NHL fans currently recognize players like Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares and other assorted superstars, but they were once hockey prospects waiting to make an impact in the big leagues.
While some prospects are in the NHL right after being drafted, others take some time developing their craft in the AHL, NCAA, Europe or other assorted leagues across the globe.
The 2013 NHL draft will include some amazing prospects, but there are already some exciting prospects on NHL teams and others who fans can't wait to see.
Here are examples of some of these prospects, including some who are already exciting fans with their play in the NHL.
Etem burst onto the scene last year after recording an amazing 61-goal season in the WHL, and in 2013, he has spent time in the AHL and NHL.
Dougie Hamilton has played well for the Boston Bruins this season, and he is a prospect who has shown that he has a bright future ahead of him.
Hamilton's size makes him a very attractive defender for the Bruins, and his offensive upside also makes him a valuable commodity on the blue line.
Joel Armia is a strong and skilled forward who should make the jump to the NHL next season. He is coming off a solid season in the SM-liiga.
Armia posted a stat line of 19-14-33 in 48 games, and he posted 10 points in the playoffs. What makes Armia exciting is his offensive talent, his size at 6'3" and 203 pounds and his speed.
Ryan Murphy is a top defenseman prospect for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has a lot of tools that make him a great two-way defenseman. The team really could have used a defender like him for the entire 2013 season.
He is primarily an offensive defenseman who works well on the power play, but his speed allows him to cover all zones on the ice with ease.
Brandon Saad is a prospect who is currently a front-runner for the Calder Trophy. There are a ton of things that make him an exciting player.
Tyson Barrie is a member of the Colorado Avalanche. He is one of their top young players who will make an impact in the future.
He is a solid offensive defenseman with a great point shot and amazing puck-moving skills. He is on the small size standing at 5'10", but he is still young. He has time to bulk up.
Ryan Murray had some bad luck this season after he suffered a season-ending injury, but he is a defenseman with a ton of upside.
He was selected No. 2 at the 2012 draft, and he is the type of defenseman who should fit in well with the Blue Jackets.
The team has transitioned into a team that could make the playoffs, and his skill will certainly help them grow moving forward.
The stage is set for Radek Faksa to make an impact with the Dallas Stars in 2013-14, and he is a player who has the skills to take advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
Faksa is a very talented and determined player who has worked hard to get where he is. He skates with the puck well, he is a solid passer and he is very good at scanning the ice.
Tomas Jurco is a player who fans can't wait to see at the NHL level. Jurco is an Internet sensation because of the videos that document his amazing puck-handling skills and trick shot abilities.
He is a talented offensive players who oozes creativity, and he is the perfect player for the Detroit Red Wings' offensive system.
Nail Yakupov was the No. 1 pick at the 2012 NHL Draft, and he has been a pleasure to watch in 2013. He is a very creative player who is very animated and explosive.
Yakupov has amazing speed, he has solid offensive instincts and he really knows how to get the crowd going during the course of a game.
Jonathan Huberdeau has been one of the only bright spots on the Florida Panthers in 2013, and he has shown that he is a superstar in the making.
Huberdeau is offensively talented, he can play two-way hockey and he has been a good leader for the Panthers this season.
He is a favorite to win the Calder Trophy, and it will be exciting to see what he can do for the team going forward.
Jake Muzzin burst onto the scene this season after the Los Angeles Kings' blue line was hit with a few injuries, and he hasn't looked back since joining the team.
He was drafted in 2007, and played a few games with the team last season, but this year he has been a great player for the Kings.
He has contributed offensively, he has been great on the blue line and he has been able to help solidify the Kings' back end.
Jonas Brodin has emerged as the Minnesota Wild's top prospect and their most exciting one after dazzling for a good part of the 2013 season.
Brodin has played like a legitimate top-pairing defender alongside Ryan Suter, and he has added a ton of skill and depth to the team's blue line.
He is solid with the puck, he is seldom out of place in his own zone, and he is just a pleasure to watch on the ice.
While Galchenyuk is very talented in his own right, Gallagher has scored some big goals for the Habs, and he has made other big players along the way.
He has been a solid two-way player and a person that Michel Therrien has been able to rely on in different situations.
The Nashville Predators are a team that has always needed to add an offensive-forward to help take their team to the next level, and trading Martin Erat for top-end prospect Filip Forsberg was a brilliant move by David Poile.
Forsberg is a dynamic forward who has a top-notch skills package, and he is a player who will be joining the Predators before the season's end.
Reid Boucher had a monster year for the Sarnia Sting, and there is a reason why the New Jersey Devils signed him to an entry level contract.
Boucher scored 62 goals and had 95 points for Sarnia this season, and the 5'11 forward is only 19-years-old. The young pivot has a ton of offensive skill, and he should make an impact for the Devils in the coming seasons.
Ryan Strome is arguably the best prospect not in the NHL, and he is one of the many elite-prospects in the New York Islanders' farm system.
Strome had 94 points this season with the Niagara Ice Dogs, and he has since joined the Bridgeport Sound Tigers where he has four points in three games.
Strome is a versatile forward who can play center or right wing, and he could become of a deadly duo alongside superstar-center John Tavares.
J.T. Miller is a prospect for the New York Rangers that made more of an impact during his NHL stint than Chris Kreider.
Miller has the makings of becoming a solid two-way player, and his offensive skills and creativity with the puck are better than when he was originally drafted.
He had a rough start in the AHL, but he has improved with the Ottawa Senators and has showed the potential to become an above-average scoring center.
Zibanejad has played particularly well with fellow prospect Jakob Silfverberg, and the duo has a bright future with the Senators.
Scott Laughton was the Philadelphia Flyers' first-round draft pick in the 2012 NHL draft, and he is joining the Adirondack Phantoms.
Laughton is a physical power-forward that can produce offensively, and he will fit in on the Flyers' roster given the fact they already have forwards like Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds on their roster.
Brandon Gormley has had an average rookie season with the Portland Pirates of the AHL, and he has recorded 26 points in 63 games.
Gormley is the top prospect in the Phoenix Coyotes' farm system, and he projects to be a top-pairing offensive-defender.
His mobility, his howitzer of a point shot and offensive instincts should allow him to crack the roster full time in 2013-14, and he is a player with a ton of upside.
Beau Bennett has gotten his fair share of opportunities in 2013 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he is a player who is still developing
He is a player who won't dazzle with speed, but he is a smart player with solid instincts and an above average shot.
He will have the opportunity to play with three talented centers in the future, and Bennett should be a solid top-six winger for the Penguins.
The St. Louis Blues added top prospect Vladimir Tarasenko to their roster this season, and he immediately showed why he is going to develop into a superstar.
Tarasenko is a hard working forward who is über talented, has the size to dominate and the tools to be an elite-scorer.
Before sustaining a concussion Tarasenko was producing at a pretty good pace, but since returning he hasn't been the same.
Next year fans will get the full experience of Tarasenko, and don't be surprised if he is among the league leaders in scoring.
Tomas Hertl is a play making forward who could join the San Jose Sharks in the next few years. He was drafted in 2012 and he has been playing hockey over in Europe.
He has great hands, creativity and his overall offensive game makes him an interesting prospect, and a player who will ultimately make a huge impact in San Jose.
Kilron can score and set up opponents, and overall he is a well rounded prospect who is developing into a secondary contributor for Tampa Bay.
Morgan Rielly was the Toronto Maple Leafs' top pick from the 2012 draft, and he has grown tremendously over the past 10 months.
Rielly had an offensive outburst for the Moose Jaw Warriors this season after posting 54 points in 60 games, and he has since joined the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.
Nicklas Jensen is currently playing for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, and he is a Danish forward with size. He stands 6'3" and is a skilled skater and playmaker who is only 19-years-old.
The young Dane is a flashy forward who has a solid wrist shot, and he is the type of winger the Vancouver Canucks really could use in their lineup.
Evgeny Kuznetsov is slated to stay in the KHL for the next few years, but he is an elite prospect that would add so much offense and depth to the Washington Capitals.
Kuznetsov has stated that he will play for the Capitals after the Sochi Olympics, and once he makes his debut fans can prepare to be amazed.
If you were to compare him to a current NHL-er, the best comparison would be Evgeni Malkin. Both are premier scorers and passers, both are around the same size and both are very dynamic.
Kuznetsov is only 20, but his stick handling and other offensive skills are above and beyond those of player in his age bracket.
Jacob Trouba is a very talented defenseman who signed an entry level contract with the Winnipeg Jets after ending his NCAA career this season.
Trouba is a 19-year-old defender who dazzled at the WJC early this year, and he stands 6'3" and weighs just under 200 lbs. His offensive skills are exemplary for a young defenseman, and he appears to have the complete package.
Once he makes his debut for the Jets fans will fall in love with him because he is just an amazing all-around defender.
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