Athletic's Farm System Rankings

[hockeyrobot]

Scott Wheeler has been rolling through his yearly farm system rankings and releasing one every day. They're finally at the top 5 so thought I would post. Each article has a TON of depth. Top 15 prospects per team and a very detailed criteria.

32. NY Islanders
31. Ottawa
30. Boston
29. Tampa
28. Toronto
27. Pittsburgh
26. Colorado
25. Edmonton
24. Florida
23. Vegas
22. New Jersey
21. Dallas
20. Washington
19. NY Rangers
18. Vancouver
17. Los Angeles
16. Winnipeg
15. Calgary
14. St Louis
13. Carolina
12. Seattle
11. Minnesota
10. Montreal
9. Arizona
8. Nashville
7. Chicago
6. Philadelphia
5. Anaheim
4. San Jose
3. Columbus
2. Detroit
1. Buffalo

[butch]

my eyes immediately went to the bottom searching for the isles

[hockeyrobot]

Here is the criteria he uses.
.

Criteria
To be eligible for inclusion, a skater must:

Be under 23 years old. We know that by the time a player turns 23, he is largely done with the steep upward progression we see in prospects and will begin to plateau.
Not be a full-time NHL player. This is the arbitrary section of the criteria. Here, I trust my judgment for whether or not a rostered NHL player is still likely to bounce between levels more than I trust any pre-determined games played cutoff. Preference for inclusion as an NHL prospect is more likely to be given to teenagers than 22-year-olds.
Either be signed to an NHL contract or selected in the entry draft, without the expiration of either of those rights. Players who are signed to AHL contracts are not considered.
To be eligible for inclusion, a goalie must:

Be under 25 years old. This age criteria is more reflective of the typical goalie trajectory, allowing for the continued consideration of a small number of 23- and 24-year-old goalies who are very much still prospects.
Not currently established as one of their NHL club’s two go-to options.
Either be signed to an NHL contract or selected in the entry draft, without the expiration of either of those rights. Goalies who are signed to AHL contracts are not considered

[loppantorkel]

Scott Wheeler has been rolling through his yearly farm system rankings and releasing one every day. They're finally at the top 5 so thought I would post.

It's interesting to see, but it's a bit odd system he uses. Detroit is in the top 5 this year too, maybe foremost due to their prospects not being graduated like in some teams they're ahead of. All those teams drafting 1-3 and having their rookies in the NHL skews the picture when some teams can't graduate their decent but not great prospects for a few years. The latter's prospect pools appear a bit inflated.

[hockeyrobot]

For sure. He does say he takes into account if he suspects a player will bounce back and forth. Will be interesting to see if someone like Benson is on Buffalo's list.

But yes Detroit is inflated because Edvinsson is still in the AHL. Based on the criteria they might even be #1.

[Pengwin7]

Boy... Ottawa... they just keep looking like they have the pieces... and just keep not clicking.
Shocking for me how many losses they have this year with their top6 and 3D.

[random-d]

The only thing I don't like about the Athletic's rankings is they tend to weight the blue chip prospects too heavily. A team only needs 1 or 2 to be 10 spots ahead of a team that has a well stocked pool of slightly lesser caliber prospects. Carolina is a good example, if Kochetkov is included they move up 10 spots but Carolina has excellent depth at most positions, they can pretty much choose their favorites whereas a team like Chicago is really counting on 2 or 3 guys to hit their projections.


Philadelphia? Really? Everyone not named Barkey and Michkov is already in the show.

[PenguinHunter]

Philadelphia? Really? Everyone not named Barkey and Michkov is already in the show.

I was very surprised to see this as well. Philly at 6.

I mean I love it as a Flyers fan... I just wasn't expecting it!

[Axeman33]

The only thing I don't like about the Athletic's rankings is they tend to weight the blue chip prospects too heavily. A team only needs 1 or 2 to be 10 spots ahead of a team that has a well stocked pool of slightly lesser caliber prospects. Carolina is a good example, if Kochetkov is included they move up 10 spots but Carolina has excellent depth at most positions, they can pretty much choose their favorites whereas a team like Chicago is really counting on 2 or 3 guys to hit their projections.


Philadelphia? Really? Everyone not named Barkey and Michkov is already in the show.

Did you read the criteria to be ranked?

[random-d]

Did you read the criteria to be ranked?

I've been reading it for several years now, I just don't agree with it. If they're counting York, Drysdale, Foerster, Ersson, Brink, Poehling, Tippet, than they're probably up there, but they're also going to drop 20 spots next year based on the same criteria... Which is why I don't like it.

[hockeyrobot]

It's ranking the farm system. Not players under 23.

[hockeyrobot]

Surprised the Sharks aren't ahead of CBJ.

[Axeman33]

I've been reading it for several years now, I just don't agree with it. If they're counting York, Drysdale, Foerster, Ersson, Brink, Poehling, Tippet, than they're probably up there, but they're also going to drop 20 spots next year based on the same criteria... Which is why I don't like it.

Gotcha. I was confused by your comment.

[loppantorkel]

Not to confuse things further, but they're not counting York, Drysdale, Foerster, Ersson, [Brink], Poehling, Tippet in the list, which is why there's some puzzlement about Philly being so high on the list.
nr 6: Philly:s top 5 prospects

1	Matvei Michkov	RW	19	Sochi
2	Oliver Bonk	RHD	18	London
3	Bobby Brink	RW	22	Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley
4	Emil Andrae	LHD	21	HV71
5	Massimo Rizzo	C	22	U. of Denver

They'll likely drop a lot once Michkov joins the team, yes. Brink still in the list though, so not quite accurate above statement..

Detroit is top 3 apparently, maybe even number one despite not having the star prospects, but still four recent round one draft picks.

edited

[Axeman33]

Not to confuse things further, but they're not counting York, Drysdale, Foerster, Ersson, Brink, Poehling, Tippet in the list, which is why there's some puzzlement about Philly being so high on the list.
nr 6: Philly:s top 5 prospects

1	Matvei Michkov	RW	19	Sochi
2	Oliver Bonk	RHD	18	London
3	Bobby Brink	RW	22	Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley
4	Emil Andrae	LHD	21	HV71
5	Massimo Rizzo	C	22	U. of Denver

They'll likely drop a lot once Michkov joins the team, yes.

Well, much like Button's rankings that most like to crap on, this is his opinion I guess. He clearly sees Michikov pulling Philly up the ranking.