Last ranked: 12
This is one of the most dramatic drops on this list. Michael Vukojevic is just not having a very good season. He has been jumping back and forth between the Utica Comets and the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. He’s getting a decent run now with the Comets, a team looking to make serious strides towards the playoffs as they sit in first place in the North Division. Vukojevic has six points in 17 AHL games. He had 11 points in 26 AHL games last season after his OHL career was ended early by the pandemic. Vukojevic still has some hope, and he is just 20 years old. This isn’t the best season for his projection, however.
Last ranked: 21
This is another player who fell, but it wasn’t for any fault of his own. Since our last ranking, Daniil Misyul has become a regular in his KHL lineup after bouncing between the KHL and MHL last season. He’s at 41 games played for Yaroslavl. He’s basically playing third-line minutes, which is what one would expect at this point in his progression. Misyul is progressing like we all thought he would. He’s a defensive defenseman who isn’t going to have much in terms of stats of any kind. He’s someone who can stop the puck.
Last Ranked: 14
Jaromir Pytlik is a player that has plummeted in these rankings. It’s not necessarily his fault, he’s just been out of sight, out of mind. He’s been playing for Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga. He has one goal and zero assists in 19 games. It’s a really bad showing from a prospect who showed a lot of upside last season. He left the Soo Greyhounds to play in a professional league, but this seems like a clear mistake. He’s moved around leagues, and he’s struggled pretty much everywhere. Pytlik is a man without a team really, and he needs to find a spot that really fits him. He’s still 20, and between the pandemic ending his season last year and a weird season this year, he needs to find a home and stick with it.
Last Ranked: NR
Yegor Zaitsev is someone who is showing up on prospect lists out of nowhere this season. The former 7th-round pick is showing he does have reason to pay attention, playing now his third season for Dynamo Moskva. He’s 23 years old, so this is the first and last prospects list he will appear on. However, it’s interesting to see him progress in the KHL this season. The issue here is Zaitsev might never leave the KHL. He’d likely immediately make an impact on Utica’s blue line, and he might even jump into the Devils lineup on occasion. However, he has a locked-in role when it comes to his Russian team.
Last Ranked: 25
Cole Brady was someone who surprised many when he took the starting goaltender role at Arizona State University. ASU is kind of having a rough go this season, but Brady has been able to keep up a .900 save percentage behind the defensive structure there. He’s now sharing the net, but he hasn’t played since early January. Not sure why, since he had some great games against then-ninth ranked Cornell. ASU has three goalies, so maybe he’s recovering from nagging injuries, but the Sun Devils may be looking elsewhere. Brady has tools to be really good, but consistency is what he needs to work on.