With some prospects being signed out of college or junior leagues and getting some games down the stretch, I thought we could look at some players from each roster who could make the jump to the NHL next season.

In addition, I've included some players who have seen an increased role as the season nears the end and will hope to carry that on into next year.

Obviously teams that are out of the playoffs will give more players an opportunity than those in the race.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have been out of the playoff race since the puck was dropped in October. 

Lukas Dostal – G (22-years-old)

Dostal has played in 18 games this year and gone 4-9-3. He will still have his rookie status next season. He's been fairly good and shown flashes of what he could become with a 90.0 save percentage and a GSAA of negative 2.27. In the AHL, he had a record of 11-21-0 with a save percentage of 91.2. With Anthony Stolarz becoming an unrestricted free agent, it makes sense that Dostal might be the backup to John Gibson next season. He has 184 professional games under his belt already at just 22.

Olle Eriksson Ek – G (23)

Eriksson Ek has struggled in his fourth pro season in North America. In 20 AHL games he has a record of 2-14-0 with a GAA of 4.81 and a save percentage of 85.2. He had one game with the Ducks and made 34 saves on 39 shots in an overtime loss. I'm not sure if the Ducks re-sign him as a restricted free agent next season.

Nikita Nesterenko – W (21)

Nesterenko was drafted in the 6th round in 2019 and was signed after Boston College was eliminated this year which was his third year there. He has dressed for seven games for the Ducks with one goal on 16 SOG while averaging 13:33 per game. He probably needs a season or two in the AHL.

Drew Helleson – D (22)

Helleson was a second round draft pick of Colorado in 2019 who was included in the trade which sent Josh Manson the other way last year. The Ducks have just recalled him and he played his first NHL game on Sunday night where he had two SOG and was minus one while playing 13:30. He had played 62 games in the AHL where he had five goals and 12 assists this year. He could see himself with the Ducks next season, depending on the readiness of either Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger.

Arizona Coyotes

Victor Soderstrom – D (22)

Soderstrom has been a regular in the lineup for the past 11 games and has averaged just under 18 minutes per game while putting up two assists, which both came on the power play. He could see a regular role in the bottom-six next season.

Milos Kelemen – W (23)

Kelemen is in his first pro season in North America and had played 58 games in the AHL where he had 14 goals and 15 assists. He has good size at 6-2 and 215 lb and can play a physical game. In 12 games in the NHL with Arizona he has one goal and 21 hits while averaging 7:33 per game. He has another year under contract next season.

Michael Kesselring – D (23)

Kesselring had played eight NHL games with the Coyotes since being traded from the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline. He had one assist, 11 hits and five blocked shots while averaging 17:34 per game before being sent back down to the AHL. In the AHL this season he has put up 56-14-12-26 while being a plus 11. He more than likely tops out as a sixth or seventh NHL defenseman, which he would have to fight for next season to win that role.

Ivan Prosvetov – G (24)

Prosvetov has played four games over the past three weeks and has a record of 2-2-0 with a GAA of 5.20 and a save percentage of 83.3 with a GSAA of negative 8.90. He is in his fourth pro season and while he has had his best season in the AHL where he had a record of 16-13-0 with a save percentage of 90.0, he doesn't appear quite ready for the NHL. He's a restricted free agent next year and the Coyotes will need to decide on him this summer.

Calgary Flames

Walker Duehr – W (25)

Duehr was an undrafted free agent who was signed out of college by the Flames in 2020-21. He has played 105 AHL games and had 26 goals and 23 assists. He has made the most of his chance in the NHL and has played 26 games this season with seven goals, four assists and 54 hits while averaging 10:18 per game. He's a restricted free agent next season but he might have shown enough to give himself an edge for a spot next year.

Matthew Coronato – W (20)

Coronato signed with the Flames a few weeks ago after two seasons with Harvard. He hasn't dressed for a game in the NHL as the Flames are in a must-win mode to get into the playoffs. The 13th overall pick in 2021 could need a season in the AHL next year, but a game or two this season could give a better outlook.

Jakob Pelletier – W (22)

Pelletier is in much the same boat as Coronato as he hasn't been able to get into the lineup over the past few weeks in more than one game. In 99 AHL games over this year and last he has 98 points, so there might not be much more he can prove there. In 23 games this season, he has three goals and four assists and has shown some jump to his game that this team could use on a regular basis next year.

Chicago Blackhawks

Lukas Reichel – W (20)

In 107 AHL games over two seasons, Reichel had 103 points. He has been up for the past 23 games with Chicago and has seven goals and eight assists. With Patrick Kane traded to the NY Rangers, he has seen his ice time grow to over 17 minutes per game and he has been on the first unit of the power play. If he hits 26 games played this year, he won't be eligible for the Calder next year.

Boris Katchouk – W (24)

Over the past three weeks, Katchouk has played 11 games and averaged over 16 minutes per game. The production hasn't been there as he has just four points, but he does have 28 shots on goal. This might be Chicago seeing if Katchouk has any more offense to give next season in an elevated role or whether he is destined for the bottom-six.

Wyatt Kaiser – D (20)

Kaiser has played in six games with Chicago since seeing his college career end after three years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He has one assist and is minus five while averaging just over 17 minutes per game. He probably needs a year in the AHL next season.

Alex Vlasic – D (21)

Vlasic is a little further along than last season where he had 15 games with Chicago after turning pro after three years in college. He has played six games this year with the Blackhawks and has averaged just under 20 minutes per game where he has had one assist, five hits and nine blocked shots. He had 52 AHL games where he had two goals and 15 assists while being a plus-11.

Colorado Avalanche

Denis Malgin – W (26)

He has seen a slight increase in ice time from about 10 minutes to just over 12 per game. In the past 12 games he has four goals and four assists on 22 SOG. He has been on a line with Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher. Perhaps this extends into the playoffs?

Dallas Stars

Thomas Harley – D (21)

After playing 34 games last season as a 20-year-old the Stars decided to keep Harley in the AHL for most of this season. He has played 66 games there with 10 goals and 24 assists and is a plus-19. In three games since being brought back up to the Stars he has one assist, six blocks, is plus-four and has averaged just under 17 minutes per game. He should be a regular next season if not through the playoffs this year.

Edmonton Oilers

Evan Bouchard – D (23)

Bouchard was given the keys to the potent Oilers power play when Tyson Barrie was traded to Nashville. In the past 17 games he has 17 points with seven of those points being on the power play. He has averaged almost 21 minutes per game while being on the power play over 80 percent of the time. His time has come.

Los Angeles Kings

Alex Laferriere – W (21)

Laferriere was signed to his first professional contract after two years at Harvard University. The deal doesn't take effect until next season, so he is in the AHL on an amateur tryout. He's played two games with no points so far but has had 11 SOG. With the depth the Kings have, he will probably need a season in the AHL.

Minnesota Wild

Brock Faber – D (20)

Faber and his college team the University of Minnesota lost in the finals to Quinnipac and he signed his professional contract shortly thereafter which begins next season. With the Wild defense going into next season, there will be an opportunity for him.

Marco Rossi – W (21)

Rossi had 16 relatively ineffective games with the Wild at the beginning of this season, before being sent to the AHL for 49 games where he had 49 points. He was recalled to the Wild on Sunday night, so might get a game or two at the end of the regular season. He should get a regular role next year in the NHL, but that was the thought before this year as well.

Nashville Predators

Tommy Novak – C (25)

While his audition has been a little longer than most on this list, Novak is still being auditioned for next season. Is he capable of being the number one or two center on the Predators next year? In his last 29 games he has 13 goals and 17 assists while averaging just under 17 minutes per game. Even with Ryan Johansen back next season, Novak should be in the top-six once again.

Cody Glass – C (24)

While his audition has been similar to Novak's it hasn't been as impressive. At the same time, it's been a big step for Glass. With 33 points in 69 games, he's starting to produce more than he has in his stints in the NHL before. His role is not as assured as Novak's for next season. 

Luke Evangelista – W (21)

The Predators were patient with Evangelista and kept him in the AHL for his first pro season for 49 games where he had 41 points. He's been with the Predators for the past 21 games and put up six goals, seven assists and 48 SOG while averaging 16:25 per game. While he will be in tough to keep this spot with Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg both back healthy next season he is proving that he is capable.

Philip Tomasino – W (21)

It was surprising to see Tomasino sent to the AHL at the beginning of the year after putting up 32 points in 76 games as a 20-year-old rookie last year. In 38 AHL games this season he had 32 points and was promoted back to the NHL, where he has put up 18 points in 28 games while averaging just over 15 minutes per game. I think he's secured a spot for next season, but it might not be in the top-six with Forsberg, Duchene and Johansen all back.

Spencer Stastney – D (23)

Stastney is getting a look after playing 56 games in the AHL this season where he had five goals and eight assists and was a plus two. He's dressed for five games and has two assists with the Predators while averaging 17:33 per game. He's not a physical or offensive defender, so he would need to move the puck well and play pretty much error free hockey to stick next season.

Jake Livingstone – D (23)

Livingstone was signed as a free agent out of Minnesota State University after his third year. He has some offense to his game as shown by the 35 points in 39 games he had this season in college. In two games with the Predators he has averaged 15:30 and had two hits and four blocked shots. He might need a season in the AHL next year. 

Egor Afanasyev – W (22)

While he hasn't produced any points in 16 games this year, he has had 22 hits and 13 blocked shots while averaging 11:03 per game. His role in the NHL will be defensive and more than likely in the bottom-three if he can stick. He is probably not fantasy worthy at this point. 

San Jose Sharks

Jacob Peterson – W (23)

Peterson was traded from Dallas in what was thought of as an AHL deal for Scott Reedy. Since he was called up by the Sharks he has seven points in eight games. It's easy to forget that he had 12 goals in 65 games as a rookie last year with Dallas. He could battle for a spot on this roster next season.

Martin Kaut – W (23)

The 16th overall pick in the 2018 draft is probably not going to live up to expectations, but he might still become a regular in the NHL with the Sharks. After moving to San Jose from Colorado he had played nine games and had three goals and two assists while averaging about 13-14 minutes per game. In 27 games with Colorado he had just three points while averaging under 10 minutes per game. He is currently down in the AHL where he has 22 points in 28 games this year. He should get a chance again.

Danil Gushchin – W (21)

I had joked at the beginning of the season that some rookie always comes along and has a season that no one expected and I mentioned Guschin's name. Unfortunately for him he ended up in the AHL for 63 games where he put up 19 goals and 20 assists. The Sharks are giving him a look at the end of the season and he has played two games where he had a goal and an assist on eight shots on goal while averaging 15:55 per game. He probably needs another season in the AHL where he can produce at a higher rate before he gets an extended look.

Henry Thrun – D (22)

Thrun signed his first professional contract after finishing his third season at Harvard University. In his last two years of college he had 63 points in 68 games. He has played five NHL games with the Sharks and has two assists while averaging 19:37 per game. He will have every chance to make this roster next season.

Thomas Bordeleau – W (21)

Bordeleau had an impressive eight games last season at the end of the year and put up five points. It wasn't enough to make the Sharks this year and he was sent down to the AHL where he struggled at times during his 64 games where he had 22 goals and 19 assists while being a minus 18. In five games with the Sharks this year he has had one assist while averaging 16:19 per game.

Tristen Robins – W (21)

Robins was called up on Sunday night to the Sharks, so he should get into his first NHL game this week. In 61 AHL games this year he had 17 goals and 21 assists on 134 SOG. The second round pick from 2020 will probably need another season in the AHL.

Seattle Kraken

Jesper Froden – W (28)

Froden has had various stints in the NHL this season with the Kraken and has managed four assists in 12 games. In the past three weeks he's played just four games and had two assists. In the AHL this year he had 47 points in 44 games. He is an unrestricted free agent next season but he could be a dark-horse for the playoffs if the Kraken run into some injuries. If there was a level between the NHL and the AHL he'd be a regular.

St. Louis Blues

Sammy Blais – W (26)

Since the Blues re-acquired Blais he has played 28 games and had nine goals and 11 assists after putting up just five assists in 41 games with the NY Rangers. In the past three weeks he has 11 points in 12 games while averaging 15:30 per game. There is no reason Blais can't continue in this role next season to go along with the 228 hits he has had so far.

Vancouver Canucks

Phillip Di Giuseppe – W (29)

Di Giuseppe has seen his role elevated in recent weeks. In the past 12 games he has three goals, two assists, 29 SOG and 23 hits while averaging 15:54 per game. Overall he has played just 27 games for Vancouver with six goals and four assists. He has never played more than 49 NHL games in parts of seven seasons. He should have a regular role in the NHL next season with Vancouver.

Akito Hirose – D (24)

The Canucks signed Hirose as a free agent after his college career ended after three years at Minnesota State University. In four games with the Canucks he has had two assists, three hits and four blocked shots while averaging 17:33 per game. He has a calmness to his game that the Canucks might make use of next season. He has shown well with some offensive instincts.

Aidan McDonough – W (23)

After four years at Northeastern, the Canucks signed McDonough and have gotten him into four NHL games so far where he has one goal, three SOG and five hits while averaging just 8:33 per game. He probably needs a year in the AHL.

Jack Rathbone – D (23)

Rathbone looked in over his head at the beginning of the season and after six games with Vancouver he was sent back down to the AHL where he played 32 games and had just four goals and eight assists after putting up 40 points in 39 games the year before. He was called up a few weeks back and played five games, scored a goal and looked much more comfortable in the NHL. I'm just not sure he can become a regular defensemen in this league with the Canucks. 

Cole McWard – D (21)

After two years at Ohio State, the Canucks were able to sign Cole McWard as a free agent. He has played two games for the Canucks and scored his first goal on his very first shot on goal. He averaged 13:00 minutes in the two games. He's not as polished as Hirose and will more than likely need a year or two in the AHL.

Vegas Golden Knights

Pavel Dorofeyev – W (22)

Dorofeyev had a short three game stint with Vegas earlier in the year, but was sent back to the AHL where he had just nine goals and eight assists in 32 games while missing some games with an injury. In the 13 games since he was recalled in March he has seven goals and two assists on 33 SOG while averaging about 14-15 minutes per game. He could see some playoff games this year.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets have been in must win games for the past two or three weeks and for the balance of their schedule. They don't have the luxury to audition any of their prospects at this time.

Thanks very much for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions, please leave them below or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15