In this article, we look at three prospects who have been flying under the radar, but may be in for big seasons.
Who is ready to break-out?
As is often with prospects, the same names tend to be discussed over and over again and for good reason. At the end of the day, most drafted players will not pan out at the NHL level. That’s just a fact of the numbers. However, each season there are players who earn their way into the conversation. Last season, two of those young men were Matyas Melovsky and Mikhail Yegorov.
While Yegorov had some buzz in his draft year due to his rankings and selection in the 2nd rounder, the netminder was playing for a very poor Omaha Lancers team in the USHL. Serious hype around Yegorov did not come until his mid-season transfer over to Boston University, where he stole the net and led the Terriers all the way to the final game of the final four. Melovsky, on the other hand, had virtually no hype as a sixth round overager in the 2024 NHL Draft. until he popped with 83 points in 57 games in the Q, while earning the league’s top defensive forward honors. Both of these young men still have a long path to the NHL, but they are part of the conversation now. That’s a big step in its own right. Who may be the next players to take that leap? In this article, we look at three candidates.
Veeti Louihaarva
Louihaarva has been a bit of an afterthought of New Jersey Devils goaltender prospects behind players such as Nico Daws, Jakub Malek and the aforementioned Mikhail Yegorov. However, the 19-year-old had a fairly strong season in 2024-25 platooning with 2025 draft-eligible backstop Otto Hannikainen and sporting a respectable 2.94 GAA and a .902 SV% for a very poor JYP U20 team that won only 10 of its 44 games. Per Elite Prospects, Louihaarva is one of three goaltenders currently on the JYP roster with veteran Oskari Salminen and the 18-year-old Hannikainen. While it is still possible, maybe even likely, that JYP will obtain another goaltender before the season, Louihaarva should have a chance to earn some games at the highest level of Finnish hockey this year.
Louihaarva is a large 6’4’’ goaltender who covers the lower half of the net very well, but has work to do to polish the rest of his game, especially explosiveness from post to post, which should improve by building leg muscles as he gets older. Goaltenders are often a complete shot in the dark and Louihaarva is no different. The Finnish netminder’s future is very much unknown, and even with a strong upcoming season Louihaarva would be many years away, but the goaltender may be one to monitor a bit more closely this year.
Daniil Karpovich
Karpovich is a physical, two-way defender, who showed offensive ability in the MHL. That offensive flourish has not yet translated to the higher levels. Part of that reason may be an injury that derailed much of Karpovich’s season limiting him to only four games in the KHL and 21 games split between the VHL and MHL.
Karpovich, now 20-years-old, recently signed an extension with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg after some speculation the defender might sign his ELC with the Devils. That did not happen. Karpovich will likely split time between the VHL and the KHL this year, hopefully finding some of his offensive game in the lower league and establishing himself in the KHL by season’s end. The toolsy defender must stay healthy first. Time will tell, but a strong season would begin the conversation of Karpovich coming over after his new contract ends.
Ethan Edwards
Much less of a dark horse than the other two mentions, defenseman Ethan Edwards has flown under the radar more due to the growth of other defenders around him than of any fault of his own. Overshadowed by Luke Hughes and Seamus Casey in Michigan, Edwards signed with the Devils at the end of his collegiate season, debuting with the Utica Comets down the stretch, potting three assists in ten games.
Edwards is an elite skater and smooth puck mover, who has shown considerable growth in offensive output in recent years, including 21 points in 36 games during his final season at the University of Michigan. His ability to quickly close gaps and his willingness to engage physically despite his smaller stature makes him an interesting option defensively. Whether that game translates at the highest level is an open question, one that should be answered this year.
The initial signs were good during Edwards’s 10-game stint. Now Edwards enters his first full season of professional hockey. Edwards turned 23 last month and is entering his prime years. It would not be surprising to see the young defender leading the Comets backend for much of this season and earning some games in the NHL as a call-up during the year.
Some Thoughts and Your Take
I considered Kasper Pikkarainen for this post and it would be a tremendous story if he breaks out this year after a devastating knee injury requiring surgery that nearly ended his career. This summer, Pikkarainen has signed with TPS until 2026-27. The reason why I ultimately decided against putting him in this article is there is just not enough data for me to determine where he is at developmentally. That said, the fact TPS feels strongly enough about Pikkarainen to sign him for multiple seasons is a good sign. Hopefully, this is a big breakout year for the feisty winger.
Let us know what you think. Post your comments below.