Here are three prospects at varying stages of development who have skill sets good enough for the NHL:

Rasmus Dahlin

Dahlin is the projected first overall pick in the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft. The Swedish defenseman may be just 17 years old, but many parts of his game are already NHL-ready.

Scouts rave about him on both offense and defense. In fact, TSN analyst Ray Ferraro claims Dahlin defends like Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, and skates like two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. Not bad.

The 6-foot-2 blue-liner currently has five goals and six assists in 26 games with Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (the country's top professional league), and could undoubtedly hold his own with the best players in the world if he was of age.

Nikita Gusev

If the NHL was truly made up of all the best players in the world, Gusev would be here. However, due to the KHL, there are a few supreme talents not playing in the world's best league. Gusev is one of them.

The 25-year-old forward was a seventh-round pick by the Lightning in 2012, but his rights are now owned by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Gusev currently sits third in KHL scoring after finishing fourth a year ago. On the international stage, he had 14 points in 10 games at the 2017 World Championship.

Even though he's just 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, his quickness, vision, and creativity seem tailor-made for today's NHL. Unfortunately for Vegas, Gusev will be able to enter the league as an unrestricted free agent once his two-year deal in the KHL is up.

Garret Sparks

Sparks has been the AHL's best goalie this season, and it really isn't close. In 15 games, he's 11-3-0 with a 1.68 goals-against average, a .942 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Some may point to the team in front of him, the first-place Toronto Marlies, as the main reason for his success, but the 24-year-old has put together quite the AHL career. In 93 games at that level spanning six seasons, Sparks owns a very strong 2.21 GAA and .925 SV%.

In his lone NHL stint - a 17-game stretch in 2015-16 - Sparks registered a 3.02 GAA and .893 SV%. While that doesn't seem pretty, it isn't all that bad considering the Maple Leafs were the worst team in the NHL that year. The former seventh-round pick is clearly ready for another opportunity.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have welcomed back the goaltender they always envisioned tending twine during their inaugural season.

Marc-Andre Fleury returned to the crease for Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes after missing the previous 25 with a concussion suffered in just his fourth start for the expansion club.

In his first appearance since Oct. 13, Fleury stopped 35 of 37 shots fired by the Hurricanes in regulation and overtime, but was bested by Phillip Di Giuseppe in the fifth round of the shootout for the loss.

Vegas, of course, remained more than competitive with their starter out of a action, thanks to solid play from Malcolm Subban, Oscar Dansk, and Maxim Lagace.

As a result - and with a point earned against Carolina - the Golden Knights sit comfortably in a playoff spot with the holiday break approaching, and a healthy Fleury can only help that cause going forward.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have welcomed back the goaltender they always envisioned tending twine during their inaugural season.

Marc-Andre Fleury returned to the crease for Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes after missing the previous 25 with a concussion suffered in just his fourth start for the expansion club.

In his first appearance since Oct. 13, Fleury stopped 35 of 37 shots fired by the Hurricanes in regulation and overtime, but was bested by Phillip Di Giuseppe in the fifth round of the shootout for the loss.

Vegas, of course, remained more than competitive with their starter out of a action, thanks to solid play from Malcolm Subban, Oscar Dansk, and Maxim Lagace.

As a result - and with a point earned against Carolina - the Golden Knights sit comfortably in a playoff spot with the holiday break approaching, and a healthy Fleury can only help that cause going forward.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandon Dubinsky was helped off the ice and into the locker room following a dustup with Edmonton's Zack Kassian on Wednesday.

There appeared to be some concern over the status of the Columbus Blue Jackets forward after the game, but there's no official word on the nature and extent of any injury suffered as a result of Kassian's blows.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandon Dubinsky was helped off the ice and into the locker room following a dustup with Edmonton's Zack Kassian on Wednesday.

There appeared to be some concern over the status of the Columbus Blue Jackets forward after the game, but there's no official word on the nature and extent of any injury suffered as a result of Kassian's blows.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh, hi there, Mr. McDavid.

On a night when the Edmonton Oilers set fire to the Columbus Blue Jackets' defensive scheme, it was the captain that led the way.

McDavid recorded one goal and three primary assists in Edmonton's 7-2 victory, vaulting him - somewhat quietly - to third in league scoring (39) behind Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov (42).

Because of the Oilers' much-publicized futility to this point of the campaign, McDavid's individual talents haven't been enough to steal the spotlight. However, with nine points in his last six contests, it looks like he's determined to change that and drag his team out of the doldrums.

Now up to 31 games this season, McDavid is averaging 1.25 points per, putting him on pace for 103 - three more than last year's Hart-worthy output - should he play the full schedule.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

That appeared to be the stance of Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who was left tight-lipped following Tuesday's 7-2 shellacking to the Edmonton Oilers.

It was a rough night for the fiery bench boss, who was forced to pull star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky after he allowed five goals through 40 minutes. It marked the first time this season in which the Blue Jackets goaltender had gotten the hook.

Columbus sits atop the Metropolitan Division with 39 points. The team will look to rediscover its winning ways Thursday against the New York Islanders.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

That appeared to be the stance of Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who was left tight-lipped following Tuesday's 7-2 shellacking to the Edmonton Oilers.

It was a rough night for the fiery bench boss, who was forced to pull star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky after he allowed five goals through 40 minutes. It marked the first time this season in which the Blue Jackets goaltender had gotten the hook.

Columbus sits atop the Metropolitan Division with 39 points. The team will look to rediscover its winning ways Thursday against the New York Islanders.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.