Every team in the Central Division has been to the playoffs within the past few seasons, and it hasn't allowed for especially high draft picks. That's why the Central is one of the shallower divisions when it comes to high-end prospects, despite being home to No. 1 NHL-drafted prospect and early 2019-20 Calder Trophy favorite Cale Makar.
Most of the teams in this division aren't considered rebuilding projects, though one wonders if the Wild will start to look at retooling a bit more in the coming years. Chicago and Colorado have top-five picks this June too. It will be interesting to see how things shake out after the 2019 draft, but right now, most of these teams don't rank very high among NHL farm systems.
Note: "A" prospects have higher potential to be impact NHL players, and "B" prospects are more likely to be everyday players and contributors on NHL rosters, based on what I've seen to date.
Chicago Blackhawks
A prospect: Adam Boqvist
B prospects: Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, MacKenzie Entwistle, Philipp Kurashev, Tim Soderlund, Artur Kayumov and Dominik Kubalik
The Blackhawks' prospect pool remains a little thin, especially after Henri Jokiharju graduated this season, but they have high-end defensive prospects led by the offensively elite Boqvist. However, he needs to round out his defensive game before he can be an NHL defenseman. Mitchell opted to return to Denver for next season but very much should be viewed as a future NHLer. Beaudin had a strong season in the QMJHL, in which he showcased a bit more maturity in his game.
Where Chicago is lacking is elite forward prospects. Entwistle might have the most upside of any in its system currently, while others such as Kurashev, Soderlund, Kayumov, Kubalik, Andrei Altybarmakian, Niklas Nordgren, Brandon Hagel and Evan Barrett are among those who could take steps toward the NHL in the next few years.
Chicago could make a big splash with its No. 3 pick, but the decision isn't an easy one. Do the Blackhawks keep loading up with defense by adding Bowen Byram, or do they select from one of five high-end forwards who seem to make sense at No. 3? Whomever they pick likely becomes the team's No. 1 prospect.
Breakout prospect: Nicolas Beaudin
Colorado Avalanche
A prospect: Cale Makar
B prospects: Martin Kaut, Shane Bowers, Conor Timmins, Logan O'Connor, Brandon Sagieon and Vladislav Kamenev
The Avs got a postseason taste of what Makar is all about. He's the best drafted prospect in hockey in my book right now. Beyond him, there are plenty of wait-and-see players in the Avalanche's system.
Kaut had a respectable start to his North American pro career in the AHL. The Colorado Eagles gave undrafted O'Connor a chance to prove that he deserves an NHL shot soon. The 2019-20 season will be a big one developmentally for Bowers, who showed glimpses of high-end play at Boston University and earned his first contract while still needing some time to develop. Timmins spent the entire season on the shelf with lingering concussion issues. We'll have to see how he returns to form because at his best, he's a talented defender who has NHL-caliber hockey sense. The Avs also have two picks in the first round with Nos. 4 and 16.
Breakout prospect: Brandon Sagieon
Dallas Stars
A prospect: Ty Dellandrea
B prospects: Denis Gurianov, Jason Robertson, Joel L'Esperance, Adam Mascherin and Jake Oettinger
The Stars have a unique system. The graduation of Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz delivers a blow to the overall depth, but there are some pieces here. One of the more positive developments of this season was the reemergence of Gurianov, who got NHL time over the course of the season and had his most productive AHL campaign.
I've been a big fan of Dellandrea since his draft season, and I think he continued progressing this season. Meanwhile, Robertson led the OHL in scoring this season and showcased high-end offensive abilities. I'd be higher on him if I weren't so concerned about his skating. I'm also intrigued by the Stars' addition of undrafted Tye Felhaber, who had a stellar season. But there is still work to be done on his game.
The Texas Stars should continue to be a solid developmental pipeline for the Stars. They did a heckuva job with undrafted L'Esperance, who looks NHL-ready, and Mascherin acquitted himself well in his rookie season. The AHL team will also have to get first-round goalie Oettinger prepared over the next few years to see if he can seize his No. 1 upside.
Breakout prospect: Joel L'Esperance
Minnesota Wild
A prospect: Kirill Kaprizov
B prospects: Connor Dewar, Carson Soucy, Alexander Khovanov, Louie Belpedio and Nico Sturm
The Wild have a fairly shallow pool, especially after the graduations of Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway. The team has to play the waiting game with its No. 1 prospect in Kaprizov, who led the KHL in goals this season. Dewar has a chance to be a really good depth player at the NHL level, and Khovanov really popped this season after finally getting healthy and back in shape after a big health scare in his draft campaign. The Wild also added one of the top college free agents in Nico Sturm, who could play for them next season in a depth role.
The Iowa Wild had their best season since joining the AHL and are looking like they could provide some NHL help soon. Soucy and Belpedio would be helpful depth defensemen, and Mason Shaw, Will Bitten and Dmitri Sokolov all got a good taste of pro hockey.
I didn't see a ton of progress from the team's 2018 first-round pick, Filip Johansson, this season. His offensive game is below average at this point, but I believe he has a chance to bounce back next season with his physical tools and hockey sense.
Breakout prospect: Connor Dewar
Nashville Predators
A prospects: Dante Fabbro and Eeli Tolvanen
B prospects: Rem Pitlick and Josh Wilkins
The Preds haven't had a ton of picks of any kind the past few years, but they still have a pretty good hit rate. Fabbro showed that he's ready for NHL minutes after spending last season at Boston University, even though Tolvanen had a fairly tepid North American pro debut this season. Some concerns crept in, but he still has that elite shot. Next season will be important for him.
Nashville also locked up a pair of talented offensive collegiate players in Pitlick and the undrafted Wilkins. I think each is going to need some AHL time, but they possess some NHL-caliber tools. Others to keep an eye on in this system include Jachym Kondelik, a massive forward with some touch, and AHLer Yakov Trenin, who progressed this season. Former fourth-rounder Anthony Richard and Alexandre Carrier also took some steps forward this year. The Preds are pretty stocked at the NHL level for now, but they might start to rely on these younger guys soon.
Breakout prospect: Rem Pitlick
St. Louis Blues
A prospect: Jordan Kyrou
B prospects: Dominik Bokk, Klim Kostin, Scott Perunovich, Ville Husso and Mitch Reinke
The Blues have done a great job in drafts the past several years. Seeing what Robert Thomas is doing in the playoffs is particularly exciting. Kyrou might be one of the better forwards outside of the NHL right now, thanks to his excellent puck skills and high-end offensive game. St. Louis should continue to have high expectations for Kostin, despite a lack of AHL production. He thrived in his age group at the World Juniors and just needs more time to find his pro legs.
The Blues have a couple of high-upside prospects in Bokk and Perunovich, who now has a second NCAA title under his belt. Undrafted defenseman Reinke put up big points and showcased a high-end offensive skill set as an AHL rookie. But a few prospects also took steps backward this season, including Husso, who I thought was going to be the future of this team in net before Jordan Binnington exploded onto the scene this year. I'm also still waiting to see more from Jake Walman and Nolan Stevens, a pair of players who really popped in college hockey but haven't quite found their pro footing yet. The Blues are in pretty decent shape, considering their spate of deeper playoff runs in recent years.
Breakout prospect: Mitch Reinke
Winnipeg Jets
A prospect: Kristian Vesalainen
B prospects: Dylan Samberg, Logan Stanley, David Gustafsson and Tucker Poolman
The Jets have been among the NHL's most effective drafting teams -- so much so that many of their top prospects lose prospect status very quickly. Things have thinned out a little bit, but the Jets continue to have good NHL futures in their system. Vesalainen opted to return home to Finland and play for Jokerit in the KHL this season, and he played well both there and during abbreviated AHL time. He looks ever closer to being NHL-ready, but the Jets will have to find a spot for him.
The team has a pair of intriguing defensemen in Samberg and Stanley. Samberg is returning to Minnesota Duluth for another season after winning two national titles, and former first-rounder Stanley handled the transition to pro hockey well, though I think there's limited upside there. One of the more pleasant surprises in the Jets' system was goalie Mikhail Berdin, who excelled in the AHL after spending the bulk of the season in the ECHL. He made the jump straight from the USHL to the pros and didn't struggle with it as much as I thought he could. I'd expect the Jets to continue getting positive returns from their drafts and always have players who can help in a pinch.
Breakout prospect: Mikhail Berdin