With early-season rosters pretty much set, we have a good idea where everyone is going to be playing. That also gives us a great idea of which teams are loaded with prospects to start the season.
With the way hockey is set up, you can find teams at all different levels that are loaded with prospects, from the top minor league farm teams to European pro clubs to the junior ranks to the NCAA. Even as the NHL skews younger, the lower levels continue to be teeming with players worth monitoring.
Here is a look at some of the top teams when it comes to watching prospects this season:
Boston University (NCAA, Hockey East)
Key prospects: Brady Tkachuk (2018), Shane Bowers (OTT), Jake Oettinger (DAL), Dante Fabbro (NSH), Jordan Greenway (MIN), Brandon Hickey (CGY), Chad Krys (CHI), John MacLeod (TB), Patrick Harper (NSH), David Farrance (NSH), Kasper Kotkansalo (DET), Logan Cockerill (NYI), Cam Crotty (ARI)
If you're looking for a high volume of drafted prospects, Boston University has you covered. The Terriers have been dominating on the recruiting trail under head coach David Quinn. There are three first-round draft picks -- defenseman Dante Fabbro, goalie Jake Oettinger and center Shane Bowers -- on the roster, and a 2018 draft-eligible in Brady Tkachuk who is a projected top-five pick.
On top of the players with first-round pedigree, BU boasts junior winger Jordan Greenway, who is in the mix for the 2018 U.S. Olympic team. Additionally, Predators prospect Patrick Harper should be in the mix for the Hobey Baker award as a sophomore. Senior defenseman Brandon Hickey has big-time NHL upside while anchoring a blue line that boasts seven drafted players, each of whom were selected in the third round or earlier.
As good as this BU team is right now, they also had two of this season's early Calder Trophy favorites -- Clayton Keller (ARI) and Charlie McAvoy (BOS) -- on the roster in 2016-17 and Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel the year before that. The Terriers have always churned out pro prospects, but these last few years have been ridiculous.
Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Key prospects: Cody Glass (VGK), Henri Jokiharju (CHI), Kieffer Bellows (NYI), Joachim Blichfeld (SJ), Skyler McKenzie (WPG), Brendan DeJong (CAR)
The Winterhawks have long been among the class organizations in the WHL in terms of the number of pros they have produced. That tradition continues with the group they have this season. Portland is off to a hot start, led by Cody Glass, the first-ever draft pick by the Vegas Golden Knights, who is averaging nearly two points per game in the early goings of the WHL season.
They also have Blackhawks first-rounder Henri Jokiharju, who put up big numbers last season and is producing at a higher clip early this season. The Winterhawks also added Islanders first-rounder Kieffer Bellows in the offseason after the winger left Boston University following an uneven freshman campaign. Meanwhile, Jets seventh-round pick Skyler McKenzie seems to be putting everything in the net, with 10 goals through his first nine games.
Toronto Marlies (AHL, Toronto Maple Leafs)
Key prospects: Travis Dermott, Timothy Liljegren, Andrew Nielsen, Miro Aaltonen, Dmytro Timashov, Frederik Gauthier, Jeremy Bracco, Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson, Trevor Moore
As good as the Toronto Maple Leafs are to start this season, the organization has depth below the NHL level as well. Toronto places high value on the development opportunities for its players in the AHL. William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown and Connor Carrick are among the recent players to benefit from their time with the Marlies.
Kasperi Kapanen, who averaged a point per game last season with the Marlies, is the headliner, having come over in the Phil Kessel trade. He was expected to make the big club this year, but Toronto's loaded top nine kept him in the minors. It shouldn't be long before he's in the NHL.
Meanwhile, the Leafs' top draft pick from 2017, Timothy Liljegren, is getting his first taste of North American hockey. Jeremy Bracco, a highly skilled playmaker fresh off leading the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup, is in his first pro season. Others such as Travis Dermott, Andreas Johnsson and Miro Aaltonen are marinating a bit longer before having a chance with the big club.
Frölunda HC (SHL)
Key prospects: Rasmus Dahlin (2018), Kristoffer Gunnarson (Canucks), Lias Andersson (NYR), Christoffer Ehn (DET), Carl Grundstrom (TOR), Victor Olofsson (BUF), Jacob Peterson (DAL), Filip Westerlund (ARI)
With Rasmus Dahlin settling in as the consensus No. 1 draft pick for 2018, Frölunda is a good team to watch just to see him. A rich recent history of producing NHL talent (Henrik Lundqvist, Erik Karlsson, Loui Eriksson, among others) on top of a strong list of other previously drafted players only adds to the intrigue.
Dahlin is the headliner right now, with his incredible skill and creativity from the back end. But Frölunda also has Lias Andersson, the New York Rangers' top pick from last season. He was loaned back to Sweden after challenging for a spot with the Rangers and already has a pair of goals through the team's first five games in the Swedish Hockey League. Meanwhile, Buffalo Sabres pick Victor Olofsson has been an early producer, while prospects John Nyberg, Carl Grundstrom, Christoffer Ehn and Kristoffer Gunnarson all are regulars for Frölunda as well.
SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Key prospects: Nikita Gusev (VGK), Igor Shestyorkin (NYR), Vladislav Gavrikov (CBJ), Andrei Altybarmakyan (CHI), Mikhail Maltsev (NJ), Nikolai Prokhorkin (LA), Yegor Rykov (NJ)
Two of the top players outside of the NHL right now are Nikita Gusev and Igor Shestyorkin. Both happen to be absolutely dominating this season for SKA in the KHL. Gusev, a former Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick whose rights were acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, is leading the KHL in scoring, with 32 points. The 21-year-old is a magician with the puck and is building off what was an incredibly strong 2016-17 campaign.
Shestyorkin, also 21 and a fourth-round pick of the Rangers in 2014, is putting up insane numbers so far this season. In 16 starts, Shestyorkin has a .952 save percentage as SKA has lost only once so far this season. He could end up being Russia's goalie at the Olympics.
It is unclear if and when these two will come to the United States, but the two of them alone put SKA on this list. There are a few other notable prospects who will see games with the KHL's top club this season as well.
Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Key prospects: Nick Suzuki (VGK), Jonah Gadjovich (VAN), Maksim Sushko (PHI), Markus Phillips (LA), Trenton Bourque (STL), Jacob Friend (LA), Sean Durzi (2018), Kevin Hancock (2018)
The OHL does not have a ton of teams absolutely stacked with top-end prospects like we've seen in recent campaigns. The overall collection of talent in the league never disappoints, but this season, it seems to be a bit more spread out. When compiling lists like this, this is a spot usually reserved for the London Knights, and while they have a ton of incredible talent, the team that intrigues me a bit more is Owen Sound.
Led by Golden Knights first-rounder Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound is scoring in bunches this season. Through their first nine games, they have 49 goals. Suzuki is averaging two points per game so far this season, while fellow draftees Jonah Gadjovich and Maxim Sushko are also scoring at a high pace. Meanwhile, Sean Durzi and Kevin Hancock may be playing their way into draft consideration in his second year of eligibility with some early gaudy numbers. Additionally, while not draft-eligible for another year, Tennessee native (you read that correctly) Mack Guzda is a name to know for the 2019 NHL draft. He's still very raw, but very intriguing as well.
Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Key prospects: Filip Zadina (2018), Benoit-Olivier Groulx (2018), Otto Somppi (TBL), Alexis Gravel (2018), Jared McIsaac (2018)
Among Canadian junior teams, few carry as much intrigue in the 2017-18 draft season as the Mooseheads. Having recently produced the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Nikolaj Ehlers, just to name a few, Halifax has three projected first-rounders this season alone.
Czech import Filip Zadina appears to be the best of the bunch and is off to a stellar start with 18 points in 11 games. Benoit-Olivier Groulx has been highly touted for years and was the first overall selection in the QMJHL draft two years ago. Jared McIsaac is a productive two-way defenseman who is getting some mid-first round buzz, while Alexis Gravel has a chance to be the first goalie taken in 2018. There are going to be a lot of scouts in the stands every time Halifax plays this season.
USA national team development program U18
Notable 2018 draft-eligibles: Oliver Wahlstrom, Joel Farabee, K'Andre Miller, Mattias Samuelsson, Bode Wilde, Jake Wise
As the program that has produced each of the past four American-born players selected first overall in the NHL draft, the NTDP remains one of the most consistent prospect factories anywhere in the world. The list of prominent alumni is long, with Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews among them. This season, the NTDP has several players with first-round potential, with a pair of alumni looking like possible top-10 selections (Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes).
Oliver Wahlstrom, long considered among the best in his age group, is off to a terrific start to the season, with nine goals in eight games. Wahlstrom and teammate Joel Farabee also made last year's under-18 world championship team, and played prominent roles as Team USA won gold. Bode Wilde is one of many offensive defenseman attracting a lot of attention this year, and he's already producing at a high clip to start the season. Mattias Samuelsson is a massive defenseman who is getting first-round buzz as well. The NTDP could even sneak a few more players into the first round conversation, such as defenseman K'Andre Miller and center Jake Wise.
The added bonus of checking out the NTDP is that you can also see their under-17 team, which has scouts already buzzing about the potential of that roster. Center Jack Hughes is already getting attention as a potential No. 1 pick in 2019. There is a good chance he'll end up getting called up to the under-18 team at some point this season, making this an even more intriguing prospect group.
Others of note
University of Michigan (NCAA, Big Ten)
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Guelph Storm (OHL)
Charlotte Checkers (AHL, Carolina Hurricanes)
Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Stockton Heat (AHL, Calgary Flames)
University of Minnesota (NCAA, Big Ten)
London Knights (OHL)
Barrie Colts (OHL)
Manitoba Moose (AHL, Winnipeg Jets)