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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In all sports but more specifically in our world (hockey), two questions often define a prospect’s value: what is the upside, and how long will he take to reach it? While there is no perfect formula, historical trends offer helpful insights. That is why understanding a player’s trajectory and organizational context is crucial.

Take Arseni Gritsyuk, for example. Drafted in 2019 by the Devils, he remained a stash for years before finally making the jump from the NHL. Although his contract played a role in the delay, New Jersey clearly saw value in his continued development overseas. His case highlights a key fantasy takeaway: talent matters, but timing and team fit often dictate when or if a prospect becomes relevant. Patience is sometimes the difference between landing a late bloomer or dropping a future contributor too soon.  That brings us to a group of prospects who carry upside but some may need more time, others not so much but they also need the right environment to fully break through. Let's take a look.

Michael Hrabal – Utah Mammoth

Hrabal continues to quietly develop into one of the more intriguing goaltending prospects in the NHL and projects as a key piece of the Utah Hockey Club's long-term plan. He is a towering 6-6 and 215 pounds, and he checks all the boxes modern NHL teams look for: big frame, technical structure, and calm under pressure.

Since coming over from the Czech Republic, Hrabal has taken the NCAA path with UMass, a route that has become more popular with young goaltenders looking to gradually adapt to the North American game and structure. Over two seasons, his progress is tracking well. His sophomore season in 2024–25 was a clear leap forward. Starting 36 games, he went 19-12-5, posted a 2.37 GAA, and raised his save percentage to .924 while also adding two shutouts.

Michael Hrabal was an absolute BEAST in net for UMass over the weekend vs. #1 BC!

Here are just SOME of his highlights from the two games 😱 pic.twitter.com/N1Fx2XWKBa

— High Character (@HighCharacter_) February 17, 2025

While some tall goalies can get lost in the play or overcommit, Hrabal stays balanced and composed and avoids wasting energy with unnecessary flailing. That said, he is just not pro-ready. His lateral post-to-post movement and edgework still needs work to handle the pace of the AHL or NHL. There are also questions around his ability to manage heavy workloads, especially in back-to-backs or stretches where he is under consistent pressure. That is where the mental and physical endurance piece is still developing. 

A return back to UMass is likely the best for his development, allowing him to grow without rushing into the pro game. After that he should be off to the AHL in 2026 seeing some sporadic games in the NHL. With Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka holding down the NHL crease, that is where is roadblock starts. However, there may be an instance where he does get fast tracked considering Ingram's current situation, so definitely keep that in mind. If Ingram does return, the organization can afford to be patient, and with the right timeline, Hrabal has legitimate NHL starter potential.

Hunter Brzustewicz – Calgary Flames

Brzustewicz continues to profile as a high-upside offensive defenseman in the Calgary Flames system. His strengths have been clear since his time with the Kitchener Rangers: strong puck movement and offensive awareness, which led all OHL defensemen last season with 92 points in 67 games.

His transition to pro hockey with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers this season naturally brought a dip in production due to the increase in pace and physicality. Brzustewicz still managed a decent 32 points in 70 games, including 10 on the power play. While the offensive totals came down, his overall game looks solid. He moves the puck well under pressure, controls tempo from the point, and consistently finds seams that most defensemen miss. His shot is nothing to write home about but it is accurate. However, he is starting to show signs of being better suited as a setup man rather than a finisher.

The gap is in his defensive game. He often can lose positioning when defending the rush and at times shows a lack urgency when engaging physically or boxing out the net front presence. These issues were less noticeable in junior but became clearer at the AHL level. It will be an area he will need to tighten up as it will not get any easier once he hits the NHL.

The Flames’ current depth on the right side complicates his path. With Zayne Parekh tracking to push for NHL time quickly, Brzustewicz finds himself in a more crowded field. He did get a brief NHL look late last season, but the more realistic timeline has him spending most of the upcoming season at the AHL level to continue rounding out his game and focusing on defensive structure and urgency in puck battles. With that, he still projects as a strong potential NHL contributor, likely in a sheltered third-pair role with power-play time. His window to compete for that opportunity likely opens in 2026–27, when he will be more physically mature and ready to step into a specialized role that leverages his offensive strengths.

Tanner Molendyk – Nashville Predators

You want to talk dynamic skating in this draft class? He is right here and near the top, but the road to a full-time NHL role will not be a straight line. Molendyk's timeline depends largely on three factors: physical maturity, offensive growth, and Nashville's defensive depth.

Although he is not undersized, Molendyk still needs to build the physical strength necessary to handle the rigors of a top-four NHL role. Adding muscle and becoming more assertive in board battles and net-front play is of the utmost importance for defensemen. While his skating, gap control, and defensive reads are strong, they tend to take a back seat without a more imposing physical presence in high-traffic areas.

Offensively, you can see there is potential, but he just needs that experience in the professional level to push him over the hump. His skating is elite and he is great at evading pressure effectively but has not consistently quarterbacked a power play or dominated the offensive blue line. His recent WHL performance of 26 points in 28 games after a trade to Medicine Hat indicates growth, though he remains more of a transitional defenseman than a true offensive catalyst.

Tanner. Tigers. Tempo WHL Player of the Week.

What a week it's been for @PredsNHL prospect and @tigershockey blueliner, Tanner Molendyk!

📝 | https://t.co/fZrJhx7gve#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/eaBIWHqo1W

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 5, 2025

Tanner Molendyk is built for big games.

Riding a 10-game point streak in Game 3 of the #WHLChampionship Series, the @PredsNHL prospect and @tigershockey blueliner is tonight's WHL Player to Watch.

📝 | https://t.co/c1ukRJDJXj pic.twitter.com/5WgB6gPa00

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 14, 2025

Nashville's patient development model and defensive depth will strengthen his progression. With prospects like Ryan Ufko, Marc Del Gaizo, and Nick Blankenburg ahead, there is no rush to promote Molendyk. The Predators are likely to let him develop at the AHL level before making the NHL leap. For now, Molendyk is a project worth tracking. With his elite skating as a foundation, once his physicality and offensive instincts catch up, he could develop into a reliable, two-way defenseman with long-term fantasy appeal.

Gracyn Sawchyn – Florida Panthers

Sawchyn does not get a ton of buzz, but there is real purpose to how his game has developed. His move from a powerhouse in Seattle to a rebuilding Edmonton Oil Kings squad last season was a pivotal one. No more support or sheltered minutes, as he was thrown into a top-line role, had to quarterback the power play, and logged TOI minutes. The result? A point-per-game pace (43 points in 37 games), and a clear sign that he could carry more responsibility.

Fast forward to this season, and the next step was even louder with 78 points in 54 games, good for top-10 production among regular WHL skaters. Sawchyn's attacking mindset has evolved, he is shooting more from dangerous areas, and the release has bite. His dual-threat upside is clearer, and that fits nicely into Florida's identity.

Gracyn Sawchyn is one of the most purely entertaining prospects in the CHL right now. His hands are ridiculously slick, and few can match his vision and creativity

Just for fun, some highlights from this season so far (#59): pic.twitter.com/bVDIf0nFzz

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) March 14, 2025

There are habits that still need polishing. Sawchyn's quickness allows him to pressure defenders on the forecheck, but it also pulls him out of position too often. He will chase above the puck, leaving his zone exposed and creating odd-man rushes the other way. It is all fixable, as Florida's development group has cleaned up similar traits before. The AHL will be a key step: defensive resets, smarter exits, and faceoff reps will all be part of the to-do list.

Looking ahead, the path is not entirely blocked. Sam Bennett's looming UFA status opens a potential long-term C spot, with only Lundell locked in above him. Sawchyn has already signed his ELC, so he could see a middle-six AHL role next year. If the progression stays steady, the following year becomes a realistic NHL target.

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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