Over the past week, TheHockeyNews.com has examined prospect goaltenders and defensemen who look ready to make the jump to being full-time NHLers.
Now, it’s time to see the wingers who look to join that group, and they’re an exciting bunch.
As for the criteria, it’s the same as the defensemen list, so these players must have been either AHL or NCAA regulars last season, still eligible for the Calder Trophy and are at least 20 years old.
Without further ado, here are five breakthrough wingers for the 2025-26 NHL season.
Matt Savoie, Edmonton Oilers
Everywhere Edmonton Oilers prospect Matt Savoie has played, he’s found success. He averaged more than a point per game in the United States League and WHL in juniors. By the end of his first full AHL season in Bakersfield, the 2021 ninth overall pick from the Buffalo Sabres has blossomed into a player ready to make that jump to the NHL.
There are still questions about Savoie’s game at the next level.
Will his diminutive 5-foot-9 stature hinder his ability to remain an offensive threat? Can he create consistently at the NHL level rather than rely on being an off-the-puck finisher?
These questions are valid, but they’re so far overblown by all accounts.
Savoie has the skating, the smarts, the deception and the skill to be a capable offensive second-line-caliber guy.
Even if Savoie tops out as more of a supplementary offensive player, we’ve seen players in that mold succeed on first lines next to genuine stars, such as Capitals playmaker Dylan Strome next to Alex Ovechkin last season or previously, Mike Hoffman with Mark Stone on the Ottawa Senators.
With Zach Hyman potentially missing time next season recovering from wrist surgery, Savoie could have opportunities to play with the best of the best, such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Savoie is listed as the third-best right winger on the Oilers' depth chart in The Hockey News’ 2025 Yearbook & Fantasy Guide.
Gabe Perreault, New York Rangers
In Gabe Perreault’s draft year, he netted the most points in USA Hockey National Team Development Program history with 132 over 63 games. He beat out a plethora of NHL stars, such as Auston Matthews (117 in 60), Jack Eichel (87 in 53) and NHL 26 cover star Matthew Tkachuk (95 in 65), to name a few.
Unlike those mentioned above who were selected well within the top 10 of the NHL draft, Perreault fell to the New York Rangers at 23rd overall.
Draft concerns included his skating, a lack of bulk and how he’d do without his NTDP linemates, Washington Capitals pick Ryan Leonard and the San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith.
While his skating has marginally improved, and he’s become more physically engaged and mature with time, the concerns surrounding Perreault’s reliance on his linemates are worth amplifying. Since Smith’s arrival in San Jose, Perreault’s stat line from his first to second seasons in the NCAA fell by 12 points. Given this, Perreault’s lack of significant skating improvements may hinder his truly elite upside. He should be more well-rounded to fit lower in the lineup.
With the Rangers’ youth movement in full swing, The Hockey News projects Perreault as the No. 2 right winger on the team. Given this opportunity, Perreault should succeed despite his skating, as he has the tools and hockey sense to become a high-end cerebral playmaker at the NHL level.
NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s PipelineThe NHL prospect pool overview series is our annual summer series breaking down every team's prospect pipeline.
Ville Koivunen, Pittsburgh Penguins
Ville Koivunen’s stock has skyrocketed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was overlooked when the Carolina Hurricanes included him in the trade to Pittsburgh for beloved star forward Jake Guentzel at the 2024 trade deadline. While the 2021 second-round pick averaged close to a point per game in Finland in 2023-24, he struggled to produce in an AHL stint the season before. However, from the moment he joined the Baby Pens in the AHL, things took off.
In his first full-time AHL season, Koivunen led the Penguins' affiliate in points with 56. This led to an eight-game NHL call-up where he put up seven assists thanks to his exceptional vision and deception.
Koivunen is ranked as the No. 1 left winger on the Penguins, and one would have to imagine what a full season next to Sidney Crosby could do to fast-track his development.
Bradly Nadeau, Carolina Hurricanes
Drafted late in the QMJHL, USHL and even his home province’s Maritime Junior Hockey League, Nadeau quickly rose to prominence in the BCHL, scoring 45 goals and 68 assists for 113 points over 54 games in his draft year.
The impressive play led to him being drafted 30th overall in 2023 by the Hurricanes. He was considered a project player at the time.
Just one year later, Nadeau made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes after a seismic 46-point rookie campaign in the NCAA with the University of Maine.
Needing some more seasoning, Nadeau played his age-19 season in the AHL with Chicago and very quickly adapted to the pro game, adding more physicality and playmaking to his game alongside his dangerous shot.
Given this, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nadeau sneaks onto the Hurricanes roster out of camp despite being ranked as the No. 5 right winger on the team in the 2025 Yearbook.
Liam Ohgren, Minnesota Wild
When Liam Ohgren got the call-up to the Minnesota Wild after a string of injuries last season, the 2022 19th overall pick made them count.
The six-foot left winger showed off his speed, willingness to engage physically and a deceptive, NHL-level shot. By season’s end, the 21-year-old amassed 24 more games of experience in the big league, scoring two goals and three assists.
Ohgren’s work rate has seemingly transitioned off the ice as well as the youngster looks swole in off-season training photos. The additional bulk and conditioning might be just enough of what Ohgren needs to make the Wild’s bottom six full-time next season. He’s currently positioned as the No. 5 left winger in THN’s Yearbook.
Get the
latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by
subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below
the article on THN.com.
Read the full article here
