The Journey: Risers and Fallers from the Top 200 Prospect Forwards
Puneet Sharma
2025-01-11
Welcome back to The Journey, where we track the development of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push towards stardom.
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This week, we're diving into the December edition of Dobber's Top 200 Fantasy Prospect Forwards – December 2024 . Although it's a points-only criteria, I'll still touch on the multi-cat potential for a few of these prospects. There's a solid mix of intriguing prospects out there—some already on rosters offering immediate value, and others waiting for their big break. Let's kick things off with the one prospect who made a big jump up the rankings.
Risers:
Calgary Flames
October: 12 / November: 11 / December: 9
Matthew Coronato is making a strong case for a top-six spot on this Flames roster. In his second NHL season, he's recorded nine goals and 11 assists in 35 games. He is developing good chemistry with his linemates and is able to contribute in various situations, including on the power play. His quick release is making him the team's top option when he's on the ice and he's shown he can step up in clutch moments, scoring timely goals.
He briefly played with AHL's Calgary Wranglers, scoring two points (2 goals, 0 assists) in two games and was called up to play with the Flames. It is clear the Flames see him as a crucial part of their future. His offensive upside, ability to drive play, and potential in a top-six role make him an exciting player to watch. He is adapting well to the NHL pace and his ability to produce early on shows he could be a fixture in their lineup for years to come.
St. Louis Blues
October: 24 / November: 24 / December: 12
You have to think that the Oilers are kicking themselves for letting Dylan Holloway go. Sure, they were tight against the cap, but no one, not even Edmonton, could have anticipated Holloway turning into the player he has become with the Blues this season. In a very limited role with the Oilers last season, Holloway only recorded six goals and three assists in 38 games. Since then, he has completely turned the page with the Blues. In 42 games so far this year, he is already racked up 14 goals and 17 assists totaling 31 points. At this rate, he's on pace for a career-high 61 points over 82 games. He has seen a boost in TOI, especially in key offensive situations, which has clearly paid off.
On top of that, Holloway has been more of a physical presence this year with 84 hits in 42 games, averaging around two hits per game. He has also seen an increased role on special teams already contributing six power-play points. That's a big leap from a bottom-six role last year, where his power-play time was minimal, His shift to the Blues has really kickstarted his development, and if he continues on this trajectory, he could quickly become one of the key players for St. Louis.
Colorado Avalanche
October: 56 / November: 38 / December: 39
I have already covered Calum Ritchie earlier this year, so I'll make it short. He's been putting up nearly two points per game and through 19 games, he's tallied 9 goals and 27 assists for a total of 36 points. He was called up to the Avalanche earlier in the season amid a slew of injuries and a suspension, giving him a brief but valuable look at NHL competition. In seven games, he scored once but didn't register any assists, finishing with a minus-7 rating in a limited role. For fantasy managers, Ritchie remains an exciting prospect. His OHL production shows that he's developing into a dynamic and creative offensive weapon. Is that breakaway move giving us a sense of déjà vu?
Chicago Blackhawks
October: 175 / November: 175 / December: 135
Kantserov took a major step forward in the KHL this season, quickly evolving into a dynamic offensive force in the KHL. For dynasty managers, Kantserov is a stash candidate. If he's available, grab him now and hold on tight. During the month of December alone, he pushed his season totals to nine goals and eight assists in 18 games, a significant leap from his rookie campaign of 15 points in 53 games. With time to grow his game and potentially add size to his frame, it is easy to imagine him slotting alongside Connor Bedard as an impact scoring winger in a few years.
While Chicago's prospect pipeline is strong, their right-wing depth is not as deep, giving Kantserov a real opportunity to carve out a role if he continues to impress in the KHL. This KHL breakout this season is exactly what the Blackhawks hoped for, and his development will be exciting to follow.
Fallers:
Columbus Blue Jackets
October: 9 / November: 8 / December: 15
You may look at the list and wonder why the 20-year-old Blue Jackets prospect is on the fallers list. It is not for what you might think. For those who are unaware, Lindstrom was been dealing with a nagging back injury since last season, missing most of the regular season. In November 2024, he had minor surgery and is currently limited to minimal activity, with rehab expected to follow.
Montreal Canadians
October: 20 / November: 20 / December: 24
Roy has been steadily improving his game over the last couple of seasons, showing flashes of wanting to take the next step. Last season with the Canadians, Roy posted nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 23 NHL games, translating to a 32-point pace over 82 games, which is not bad for a young forward averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per game. His brief call-up in this year was short with four games and no points, so he was sent down to the AHL's Laval Rocket for further development.
Roy slipped slightly in prospect rankings, likely reflecting the adjustment from dominating the QMJHL, where he averaged 1.80 points per game and recorded 99 points in 55 games with Sherbrooke, to facing tougher AHL competition. Even so, he's been solid with Laval, putting up 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 29 games this season with 3.6 shots per game. Throw in nine power-play points, and you can see he's learning to be dangerous in all situations. Roy's AHL production projects him as a middle-six NHL forward, capable of adding secondary scoring. With the Canadiens' promising pipeline, he could fit nicely into what looks like a solid top-nine group.
Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more content/fantasy hockey analysis, or if there’s a prospect you’d like me to cover, follow and message me on X @Punters_hockey.
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