Now that we've had some time to consider how each team's haul from the 2014 draft fits into their pipeline, we can identify which clubs now have a new No. 1 prospect in their system.
A reminder on the term "prospects" as I define them: Players outside the NHL are eligible if they have played fewer than 25 NHL games in any season, and fewer than 50 career NHL games total. So players like Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mikhail Grigorenko and Teuvo Teravainen are eligible, while Brett Connolly and Beau Bennett are not.
Here, in alphabetical order, are NHL clubs that now have a new No. 1 prospect in their system thanks to the 2014 draft.
David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
2013-14 team: Sodertalje (SHL-2)
Pastrnak had one of the most productive seasons in the lower Swedish league for an under-18 forward in decades, despite a late back injury that kept him out of the under-18 championships. His 24 points in 36 games surpassed Filip Forsberg's 17 points when the Nashville Predators prospect was in this situation. His hockey IQ is really high, as he sees all his options, processes the game very quickly and understands how to play with pace. He's a good skater with shiftiness and an above-average top gear, who also possesses a quick release on his shot.
The top few prospects in the Bruins' system are all small, skill forwards with Pastrnak joining Ryan Spooner and Alexander Khokhlachev. Pastrnak is a level higher in terms of the skill/hockey IQ combination, so even though they all have similar skill sets, Pastrnak's potential is a level higher. He has fringe top-line potential.
Sam Reinhart, C, Buffalo Sabres
2013-14 team: Kootenay (WHL)
The youngest and most talented of Paul Reinhart's three sons stands out due to his incredible hockey IQ. Reinhart's ability as a playmaker drives his value. He's a highly skilled puck handler, but his strength is more as a distributor. He's not the biggest guy at 6-foot, 185 pounds, but he's solid defensively.
The Russian duo of Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Zadorov were Buffalo's top prospects before Reinhart was picked second overall. Reinhart brings a similar level of vision and skill as Grigorenko, but with a much more well-rounded game, projecting him as a high-end two-way player in the NHL.
Sam Bennett, C, Calgary Flames
2013-14 team: Kingston (OHL)
Bennett is a fun player to watch because of all the different ways he can impact a game. This year's No. 4 pick is a dynamic skater and puck handler who thinks the game very well and has a real edge to how he plays. As my top forward from the 2014 draft, he's not at the same level of Nathan MacKinnon or Jonathan Drouin during their draft year, but he's just a notch or two below.
Bennett jumps ahead of Johnny Gaudreau as Calgary's top prospect. Gaudreau arguably has a higher pure skill level in terms of hands, but if he does it isn't by a whole lot; moreover, Bennett surpasses him clearly in terms of his physical game, and also has more speed. Gaudreau could be a good top-six player, but Bennett could be a star.
Haydn Fleury, D, Carolina Hurricanes
2013-14 team: Red Deer (WHL)
Fleury was the top defenseman at the World Under-18 Championship, showing the great minutes-eating play he displayed all season. Fleury is a big defender (6-2, 203 pounds) who skates very well and is no stranger to physical contact. When you combine those physical abilities with offensive skill and a high fitness level, you get a player who coaches don't want to take off the ice.
The Canes' system isn't all that good at the moment, so it didn't take much for the 2014 first pick to reach the top spot of their system. They have a few good players, like Sergey Tolchinsky and Brock McGinn among others, but Fleury and his top-pairing tools sails past them in terms of prospect value.
Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
2013-14 team: Prince Albert (WHL)
The "Deutschland Dangler" was a top offensive player in the WHL. He's an incredible playmaker whose instincts and quick-pace reactions allow him to make a distinct type of plays. Draisaitl can beat you with his hands, vision and also his body in terms of how well he protects and controls the puck.
Draisaitl slightly clears 2013 first-rounder Darnell Nurse as the top prospect in the Oilers' system. Leon's high-level offensive capabilities give him another notch of upside relative to the well-rounded blueliner.
Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
2013-14 team: Barrie (OHL)
The first overall pick from the 2014 draft was the top defenseman in the OHL this past season. He's an elite physical specimen and possesses fantastic hockey IQ, a big slap shot, as well as good skating and puck-moving ability. Ekblad is young, but quickly becoming the complete package who may be able to impact the NHL sooner than most elite defense prospects.
Picking first overall should hopefully get you a new top prospect, which is the case with Ekblad heading to the Panthers. Vince Trocheck and Mike Matheson are quality top 100-level prospects, but Ekblad has to potential to be one of the better players at his position in the entire league.
Kevin Fiala, LW, Nashville Predators
2013-14 team: HV71 (SHL)
Fiala rose about as much as one prospect can as the season went along. He was a top-six forward for his SHL team, and even played at the World Championships for Switzerland as a 17-year-old. He's a really skilled offensive threat with top-end puck skills and offensive IQ. Fiala's ability as a playmaker and how he maintains puck possession does a lot for his team. He's a small player (5-10, 181 pounds), which is his primary drawback.
I've gone back and forth on whether Fiala or Filip Forsberg should be rated higher, but I lean to the former. Both have top-line upside and Forsberg had a fantastic 2013-14 season, but Fiala just looks so advanced for his age that he gives the impression of a player who may have another level.
Michael Dal Colle, LW, New York Islanders
2013-14 team: Oshawa (OHL)
Dal Colle is a player who scouts commonly describe as a pure "puck possessor." He's so smart and skilled with the puck that he creates and maintains consistent pressure on the opposing defense. On top of all that, he has a very good shot as well.
I think highly of the group of young defensemen the Isles have -- especially Griffin Reinhart -- but Dal Colle's dynamic offensive capabilities push him above Reinhart, who projects quite well as a defensive defenseman but does not have the offensive upside.
Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
2013-14 team: KalPa (Liiga)
It was a tough season for Kapanen between injuries and playing on a very poor team in Finland's Liiga. When he's on his game, Kapanen can take a shift over with his speed, skill and drive. He has the high-end offensive capabilities to make all kinds of plays. Kapanen slid in this year's draft, showing the concerns the industry had about him based on 2013-14, but I still see him as a top prospect.
Based upon his skill set at forward, he is ahead of an equally dynamic Derrick Pouliot because the latter's defensive shortcomings (as a defenseman) diminish his value.
Robby Fabbri, C, St. Louis Blues
2013-14 team: Guelph (OHL)
Fabbri was consistently impressive all season, from the Ivan Hlinka summer tournament right through the CHL postseason. He's a smaller, yet dynamic guy -- 5-10, 170 pounds -- who can beat opponents with skill, speed, vision and sheer work ethic. He has the character you want in a smaller player in order to overcome the physical shortcomings. That said, Fabbri's size and strength remain concerning in projecting him into his NHL role.
I could go either way on listing Fabbri or Dmitrij Jaskin as the Blues' top prospect, but I lean towards Fabbri because he has a higher upside as a fringe top-line talent; though Jaskin has shown more as a pro, he projects as a top-six player and not necessarily top line.
William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
2013-14 team: Modo (SHL)
Nylander had a so-so first half of the season, then an outstanding second half, where he had the highest scoring under-18 campaign in SHL history, and was the top scorer at the World Under-18 Championship. His skill level is incredible; he's the kind of player to whom you give the puck and let him do all the work. Nylander's abilities to gain the zone, make defenders miss, and create chances are all high-end.
Nylander clears Toronto's field as their top prospect due to his star-level offensive potential. Their system needed a jolt, and he delivers it.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
2013-14 team: Halifax (QMJHL)
Ehlers had one of the top 17-year-old seasons by a CHL import in recent history. He took very little time to adjust to the North American game, and dominated the QMJHL with 104 points in 2013-14, fourth in the league behind Anthony Mantha (the top prospect in the Detroit's pipeline), Jonathan Drouin (the top prospect in Tampa Bay's system) and the over-age Marcus Power. Ehlers may be on the slight side at 5-11, 161 pounds, but due to his incredible speed, skill and hockey sense, he creates offense in bunches. His offensive potential is star-level.
Both Josh Morrissey and Nic Petan had really good seasons, but Ehlers edges them out due to his higher ceiling.