The biggest strengths for college football’s top 25 teams
Last week, we spelled out the biggest spring questions for every team in our Way-Too-Early Top 25. Now, we’re looking on the bright side by analyzing their biggest strengths. Surprise: There are some big expectations for new and returning quarterbacks. But there are also running backs, receivers and defensive players who we expect to excel in the fall.
These are the biggest strengths for each team, according to our reporters.
Biggest strength: Linebackers
Most teams would take a step back after losing an All-SEC linebacker to a conference rival via the transfer portal and one of its top young linebackers to his father’s alma mater. But Georgia’s linebacker corps might still be the best in the FBS, even after Jamon Dumas-Johnson transferred to Kentucky and Marvin Jones Jr. left for Florida State. Coach Kirby Smart has stacked up four- and five-star linebackers like cord wood over the past few seasons. Senior Smael Mondon Jr., the No. 1 athlete in the Class of 2021 according to ESPN Recruiting, has grown into a dominant inside linebacker. Sophomores C.J. Allen and Raylen Wilson were the No. 2 recruits at inside linebacker and outside linebacker in the Class of 2023, respectively. Junior Jalon Walker was the No. 3 outside linebacker in 2022. The Bulldogs just added the No. 1 inside linebacker (Justin Williams) and No. 1 outside linebacker (Chris Cole) in their most recent recruiting class. While Georgia might no longer have a dominant superstar on its defensive front like Jalen Carter or Jordan Davis, it has plenty of star power behind it. — Mark Schlabach
Biggest strength: Running backs
When running back TreVeyon Henderson decided to return for his senior season, that was already a boon for the Buckeyes. But then Mississippi running back Quinshon Judkins made his move to Columbus official on the night Michigan won the CFP national title against Washington. Henderson (926 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023) and Judkins (2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in two years with the Rebels) may be the best running back duo in the country and will make life easier as quarterback Will Howard makes the transition from Kansas State. — Blake Baumgartner
Biggest strength: Edge rushers
Oregon clearly has two elite options at quarterback in Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, but where they are perhaps even stronger is at the edge rusher position. Junior Jordan Burch was a standout last season, tallying at least three sacks for the second year in a row. Burch’s decision to return to Eugene is a boon for the Ducks, while freshman outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti (19 solo tackles, two sacks) as well as defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (two sacks) head into their sophomore seasons having shown plenty of potential to make an even bigger impact in 2024. — Paolo Uggetti
Biggest strength: Offensive line
Four starters return — Jake Majors, Hayden Conner, Kelvin Banks Jr., and DJ Campbell — from an O-line unit that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award last year as the country’s best. Only Christian Jones departs, but he’s expected to be replaced by 6-foot-5, 369-pound junior Cameron Williams, who played in nine games last year with one start. — Dave Wilson
Biggest strength: Secondary
There’s a good case to be made that Notre Dame enters 2024 with the nation’s best secondary. Safety Xavier Watts returns after an All-America season in which he picked off seven passes. He’ll be surrounded by veteran corner Benjamin Morrison and an intriguing transfer from Northwestern, Rod Heard II, whose versatility should allow him to fit anywhere there’s a need. Arizona State transfer Jordan Clark and junior Jaden Mickey have ample upside, too. — David Hale
Biggest strength: High-scoring offense
The Rebels have never had problems scoring points under Lane Kiffin, and that again shouldn’t be an issue in 2024. In all four of his seasons in Oxford, Kiffin’s offenses have averaged more than 33 points per game. This will be Jaxson Dart’s third season as Ole Miss’ starting quarterback, and the combination of experience and big-play ability at the quarterback position is always a good place to start. Dart’s receiving corps, led by wideout Tre Harris and tight end Caden Prieskorn, should be one of the best in the country. The Rebels also added size and experience to their offensive line with four transfers, including Diego Pounds, who was North Carolina’s left tackle last season. — Chris Low
Biggest strength: QB-receiver combo
The quarterback-receiver combo of Brady Cook to Luther Burden III has a chance to be as productive as any pass-catch duo in the nation. Cook returns as a senior after a breakthrough season a year ago that saw him pass for 3,317 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’ll do his best to get the ball to Burden as much as possible. Now a junior, Burden was second in the SEC last season with 86 receptions and ranked third nationally with 725 yards after the catch. Cook and Burden connected for six passing plays of 40 yards or longer in 2023. — Low
Biggest strength: Running game
The Nittany Lions’ offense rushed for 184.8 yards per game last fall, which ranked 28th. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will be back for their junior seasons, and there’s little reason to believe the running game won’t provide similar results this season. Allen ended up fifth in the Big Ten with 902 rushing yards while Singleton’s eight touchdowns led the team and was tied for fourth in the league. The Big Ten’s second-best total offense (399.8 YPG) from a year ago rode its ground game to success. The script likely won’t change in 2024. — Baumgartner
Biggest strength: New-look offense
New coach Kalen DeBoer has one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. Even though there will be a lot that’s new surrounding the program, what won’t be new is DeBoer’s ability to get his quarterback to play at a high level. He’s got a talented one to work with in Jalen Milroe, who was one of the most improved players in college football last season and finished No. 6 overall in the Heisman Trophy voting. Milroe accounted for 35 touchdowns (23 passing and 12 rushing) last season and ranked fifth nationally in passer rating (172.1). — Low
Biggest strength: Quarterback
Perhaps no team in the country will benefit more from a returning quarterback than the Utes will when they finally see Cam Rising suit up for their season opener. Rising’s recovery from knee surgery forced him to miss last season and held back Utah’s entire campaign. After two seasons where he threw for over 5,500 yards and 46 touchdowns, Rising’s production — as well as his leadership — should re-energize an offense that struggled to look comfortable, let alone be productive, in his absence. — Uggetti
Biggest strength: Quarterback
After Brent Brennan was hired to be the Wildcats’ head coach in the wake of Jedd Fisch’s departure, his main priority was clear: Keep Noah Fifita in Tucson. Brennan has done just that as Fifita reaffirmed his commitment to Arizona after a breakout, 2,869-yard, 25-touchdown freshman campaign that has him positioned as a sleeper Heisman candidate heading into his second year. The Wildcats’ offense — and their whole team, really — will go as far as Fifita takes them in the Big 12. The 5-foot-11 quarterback from Huntington Beach, California, started only nine games last season, so his first full season as QB1 could be quite the encore. — Uggetti
Biggest strength: Offensive line
LSU is going to have a new look on offense in 2024 with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and star receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. departing for the NFL. One area that won’t change for the most part, however, is LSU’s offensive line, which was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award as the top unit in the FBS last season. The Tigers have the best duo of offensive tackles in Will Campbell and Emery Jones. Guards Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier also opted to come back for one more season, despite having NFL draft grades that probably would have gotten them selected. The only starter who left was center Charles Turner. Collectively, the four returning starters have 83 career starts between them, and each of them has logged more than 700 career snaps. DJ Chester might be the top candidate to replace Turner, but incoming freshman Coen Echols might also get a look. New quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has some massive shoes to fill, but at least he knows he’ll have great protection. — Schlabach
Biggest strength: Defense
The Wolverines’ defense suffocated the opposition all year long en route to posting a 15-0 record, winning the program’s first undisputed national championship since 1948. Michigan led the country in total defense (247.0 YPG) and scoring defense (10.4 PPG). New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale comes from the New York Giants and will be leading a rebuilt defensive coaching staff. The schedule is a bear (home games against Texas, USC and Oregon while visiting both Washington and Ohio State), so the defense will need to maintain the standard that has been set. — Baumgartner
Biggest strength: Wide receiver
Yes, the Sooners lose the ultimate gamer in Drake Stoops, who had 84 catches for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. But nearly every other major contributor is back. Jalil Farooq caught 45 passes for 694 yards. Nic Anderson showed off big-play skill with 798 yards and 10 TDs on just 38 catches. Andrel Anthony had 27 grabs for 429 yards before suffering a season-ending knee injury in early October. Add in Purdue transfer Deion Burks, one of the most coveted receivers in the portal, and there is a ton to work with for new OC Seth Littrell and starting QB Jackson Arnold. — Wilson
Biggest strength: Depth on defense
Although Florida State loses three key players from its defensive front, this is a unit that will continue to be a strength for the Seminoles. Defensive linemen Pat Payton and Joshua Farmer return, and Darrell Jackson Jr. is finally eligible to play for Florida State after sitting out last season as a two-time transfer. Coaches have raved about Jackson since his arrival, and at 6-5 and 334 pounds, he will be tough to handle inside. Add in transfers Sione Lolohea, Marvin Jones Jr., Tomiwa Durojaiye and Grady Kelly and there is a reason defensive coordinator Adam Fuller feels good about not only the talent but the depth this group has headed into the spring. — Andrea Adelson
Biggest strength: Defensive line
Tennessee kept veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner from returning to his alma mater (Auburn) this offseason, which was a big win. He has a strong record of producing elite defensive linemen, and the returning talent across the defensive front should be a tone-setter for the Vols in 2024. James Pearce Jr. is back for his junior season after tying for the SEC lead with 10 sacks last season. Pearce is poised to be one of the top edge rushers taken in the 2025 NFL draft. Starting defensive tackles Omari Thomas and Omarr Norman-Lott are also back. — Low
Biggest strength: Running back
Every football coach in America will tell you that one of the most demoralizing things an opposing team can do is run the football at will. Doak award winner Ollie Gordon II is one of the best in the country at doing so. He rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, and that was after not getting many touches in Oklahoma State’s first three games against the lighter portion of their schedule. There’s a great chance he ends up in New York for the Heisman ceremony by the end of the season. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Biggest strength: Offensive line
The NC State offensive line looks like it could be among the ACC’s best in 2024. Five members of the two-deep are fifth-year players, led by returning starters tackle Anthony Belton and Anthony Carter Jr. on the left side, along with right guard Timothy McKay. Notre Dame transfer Zeke Correll should be a terrific fit in the middle of the line, and Jacarrius Peak has a chance to become a star at right tackle after allowing just three pressures (and no sacks) on 406 snaps at the position last year. — Hale
Biggest strength: Defensive line
The defensive line has long been Clemson’s bread and butter, and it should be again in 2024. While some of the unit’s veterans — Xavier Thomas, Tyler Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro — have moved on, there’s ample young talent ready to take over. Peter Woods exploded onto the scene as arguably the nation’s best freshman interior lineman last year, and his ceiling is incredibly high. T.J. Parker racked up 12.5 tackles for loss off the edge as a freshman last season, too. A host of veterans stepping into bigger roles, led by Cade Denhoff and Payton Page, add to the depth. This should, once again, be among the ACC’s best fronts. — Hale
Biggest strength: Running game
Kansas State’s personnel on offense is going to look very different in 2024, with essentially a new offensive line and quarterback Will Howard gone to Ohio State. But QB Avery Johnson is a great athlete (he managed almost 300 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 carries in eight appearances in 2023), and the Wildcats return running back DJ Giddens, who rushed for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns. Giddens is their best player on that side of the football. It feels like there’s a lot of potential on the ground between those two, as long as this new offensive line works. — Lyles
Biggest strength: Ashton Gillotte
Though the Cards lost some players along the defensive line, they return their best overall player here in Ashton Gillotte, who will be a preseason favorite to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Gillotte had 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for last season and has steadily improved every year he has been at Louisville. Dez Tell, Jermayne Lole, Ramon Puryear and Mason Reiger also return, and the Cards added Tyler Baron, Harvard transfer Thor Griffith (won’t be there until the summer) and FIU transfer Jordan Guerad. Rebuilding the depth this group had last season will be a top priority. — Adelson
Biggest strength: Quarterback
There are certainly concerns about Jalon Daniels‘ ability to stay healthy, given that he missed about half of his breakout 2022 season with a shoulder injury, and then a majority of the 2023 season due to back issues. However, when Daniels has been on the field, he’s been one of the most dynamic players in college football. In his nine-game sample from 2022 when he was a Heisman contender, Daniels completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,014 yards with 18 touchdowns against four interceptions. In three games in 2023, he completed 75 percent for 705 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception. He will be must-see once again in 2024. — Lyles
Biggest strength: Defensive front
If the Wildcats are going to turn the corner under coach Mark Stoops, it’s going to start with their defensive front seven. Six starters are back on the defensive line and at linebacker, and Stoops snagged Jamon Dumas-Johnson to fill the hole at linebacker. Tackle Deone Walker is a physical mismatch for most opponents and is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the FBS. The 6-foot-6, 348-pound junior is utilized in a lot of different ways in Kentucky’s system. Last season, he had 55 tackles, 12½ tackles for loss and 7½ sacks. He had 48 quarterback pressures, which led all defensive tackles in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft because of his size, strength and athleticism. Tackles Josaih Hayes and Keeshawn Silver are big and experienced, as well. Last season, Kentucky allowed just 3.27 yards per rushing attempt, which ranked second in the SEC. It had 36 sacks, including nine in its 38-35 loss to Clemson in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. If UK can fix some things in the secondary, it might have one of the better defenses in the SEC. — Schlabach
Biggest strength: Offense
On paper, the answer to Miami’s offensive woes should be transfer quarterback Cam Ward, whose late signing after pulling his name from the NFL draft gave the Hurricanes a huge boost. This is a program that struggled to move the ball consistently through the air the past two seasons and improving that is a major area of emphasis this spring. But there are some questions attached to this answer. Spring will be our first chance to see how Ward fits into the offensive system under Shannon Dawson. It will also be our first chance to see how his chemistry and rhythm is developing with Miami’s receivers. Two standouts return in Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. How Ward helps the others come along will be an area to watch. The good news for Ward and the offense is the running back room should be a major strength with Henry Parrish Jr. and Mark Fletcher Jr. returning, alongside the continued development of the offensive line. — Adelson
Biggest strength: Quarterback
The Aggies have been trying to find the right man for the job since the departure of Kellen Mond in 2020, and Jimbo Fisher’s complex offense — combined with a struggling offensive line — did them no favors. But the upside of all those quarterbacks getting thrown into the fire due to injuries is that there’s now a solid QB room full of confidence. Starter Conner Weigman threw for 979 yards, eight TDs and two INTs in four starts with a 68.9 completion percentage. Unheralded Fresno State transfer Jaylen Henderson got the job after an injury to backup Max Johnson, and Henderson completed 67.9 percent for 715 yards and six TDs to 2 INTs. When Henderson was hurt on the first play of the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State, true freshman Marcel Reed completed 20 of 33 passes for 361 yards and added a 20-yard TD run. New offensive coordinator Collin Klein molded Will Howard and Avery Johnson before departing for College Station and Weigman could be the best Aggies quarterback since Johnny Manziel if he lives up to his potential. — Wilson
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Rachel Doerrie
The games are done for the top draft prospects; there is no hockey left to be played. A few players in the top 10 played until the last possible moment, making a lasting impression on scouts and executives at the Memorial Cup. With the combine taking place this week in Buffalo, New York, players will undergo physical testing and a rigorous interview process with interested teams. The combine allows teams to ask out-of-the-box questions, get a feel for the personalities of the players and, in some cases, understand the significance of injuries.
There is room for movement on the draft board because combine testing does impact model outputs. Furthermore, this list weighs scouting as 40% of the evaluation. The final ranking, which will be published June 23, will weigh scouting, projection, off-ice assessments and industry intel to varying degrees, which may see some players move up or down.
There are five parts of this set of rankings:
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The rank, which accounts for attributed value based on projection, the confidence of the projection and scouting.
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The NHL projection weighs the projection formula at 70% and scouting at 30%, and represents the most likely outcome for that player. The final edition of the rankings will include the player’s NHL ceiling.
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The NHL floor uses the same formula and represents the worst outcome, above 10% probability of occurring. If a player has a 4% chance of never playing NHL games and an 11% chance of becoming a fourth-line winger or No. 7 defenseman, then those projections will be used for NHL floor. For some players in the draft, the floor is outside of the NHL, perhaps the AHL or KHL.
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Projection confidence is based solely on the projection formula and forms two parts: confidence and volatility. The confidence has four tiers: High, fair, medium and low. This represents that confidence the model has that the player will reach the NHL projection for 200 or more NHL games. The level of confidence impacts the value of the player and, therefore, their rank. High confidence is above 80%, fair is 60% to 79%, medium is 35% to 59% and low is below 35%. The volatility has four categories: Low, slight, medium and high. Volatility relates to the range of outcomes a player has in their career. A player with a low volatility means there is a smaller range of outcomes for the NHL career, whether that is a No. 1 defenseman to top-pair defenseman, or third-line center to bottom-six forward. A player with high volatility has a wide range of outcomes, with relatively even distributions over the NHL projection. It could be related to a number of factors: the league they play in, their scoring if they changed leagues, injuries or a significant uptick/downturn in play. Many of these players are considered “raw” in their development curve.
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Strengths are each player’s standout abilities.
“Boom or bust” is an all-encompassing phrase with confidence and volatility. It means the player either hits their NHL projection or is unlikely to play 200 NHL games. The difference between a low-confidence/high-volatility projection and a boom-or-bust projection is simple: It means injuries played a role in the projection, and the sample size makes it difficult to confidently project the player’s most likely outcome; or that the league in which the player plays does not have a successful history of producing NHL players.
One other consideration is the “Russian factor,” where skilled Russians are more likely to return to Russia if they fail to hit their NHL projection.
Here is how the top 64 prospects line up according to my model:
1. Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL)
NHL projection: No. 1 defenseman
NHL floor: Top-pair defenseman
Projection confidence: High confidence, low volatility
Strengths: Mobility, puck moving, creativity, rush activation
2. Michael Misa, F, Saginaw (OHL)
NHL projection: Elite No. 1 center
NHL floor: Second-line winger
Projection confidence: High confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Offensive instincts, explosiveness, transition offense, two-way play
3. James Hagens, F, Boston College (NCAA)
NHL projection: First-line center
NHL floor: Second-line center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Transition play, speed, hockey sense, puck handling
4. Porter Martone, F, Brampton (OHL)
NHL projection: Second-line power forward
NHL floor: Middle-six winger
Projection confidence: High confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Playmaking, scoring, hockey sense, size
5. Caleb Desnoyers, F, Moncton (QMJHL)
NHL projection: Top-six, two-way center
NHL floor: Third-line checking center
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, quick hands, playmaking, efficient puck play
6. Anton Frondell, F, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
NHL projection: Second-line center
NHL floor: Third-line scoring winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Versatility, two-way play, elite release, forechecking
7. Roger McQueen, F, Brandon (WHL)
NHL projection: First-line scoring center
NHL floor: Injury-shortened career
Projection confidence: Low confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Speed, puck handling, quick release, size
8. Viktor Eklund, F, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
NHL projection: Top-six scoring forward
NHL floor: Middle-six scoring forward
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Motor, transition offense, two-way play, off-puck play, hard skill
9. Jake O’Brien, F, Brantford (OHL)
NHL projection: Top-six playmaking center
NHL floor: Middle-six scoring winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Playmaking, creativity, hockey sense
10. Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL)
NHL projection: Top-four defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair defenseman
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Physicality, transition defense, mobility, puck moving
11. Brady Martin, F, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
NHL projection: Second-line scoring forward
NHL floor: Bottom-six power forward
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Motor, wall play, physicality, hard skill, competitiveness
12. Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL)
NHL projection: Top-four shutdown defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair transition defenseman
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Size, stick positioning and use, hockey sense
13. Carter Bear, F, Everett (WHL)
NHL projection: Second-line versatile forward
NHL floor: Third-line checker
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Playmaking, versatility, two-way play, motor
14. Justin Carbonneau, F, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
NHL projection: Second-line scoring forward
NHL floor: Middle-six forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Powerful stride, playmaking, puck handling
15. Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)
NHL projection: Second-pair transition defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair defenseman
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Gap control, mobility, transition play
16. Lynden Lakovic, F, Moose Jaw (WHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six scoring winger
NHL floor: Bottom-six forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Speed, finishing ability, hands, size
17. Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)
NHL projection: Second-pair defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair physical defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Physicality, competitiveness, aggression, strength
18. Braeden Cootes, F, Seattle (WHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, speed, anticipation, forechecking
19. Cameron Schmidt, F, Vancouver (WHL)
NHL projection: Second-line scoring winger
NHL floor: AHL player
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Speed, puck handling, offensive instincts, finishing ability
20. Cole Reschny, F, Victoria (WHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, anticipation, quick hands, competitiveness
21. Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
NHL projection: Top-four transition defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair defensive defenseman
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Skating, transition play, hockey sense
22. Cullen Potter, F, Arizona State (NCAA)
NHL projection: Top-six forward
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Speed, agility, offensive play driving, elite release
23. Benjamin Kindel, F, Calgary (WHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way winger
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking winger
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Hockey sense, transition, two-way play
24. Malcolm Spence, F, Erie (OHL)
NHL projection: Third-line two-way winger
NHL floor: Bottom-six winger
Projection confidence: High confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: High-end motor, two-way play, tenacity
25. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
NHL projection: No. 1 starting goaltender
NHL floor: 1B tandem goaltender
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Anticipation, crisp movements, competitiveness, lateral agility
26. Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)
NHL projection: Second-pair defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair physical defenseman
Projection confidence: High confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Transition defense, in-zone defensive play, size, mobility
27. Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)
NHL projection: Second-pair two-way defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair offensive specialist
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Skating, stick play, transition play, slap shot
28. Jack Murtagh, F, USNTDP (USHL)
NHL projection: Third-line power forward
NHL floor: Fourth-line forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Motor, shooting, hard skill, straight-line speed
29. Jack Nesbitt, F, Windsor (OHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line defensive center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Strength, size, competitiveness, two-way play
30. Bill Zonnon, F, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
NHL projection: Third-line two-way forward
NHL floor: AHL player
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: High-end motor, raw playmaking, competitiveness, puck battles
31. William Moore, F, USNTDP (USHL)
NHL projection: Third-line forward
NHL floor: NHL depth player
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Puck protection, skating, offensive instincts, puck skill
32. Ryker Lee, F, Madison (USHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six playmaker
NHL floor: Bottom-six scoring depth
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Hockey sense, creativity, puck handling, one-timer
33. Nathan Behm, F, Kamploops (WHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six scoring forward
NHL floor: Bottom-six scoring depth
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Playmaking, shooting, creativity
34. Milton Gastrin, F, Modo (J20 Nationell)
NHL projection: Third-line two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, low volatility
Strengths: Defensive play, two-way instincts, motor
35. Shane Vansaghi, F, Michigan State (NCAA)
NHL projection: Third-line power forward
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking forward
Projection confidence: High confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Physicality, strength, competitiveness, puck skill
36. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, F, Lulea (J20 Nationell)
NHL projection: Middle-six scoring forward
NHL floor: Third-line scoring depth
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Playmaking, finishing ability, offensive instincts
37. Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton (OHL)
NHL projection: Platoon starting goaltender
NHL floor: High-end NHL backup
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Positioning, controlled movements, patience in save selection
38. Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)
NHL projection: No. 4/5 transition defender
NHL floor: AHL scoring defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Puck moving, gap control, creativity
39. Cole McKinney, F, USNTDP (USHL)
NHL projection: Third-line, two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line defensive center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, penalty killing, competitiveness, finishing ability
40. Eric Nilson, F, Orebro (J20 Nationell)
NHL projection: Bottom-six checking center
NHL floor: AHL top-six center
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, forechecking, competitiveness, defensive instincts
41. Vaclav Nestrasil, F, Muskegon (USHL)
NHL projection: Top-six power forward
NHL floor: Fourth-line physical winger
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Size, motor, two-way play, puck skill
42. Benjamin Kevan, F, Des Moines (USHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way winger
NHL floor: Bottom-six speedster
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Speed, puck handling, transition offense
43. Ivan Ryabkin, F, Muskegon (USHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six power forward
NHL floor: AHL player
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Quick release, creativity, physicality
44. Daniil Prokhorov, F, St. Petersburg (MHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six power forward
NHL floor: KHL player
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Size, strength, physicality, heavy shot
45. Carter Amico, D, USNTDP (USHL)
NHL projection: No. 4/5 transition defenseman
NHL floor: No. 7 defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Mobility, transition defense, physicality, size
46. Max Psenicka, D, Portland (WHL)
NHL projection: No. 4/5 two-way defenseman
NHL floor: No. 7 defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Instincts, mobility, gap control, puck moving
47. Luca Romano, F, Kitchener (OHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six, two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking speedster
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Speed, transition play, motor
48. Alexander Zharovsky, F, Ufa (MHL)
NHL projection: Middle-six scoring winger
NHL floor: KHL player
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Puck handling, instincts, creativity
49. Kurban Limatov, D, Moscow (MHL)
NHL projection: Second-pair, two-way defenseman
NHL floor: KHL player
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Skating, mobility, aggressiveness, physicality
50. Mason West, F, Edina (USHS)
NHL projection: Middle-six physical forward
NHL floor: Fourth-line physical forward
Projection confidence: Low confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Strength, physicality, size, mobility
51. Kristian Epperson, F, Saginaw (OHL)
NHL projection: Third-line scoring winger
NHL floor: AHL top-six forward
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, playmaking, hockey sense
52. Matthew Gard, F, Red Deer (WHL)
NHL projection: Bottom-six checking center
NHL floor: Fourth-line physical center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, low volatility
Strengths: Strength, size, defensive play, motor
53. William Horcoff, F, Michigan (NCAA)
NHL projection: Third-line two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line physical presence
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Defensive play, strength, size, wall play
54. Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln (USHL)
NHL projection: Second-pair shutdown defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair physical defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Defensive play, puck retrievals, motor
55. Peyton Kettles, D, Swift Current (WHL)
NHL projection: No. 4/5 shutdown defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, low volatility
Strengths: Defensive play, size, physicality
56. Hayden Paupanekis, F, Kelowna (WHL)
NHL projection: Bottom-six defensive center
NHL floor: Fourth-line center
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Competitiveness, size, defensive play
57. David Bedkowski, D, Owen Sound (OHL)
NHL projection: Bottom-pair shutdown defenseman
NHL floor: No. 7 physical defenseman
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Physicality, size, strong stick, penalty killing
58. Ethan Czata, F, Niagara (OHL)
NHL projection: Bottom-six checking center
NHL floor: AHL depth
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Penalty killing, physicality, hard skill
59. Haoxi “Simon” Wang, D, Oshawa (OHL)
NHL projection: Second-pair two-way defenseman
NHL floor: AHL player
Projection confidence: Low confidence, high volatility
Strengths: Skating, mobility, size, transition defense
60. Theo Stockselius, F, Djurgardens (J20 Nationell)
NHL projection: Third-line two-way forward
NHL floor: AHL depth
Projection confidence: Low confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Hockey sense, hard skill, playmaking
61. Eddie Genborg, F, Linkoping (SHL)
NHL projection: Bottom-six checking winger
NHL floor: Fourth-line physical winger
Projection confidence: Medium confidence, slight volatility
Strengths: Physicality, two-way play, motor
62. Charlie Trethewey, D, USNTDP (USHL)
NHL projection: No. 4/5 two-way defenseman
NHL floor: Bottom-pair defenseman
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Defensive play, physicality, heavy shot, skating
63. Alexei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)
NHL projection: 1B NHL goaltender
NHL floor: Reliable NHL backup
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Positioning, competitiveness, anticipation, athleticism
64. L.J. Mooney, F, USNTDP (USA)
NHL projection: Middle-six two-way scoring depth
NHL floor: AHL top-six scoring forward
Projection confidence: Boom or bust
Strengths: Speed, puck handling, motor
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