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 are diving into the February edition of Dobber's top-50 points-only dynasty defense prospects ranking. Although it's a points-only criteria, I will still touch on the multi-cat potential for a few of these prospects. There is 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:

Cole Hutson

Washington Capitals

December: 58 / January: 21 / February: 13

Cole Hutson is unquestionably the top defensive prospect in the Washington Capitals’ pipeline. He put on a stellar performance at the World Juniors, racking up three goals and eight assists while playing a key role in Team USA's gold medal run. Now back with Boston University, he is absolutely thriving, posting 10 goals and 23 assists in 31 games. That puts him among the top three highest-scoring defensemen in the NCAA and second in points on BU's roster. He is also leading all NCAA freshmen in scoring while maintaining a point-per-game pace.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

You're going to want to see this goal by @Capitals prospect Cole Hutson…

(🎥: @TerrierHockey) pic.twitter.com/wjq6JGPnXq

— NHL (@NHL) February 26, 2025

Much like his brother Lane, Cole is a smaller, dynamic defenseman, but he brings a bit more of a physical edge to his game. While Lane relies more on finesse and elusiveness to avoid contact, Cole is not afraid to engage physically and use his body to disrupt opponents. Does that make him a true multi-cat defenseman? Not exactly, he is just a bit more physical than his brother. His style of play firmly places him in the points league category rather than a multi-cat format. However, in leagues that emphasize peripherals, his overall impact may not translate as well but it may not matter if he is racking up the points.

Cole Hutson has been electric in the WJC so far. He's not just Lane's younger brother, folks. He is trending to be really good in his own right. pic.twitter.com/sK4BkF73bI

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) January 2, 2025

Tom Willander

Vancouver Canucks

December: 59 / January: 39 / February: 34

Tom Willander has been consistent through two seasons at Boston University, posting four goals and 21 assists in 38 games as a freshman and following up with two goals and 18 assists in 31 games so far this year. While he contributes offensively, he is not the type to drive play with high-end production. He is easily one of the best-skating defensive prospects in hockey, Willander plays big minutes for BU and was a key piece for Sweden at the World Juniors, anchoring their shutdown pair while also seeing power-play time alongside countrymen Axel Sandin Pellikka. His game is built on intelligence and composure which makes him a reliable presence in all three zones. He is dependable in all situations, and when he is on the ice, the play often tilts in his team's favor.

This is what's so impressive about Tom Willander.

Despite the offender carrying all the momentum, Willander doesn't give an inch, keeping him to the outside, thanks to his tremendous mobility and aggression. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/RNmwuSLwJn

— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) February 8, 2025

Within the Vancouver Canucks organization, Willander remains a highly valuable prospect, but he is not likely to rack up points at an elite level. His projection is that of a steady top-four NHL defenseman, capable of logging heavy minutes while excelling in transition and defensive situations. If he can tap into his offensive game more consistently, there is a legitimate 30–40-point upside at the NHL level. If you are after a dependable, all-situations workhorse who can log big minutes, Willander checks that box. However, if you are banking on a high-flying point producer, you might want to revisit those expectations.

ICYMI: I broke down Tom Willander's (#Canucks) WJC performance for @CanucksArmy. More video and analysis in the link below:
👇👇
🔗: https://t.co/xyZF0kf7PH pic.twitter.com/TmGdRx5GD9

— Daniel Gee (@DanielGScouting) January 9, 2025

Maxim Strbak

Buffalo Sabres

December: 51 / January: 41 / February: 36

Maxim Strbak is steadily refining his game and positioning himself as a dependable two-way defenseman in Buffalo's prospect pool. His offensive production at Michigan State has improved, increasing from 9 points in 32 games as a freshman to 16 points in 28 games this season. He is not considered a dynamic offensive threat but his ability to move the puck efficiently and contribute as a secondary playmaker has become noticeable.

His overall stock received a significant boost at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he served as an alternate captain for Slovakia and recorded one goal and five assists in five games. He displayed confidence in jumping into the rush and quarterbacking the power play, elements that are not always prominent when playing in Michigan. Defensively, Strbak is sound in his positioning, he uses his size effectively to close gaps while playing a smart, disciplined game. He is not an overly physical presence, but his defensive reliability makes him a difficult player to beat.

SLOVAKIA HANGS ON!

Maxim Strbak scores in overtime to win 5-4 over Kazakhstan. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/e9zO6ftAJd

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

Strbak projects as a steady middle-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. Within Buffalo's deep prospect pool, he likely ranks as their third or fourth-best defensive prospect. His game is built on defensive structure rather than offensive production, making him more valuable real-life player than in fantasy. However, in deep multi-category leagues, his well-rounded style could provide sneaky value down the line as a depth add.

Maveric Lamoureux

Utah Hockey Club

December: 60 / January: 57 / February: 43

Maveric Lamoureux is an interesting prospect for the Utah Hockey Club, offering a solid mix of size, skill, and physicality, though he is still in the developmental stages of his career. This season with the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL, Lamoureux has posted 2 goals and 8 assists in 20 games, maintaining a 0.50 points-per-game pace. He was called up with the Utah Hockey Club this season and played a total of 15 games and recorded his first career NHL goal. 

Maveric Lamoureux's first NHL goal 👏pic.twitter.com/D3evIOrXNC

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 31, 2024

He has strong offensive skill set with a gritty, physical defensive game and you can see his willingness to show is value on both ends of the ice. His move to the AHL is showing to be a positive sign for his growth. Lamoureux has the potential to develop into a well-rounded two-way defenseman at the NHL level. As he continues to refine his game, he could evolve into a reliable middle-six defensive presence for the Utah Hockey Club. If top prospect Dimitri Simashev makes his way to Utah, the team could form a strong, promising defensive core with Lamoureux playing a significant role.

Fallers:

Kevin Korchinski

Chicago Blackhawks

December: Grad / January: 7 / February: 9

There is not much to report on the Fallers side, aside from Kevin Korchinski. He graduated off of the list in November but found himself back on the list in January and has now slid two spots to number nine in February but still within the top 10 list. Korchinski is still relatively new to the NHL and learning the ropes on a young Blackhawks team. He has played just 82 career games, with 76 of those coming last season. Many, myself included, expected him to remain with the Blackhawks this year in a depth role, but the team opted to send him down to the AHL with the IceHogs to dominate and build confidence. That has not quite materialized, though his production has been respectable with two goals and 19 assists in 43 games.

Kevin Korchinski (#14) and Artyom Levshunov (#55) pick up the assists on Brett Seney's (#62) goal! #Blackhawks #IceHogs #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/mMAKMtQJSZ

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) February 16, 2025

To be fair, his NHL production was not particularly impressive either. However, it is important to remember that he is only 20 years old. Most defensemen do not secure a regular NHL role until at least 21, and Korchinski was thrown into the fire at 19, making him the youngest defenseman in the league last season. The silver lining for the Blackhawks is that they have time. Defensemen with Korchinski's pedigree and offensive upside are rare, so patience remains the best approach.

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.