Welcome back to The Journey, where we follow hockey prospects and their paths to the NHL, providing Fantasy predictions and analysis along the way.

This week's edition falls on Bubble Keeper Week, in which our entire website dedicates itself to finding you the right players to add to your pool with your final selections. In our case, that means taking a look at the prospects coming up the ranks who are rarely selected in the first few rounds, but who could have great seasons for their respective teams. Prospects like Cole Caufield, Trevor Zegras and Moritz Seider are kept out of the spotlight this week, as we look at the hidden gems that could make their name known this upcoming season.

The players below will be prospects that are outside of the first 80 players on Dobber's Top 200 Fantasy Prospect Forwards list, or outside of the top 30 on his most-recent list of 50 ranked prospect defensemen.

Wade Allison, RW – Philadelphia Flyers (147th)

Allison's name is one you've likely heard little to nothing of, unless you're a Flyers fan. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger quietly played 14 NHL games in 2021, scoring four goals and earning three assists. He played out his full NCAA career at Western Michigan University before turning pro in the AHL last March at 23 years old. The forward quickly earned a call-up after earning nine points in eight games in the minors, and continued producing offensively at the NHL level. He was sent down after the Flyers' season ended, and remained pointless in his final two AHL games of the year.

The reason that Allison's production hasn't nosedived despite climbing up the two highest levels of hockey is simple: he plays a pro game already. His perseverance and tenacity stack well on top of his stamina and his strong frame, allowing him to hustle and push his way to puck battle wins. He can shoot the puck with power and unpredictability, and often finds himself in or around the blue paint for tap-ins or deflections.

The Flyers showed no hesitation in employing him as a net-front screen on the power-play during his 14-game stint, which earned him his first NHL goal. His six other points came at even strength, however, and five of them were goals or primary assists (via Pick224). Allison's play at 5-on-5 is what makes him such a reliable producer. He skates really well, can support the rush efficiently, and retrieves dump-ins regularly with his sizable frame and contagious aggressive forechecking. He could improve his defensive consistency, but that should come with more games played.

His brand of hard-nosed shooter is becoming rarer with each passing year, but Allison could very well make the front of the net his second home in Philly and become a reliable 20+ goal-scorer in the near future. An excellent prospect to add with a late-round pick, especially in multi-cat leagues.

Marat Khusnutdinov, C – Minnesota Wild (195th)

The 37th-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft might not play in the NHL anytime soon, but he is definitely growing his name this season. The Russian center is already off to a fantastic start to his 2021-2022 KHL season, with four points in four games. In his draft year last season, he split his time between Russia's KHL, VHL and MHL, earning minimal playing time and point totals at the men's level but collecting 12 points in 10 junior games. It took him two games to surpass his KHL point total from last season (2 assists in 12 games), and he now looks much more comfortable and in control after an offseason of growth and training.

His skating is well-polished, with impressive straight-line speed and great agility being his strongest attributes. His proficiency is more on the playmaking side, as he crosses seams and sees the game very well, but his shooting has improved since his draft year and he can pick corners with more ease now. He has good defensive habits, can play on both special team units, and can hold his own physically despite his shorter stature at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds.

As Khusnutdinov continues to develop in Russia, playing time will be essential in growing his game. His team, SKA St. Petersburg, is heavily armed on the offensive side, but has allocated second-line duties to the 19-year-old and the results so far are promising. He plays the wing just as well, showing off his speed by barreling down the flanks and remaining a breakout option for his center. The Russian is often overlooked in the first few rounds of prospect selections, but could very well have a more than decent NHL career.

Dawson Mercer, RW – New Jersey Devils (85th)

Mercer's 2021 season was broken up by the QMJHL's struggles with COVID-19, but nonetheless put together a 36-point season in 23 games with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He earned the role of assistant captain on the team, and was regularly one of their most dangerous forwards. He then turned it up a notch in the playoffs, with 17 points in nine games. Mercer's intelligence on the ice adds to the rest of his game, as he plays a strong 200-foot game on top of being a great dual-threat offensive player. His shot is quick and sneaky, and he reads off his teammates very well for timely passes to open forwards.

He knows where to go on the ice to make offense happen, is excellent at stealing pucks and creating turnovers, and can play off his forehand and his backhand. His skating needs a bit of work, especially in terms of top speed and acceleration, but the 6-foot, 180-pound forward's smarts and positioning have more than compensated for his lack of pace so far.

Mercer's invitation to the Devils' rookie camp adds promise to his chances of sticking to their lineup, as he could fill a bottom-six checking role just as well as he could manage offensive responsibilities, allowing him to start lower down and work his way up if the team chooses to retain him. He also plays both special teams, adding to the chance that he breaks the team's lineup early. Multi-cat leagues should definitely value this prospect.

Mattias Norlinder, D – Montreal Canadiens (35th)

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenseman was initially drafted as an overager in 2019, with the selection the Canadiens obtained from Vegas in the Pacioretty deal. His performance since his draft year has established him as one of the top prospects in the Habs' pipeline, and he signed his entry-level deal this past June as a result. The Swedish blueliner's 10 points in 37 SHL games in 2021 might not seem like much, especially when comparing Norlinder's results with his teammates and his age group, but his team and himself were intent on dialing back the offense in order to work out the kinks in his defensive game.

His performance so far in 2021-2022 highlights the improvement in his play, as he has earned four points in four games in the Champions Hockey League group stage, a European tournament featuring the best teams on the continent. His point totals are the highest among defensemen under 25 as well as the most among his team's blueliners, and he earned his totals against a strong side in the Zurich Lions and a mid-tier opponent in Czech club BK Mladá Boleslav. Norlinder quarterbacked the team's power-play in all four of his games as well, and controlled the play from that position with poise and creativity.

The prospect might need one more year of development before being fully ready, but is an invitee to the team's rookie camp and will be heading to Montreal on Monday to take part in it. He could very well impress with his playmaking, vision and shooting, as well as his soft hands. His first taste of North American ice will be interesting to evaluate, as the prospect has a style that fits smaller ice a bit better ― quick reactions, high-end four-way mobility, tight gap control and offensive involvement are tools that usually carry quite well for NHL offensive defensemen.

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