
NHL draft tracker: All 225 picks, plus scouting notes and team fits for the first round
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adminThe 2024 NHL draft is complete. From the first round all the way to pick No. 225 in Round 7, this page is your home for every selection, including scouting notes from Rachel Doerrie, and team fit analysis for the 32 players taken in the first round from Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wyshynski.
More: Round 1 reaction
Profiles: Celebrini
Tij Iginla
Team: Boston University (H-EAST) | Rank: 1
DOB: 06/13/06 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 38 | G: 32 | A: 32 | P: 64
Scouting notes: There is no area of the game where legitimate concerns exist. Simply put, he does not have a weak point. He excels as a length of the ice player, making significant contributions on both ends.
Offensively, he navigates the middle of the ice, disrupts defensive schemes and finds passing lanes that others cannot. His puck protection skills, willingness to play through contact, spin off defenders and maintain play are qualities that will translate well to the NHL. Even without the puck, he remains a scoring threat due to his ability to find open spaces, keeps his stick away from defenders and releases the puck quickly. — Doerrie
Team fit: Rebuilds require cornerstone players. Celebrini appears to be just that, considering this year’s draft was commonly referred to as “The Celebrini Draft.” Finishing with the NHL’s worst record meant the Sharks had a number of areas that needed to be addressed. Among them: top-six forward help. Enter Celebrini.
While the possibility exists that Celebrini could return to BU for his sophomore year, he could step right in to the Sharks’ lineup. Since 2005, the forwards who were selected with the No. 1 pick played the next season. It’s a list that includes Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and last year’s No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard. Furthermore, Celebrini now officially becomes the face of a promising rebuild that already had Thomas Bordeleau, William Eklund, Mario Ferraro, Quinten Musty and the team’s 2023 first-round pick in Will Smith, who is leaving Boston College after one season after signing his entry-level contract with the Sharks. — Clark
Team: Michigan State (BIG10) | Rank: 3
DOB: 10/28/05 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 208 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 38 | G: 9 | A: 26 | P: 35
Scouting notes: The Belarusian is widely regarded as the best defender in the draft class, impressing scouts in many areas. A right-shot defenseman, he imposes himself physically and dictates offensive play. His rapid development has led scouts to believe he could quickly become an impactful two-way defenseman in the NHL. He excels at making good first passes, finding shooting lanes and taking control of the game from the blue line.
Though still raw defensively, he has tremendous upside due to his physical attributes, excellent skating ability and high puck battle success rate. Consistently engaged and a play driver at both ends of the ice, he has the potential to shift momentum. Levshunov could become a top-pairing defenseman who dictates play in transition and tilts the ice in his team’s favor. — Doerrie
Team fit: The Blackhawks found their next foundational player atop last year’s draft in forward Connor Bedard, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year on Thursday. But they also had to strip down their team to the foundations to get him. The duration of the rebuild around Bedard is entirely contingent on the players with whom they surround him. To that end, Levshunov is a huge addition, literally and figuratively.
The Blackhawks have some intriguing young defenseman in their system, but not enough of them. Kevin Korchinski played 76 games as a rookie last season and has some upside. Wyatt Kaiser split time between the Blackhawks and AHL Rockford. Sam Rinzel, selected 25th overall in 2022, had an outstanding first season with the University of Minnesota. But what they have in Levshunov is, for lack of a better label, “The Guy.” The giant blueliner who could be their Victor Hedman. Those dynastic Lightning teams were built on offensive stars such as Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but they won Cups thanks to the efforts of Hedman on the back end. This draft could be looked back on as an essential moment of the Bedard era in Chicago. — Wyshynski
0:35
Artyom Levshunov’s NHL draft profile
Check out the plays that helped make Michigan State’s Artyom Levshunov one of the top prospects in the NHL draft.
Team: Oshawa (OHL) | Rank: 13
DOB: 01/28/06 | Ht: 6-2.25 | Wt: 177 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 63 | G: 27 | A: 41 | P: 68
Scouting notes: Offensively, it is difficult to find a weakness. He is a dual-threat menace in the offensive zone and dropped more jaws in one-on-one play than any other draft-eligible player in the OHL this season. His ability to force defenders into bad spots and manipulate his way around them is terrifying. Not only is he a threat in tight situations, but he’s also a threat in transition. The puck follows him around the ice, and he slices defensive coverage with ease through excellent reads, decisive passing and a quality shot.
Off the puck, he uses his awareness to win pucks back. As the season progressed, he became a nightmare on the forecheck, routinely hemming players in and winning pucks back. For lack of a better word, he’s a gamer. If he wants the puck, he’s more than likely going to end up with it. He’s not an elite skater, but he gets to where he needs to go, plays two steps ahead of his peers and makes his teammates better. There are teams that have him in their top five, and while that is a little high for me, it is easy to understand why scouts believe Sennecke could be a top-line player. — Doerrie
Team fit: Once again, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek went in a bit of an unexpected direction by taking Sennecke. The Ducks were in a bit of a tricky situation when it came to adding to their rebuild. Not that they couldn’t have used more forwards, but they already have quite a bit of youth with Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. The same holds true with defensemen of course, with Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov playing as rookies last season and another defenseman, Olen Zellweger, getting nine points in 26 games with the Ducks after spending the majority of the year in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls.
Now that they’ve added Sennecke, the Ducks have another top-six forward with size as the 6-foot-2 Sennecke will be a player who gives the Ducks another option in their attack. — Clark
1:08
Beckett Sennecke has amazing reaction to being drafted No. 3 by the Ducks
Beckett Sennecke is chosen by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
Team: Medicine Hat (WHL) | Rank: 4
DOB: 02/03/06 | Ht: 6-3.25 | Wt: 210 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 32 | G: 27 | A: 19 | P: 46
Scouting notes: Lindstrom combines speed, size and skill, making him a dominant force at the junior level. He effectively uses his frame to protect the puck, wins battles and plays through contact in challenging areas of the ice. His physical package and skating ability make him a formidable opponent on the rush and in puck battles. If he continues to develop his ability to play through contact, he has the tools to be an excellent power forward at the NHL level. His speed in transition keeps defensemen on their heels and he changes gears to create space.
Without the puck, he reads off his linemates well and finds open pockets of space. As a versatile offensive player, he knows when to use his physicality to create scoring chances or hold the puck to set up plays in the offensive zone. Although his injury history is a concern, projections indicate that Lindstrom could become a second-line center with the potential to score 70 points over a long period. He may take longer to develop, but a player with his toolbox is intriguing to many teams. — Doerrie
Team fit: This is the first Blue Jackets draft since 2012 that didn’t have Jarmo Kekalainen running the table. He was dismissed as general manager earlier this season, creating an opening for one of the NHL’s most interesting jobs. Columbus is a place where the bar for success is low and the talent in the prospect pool is high.
It just got higher. New GM Don Waddell, who took over the Blue Jackets after leaving the Carolina Hurricanes, had a number of options after the Ducks shocked the draft by taking Beckett Sennecke third overall. They fought some temptation and added Lindstrom. The Medicine Hat center joins center Adam Fantilli, the third overall pick in 2023 who had 27 points in 49 games this season; Kent Johnson, another Michigan alum, who is entering his fourth NHL season; and the big body and booming shot of defenseman David Jiricek as the next generation of the Blue Jackets. With Cole Sillinger also up the middle, the days of the Blue Jackets being the NHL’s donut — nothing in the middle — appear over. — Wyshynski
Team: SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) | Rank: 2
DOB: 12/10/05 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 181 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 30 | G: 23 | A: 37 | P: 60
Scouting notes: Offensively, he’s the complete package and is projected to be a top-six difference-maker in the NHL. His dynamic ability to create offense combines an outstanding release, elite vision and elite puckhandling skills, perhaps the best in this draft class. He’s bigger and more physically mature than originally thought, which drew attention at the Florida showcase. Capable of driving play offensively, Demidov consistently took over games in the playoffs, earning the MVP award.
He ranks in the top 5% for shooting and passing metrics and is a transition threat. He drives the middle from the outside and consistently gets himself to the dangerous scoring areas. As a versatile offensive player, Demidov has the potential to be a 40-goal, 40-assist producer and is the only player with a ceiling close to Celebrini’s. — Doerrie
Team fit: Prior to the draft, it appeared that getting a forward was going to be the move for the Canadiens. And they fulfilled that in taking Demidov. They were in a position to take a forward last year but passed on Matvei Michkov before taking defenseman David Reinbacher. With Reinbacher being the pick last season, he added to a defensive setup that already included Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble.
Concentrating on defensemen the last few years created that opening to take a forward for the second time in three years, having selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick in 2022. Now the Canadiens have another top-six forward in Demidov, who at some point will make the trek to North America. And when he does, he’ll join Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield as another homegrown player who’s looking to take the Habs back to prominence in the Eastern Conference. — Clark
1:07
Celine Dion announces Canadiens’ No. 5 pick in NHL draft
Celine Dion announces the Montreal Canadiens’ fifth overall pick, Ivan Demidov.
Team: Kelowna (WHL) | Rank: 7
DOB: 08/04/06 | Ht: 5-11.75 | Wt: 182 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 64 | G: 47 | A: 37 | P: 84
Scouting notes: His offensive instincts and lethal wrist shot make him a serious goal-scoring threat with and without the puck. His puck skill steadily improved this season, and he became a serious offensive threat. When he has possession, Iginla displays excellent puckhandling, strong protection and a release that surprises goaltenders. He has a unique understanding of how to blend competitive physicality with elite skill, a dangerous combination.
Without the puck, he finds open spaces, forechecks tenaciously and exhibits the competitiveness his father Jarome was known for. Although he needs to improve defensively, his combination of skating, puck skills, tenacity and shooting ability should enable him to contribute consistently in a top-six role, with a ceiling of a top-line winger. — Doerrie
Team fit: When the Arizona Coyotes were sold to Smith Entertainment Group and relocated to Utah, their history didn’t come with them. So this is the first pick ever made by this franchise.
But their hockey operations staff was imported along with the players. That included GM Bill Armstrong, whose calling card has always been his work in scouting and drafting. That’s enabled Utah to have players such as forward Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, who made an impact at the NHL level, as well as center Conor Geekie, defenseman Maveric Lamoureux and KHL defensemen Dmitry Simashev and Daniil But.
Armstrong told me that Utah doesn’t feel pressure to add a “poster on the side of the arena” level star for its first season in Salt Lake City, because there might be some in the organization who could fit that role. It might have another in Tij Iginla. He’s got the hockey legacy of his Hall of Fame father and his own high-end talent. Iginla is an ideal selection given the club’s needs on offense, and as someone who can eventually help sell hockey to a new fan base. — Wyshynski
0:42
Tij Iginla’s NHL draft profile
Take a look at the highlights that make Tij Iginla a compelling NHL draft prospect.
Team: Calgary (WHL) | Rank: 14
DOB: 09/29/05 | Ht: 6-2.75 | Wt: 201 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 66 | G: 30 | A: 41 | P: 71
Scouting notes: Yakemchuk is an offensive difference-maker at the junior level and showed glimpses of excellent puck distribution. He dictates the power play from the point, but he needs to develop the ability to facilitate offense to take advantage of his shot in the NHL. He manipulates defenders with excellent hands, fakes and sheer power. The lack of an explosive skating stride makes him easier to defend than a more elusive skater.
Defensively, he’s a work in progress. His skating mobility needs to improve to be an effective transition defender in the NHL. Scouts and executives love his mean streak, as he hits to leave a mark. He gets caught puck-watching or stepping out of position to be physical. He lacks the skating step to catch opponents when they beat him in those situations, an area he needs to develop before making the jump. — Doerrie
Team fit: Drafting Yakemchuk could prove to be an intriguing move for a few reasons. The first is that this was the first time in two years the Senators used a first-round pick. It’s a bit of a bizarre dynamic for a franchise that’s been trying to shed the title of rebuild and transition into a playoff team, only to miss the postseason for the past seven campaigns.
That said, Yakemchuk gives it a young defenseman who adds to a group that already has Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, Jake Sanderson and Jacob Bernard-Docker, among others. But that also comes with the understanding that Chychrun’s future with the club is in question. He has a year left on his contract before hitting free agency. He could either sign a new deal or the Sens could trade him. Either way, they’ll have options, and getting Yakemchuk will now play a big role in that dynamic. — Clark
Team: Spokane (WHL) | Rank: 10
DOB: 01/14/06 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 170 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 54 | A: 62 | P: 116
Scouting notes: Catton is one of those “get you out of your seats” players. He’s dynamic with the puck, reads defensive structures, slices through coverage and is a nightmare to defend in one-on-one situations. His ability to manipulate defenders with his speed and skill is pure brilliance. He’s one of the most dangerous transition players in the draft, and even at 5-10, he’s shown an ability to execute high-skill plays in traffic.
As is the case with any player of this skill set, he needs to pick his spots a little better to improve his offensive efficiency. The turnovers are not going to fly at the NHL level, and he’ll need to develop his ability to create offense when he’s not in transition. The same manipulation, stick skill and deception he uses on the rush needs to be applied in smaller areas. If he can take pucks off the wall and get to the middle, there is a better chance he hits his ceiling of a top-six, point producer.
He’s already a dual threat with a promising arsenal of releases and shot types. Given that he understands how to put defenders in vulnerable postures, it is not a stretch to believe his offensive game will continue to improve. I’m not sure he’s a center in the NHL, but the dynamic dual threat should be an entertaining player to watch for years. — Doerrie
Team fit: Entering the draft, the narrative surrounding the Kraken was that they needed to draft a defenseman. Namely, a puck mover who could help facilitate possession for a team that’s struggled to score goals in two of their first three seasons. Although the argument could be had that they already have that with Ryker Evans.
It still amounted to the Kraken needing prospects who can score or create goals and it led to them choosing Berkly Catton. He addresses their scoring needs provided he scored 54 goals and 116 points for the Spokane Chiefs last season. If the Kraken opt to keep Catton at center, he will join their spine of the future that includes Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. But there’s a chance he could be moved to the wing, with the expectation that he could someday play alongside Beniers on one of the Kraken’s top two lines and on their power play. — Clark
Team: Saginaw (OHL) | Rank: 5
DOB: 02/15/06 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 179 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 66 | G: 33 | A: 63 | P: 96
Scouting notes: Parekh is the top offensive defenseman in the draft, without question. He has all the makings of a game-breaker on the blue line. His statistics and model projections stand out, surpassing every other defenseman except Levshunov. He is clearly in the top tier, projected as a top-four offensive catalyst with an over 80% chance of playing 200-plus NHL games.
Right-handed offensive dynamos are rare and seldom available via trade. Parekh has all the qualities of a top-notch power-play quarterback and even-strength play driver, capable of scoring upward of 60 points per season in the NHL. He had one of the best draft-eligible seasons in CHL history, which should not be overlooked. His elite four-way mobility allows him to evade opponents and create space effortlessly.
His defensive game improved throughout the OHL season, and while it’s not as robust as some might prefer, his skating and hockey sense equip him to defend effectively at the NHL level. His offensive instincts are innate and form the foundation of his play-driving offense. Combine his offensive instincts with demonstrated ability to move pucks to dangerous areas, create shooting opportunities and get pucks through, and Parekh presents an intriguing package. His ceiling is the highest among defensemen in the draft, confidently projecting him as an impactful top-four defenseman over a lengthy NHL career. — Doerrie
Team fit: The pick wasn’t Tij Iginla and that’s going to be a bummer for a lot of Flames fans. But Zayne Parekh is a solid choice and a player who will certainly help with Calgary’s rebuild … retool … whatever it is that GM Craig Conroy is doing with this franchise, which is content to ship out some veterans (Jacob Markstrom, Andrew Mangiapane), while holding onto others (like reportedly, Nazem Kadri). They have some quality young players up front such as winger Matt Coronato, who played 35 games in the NHL; center Connor Zary, who had a strong rookie season with 34 points in 63 games; and a big forward in Samuel Honzek.
Now they add Parekh, a player who has electrifying offensive upside. Parekh is the first defenseman the Flames selected in the first round since Juuso Valimaki at No. 16 in 2017. They simply didn’t have a player with his skill set in their pipeline, and this pick is a great one for Calgary. — Wyshynski
Team: Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA) | Rank: 8
DOB: 04/11/06 | Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 211 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 63 | G: 3 | A: 8 | P: 11
Scouting notes: At 6-7, this hulking defender played significant minutes for one of the KHL’s better teams, a rarity at age 17, and this greatly enhances his projection. While he isn’t expected to be dynamic in the NHL, his developing offensive skills suggest he could become a 35- to 40-point producer.
He skates very well, with good edgework and agility, which is evident in his defensive transitions and his movement along the offensive blue line. If he can add strength without losing mobility, he could become a high-minute defenseman in the NHL, capable of shutting down the opposition’s best players.
His floor is higher than other top defensive prospects due to his proven ability to succeed in the KHL. Scouts are high on his skating ability, physicality and transition defense. There are concerns about his ability to read the play and make good puck decisions. He will need time to enhance his ability to facilitate breakouts, transition offense and read pressure. —Doerrie
Team fit: There was plenty of speculation that the Devils would move this pick — it was certainly in play in the hours leading up to the draft. But New Jersey kept it and added to the deepest part of its prospect pool: the blue line.
Anton Silayev is a 6-7 mountain, a defensive defenseman who has tremendous skating ability and a fantastic reach. They moved 24-year-old Kevin Bahl, who is 6-6, for goalie Jacob Markstrom. Silayev more than fits in as an eventual replacement. He joins Calder Trophy finalist Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec and eventually Seamus Casey as the defensive foundations for years to come. — Wyshynski
Team: London (OHL) | Rank: 11
DOB: 06/07/06 | Ht: 6-2.5 | Wt: 199 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 18 | A: 52 | P: 70
Scouting notes: Dickinson is one of the best all-around skating defensemen in the draft, and it is particularly evident in transition. Offensively, he carries the puck with ease, evades defenders, cuts to the middle and creates scoring chances.
Defensively, he maintains a good gap, matches opponent’s speed and finishes his checks. His shot is above average, but he is unlikely to overpower goalies at the NHL level. His skating and defensive abilities will carry him in the NHL. These are all attributes scouts and coaches love. It is easy to see why the model projects him to be a top-four defender with a puncher’s chance of being a top-pairing guy.
The big question with Dickinson is decision-making on both sides of the puck. At the junior level, he’s so evasive and above his peers in the skating department, that it masks some awareness issues. On the rush, he can skate himself into trouble and make life more complicated when a simpler play exists. In the defensive zone, he gets caught on the wrong side of players and makes questionable decisions with the puck after he wins a battle. He’s a solid athlete who will play in the NHL, but time will tell if he can develop his awareness and reads to take advantage of his skills and become a difference-maker. — Doerrie
Team fit: When the Sharks traded up to No. 11 on Thursday, it came with the expectation that they were going to use that pick to get a defenseman, especially considering they already had Celebrini, in addition to forwards such as Bordeleau, Eklund, Musty and Smith. And that’s not including who they took in 2022, center Filip Bystedt.
That belief only intensified by the time the Sharks picked at 11, as defensemen such as Zeev Buium and Sam Dickinson were still available when it came time for their second pick of the first round. They chose Dickinson, who gives them a sizable defenseman who can not only serve in a top-pairing role but can also be at the controls of a power play. A power play that in the coming years could be led by Celebrini, Smith, Dickinson and Eklund. — Clark
Team: Denver (NCHC) | Rank: 6
DOB: 12/07/05 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 42 | G: 11 | A: 39 | P: 50
Scouting notes: One of the best defensemen in college hockey this season, Buium is confidently projected as a top-four defenseman in the NHL. He consistently stands out by joining the rush, defending well in transition and excelling in man-to-man defense in his own zone. He’s an elite two-way defenseman at the college level and is likely the most efficient puck mover in this draft class. He shows elite hockey sense and seems to be two to three plays ahead, allowing him to make plays that other players can’t.
Defensively, he maintains a tight gap, adapts to changes in pace and uses excellent edgework to avoid getting beaten in tight situations. His puck skills, combined with various head and shoulder fakes, enable him to create space and passing lanes. If there is a better one-on-one defenseman in this draft, I’ve yet to see him.
Buium elevates his play as games intensify and was one of Team USA’s best players at the World Juniors as an underage player, in addition to being a crucial part of the NCAA champion Denver blue line. With all the qualities of a play-driving, momentum-shifting defenseman, Buium could be ready for the NHL by the end of the 2024-25 college season. — Doerrie
Team fit: GM Bill Guerin got aggressive here to select Zeev Buium, and rightfully so. Buium has a high hockey IQ and can be someone that can run an NHL power play, leading all NCAA defenseman in points last season (50). Denver depended on him big time in winning the national title this season — he played 31 minutes against Boston University in the semifinal and more than 29 minutes against Boston College for the title.
He’s an impact player and the highest defenseman the Wild have taken since Matt Dumba at seventh overall in 2012. — Wyshynski
Team: Guelph (OHL) | Rank: 26
DOB: 08/21/06 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 20 | A: 54 | P: 74
Scouting notes: Luchanko has all the makings of a dream bottom-six role. Given the offensive instincts and abilities he has shown this season, Luchanko has a better ability to drive play than many believe. He’s an excellent two-way player, a rare feat for a very young player in a draft class. The combination of production, development and a later birthday give Luchanko a projection closer to middle six than bottom six.
Luchanko was the main beneficiary of Matthew Poitras‘ move to the Bruins, allowing him to become the primary driver on both sides of the puck. His skating takes the pace of the game to another level, forcing his opponents to play at speeds in which they are uncomfortable. His ability to dictate the play is eye-opening, beating defenders clean with his speed while being a royal pain to deal with on the forecheck and backcheck. He is in the middle of everything that happens, showing off a detail-oriented game that includes awareness, shiftiness and skill that scouts love. — Doerrie
Team fit: Trading down to No. 13 earned some extra draft capital. But they also landed a center in Jett Luchanko that adds to a future that already includes Noah Cates, Joel Farabee, Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov. Even with that many forwards, the Flyers were still in need of a center. That made Luchanko or Konsta Helenius an option.
The last time they drafted a center in the first round was in 2018 when they took Jay O’Brien, who they did not sign (and earned a compensatory pick this year for it). Prior to that, It was 2017 when they took Nolan Patrick with the second pick and Morgan Frost at 27. Patrick was traded, while Frost remains with the club. Luchanko gives the Flyers someone who projects as a two-way option who could be anchoring one of the lines of a rebuild that took a significant step forward in 2023-24. — Clark
1:23
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer calls 13th pick for Flyers
Philadelphia native Michael Buffer announces that Jett Luchanko is headed to the Flyers.
Team: Jukurit (FINLAND) | Rank: 12
DOB: 05/11/06 | Ht: 5-10.75 | Wt: 180 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 51 | G: 14 | A: 22 | P: 36
Scouting notes: Helenius is excellent defensively, and his play is immediately projectable to the NHL. Offensively, he is effective, not flashy. He retrieves pucks, enters the zone with possession, creates space with effective body positioning and relies on his elite hockey sense to make sound decisions offensively. The combination of his competitiveness, hockey sense and puck management make him a highly effective and reliable player in all three zones.
He lacks dynamic attributes that other players in the draft class possess, but he makes up for that his in his ability to be the engine of his line. He consistently drives play and showed flashes of offensive creativity, but Helenius does not have a standout offensive attribute. He’s a well-rounded, length-of-the-ice player who will be impactful on both sides of the puck at the NHL level. Scouts see some Mikael Backlund in him, which is high praise for the young Finn.
A second-line center/top penalty killer who can drive play at even strength is something every contender needs. That is Helenius. If his offense develops, there’s a chance he fits the mold of a Joel Eriksson Ek or Elias Lindholm type of player. — Doerrie
Team fit: The Sabres traded down this week, acquiring the Devils’ No. 42 overall pick in their flip-flop with the Sharks. Helenius is a solid two-way center who joins a depth chart that includes Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Matthew Savoie, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund.
Obviously, some of them could shift to the wing, but the bottom line is that the Sabres have a ton of talent on the way up front, to go along with the foundational defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. — Wyshynski
Team: Mora (SWEDEN-2) | Rank: 19
DOB: 10/05/05 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 41 | G: 8 | A: 10 | P: 18
Scouting notes: The Norwegian forward is one of the most well-rounded players in the draft. The blend of grit, skill and in-tight scoring ability has scouts believing he is a Swiss Army knife at the NHL level. There is belief that he could be the best two-way forward in the draft not named Celebrini.
Defensively, he may be the best forward in the draft. He is consistently in the right positions, makes excellent reads in defensive transition and reads off his teammates well to support the puck. His ability to retrieve pucks, win puck battles and position his body in ways that make it nearly impossible to knock him off the puck will only improve has he physically matures and adds strength. He’s unafraid to deliver a board-shaking body check to shift momentum, but does not put himself out of position to do so. He separates opponents from the puck, drives forward and uses his powerful frame to cut to the middle or the net. If there is a weakness in his defensive game, I have yet to find it.
The drawback with Brandsegg-Nygard is that he isn’t dynamic. His ceiling isn’t as high as other players, but his floor is higher than nearly every forward outside of the top five. There is little doubt he will be a middle-six power forward who will be deployed to shut down opponent’s best players and finish offensive opportunities in tight. As one scout put it, “He isn’t the guy you build around, but certainly the type of player that every contender wants in the middle of their lineup.” — Doerrie
Team fit: What’s this? The Red Wings went into Europe and drafted a player?
In all seriousness, Brandsegg-Nygard was thought to be a player who could have gone in this range, so it wasn’t like the Red Wings reached.
Detroit has used two of its most recent first-round picks to get centers. It’s just that Brandsegg-Nygard gives it another potential top-six winger. And given how the Wings are currently set up with their forward depth, Brandsegg-Nygard has a good chance to break onto the scene in the near future. — Clark
Team: Plzen (CZECHIA) | Rank: 17
DOB: 06/28/06 | Ht: 6-2.5 | Wt: 182 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 19 | G: 0 | A: 1 | P: 1
Scouting notes: The 6-2, right-handed defenseman has been on scouting radars for years, allowing for his game to be put under the microscope. He’s competitive, makes good puck decisions and activates in the play.
Losing nearly a full season of development during the most crucial years makes for a more difficult evaluation and model projection. Jiricek’s numbers are very volatile, and the draft year sample is not large enough for a confident projection. The tools to be an impactful defenseman are there, with good reads, aggressive defensive posture, strong puck retrieval skills and physicality. He needs the skating, which obviously took a developmental hit when he tore an ACL, to improve by a step and half or two to take advantage of his other skills. His stride lacks the explosive and aggressive attributes to complement the rest of his game and will hinder his ability to utilize other skills if he can’t keep pace.
He has a longer runway to develop because he’s inexperienced and lost nearly a year of development to his injury. There is a real chance he becomes a second-pairing defenseman and an outside shot at the top pair. — Doerrie
Team fit: The Blues really needed to add some talent to their defense prospects — they hadn’t drafted a defenseman in the first round since Jordan Schmaltz in 2012 — and Jiricek is a terrific choice. He gained great experience playing in the Czech league, and as a right-shot defenseman he’s a valuable commodity.
Jiricek might not have the ceiling of his brother, David, who went sixth overall to the Blue Jackets in 2022, but he’s certainly got some upside. — Wyshynski
Team: Prince George (WHL) | Rank: 30
DOB: 05/28/06 | Ht: 5-11.5 | Wt: 173 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 43 | A: 62 | P: 105
Scouting notes: His production is reminiscent of a player who should be selected in top half of the first round. His skating, like Jason Robertson‘s in 2017, worries scouts. He doesn’t have the physical package of Robertson, but his production is much better. Parascak has all the capabilities to be a dual threat at the NHL level if his skating improves.
Parascak’s instincts on and off the puck are high-end. He understands defensive schemes and how to penetrate them, but his skating holds him back from driving play. This is evident in transition, where he lacks the pace to attack the middle and relies on his instincts to find open space and arrive at the perfect time. When he gets the puck in space, he’s terrifying. His catch and release shot, one-timer and ability to shoot opposite his momentum make him challenging for goalies to stop.
A team taking Parascak is getting a player with an elite hockey sense and many shots in his arsenal. If he can add strength and more power to his skating, there is a real chance he’s a top-six, difference-maker in the NHL. He’s unlikely to be a true play driver, but a complementary player who can ignite a power play. — Doerrie
Team fit: Using their first-round picks to select top-six forwards they believe can provide a sense of offensive consistency going forward has been the plan for the Caps the past few years. The decision to take Parascak fits within that dynamic. Parascak was one of a few forwards who could have been picked at this spot.
When the time comes, he’ll be the latest prospect to come through a farm system that has watched its AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, win Calder Cups while continuing to send the organization’s homegrown talents to the NHL. — Clark
Team: Muskegon (USHL) | Rank: 24
DOB: 03/17/06 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 176 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 61 | G: 36 | A: 32 | P: 68
Scouting notes: Boisvert can really shoot the puck, and regardless of where he receives it, he is a threat. He gets pucks through layers with accuracy and has excellent hands to finish plays at the net front. There is reason to believe his deceptive release will transfer to the NHL level, but if it does not, his ability to finish plays in tight will surely make him worthy of attention.
Without the puck, Boisvert is still impactful. He tracks back well, disrupts transition play and delivers hard hits to separate players from the puck. There’s a noticeable edge to his game that will only improve as he gets stronger. His skating posture is off balance, and he lacks the explosiveness required to create more space offensively. An improved skating stride with more power and better ability to read defensive coverage will allow Boisvert to take advantage of his NHL-ready shot and two-way game. — Doerrie
Team fit: The assumption was that the Blackhawks would go with a forward here after taking Levshunov at second overall. Boisvert offers a great contrast to the way Connor Bedard plays at center — a two-way game with some physicality. He aspires to be an Evgeni Malkin-like player in the NHL. Not a bad gamble for the Blackhawks to take, considering they already have their Sidney Crosby. — Wyshynski
Team: Tri-City (USHL) | Rank: 15
DOB: 02/28/06 | Ht: 6-0.25 | Wt: 156 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 52 | G: 31 | A: 47 | P: 78
Scouting notes: On talent and talent alone, the model projects him to be a top-six forward with a fair chance at a top-line role. There are only a few players with better offensive attributes than Connelly, and they will go in the top 10. He leaves a lot to be desired defensively but should get a healthy dose of development at Providence College. He is unlikely to be a two-way player, and that’s not his style. His style is flash, dash and pizzazz — a player with a true wow factor.
Connelly has a lot of maturing to do on and off the ice. The selfish major and misconduct at the under-18 championship kick-started the collapse against Canada in the gold medal game. Quite a few teams have designated him as “do not draft” due the information revealed in a story from The Athletic. As one NHL head scout put it, “top-10 talent, bottom-10 character. Can’t do it.”
The definition of high-risk, high-reward for all the wrong reasons. — Doerrie
Team fit: There’s a possibility that the Golden Knights have reached the point that they could start to incorporate prospects as they continue to challenge for the Stanley Cup. It’s possible that drafting Connolly could work out one of two ways for the Golden Knights. He could be a player who works his way into the lineup as a productive winger on a team-friendly deal to help offset some of their salary cap issues. Or he could be used in a potential trade to help the Golden Knights get a player they covet.
Whatever path the Golden Knights take, it’ll come with the win-at-all costs mentality that’s continued to define them. — Clark
Team: USA U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: 9
DOB: 08/29/06 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 49 | G: 49 | A: 27 | P: 76
Scouting notes: Eiserman is considered the best pure scorer in the draft, though opinions about him vary widely.
His impressive goal totals with the national team development program are hard to ignore, yet he often leaves scouts wanting more. With the best shot in the draft, his projection suggests he could score 35 to 40 goals per season if he reaches his ceiling. As a young player in the draft, he has more runway to improve his decision-making and develop a well-rounded offensive game. While habits can be fixed and skating will continue to improve, scoring instincts and the ability to catch and release the puck from awkward positions are innate, and Eiserman excels in both areas.
There are times he tries to do too much with the puck, leading to turnovers and forced shots — habits that can frustrate scouts and coaches. Despite this, his potential as a 40-goal scorer is undeniable if developed with patience. The model is confident he will produce at the NHL level in a top-six role. Eiserman has the talent to be an even-strength scorer, power-play asset and most importantly, a difference-maker. — Doerrie
Team fit: Leave it to Lou Lamoriello to punch consensus in the face. Cole Eiserman is one of the best goal-scorers in the draft, whose stock had fallen due to criticisms of his defensive game. The Islanders certainly needed an infusion of high-end offensive talent in their prospect pool. Eiserman is the embodiment of the “you can’t teach offense” mindset. — Wyshynski
Team: Chicago (USHL) | Rank: 18
DOB: 04/14/06 | Ht: 6-0.5 | Wt: 187 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 54 | G: 33 | A: 42 | P: 75
Scouting notes: A big, right-handed center who is a dual threat in the offensive zone and showed one of the most promising development curves of the season? Check. Check. Check. A dynamic transitioner of the puck, Hage is a cerebral player who picks apart defensive schemes in transition with ease. He gets the puck off the wall to the dangerous areas of the ice better than most players in the draft.
The deceptiveness of his shot and the array of shots in his arsenal makes him equally dangerous with and without the puck. He can pull the puck and fire it through defenders as easily as he receives the puck and releases in a single motion. A heady player, Hage understands how to manipulate defenders and open up shooting lanes. If he can add a step to his pace, he will be able to take advantage of the compromising positions he puts defenders in.
There are many parts of Hage’s game that scouts love outside of his physical gifts. He wins puck battles, gets to the net front and makes his teammates better. He will develop hard skill by improving his ability to take contact and use it to his advantage. The details of his game are a strong point. He supports the puck well, and his ability to impact the game will only improve as his skating takes a step. The model sees him as a middle-six player with an outside chance at hitting his second-line ceiling. — Doerrie
Team fit: After taking Demidov at No. 5, the Canadiens used their second first-round pick to take another forward in Hage. The expectation with Hage is that he could give them a two-way center for the future.
Hypothetically speaking, the Canadiens might not be in any rush, as they’re set up with Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook down the middle for at least three more years. Hage will spend next season playing at the University of Michigan which has recently developed a number of centers such as Matty Beniers, Thomas Bordeleau and Brendan Brisson, among others. — Clark
Team: Yaroslavl Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) | Rank: 44
DOB: 08/01/06 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 192 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 43 | G: 23 | A: 30 | P: 53
Team fit: Barry Trotz goes forward first again, after selecting Matthew Wood at No. 15 last season. Yegor Surin’s stock reportedly shot up after participating in agent Dan Milstein’s camp in Fort Lauderdale during the Stanley Cup Final.
He certainly fits the Predators’ identity under Trotz and head coach Andrew Brunette of compete level up front. — Wyshynski
Team: Valerenga (NORWAY) | Rank: 36
DOB: 12/29/05 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 194 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 42 | G: 5 | A: 10 | P: 15
Team fit: Solberg gives the Ducks another defensemen for the future in a farm system in which blueliners are in excess. They already have Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, plus Tristan Luneau. But they also have a pair of defenseman older than 32 in Cam Fowler and Radko Gudas.
In short order, the Ducks could potentially have five homegrown defensemen, or they could look to move one of them in the future if it can help them swing a deal to address another area of the roster. — Clark
Team: Barrie (OHL) | Rank: 32
DOB: 04/24/06 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 209 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 67 | G: 28 | A: 34 | P: 62
Scouting notes: Combine an elite motor, good two-way play and a healthy dose of compete, Cole Beaudoin is simply a gamer. If I were giving each draft-eligible a superlative or vibe, Beaudoin’s would be “gamer.” The model is lower on him than this ranking, but the belief that he should become a bottom-six player that checks well, kills penalties and bring energy to the lineup.
A big, strong player who may be most effective on the wing at the NHL level, Beaudoin reads the play well, gets into traffic, wins nearly every puck battle and grinds opponents down. There is no OHL player who enjoys going into the corner with him — and more than a few came out worse for wear. He’s got the strength and desire to be an impactful physical player in the NHL. If his skating continues to improve, there is reason to believe he has a higher ceiling than current projections indicate. Utah will need a more patient approach with him, but added pace could see him jump into a third-line role as a player coaches trust implicitly. — Doerrie
Team fit: GM Bill Armstrong had a treasure trove of draft picks and decided to dip into them swap with Colorado, sending the 38th, 71st and the Rangers’ 2025 second-rounder to the Avalanche. That’s because it was widely expected that the Bruins were going to select Beaudoin with the next selection.
Utah gets a strong center who plays with physical tenacity, a puck-swarming forward that fits in well on the UHC depth chart. — Wyshynski
Team: St. Andrews College (HIGH-ON) | Rank: 34
DOB: 02/21/06 | Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 210 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 56 | G: 61 | A: 66 | P: 127
Team fit: Letourneau gives the Bruins extreme size down the middle. The fact he scored more than 60 goals and 127 points proves there is offensive upside, too.
He’ll attend Boston College starting in 2025, so the Bruins can keep a close eye on his development. Perhaps the most fascinating part is that the Bruins are hoping to strike it rich with Letourneau given they’ve only had four draft picks since 2018 who have reached the NHL. — Clark
Team: Windsor (OHL) | Rank: 16
DOB: 01/01/06 | Ht: 6-2.25 | Wt: 207 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 64 | G: 36 | A: 54 | P: 90
Scouting notes: Greentree has many attributes that scouts love — he plays in the middle of the ice, sees the ice very well, is an adept playmaker and a throwback build in the style of a power forward. He ranks highly across the board from his physical game to his hockey sense to his high-end playmaking. He lacks in the most important, yet most easily improvable, area: skating. Were Greentree an average or slightly above average skater, he likely would’ve been a top-10 pick because he’s that good in the other areas of his game.
Greentree was effectively a one-man show on a rebuilding Windsor team. His production is likely 20% better on a team that doesn’t finish near the bottom of the OHL standings. Not only is he a quality offensive driver, but he is also reliable defensively. He gets himself in good positions, wins puck battles and routinely outmuscles opponents all over the ice. He’s fun to watch because you wonder how he is as effective as he is with his skating deficiencies.
Scouts and executives have expressed an admiration for his game. His puckhandling, vision and shot make him a problem to deal with in the offensive zone. There are a lot of tools to work with and wouldn’t be the first prospect to improve his skating after being drafted. The problem with Greentree’s skating is that it is enough of a concern in today’s league that if it doesn’t improve, he may not be able to keep up. Functionally big and skilled power wingers are hard to find nowadays, and Greentree is exactly that. If he does add a step or two to his game, there’s a good chance he’s a top-six point producer at the NHL level. — Doerrie
Team fit: The Kings picked up this pick when Montreal traded up to No. 21 to select center Michael Hage. Greentree was captain of the Windsor Spitfires, and has a big body and a smart offensive game.
He joins a group of young forwards with the Kings that includes burgeoning star Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere and hopefully Alex Turcotte, who hasn’t developed as quickly as the others. Most importantly, Liam Greentree wore No. 66 in the OHL and would automatically become our favorite player if he had the audacity of wearing Mario Lemieux’s sacred digits in the NHL. — Wyshynski
Team: Brantford (OHL) | Rank: HM
DOB: 04/12/06 | Ht: 6-0.5 | Wt: 174 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 36 | A: 46 | P: 82
Team fit: It simply wasn’t enough to draft Levshunov and Boisvert in the first round. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson traded up to get the 27th pick to take Mark Vanacker, a decision that adds to what they believe is a bright future.
Vanacker gives the Blackhawks a winger they could potentially see at the NHL level in a few years. While their rebuild starts and ends with Bedard, getting Vanacker means the Blackhawks have used seven first-round picks to draft forwards since 2020. — Clark
Team: Muskegon (USHL) | Rank: HM
DOB: 03/01/06 | Ht: 6-1.25 | Wt: 182 | Shot: L
2023-24 stats: GP: 60 | G: 38 | A: 45 | P: 83
Team fit: The Flames acquired this pick in the Elias Lindholm trade with the Canucks. Lose a forward, gain a forward. Gridin led the USHL in points with 83 in 60 games, giving the rebuilding-and-or-retooling Flames another strong offensive winger.
Another Russian player who was spotlighted at the Dan Milstein camp during the Stanley Cup Final, he has a big frame for an agile skater. He’s University of Michigan-bound, and the Flames will gladly wait for his skills to sharpen in the NCAA. — Wyshynski
Team: TPS (FINLAND) | Rank: 25
DOB: 06/27/06 | Ht: 6-0.75 | Wt: 201 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 40 | G: 7 | A: 4 | P: 11
Scouting notes: Hemming is a fun topic of discussion among scouts. He’s considered to have a very high floor and lower offensive ceiling. The model sees him fitting in quite well as a third-line forward who can contribute offensively. Hemming is one of the few players who the model predicts he has more than an 80% chance of playing 200 NHL games with less than a 10% chance of becoming a star — true “safe” vibes.
He’s a strong two-way player with a quality release that borders on being a separating skill. He can shoot off both legs, off balance and in many catch-and-release positions. He’s a threat to score from distance, gets pucks through defenders and can score when he drives the net. He understands how to use contact to his advantage, wins puck battles, is in excellent spots off the puck and never cheats defensively. Those hard skills should easily translate into a bottom-six role, and he’s likely ready for the AHL next season.
Offensively, there have been flashes of good puck distribution and hockey sense. However, he is reliant on his shooting ability and two-way play. If he can add a step to his skating, there is legitimate upside as a power forward who contributes 40 to 50 points per season, playing on a top penalty-killing unit and secondary power-play unit. The ceiling isn’t as high as that of other players, but he is far more likely to play meaningful games. — Doerrie
Team fit: No matter who the Stars selected at No. 29, the pick was going to be met with the expectation that they would be the latest success story in Dallas’ prospect pipeline. So the fact they took Emil Hemming only adds to the belief that he could be the next prospect who might be able to contribute quickly.
He had 11 goals and 18 points in 13 games while playing against under-20 competition in Finland, while scoring seven goals and 11 points in 40 points against older competition in Liiga, the highest level of hockey in the nation. — Clark
Team: USA U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: 28
DOB: 03/30/06 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 185 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 53 | G: 0 | A: 11 | P: 11
Scouting notes: Emery has the makings of an impactful defenseman who can anchor a second pairing. Emery is a perfect complementary piece to an elite offensive defenseman who needs a reliable partner to augment their game.
Emery is a top transition defenseman, whose one-on-one defensive play stands out. He maintains excellent posture, effectively uses his stick to guide opponents, takes away passes and pokes pucks off opponent’s sticks. In transition, he maintains good gap control, doesn’t allow attackers to beat him to the outside and forces them to relinquish the puck. When the game needs a calming presence, the opponent’s best players kept off the scoresheet and a quality defensive play, Emery is that player. From that perspective, he is a coach’s dream. His defensive development this season has me believing he will continue to improve and likely become one of the best defenders in the draft class.
Offensively, there is not a lot there. That isn’t Emery’s calling card. That is likely why the model doesn’t project him to be more than a second-pairing defenseman. He makes simple breakout passes and doesn’t get caught up ice. While that is generally concerning, as a lack of offense at the junior level leads to a less confident statistical projection, his ability to defend in all three zones, skate well and win physical battles should make him a top-four defenseman in the NHL. — Doerrie
Team fit: There was a sense ahead of the draft that if the Rangers kept this pick, they were going defense. They selected a solid one here.
Emery is a right-handed shot who skates well and has a strong physical game without chasing hits. He projects to be a top-four defenseman. It’s not difficult to see Emery as a protégé for Rangers standout K’Andre Miller at the NHL level, and a part of that blue line with younger Rangers like Miller and Braden Schneider. — Wyshynski
Team: Oshawa (OHL) | Rank: HM
DOB: 02/06/06 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 188 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 64 | G: 1 | A: 32 | P: 33
Team fit: Trading down created questions about what the Leafs would do with the second-to-last pick of the first round. They answered by drafting defenseman Danford.
He provides them with a player who could help strengthen the blue line in the Leafs’ farm system. As a team pushing for titles, the Leafs are up against the salary cap each year, so having a player who can help in the near future on an entry-level deal is a boost. — Clark
Team: London (OHL) | Rank: HM
DOB: 03/30/06 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 178 | Shot: R
2023-24 stats: GP: 68 | G: 20 | A: 36 | P: 56
Team fit: The Oilers acquired this pick from the Flyers, who acquired it from the Panthers in the Claude Giroux trade, so it’s good to see Edmonton finally take something that belonged to Florida.
Edmonton was willing to mortgage a first-rounder in either 2025 or 2026 for O’Reilly, who earned his stripes as a tremendous defender but had 56 points in 68 games for the London Knights last season. And that’s really the key here: O’Reilly went through the Hunter brothers system in London, meaning he’s prepped to be an NHL player.
Edmonton CEO Jeff Jackson, running the hockey operations show now that Ken Holland parted ways, has always been a fan of London GM Mark Hunter. Suppose we’ll find out how big that fandom is now that the Oilers need a general manager. Stay tuned. — Wyshynski
Round 2
33. San Jose Sharks: Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (RUSSIA)
34. Carolina Hurricanes: Dominik Badinka, D, Malmo (SWEDEN)
35. Anaheim Ducks: Lucas Pettersson, C, Modo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
36. Columbus Blue Jackets: Charlie Elick, D, Brandon (WHL)
37. Winnipeg Jets: Alfons Freij, D, Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
38. Colorado Avalanche: Ilya Nabokov, G, Magnitogorsk (RUSSIA)
39. Ottawa Senators: Gabriel Eliasson, D, HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
40. Seattle Kraken: Julius Miettinen, C, Everett (WHL)
41. Calgary Flames: Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
42. Buffalo Sabres: Adam Kleber, D, Lincoln (USHL)
43. Washington Capitals: Cole Hutson, D, USNTDP (USHL)
44. Pittsburgh Penguins: Harrison Brunicke, D, Kamloops (WHL)
45. Minnesota Wild: Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
46. Pittsburgh Penguins: Tanner Howe, LW, Regina (WHL)
47. Detroit Red Wings: Max Plante, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
48. St. Louis Blues: Colin Ralph, D, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN)
49. New Jersey Devils: Mikhail Yegorov, G, Omaha (USHL)
50. Carolina Hurricanes: Nikita Artamonov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod (RUSSIA)
51. Philadelphia Flyers: Jack Berglund, C, Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
52. Washington Capitals: Leon Muggli, D, Zug (SWISS)
53. San Jose Sharks: Leon Sahlin Wellenius, D, Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
54. New York Islanders: Jesse Pulkkinen, D, JYP (FINLAND)
55. Nashville Predators: Teddy Stiga, C, USNTDP (USHL)
56. St. Louis Blues: Lukas Fischer, D, Sarnia (OHL)
57. Los Angeles Kings: Carter George, G, Owen Sound (OHL)
58. Florida Panthers: Linus Eriksson, C, Djurgarden (SWEDEN)
59. Philadelphia Flyers: Spencer Gill, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)
60. Columbus Blue Jackets: Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon (WHL)
61. New York Islanders: Kamil Bednarik, C, USNTDP (USHL)
62. Calgary Flames: Jacob Battaglia, RW, Kingston (OHL)
63. Seattle Kraken: Nathan Villeneuve, C, Sudbury (OHL)
64. Edmonton Oilers: Eemil Vinni, G, Jokipojat (FINLAND-2)
65. Utah Hockey Club: Will Skahan, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Round 3
66. Anaheim Ducks: Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
67. Chicago Blackhawks: John Mustard, C, Waterloo (USHL)
68. Anaheim Ducks: Ethan Procyszyn, C, North Bay (OHL)
69. Carolina Hurricanes: Noel Fransen, D, Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
70. Montreal Canadiens: Aatos Koivu, C, TPS Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
71. Buffalo Sabres: Brodie Ziemer, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
72. Chicago Blackhawks: AJ Spellacy, RW, Windsor (OHL)
73. Seattle Kraken: Alexis Bernier, D, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
74. Calgary Flames: Henry Mews, D, Ottawa (OHL)
75. Washington Capitals: Ilya Protas, LW, Des Moines (USHL)
76. Colorado Avalanche: William Zellers, LW, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN)
77. Nashville Predators: Viggo Gustafsson, D, HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
78. Montreal Canadiens: Logan Sawyer, C, Brooks (BCHL)
79. Anaheim Ducks: Tarin Smith, D, Everett (WHL)
80. Detroit Red Wings: Ondrej Becher, C, Prince George (WHL)
81. St. Louis Blues: Ondrej Kos, LW, Ilves Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
82. San Jose Sharks: Carson Wetsch, RW, Calgary (WHL)
83. Vegas Golden Knights: Pavel Moysevich, G, SKA St. Petersburg (RUSSIA)
84. Calgary Flames: Kirill Zarubin, G, AKM Tula Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
85. New Jersey Devils: Kasper Pikkarainen, RW, TPS Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
86. Columbus Blue Jackets: Luca Marrelli, D, Oshawa (OHL)
87. Nashville Predators: Miguel Marques, RW, Lethbridge (WHL)
88. Seattle Kraken: Kim Saarinen, G, HPK Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
89. Utah Hockey Club: Tomas Lavoie, D, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
90. Washington Capitals: Eriks Mateiko, LW, Saint John (QMJHL)
91. New Jersey Devils: Herman Traff, RW, HV71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
92. Chicago Blackhawks: Jack Pridham, RW, West Kelowna (BCHL)
93. Vancouver Canucks: Melvin Fernstrom, RW, Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
94. Nashville Predators: Hiroki Gojsic, RW, Kelowna (WHL)
95. St. Louis Blues: Adam Jecho, C, Edmonton (WHL)
96. Utah Hockey Club: Veeti Vaisanen, D, Kookoo (FINLAND)
97. Florida Panthers: Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
Round 4
98. Utah Hockey Club: Gregor Biber, D, Rogel Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
99. Nashville Predators: Jakub Milota, G, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
100. Anaheim Ducks: Alexandre Blais, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)
101. Columbus Blue Jackets: Tanner Henricks, D, Lincoln (USHL)
102. Montreal Canadiens: Owen Protz, D, Brantford (OHL)
103. Utah Hockey Club: Gabe Smith, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
104. Ottawa Senators: Lucas Ellinas, LW, Kitchener (OHL)
105. Seattle Kraken: Oliver Josephson, C, Red Deer (WHL)
106. Calgary Flames: Trevor Hoskin, RW, Cobourg (OJHL)
107. Philadelphia Flyers: Heikki Ruohonen, C, K-Espoo Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
108. Buffalo Sabres: Luke Osborn, D, Youngstown (USHL)
109. Winnipeg Jets: Kevin He, LW, Niagara (OHL)
110. Boston Bruins: Elliott Groenewold, D, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
111. Pittsburgh Penguins: Chase Pietila, D, Michigan Tech (CCHA)
112. Ottawa Senators: Javon Moore, LW, Minnetonka (HIGH-MN)
113. St. Louis Blues: Tomas Mrsic, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
114. Washington Capitals: Nicholas Kempf, G, USNTDP (USHL)
115. New York Islanders: Dmitry Gamzin, G, Zvezda Moscow (RUSSIA-2)
116. San Jose Sharks: Christian Kirsch, G, Zug Jr. (SWISS-JR.)
117. Ottawa Senators: Blake Montgomery, LW, Lincoln (USHL)
118. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jan Golicic, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)
119. New York Rangers: Raoul Boilard, C, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
120. Toronto Maple Leafs: Victor Johansson, D, Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
121. Colorado Avalanche: Jake Fisher, C, Fargo (USHL)
122. Minnesota Wild: Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (FINLAND)
123. Buffalo Sabres: Simon-Pier Brunet, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)
124. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Siyatsky, D, Magnitogorsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
125. Vancouver Canucks: Riley Patterson, C, Barrie (OHL)
126. Detroit Red Wings: Landon Miller, G, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
127. Nashville Predators: Viktor Norringer, LW, Frolunda Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
128. Tampa Bay Lightning: Hagen Burrows, RW, Minnetonka (HIGH-MN)
129. Florida Panthers: Simon Zether, C, Rogle (SWEDEN)
Round 5
130. Montreal Canadiens: Tyler Thorpe, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
131. San Jose Sharks: Colton Roberts, D, Vancouver (WHL)
132. Colorado Avalanche: Louka Cloutier, G, Chicago (USHL)
133. Carolina Hurricanes: Oskar Vuollet, LW, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
134. Montreal Canadiens: Mius Vecvanags, G, HS Riga (LATVIA)
135. Utah Hockey Club: Owen Allard, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
136. Ottawa Senators: Eerik Wallenius, HPK Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
137. Colorado Avalanche: Ivan Yunin, G, Omsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
138. Chicago Blackhawks: Joel Svensson, C, Vaxjo Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
139. New Jersey Devils: Max Graham, C, Kelowna (WHL)
140. Minnesota Wild: Sebastian Soini, D, Ilves Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
141. Seattle Kraken: Clarke Caswell, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
142. Minnesota Wild: Chase Wutzke, G, Red Deer (WHL)
143. San Jose Sharks: Nate Misskey, D, Victoria (WHL)
144. Detroit Red Wings: John Whipple, D, USNTDP (USHL)
145. St. Louis Blues: William McIsaac, D, Spokane (WHL)
146. New Jersey Devils: Veeti Louhivaara, G, JYP Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
147. New York Islanders: Marcus Gidlof, G, Leksand Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
148. Philadelphia Flyers: Noah Powell, RW, Dubuque (USHL)
149. Tampa Bay Lightning: Joona Saarelainen, C, Kalpa Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
150. Calgary Flames: Luke Misa, C, Mississauga (OHL)
151. Toronto Maple Leafs: Miroslav Holinka, C, Trinec Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.)
152. Toronto Maple Leafs: Alexander Plesovskikh, LW, Khanty-Mansiysk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
153. Utah Hockey Club: Ales Cech, D, Mlada Boleslav (CZECHIA)
154. Boston Bruins: Jonathan Morello, C, St. Michaels (OJHL)
155. Winnipeg Jets: Markus Loponen, C, Karpat Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
156. Carolina Hurricanes: Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
157. Toronto Maple Leafs: Timofei Obvintsev, G, CSKA Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
158. Dallas Stars: Niilopekka Muhonen, D, Kalpa Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
159. New York Rangers: Nathan Aspinall, LW, Flint (OHL)
160. Edmonton Oilers: Connor Clattenburg, LW, Flint (OHL)
161. Colorado Avalanche: Maxmilian Curran, C, Tri-City (WHL)
Round 6
162. Vancouver Canucks: Anthony Romani, RW, North Bay (OHL)
163. Chicago Blackhawks: Ty Henry, D, Erie (OHL)
164. Los Angeles Kings: Jared Woolley, D, London (OHL)
165. Columbus Blue Jackets: Luke Ashton, D, Langley (BCHL)
166. Montreal Canadiens: Ben Merrill, C, St. Sebastian’s School (HIGH-MA)
167. Utah Hockey Club: Vojtech Hradec, C, Mlada Boleslav (CZECHIA)
168. Carolina Hurricanes: Timur Kol, D, Omsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
169. Florida Panthers: Stepan Gorbunov, C, Chelyabinsk Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
170. Calgary Flames: Hunter Laing, C, Prince George (WHL)
171. New Jersey Devils: Matyas Melovsky, C, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
172. Buffalo Sabres: Patrick Geary, D, Michigan State (BIG10)
173. Philadelphia Flyers: Ilya Pautov, RW, CSKA Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
174. Minnesota Wild: Stevie Leskovar, D, Mississauga (OHL)
175. Pittsburgh Penguins: Joona Vaisanen, D, Dubuque (USHL)
176. Detroit Red Wings: Charlie Forslund, LW, Falu IF (SWEDEN-3)
177. Calgary Flames: Eric Jamieson, D, Everett (WHL)
178. Washington Capitals: Petr Sikora, C, Trinec Jr. (CZECHIA-JR.)
179. New York Islanders: Xavier Veilleux, D, Muskegon (USHL)
180. Vegas Golden Knights: Trent Swick, LW, Kitchener (OHL)
181. Tampa Bay Lightning: Kaden Pitre, C, Flint (OHL)
182. Anaheim Ducks: Austin Burnevik, RW, Madison (USHL)
183. Edmonton Oilers: Albin Sundin, D, Frolunda Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
184. Carolina Hurricanes: Roman Shokhrin, D, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (RUSSIA-JR.)
185. Colorado Avalanche: Tory Pitner, D, Youngstown (USHL)
186. Boston Bruins: Loke Johansson, D, AIK Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
187. Winnipeg Jets: Kieron Walton, C, Sudbury (OHL)
188. Carolina Hurricanes: Fyodor Avramov, LW, Stupino Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
189. Vancouver Canucks: Parker Alcos, D, Edmonton (WHL)
190. Utah Hockey Club: Ludvig Lafton, D, Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
191. New York Rangers: Rico Gredig, LW, Davos (SWISS)
192. Edmonton Oilers: Dalyn Wakely, C, North Bay (OHL)
193. Florida Panthers: Hunter St. Martin, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Round 7
194. San Jose Sharks: Yaroslav Korostelyov, G, SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
195. Tampa Bay Lightning: Joe Connor, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
196. Edmonton Oilers: William Nicholl, C, London (OHL)
197. Vegas Golden Knights: Lucas Van Vliet, C, USNTDP (USHL)
198. Los Angeles Kings: James Reeder, RW, Dubuque (USHL)
199. Tampa Bay Lightning: Noah Steen, LW, Mora (SWEDEN-2)
200. Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt Lahey, D, Nanaimo (BCHL)
201. Florida Panthers: Denis Gabdrakhmanov, G, Tyumen Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
202. Seattle Kraken: Jakub Fibigr, D, Mississauga (OHL)
203. Detroit Red Wings: Austin Baker, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
204. Buffalo Sabres: Vasily Zelenov, RW, RB Hockey Juniors (AUSTRIA-2)
205. Philadelphia Flyers: Austin Moline, D, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (HIGH-MN)
206. Tampa Bay Lightning: Harrison Meneghin, G, Lethbridge (WHL)
207. Pittsburgh Penguins: Mac Swanson, C, Fargo (USHL)
208. Detroit Red Wings: Fisher Scott, D, Dubuque (USHL)
209. St. Louis Blues: Antoine Dorion, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
210. Montreal Canadiens: Makar Khanin, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
211. St. Louis Blues: Matvei Korotky, C, SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
212. Washington Capitals: Miroslav Satan, C, Bratislava Jr. (SLOVAKIA-JR.)
213. Nashville Predators: Erik Pahlsson, C, Dubuque (USHL)
214. Anaheim Ducks: Darels Uljanskis, D, AIK Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
215. Colorado Avalanche: Christian Humphreys, C, USNTDP (USHL)
216. Toronto Maple Leafs: Sam McCue, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)
217. Colorado Avalanche: Nikita Prishchepov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
218. Edmonton Oilers: Bauer Berry, D, Muskegon (USHL)
219. Buffalo Sabres: Ryerson Leenders, G, Mississauga (OHL)
220. Carolina Hurricanes: Andrey Krutov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
221. Vancouver Canucks: Basile Sansonnens, D, Fribourg Jr. (SWISS-JR.)
222. Dallas Stars: William Samuelsson, C, Sodertalje Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
223. Pittsburgh Penguins: Finn Harding, D, Mississauga (OHL)
224. Montreal Canadiens: Rasmus Bergqvist, D, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
225. Toronto Maple Leafs: Nathan Mayes, D, Spokane (WHL)
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Sports
Week 5 preview: Georgia-Alabama, key conference matchups, plus quarterbacks to know
Published
3 hours agoon
September 25, 2025By
admin
One of the most anticipated weekends on the 2025 college football calendar is upon us.
The headliner comes Saturday night when No. 6 Oregon visits No. 3 Penn State. A potentially season-defining occasion, the clash of Big Ten powers, will test quarterbacks Drew Allar (Penn State) and Dante Moore (Oregon), Nittany Lions coach James Franklin and the Ducks’ backbone as they step into the hostile confines of Beaver Stadium in Week 5.
Elsewhere, eyes will fall on a trio of juicy SEC matchups: Alabama–Georgia, Auburn–Texas A&M and Ole Miss–LSU, all of which could hold significant implications for the conference title race and the College Football Playoff field.
Ahead of a series of high-level games, our college football reporters deliver their insights on keys to the weekend’s biggest matchups, five quarterbacks putting themselves on the map this fall and the best quotes so far from Week 5. — Eli Lederman
Jump to:
Georgia-Alabama | Quarterbacks to know
Key conference matchups
Quotes of the Week
What does each team need to capitalize on to win?
Georgia: If the Bulldogs are going to defeat the Crimson Tide for only the second time in the past 11 meetings, they’ll have to avoid getting themselves in another big hole — and take advantage of playing Alabama at home for the first time in nearly 10 years.
In last season’s 41-34 loss in Tuscaloosa, the Bulldogs trailed by three touchdowns before the end of the first quarter and by 28 points less than 18 minutes into the game. Georgia put together a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring three straight touchdowns to grab a 34-33 lead.
The Crimson Tide won on Jalen Milroe‘s 75-yard scoring pass to Ryan Williams with 2:18 to go.
Georgia had a similar slow start in its 44-41 victory in overtime at Tennessee on Sept. 13. The Volunteers scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to take a 21-7 lead, and the Bulldogs had to come from behind on the road. They were fortunate that Tennessee missed a 43-yard field goal attempt to take the lead near the end of regulation.
The Bulldogs didn’t do a good job of containing Milroe last season. He threw for 374 yards with two touchdowns and ran for 117 yards with two scores, including several long runs to keep drives alive. New Tide quarterback Ty Simpson isn’t as fast as Milroe, but he also isn’t a statue standing in the pocket.
Williams burned Georgia’s secondary on some big plays last season, finishing with six catches for 177 yards. The Bulldogs had similar problems against Tennessee’s fast-paced offense, and they’ll have to shore up those mistakes and play better on the back end. Getting pressure on Simpson would also help; the Bulldogs had only four sacks in their first three games this season.
On offense, Georgia needs to do a better job of protecting quarterback Gunner Stockton, who took too many hits at Tennessee. The Bulldogs need to find more ways to get the ball into the hands of Zachariah Branch, and tight ends Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie also need to get their share of touches. Shoring up the right side of the offensive line, which has been a trouble spot, will allow them to be more involved in the passing game. — Mark Schlabach
Alabama: It has not been pretty for Alabama on the road under Kalen DeBoer. Alabama is 2-4 since he became head coach, including a 31-17 loss to Florida State to open the season. In that loss, the Crimson Tide looked lethargic at times and ended up being beaten up front on both sides of the ball. So to give themselves any chance against Georgia, their first road game since Week 1, they simply must play better on the offensive and defensive lines. Getting defensive lineman Tim Keenan III back from an ankle injury will be huge in that respect. Alabama has struggled to rush the passer without him, and has only four sacks on the season. Georgia has done a nice job using Gunner Stockton in the run game when needed, so slowing him down is also going to be key. That is also an area in which Alabama struggled against the Seminoles.
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said it would continue to rotate its starting offensive line unit to find the right combination. Getting Jam Miller back at running back is also is a big addition, not only because of his running ability but his presence as a pass blocker in the backfield. But more than anything, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said the team was eager to prove it has learned how to handle adversity in-game, something that cost it in the opener.
“There’s a difference when you have to go on the road, particularly in the SEC and in a hostile environment and respond to adversity,” Wommack said. “At times, we have been a team that has been reactionary to adversity, and we’ve got to be more responsive. It’s at the forefront of our minds, and I expect to see a very responsive football team on Saturday.” — Andrea Adelson
Five quarterbacks who are putting themselves on the map
Curt Cignetti found a gem via the transfer portal yet again. Mendoza was solid at Cal the past two years, but he was surrounded with little talent and playing in an offense that probably didn’t maximize his skill set. Turned loose at Indiana, he has looked like a genuine Heisman Trophy candidate, including a dominant five-touchdown performance in a win over Illinois. For the season, Mendoza has 14 touchdown passes without an interception.
When Castellanos talked smack about Alabama this summer, it became a national punchline. When he backed it up with a win over the Tide in Week 1, he had the last laugh. Through three games, Castellanos’ 91.6 Total QBR ranks third nationally, though he’ll be in for a test the next two weeks — a road trip to Virginia on Friday for what could be a shootout and then a showdown against rival Miami. If Castellanos takes down another top-five team, the Heisman might be his to lose.
A part of the same class as Drew Allar, Pribula wasn’t able to get onto the field with any regularity at Penn State. He entered the portal and landed at Missouri, but he didn’t win the starting job there until just before the opener. And yet, once he was given his chance to shine, Pribula has looked like a star. He has racked up 11 TDs so far this season and has the Tigers undefeated and trending up in the rankings.
The sixth-year senior has been through his share of growing pains. He was a well-regarded recruit at Colorado but was part of the brutal 2021 season that led to the arrival of coach Deion Sanders, then transferred to Nevada, where his team struggled again. Now he has found the right fit at Memphis, where he has the Tigers 4-0 and well positioned to snag the Group of 6’s playoff spot.
North Texas is 4-0 and Mestemaker has 10 TD passes and no picks. It’d be a great story if that was all there was to it. But this rags-to-riches tale goes much deeper. Mestemaker wasn’t even the starter at his high school and arrived at UNT as a walk-on. He got the start in last year’s bowl game after Chandler Morris entered the portal, then beat out Reese Poffenbarger for the starting job this fall. He has rewarded the Mean Green’s belief with a red-hot start to the season. — David Hale
Biggest things that need to happen in these matchups
Auburn-Texas A&M: This series has been a strange one since 2021. The Aggies won twice at home, both times by 17 points. Auburn won twice at home, by three in 2022 and then two last year, in a 43-41 upset in four overtimes. This game, in College Station, will be another interesting one. The Aggies are coming off a bye week after their upset of Notre Dame, their first nonconference road win against an AP top-10 team since 1979. Auburn lost 24-17 at Oklahoma and is 0-5 under Hugh Freeze against ranked teams on the road. For the Tigers, they’ll first need to shore up an offensive line that gave up eight sacks on Jackson Arnold from a standard pass rush. But Auburn will look to move the ball with its rushing attack (198 yards per game, 5.0 yards per carry) against the Aggies, who are giving up 139 yards per game on the ground and are 102nd nationally in scoring defense at 28.7 points. But if the Aggies can get Arnold into being one-dimensional and having to play from behind, that will give them an advantage. They can do so by utilizing the dynamic duo of Mario Craver, the SEC’s leading receiver with 443 yards, even with the bye week (he had seven catches for 207 yards against Notre Dame), and KC Concepcion, who had four catches for 82 yards against the Irish. — Dave Wilson
LSU-Ole Miss: Last season’s showdown went to overtime in Baton Rouge. Expect another tight battle that comes down to details and who capitalizes on opportunities. Third-down conversions are going to be essential. Ole Miss’ offense is 5-of-17 on third and medium (3 to 7 yards) this season, and LSU’s defense is getting stops on 14 of 22 chances in that spot. This is where Lane Kiffin’s decision at QB becomes even more critical. Trinidad Chambliss is averaging 12.3 yards per carry on third downs and has yet to take a third-down sack. Can he be efficient in those high-pressure moments against the best defense he has faced? For LSU’s offense, the big question is injured running back Caden Durham‘s availability and finding answers in the run game so Garrett Nussmeier isn’t frequently stuck in third-and-long. The Tigers’ average third-down distance this season has been 7.9 yards, which ranks 114th in FBS, according to ESPN Research. — Max Olson
Oregon-Penn State: Quarterback Drew Allar needs to be a reason — perhaps the reason — why the Nittany Lions notch a signature win in a game in which they have most of the advantages. Allar wasn’t overly sharp in his past two performances, completing fewer than 58% of his passes against both Villanova and Florida International. He will need to be sharper against a talented but quite young Oregon defense, and start to change his big-game rep. Oregon must show it can handle one of the toughest environments in college football, Beaver Stadium at night in a White Out. The game marks a big growth opportunity for Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, a first-year starter, and also promising young players such as wide receiver Dakorien Moore and defensive backs Brandon Finney Jr. and Aaron Flowers. The Ducks visited Michigan and Wisconsin in 2024, but they haven’t faced an elite Big Ten opponent on the road until now. — Adam Rittenberg
Quotes of the Week
“We need this place rocking,” Penn State coach James Franklin said ahead of the Nittany Lions’ White Out game against No. 6 Oregon. “Need to have a distinct home-field advantage. We always do, but I’m expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen.”
“We’ll do everything we can to be prepared for that environment for sure,” said Oregon’s Dan Lanning, who was also asked about the song “Mo Bamba”, which has become a fixture of No. 3 Penn State home games. “I don’t love that song.”
“I would say he’s probably the hottest quarterback right now in all of college football,” Georgia’s Kirby Smart said of Alabama’s Ty Simpson ahead of the Bulldogs’ Week 5 visit from the No. 17 Crimson Tide. “His two last outings, I don’t know [if] I’ve seen an incompletion. The ball does not hit the ground. He’s been accurate. He’s been quick with the ball. They’re really hard to defend because of their skill. They’ve got tremendous skill — receivers, backs, tight ends. But you got to have a trigger guy that can get those guys the ball and they do.”
“We ain’t with that get-back stuff,” Colorado’s Deion Sanders said as his team prepares to face No. 25 BYU nine months after the Cougars blew out the Buffaloes in the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl. “I ain’t with that get-back stuff. I’m with that let’s-get-them stuff. They played their butts off, kicked our butts in the bowl game. Now we have a whole new team.”
“I always love when you guys say that, like, ‘Oh, OK, now we’ll go actually, like, try and game-plan really hard,” Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin said with the Rebels set to host No. 4 LSU on Saturday. “It’s OK. My boss says the same things when we play Arkansas. ‘Hey, I really need this one.’ Oh, OK, well then we’ll actually, like, try this week. We were just going to not try.”
“Is it hot in here or is it just me every week?” Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy speaking to reporters three days after the Cowboys 19-12 loss to Tulsa and less than 24 hours before he was fired Tuesday morning after his 21st season in charge of the program.
Sports
MLB Power Rankings: Guardians rise, Mets and Tigers fall ahead of playoffs
Published
6 hours agoon
September 25, 2025By
admin
We’re down to the final days of the 2025 regular season and in for some exciting baseball, as there are still quite a number of teams that have something to play for — including a few who are fighting tooth and nail for their postseason lives.
The Tigers, Guardians, Mets, Reds and Diamondbacks fall into that category — and all moved significantly in our final power rankings of the season. After holding a 12½-game lead over Cleveland as recently as Aug. 25, Detroit is now a game behind the Guardians, who sit atop the AL Central after beating the Tigers Tuesday and Wednesday following what might be one of the greatest comebacks/collapses of all time over the final month of the season.
There’s a similar sentiment around the Mets, who hold a slight one-game lead over Cincinnati and Arizona for the final wild-card spot as a late losing skid highlighted their second-half woes and put their playoff hopes on the line.
Which clubs will get to keep playing into October? And which will watch their playoff aspirations come to an end?
Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Week 25 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Record: 96-63
Previous ranking: 1
Getting healthy on the mound is the top priority for the Brewers heading into the postseason as Jose Quintana and Brandon Woodruff are the latest pitchers to go down. With Trevor Megill, Logan Henderson and DL Hall also on the mend, it’s a good thing the Brewers have a bye and go straight to the division series. That extra time could be a difference-maker. As it stands now, it’s anyone’s guess what the roster will look like when Milwaukee hosts its first playoff game on Oct. 4, but it’s safe to say the Brewers will get at least a few of the above arms back for playoff baseball. They’ll be needed. — Rogers
Record: 93-65
Previous ranking: 2
Losing Zack Wheeler for the season was a cruel gut punch, but the Phillies’ rotation remains stout with Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo leading the charge. On the position player side, Alec Bohm returned from the injured list Sunday and Trea Turner could be activated this weekend. With Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper anchoring the lineup, and closer Jhoan Duran nailing down the ninth inning, the Phillies are a real World Series contender even without Wheeler. — Castillo
Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 4
Shohei Ohtani reached unchartered territory in his 14th and final regular-season start Tuesday, pitching six innings while keeping the Diamondbacks scoreless. Over his past four starts, Ohtani has given up only one run in 19⅔ innings, scattering 10 hits, issuing four walks and striking out a whopping 27 batters. He is one of several Dodgers starters pitching really well heading into the playoffs. The bullpen? That’s a completely different story. After Ohtani departed Tuesday, three relievers combined to give up five runs. The Dodgers wound up losing. They’re clearly willing to stretch Ohtani a little longer, but he can’t pitch all nine innings. — Gonzalez
Record: 90-68
Previous ranking: 3
The Blue Jays were the first AL team to clinch a playoff spot, but they have the misfortune of being in the same division as the team with the second-best record in the AL. As a result, winning their first division title in a decade requires a strong finish against the Red Sox and Rays to fend off the Yankees with the Jays playing without Bo Bichette (knee) and Chris Bassitt (back). Toronto activated outfielder Anthony Santander from the IL on Tuesday for the final push, designating former AL Cy Young Award finalist Alek Manoah for assignment. The pressure is on to avoid the wild-card round. — Castillo
Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 8
The Mariners are becoming a fashionable pick for October. They’re hot and could be starting to peak on the mound, where they’ve actually underachieved this season. Not lately though. The pitching staff was fantastic during a road sweep of the Astros as George Kirby and Bryan Woo are rounding into form — that is until Woo suffered a pectoral injury. The team says he could still pitch in October as treatment continues.
Regardless, Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo, who has given up only one run in his last 12 innings, have also been good. Seattle has plenty of options on the mound, and that includes in the bullpen, where Andres Munoz has been stellar. The Mariners feature the AL home run king in Cal Raleigh, but it’s their pitching staff that will lead them in the postseason. — Rogers
Record: 90-68
Previous ranking: 7
The Yankees clinched their postseason spot Monday. Whether they catch Toronto for the AL East title — and subsequently earn a bye to the NLDS — or settle for a wild-card spot, one question remains: Who would start a Game 3 after Max Fried and Carlos Rodon? The candidates are Luis Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year; Cam Schlittler, who has impressed as a rookie this season; and Will Warren, who has made 32 starts. Gil and Schlittler are the favorites. — Castillo
Record: 89-69
Previous ranking: 5
A perfect storm has led to the Cubs’ longest losing skid of the season — coming right after a sweep of Pittsburgh clinched a playoff berth. Their subsequent opponents, the Reds and Mets, are playing desperate baseball in an attempt to get into the postseason themselves, leading to Cincinnati sweeping a four-game series against Chicago and New York taking the first of a three-game series.
The big concern for next week is Cade Horton. He left Tuesday’s start against the Mets because of some back/rib soreness after being ill all weekend. If it’s his last time on the mound until the postseason — assuming he’s healthy — he’ll have thrown a total of 29 pitches in two weeks, not exactly the sharpest way to enter the postseason. Offensively, the Cubs came out of their slumber against New York, putting up seven runs Tuesday, as they try to build momentum toward October. — Rogers
Record: 87-72
Previous ranking: 9
The Padres celebrated a return to the postseason after defeating the Brewers on Monday. They then beat the Brewers again Tuesday and suddenly began eyeing the NL West title once more. By that point, they trailed the Dodgers by only 1½ games. L.A. holds the tiebreaker and will also finish the season in Seattle. The Padres will finish at home against the Diamondbacks. For the Padres, winning the division would mean hosting the wild-card round at Petco Park, where they’re 49-29 this season (compared to just 38-43 on the road). It’s a big deal. — Gonzalez
Record: 87-71
Previous ranking: 10
Boston’s top three starting pitchers — Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito — give the team a real chance in a three-game wild-card series against anybody, but they need to get there first. For that to happen, the offense needs to find some life without Roman Anthony. The lineup has struggled since Anthony landed on the IL on Sept. 3 because of an oblique strain, averaging 4.7 runs in 17 games without him, but has started to pick up again more recently. The Red Sox are 9-8 in that span. — Castillo
Record: 86-72
Previous ranking: 14
The Guardians’ surge feels like a movie. On Sept. 4, they were 11 games out in the AL Central. Since then, they’ve won 17 of 19 games, the last two against the division-rival Tigers, defeating Tarik Skubal to tie them on Tuesday and cruising behind Tanner Bibee to victory on Wednesday to jump into first place for the first time since April 22. Longtime Cleveland ace Shane Bieber now pitches in Toronto while lights-out closer Emmanuel Clase is on paid leave amid a gambling probe, and yet the Guardians’ pitching staff holds a major league-best 1.58 ERA since Sept. 5. The Mariners are the only other team that even holds an ERA under 3.00. — Gonzalez
Record: 85-73
Previous ranking: 6
You probably know the numbers by now, but we might as well hash them: The Tigers held a 14-game lead in the AL Central on July 8, an 11½-game lead on Aug. 23 and a 9½-game lead on Sept. 10. At the end of last week, they still led the Guardians by a very comfortable 6½ games. Then, on Tuesday night, the Tigers fell to a surging Cleveland team despite having Tarik Skubal on the mound and found themselves not leading the division for the first time since April. It was their seventh loss in a row. Their eighth followed roughly 24 hours later. An unbelievable collapse, to say the least. — Gonzalez
Record: 84-74
Previous ranking: 11
The last week has not been kind to the Astros, especially at the plate, where they ranked near the bottom of the majors in OPS. It included three games at home against Seattle — all losses — in which they scored seven total runs. Add just a single tally in their series opener loss against the A’s on Tuesday and you can see why Houston is in danger of losing the division or even a postseason berth. The loss — again — of Yordan Alvarez obviously hurts. And perhaps the return of Isaac Paredes will give the Astros a boost, though it hasn’t yet. They need a hot finish from players such as Carlos Correa and Jeremy Pena to extend their playoff streak to nine years. — Rogers
Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 17
A four-game sweep of the Cubs over the weekend vaulted the Reds into the playoff picture, but they need to finish the job to make their first postseason appearance since 2020 and first in a full season since 2013. They also hold the tiebreaker with the Mets, so all Cincinnati has to do is match New York in the standings. It has become clear that the starting staff is the driving force behind anything good that happens in Cincinnati. Hunter Greene has been fantastic, as has Andrew Abbott. But despite their surge, the Reds remain just an average team at the plate, ranking in the bottom third in key offensive categories over the past couple of weeks. Some timely home runs have helped their cause. — Rogers
Record: 81-77
Previous ranking: 13
The Mets had the best record in baseball on June 13. Since then, they’ve had one of the worst — bad enough to enter the final week of the season on the edge of a historic collapse. Their fate could ultimately come down to the three rookie right-handers in their starting rotation. The Mets didn’t expect to need Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat this season, but injuries and ineffectiveness forced the hand of president of baseball operations David Stearns. Now, the Mets are counting on them this week to help secure a spot in October. — Castillo
Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 15
The wild, nausea-inducing roller-coaster ride that is this 2025 Diamondbacks season continues. Since the start of August alone, the team has navigated three losing streaks of three or more games but also eight winning streaks of three or more games. Arizona sealed its latest one Tuesday night, when it overcame a four-run deficit against the division-rival Dodgers and remained just one game back of the Mets for the final wild-card spot. That the D-backs are even at this point, in a year when they traded two of their best hitters and one of their best starters at the trade deadline, is wild. — Gonzalez
Record: 80-78
Previous ranking: 12
A late win streak was followed by a later losing skid, eliminating the 2023 champs from the postseason for a second consecutive season. On the docket for Rangers brass is the future of manager Bruce Bochy and how to get more out of their inconsistent offense. That has now been a two-year question, though recent injuries to Marcus Semien and Corey Seager didn’t help. Neither was having a fantastic year anyway. As they age, the team needs new leaders at the plate. Wyatt Langford has looked the part at times. At 23 years old, he should be the next Rangers star. After an offensive evaluation is completed, president of baseball operations Chris Young’s winter goal will undoubtedly be to improve their run scoring. — Rogers
Record: 78-81
Previous ranking: 16
The Giants blew a five-run lead against St. Louis on Tuesday and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention by the end of it. It was only 11 days prior that they stood a half-game behind the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. San Francisco then lost nine of 11 games to miss out on the playoffs for a fourth straight year — despite being 19-12 by the end of April and acquiring Rafael Devers in the middle of June. “This year is probably the most frustrating,” Giants ace Logan Webb told reporters. “No offense to the teams we’ve had before, but this is the most talented team I’ve been on.” — Gonzalez
Record: 79-79
Previous ranking: 18
The Royals won their third consecutive game on Sept. 6 and found themselves only one game back of the final wild-card spot. They needed a hot stretch to give themselves a chance over the final couple of weeks. Instead, they lost six of their next seven, falling seven games back and setting themselves up for what occurred Tuesday: being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, moments before a series opener against the Angels. The Royals still have a chance at a second consecutive winning record, but they entered 2025 with far bigger expectations than that following their 2024 postseason run. — Gonzalez
Record: 77-81
Previous ranking: 19
The Rays’ sale to a group led by Jacksonville real estate developer Patrick Zalupski reached another checkpoint Monday when MLB’s owners unanimously approved the transaction. Atop the new ownership group’s to-do list will be securing an agreement for a new ballpark. That will be the question hovering over the Rays this offseason — assuming the sale will be finalized — before they move back into Tropicana Field for 2026. — Castillo
Record: 78-81
Previous ranking: 20
Longtime executive John Mozeliak is set to say goodbye after this weekend, handing the keys over to new Cardinals decision-maker Chaim Bloom. His first order of business could be deciding the fate of manager Oliver Marmol, who deserves some credit for holding the team together during a stated transition year. Next, Bloom needs to rebuild the pitching staff beyond Sonny Gray, who is signed for one more season. Youngsters Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy have received valuable growth time this year while the team will say goodbye to soon-to-be free agent Miles Mikolas. The bullpen also needs some work. Bloom has plenty on his plate in his first offseason in charge. — Rogers
Record: 75-84
Previous ranking: 23
The 2025 season was a nightmare littered with injuries and underperformance for the Braves, a club that entered the year with World Series expectations. While most major players on the roster are under team control through 2026, one prominent figure is considering moving on: manager Brian Snitker. The 69-year-old skipper, whose contract expires after this season, has said he is considering retiring. If he does, Snitker’s 10-season run would conclude with seven postseason appearances and a World Series title in 2021. — Castillo
Record: 77-81
Previous ranking: 24
The Marlins entered Game No. 158 on Wednesday still mathematically in postseason contention. The chances are remote, but staying alive this late is a win for an organization attempting to produce a consistent contender for the first time in franchise history. Never have the Marlins, despite two World Series titles in their 33-year history, reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. They’re slowly stacking the building blocks. And, considering they moved Sandy Alcantara‘s start back to face the Mets this weekend, Miami is thirsting to play spoiler. — Castillo
Record: 75-83
Previous ranking: 21
All in all, it’s going to be a successful year for the A’s, who blew past their preseason over/under win total for the season this week. They boast the likely Rookie of the Year in Nick Kurtz and saw positive seasons from several offensive players not named Brent Rooker or Lawrence Butler, with the latter having a quiet season at the plate. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and catcher Shea Langeliers count as those success stories.
On the other hand, the pitching staff will finish in the bottom five of the majors in ERA — the hitter-friendly park in Sacramento didn’t help. Perhaps with a year under their belt there, the front office will have a better understanding of what kinds of arms might be successful until the team moves to Las Vegas. That should be their sole focus this winter. — Rogers
Record: 74-84
Previous ranking: 22
Adley Rutschman‘s 2025 season is atop the list of the disappointments in a lost season for the Orioles. The two-time All-Star catcher continued his regression from last year and landed on the IL for two long stints because of oblique strains on each side. Baltimore activated him Monday for the season’s final six games. It could be his final week in an Orioles uniform; with Samuel Basallo‘s emergence — and contract extension — people around baseball wonder if Baltimore will look to trade Rutschman this offseason. — Castillo
Record: 69-89
Previous ranking: 27
Bubba Chandler is getting his feet wet during garbage time for the Pirates, and that could pay dividends for them next season. Add the return of Jared Jones early next year and Pittsburgh once again looks formidable on the mound. But what will general manager Ben Cherington do to help his offense? It’s a yearly question for the Pirates, as they are set to finish last in run scoring after ranking 24th the previous season. They’re going in the wrong direction. Their third baseman are last in OPS and their catchers aren’t much better. Improvements across the board are needed. — Rogers
Record: 71-87
Previous ranking: 26
The Angels again need to find some productive pitchers this offseason, as they rank near the bottom of the majors in ERA this season. It seems to be a yearly thing, as they ranked 26th in that category in 2024 and 23rd in 2023. Their starting staff has mostly been the culprit, but change is in the air as Kyle Hendricks is almost assuredly retiring while Tyler Anderson is set to become a free agent. One bright spot has been closer Kenley Jansen, who is 28-of-29 in save opportunities. But if a 37-year-old closer on a team out of contention is your lone bright spot, you probably have bigger problems. That’s the case for the Angels heading into the winter. — Rogers
Record: 68-90
Previous ranking: 25
It was only two years ago that the Twins ended a prolonged postseason winless drought and advanced past the wild-card round in a thrilling 2023 season. Now, it seems like two decades ago. The 2025 season was a miserable one for the Twins’ faithful, punctuated by a trade-deadline selloff that felt worse only a couple weeks later when the Pohlad family announced it would maintain ownership of the franchise, angering a fan base that clamored for a replacement who would spend more money. Byron Buxton had a really nice year and Joe Ryan was not traded. Outside of that, there isn’t much to cling to in Minneapolis these days. — Gonzalez
Record: 58-100
Previous ranking: 28
The bar for progress was obviously low after the White Sox set the modern-day record for losses last year, but the franchise nonetheless took some steps forward this season. They played a more competitive brand of baseball, particularly after the All-Star break. Prospects such as Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth showed encouraging signs. Journeymen pitchers such as Shane Smith, Mike Vasil and Jordan Leasure found success. They still have a long way to go, but the White Sox are in a better position than they were at this time last year. That’s … something, at least. — Gonzalez
Record: 65-94
Previous ranking: 29
Pressing questions, from the top down, face the Nationals this offseason after they took a substantial step back in 2025. One was answered this week when the organization decided to hire Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Tobino to run its baseball operations department as Mike Rizzo’s replacement.
Next up: naming a manager. Looming in the backdrop is a more critical matter: Will ownership decide to sell again? If not, will it invest the necessary resources — not just in free agency but in other departments — to build another winner? And then there’s also the question about the future of their local television deal. The Nationals have some young talent — James Wood, MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams have all been All-Stars — but this will effectively be a soft reset in Washington. — Castillo
Record: 43-115
Previous ranking: 30
Only six teams have ever finished a season with a run differential below minus-400, and all of them played before the 21st century. The Rockies are currently on pace to join them. They’ve won only four of 21 games in September and currently sport a run differential of minus-412. The modern-day record is minus-345, set by the 1932 Boston Red Sox. And though the Rockies won’t lose as many games as last year’s White Sox, they’ll probably be outscored by 100-plus more runs than Chicago was. How this gets fixed is anybody’s guess. — Gonzalez
Sports
MLB insiders predict the playoffs: Bold takes, dangerous teams and breakout stars
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11 hours agoon
September 25, 2025By
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Multiple Contributors
Sep 25, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
With less than a week remaining until the start of the 2025 MLB playoffs, our baseball insiders are ready to break down the biggest questions, latest news and notable October buzz across the industry — even before the final 12-team postseason field is set.
What is the boldest prediction we’ve heard from an MLB exec? How confident — or concerned — should fans of last year’s World Series participants, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, be? Will the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers turn stellar regular seasons into deep playoff runs? And which under-the-radar players and teams are scouts raving about? Here’s the latest intel our MLB experts are hearing as Jeff Passan, Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers, Jorge Castillo and Alden Gonzalez empty their notebooks.
What is the boldest prediction you’ve heard from an MLB exec or scout?
Passan: The Seattle Mariners are going to win the World Series. Perhaps at this point that does not register as bold, but let’s not forget the Mariners are 49 years into their existence and they’ve yet to make a World Series, let alone win one.
Three weeks ago, this would have been laughable, as Seattle had lost 15 of 21 and found itself 3½ games behind Houston. Now, the Mariners have a three-game cushion, plus the tiebreaker in the AL West, and are in possession of a first-round bye.
The home-field advantage would be decidedly advantageous to the Mariners, who are 48-27 at home. Lining up their excellent front-line starting pitching and giving some rest to well-worked regulars — especially Cal Raleigh — could do the Mariners good. And with the highest-scoring offense in the big leagues in September and a bullpen that has some of the best stuff in baseball, the Mariners have the ingredients to conquer a wide-open AL and hang with the star-studded rosters in the NL.
Olney: We always hear how the bullpen and bench are difference-makers in the postseason, and one evaluator sees a clear delineation between the Padres’ bullpen and the rest of the field. The Mariners’ have played well down the stretch, but their relief corps is taxed; the Dodgers will be MacGyvering to make their bullpen rubble work; the Phillies will be without Jose Alvarado; the Yankees’ group can be wildly inconsistent. The San Diego bullpen, on the other hand, is solid, even without Jason Adam.
Is that evaluator, then, ready to say the Padres will win the World Series, or even the National League? “Are you f—ing kidding me?” he replied. “I don’t think we can count anybody out this year. Even the Tigers — they’ve got [Tarik] Skubal.”
How much faith does the industry have in the Blue Jays and Brewers turning potential No. 1 seeds into World Series appearances?
Olney: The feedback I’m getting is that execs see reasonable paths through October for all of the contenders with perhaps the exception of the Astros, who are wrecked by injuries to Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and Josh Hader.
As the case is made for the Blue Jays and Brewers, there is a consistent theme: these are teams that get guys on base, put the ball in play and pressure defenses. One evaluator said: “The Brewers just don’t play bad games — they might lose, but they are in every game.”
Rogers: There’s belief in both teams, but nobody is ready to declare either the favorite even as a potential top seed. Bo Bichette‘s injury came up in conversation as a detriment to the Blue Jays’ chances, and the latest pitching injuries were reasons to look elsewhere when it came to the Brewers. And this was the discussion among insiders before Brandon Woodruff was placed on the IL on Sunday.
Another talking point is that whichever team ends up with the best record in each league will do so by just a handful of wins — not enough to declare anyone the odds-on favorite next month.
Do MLB insiders think the Dodgers will turn it on in October again, as they did last season?
Gonzalez: They seem mixed. There are some — both inside and outside the Dodgers — who will tell you this group is deeper and more talented than the one that won it all last year. That their rotation is far superior. That their bullpen has the ability to be just as good, even if that hasn’t necessarily been the case during the regular season. That their lineup is probably still the best in the sport when it’s clicking.
But then there are those who continue to point out the obvious: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will go into October not knowing who to turn to for the final three outs of a game on any given night. It has gotten so bad — with Tanner Scott struggling, Blake Treinen reeling, Michael Kopech a mess, Kirby Yates unreliable, Brock Stewart hurt and few others outside of Alex Vesia stepping up — that Roki Sasaki is genuinely being considered for a high-leverage role. Just as much of a concern is the status of catcher and middle-of-the-order hitter Will Smith, who sustained a hairline fracture in his right hand near the end of arguably his best offensive season.
Passan: Everything Alden says is correct. And yet the absence of another team stepping into the vacuum the Dodgers have created allows them, in the minds of many, to maintain their status as the favorite.
Shohei Ohtani has been the best hitter in the sport in September, to say nothing of his 14⅔ shutout innings this month, including five hitless in a Sept. 16 start against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mookie Betts, who has not looked like Mookie Betts for much of the season, looks like Mookie Betts again. His home run stroke is back, and he’s tied with Juan Soto for the MLB lead in RBIs this month with 21.
In September, Dodgers hitters are tied for second in home runs and third in wOBA. The offense is a mammoth, even without Smith, and for all of the pitching questions Los Angeles carries, what resides in that clubhouse is enough talent to overcome them. This is the value of a deep team. There’s still enough to win another ring.
Do those in the game think the Yankees will make another deep October run?
Castillo: Yes, because the American League is wide open and the Yankees just might have the most talented roster, top to bottom, in the field. A National League front-office executive recently said he believes the Yankees are the favorite to win the pennant again because of their blend of talent, experience and ability to inflict damage on opposing pitchers. The Yankees lead the majors in runs scored and home runs. Their starting rotation has the second-lowest ERA in baseball since the trade deadline. Their bullpen is filled with relievers with real track records. The pieces are there for a run.
Olney: I think that’s easily envisioned, not only because the Yankees played in the last week of October just last year, but because the field is so wide open. But there are two problems cited constantly by evaluators with other teams.
No. 1: “They are a terrible defensive team,” said one AL coach, and he’s hardly alone in feeling that way. The Yankees push back on that notion, but that is certainly a perception. And No. 2: Their bullpen performance this year has been so erratic. The closer’s role has been passed around — what, a half-dozen times? — and Devin Williams‘ performance can range from pure dominance to total meltdown.
I bet if you gave truth serum to those in the Yankees’ organization, the general sentiment would be that they have no idea what to expect from this group in the playoffs.
Who do those in the game think could be this October’s most dangerous teams?
Rogers: The Mariners aren’t exactly flying under the radar anymore considering their recent win streak and series win in Houston, but some believe their pitching staff is just starting to peak, while others simply think they have prime-time players such as Randy Arozarena who have October upside. And that’s the word heard most often with the Mariners: They have tons of upside.
In the NL, the Chicago Cubs are starting to garner sleeper status. One executive mentioned that although their strengths don’t wow you at first glance, there’s no weakness to any part of their game. “If it’s the Cubs and Brewers in the division series,” he said, “can you pick a winner?”
Gonzalez: A current player who has been around awhile was trying recently to describe what it’s like being on the field at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a playoff game and couldn’t. The noise, he said, is deafening, unlike anything he had experienced anywhere else. His point was that the Phillies’ home-field advantage in October is more real than anybody else’s. And if there’s one team outside the reigning-champion Dodgers and the MLB-leading Brewers that sticks out in the minds of evaluators and players this coming month, it’s that one.
Even with Zack Wheeler out, the Phillies’ three lefty starters — Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo — are good enough to get it done. Their closer, Jhoan Duran, is considered almost impossible to hit. And then there’s the lineup littered with stars who have experience on the big stage and know this might be their best opportunity to win it all. The Phillies’ roster might be too expensive to be considered under the radar, but in what many consider to be a wide-open field, they’re the ones that come up in conversation most often as the most dangerous.
Who are some under-the-radar players with industry buzz as potential postseason stars?
Passan: None of the Reds’ elite young talent has postseason experience, and facing the Dodgers would be one hell of an introduction for shortstop Elly De La Cruz, right-hander Hunter Greene and left-hander Andrew Abbott. The latter two provide a whale of a one-two punch, especially in a best-of-three series, and if the Reds can hold off the Mets and Diamondbacks, the pitching matchups against Los Angeles would be tantalizing, regardless of whom the Dodgers choose among Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Clayton Kershaw. The first five have combined for a 1.69 ERA in September.
How Toronto chooses to use rookie Trey Yesavage in the postseason will be fascinating to see. The rare player to spend time at Low-A, High-A, Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues in the same year, the 22-year-old right-hander, chosen 20th in the 2024 draft out of East Carolina, followed a dominant debut against Tampa Bay with a pedestrian outing against Kansas City. He has a mid-90s fastball that plays well high in the zone and a splitter that’s a gnarly complement.
Yesavage probably won’t start, but Toronto could piggyback him with a starter, slot him in a bulk role after an opener, deploy him as a multi-inning leverage weapon or have him eat an inning at a time. Whatever Toronto does, Yesavage, who has worked out of the bullpen in the minor leagues in anticipation of this, will be ready.
Castillo: Cal Raleigh — rightfully so — has attracted the shine in the Pacific Northwest this season, but the Mariners need their other All-Star position player to deliver in October if they’re going to play for the franchise’s first World Series title. And Julio Rodriguez has delivered since the All-Star break. Another slow start marred the center fielder’s overall numbers, but Rodriguez is slashing .295/.333/.570 with 17 home runs in the second half. His .903 OPS and elite defense registers as MVP-level production. Rodriguez was around for the Mariners’ last trip to the postseason in 2022, but the charismatic 24-year-old will have a chance to cement himself as one of the game’s superstars with a deep October run.
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