From Pee Wee Players to Elite Prospects

Before a hockey player becomes a super star, he usually begins his career as a prospect. In hockey terms, a prospect is a young, up and coming hockey player with a lot of physical talent that hockey insiders project to emerge as a solid NHL hockey player or better. Hockey players appear on the radar of pro scouts at as young of ages as 14 and 15 years old. As the players progress and continue to advance through different levels of hockey, the hot prospects begin to stand out.

There are different levels of prospects. Some prospects are very young, 17 to 20 years old, and in the minor leagues of hockey, such as the WCHL, AHL, ECHL and CHL. These are minor league prospects. Hockey insiders also refer to young NHL players as prospects. Some of the hot, young prospects currently in the NHL include Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Edmonton, Adam Larsson of New Jersey, Brayden Schenn of Philadelphia, Ryan Johnson of Columbus and Jonathan Bernier of the Los Angeles Kings. These players are expected to become NHL all-star caliber players.