In my opinion, stankoven, bourque, and Johnston are three of the most valuable prospects in the NHL. All are in my top 30 prospects and are all elite center prospects. The only sets of three prospects who I believe are more valuable are
With all three of the stars prospects being centers, it is very plausible that somebody may be moved. I do believe stankoven would be a good winger at the NHL level but he is the guy I see transitioning into the wing the best. Not to mention after these three, the center depth in the stars organization is insane. Dellandrea stranges and damiani could all make an impact at the NHL level. Dellandrea, the 2018 13th OA pick has been slower in development but I believe he is still a solid middle 6 option. Damiani is one season removed from being the AHL rookie of the year and while his production regressed, if he is able to bounce back, he also has legit potential. Antonio Stranges is the human highlight reel. He has a unique skating style and his edge work is unmatched at the CHL level. He also has an above average shot that would translate to the NHL. The main problem with Stranges is the lack of diversity in his game. He is relatively one dimensional and I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing at the moment. If he develops other aspects to his games in the AHL this coming season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he make a serious NHL jump in the 2023-2024 season.
Now that I have established the depth of the stars pool at center, let’s do a dive into the three main prospects in question.
Stankoven-
Selected 47th overall in 2021, I see stankoven being the next alex debrincat. Both are undersized pure goal scorers who were easily a first round talents yet fell in the draft based on their size. Stankoven lead the WHL in PPG with 45 goals and 104 points in 59 games. Stankoven was over .75 GPG in his D+1 year. A large reason why he fell off like a lot of other CHL players did in the 2021 draft was due to limited play. That combined with size left stankoven as a mid second round pick and a pick that is shaping out to be a steal. Stankoven has the potential to be a 40 goal scorer in the NHL and with the talent in the stars system, he will definitely be a commodity in the NHL.
Bourque-
The QMJHL leader in PPG with 2.1 PPG. Mind you he only played 29 games but he was on a torrid pace when he was playing. I think if he were to play more than half the season, his PPG would have been under 2 but still in the high 1s. The only thing that limits bourque to this position is the lack of games played. The 2020 30th overall pick is a major boom or bust prospect. I am leaning much more towards boom as he makes his teammates better. It can be seen in Xavier bourgault. Bourgaults production when he was away from bourque was much less than when he was with him and seeing that contrast is why I believe he is looking like a major steal.
Johnston-
Johnston was one of the biggest wildcards from the 2021 draft. Johnston did not play a single OHL game in his draft year and at the U18s he was given a checking role and still managed to score 4 points in those 7 games. He was ranked in the mid to late second round and was seen as a major reach when he was selected 23rd overall in the 2021 draft. I was shocked with the pick and honestly saw this as a pick that was not that great and saw it as a major reach and was confused that the stars would leave talent like stankoven and raty on the board. In his D+1 year, Johnston went off. 46 goals and 124 points in 68 games. This kind of point production was only beaten by one other player in the CHL this past year. His future teammate, maverick bourque. With Johnston playing over double the games bourque played, it is much more consistent and has less of a chance of being a fluke. The OHL MVP has not said where he intends on playing this coming season but he has a very good chance of being a full time NHLer this upcoming year. No matter what Johnston does this upcoming year, stars fans have a lot to look forward to with Johnston bourque and stankoven all in the prospect pipeline and all being top 30 prospects.
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Personally I see each of these players being enough to fetch legit NHL talent as is. My dilemma comes with how much they’re worth as a package. I genuinely believe those three could be the foundation of a trade for a guy like matthews. If Matthew’s definitely won’t resign in Toronto and asks to leave, these three could get him and possibly more. I know leaf’s fans would get their knickers in a twist but for 2 seasons of Matthew’s, these three are more than enough in return. Obviously I am going to get **** on for suggesting this but it is an overpay imo. With the upside of all three and all three possibly making the NHL next year, they could help the leafs on a rebuild post Matthew’s era. But hey, let the leafs fans be mad stars fans, these are 3 of my favorite prospects and three of the most valuable prospects in the NHL. If you were to take the worst of these three, whoever you think it is, they would still be the best prospect on over half the teams in the NHL.
I read everything and agree up until the point where you suggest Auston Matthews, the 2nd best centre in the world, is worth 3 unknowns
Was a little confused with your first post but this cleared it
Agreed Matthews (if he is traded) is probs gonna get the biggest haul in NHL history
Lets say it was Dallas it would probs be those 3 and more
As in reality Leafs dont really have to trade him as what if in his final year they go all in despite what he said and win the cup. As when you got a guy like Matthews you go in to compete every single year even if there is a chance he goes.
Now as for who those 3 could get well it really depends on what the other team wants or if they are willing to give up their star.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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