The Athletic’s senior hockey analyst Scott Wheeler has just released his latest top‑100 prospect rankings, a snapshot that is already stirring conversation across the NHL’s draft‑year landscape.
At the very summit of the list sit Gavin McKenna, the first‑overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ivar Stenberg, the second‑overall selection of the San Jose Sharks, underscoring the depth of talent that teams are eyeing for the upcoming season.
Jets’ Hidden Gems
Among the notable risers is Winnipeg Jets forward Viggo Björck, drafted eighth overall, who now finds himself inside the top ten and ahead of several players who were selected earlier in the draft, including Carson Carels and Daxon Rudolph.
Another Jet prospect, Elias Salomonsson, sits at No. 61, but his placement above a host of higher‑profile prospects from other clubs — such as Sam O’Reilly, Easton Cowan and Max Plante — signals a quiet surge in his evaluation.
The Jets’ management is clearly optimistic, hoping that both Björck and Salomonsson can translate their rising stock into immediate contributions that help the club push for a playoff berth.
With a blend of skill, size and work ethic, these youngsters embody the kind of impact players that can shift a franchise’s trajectory, and the early rankings suggest the organization may have struck gold.