Each year, young hockey players fall in and out of favor within the NHL.
Some of these players who make opening night have been shoehorned in from the get-go, either out of the draft, juniors, college or European pros. Others spend a little bit longer marinating in the AHL before making their mark.
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Recently, we looked at five goaltending prospects expected to make the jump from the minor leagues to the NHL full-time this upcoming season. Now, it’s time to look at the blueline.
As for criteria, these players must have been either AHL or NCAA regulars last season, still Calder-eligible and not teenage players – sorry Artyom Levshunov and Zeev Buium.
Sam Rinzel, Chicago Blackhawks
When the Chicago Blackhawks selected Sam Rinzel near the end of the first round in 2022, many people were left confused. Why would the Blackhawks select a kid out of Minnesota high school hockey in the first round?
Just three seasons later, the Blackhawks saw promising returns on their investment, as Rinzel enjoyed a nine-game stint in the NHL to end the 2024-25 season after signing his entry-level contract out of college.
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To say Rinzel looked comfortable is a gross understatement. The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman was given the keys to the castle, often logging over 22 minutes a game and netting five points in the process.
Rinzel should provide the Blackhawks with more physicality and size, while also being comfortable making the first pass and activating into the offensive zone with the puck.
He projects as the No. 4 defenseman for Chicago in the 2025-26 The Hockey News’ Yearbook.
Sam Rinzel Is Playing Well Beyond His Years With Blackhawks
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Owen Pickering, Pittsburgh Penguins
Coming in just one game shy of Calder Trophy ineligibility next season, Owen Pickering’s 25-game stint in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season proved that, despite some rookie errors, the 21st overall pick in 2022 should be set to make the jump full-time to the NHL, albeit in a depth role.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Pickering boasts a long stick he uses to suppress rush opportunities and battle proactively in the crease. The 21-year-old can also retrieve pucks defensively and carry them up the ice, which bodes well for a second-pair, two-way-upside projection.
While Pickering is listed as the Penguins’ seventh defenseman in the Yearbook going into the 2025-26 season, don’t be surprised if he’s able to break into regular minutes ahead of Parker Wotherspoon or Ryan Graves.
What Will Owen Pickering’s Role Be In 2025-26?
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Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.
Scott Morrow, New York Rangers
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or so the New York Rangers hoped when they acquired Scott Morrow as the primary piece back in the K’Andre Miller trade.
While Scott Morrow’s post-season with the Carolina Hurricanes may have soured the team on the player, there’s still a lot of promise to the 22-year-old right-shot defenseman’s game.
Morrow boasts great tools, while also boasting an offensive mind. The question is whether he’ll get the minutes to be an effective offensive player with the Rangers. He’s currently listed as the No. 7 defenseman in the Yearbook behind three other right defensemen – Adam Fox, Will Borgen and Braden Schneider. So if Morrow is to get those opportunities, barring a jump over Schneider, he’ll have to play off-handed or wait for an injury.
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Logan Mailloux, St. Louis Blues
Scott Morrow wasn’t the only promising young defenseman who changed hands last season, as Logan Mailloux was dealt from the Montreal Canadiens to the St. Louis Blues for fellow up-and-comer, forward Zack Bolduc.
Mailloux remains a touted prospect with flashes of high-end offensive talent who will certainly have the opportunity to blossom into an NHLer this season on a retooling Blues team. The two-time AHL All-Star game participant is ranked as the sixth-best defenseman in St. Louis in the Yearbook, and he’s averaged nearly 0.6 points per game over the last two AHL campaigns.
In 2021, Mailloux was charged and fined in Sweden for defamation and offensive photography after reportedly secretly taking and sharing a photo of a woman performing a sexual act. Mailloux said he had deep regrets and knows he caused a lot of harm.
NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s Pipeline
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Adam Wilsby, Nashville Predators
The most overlooked player on this list is Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby, standing at 6-foot-1. Through 23 games in the NHL last season, Wilsby netted four assists and five points while also putting up exceptional defensive analytics.
Expecting Brady Skjei to remain off-hand again to play with Roman Josi, Wilsby will likely battle Andreas Englund, Spencer Stastney and Jordan Oesterle for the spot on the third pair behind new addition Nic Hague from Vegas.
It’s a tough battle, especially for Wilsby, who missed a chunk of the season with an upper body injury. That said, if Wilsby plays like he did last season at camp, there’s no doubt he can secure a spot for opening night. If he doesn’t, expect a waiver claim.
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Adam Wilsby is ranked the ninth-best defenseman in the Predators’ system in the Yearbook.
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