The online countdown of the top 100 hockey players aged 21-and-under continues.
The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue's annual ranking of hockey's youngest talent is compiled by Ryan Kennedy, and while he uses our Future Watch rankings as a resource, this is a completely independent compilation.
Future Watch is based on a survey of NHL scouts, while the PU Top 100 is cobbled together by Kennedy based on his projections of what the players will be once they hit their primes.
Since different positions have different prime years, take that to mean we are projecting how good these forwards will be when they are 23 or 24 years old, the defensemen when they are 24 or 25 and the goalies when they are 25 or 26.
The birth year cutoff for this year’s list is 2004. Ages noted are as of Oct. 1.
As we share the top 100 list on TheHockeyNews.com, you can see the full list with player bios and draft information for each of them right now by being a subscriber to The Hockey News and accessing the Archive or by opening the magazine if you've already received it in your mailbox.
Catch up on the players ranked 61st to 80th and 81st to 100th. Here's the next batch.
60. Jackson Smith, D, 18 years old, Columbus Blue Jackets
Penn State (Big Ten)
59. Trey Augustine, G, 20, Detroit Red Wings
Michigan State (Big Ten)
58. Dmitri Simashev, D, 20, Utah Mammoth
Utah (NHL)
57. Kevin Korchinski, D, 21, Chicago Blackhawks
Rockford (AHL)
56. Tynan Lawrence, C, 17, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
NHL Draft: 2026
55. Denton Mateychuk, D, 21, Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus (NHL)
In his second season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Denton Mateychuk has already made an impact on and off the ice. If he continues along that path, a hometown billboard will be next. Go to the full feature on Mateychuk by clicking here.
54. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 19, New Jersey Devils
Boston Univ. (HE)
53. Max Penkin, C, 16, Adler Mannheim (Ger.)
NHL Draft: 2027
52. Ivar Stenberg, LW, 18, Frolunda HC (Swe.)
NHL Draft: 2026
51. Mason West, C, 18, Chicago Blackhawks
Fargo (USHL)
50. Jiri Kulich, C, 21, Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo (NHL)
49. Gabe Perreault, RW, 20, New York Rangers
Hartford (AHL)
48. Isaac Howard, LW, 21, Edmonton Oilers
Bakersfield (AHL)
47. Alexis Joseph, C, 16, Saint John Sea Dogs
NHL Draft: 2027
Thanks to his size and skill, Sea Dogs center Alexis Joseph has pushed his way into the debate over who'll be the No. 1 pick in 2027. Go to the full feature on Joseph by clicking here.
46. Marco Kasper, C, 21, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit (NHL)
A quick study after making his NHL debut last season, Marco Kasper has already established himself as a big part of the Detroit Red Wings' core. With the trust of his coaches and teammates already on his side, the future looks bright. Go to the full feature on Kasper by clicking here.
45. JP Hurlbert, RW, 17, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
NHL Draft: 2026
44. Berkly Catton, C, 19, Seattle Kraken
Seattle (NHL)
43. Jacob Fowler, G, 20, Montreal Canadiens
Laval (AHL)
42. Logan Cooley, C, 21, Utah Mammoth
Utah (NHL)
41. James Hagens, C, 18, Boston Bruins
Boston College (HE)
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