New York Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov barely edges out fellow Russian winger Grigori Denisenko of the Florida Panthers to lead the way in the 2019 edition of TSN Hockey’s annual list of the Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects.

Only players considered to have not achieved full-time NHL status are included in the rankings.

Kravtsov, 19, is a highly skilled winger who is an offensive threat with his combination of speed, power, shot and finish. He’s expanding his game by playing centre this season for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. Kravtsov’s skill set, along with this adaptability, allows him to impact the game in multiple ways. His style of play is similar to that of the recently retired Rick Nash.

Denisenko, 18, is a dynamic offensive player who has a tremendous level of confidence in his play. Skating for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL this season, Denisenko can shoot as well as make a play and has qualities that are reminiscent of Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov.

Cale Makar, 20, (No. 3) of the Colorado Avalanche is the top defenceman on this year’s list. Currently playing NCAA hockey for the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, the 20-year-old has the ability to control the game when he’s on the ice. Dynamic with a flair for the spectacular, Makar will be a welcome addition to the Avalanche blueline.

Portland Winterhawks centre Cody Glass, 19, is at No. 4 for a second consecutive year. The first-ever draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights looks every bit the number-one centre teams covet. He's more of a playmaker, but his ability to skate, attack and open up ice to create offensive opportunities allows him to be a consistent threat.

Our top five is rounded out by Anaheim Ducks property Troy Terry, 21, who is excelling in the American Hockey League this season with the San Diego Gulls (37 points in 32 games). The American right winger is a great skater who creates plays at a high pace to make life uncomfortable for opponents. It’s difficult to understand why he hasn’t been given a shot at the NHL level by a Ducks team screaming out for offence.

The rest of the top 10 features Martin Necas (No. 6), a Czech centre and Hurricanes prospect who has 26 points in 30 games for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers this season; Eeli Tolvanen (No. 7), a right winger and Nashville Predators prospect who has 12 points in 24 games for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season; Canucks blueliner Quinn Hughes (No. 8), who is currently playing for the University of Michigan; and Russian goaltenders Ilya Sorokin (No. 9) of the Islanders and Igor Shesterkin (No. 10) of the Rangers, who are both having strong seasons in the KHL.

On the team side, the Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings are tied for the lead with four players each in the top 50.

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Denisenko (No. 2) is joined by fellow Panther prospects centre Aleksi Heponiemi (No. 15), right wing Serron Noel (No. 20) and right wing Owen Tippett (No. 40). The Kings are represented by centre Rasmus Kupari (No. 30), centre Gabe Vilardi (No. 34), defenceman Mikey Anderson (No. 43) and winger Akil Thomas (No. 44).

The Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks lead the way for Canadian teams with three players each in our top 50.

The Habs have Russian defenceman Alexander Romanov (No. 19), American centre Ryan Poehling (No. 36) and Canadian winger Nick Suzuki (No. 39), while the Canucks have Hughes (No. 8), centre Adam Gaudette (No. 41) and goaltender Thatcher Demko (No. 46).

The Ottawa Senators are represented by two players – right wing Drake Batherson (No. 23) and left wing Alex Formenton (No. 25). The Maple Leafs (defenceman Rasmus Sandin at No. 26) and Jets (left wing Kristian Vesalainen at No. 22) have one player each in the rankings. The Oilers and Flames don’t have any players in the top 50.

Top 50 NHL-Affiliated Prospects (For stats and more go to TSN.ca):

(Rank Name Drafted Team Current Team)

1. Vitali KRAVTSOV NY Rangers Traktor Chelyabinsk

2. Grigori DENISENKO Florida Panthers Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

3. Cale MAKAR Colorado Avalanche University of Mass/Amherst

4. Cody GLASS Vegas Golden Knights Portland Winterhawks

5. Troy TERRY Anaheim Ducks San Diego Gulls

6. Martin NECAS Carolina Hurricanes Charlotte Checkers

7. Eeli TOLVANEN Nashville Predators Milwaukee Admirals

8. Quinn HUGHES Vancouver Canucks University of Michigan

9. Ilya SOROKIN NY Islanders CSKA Moskva

10. Igor SHESTERKIN NY Rangers SKA St. Petersburg

11. Erik BRÄNNSTRÖM Vegas Golden Knights Chicago Wolves

12. Adam FOX Carolina Hurricanes Harvard University

13. Ukka-Pekka LUUKKONEN Buffalo Sabres Sudbury Wolves

14. Kirill KAPRIZOV Minnesota Wild CSKA Moskva

15. Aleksei HEPONIEMI Florida Panthers Kärpät

16. Jordan KYROU St. Louis Blues San Antonio Rampage

17. Filip ZADINA Detroit Red Wings Grands Rapids Griffins

18. Noah DOBSON NY Islanders Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

19. Alexander ROMANOV Montreal Canadiens CSKA Moskva

20. Serron NOEL Florida Panthers Oshawa Generals

21. Jason ROBERTSON Dallas Stars Niagara IceDogs

22. Kristian VESALAINEN Winnipeg Jets Jokerit

23. Drake BATHERSON Ottawa Senators Belleville Senators

24. Janne KUOKKANEN Carolina Hurricanes Charlotte Checkers

25. Alex FORMENTON Ottawa Senators London Knights

26. Rasmus SANDIN Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Marlies

27. Ilya SAMSONOV Washington Capitals Hershey Bears

28. Lias ANDERSSON NY Rangers Hartford Wolfpack

29. Barrett HAYTON Arizona Coyotes Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

30. Rasmus KUPARI Los Angeles Kings Kärpät

31. Urho VAAKANAINEN Boston Bruins Providence Bruins

32. Joel FARABEE Philadelphia Flyers Boston University Terriers

33. Alexander ALEXEYEV Washington Capitals Red Deer Rebels

34. Gabe VILARDI Los Angeles Kings Kingston Frontenacs

35. Ty SMITH New Jersey Devils Spokane Chiefs

36. Ryan POEHLING Montreal Canadiens St. Cloud State

37. Morgan FROST Philadelphia Flyers Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

38. Denis GURIANOV Dallas Stars Texas Stars

39. Nick SUZUKI Montreal Canadiens Owen Sound Attack

40. Owen TIPPETT Florida Panthers Saginaw Spirit

41. Adam GAUDETTE Vancouver Canucks Northeastern Huskies

42. Dante FABBRO Nashville Predators Boston University Terriers

43. Mikey ANDERSON Los Angeles Kings Minnesota-Duluth

44. Akil THOMAS Los Angeles Kings Niagara IceDogs

45. Phillipe MYERS Philadelphia Flyers Lehigh Valley Phantoms

46. Thatcher DEMKO Vancouver Canucks Utica Comets

47. Pierre-Olivier JOSEPH Arizona Coyotes Drummondville Voltigeurs

48. Dillon DUBE Calgary Flames Stockton Heat

49. Alex NYLANDER Buffalo Sabres Rochester Americans

50. Max JONES Anaheim Ducks San Diego Gulls