Of all the prospects in no man’s land, Reilly Walsh tops the list of “what to do next.” He made his NHL debut last season, and he expects to take a leadership role with the Utica Devils this year. So far this season, he has 10 points in 18 games. There is something weird happening in the AHL this season, so his point drop is on par with the rest of the team. Eventually, we expect Walsh to get back to the 43-point pace he had last season. He looks just as good as he did, and there is actually some interesting talent on that team.
Tyce Thompson just has to stay healthy. Every season, it seems like the same thing happens. He almost makes the NHL roster, he gets hurt in training camp, he gets to spend time with the Devils team doctors, then he’s forced to go back to Utica once he’s healthy. Thompson has nine points in 15 games this season. He’s watching his brother Tage become one of the world’s best players. Does that add to the pressure? Luckily, he’s on a Devils team that’s in no rush. He can take his time. However, there are other prospects and future drafts where he could get passed up. For now, Thompson’s future with the franchise is exciting.
Coming into the season, Nico Daws felt like the future of the Devils’ goaltender position. He was the best goalie on the team last season. We’re not talking about Utica. He was the best goalie on the Devils last year. This season, things have started slow. He’s seen his counterpart play insanely well in the NHL, while he’s struggled a little in the AHL. He has a .908 save percentage this season. It’s worse than the .916 save percentage from last season, but his GAA is about the same. If you take out one blowout by Rochester, his season is going really well. Let the season play out, and we expect Daws to be right where he was before.
This is the first time where we get to a tweener prospect who’s basically on the Devils, but it’s close enough to keep him on the prospects list. Kevin Bahl has been really good when given the chance this season. It’s clear his movement is better, he makes better decisions, and he can play at an NHL level. He’s only been in four games so far this season. However, his time practicing with the AHL team has gone a long way. Bahl has grown every season since the Taylor Hall trade. This year, he looks like an official NHL player.
5
Maybe this is recency bias, but Akira Schmid looks like the Devils goalie of the future. At the beginning of the season, he was behind Nico Daws, but he’s been absolutely dominant. He hasn’t only been dominant in the AHL, but he’s been statistically one of the best goalies in the NHL. He is in the lineup while Mackenzie Blackwood recovers from an injury. In his time with the Devils, he won all five games he played (including one he didn’t even start). His .949 save percentage is the best in the league for any goalie who’s played at least four games. Some will think he’s too low and deserves to be in the top five, while others think this is too quick a reaction to put him ahead of Daws. Either way, Schmid might be making Blackwood expendable.