Future Is Bright: East's Top Prospects

Thanks in part to the salary cap, player development is a huge key in today's NHL. With that in mind, FanHouse presents a handy team-by-team guide to the league's top prospects. None of the players listed have played a game in the NHL, and there are also no 2009 draft picks on the list. After the jump, check out the best prospects from the Eastern Conference.

As mentioned above, there are just two rules that will apply to everyone you read about. No players drafted in 2009 are on this list, and we've also eliminated anyone who has played in the NHL -- even if it's just one game. All statistics are from the 2008-2009 season.

Atlantic Division

New Jersey Devils

Mattias Tedenby, LW
2008 1st round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: HV-71 (Sweden)
32 games, 3-1-4

Tedenby lacks size, but has great speed and is a top playmaker. His regular season numbers don't impress, but he tallied six times in 18 playoff games. Tedenby's arrival in Jersey is expected to be put off one more season, and he should get some serious ice time in Sweden this winter.

New York Islanders

Travis Hamonic, D
2008 2nd round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: Moose Jaw (Western Hockey League)
57 games, 13-27-40

The Islanders clearly like Hamonic's game and his character. He's the kind of player who can become a difference-maker on the blue line. He is projected as more of a stay-at-home player, but 13 goals in 57 games is nothing to sneeze at. Like fellow defenseman and 2008 second-rounder Aaron Ness (University of Minnesota), Hamonic is still a couple years away from the NHL.

New York Rangers

Ryan McDonagh, D
2008 1st round pick (Montreal, traded to Rangers June 2009)
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: Wisconsin (WCHA)
36 games, 5-11-16

McDonagh was caught in a glut of top defensemen at Wisconsin a year ago. Despite that, he emerged as one of the top players on a team that recovered from an 0-6-1 start to narrowly miss the NCAA Tournament. Now that Jamie McBain (Carolina) has moved on, expect McDonagh to get a lot of power play time this season.

Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk, LW
2007 1st round pick
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: New Hampshire (Hockey East)
36 games, 17-23-40

The Flyers used a high pick (second overall) on van Riemsdyk, a big power forward from New Jersey. This is the year that Philadelphia expects to see some return on their investment. van Riemsdyk will spend a good chunk of this season in the AHL, but depending on how he adjusts to pro hockey, could be brought up if someone gets hurt. van Riemsdyk got two years of college hockey in, so he should be physically ready for the jump.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Eric Tangradi, LW
2007 2nd round pick (Anaheim, traded to Penguins February 2009)
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: Belleville (Ontario Hockey League)
55 games, 38-50-88

At some point, at least one Philadelphia guy will be quite popular in Pittsburgh. Tangradi, a native of Philly, had three big years in the OHL, producing over a point per game in 52 career playoff games. There's a nice story with Tangradi, too, as he's still recovering from severing a tendon in his left hand during an OHL playoff game last spring. The comeback is going well, and Tangradi is likely headed to the AHL for more seasoning.

Northeast Division

Boston Bruins

Joe Colborne, C
2008 1st round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: Denver (WCHA)
40 games, 10-21-31

Give Denver coach George Gwozdecky credit. He brought Colborne along slowly, and the player people saw in March was different than the one that started his college career in October. The six-foot-six forward still has to grow horizontally and fill out a bit, but he'll play a key role this year on a Denver team expected to be No. 1 in most preseason polls.

Buffalo Sabres

Tyler Myers, D
2008 1st round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: Kelowna (WHL)
58 games, 9-33-42

With one year of WHL eligibility available, Myers is under a lot of pressure in Sabres camp. He will be given every opportunity to make the roster, but the team won't hesitate to send him packing for Kelowna again if they don't think he's ready. They have up to ten regular-season games to make that call. Myers is a big skater who can pass and shoot. He has the size and skill set to be a major player in the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens

P.K. Subban, D
2007 2nd round pick
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: Belleville (OHL)
56 games, 14-62-76

While Subban won't wow anyone with his physical play, he's more than adequate as a defender, and his passing is superb. Despite having an impressive offseason, Subban is not likely to make the big club this season. He's eligible to play in the AHL, though, and is a good candidate to head to Hamilton.

Ottawa Senators

Patrick Wiercioch, D
2008 3rd-round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: Denver (WCHA)
36 games, 12-23-35

By the end of the season, Wiercioch was running the Pioneers' power play, and running it well. Expect to see more of that in his sophomore season at Denver. He is still a tad thin for a defenseman, but he has long arms, great hands, and is coming into his own as a defensive player. He could make a big impact on Ottawa's blue line by 2010.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Tyler Bozak, C
Free agent, signed April 2009
Age: 23
2008-2009 team: Denver (WCHA)
19 games, 8-15-23

A knee injury basically ruined Bozak's sophomore season at Denver, but scouts had already seen enough by the time he went down. A cameo appearance in the NCAA Tournament was made at less than full health, but Bozak will be good to go this season. Given Toronto's absence of high-level prospects, expectations are high for a kid most hadn't even heard of before last fall.

Southeast Division

Atlanta Thrashers

Angelo Esposito, C
2007 1st round pick (Pittsburgh, traded to Thrashers February 2008)
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: Montreal (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
35 games, 24-18-42

Given that Esposito is coming off a major knee injury, it makes sense for him to start the season in the AHL. However, if he's recovered, he won't stay there long. Given the lack of quality forward depth at the NHL level, the Thrashers probably can't afford to keep Esposito stashed away in the minors for very long. The former first-rounder had a huge World Junior tournament playing for Team Canada.

Carolina Hurricanes

Jamie McBain, D
2006 3rd round pick
Age: 21
2008-2009 team: Wisconsin (WCHA)
40 games, 7-30-37

McBain was ready to leave college, but is he ready for the NHL? The puck-moving defenseman had his best season as a junior for Wisconsin, but the Badgers just missed the national tournament as their forwards struggled to score consistently. McBain has grown into his body, improved his skating, and should be a nice player for the Hurricanes' AHL team, with a possible jump to the NHL by the end of this season or 2010-2011 at the latest.

Florida Panthers

Colby Robak, D
2008 2nd round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: Brandon (WHL)
65 games, 13-29-42

The Panthers are a bit lean on defense thanks to the loss of Jay Bouwmeester, but there is plenty of help on the way. Robak may not make an impact on the NHL roster until 2010, but he bears watching as he develops in the WHL this winter. He's got a thin body, but is tall and can really skate well. He's a classic two-way defenseman who will get time both on power play and penalty kill.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Dustin Tokarski, G
2008 5th round pick
Age: 20
2008-2009 team: Spokane (WHL)
54 games, 34-18-2, 1.97 GAA, .937 saves

The 2008 Memorial Cup MVP helped Canada to the 2008 World Junior Championships gold medal, and now he's looking like he is ready to jump to pro hockey. Tokarski has dominated the WHL, has good fundmentals, and is about to join an organization in dire need of a "goalie of the future."

Washington Capitals

John Carlson, D
2008 1st round pick
Age: 19
2008-2009 team: London (OHL)
59 games, 16-60-76

Carlson is a powerful skater who projects as a do-everything type in the NHL. He's capable of playing rough and tough, can move the puck, and has a strong shot. The Capitals may not have room for Carlson on the NHL roster when training camp breaks, but it's unlikely he'll stay away much longer. He's dominated major junior, and needs a bigger challenge for his game.