THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack - Oct. 10, 2023
Welcome to the THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our great team of writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at some Rangers prospects who could impact the team this year, Zach Benson’s chances of sticking in the NHL all season, some predictions for who will win the Calder Trophy this year, and much more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Rangers’ Prospects Othmann & Garand Can Contribute in 2023-24
October 10, 2023 by Brian Abate
The New York Rangers trimmed their roster down ahead of the 2023-24 season. Winger Will Cuylle put together a very impressive preseason and earned a roster spot, while important prospects Brennan Othmann and Dylan Garand will start the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
If all goes according to plan, they can continue to develop there, but it is also possible that one or both can contribute in the NHL this season.
Zach Benson Makes the Sabres’ Roster Much Better
October 10, 2023 by Jacob D. Strozyk
Throughout the course of the preseason, Zach Benson has been the player to watch on the Sabres’ roster. As of Oct. 9, Benson has officially made the team out of training camp and is slated to play on the third line with Casey Mittelstadt and Jordan Greenway. Benson making this team is not only an incredible personal feat, but it also means that the Sabres are willing to make the tough choices to make their roster the best it can be.
The bottom line is that he was clearly ready to make the jump right to the NHL, and the former 13th-overall pick in 2023 ran away with his opportunities. Now that the Sabres have their sights set on opening night, it is only a matter of time before fans get to see how Benson matches up to full-blown NHL competition.
NHL 2023-24 Calder Trophy Predictions
October 9, 2023 by Logan Horn
The NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy is given to the league’s best first-year player. Last year’s group of rookie talent wasn’t particularly spectacular or deep, with Matty Beniers all but guaranteed to win the award before the calendar flipped over in January. This year, however, should provide a whole lot more drama with a massive pool of talent making their way into the NHL for the first time at a variety of positions.
Let’s take a deep dive into the top players who could realistically compete for the NHL’s rookie of the year honors next year. I came up with a list of one dozen players who I think have the best chances to end up with a Calder vote or two at the end of next season, and I’ve divided them into three tiers, the early favorites, the realistic contenders, and the dark horses. They are ranked 1-12 with one being my prediction for the 2023-24 Calder Trophy winner.
Coyotes Sending Guenther Down Is the Smart Move
October 9, 2023 by Cooper Krigbaum
When the Arizona Coyotes traded Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland to the Vancouver Canucks, the return was all that mattered. They acquired loads of bad contracts but also received a 2021 first-round pick, which fell at number nine in the draft. That pick became one of the Coyotes’ top prospects, Dylan Guenther.
Guenther has been all over the place during the past two seasons, playing for multiple junior teams and now soon-to-be Tucson Roadrunners. General manager (GM) Bill Armstrong sent Guenther down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Was that decision smart? Or should they have let him start the season in the NHL and decide later?
Carolina Hurricanes - Felix Unger Sörum Challenging for a Roster Spot
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Draft Coverage - 2024 NHL Draft: Baracchini’s Preseason Top 32