Carolina: The Hurricanes are expecting big things this season from 18 year old prospect Filip Ekberg (2025 draft, 7th round 221st overall). Although a late-round pick despite fourth-round projections, the Canes may have found a diamond in the rough considering his nearly point-per-game effort in his rookie season for Ottawa in the OHL (45 pts. in 53 games). He enhanced his reputation as an offensive tactician by leading the U18 WJC tournament in points (18 points on 10 goals & 8 assists) for silver-medalist Sweden.
Ottawa: Merrimack College has added 6’5″ Swedish D-man Filip Nordberg to its roster. Nordberg, a Senators second-round pick (64th overall) in 2022, becomes Merrimack’s highest-drafted player ever on its roster. Nordberg, who has been developing nicely as a two-way D-man since his move to North America, was named D-man of the Week two times late last season for Sioux Falls in the USHL.
New Jersey: After last season’s stellar performance where he tallied nearly a point-per-game in the KHL, Russian forward Arseni Gritsyuk is poised to grab an opening night roster spot with the Devils. The 24-year-old winger had 17 goals & 27 assists for 44 points in 49 games with SKA St. Petersburg in 2024-25.
Another Russian prospect is clearly on the Devils’ radar. After posting a .927 save percentage in helping Boston University to a Frozen Four appearance, there is wide agreement that goaltender Mikhail Yegorov (2024 draft, 2nd round 49th overall) most definitely would be a mid first-rounder currently. With a nice pipeline of goaltending on its roster, the Devils appear to have a very solid future between the pipes.
Detroit: According to NHL insider Corey Pronman of The Athletic, Detroit goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa (2021 draft, 1st round 15th overall) remains Detroit’s #1 overall prospect. This is not in harmony with the NHL central scouting bureau, which recently awarded the top ranking to Michigan State goaltender Trey Augustine (2023 draft, 2nd round 41st overall). Likewise, The Hockey News ranks Augustine ahead of Cossa in its recent Yearbook issue. Only time will tell who is correct, although Augustine always has been a personal favorite of mine.
Vancouver: The Canucks have signed forward Vitali Kravtsov (NYR1999 draft, 1st round 9th overall) to a one-year $775k deal. Kravtsov has spent the last two seasons in the KHL, the last of which he garnered 58 points in 66 games (27G 31G), and has GM Patrik Allvin ecstatic to get a deal done.
On the defensive side of the puck, many people in the Canucks’ organization believe Swedish D-man Tom Willander is NHL-ready, despite this fall being his pro debut after a successful two-year stint at Boston University. Despite stiff competition, most expect him to win a roster spot right out of camp.
New York Islanders: Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson (2025 draft, 1st round 17th overall) has started off the 2025-26 season with a bang, sustaining a three-game suspension from the OHL for an illegal head-check in a Barrie Colts – Owen Sound Attack game. This comes as no surprise, as Aitcheson is known for his willingness to physically punish his opponents. He will continue his development in the OHL for the foreseeable future.