The Pacific Division has not played out at all like we thought it would this season, with the Golden Knights surprising the way they have in a good way and the Oilers doing the same in a bad way. What will be interesting to see is how this division looks over the next few years, as it is certainly not the deepest when it comes to high-end prospects.
That said, there are a number of intriguing players beneath the NHL level throughout the Pacific, with Vancouver boasting one of the deepest groups. Here's a look at what has been going on in the prospect pipelines for each team in the Pacific Division, including our way-too-early 2018-19 watch for players who can make an impact a year from now.
If you missed any previous editions, it's not too late! Click forward for the Atlantic Division, the Metropolitan Division and the Central Division, respectively.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks' pipeline looks a fair amount better now than it did heading into the season. A number of prospects are having really strong seasons, particularly in the AHL and major junior ranks. Considering Anaheim didn't have a first-rounder last year, a few of their 2017 draft picks have been particularly impressive to start their post-draft seasons.
The top of the Ducks' prospect system is still largely populated with previous draft picks, however. Sam Steel, selected 30th overall in 2016, is not having as dominant a season as he did last season in the WHL, when he had 131 points in 66 games, but he remains an offensive dynamo. He is one of three Ducks prospects in Canada's World Junior camp, and he appears to have the best odds to make it. Also in Canada's camp is 18-year-old Maxime Comtois, who could muscle his way into a bottom-six role, though he is averaging a point per game in the QMJHL. Josh Mahura is the other Ducks prospect vying for a spot on Team Canada, following a particularly strong showing in the Canada-Russia series earlier in the fall. He moves very well and has good two-way value on the blue line, as he's averaging better than a point per game in the WHL.
The Ducks also have a number of high-performing players in the AHL this season, though the San Diego Gulls have struggled as a team. Kevin Roy, Kalle Kossila, Giovanni Fiore and Andy Welinski all have earned recalls amid Anaheim's incredible injury troubles, and each has been performing and producing at a solid clip for the Gulls.
Among other producers in the system, 2016 first-rounder Max Jones has 18 goals in 25 games so far for London in the OHL, and he will be in Team USA's WJC camp. Meanwhile, goalie Olle Eriksson Ek has been exceptional in the Swedish under-20 ranks and will compete for a spot on Sweden's junior squad. Lastly, Troy Terry has been one of the best players in college hockey this season, and continues a rapid rise in his development trajectory, which brings us to ...
2018-19 watch: Terry will have a decision to make when his season ends at the University of Denver. He has a year of eligibility left after this, and should he take it, it leaves open the possibility of him exploring the free-agent route. However, the Ducks should have some openings on the NHL roster next season with the way their 2018-19 salary-cap picture looks. As one of the top producers in college hockey this season with 23 points in 16 games, Terry looks ready to make the jump. His hockey sense was already at a high level, but his overall puck skills seem to get better with each passing year. Anaheim should be looking to get him signed the second his 2017-18 season ends at Denver -- though it could be a while, as the Pioneers look to defend their national title.
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes have graduated Clayton Keller and Christian Fischer from prospect status, with Dylan Strome probably following at some point this season. That takes a big chunk out of what had been one of the richer prospect pipelines in the NHL. There remains several higher-end, high-upside prospects in the system, but don't be surprised to see them tumble down the organizational rankings later in the season.
Right now, Tyler Steenbergen is having the most exciting season among Coyotes prospects, unless you count Strome's dominant, brief run in the AHL. Steenbergen is competing for a spot in Canada's World Junior camp, and he is scoring at will in the WHL. The 2017 fifth-rounder has 35 goals in 27 games and is producing at an absurd 2.26 points-per-game pace. Also in the major junior ranks, defenseman Cam Dineen is having a really strong campaign for the North Bay Batallion, producing at nearly a point per game for a team that doesn't score a ton. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Arizona's pick at 23rd overall in 2017, is also showing great progression in the QMJHL. Arizona also has a number of Swedes performing well in their native country, namely Filip Westerlund, who is up with Frolunda in the top pro division, and Erik Walli Walterholm, who dominated the under-20 ranks and is getting a look with Djurgardens' pro side.
In the AHL, the Tucson Roadrunners have been having a really nice season, with younger players driving things for them. As noted, Strome was dominant and remains the team's leading scorer despite being recalled weeks ago. Nick Merkley is next in line, with 24 points in 20 games, which is good for third among all AHL rookies (Strome leads that still, too). This is exactly the kind of season the Coyotes would want to see from their 2015 first-rounder. Kyle Capobianco also has been a bright spot in his rookie season, and he was recently recalled by the Coyotes after putting up 14 points in 18 games from the blue line.
2018-19 watch: The Coyotes use their AHL team well and it's been an important finishing school for some of their higher-end prospects. Fischer went through that last season and performed extremely well. Now he's a regular for the big club. Merkley looks poised to be the next guy to do that. He was a really good junior player, but he wasn't ready to nudge anybody out of a spot. The question for Merkley is if there will be a spot for him next season. We'll have to see what the Coyotes do before the trade deadline to see if that space becomes more readily available. There's no need to rush Merkley, either, as he can gain a lot from mastering the AHL before next season.
Calgary Flames
The Flames' system is not long on elite talent, but there's good depth, which will help service the big club in the coming years. Calgary has done a nice job of building up their AHL team, and Stockton has become a place where the Flames can take their time with players and let them get acclimated to the pro game for a more seamless transition to the NHL. It's looking like Mark Jankowski is going to be another good example of what Calgary has been doing with their farm club.
Stockton is fairly deep on talent with NHL upside. Andrew Mangiapane has been one of the AHL's top scorers as he continues rounding out his game and waiting for that first recall. Defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington are both seemingly on track to be contributors for the Flames in the near future. Meanwhile, 2013 first-rounder Morgan Klimchuk appears on pace for his most productive season as a pro, and offseason UFA signing Spencer Foo is starting to find his legs in the AHL, with six points in his past five games. Lastly, Jon Gillies remains one of the top netminders outside of the NHL, while getting as many reps as possible with Mike Smith entrenched as the NHL No. 1 for now.
Outside of the AHL ranks, there's a lot to like as well. Their top 2017 pick, Jusso Valimaki, is having another fine season in the WHL and should be showcased in the World Juniors with a strong Finland entry. Dillon Dube has been excellent again this season and, as long as he's healthy, should play a prominent role for Canada at the World Juniors. He's just a really smart hockey player with good tools to make the jump. Also in the WHL, the undersized Matthews Phillips has been a dynamic scorer for Victoria with 50 points in 34 games, but he did not get a World Juniors invite from Canada. Over in the OHL, Adam Ruzicka has been a big contributor for Sarnia, one of the top teams in Canada. He'll rep Slovakia at the WJC as well. Harvard's supremely talented puck-moving defenseman Adam Fox also will be there as one of Team USA's most important defensemen.
2018-19 watch: Coming off of a strong rookie season in the AHL last season, Andersson continues biding his time while he waits for a spot to become available on Calgary's solid blue line. He remains a good first recall option when the Flames need a right-handed shot, and he saw one game so far for the big club. The 21-year-old Swede appears poised for an even more productive season with 15 points in 19 games for Stockton. The extra year of seasoning certainly isn't going to hurt, but Andersson is going to have to assert himself next year in camp to earn playing time at the NHL level. Based on contracts on this season's roster, there are going to be more spots up for grabs for forwards, so Klimchuk and Mangiapane, among others, may be able to make a stronger case for NHL time next year.
Edmonton Oilers
It's a good thing the Oilers have a lot of youth on their NHL roster because this is a prospect pipeline that doesn't have much by way of elite talent and isn't especially deep. That will be offset by the fact that those youngsters at the NHL are playing -- and will continue playing -- at a high level, but there's not much in terms of roster flexibility if injuries pile up.
That said, Kailer Yamamoto showed flashes in the NHL that he's not far away from being able to help this team. Since being sent back to the WHL, he hasn't exactly lit it up as easily as we're used to seeing him do at the junior level. He will be a huge part of Team USA at the World Juniors, and you'd have to expect his production to trend up over the course of the season. Meanwhile, Tyler Benson has been mostly dominant since returning to action in late October. He has 29 points in 19 games. If he can stay healthy, which has long been an issue, he has a chance to be a really solid forward as he's loaded with talent. There are a few other forwards in the CHL, Kirill Maximov and Ostap Safin namely, that are having solid seasons.
The AHL club hasn't been having much success, though. The Bakersfield Condors are currently last in the AHL's Pacific Division, and there isn't a ton of young talent. Defensemen Ryan Mantha and Caleb Jones have some upside and goalie Nick Ellis has looked pretty solid in net in his second professional season.
2018-19 watch: Having gotten the brief taste of the NHL this season, Yamomoto showed that he had the speed and tenacity to stick. Sending him back to junior was the right call, so as to preserve the year on his entry-level contract and also to let him continue mastering the level he is at. Yamamoto should challenge for a spot again next year, and won't have a lot of internal competition unless the Oilers get more aggressive on the free agent market this offseason.
Los Angeles Kings
Things have been really looking up for a system that didn't have a ton of high-end talent over the past few years. While there aren't a lot of top prospects per se, the Kings have managed to build decent depth within the system. We'll have to see how Gabe Vilardi responds to coming back from an injury, but he has the most upside of the Kings' prospects and appears to have a bright future within the organization. After him, there are some good pieces in place.
That starts with Kale Clague, who is a highly skilled defenseman with some dynamic qualities. He has been a force in the WHL with 47 points in 28 games, and he should play a big role for Canada at the World Juniors. Jaret Anderson-Dolan is another solid WHL prospect, as he is producing at a high clip for Spokane. Drake Rymsha, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has seen his game take off on a dominant Sarnia squad in the OHL. Also in the OHL, Jacob Moverare is on pace for a career year and was invited to Sweden's WJC camp. In the college ranks, Mikey Eyssimont has been a key player for top-ranked St. Cloud State, while Cole Hults has been one of the top freshman defenseman in the country at Penn State.
At the AHL level, the Kings have a decent roster with a number of players who could figure into their near-term plans. Jonny Brodzinski is already with the big club and could stick around for a while after early dominance with the Ontario Reign. Michael Mersch, who hasn't played with the Kings this season but did last season, remains a solid AHLer and provides good organizational depth. Meanwhile, undrafted signee Matt Luff has made an early impact in his first pro season. The goaltending is particularly interesting, however, as the Kings have been getting strong performances from offseason signee Cal Petersen and reclamation project Jack Campbell. Having also recently signed Cole Kehler -- one of the top goalies in the WHL this season -- as a free agent, the Kings' goaltending pipeline is really strong.
2018-19 watch: After deciding not to sign with the Buffalo Sabres, Petersen went to the Kings even though they have an established starter with a long-term contract in Jonathan Quick. Goalie paths can be tough to predict, but Petersen gave himself a relatively low-pressure situation in which he can gradually establish himself as a pro in the AHL and the next logical step is to be Quick's backup. The Kings have to keep their No. 1 healthy, and they'd probably be more willing to give Quick breaks if they have a younger goalie they need to develop some NHL reps. I could see that No. 2 job being Petersen's as early as next season, though he may end up having to battle Campbell for it.
San Jose Sharks
To be blunt, the Sharks' system is pretty light at the moment. While there are several strong prospects in the mix, this system lacks a real surefire blue-chip prospect. The Sharks can hope 2017 first-rounder Josh Norris rounds out into a higher-end player, but there's work to be done there.
In terms of prospects performing well this season, WHLer Noah Gregor has had a good start. He was just traded from Moose Jaw to Victoria, and has 37 points in 31 games. Also in the WHL, 2016 seventh-round selection Joachim Blichfeld is on track for a career year. The University of Denver's Dylan Gambrell is also having a strong start, averaging 1.31 points per game for the defending NCAA champions. Another high-performing college player is Mario Ferraro, who was a surprise invite to Canada's World Junior camp amid a really strong freshman season for UMass. He's a solid defenseman playing beyond his years for a rebuilding college program.
In the AHL, there is some interesting talent. After missing almost all of last season, Jeremy Roy is getting his first taste of pro hockey with the Barracuda, and is the team's top scoring defenseman. Fellow AHL rookie Rudolfs Balcers has 15 points in 21 games to lead the team. Meanwhile, Danny O'Regan has been a frequent call-up option for the Sharks, and he has continued to be a force in the AHL with 12 points in 13 games.
2018-19 watch: There is a fair amount of uncertainty about San Jose's roster next season. With Joe Thornton's contract expiring after 2017-18, it seems anything can happen. There should be opportunities for players like O'Regan to have a more established role, but don't sleep on Gambrell. He'll have the option to return to Denver next season, but he's in the midst of a career year on one of the best teams in the country. Should he sign, he has the smarts to make it at the next level, and with a shallower system, there's not as much of a competition for him to battle for an immediate roster spot.
Vancouver Canucks
Say what you will about Canucks GM Jim Benning, but under his leadership, the Canucks have been doing a pretty nice job at the draft. Even if it's taking Olli Juolevi longer to get to the NHL than expected, and Brock Boeser is graduating from prospect status, this system has a lot of nice pieces, with several prospects possessing high-end potential.
Perhaps there is no star brighter at this point than Elias Pettersson, the team's most recent first-round pick at fifth overall. The season he is having in Sweden right now is off the charts for a player his age. The 19-year-old is leading the SHL in scoring, and he has the best points-per-game average (1.35) for a player under 20 since Kent Nilsson in 1975-76. The next name on the list after Pettersson in that category is Peter Forsberg (1.23). He could end up on Sweden's Olympic team if he plays well enough at the World Juniors. Meanwhile, the Canucks sent Juolevi back to Finland to get some pro reps, and he appears to be bouncing back favorably with TPS. Both of those players will be in prominent roles for their respective countries at the World Juniors. Also in Europe, Jonathan Dahlen continues to produce in Sweden's second pro division with 22 points in 19 games.
On this side of the pond, things have been going particularly well for Adam Gaudette, who has been one of the most consistent producers in college hockey at Northeastern. He also has an outside chance at making the U.S. Olympic team. Meanwhile, 2017 second-rounders Kole Lind and Jonah Gadjovich each have a good shot to play for Canada at the World Juniors, as does third-round goalie Michael DiPietro. Will Lockwood looks likely to represent the U.S. at the tournament. Vancouver also has some promising talent down in Utica in the AHL, most notably goaltender Thatcher Demko, who is putting up better numbers in his second pro season. Also, Nikolay Goldobin has been a good recall option, as he has looked great in the AHL so far this season.
2018-19 watch: Seeing what Pettersson is doing this season, it's going to be hard for the Canucks not to want him on their roster soon. They're starting to develop their young core with players like Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. It's easy to see Pettersson sliding right into that mix in the very near future. The talented Swede probably needs to get a bit stronger yet, but his skill level and goal-scoring ability really put him on a faster track.
Vegas Golden Knights
Starting from scratch can be a tricky thing, but the Knights have gotten themselves off to a good start with their first draft. Many of the team's prospects have started their seasons extremely well, especially the three first-rounders. It's still going to take time to build depth in this system, as is to be expected when you're building from the ground up.
Starting with the trio of first-rounders, Nick Suzuki and Cody Glass have been among the top producers in the OHL and WHL, respectively. Each is averaging over 1.6 points per game, and both have a chance to represent Canada at the World Juniors this year. They look like a pair of home run picks right now. Meanwhile, defenseman Erik Brannstrom continues progressing at the pro level in Sweden at just 18 years old. He's already matched his SHL point total from a season ago, and he will be playing for a loaded Swedish squad at the WJC.
Other prospects drafted in 2017 include Jack Dugan, who has been one of the top players in the USHL as he gets an extra year of development before going to Providence College. Also in the USHL, Maxim Zhukov has established himself as a top goalie in that circuit. Second-rounder Nicolas Hague has been over a point-per-game pace from the blue line, while even the Knights' last pick in the draft, Ben Jones, has produced over a point per game in the OHL this season.
Things have been a little tougher at the AHL level, as the Golden Knights' affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, has gotten off to a tough start with a roster that also includes some St. Louis Blues prospects to help fill the holes. There's still some good talent down there, and as they acquire more prospects, they'll be able to mold their farm team a bit more into what it should look like long term.
2018-19 watch: If Cody Glass takes as big a step forward this season as it looks like he is, he should challenge pretty convincingly for a spot on the Knights' roster next season. I think Vegas will take its time with its top guys, but Glass has an impressive game. He sees the ice well, has a good solid frame and a strong hockey IQ. He has 48 points in 30 games for Portland, and he looks the part of a top prospect. It will be interesting to see how he performs if he makes Canada's junior team.