Voted Lindstein again, and I'll copy-paste why until he's voted:
Easily Lindstein. Neighbours and Dean could top out as middle-six forwards who can anchor lines. Buchinger has offensive potential in spades. Alexandrov and Robertsson could continue to increase our stable of solid middle six/bottom-six forwards. However, Lindstein is my choice because he is, in my opinion, is our number one defense prospect, and - also my opinion - has the potential to be the top two left-handed shutdown defenseman we've all been looking for, since Bouwmeester was forced to retire.
He was regarded as the best defenseman in the 2023 Draft before Reinbacher, Simishev, Willander, and Sandin-Pellikka emerged. Hell, he was partially the reason why Willander and ASP emerged; he did the dirty work while they did the offense. He's as smooth a skater as you'll see from a defenseman, has a great stick, and his hockey IQ is brilliant. The only issue is his offense, but he has potential there. He's smart offensively, and he's actually got a hell of a shot.
He'll need to bulk up for the rigors of the NHL, but honestly, I'm almost more excited about Lindstein than I am about Stenberg. I'm thinking smaller Bouw as a comparison, if he hits his full potential. That's worth a late first any day, and that's a much better prospect than two middle-six forwards.
After Lindstein, Dean (I had Neighbours between them, and I'll be honest and say that Dean is probably going to win this poll.), and Buchinger (the other elite young defenseman in our system; yes, I have him as a potential #3), it gets a lot trickier. Next six (I say six because goalies, lawl.) are Alexandrov (A middle-six forward, in my opinion; he could step onto the third line without missing a beat, although Dean has him beat on sheer talent alone), Robertsson (I think people are sleeping on him; he could be a solid middle-six scoring forward. He just has to put it together), Pekarcik (Normally, Pekarcik would be much higher, but he's just so damn
young; he doesn't even turn eighteen until mid-September. His projection could go anywhere at this point.), Loof (He'll take a little time in the AHL, but I feel like he's ready to step in and be a major part of our defensive core.), Koromyslov (If he ever comes over, I think he could be a fantastic #4 defenseman. He's kicking ass in the KHL right now, is the kind of big, mobile defenseman you dream about, and you just wish he'd come show what he can do.), and Zherenko (Normally, I would've put Hofer after Pekarcik, and Zherenko is probably just as talented, but he's a goalie, and hasn't proven as much as Hofer.) are probably up next after them.
Then you have intriguing players like (in order): Tucker (very much ready, will he have a spot?), Gaudet (will he put up similar stats in the AHL?), Dickinson (will he recover from his broken leg fully?), Kaskimaki (will he come over here and do as well as he's doing in Liiga?) Burns (still too far away to say, but he looks like he has potential), Fischer (same as Burns), Vorobyov (bottom six offensive sparkplug?), Kessel (potential bottom pairing RHD?), Stancl (needs to improve his skating, but could be a solid bottom-sixer if he does), Peterson (same as Stancl), Beck (same as Kessel), Susuyev (offensive dynamo, but huge questions about defense and when he'll come over...if ever), and...really not much else, in my opinion.
I don't have that much faith in Laferriere (tweener; not talented enough for the top six, not physical enough for the bottom six, probably an AHL lifer, but to be fair, he has improved visibly.), Washkurak (bottom sixer, but doesn't have a good enough trait for the NHL; he does everything decent, but not well enough that would make things pop like Peterson's and Stancl's size and defense, Dickinson's amazing skating ability, Vorobyov's and Susuyev's offensive IQ, or Kaskimaki's skating and offensive potential. I like the kid, but I don't think he has a shot with our team.), Malmstrom (only because we signed him to an ELC), Biakabutuka (same as Malmstrom, only right-handed), or Sim (still young, still could improve, but I doubt we give him an ELC). I have even less still in Mayich (the one pick this draft I hated because I feel all he'll be is a glorified enforcer. I wish we would've taken one of Celebrini or Roobroeck, just to say we took the older brother of a top prospect in a future draft who has intriguing features of their own (Roobroeck is a 6'7' forward; Celebrini is a solid right handed defenseman, which we lack in the system). Wish we could've dealt for an extra fifth and taken them both, but I digress.), Abramov (Honestly a throw-in by Toronto; the picks are the real prize. AHL lifer, to me, but could get a cup of coffee, like McGing.), Skinner (may get a cup of coffee, like McGing, but he's an AHL lifer to me), Ellis (he's in the ECHL. Yes, he could end up like Binnington, but I doubt it. And he's a goalie.), and Cranley. (Goalie, and I honestly was not impressed, even in juniors, like Ellis was.)
Sorry for the gigantic wall of text. I just figured I'd get my thoughts out now after saying I'm voting for Lindstein.