that second tier.” (Scott Wheeler, [05:00])
  • His emergence makes Chicago’s system even deeper (8 players in the Top 100).

• Nashville’s System:

  • Most prospects in the Top 100 (9), but missing a true high-end “star” like Frondell or Martone.
  • Prospects like Brady Martin and Riker Lee stand out, but the group is more about depth than superstar upside.

3. Big Risers and Russian Prospect Watch

[12:25–17:35]

• Ilya Protus (Washington Capitals):

  • Massive leap in prospect rankings after dominating the OHL, then AHL, now looking strong in his NHL debut.
    • “He’s already scored in the NHL, just made his debut last week and he’s already got a few points in the league.” (Scott Wheeler, [12:42])
  • Comparison to his brother Alexei: “I actually think in terms of pure puck skill at the same age… Ilya’s more impressive.”

• Roman Kantserov (Chicago) & Alexander Zurovsky (Montreal):

  • Russian prospects generate intrigue due to international isolation.
    • “Kantserov is the more premium of those two players… high-end skater… he’s going to be a top-six winger for the Blackhawks long-term.” (Scott Wheeler, [15:24])
  • Kantserov vs. Zurovsky: Kantserov is closer, more NHL-ready; Zurovsky needs to get stronger, will likely spend more years in the KHL.

4. Deep Cuts and Surprises: Calgary, Letourneau, and Gridden

[17:35–22:33]

• Calgary’s Quiet Prospect Build:

  • Flames have strong risers like Mavig Gridden (described as “the most under-the-radar young player in the NHL this year”), and Ethan Wittenbach.
    • “He slows it down and picks people apart and just has this incredible poise on the puck.” (Scott Wheeler, [18:04])
  • Both have become impactful at the NHL level sooner than expected.

• Dean Letourneau’s Rocket Ship Ride:

  • Massive improvement after struggling in his freshman year at Boston College—now showing the high-end skill that made him a first-rounder.
    • “There was something there all along, and then we saw it sort of blossom this year.” (Scott Wheeler, [20:11])

5. The Hardest Prospects to Rank

[24:26–27:22]

• Guys Who Score, But Will it Translate?

  • Players like Cole Eiserman (“could score 35–40 NHL goals or be an AHL scorer”), Jonatan Lekkerimäki (Vancouver), Ike Howard, and Matt Savoie are tough to fit on the list due to boom-or-bust profiles.
    • “If Cole Iserman reaches his potential… but Max Plante’s going to play and Emmett Finney’s already playing. Those players have more value than if Iserman’s just an AHL scorer.” (Scott Wheeler, [24:43])
  • Value of “sure-thing” middle-six players often wins out over pure-scorer prospects.

• Quirky/Personal Favorites at the Bottom:

  • Ivan Ryabkin, Bryce Pickford, Benjamin Routainen, Adam Banach round out the list—unique profiles or outstanding single-season accomplishments put them over the threshold.
    • “Rao Tiainen set the record for his age class in scoring in Liga… hard to ignore.” (Scott Wheeler, [27:40])
    • Adam Banach: “Such a dog, skates so well and he’s so smart on the puck.”

6. Self-Audit: Scott’s Hits and Misses

[30:23–33:29]

• Two recent success stories:
  • Gabe Perreault (NY Rangers): “I think if you redo that draft in five years time… he’s going a lot closer to six than he is to 22.” (Scott Wheeler, [30:52])
    • Elite playmaker, competitive, underestimated skater, already impacting NHL games post-Panarin trade.
  • Michael Hage (Montreal):
    • Remains at Michigan for another year, has developed into a true play-driver and is filling out physically.
    • Could be the Habs’ critical second-line center behind Suzuki.
    • “If Hage can be that for them, it kind of changes everything for them… It’s hard to look at many organizations… who are in a better spot.” (Scott Wheeler, [33:29])

7. Debating Riker Lee vs. Noah Östlund

[36:16–39:03]

• Riker Lee (Nashville):
  • High-risk, high-reward pick; “One of the most skilled players in the sport”.
    • “If he hits… he has a chance to be a 60 or 70 point top-six winger, power play one threat, scores five or ten highlight real goals a year…” (Scott Wheeler, [36:37])
  • Noah Östlund (Buffalo):
    • More of a 40–50 point, 2-way center—already a 30-point NHL player.
    • Lee is a bigger swing for upside, while Östlund is a safer bet for regular NHL value.

8. Goalie Prospects: The Next #1s

[39:03–42:16]

• Sebastian Cossa (Detroit), Sergey Murashov (Pittsburgh), Jacob Fowler (Montreal):

  • Jacob Fowler: “Already the goalie in Montreal… I think he should be their Game 1 starter.” (Scott Wheeler, [39:28])
  • Fowler is in a tier of his own, projecting as an NHL workhorse.
  • Murashov emerging fast—might be handed the net soon in Pittsburgh, “right there” with the top goalie prospects.
  • Others: Augustine (Detroit), Andrianov, Ravensbergen, Zevregin (Philadelphia), Michael Hrabal.

• How Many Will be True #1s?

  • “Of those top ten in my top twenty, I think seven or eight of them have a real chance to become that.” (Scott Wheeler, [41:39])

Notable Quotes

“Martone has stepped in and immediately not just been a good player for (the Flyers), but on most nights been one of their very best players. And that, that is hard to ignore.”
— Scott Wheeler ([02:16])

"I actually think in terms of pure puck skill at the same age… Ilya’s more impressive [than Alexei]."
— Scott Wheeler ([12:42])

“Kantserov is the more premium of those two players… high-end skater… I think Kantserov is going to be a top-six winger for the Blackhawks long-term.”
— Scott Wheeler ([15:24])

“Gridden’s a top six forward in the league. Like that’s the projection on Gridden now. And… he went from being in the top 100 to like a top 30 guy in the top 100 this time around.”
— Scott Wheeler ([18:04])

“I think if you redo that draft in five years time… Gabe [Perreault] is going a lot closer to six than he is to 22.”
— Scott Wheeler ([30:52])

“If Hage can be [a second line center] for them, it kind of changes everything for them… Even though he doesn’t change everything from a talent standpoint… he might be an invaluable one.”
— Scott Wheeler ([33:29])

“Jacob Fowler is already the goalie in Montreal… if his body can hold up, I think that’s what he is.”
— Scott Wheeler ([39:28])

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [01:44] — Opening segment on the elite prospect tier (Misa, Martone)
• [04:30] — Frondell vs. Martone, Blackhawks/Nashville depth
• [12:25] — Risers: Ilya Protus, Russian prospects analysis
• [17:35] — Calgary’s prospects, Letourneau’s bounce-back year
• [24:26] — Hardest spots to rank: scoring outliers vs. safe bets
• [27:22] — Bottom-of-the-list favorites and hidden gems
• [30:23] — Wheeler’s prospect track record ("victory lap" for Perreault, Hage)
• [36:16] — Riker Lee vs. Noah Östlund debate
• [39:03] — Goalie prospect landscape, who’s next to be a starter

Conclusion

This episode gives prospect junkies an in-depth, honest look at both the science and art of NHL prospect evaluation. Scott Wheeler brings encyclopedic recall and transparency to the rankings process, highlights the season’s dramatic risers, and provides context behind tough ranking decisions — from safe bets to wild-card talents. The hosts offer a clear snapshot of where organizational pipelines stand and what emerging NHL trends and player types may shape the game’s future.

Find the full Top 100 Prospect List at The Athletic.