30 NHL prospects to watch at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Group A

Canada
Owen Power, D, Buffalo Sabres: Last year’s No. 1 pick is likely Canada’s No. 1 defenseman in this tournament. Power showed he can play at a high level with pros at last year’s World Championship, where he helped Canada win gold. He left Michigan for the Olympics as the top scoring defenseman in college hockey with 26 points in 24 games.

Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim Ducks: A physical presence with high-end skill, McTavish has a chance to be special, and it looks like he could be on Canada’s top offensive unit heading into the tournament. This will be the sixth different team he’s played for this year, a list that includes the Anaheim Ducks, San Diego Gulls, Peterborough Petes, Canadian World Junior Team and Hamilton Bulldogs. The 2021 No. 3 overall pick has looked excellent at every stop, too.

Devon Levi, G, Buffalo Sabres: In the midst of a borderline historic season with Northeastern, Levi has a .948 save percentage and nine shutouts. He also was Canada’s goalie at the 2021 World Juniors, posting a record-high save percentage of .964. The former seventh-round pick of the Panthers is suddenly one of the hottest goaltending prospects in the game today.

Jack McBain, C/W, Minnesota Wild: In the midst of a breakout senior season with Boston College, McBain has 24 points in 18 games for the Eagles. He has a strong 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame that helps him at both ends of the ice. He probably will be a depth piece for Canada.

United States
Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken: Likely to play a key role for Team USA as one of its top centers, Beniers has been on a tear this season at Michigan. The sophomore ranks in the top five in the NCAA with 36 points in 28 games for the Wolverines.

Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators: Though he remains in COVID-19 protocols, USA Hockey is optimistic Sanderson will be cleared in time to join the team later this week. He may miss a game or two, but he will be there for the ones that really count. Sanderson is having a remarkable season for North Dakota with 24 points in 21 games. He also captained the U.S. World Junior team before the tournament was canceled. Had he arrived with the team, I have no doubt he would have been on USA’s top pairing and playing major minutes.

Brendan Brisson, C/W, Vegas Golden Knights: A natural goal scorer and power-play weapon, Brisson is having a great sophomore campaign with Michigan. He has 17 goals and 32 points in 29 games so far this season. Brisson won gold with the U.S. World Junior team last year and should be a scorer in the middle of USA’s lineup for the Olympics.

Brock Faber, D, Los Angeles Kings: One of the best pure defenders in college hockey at the University of Minnesota, Faber is an elite skater who should see significant minutes despite his youth. He helped USA win gold at the 2021 World Juniors and was on the roster for another chance this year before the tournament was scrapped. He’s not a big producer but moves the puck well.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: Minnesota’s star freshman has made a name for himself with outstanding power-forward capabilities combined with some high-end goal scoring traits. Knies was a top-six player for USA at the World Juniors and likely will be at the Olympics. He has 25 points in 26 games for the Gophers this season as one of college hockey’s best freshmen.

Nick Abruzzese, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: A quick, shifty player, Abruzzese lacks size, but he doesn’t lack jam. He plays a competitive, energetic style that combines speed with high-end offensive traits highlighted by how quickly he processes the game. He has 21 points in 17 games so far this season but also had 44 in 31 games as the top-scoring freshman in college hockey two years ago. He didn’t play anywhere last season as Harvard’s hockey team was shut down during the pandemic.

Drew Commesso, G, Chicago Blackhawks: He’ll have a chance to play some games, probably, for Team USA after the season he’s had with Boston University. The second-round pick had a rocky start to the year as BU struggled, but in the last few weeks and at the World Junior Championship, he has looked great. Commesso has a .915 save percentage and won six of his last seven starts before joining Team USA.

Sean Farrell, C/W, Montreal Canadiens: The USHL MVP last season with the Chicago Steel, Farrell has been an outstanding first-year player for Harvard, showcasing speed and versatility. His offensive tools are important, but he also battles, making up for any concerns about his lack of size. Farrell has 19 points in 17 games for Harvard.

Nathan Smith, C, Winnipeg Jets: An under-the-radar prospect you absolutely should know, Smith was playing Florida high school hockey five years ago and is now an NHL Draft pick and playing in the Olympics. He left for the Olympics as the NCAA’s top scorer with 41 points, the leading offensive performer for the nation’s No. 1 team, Minnesota State. He has come a long way in the last few years and has incredible skill to go along with vastly improved two-way play.

Drew Helleson, D, Colorado Avalanche: A stout defender, the Boston College sophomore has shown improved offensive numbers this season as well. Helleson is a physical player who plays a disciplined style and provides solid mobility. He was a big part of USA’s gold-medal World Junior team in 2021.

Noah Cates, LW, Philadelphia Flyers: Bringing a championship pedigree and an abrasive style to USA’s lineup, Cates won an NCAA title as a freshman at Minnesota Duluth. He opted to stay for his senior season and has been a steady veteran presence for one of the nation’s top teams. His offensive numbers have dipped a bit, but Cates continues to find ways to impact games.

Sam Hentges, C/W, Minnesota Wild: One of the real surprise picks on this team, Hentges is having a spectacular season for St. Cloud State, which was a Frozen Four team last year. Hentges has appeared in just 11 games this year but has 13 points while providing some decent skill and solid two-way play.

Nick Perbix, D, Tampa Bay Lightning: Perbix has been one of college hockey’s best defensemen over the last two seasons. He enters the Olympics on fire, too, with 18 points over his previous eight games. And yes, he is a defenseman. He was the NCAA’s National Defenseman of the Month in January.

Ben Meyers, C, Undrafted Free Agent: He is going to be one of the most sought-after undrafted free agents on the market by a significant margin. Meyers plays with grit and speed, and this year he’s got the big numbers, too. The Minnesota junior center has 26 points in 26 games and impacts his team in so many ways. He should be a solid middle-sixer for Team USA.

Marc McLaughlin, C, Undrafted Free Agent: One of the best defensive forwards in college hockey and the reigning Hockey East Defensive Forward of the Year, McLaughlin can fly. His speed is a big factor in his success, but he’s an intelligent, gritty player who has also shown higher-end scoring ability this year with 18 goals in 25 games for Boston College.

Strauss Mann, G, Undrafted Free Agent: After leaving the University of Michigan after his junior season, Mann landed in the Swedish Hockey League, where he has been putting up strong numbers. He has a .921 save percentage in 16 appearances during his rookie season and has put himself more strongly on the NHL radar.

Group B

Russia
Arseni Gritsyuk, LW, New Jersey Devils: After playing a limited role for Omsk in their Gagarin Cup run last season, Gritsyuk is breaking out in the KHL. The 20-year-old had 28 points in 39 games, which made him the top U21 scorer in the KHL this season.

Artur Kayumov, LW, Chicago Blackhawks: Likely to play more of a depth role for Russia, Kayumov’s offensive numbers have dipped a bit this season for Yaroslavl. That said, he’s a reliable two-way player who can play a high-energy game.

Dmitri Voronkov, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets: A hulking power forward, Voronkov made his senior team debut last World Championship. His numbers have been underwhelming this year, but with his size and skill, he can be a force in this setting.

Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes: One of the real breakout prospects of this season, Nikishin has never represented Russia in any IIHF event to date, but at 20 years old he will play in the Olympics. He’s a big defenseman with a big shot and can defend at a high level. He scored eight goals this season for Spartak Moscow.

Kirill Marchenko, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets: Marchenko was named to the initial roster but was bumped to the reserve squad when he tested positive upon entry into Beijing. It is unclear if those plans will change, but I wanted to list him anyway because he’s the best NHL prospect on this team for my money. He’s as skilled as they come and has two straight seasons of 20 or more points before his 22nd birthday.

Denmark
Frederik Dichow, G, Montreal Canadiens: It’s unclear if the 20-year-old Dichow will get much playing time as he is behind the more veteran Sebastian Dahm, but the youngster is having a great season in Sweden. Dichow has played primarily in HockeyAllsvenskan for Kristianstads IK. Over 22 games, he has a .924 save percentage and three shutouts while posting a 14-7-0 record. The 6-foot-5 netminder who was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 is certainly starting to break out.

Group C

Slovakia
Samuel Knazko, D, Columbus Blue Jackets: After recently moving from Finnish club TPS to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, Knazko will make his second senior-team appearance after playing in the Men’s Worlds last year. He remains a raw talent with high upside thanks to his strong mobility and good puck-moving skills. He was captain of Slovakia’s World Junior team before the event got cancelled.

Simon Nemec, D, 2022 NHL Draft Eligible: Ranked No. 7 on the Daily Faceoff midseason draft rankings, Nemec is one of the most prized prospects in Slovakia since perhaps Marian Hossa even. Nemec is playing in Slovakia’s top pro league and has put up numbers never seen before by a teenage defenseman in that league. He’s a rangy, mobile defenseman who moves pucks well.

Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, 2022 NHL Draft Eligible: A big power forward who checked in at No. 10 on the Daily Faceoff midseason draft rankings, Slafkovsky has some outstanding skills. He currently plays in Finland’s Liiga where he has four points over 21 games. He might be a bit too young to play a key role for this Slovakia team, but he earned his spot and should get some ice time.

Sweden
Pontus Holmberg, C/W, Toronto Maple Leafs: Fresh off his breakout season in 2020-21, Holmberg adds Olympian to his list of accolades. Last season, he led Växjö to the Swedish championship, putting up 14 points in 14 playoff games while claiming postseason MVP honors. He was also named Swedish Forward of the Year. He earned a contract from the Maple Leafs and was loaned back to play one more season in Sweden, and he’s only better this year than he was last.