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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.

 

Notre Dame’s Alex Steeves Drawing NHL Interest

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The NCAA free agent market is about to open up. College teams are wrapping up their regular seasons this weekend and conference tournaments will follow soon after. For those teams facing an uphill battle to win an automatic bid and unlikely to claim an at-large bid, seasons could be over in a week or two.

One player facing down that scenario is Notre Dame forward Alex Steeves. The Fighting Irish currently sit in fourth-place in the Big Ten Conference and would have to battle through 2020-21 powerhouses Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to win their conference tournament. They are also not a top-20 nationally ranked team and sit well outside the 13/14 spot usually awarded to the final at-large team in the NCAA Tournament. Barring a miraculous turn, Steeves and Notre Dame will likely be done for the year in short order.

Except, Steeves likely won’t be done for the year. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Steeves is the hottest name among undrafted college free agents this year and could be scooped up quickly and signed to an NHL contract that begins this season. Steeves, 21, is only a junior at Notre Dame and has NCAA eligibility remaining, but will likely opt out in favor of the pros after a career year. The skilled forward has recorded 14 goals and 29 points in 27 games this season, one more point than he accrued in 36 games last year. Steeves is hardly the only player scoring at more than a point-per-game pace in the NCAA this season, but he is tied for sixth in goal scoring and is doing so for an Irish team that has not played up to expectations this year.

While Dreger does not mention any specific suitors for Steeves’ services, the New Hampshire native will be linked to the Boston Bruins – as are all New England natives seemingly – as well as the Chicago Blackhawks, located right across the lake from South Bend, Indiana and the owners of Steeves’ linemate, Landon Slaggert. Steeves also played alongside Notre Dame prospects belonging to the Ducks, Flames, Avalanche, Predators, Devils, and Islanders, all of whom have surely witnessed plenty of the forward’s ability this season. Many of the NHL’s rebuilding club are not among this list either but will offer the most immediate opportunity to the collegiate star. It’s understandable why Dreger describes there as being a robust market for Steeves given the vast number of potential landing spots.

Florida Panthers To Sign Logan Hutsko To Entry-Level Contract

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Mar 1: The Panthers had to wait until March to officially announce the deal because the two-year, entry-level contract will begin in the 2021-22 season. Panthers GM Bill Zito released a short statement on him:

Throughout Logan’s collegiate career, he displayed unmatched determination and character. He possesses a dynamic level of skill, coupled with great pace and compete. We are excited for Logan’s future and look forward to his continued development in our organization.

Feb 11: Logan Hutsko’s season came to a surprising end this week after it was reported that a lingering ankle injury would keep him out for the remainder of the campaign. A senior at Boston College, Hutsko had the option to return for a fifth season due to the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility to current athletes. He also could have waited until August to become an unrestricted free agent and sign with any NHL team. Instead, he will do neither. The Panthers prospect has committed to the team that drafted him, as TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that Hutsko has agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with Florida.

Hutsko, a Florida native, is a quality addition to the pipeline for the Panthers. The 22-year-old has been a top contributor at Boston College in each of his four years. In fact, it was Hutsko’s near point-per-game freshman season that got him selected by Florida in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Were it not for injuries, he likely would have been selected even higher. While Hutsko has had some durability issues throughout his young career, he has still managed to record 101 points in 114 games as a top scorer for one of the top programs in the nation.

A product of Shattuck St. Mary’s, the U.S. National Team Development Program, and the historic Boston College program, Hutsko has had an elite developmental path and the result is a polished prospect. While his skill and skating may not be first class, his hockey IQ and work ethic certainly are. With a mature game and the versatility to play center or right wing, Hutsko should have the opportunity to push for a role in Florida sooner rather than later. As long as he can stay healthy, Hutsko may even find a permanent place in the Panthers lineup in no time.

Minor Transactions: 02/23/21

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During a year in which there is a unique and unprecedented mix of leagues at different points in their respective seasons, there are always moves to be made. While the NHL has seen internal transactions made at a newfound rapid pace this season, there continue to be other notable moves made across the hockey world every day. Keep up with those transactions here:

  • While most European leagues are nearing the ends of their regular seasons, Germany’s DEL started up around the same time as the NHL and are less than 20 games into their campaign. With plenty of hockey left to play, teams are still scouring for talent. This has allowed former NHLer Simon Despres to find a home this season. Despres, 29, had a promising NHL career derailed by injury and, other than a brief AHL comeback attempt early in the 2018-19 season, has spent the past three seasons in Europe. He has found moderate success overseas and had his best season last year with Sweden’s IK Oskarshamn. Now, he is returning to Germany for a second stint, as Eisbaren Berlin has announced a contract with Despres for the remainder of the season. Despres has a great chance to play a key role in a long season for Berlin, who currently sit in second place in the DEL and have the scoring depth and goaltending to contend for a title. The team has not received much production from its defense thus far, but that is where Despres can step in and be a difference-maker.
  • It has been a whirlwind couple of days for former RIT standout Adam Brubacher. The defenseman was released from his AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, only to immediately land a PTO with the Manitoba Moose, per a team release. While RIT nor their conference, Atlantic Hockey, are among the elite in the NCAA, Brubacher’s accomplishments over the past four years remain impressive. A member of an all-conference team in three of his four seasons and Atlantic Hockey’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, Brubacher was among the most productive defensemen in the NCAA over his collegiate career with 106 point in 148 games. While he was released by Bridgeport before ever playing a game, if he is given an opportunity by Manitoba to show that his ability translates to the pros, he could become a nice piece on the back end for the club.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Wyatt Schingoethe has made his college commitment. The 18-year-old center has announced that he will join Western Michigan University next season. A seventh-round pick in 2020, Schingoethe has excelled down the middle for the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks over the past few years, playing a fast and aggressive high-energy style that produces points, turnovers, and defensive support. While draft rankings differ greatly further into the draft, there were at least some sources that expected Schingoethe to go a round or two earlier than he did. He hopes to begin showing that he is a legitimate prospect for the Leafs when he arrives at WMU next year. The Broncos are a strong program, but currently count Philadelphia’s Ronnie Attard as their only NHL prospect. Schingoethe will be a major boost.

Canadiens Expect To Sign Cole Caufield, Jordan Harris After NCAA Season

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The Montreal Canadiens have been one of the biggest surprises thus far in the 2020-21 season and their success has often been fueled by the play of their rookies and other young impact players. The team’s talent pipeline isn’t drying up any time soon either and the club expects to add a pair of top prospects to organization before the end of the current campaign. Speaking with the media today, GM Marc Bergevin all but confirmed that 2019 first-round pick Cole Caufield will turn pro at the end of his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin. The Athletic’s Arpon Basu adds that Bergevin also noted that defenseman Jordan Harris is also expected to sign with the club when he wraps up his junior season at Northeastern University.

Caufield, 20, is easily Montreal’s best unsigned prospect and quite possibly the top non-NHL player in the organization. A record-breaking goal-scorer for the U.S. National Team Development Program, Caufield was the 15th overall pick two years ago and even that felt too low to many scouts and analysts. He has since solidified his status as a dangerous offensive weapon, posting a point-per-game season as a freshman on a disappointing Wisconsin squad last season, winning Big Ten Rookie of the Year. He spurned the pros to return for a second year, and so far that has resulted in a whopping 17 goals and 33 points in 22 games and a top NCAA ranking for the Badgers. Caufield also took home a gold medal at the World Juniors for Team USA, collecting five points along the way. Caufield has not let his small stature slow him down against the older and larger competition at the college level nor against his elite peers at the WJC. The Canadiens expect more of the same once he gets to the NHL, as Bergiven glowed about his ability and his growth this season. Basu notes that while Montreal fans will want Caufield on the NHL roster immediately, Bergevin stated that cap considerations, quarantine timelines, and roster structure will all play a part in determining where the highly-touted prospect begins his pro career.

Harris, 20, may not compete with Caufield on name value and draft stock alone, but can hold his own as a productive collegiate player and promising NHL prospect. A third-round pick in 2018 out of the New England prep school ranks, Harris is skilled, puck-moving defenseman. He made a clean jump from high school to college, recording 13 points in 39 games as a freshman for the Hockey East Champion Huskies, but has improved considerably in each of his last two seasons – 21 points in 33 games last year and 16 points and a career-high five goals through just 15 games this year. He is Northeastern’s No. 2 scorer, a locker room leader, is a big reason why the program finds itself in contention for an NCAA Tournament spot. While he may not have the immediate NHL upside of Caufield or an Alexander Romanov, Harris is another player for Habs fans to get excited about and he may even see some NHL action himself later this year if the situation is right.

Of course, the question of whether Caufield or Harris can make an impact with Montreal this season is very dependent on their NCAA schedule. The NCAA Tournament is not scheduled to begin until March 26 and for Frozen Four teams the season may not end until April 10. While the discrepancy between games played and frequent absences of players this season should make for unpredictable conference and national tournaments, both Caufield and Harris have a chance to make a deep run. Caufield’s Wisconsin Badgers are currently ranked No. 5 in the country and seem like a lock for the NCAA Tournament and a title contender. Harris’ Northeastern Huskies are currently right on the edge of qualification at No. 16, but have another month of regular season games and the Hockey East Tournament to clinch a spot. If Harris is not playing in the national tournament, he should have plenty of time to get to Canada and suit up for the AHL’s Laval Rocket or even the Canadiens over the last six weeks or so of the season. However, if either players’ season stretches deeper into April, leaving less than a month of NHL regular season games available following quarantine, there is less of a chance that they make their Montreal debut, especially Harris but potentially for Caufield as well. Fortunately, the Canadiens will get to see both players in action far beyond just the end of this season.

2021 Hobey Baker Nominees Announced

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With the collegiate hockey season (such as it is this year) entering the home stretch, voting for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award has opened with 50 players nominated for the award. 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 chance to debut late in the season with the St. Louis Blues was taken away. Perunovich currently sits on the Blues’ taxi squad but could find his way into the lineup soon enough.

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.

The fan vote will be added to the opinions of NCAA head coaches to come up with a 10-man finalist group, which will then have another fan vote and go through a selection committee. The nominees are as follows:

Owen Power – University of Michigan
Grant Cruikshank – Colorado College
Alex Limoges – Pennsylvania State University
Ronnie Attard – Western Michigan University
Alex Jefferies – Merrimack College
Jordan Harris – Northeastern University
Tyce Thompson – Providence College
Joseph Nardi – Northern Michigan University
Nick Swaney – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Noah Cates – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Marcel Godbout – Sacred Heart University
Ethen Frank – Western Michigan University
Keaton Mastrodonato – Canisius College
Shane Pinto – University of North Dakota
Brennan Kapcheck – American International College
Nick Perbix – St. Cloud State University
Declan Carlile – Merrimack College
Jakov Novak – Bentley University
Cam York – University of Michigan
Jordan Kawaguchi – University of North Dakota
Alex Steeves – University of Notre Dame
Jack LaFontaine – University of Minnesota
Mareks Mitens – Lake Superior State University
Jonny Evans – University of Connecticut
David Farrance – Boston University
Tyrone Bronte – University of Alabama-Huntsville
Taylor Ward – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Josiah Slavin – Colorado College
Kent Johnson – University of Michigan
Eduards Tralmaks – University of Maine
Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Keith Petruzzelli – Quinnipiac University
Lukas Kaelble – Lake Superior State University
Odeen Tufto – Quinnipiac University
Ryan Steele – Sacred Heart University
Matt Kiersted – University of North Dakota
Adam Dawe – University of Maine
Veeti Miettinen – St. Cloud State University
Nathan Smith – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Braeden Tuck – Sacred Heart University
Chayse Primeau – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Cade Borchardt – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Alex Young – Colgate University
Zach Solow – Northeastern University
Spencer Knight – Boston College
Cole Koepke – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Logan Hutsko – Boston College
Matt Boldy – Boston College
Ashton Calder – Lake Superior State University
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup – University of Maine

UPDATE Feb 2: There are some notable omissions from the group, including Wisconsin Badgers forward and Montreal Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield, who currently leads the nation in scoring. Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal tweets that Caufield is expected to be added after “an email got lost in the shuffle,” though he still does not appear on the fan vote page.

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