CHL notebook: Hopkins, Klimke, Sanderson among top NHL Eastern prospects

Future NHL stars are developing in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Every other week, NHL.com will highlight a few of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. This week: A look at some of the top prospects for Eastern Conference NHL teams.

As the CHL season gets underway, several of the top prospects selected by NHL Eastern Conference teams have stepped up their play. Here are some of the top ones to watch right now (listed in alphabetical order; statistics through games Thursday).

Darian Anderson, RW, Flint (New York Rangers)

Anderson opened the season in a scoring groove, with goals in his first five games, including the game-winning goal along with two assists in a 7-2 win at London on Oct. 4. It was his second game-winner of the season, doubling his total from 60 games last season. His goal-scoring binge ended in a 5-2 loss to Kitchener on Wednesday, but he had the primary assist on Cooper Williams' game-winning goal and has eight points (five goals, three assists) during a season-opening six-game point streak. 

The 19-year-old was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round (No. 163) of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Spencer Bowes, LW, Ottawa (New York Rangers)

Bowes ran his goal streak to three games when he scored Ottawa's lone goal in its 2-1 overtime loss at Niagara on Thursday. The 19-year-old has goals in four of his past five games, and seven points (five goals, two assists) during a season-opening six-game point streak.

The Rangers took Bowes in the fourth round (No. 102) of the 2026 draft.

Aiden Foster, C, Prince George (Tampa Bay Lightning)

After having one two-goal game through his first three WHL seasons, the 19-year-old did it twice in his first three games this season. He scored two goals, including his first WHL short-handed goal, in a 4-2 loss at Vancouver on Sept. 27. Then against Brandon on Oct. 2, he scored a short-handed goal in the first period and then broke a 1-1 tie in the third as Prince George won 3-1. After beginning his season with a minus-5 game in Prince George's season-opening 8-0 loss at Seattle on Sept. 26, Foster has bounced back nicely.

The Lightning chose Foster in the fourth round (No. 127) of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Tyler Hopkins, C, Guelph (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Hopkins had two assists in a season-opening 6-0 win against Oshawa, the first of four straight multipoint games for the 19-year-old. That includes a two-goal game, including the winning score, in a 4-2 victory against Windsor on Oct. 2. Hopkins had nine points (four goals, five points) during his opening run, which ended in a 3-2 win against Owen Sound on Friday.

The Maple Leafs selected Hopkins in the third round (No. 86) of the 2025 draft.

Zachary Jovanovski, G, Guelph (Carolina Hurricanes)

Jovanovski made OHL history following his 19-save shutout against Kitchener on Oct. 4. Since 1997-98, the 19-year-old is the first goalie in league history to start the season with consecutive shutouts; he opened the campaign with a 25-save shutout of Oshawa on Sept. 25. Jovanovski had one shutout in each of his first two OHL seasons. 

The Hurricanes chose Jovanovski in the sixth round (No. 165) of the 2026 Draft.

Brayden Klimpke, D, Saskatoon (Montreal Canadiens)

Klimpke became the first WHL defenseman to reach double figures in points this season when he had a power-play goal and an assist in a 4-2 loss to Red Deer on Oct. 2. The 19-year-old, who was named Saskatoon captain this season, has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in a season-opening six-game point streak, including five multipoint games.

The Canadiens selected Klimpke in the fourth round (No. 117) of the 2026 draft.

Nathan Quinn, C, Quebec (Philadelphia Flyers)

Quinn had just one multigoal game in his first 28 games last season. This season, the 19-year-old did it in his second game, scoring twice with two assists in Quebec's 7-3 win against Shawinigan on Sept. 25. The second goal was the game-winner, and two nights later Quinn scored 31 seconds into overtime to give Quebec a 5-4 win against Rimouski. Quinn has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in five games this season, with at least one goal in four of them.

The Flyers selected Quinn in the sixth round (No. 164) of the 2025 draft.

Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat (Pittsburgh Penguins)

After missing Medicine Hat's first two games while attending Penguins training camp, Ruck picked right up where he finished last season when he led the WHL with 108 points (21 goals, 87 assists) in 68 games. After getting an assist and two shots on goal in each of his first two games, the 18-year-old scored twice and had an assist in a 4-2 win against Prince Albert on Oct. 3. He has opened the season with seven points (two goals, five assists) in a four-game point streak.

The Penguins selected Ruck in the second round (No. 39) of the 2026 draft; they had selected his twin brother, Liam Ruck, with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 draft.

Carter Sanderson, LW, Calgary (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Sanderson, who played the previous two seasons with Muskegon of the United States Hockey League, has made a seamless transition to the WHL. In his first game, the 19-year-old scored a power-play goal and had two assists in a 6-1 win against Edmonton on Sept. 25. Then in his next game he had a hat trick -- two power-play goals and a short-handed goal -- and an assist in a 7-4 victory at Lethbridge on Oct. 3. He continued his fast start with a goal in a 7-2 loss to Regina on Sunday and two more goals in an 8- loss at Red Deer on Friday, giving him 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak to start the season. 

The Penguins selected Sanderson in the sixth round (No. 169) of the 2025 draft.

Logan Stuart, C, Lethbridge (Washington Capitals)

Stuart arrived in Lethbridge after two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and has adjusted quickly to the WHL. The 18-year-old opened the season with six points (three goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. That includes a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win against Prince Albert on Oct. 2, Stuart's first multipoint game. He has eight points (four goals, four assists) in seven games and has won 51.3 percent of his team-leading 113 face-offs.

The Capitals selected Stuart, the son of former NHL defenseman Brad Stuart, in the seventh round (No. 208) of the 2026 draft.