Hello prospect enthusiasts and welcome back to The Journey.

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It would be considered a crime if I didn’t bring up a piece of history that was made on Friday evening. Connor Bedard, a 2023 draft-eligible, became the WHL’s first player to receive exceptional status last season. This means that his skillset is worthy to take on 16-20-year-olds as a 15-year-old. 

Well, in storybook fashion, he did this in his first game:

Put this into the history books. And on every highlight reel everywhere, while you're at it. 🔥🔥🔥

Connor Bedard has his first career WHL goal! @WHLPats pic.twitter.com/jJcrPvB4u5

— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 13, 2021

Oh, and right after that, he also did this:

Connor Bedard isn't done just yet. 48 seconds between strikes ⚡

Do you guys think he is good at hockey? @WHLPats pic.twitter.com/uqKi1Z5umW

— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 13, 2021

He finished his first game with the Regina Pats, as a 15-year-old, with two goals, a plus-one rating, seven shots, and went 10/14 in the face-off circle. Get used to seeing this kid's name. 

Okay, to the task at hand. 

If you missed it, Dobber dropped its monthly Top 200 Fantasy Forward Prospects earlier this week, and oh, was it juicy. If you keep yourself up-to-date with the rankings on a monthly basis, you know that it has been slow lately (no movement when there are no games). However, this month, there was a drastic tectonic shift.

With these jumps/cliff-dives in mind, I will be dedicating the next two weeks to cover some of the list's most prominent risers. 

Let's get right into it. Here are your March prospect risers. 

Cole Caufield, Canadiens (Rank – Jan: 23, Feb: 11, Mar: 10)

Okay, Caufield did not move all that much over the past month, but, man are his recent accomplishments impressive. He wrapped up the NCAA regular season leading the nation in both goals (25) and points (46), won a conference championship with his Wisconsin Badgers, and has a very strong chance to take home this year’s Hobey Baker award. 

Yes, there is the never-ending debate over his size (5-foot-7). However, all indications are trending towards him becoming an extremely effective trigger man at any level, including the NHL. Although I am always an advocate for gaining reps in the minors, Caufield is eligible to turn pro before the season's end, meaning there is a chance that Canadiens fans get to witness his shot first hand in the near future. 

What kind of sorcery is this!?pic.twitter.com/LRlKZgRZkT

— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) March 6, 2021

Jason Robertson, Stars (Rank – Jan: 21, Feb: 23, Mar: 19)

Robertson, much like Caulfield, has not moved a significant amount with regards to the rankings. However, it's my obligation to find you progressing prospects capable of making a fantasy splash. With that, I must put him on your radar, if he is yet to be. 

It's hard not to be excited when you see this type of progression:

2015-16 (OHL rookie year) – 54GP – 18G – 14A – 32 PTS

2016-17 (OHL sophomore year) – 68GP – 42G – 39A – 81 PTS

2017-18 (OHL third year) – 68GP – 41G – 46A – 87 PTS

2018-19 (OHL fourth year) – 62GP – 48G – 69A – 117 PTS 

2019-20 (AHL rookie season) – 60GP – 25G – 22A – 47 PTS

Fast forward to this season, and Robertson continues to take tremendous steps and now sits (tied) fourth in NHL rookie scoring with 13 points. The Stars have been quite inconsistent thus far, yet, the 20-year-old continues to be a bright spot while climbing up the ladder – and fast. There have been ongoing concerns surrounding his skating inefficiencies and whether they could properly stack up to those at the highest level. Of course, those talks have since been silenced. He is a point-producer at heart and should become an everyday fantasy relevant in all formats (not just deeper leagues) very soon.

Seth Jarvis, Hurricanes (Rank – Jan: 40, Feb: 42, Mar: 24)

Jarvis recently fell victim (we will call it that) to the outdated agreement that forces those underage and not ready for the NHL, back into the junior crop. Despite Jarvis producing at a 1.22 point-per-game at the American League level, and continues to hold true as the Chicago Wolves top producer, he will return to Portland to wreak havoc on those his age and below. He put up 98 points over 58 games last year.

He was a personal favorite of mine going into this year’s draft. Yet, even for myself, the quick translation caught me off guard. At this rate, we may be seeing contention for a spot on the Hurricanes as early as next fall. Although I still put my money on a half-year (at least) of American League hockey.

Eeli Tolvanen, Predators (Rank – Jan: 37, Feb: 36, Mar: 26)

There are still areas of concern in Tolvanen's overall game, but the offensive output is certainly not one of them. As advertised, he has been an o-zone threat, primarily on the man-advantage. He currently sits with five goals and eight points on the year, with four and six of those stemming from special teams, respectively. 

Oh boy, turn your volume WAY up for this. 🔊 pic.twitter.com/gWQpp7jc7n

— NHL (@NHL) March 8, 2021

With his booming shot, he is likely to be stapled to the club's top unit, which should keep the opportunities coming. As a bonus, he has compiled an impressive 33 hits and eight blocks, which should boost his fantasy value a touch. 

Isac Lundestrom, Ducks (Rank – Jan: 58, Feb: 58, Mar: 37)

The Ducks have a list of young prospects taking nice strides this season, with Lundestrom being one of them. Although he has been on the colder end among the three, he has enjoyed the majority of his time alongside Rickard Rakell and Max Comtois –  both of which are piping hot. He's a buy-low prospect at the moment but is on a straight track to becoming a solid middle-six fantasy piece.

Oliver Wahlstrom, Islanders (Rank – Jan: 61, Feb: 60, Mar: 42)

Alright, hands up – who counted Wahlstrom out? He is only 20 years young but seemed to be developing at a rate that was slower than expected for most. At least, apparently? That's looking far from the case now, as he continues to deliver products using his well-touted weapon – his shot. He is up to nine points on the season, with seven of those coming within an eight-game stint. 

With Islanders captain Anders Lee now out of commission for the foreseeable future, there is room for the sharpshooter to potentially move up the lineup. If he could catch minutes with Mat Barzal, things could get interesting very quickly. 

Rasmus Kupari, Kings (Rank – Jan: 70, Feb: 70, Mar: 50)

Kupari's rookie campaign was cut short during the 2019-20 campaign, after a season-ending ACL tear. Now healthy, the Kings' 2018 second-rounder is building back some of his previous hype. He has since been called up to the show, thanks to a very strong start to his official sophomore season in the American League. At the time of his promotion, he was leading his team in points, with a goal and eight assists. 

The 20-year-old is among a long list of young talent within the organization, but his extraordinary playmaking abilities certainly make him an intriguing piece to the middle-six puzzle. 

Aleksi Heponiemi, Panthers (Rank – Jan: 73, Feb: 73, Mar: 54)

The 2017 second-rounder struggled to find his true form during his inaugural AHL season last year, producing just 14 points over 49 games. This was somewhat discouraging, given his extensive history of producing points at a regular and impressive rate. He made up ground this season with a strong stint in Sweden on loan with Modo. He put up 14 points in 16 games and looked to gain some much-needed confidence before heading back to America. 

So far, he has split his time between the NHL/AHL, producing his first NHL assist in the process. He could use some reps at the American League to work out some kinks, but overall, looks to be staying snug as a middle-six producer. 

Joachim Blichfeld, Sharks (Rank – Jan: 89, Feb: 87, Mar: 65)

Blichfeld stacks up quite similarly to Heponiemi, both in playing style and career point production. Both have been strong producers overseas, and both have put up blistering numbers in the WHL (both 110+) at one point in their careers. 

The 22-year-old came out the gate hot this year, with nine points in his first six games with the San Jose Barracuda. His efforts resulted in a promotion to the Sharks, where he would suit up for his fourth and fifth games. During his second tilt, he caught superstar Nathan MacKinnon with a high hit and was delivered a match penalty plus a two-game suspension. Probably not the best way to begin your career. 

Brodie and Brownie break down Joachim Blichfeld's hit on Nathan MacKinnon pic.twitter.com/fmpW3CebBh

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 4, 2021

Regardless, I see him fringing on the bubble with the club for the remainder of the year and could see a more permanent spot during the 2021-22 campaign. He has a middle-six fantasy upside. 

Thanks for joining me, tune in next week for an even further dive as we get into the meaty side of the rankings. Follow me on Twitter @hall1289 for more prospect updates.