This week we reveal the second five on our Top 25 list and debut a few new faces in our pool.
The 2024 AATJ Top 25 under 25 rumbles on. Last week, we revealed the bottom five, who barely made the cut, as well as the Outsiders, who fell short on this year’s list. This week we reveal the next five. This group features two debuts, a goaltender who was signed mid-season and a forward brought over in a trade with Minnesota, one slight faller from last year’s rankings and two risers, who were both in the bottom five last summer. Let’s take a look to see where everyone landed.
#20 – Isaac Poulter – G – Age: 22 – 2023-24 Team: Utica Comets (AHL) – 2023 Rank: 23 Elite Prospects Profile
Making his debut on this list in the 20th spot on a community tie-breaker is goaltender Isaac Poulter. On February 13th of this year, I opined on these pages whether or not it was Poulter time and concluded that Utica’s best goaltender deserved a NHL contract. Two days later on February 15th, Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald did just that and signed the netminder to a two-way, two-year NHL contract.
At the time I wrote that article, Poulter’s new contract was more or less inevitable. In a year of bad goaltending at both levels of Devils/Comets hockey, Isaac Poulter shined with a 17-8-1 record, 2.55 GAA four shut outs and a save percentage of .911, tying goaltending phenom Yaroslav Askarov and others for 16th best in the AHL. No other Comets goaltender (other than Jeremy Brodeur who suited up for only one game) had a save percentage over .900 with Akira Schmid edging out Nico Daws for second on the team (.894 to .890) and Erik Kallgren sinking to the bottom with a dismal .872.
With Akira Schmid leaving for the Golden Knights in the Paul Cotter trade, Issac Poulter should be platooning with Nico Daws once again this upcoming season in the Comets crease. Although Daws has gotten the benefit of call-ups and clearly seems to be the #3 goaltender in the system going into this season, Poulter was the better netminder at the AHL level all of last year. It will be interesting to see how things shake out in the AHL net in 2024-25 with Tyler Brennan also knocking on the door.
#19 – Adam Beckman – W/C – Age: 23 – 2023-24 Team: Iowa/Minnesota Wild (AHL/NHL) – 2023 Rank: N/A Elite Prospects Profile
Debuting on this list after coming over from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Graeme Clarke is 6’2’’ former third round pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft center/winger Adam Beckman. Devils fans may be unfamiliar with Beckman, who despite receiving brief call-ups to the Wild in the past three seasons, has spent most of his time playing for another Wild — Minnesota’s AHL affiliate in Iowa. Last season, Beckman potted 19 goals and 33 points in 51 games for the Iowa Wild, consistent with his previous season’s 24 goals and 36 points in 53 contests. It is worth noting that these 19 goals actually led his very low-scoring team even though he played less games in the minors as he spent a good portion of the season with the big club.
At the NHL level, Beckman has been mostly uneventful, tallying three points (all assists) and averaging only 10:02 of ice time in 23 NHL games spanned over three seasons. One thing Beckman tends to do, at least at the AHL level, is shoot. His shot totals two years ago were in the AHL’s top 20 even though he only played 53 games due to NHL call-ups. While Beckman’s shot totals dropped down a bit this past year that likely has more to do with the graduation of a few top teammates to the Wild last season, including playmaker Marco Rossi, than any setback in Beckman’s game.
For whatever reason, Beckman did not seem to fit into the Wild’s plans, much like Graeme Clarke did not seem to fit in with the Devil’s design. In that sense, the trade makes sense for both sides. Minnesota seems to have a need for more right handed shots in their system and Beckman is known for his speed and shot-first mentality, a combination that, at least in theory, works well within the Devils previous game plans. Of course, Beckman’s spot on the team is far from guaranteed. With a crowded NHL lineup, the speedy winger will have to fight hard for a roster spot in New Jersey. We wish him luck.
#18 – Daniil Misyul – LD – Age: 23 – 2022-23 Team: Utica Comets (AHL – 2023 Rank: 24 Elite Prospects Profile
Rising to number 18 on our list is defenseman Daniil Misyul, who made his first jump into the Top 25 last season after signing his ELC with the Devils. Overall, Misyul seemed to have had a fruitful transition to the North American game. The bruising backender put up a respectable four goals and fourteen points in 44 games last year, doubling his production of seven points (all assists) for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the previous season. Of course, Misyul is known more for his physical play around the net and his ability to close gaps than for his points — a defensive style the Devils brass seems to be coveting a bit more lately.
Misyul did receive a brief call-up this past season during a particular turbulent stretch for the Devils, but did not suit up in any NHL games. The sturdy Russian defender will look to make his NHL debut sometime this year. With a crowded blue line that will likely see others get the call ahead of him, Misyul will have to provide a strong showing in camp and in Utica in order to get that chance.
#17 – Cam Squires – RW – Age: 19 – 2023-24 Team: Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) – 2023 Rank: 23 Elite Prospects Profile
Another riser, Cam Squires climbs to number 17 on our list. When one takes a look at the numbers it is easy to see why. The rise in the rankings is very well-earned.
Squires signed his ELC with the Devils this summer after another stellar season in Cape Breton, boasting career highs in goals (33) and points (72). Leading his team in points, Squires factored in one third of all of Cape Breton’s total goals for the season (72/216). Off ice, Squires earned QMJHL’s Humanitarian of the Year Honors for his work in the local community. In 2023, to paraphrase a famous Simpsons quote, everything came up Squires.
Squires has been dominant for his team for two seasons. In his draft year, Squires impressively scored 13.39% of all of Cape Breton’s goals and added another six points in four playoffs games. This past season, Squires increased those herculean totals, tallying a full 15.28% of all of his team’s goals. In the playoffs, Squires really shined, putting up twenty points in fourteen games, the fourth highest points per game total in Canadian Juniors amongst players who played at least 10 playoff games and the sixth highest point total overall.
Is it too early to say the Devils got a steal in the 4th round when they drafted Squires 122nd overall in 2023? Maybe, though I’m not the only writer suggesting it as a possibility. Though a winger and not a center, Squires reminds me personally a lot of Adam Henrique at his age in terms of Hockey IQ, high-level of compete, leadership qualities and an uncanny ability to step up in important games. Of course, to reach that level, Squires still has work to do on his two-way play, something he has been working diligently at improving since his draft year. Squires carried Cape Breton on his shoulders last year throughout the regular season and into a deep playoff run. It will be interesting to see how the young winger develops this season, but the future looks bright.
#16 – Topias Vilen – LD – Age: 21 – 2023-24 Team: Utica Comets (AHL) – 2023 Rank: 14 Elite Prospects Profile
Slipping two spots from last year’s list to #16 is LHD Topias Vilen. Drafted for his defensive prowess, Vilen exploded in 2022-23 playing for the Lahti Pelicans of the Liiga by putting up a career high nine goals and seventeen points in 41 games. Last season, after coming over to North America on his ELC, Vilen proved the offense was no fluke, tallying 29 points in 54 games for the Comets and dominating the ECHL with ten points in six games during a brief stint with the Adirondack Thunder.
Most importantly, after a “hit or miss” start according to Dobber Prospects, Vilen seemed to improve as the season went along. Vilen has the speed to play at the highest level and the Hockey IQ, but Vilen, himself, admitted in a recent interview that he needs to get stronger and tougher physically to play in the NHL. The former 5th round pick (129th) overall pick in 2021 is very much a long term project, but projects as a mid-to bottom pairing defenseman if his development stays on track. With other, more experienced, options available for call-ups on the left side defense this year, Vilen will likely benefit from another season of growth at the AHL level.
The Rankings
How everyone ranked these players:
AATJ Writers and Community
As stated last week, the Community broke the tie between Ethan Edwards and Isaac Poulter sending the debuting goaltender into the top twenty. Issac Poulter and Adam Beckman both had very large variances, both with highs of 15 and lows of 38 and 39 respectively. The distance between Misyul (18th) and Edwards (21st) was an average of less than a point, so all those players are regarded very closely in the same tier amongst the rankers. The gap widened a little bit further up the list with Squires one full point higher in the average rankings than Misyul and Vilen landing an average ranking of roughly 1.7 points higher than Squires and less than a half a point behind the player who shall be revealed at the 15th spot next week. Notably, Cam Squires is the lowest ranked player that all writers and the Community chose unanimously to be in their Top 25. The same cannot be said for the 15th ranked player on this year’s list, who was ranked 27th on one ballot.
Your Take
Have a take on this week’s list, whether it be a good one or at least an entertaining bad one? Want to share your rankings with the class? Have an urge to talk prospects in general? Want to complain that none of these players will ever be as good as Sluggo McSlappyfists or whoever you personally thought the Devils should have drafted X years ago instead? Whatever the case, post your comments below.