Dayton Musicmen Top Ten Prospects as of January 14, 2018...

Top ten prospects as of January 14, 2018...

1. Robert Hagg (D) Philadelphia Flyers - Continues to be apart of the Flyers top four defensemen, although his TOI has dropped slightly. Hagg still leads all team dmen in +/- with a +14 in 43 games. Hagg is 2nd in plus/minus and leads all rookie NHL dmen in hits and shot blocks. Hagg continues to demonstrate his ability to handle the NHL game on a not very good team in Philly and looks to be a top four and possible top pairing candidate in Dayton in 2018-19.

2. Malcolm Subban (G) Las Vegas Knights - The return of Marc-Andre Fluery has severely eaten into Subban's starts and since our last ranking, he's seen just 5 games. We expect it to be this way unless Flower gets hurt or fades down the stretch. We doubt Subban will hit 30 starts, but 20-25 seems very likely. The 24-year-old netminder looks to be the backup to the pending UFA in Mike Smith for the 18-19 CCHL campaign.

3. Christian Fischer (RW) Arizona Coyotes - Fischer continues to see over 15 minutes of playing time per game as he grows in confidence every game. A fixture on the 'Yotes 2nd line and top line power play unit, he now sits 3nd in goals and 6th in team scoring. Fischer has climbed to the 2nd best shooting percentage on the team. The 20-year-old is one of the few bright spots on this young team.

4. Travis Sanheim (D) Philadelphia Flyers - Sanheim has been a healthy scratch for the last 5 games in Philadelphia, with the main cause being deficiencies in his own zone. Still an awesome package of skills and talent, there are signs that Sanheim is coming along reasonably well in his first NHL season. Philly is under no pressure to push the issue and by the time the regular season is over, his TOI may be on the rise again.

5. Cale Makar (D) Colorado Avalanche - After a highly impressive World Juniors performance, Makar is also doing nicely as a freshman at the University of Massachusetts, sitting 4th in overall team scoring. This kid is the real deal and the Avs would be smart to let him hone his craft for another year or two before having him turn pro.

6.  Morgan Frost (C)  Philadelphia Flyers - The Flyer prospect jumps up to 3rd overall as this talented centerman has climbed to the top of the OHL scoring race. On pace to score 113 pts. this season after 62 pts. in 67 games last season with OHL's Sault Ste. Marie squad. Opportunity abounds for him in Philly in the not too distant future.

7. Mike McLeod (C) New Jersey Devils - The 12th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft was one of the best skaters in the '16 draft. A top end talent and point producer, NJ can't wait for him to reach the big leagues. An injury delayed his 17-18 season, but after ten games in the OHL, Mcleod is scoring at a better than a point per game pace for Mississauga. Look for Mcleod to join either the NHL or AHL Devils after the OHL season is over. Dayton expects him in the 2019-20 CCHL season.

8. Taylor Raddysh (W) Tampa Bay Lightning - Frost isn't the only DAY prospect in the top ten of scoring in the OHL. Tampa's Taylor Raddysh currently sits 4 pts. behind Frost in 7th overall in the OHL. Just 19 and already 6'2 and over 200 pounds, Raddysh will push for a job on the Lightning next Fall. Arrival time in Dayton is 2-3 years away.

9. Brenden Guhle (D) Buffalo Sabres - The 2nd round pick for the Sabres in the 2015 NHL draft, Guhle is a non-flashy, but well - rounded blueliner who had just been promoted to the Sabres and played in two games before being sent back down. A likely part of the Sabres blueline corps next season, Guhle is one of 7 dmen BUF controls contractually through the end of next season, so it seems he is seriously in the mix for an NHL job next year.

10. Danick Martel (C/LW) Philadelphia Flyers - Got called up to the Flyers after posting 21 points in 22 games for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and did - absolutely nothing in several games in the NHL. It's fair to say he wasn't given top-line minutes and it was no surprise when Martel was sent back to the AHL Phantoms. Since then his production has tanked with just 7 pts. (3+4) in the 19 games since his demotion. That may prove to be more damning long term than his unproductive NHL stint will be.

Honorable mention:

Drake Batherson, Aleksi Heponiemi, Tanner Laczynski, Jonah Gadjovich, Cliff Pu, Dennis Cholowski, Daniel Vladar...