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Jordan Harris Returning To Northeastern University

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The Montreal Canadiens will not be signing NCAA standout Jordan Harris to an entry-level contract this spring. The young defenseman has decided, after discussions with the organization and members of his family, to return to Northeastern University for his senior season in 2021-22. According to their release, Harris “remains totally committed to the Monreal Canadiens for the future.”

Despite that commitment, the pressure will be on the Canadiens next year when Harris will be just a few months away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. After his senior season, Montreal would only retain his draft rights through August 15, 2022, after which time he would be able to sign with anyone he wanted. Though the team may feel comfortable now, it does certainly pose additional risk.

Harris, 20, was outstanding this season for Northeastern, recording 19 points in 19 games while serving as an alternate captain. A former Team USA World Junior member, the smooth-skating defenseman was a third-round pick in 2018 and has developed quite nicely at the collegiate level.

There isn’t a direct line to playing time in Montreal next season, given they have six NHL-level defensemen already signed, but that does change in 2022. Ben Chiarot and Brett Kulak are both unrestricted free agents after the 2021-22 campaign, perhaps opening the door a crack for Harris to compete at the NHL level. That’s certainly not a guarantee, but spending another year in college will only help his offensive development as he logs huge minutes for the Huskies.

NCAA Releases Frozen Four Bracket

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While March Madness is ongoing in basketball, hockey’s version is also set to get underway later this month.  Today, the NCAA announced its 16-team field for the Division I men’s championship tournament which begins on Friday and will end with the Frozen Four next month.  The field is as follows:

Fargo Regional

1) North Dakota
2) Minnesota-Duluth
3) Michigan
4) American Int’l

Bridgeport Regional

1) Wisconsin
2) Massachusetts
3) Lake Superior State
4) Bemidji State

Loveland Regional

1) Minnesota
2) Minnesota State
3) Quinnipiac*
4) Omaha

*- Replaces Saint Lawrence after they were forced to withdraw due to NCAA Health and Safety protocols.

Albany Regional

1) Boston College
2) St. Cloud State
3) Boston U.
4) Notre Dame

The Frozen Four will take place in Pittsburgh on April 8th and 10th featuring the winners from each region.  The full bracket can be found here.

The field features the top five scorers from the regular season including a pair of undrafted players in Quinnipiac senior Odeen Tufto and North Dakota senior Jordan Kawaguchi who had considerable NHL interest last season before deciding to play out his eligibility.  NHL teams will have to wait a little longer to try to sign those players but now with the tournament field set, there should be an uptick in signings over the next few days both on the undrafted free agent market and those that were previously drafted but are ready to turn pro.

In terms of the free agent class, our Zach Leach took a look at many of the notable names earlier this month. Notre Dame forward Alex Steeves is one player that is known to have plenty of NHL interest already but with them getting the final seed in the Albany region, he won’t be signing just yet.

Snapshots: Sorensen, Mrazek, St. Lawrence

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The San Jose Sharks might be moving on from forward Marcus Sorensen, especially considering he will be hitting unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. In fact, Sorensen could find himself in the North Division soon as Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported that several Canadian teams have interest in the rental forward.

“Marcus Sorensen in San Jose is more of a traditional rental,” said Johnston during the “Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “[Sorensen] only makes $1.5 million, he’s a UFA at the end of the year and I know he’s drawn some interest from the Canadian teams.”

Sorensen’s numbers aren’t overwhelming, however, with just a goal and three points in 17 games, while averaging 11:58 of ATOI. However, the experienced veteran would provide some bottom-six depth at a cheap salary and cost.

  • The Carolina Hurricanes saw a familiar face on the ice as injured goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has been out since Jan. 30 after undergoing thumb surgery, practiced with the team on Sunday. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said that Mrazek’s return will depend on how the netminder feels. “He’s got to feel like he can play and contribute at the level he needs to,” said Brind’Amour (via NHL.com’s Michael Smith). “It’s a good sign we got him back out there. … I think we’re moving in the right direction.” Mrazek’s return would be a big boost to the Hurricanes. In four games this year, he has a 2-1 record and a .955 save percentage.
  • A tough day for St. Lawrence University. One day after capturing the ECAC Conference Championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, College Hockey News reports that the collegiate team has withdrawn its automatic bid to the tourney due to a positive COVID-19 test. In fact, head coach Brent Brekke announced that he was the one who tested positive. “I’m extremely sorry that this group has lost the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament,” Brekke said. “It was my own test that came back positive today. The roller coaster of emotions in the last 24 hours for everyone is unimaginable. Last night we are holding the trophy above our heads and today we are shaking our heads in disbelief that the season is over. This hurts. But the one thing that can’t be taken away from this team — they are champions.”

Senators Notes: Goaltending, North Dakota, Trade Deadline

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Senators GM Pierre Dorion spoke on TSN 1200 in Ottawa this morning and addressed many of the most pressing issues facing his team down the stretch this season. And while that won’t include a playoff push, as the Senators hold the NHL’s second-worst record and are well outside of a playoff spot in the North Division, Dorion still stated that he would like to see more consistency out of his roster the rest of the way. The position of greatest concern right now is obviously goaltending. Ottawa is allowing 3.91 goals against per game this season, the worst mark in the league by a wide margin. The Senators’ depth in net appeared to be strong entering the season with newly-acquired starter Matt Murray at the top, promising backup Marcus Hogberg ready for a full-time NHL role, college standout Joey Daccord as next man up, and top prospects Filip Gustavsson and Kevin Mandolese to fall back on as well. Yet, Murray and Hogberg have struggled greatly and the Senators’ goaltending actually improved when the pair were lost to injury, making Daccord the starter by default. However, Daccord is now expected to miss the rest of the season due to an injury of his own. This prompted not only the waiver claim of Anton Forsberg, but also for the team to send a chartered private plane to Winnipeg to pick him up, so as to avoid any quarantine period. Forsberg, who amazingly has not played at any level this season despite being claimed on waivers three times, will start for AHL Belleville on Saturday and is then likely to dress as backup behind Gustavsson on Monday, according to The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch. Gustavsson, who made his NHL debut by providing a shutout third period in relief of Daccord on Wednesday, will make his first start on Monday and he and Forsberg appear likely to split starts until Murray and/or Hogberg are healthy enough to return to action. Dorion considers Murray “week-to-week” and hopes Hogberg will be ready for an AHL conditioning stint before the end of the month.

  • Without anything to play for this season, the stretch run could actually be an exciting time for the Senators as they take a look at some other options in action before next season. That could very well include any number of current members of the University of North Dakota, once their NCAA season comes to an end. Ottawa has spent a number of high draft picks on Fighting Hawks commits in recent years and now the No. 1 team in college hockey is seeking a National Championship, fueled by Senators property. For now, Dorion says that he has informed North Dakota forward Shane Pinto and defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker, Jake Sanderson, and Tyler Kleven to simply focus on their pursuit of a title and worry about their pro futures later. However, once the postseason has ended for North Dakota – as early as next weekend or as late as April 10 – Dorion could sign any of the group and insert them into the Senators lineup right away. He specifically called Pinto, Bernard-Docker, and Sanderson “close” in terms of their pro readiness. Bernard-Docker, a junior, and Pinto, a sophomore, are more likely to sign this year than Sanderson, a freshman, even though he was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Beyond the North Dakota players that Ottawa already owns, their link to the program and the immediate opportunity available could give them a leg up in wooing a pair of the very best college free agents available. Seniors Matt Kiersted and Jordan Kawaguchi are certainly on the Senators’ radar and could be intrigued by joining the Ottawa rebuild. Dorion did not address the immediate pro future of North Dakota transfer Jonny Tychonick, another talented draft pick whose University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks are also hoping to make the NCAA Tournament.
  • As for players that could be leaving the Senators before the end of the season, Dorion opined that this could be a very quiet trade deadline for his team, a sentiment that many other teams have echoed. In a buyer’s market that is influenced by difficult salary cap situations and border restrictions, there is a feeling that there might not be much action before the April 12 deadline. Dorion claims that teams are “checking in” but there apparently hasn’t been much traction on forming actual deals. The Senators are not in a great position to trade this season anyhow. Recently re-acquired winger Ryan Dzingel is their most valuable rental piece, but may not even be available if there is mutual interest in an extension. Dzingel has already re-discovered his scoring touch back in Ottawa, notching four goals in eight games. Expensive and unproductive veterans Artem Anisimov and Erik Gudbranson, depth defensemen Mike Reilly and Braydon Coburn, and grinders Matthew Peca and Micheal Haley are the only other expiring contracts the Senators have and lack much, if any value. It could be a quiet deadline indeed in Ottawa barring a surprise move.

Ottawa Senators Sign Angus Crookshank

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The Ottawa Senators have signed another one of their prospects, inking Angus Crookshank to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will begin in the 2021-22 season, but Crookshank has signed an amateur tryout with the Belleville Senators for the rest of this season. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement on his newest player:

Angus proved to be a dominant collegiate player. We’re pleased that he’s made the decision to start his professional career which is what we believe is best for the next step in his development.

Dorion may be stretching the truth a big when he says that Crookshank was a dominant player for the University of New Hampshire, but he certainly was a good one. In 90 NCAA games, the young forward recorded 35 goals and 63 points, many of which came within just a few feet of the crease. His slick hands in tight and ability to go unchecked in dangerous areas should translate well to the professional ranks where he’ll get a chance to play with some talented playmakers in the Ottawa system.

Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, Crookshank could be a nice late-round find in a class that already included Brady Tkachuk and standout college defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. The AHL Senators will get him into the lineup as soon as his quarantine protocol is complete.

Top-10 Finalists Announced For 2021 Hobey Baker

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The college hockey season may have looked a little different this year, but award voting will go on anyway. Today, the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award were announced. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. Last year the award was given to Scott Perunovich, but his NHL debut has been postponed thanks to a major shoulder injury.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

Earlier this year, more than 50 players from the NCAA ranks were nominated for the award, and today that number has been reduced to just ten. These ten players will be narrowed to just three, a process that anyone can be a part of by participating in the fan vote. Votes will be added to the decision from a selection committee to produce three finalists, from which a winner will be crowned.

The top-10 finalists are as follows, with the NHL organization who owns their draft rights in parenthesis:

Shane Pinto, University of North Dakota (Ottawa Senators)

Matthew Boldy, Boston College (Minnesota Wild)

David Farrance, Boston University (Nashville Predators)

Cole Caufield, University of Wisconsin (Montreal Canadiens)

Dylan Holloway, University of Wisconsin (Edmonton Oilers)

Spencer Knight, Boston College (Florida Panthers)

Jack LaFontaine, University of Minnesota (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dryden McKay, Minnesota State University-Mankato (undrafted)

Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac University (Detroit Red Wings)

Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac University (undrafted)

The three Hattrick Finalists will be named on April 1, though Caufield is expected to run away with the award. The 20-year-old sniper had quite the season, leading the nation in scoring with 28 goals and 49 points in just 30 games.

2021 NCAA All-Free Agent Team

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With the signing of Clarkson standout Josh Dunne by the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier today, the NHL’s college free agent market has officially kicked off. With many NCAA teams playing their last games today and through this week, the list of available players is about to expand as well, with new names becoming available throughout the NCAA Tournament, which concludes in early April. Curious who the top available names are? Here is the 2021 All-Free Agent Team, complete with honorable mentions:

Forwards
Alex Steeves, Notre Dame (Jr.) – A player whose NHL market is well-documented, Steeves leads the way among undrafted free agents. Steeves sits tied for sixth overall in NCAA scoring with 31 points in 28 games, while his 15 goals ties for fourth overall. A skilled forward who makes the players around him better, Steeves is ready for the pro game, even as a junior. Assuming he forgoes his remaining NCAA eligibility, Steeves could sign soon. The Fighting Irish were knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament today, an early exit for a team that needed a deep run to feel secure about a national tournament spot. That loss could very well mean that Steeves’ college season is over and his pro career is ready to begin.

Jordan Kawaguchi, North Dakota (Sr.) – Kawaguchi spurned the pros last season to return to North Dakota for one last season and he and the Fighting Hawks plan to have a long NCAA Tournament run ahead of them in the coming weeks. Once Kawaguchi’s season is over though, he will be ready to take his talents to the next level. A supremely skilled playmaker who is tied with Steeves with 31 points this season, Kawaguchi thinks the game at a high level and has great vision on the ice.

Marc McLaughlin, Boston College (Jr.) – Like Kawaguchi, McLaughlin’s BC Eagles plan to compete for a title this season and he might not be available for a while. There is also an off chance that he returns to Boston College for another season if the team falls short of an NCAA championship. However, McLaughlin is pro-ready right now and there will be a strong market for his mature, complete game. A physical, two-way center who excels at the technical aspects of the game, McLaughlin also found his offense this year with 23 points in 21 games.

Other Notable Forwards: Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac; Parker Ford, Providence College; Ty Pelton-Byce, Wisconsin; Ben Meyers, Minnesota; Chayse Primeau, Nebraska-Omaha; Zach Solow, Northeastern

Defensemen
Matt Kiersted, North Dakota (Sr.) – Next to Steeves, Kiersted might be the most anticipated college free agent of the class. The puck-moving defensemen has played major minutes for a contender at North Dakota and his 19 points in 25 games is among the best marks for blue liners. He also plays competent defense and looks ready to step into an NHL depth role right away. He may not play this year though, as the Fighting Hawks are in it for the long haul.

Akito Hirose, Minnesota State (Fr.) – The NCAA rookie Hirose, younger brother of Detroit Red Wings forward Taro Hirose, has impressed enough after just one year to potentially warrant an NHL contract. While his offensive game nor his defensive game are elite – which could prompt him to return for another year rather than make the jump – Hirose’s mobility is top-class and has many believing he is better off developing in the pros. He has shown that he can be a difference maker on the back end, even in a conservative system like the Mavericks’. Minnesota State is in position to make a deep tournament run, but have fallen victim to early exits before.

Other Notable Defensemen: Brandon Scanlin, Nebraska-Omaha; Will Cullen, Bowling Green

Goaltenders
Strauss Mann, Michigan (Jr.) – While he may not be at the very top of the NCAA goalie ranks statistically, scouts rave about Mann’s vision and quickness. Scouts have seen plenty of him too while watching a Michigan squad loaded with draft-eligible talent and previously drafted prospects. Mann is also the Wolverines’ captain and has been unbelievably consistent as their workhorse over the past two seasons. A smart and respected teammate, Mann has the makings of an NHL starter in time. Oh and about those stats: a .927 save percentage and 1.95 GAA this year is nothing to complain about.

Other Notable Goaltenders: Dryden McKay, Minnesota State; Adam Scheel, North Dakota

Seattle Kraken Among Teams Restricted In College Free Agency

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The college free agent market has yet to really kick into high gear. Some NCAA teams have already finished their seasons, some of the names attached to those teams are now available, and some have even signed minor league deal. Yet, to date there has not been an NHL signing by a college free agent just yet.

That will all change soon, though. As conference tournaments continue through this weekend and next week, many more seasons will come to an end shortly. For those programs who aren’t a realistic candidate for at-large bid, ranked at least in the top-20 nationally, the next loss will be the final one of the season. This will continue until next Sunday – “Selection Sunday” – when the 16-team field for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed. Any fringe teams holding out hope will learn their fates and those on the outside looking in will join the teams that have already been eliminated in saying goodbye to the 2020-21 season. A week later, all but four of the tourney teams will also be done. By the end of the month, at the latest, college free agency will be in full swing and after the Frozen Four concludes and a National Champion is named on April 10, it is safe to assume that the free agent market will have been picked clean within days. Although college free agency has not yet made its mark this year, by this time next month the majority of the NCAA player rush could be over.

This poses a problem for the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken. As Darren Brown writes for Sound of Hockey, the Kraken have yet to make their final expansion payment to the league and as such still lack official standing. This means that they cannot yet sign any free agents to contracts for next season. When the Vegas Golden Knights entered the league, they made their inaugural signing, undrafted junior free agent Reid Duke, on March 6. Already beyond that date this year, Seattle is behind on their payment schedule compared to Vegas and it will impact their ability to add prospects. It is believed that the Kraken are on track to make their final payment next month, presumably before the April 12 trade deadline, but by that time it may be too late to cash in on college free agency. If at all possible, Seattle would be best-served to make their final payment as soon as possible.

The delayed trade deadline date could cause some difficulty with college free agent decisions for a number of other teams, too. Normally, the deadline falls two weeks earlier than it will this season and much of the college free agent frenzy takes place after that date. Following the deadline, teams know for sure where they sit in terms of roster limits for the season, which has taken on even more importance in recent years as a key negotiating tactic for young free agents has been the opportunity to sign right away and burn a year off of their entry-level contract. For the Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals, all of whom currently have 49 of their maximum 50 contract slots filled, they won’t have that assurance when the market begins to heat up this year. While the Ducks, a seller, have more certainty that they can move a current contract or two to make room for any college free agent signings, the Flyers and Capitals are expected to be buyers and risk leverage in deal-making above all else if they hit the 50-contract maximum by signing a college free agent and sellers know that they must shed a contract to add one at the deadline. The Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues, all at 48 contracts, will also have to be careful with the college free agent market if they plan to add multiple pieces at the deadline. This could all make for an intriguing period of NCAA additions, with some of the usual top suitors potentially playing it safe while teams with more flexibility and opportunity swoop in.

Injury Notes: Eichel, Pietrangelo, Bruins, COVID

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Jack Eichel is leaving Buffalo… to get a second opinion on his injury. The Sabres superstar has been dealing with a lingering upper-body injury this season, which was aggravated on Sunday according to The Athletic’s John Vogl. Eichel returned to Buffalo while his team took on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday and now as they head home, Eichel is leaving to see a specialist. It is still unknown what exactly is bothering Eichel and there have been contrasting reports as to its severity. While head coach Ralph Krueger stated that Eichel may miss only a week, other sources claim that the injury could be much more severe. Seeking a second opinion is certainly not an indication that this is an ailment that only requires a week of rest. Fortunately (?), the Sabres’ season is already lost and they have no reason to bypass proper treatment and rehab for Eichel in order to rush him back to action. While the All-Star center surely would like to return and improve upon a dismal season by his standards, there should be no pressure from the team. Perhaps only Krueger, the optimistic voice on Eichel’s injury, stands to gain from his quick return, as the head coach’s seat is very hot.

  • Alex Pietrangelo has also left his team, abandoning the Golden Knights’ road trip in order to return to Las Vegas, head coach Peter DeBoer tells NHL.com’s Danny Webster. Pietrangelo is out “for the foreseeable future” due to an upper-body injury. Pietrangelo left the Knights’ Saturday tilt with the San Jose Sharks after blocking a shot and did not suit up on Monday. While the team has not disclosed the specific injury that their big off-season addition suffered, it is believed to be related to his left hand or wrist. DeBoer stated that he does not think that Pietrangelo will be out “long, long-term” but did say that there is not timetable for his return.
  • The Boston Bruins have suffered through consistent injuries all season long and there is still a lack of concrete information on their extended absences. GM Don Sweeney spoke to the media and attempted to provide some insight, but had few details to offer. Forward Ondrej Kase, acquired at the 2020 trade deadline, has been out since the Bruins’ second game of the season after suffering his third head injury in a calendar year. He has resumed skating and is “eager to play”, but there is still no timetable for his return as they work him back cautiously from another concussion. Kase was expected to provide secondary scoring for the Bruins this season, which has again been a struggle for the team, and they will likely have to make a call on adding a forward at the trade deadline before they get to see much of Kase back in action. Sweeney also addressed the status of another injury-prone player, Kevan Miller. Miller missed all of last season with a fractured kneecap and recently suffered a “setback from a volume standpoint”, likely overworking his surgically-repaired knee. An absence from Miller, even just due to rest, is not unexpected but Sweeney stated that he too has not timeframe for a return. Jeremy Lauzon, who suffered a broken hand late last month, was given more of a ascertainable timeline to return, but according to Sweeney he appears to be on track to return later in his four-to-six-week window. Lauzon has already missed over two weeks following surgery, but he reportedly will still not be re-evaluated for another four weeks. As for Brandon Carlo, whose recent head injury was well-publicized, Sweeney offered no update other than to say he is feeling better, but not skating.
  • The NHL has done a tremendous job of working their COVID Protocol Related Absences list down to just a handful of names over the past week or so. The league finally appears to have a handle on the virus, just in time for many players to soon start receiving vaccines. However, Coronavirus continues to rear its ugly head in other corners of the hockey world. On Wednesday night, an AHL game between the Binghamton Devils and Lehigh Valley Phantoms was suspended after the first period due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Devils, NHL.com’s Mike Morreale reports. At the college level, the ECAC announced that Clarkson University, ranked second in the conference and 14th nationally, will be forced to end their season due to COVID. Not only will Clarkson miss out on both the ECAC and NCAA Tournaments, but the ECAC is now left with just three teams playing two games to determine a conference champ, with their Ivy League members also not competing this season. Clarkson becomes the second program, after Merrimack College, forced to end their season prematurely due to COVID.

Brent Johnson Commits To The University Of North Dakota

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The University of North Dakota is one of the top programs in all of college hockey and their roster always includes a plethora of NHL Draft selections. However, the team is about to lose much of its core in departing seniors Jordan Kawaguchi, Collin Adams (NYI), Grant Mismash (NSH), and Matt Kiersted and a trio of highly-regarded underclassmen likely to turn pro in Shane Pinto (OTT), Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT), and Jasper Weatherby (SJS). That also doesn’t include the pre-season transfer of Jonny Tychonik (OTT) and dismissal of Mitchell Miller, both on the back end. Even with 2020 fifth overall pick Jake Sanderson (OTT) and others sticking around, North Dakota is in need of an influx of talent.

Fortunately, that shouldn’t be a problem for the program. With a strong recruiting class already lined up for next season, you can now add Brent Johnson to the list of incoming NHL hopefuls. The skilled 2021 draft-eligible prospect has announced his commitment to North Dakota, moving from the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede to the NCAA’s (former) Fighting Sioux. Johnson, 17, has been one of the best rookies in the USHL this season, currently ranked sixth among all defensemen with 24 points in 36 games. He is also among the top five in goals, assists, points, and plus/minus for Sioux Falls. Johnson has played so well in fact, that he de-committed from Arizona State University when major programs like North Dakota began to show interest. It’s not only NCAA programs that have been watching the dynamic defender either; he is currently considered a top-100 player in the 2021 draft class by a number of scouting services, with some believing he could go as early as the top of the second round and none expecting him to fall out of the third round. A mobile, right-shot defenseman with offensive instincts, Johnson checks a number of boxes for NHL clubs and is now headed down an elite developmental path at UND.

If Johnson enrolls at North Dakota next season, he will join an impressive group of freshman. A fellow defenseman, Scott Morrow, is the highlight of the group as a potential first-round pick this year. In fact, righties Morrow and Johnson could be likely to pair up with Sanderson and Tyler Kleven (OTT) as the Fighting Hawks’ new top-four – perhaps the Senators will draft them as well. Also heading to Grand Forks next year are previously-drafted forwards Jackson Kunz (VAN), Matteo Costantini (BUF), Jake Schmaltz (BOS), and Ethan Bowen (ANA). If Johnson instead opts to play another season of junior in the USHL, he appears to be the current gem of North Dakota’s 2022 recruiting class and will still have an opportunity to play with most if not all of the aforementioned players.

 

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