2022 Hobey Baker Nominees Announced
With the collegiate hockey season more than half over, voting for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award has opened with 77 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. In 2020 the award was given to Scott Perunovich, who, after some unfortunate injury issues to start his career, has become a regular part of the St. Louis Blues blueline.
In 2021, Cole Caufield took home the award after leading the nation in scoring at the University of Wisconsin. Caufield made an immediate impact by helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final a few months later and, while struggling this season, looks like a key building block for the future.
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 on March 16, which will then have another fan vote and go through a selection committee. The nominees are as follows:
Nick Abruzzese – Harvard University
Corey Andonovski – Princeton University
Max Andreev – Cornell University
Jacob Barczewski – Canisius College
Drew Bavaro – Bentley University
Jacob Bengtsson – Lake Superior State University
Matty Beniers – University of Michigan
Trenton Bliss – Michigan Technological University
Louis Boudon – Lake Superior State University
Carson Briere – Mercyhurst University
Bobby Brink – University of Denver
Easton Brodzinski – St. Cloud State University
Nathan Burke – Bowling Green State University
Will Calverley – Rochester Institute of Technology
Declan Carlile – Merrimack College
Gabe Carriere – University of Vermont
Hank Crone – Northern Michigan University
Gustavs Davis Grigals – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Drew DeRidder – Michigan State University
Max Ellis – University of Notre Dame
Ryan Fanti – University of Minnesota Duluth
Sean Farrell – Harvard University
Domenick Fensore – Boston University
Kevin Fitzgerald – St. Cloud State University
Ethen Frank – Western Michigan University
Riese Gaber – University of North Dakota
Matthew Galajda – University of Notre Dame
Cole Guttman – University of Denver
Brian Halonen – Michigan Technological University
Jordan Harris – Northeastern University
Austin Heidemann – Mercyhurst University
Billy Jerry – Long Island University
Kent Johnson – University of Michigan
Jachym Kondelik – University of Connecticut
Matthew Kopperud – Arizona State University
Philip Lagunov – University of Vermont
Devon Levi – Northeastern University
Ture Linden – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Andrew Lucas – University of Vermont
Connor MacEachern – Pennsylvania State University
Mitchell Martan – Canisius College
Keaton Mastrodonato – Canisius College
Jack McBain – Boston College
Aidan McDonough – Northeastern University
Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University, Mankato
Marc McLaughlin – Boston College
Zach Metsa – Quinnipiac University
Ben Meyers – University of Minnesota
Joseph Nardi – Northern Michigan University
Max Newton – Merrimack College
Owen Norton – Mercyhurst University
Nick Perbix – St. Cloud State University
Yaniv Perets – Quinnipiac University
Clayton Phillips – Pennsylvania State University
Kaden Pickering – St. Lawrence University
Jackson Pierson – University of New Hampshire
Blake Pietila – Michigan Technological University
Owen Power – University of Michigan
Brady Risk – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jake Sanderson – University of North Dakota
Isaiah Saville – University of Nebraska Omaha
Carter Savoie – University of Denver
Owen Savory – University of Massachusetts Lowell
Owen Sillinger – Bemidji State University
Nathan Smith – Minnesota State University, Mankato
Jack St. Ivany – Boston College
Jaxson Stauber – Providence College
Matt Stienburg – Cornell University
Colin Theisen – Arizona State University
Bobby Trivigno – University of Massachusetts Amherst
Braeden Tuck – Sacred Heart University
Ryan Tverberg – University of Connecticut
Zach Uens – Merrimack College
Kevin Wall – Pennsylvania State University
Taylor Ward – University of Nebraska Omaha
Colton Young – Colgate University
Emil Zetterquist – St. Lawrence University
2022 WJC Participants By NHL Team
The 2022 World Junior Championships will get underway from Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday. As is the norm and to be expected from the top U-20 competition in the world, the World Junior tournament field is loaded with drafted NHL talent. While most nations don’t have the prospect depth to form a roster completely composed of NHL prospects and those that do have opted to include some younger, future draft picks, there are still a whopping 106 drafted players on WJC rosters. Nine of ten WJC have at least one current NHL prospect and six of those nine have at least ten draft picks. Those players come from 30 of the NHL’s 32 teams, with the Carolina Hurricanes leading the way with ten prospects. While enjoying the WJC action in the coming days, keep track of who may one day be playing at the highest level:
Anaheim Ducks (4):
F Mason McTavish, Canada
D Ian Moore, USA
F Sasha Pastujov, USA
D Olen Zellweger, Canada
Arizona Coyotes (1):
F Dylan Guenther, Canada
Boston Bruins (1):
F Fabian Lysell, Sweden
Buffalo Sabres (4):
F Jakub Konecny, Czechia
D Nikita Novikov, Russia
D Owen Power, Canada
F Isak Rosen, Sweden
Calgary Flames (1):
F Matt Coronato, USA
Carolina Hurricanes (10):
F Nikita Guslistov, Russia
D Aleski Heimosalmi, Finland
D Ville Koivunen, Finland
D Scott Morrow, USA
F Zion Nybeck, Sweden
D Joel Nystrom, Sweden
F Alexander Pashin, Russia
F Vasily Ponomarev, Russia
G Nikita Quapp, Germany
D Ronan Seeley, Canada
Chicago Blackhawks (4):
G Drew Commesso, USA
D Wyatt Kaiser, USA
D Michael Krutil, Czechia
F Landon Slaggert, USA
Colorado Avalanche (1):
F Oskar Olausson, Sweden
Columbus Blue Jackets (4):
F Kent Johnson, Canada
D Samuel Knazko, Slovakia
F Martin Rysavy, Czechia
D Stanislav Svozil, Czechia
Dallas Stars (4):
F Mavrik Bourque, Canada
F Daniel Ljungman, Sweden
F Logan Stankoven, Canada
F Albert Sjoberg, Sweden
Detroit Red Wings (8):
G Jan Bednar, Czechia
G Sebastian Cossa, Canada
D Simon Edvinsson, Sweden
F Carter Mazur, USA
F Theodor Niederbach, Sweden
F Redmond Savage, USA
D Donovan Sebrango, Canada
D Eemil Viro, Finland
Edmonton Oilers (2):
F Xavier Borgault, Canada
D Luca Munzenberger, Germany
Florida Panthers (5):
F Elliot Ekmark, Sweden
D Kasper Puutio, Finland
F Mackie Samoskevich, USA
F Ty Smilanic, USA
F Justin Sourdif, Canada
Los Angeles Kings (6):
F Martin Chromiak, Slovakia
D Brock Faber, USA
D Helge Grans, Sweden
F Samuel Helenius, Finland
D Kirill Kirsanov, Russia
F Kasper Simontaival, Finland
Minnesota Wild (6):
F Marat Khusnutdinov, Russia
D Carson Lambos, Canada
F Pavel Novak, Czechia
D Ryan O’Rourke, Canada
D Jack Peart, USA
G Jesper Wallstedt, Sweden
Montreal Canadiens (3):
D Kaiden Guhle, Canada
F Oliver Kapanen, Finland
F Jan Mysak, Czechia
Nashville Predators (4):
G Yaroslav Askarov, Russia
F Simon Knak, Switzerland*
D Anton Olsson, Sweden
F Fedor Svechkov, Russia
New Jersey Devils (4):
F Alexander Holtz, Sweden
D Luke Hughes, USA
G Jakub Malek, Czechia
D Shakir Mukhamadullin, Russia
New York Islanders (0)
New York Rangers (4):
F Brett Berard, USA
F William Cuylle, Canada
G Dylan Garand, Canada
F Kalle Vaisanen, Finland
Ottawa Senators (5):
F Ridly Greig, Canada
F Roby Jarventie, Finland
D Tyler Kleven, USA
G Leevi Merilainen, Finland
D Jake Sanderson, USA
Philadelphia Flyers (3):
D Emil Andrae, Sweden
F Elliot Desnoyers, Canada
D Brian Zanetti, Switzerland*
Pittsburgh Penguins (3):
G Joel Blomqvist, Finland
G Calle Clang, Sweden
F Kirill Tankov, Russia
St. Louis Blues (3):
F Tanner Dickinson, USA
D Leo Loof, Sweden
F Jake Neighbors, Canada
San Jose Sharks (1):
F William Eklund, Sweden
Seattle Kraken (2):
F Matthew Beniers, USA
D Ville Ottavainen, Finland
Tampa Bay Lightning (0)
Toronto Maple Leafs (3):
F Roni Hirvonen, Finland
F Matthew Knies, USA
D Topi Niemala, Finland
Vancouver Canucks (1):
F Dmitry Zlodeyev, Russia
Vegas Golden Knights (4):
F Jakub Brabenec, Czechia
D Lukas Cormier, Canada
F Jakub Demek, Slovakia
G Jesper Vikman, Sweden
Washington Capitals (1):
F Oskar Magnusson, Sweden
Winnipeg Jets (4):
F Nikita Chibrikov, Russia
F Chaz Lucius, USA
F Cole Perfetti, Canada
F Daniel Torgersson, Sweden
*Switzerland roster pending finalization on Sunday; team has been in COVID-19 quarantine since Thursday but will be ready to begin tournament and participate as schedule, the Swiss announced.
Hockey Canada Announces 2022 World Junior Championship Roster
As always, Hockey Canada’s selection camp for the World Junior Championship was a who’s who of top prospects. The group vying for a spot on the 2022 entry was immensely deep and talented, so much so that some truly talented names didn’t even make the camp roster. Of course, this means that some very difficult cuts had to be made as well. With camp wrapping up early Sunday afternoon, Hockey Canada has announced the expected roster for the 2022 WJC:
G Brett Brochu (2022 draft eligible)
G Sebastian Cossa (DET)
G Dylan Garand (NYR)
D Lukas Cormier (VGK)
D Kaiden Guhle (MTL)
D Carson Lambos (MIN)
D Ryan O’Rourke (MIN)
D Owen Power (BUF)
D Donovan Sebrango (DET)
D Ronan Seeley (CAR)
D Olen Zellweger (ANA)
F Connor Bedard (2023 draft eligible)
F Xavier Bourgault (EDM)
F Mavrik Bourque (DAL)
F Will Cuylle (NYR)
F Elliot Desnoyers (PHI)
F Ridly Greig (OTT)
F Dylan Guenther (ARI)
F Kent Johnson (CBJ)
F Mason McTavish (ANA)
F Jake Neighbours (STL)
F Cole Perfetti (WPG)
F Justin Sourdif (FLA)
F Logan Stankoven (DAL)
F Shane Wright (2022 draft eligible)
The camp invitees that did not make the roster include forwards Zach Dean (VGK), William Dufour (NYI), Luke Evangelista (NSH), Jack Finley (TBL), Hendrix Lapierre (WSH), Joshua Roy (MTL), and Ryan Tverberg (TOR) and defensemen Daemon Hunt (MIN) and Vincent Iorio (WSH).
Of note, while many elite drafted prospects will grace the Canadian roster, it’s two undrafted names that will draw substantial spotlight. Wright and Bedard are the presumptive top picks in each of the next two NHL Drafts and will get their shot to further cement that status on the biggest international stage for U20 players.
The 2022 World Junior Championship will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta this year. The tournament begins on December 26 and culminates with the gold medal game on January 5.
Hockey Canada Announces 2022 WJC Selection Camp Roster
The 2022 World Junior Championship is right around the corner, set to kick off on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. For Hockey Canada, selection camp will start in just a few days in Calgary, where the final roster will need to be picked. Today 35 players were invited to that camp, a group that will be pared down to 25 that will travel to the tournament.
The invitees, with their NHL affiliation:
G Brett Brochu (2022 draft eligible)
G Sebastian Cossa (DET)
G Dylan Garand (NYR)
D Lukas Cormier (VGK)
D Kaiden Guhle (MTL)
D Daemon Hunt (MIN)
D Vincent Iorio (WSH)
D Carson Lambos (MIN)
D Ryan O’Rourke (MIN)
D Owen Power (BUF)
D Donovan Sebrango (DET)
D Ronan Seeley (CAR)
D Jack Thompson (TBL)
D Olen Zellweger (ANA)
F Connor Bedard (2023 draft eligible)
F Xavier Bourgault (EDM)
F Mavrik Bourque (DAL)
F Will Cuylle (NYR)
F Zach Dean (VGK)
F Elliot Desnoyers (PHI)
F William Dufour (NYI)
F Luke Evangelista (NSH)
F Jack Finley (TBL)
F Ridly Greig (OTT)
F Dylan Guenther (ARI)
F Kent Johnson (CBJ)
F Hendrix Lapierre (WSH)
F Mason McTavish (ANA)
F Jake Neighbours (STL)
F Cole Perfetti (WPG)
F Joshua Roy (MTL)
F Justin Sourdif (FLA)
F Logan Stankoven (DAL)
F Ryan Tverberg (TOR)
F Shane Wright (2022 draft eligible)
This does look like quite an imposing group, though there are several notable omissions. In addition to Brandt Clarke, who hit the news yesterday, Hockey Canada decided not to bring names like Carter Savoie, Matthew Savoie, and Brennan Othmann, among others. The group does include Bedard, though, who won’t even be eligible for the draft until 2023. The 16-year-old has 11 goals and 17 points in 28 games for the Regina Pats of the WHL after becoming the league’s first player granted exceptional status.
College Hockey Round-Up: 11/16/21
College hockey in the NCAA has been growing rapidly in recent years into one of the top developmental pathways for NHL talent in the world. Yet, it is still limited by the NCAA’s amateurism rules, which in most cases do not allow any individuals with “professional” experience in their sport to participate in college athletics. In hockey, this prohibits anyone who has played in a Canadian major junior league or European pro league from taking their talents to the NCAA.
However, change could be on the horizon. The NCAA held a Constitutional Convention on Monday, during which they unveiled a working draft of a new, decentralized and deregulated set of rules for the NCAA that will put the power of structure and governance into the hands of each of the three divisions. That will mean little at first, but will almost certainly lead to sweeping changes down the line at the Division I level as they reconsider how they want to be run once separate from Division II and III, which are materially different. Could amateurism rules be one of the major alterations? It sure seems likely. The NCAA has already embraced publicity rights or “NIL” for student-athletes and the rewritten constitution stresses the importance of student-athlete welfare. Division I is also the most financially-driven segment of the NCAA and will have to address a number of fiscal decisions. Is limiting hockey athletes from Division I hockey because they received a stipend in Canada or a few game checks in Europe the best for the athletes? The game? The revenue stream? Probably not on all counts. For now, the 2021-22 season moves along unaffected, but the structure of college hockey could look much different in the not-too-distant future.
Recent Results
While many are already tired of the narrative, it continues to hold true. No. 1 Michigan is the class of the NCAA this season and heavy favorite to win the title. The rest of the top five are certainly not slouches, but they simply pale in comparison to the star-studded Wolverines, who swept rival Michigan State as well as Penn State in recent weeks. They share the best points percentage with only No. 5 Quinnipiac and have the nation’s top offense. Until further notice, no one is passing Michigan up as the top team in the NCAA.
No. 2 St. Cloud State, No. 3 Minnesota State, and No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth are certainly not slouches. The Huskies are a reigning finalist with the best scoring margin and second-best defense in the country. The Mavericks are a top-five offense, uncharacteristic for a typically conservative team, and share the top scoring margin claim with St. Cloud. Duluth has won two and appeared in three of the past four championships and just narrowly missed another appearance last year. Yet, all three programs picked up unexpected losses in recent weeks – the Mavericks’ loss to Ferris State chief among them – which has kept them in Michigan’s shadow.
It is actually No. 5 Quinnipiac that might be the most impressive team behind Michigan of late. The Bobcats top record was boosted by a 4-0 run over the past two weekends of action, while their top-ranked defense remained stout. The top five in the country is new territory for Quinnipiac, but the ECAC program may just be getting started. With a good strength of schedule to go with a leading record, a couple more statement wins could leapfrog the team into the No. 1 conversation (or at least No. 2).
No. 6 North Dakota is also on a run following a surprising loss to Penn State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game back on October 30. The Fighting Hawks bounced back with sweeps of No. 11 Denver and Miami, establishing themselves as a real threat for the title. No. 14 Notre Dame also went undefeated in its four games over the past two weeks and holds the nation’s top penalty kill. The Fighting Irish just need to beat some fellow top dogs if they want to move up.
Two teams shooting up the rankings are No. 15 UMass Lowell and No. 17 Ohio State. Both teams are taking advantage of some top teams in turmoil in their respective conferences to make a name for themselves. The Riverhawks are undefeated in their past four games, all against Hockey East competition, sweeping Boston University and adding wins against No. 18 Northeastern and No. 19 Boston College. They hold a top-five record in college hockey right now. Ohio State meanwhile has been menacing defensively with a top-five mark, helping to sweep Penn State and split with No. 7 Minnesota. Suddenly the Buckeyes are the third-highest ranked team in the Big Ten and have already shown that they can skate with the Gophers just ahead of them.
Early Hobey Favorites
It’s never too early for MVP talk and even just six weeks into the season there are already some names making cases for the Hobey Baker Award. Denver’s Carter Savoie (EDM) remains out in front with a league-leading 1.7 points per game that fuels the Pioneers’ third-ranked offense. However, there are others closing the gap in the scoring race. Taylor Ward of No. 9 Omaha is quickly becoming a top name to watch on the college free agent market. The senior forward leads the country in goals and is tied with only top-five NHL Draft selection Kent Johnson (CLB) of Michigan in points per game, behind Savoie. Fellow undrafted prospects Drew Worrad of Western Michigan and Matthew Kopperud of Arizona State are also in the scoring race, followed closely by none other than reigning No. 1 overall pick Owen Power.
Power and Johnson and not alone as Wolverines excelling statistically. Matthew Beniers (SEA) is tied for third in goal scoring. Luke Hughes (NJD) is third in scoring among defensemen, while leading the NCAA in plus/minus at +16. His defense partner, Jacob Truscott (VAN), is in second at +14. The problem of course is that the top-ranked team in the country is so stacked that it will be difficult for any one player to make a case for the Hobey Baker. A standout on a top team where NHL talent is more sparse will have a better shot, such as Savoie or Ward or Jake Sanderson (OTT) of North Dakota, who trails only Power in defensive scoring.
In net, there are several goaltenders off to strong starts, but perhaps not quite in the Hobey Baker conversation just yet. Devon Levi (BUF) is on his way though, leading the pack with a .943 save percentage and a second-place goals against average of 1.57. St. Cloud’s David Hrenak (LAK) leads that category with a 1.50 GAA to go along with a .939 SV% that comes in behind only Levi. Perhaps the two most valuable goaltenders thus far though are not even drafted prospects. Matt Murray is back in the starter’s net for UMass and keeping the Minutemen in games with his third-ranked .927 SV% and top-ten GAA. Longtime standout Dryden McKay of Minnesota State unsurprisingly holds a top-five GAA and top-ten SV% as well. Both could draw interest from NHL clubs later this spring, a nice consolation if they aren’t Hobey Baker finalists.
Trouble Brewing In Beantown
The hotbed of college hockey has grown cold with two historic programs struggling immensely this season. Sure, No. 16 Harvard and No. 18 Northeastern wish they were ranked higher, but it is No. 19 Boston College and unranked Boston University who are of real concern. Perennial favorites loaded with NHL talent, both the Eagles and Terriers are falling well short of expectations.
BC is 6-5-1 to begin the year and only their preseason rank and their (barely) winning record is keeping them ranked. The Eagles have dropped games to lowly programs like Bentley, Colorado College, and Merrimack while picking up half of their wins against the likes of Holy Cross, Vermont, and Merrimack again. Boston College has ten NHL draft picks on the roster, which ranks sixth in college hockey. It’s actually slightly low for the team and doesn’t include any first rounders, but even in an off year the Eagles should be outperforming their current record, especially considering the light schedule. Of the two, BC is more likely to turn their season around, but showed few signs of life in their last game, a convincing loss to UMass Lowell.
BU is in far worse shape. The Terriers have struggled to find sustained success for several years now, but this is a new low. The team is 4-7-1 and has long since left the national rankings. In fact, they received only three voting points in the latest poll. Boston University was swept by Northern Michigan and split series with Merrimack and Sacred Heart, which account for two of their three regulation wins on the year. With 14 NHL prospects in the program, the Terriers trail only Minnesota for the most in the NCAA. Unlike BC, the group includes two first-round picks, as well as four second-round picks, and an average draft position in the late third round. If all of those players have the seal of approval of pro clubs, it isn’t a recruiting problem for BU. Head coach Albie O’Connell‘s seat was already hot entering this season; it’s on fire now. Recently hired assistant Jay Pandolfo, who left the Boston Bruins for his alma mater, could be getting the call soon.
With the growth of the college game, it is refreshing to see some other programs with top rankings and national headlines so far this season, but there will always be a draw for historic programs like BC and BU. For the good of NCAA hockey, hopefully the two Boston powerhouses and their talented rosters figure it out soon.
Atlantic Notes: Ryan, Watson, Power, Lazar
Decisions have been made on many of the players who were attending NHL training camps on tryouts but one call that hasn’t been made yet is Red Wings winger Bobby Ryan. The veteran was in Detroit last season but settled for a PTO deal at the beginning of training camp. MLive’s Ansar Khan suggests that Ryan has done well enough to earn a spot and could slot into their top six following the long-term injury to Jakub Vrana. While he’s not an ideal fit in that role at this stage of his career, the 34-year-old managed seven goals in 33 games last season and could still contribute a little bit in a middle-six role.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division:
- Senators winger Austin Watson suffered an ankle injury in Thursday’s game against Montreal and there is no timetable for his return, reports Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. Entering his second season in Ottawa, the 29-year-old was likely to start the season in an energy role once again after recording 100 hits in 34 games last season but that appears to be in question now.
- Postmedia’s Michael Traikos spoke with Sabres top draft pick Owen Power regarding his decision to return to college over signing and debuting with Buffalo this season. Power indicated that he’s “in no rush to get to the NHL” and feels that some young players would be better off being more patient and take an extra year before turning pro. The defenseman will be on a loaded Michigan team this season and could very well wind up seeing some action with the Sabres this season once his college campaign gets to an end.
- Bruins center Curtis Lazar is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, relays Matt Porter of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). The 26-year-old crashed into the net in Wednesday’s preseason contest against Washington. While viewed as an afterthought in the Taylor Hall trade last year, Lazar carved out a regular role on Boston’s fourth line, logging nearly 13 minutes a game with Boston following the swap.
Adam Fantilli Commits To The University of Michigan
The Wolverines have done it again. The same school that saw four members of their 2021-22 roster selected in the top five of the 2021 NHL Draft has just secured another probable top-five pick. Forward Adam Fantilli of the USHL’s Chicago Steel has committed to the University of Michigan, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger. Fantilli is considered a candidate to go first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Fantilli, 16, will spend one more season with Chicago and then it is off to Ann Arbor to join the Wolverines for the 2022-23 season. Fantilli, who already helped the Steel to a Clark Cup championship this past season and took home postseason MVP honors himself, would probably be ready for the NCAA ranks already were it not for his age and academic status. Fantilli will have to try to improve in the USHL this season after already posting 36 points in 49 games last year, followed by a stunning eight goals in eight playoff games. NHL teams are already convinced of his high-end ability and impressed by his growing 6’2″ frame, but now will see if he can remain consistent and driven in the USHL and then still have another season to see how he adjusts to the college game. If the rangy center can continue to score and flash immense skill while bulking up, he could be the can’t-miss prospect at the top of the 2023 draft class.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Fantilli will get a chance to play with many of Michigan’s current star players. Owen Power (BUF, No. 1 overall in 2021), Matthew Beniers (SEA, No. 2 overall in 2021), Kent Johnson (CLB, No. 5 overall in 2021) and Johnny Beecher (BOS, No. 30 overall in 2019) are almost certain to turn pro after this season, while Luke Hughes (NJD, No. 4 overall in 2021), Brendan Brisson (VGK, No. 29 overall in 2020), and Thomas Bordeleau (SJS, No. 38 overall in 2020) could follow. However, it is a safe bet that Mackie Samoskevich (FLA, No. 24 overall in 2021), Erik Portillo (BUF, No. 67 overall in 2019), and Dylan Duke (TBL, No. 126 overall in 2020) will stick around for Fantilli’s freshman year, where he will be joined by other notable prospects like Jackson Hallum (VGK, No. 91 overall in 2020), Frank Nazar, and brother Luca Fantilli in the recruiting class. This should keep the Wolverines’ National Championship window open for at least a couple years longer as they have quickly turned into the premier program in college hockey.
Snapshots: Power, Belanger, Lipon
When the Buffalo Sabres secured the first-overall pick in this year’s draft, they had a decision to make. Usually, the top pick in a draft steps directly into the NHL and is given a full-time role on his team. This year, things were different with Owen Power, the consensus top prospect. The big defenseman had already hinted publicly that he was leaning toward a return to the University of Michigan, meaning he wouldn’t be able to help the Sabres during the early part of the season. As revealed today in a behind the scenes video from their pre-draft interview, Power didn’t just hint, he made it quite clear that he wanted to go back to school.
The Sabres, even then, were on board with the idea. GM Kevyn Adams told Power that he loved what he had said about returning to school to chase a national championship and dominate the college scene with no rush to get to the NHL. Michigan should be a powerhouse this season with not only Power returning, but also second-overall pick Matty Beniers and fifth-overall Kent Johnson also returning to the program. Add in fourth-overall Luke Hughes, who will be a freshman with the Wolverines, and it’s easy to see why Power would want to take at least one last crack at an NCAA title before turning pro.
- The Montreal Canadiens have appointed France Margaret Belanger to the position of President, Sports and Entertainment of Groupe CH. Belanger has been with the organization since 2013 and already served as an alternate governor of the club. As Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports tweets, Geoff Molson remains the team’s owner and president, but it is Belanger who will be in charge of the day to day operations now. She is the first woman to serve on the Canadiens’ executive in its 104-year history, according to a press release.
- J.C. Lipon went to the KHL last season and it appears as though he’s going to stay for another year. The former NHL forward has signed a one-year deal with Sochi for the 2021-22 season, after scoring 20 points in 37 games for Dinamo Riga this year. Originally selected 91st overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2013, Lipon played nine games 2015-16 but has mostly been in the minor leagues. In 2019-20 he scored 13 goals and 31 points with the Manitoba Moose, racking up 100 penalty minutes (his sixth AHL season with at least that many).
Owen Power Returning To Michigan For 2021-22
Friday: The Wolverines have now confirmed that not only Power, but also Beniers and Johnson will return to Ann Arbor this season. The trio of top-ten picks had all hinted at their desire to return to Michigan, where they will be surrounded by numerous other NHL prospects, to take another shot at an NCAA Championship. There is no doubt that this official announcement makes the team the heavy favorites to win it all in 2021-22.
Thursday: The first-overall pick in this year’s draft will not sign with the Buffalo Sabres just yet. Owen Power has made his decision and will return to the University of Michigan for the 2021-22 season, according to Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News. This does not mean that Power is refusing to sign with the Sabres or that the team is at any risk of losing his draft rights. Instead, it is just a player that missed out on the full college hockey experience in a COVID-restricted 2020-21, and will return to school to take a shot at a national championship with a loaded Wolverines squad.
There’s no rush for Power to make his NHL debut, especially since the Sabres are going through another rebuild at the moment. Sam Reinhart, Linus Ullmark and Rasmus Ristolainen have all found new homes, while Jack Eichel‘s future with the team is still uncertain. If Power signed right away, the first season of his three-year entry-level deal would be burned on a team that has little hope of making the playoffs–and in truth is hoping for another high pick in the 2022 draft. It’s actually probably better for the Sabres that he’s going back to school, as long as Power doesn’t suffer a career-altering injury or something else that will affect his long-term outlook.
The 6’6″ defenseman was a monster for Michigan as a freshman, scoring 16 points in 26 games and getting better every time he touched the ice. He showed that aptitude for growth again at the IIHF World Championship when playing for Team Canada, starting the tournament as an extra defenseman and finishing it on the top pairing. There’s very little Power can’t do on a hockey rink, as he floats around the ice using long, efficient strides to close off gaps or jump into the rush. While he may not have the offensive upside of players like Cale Makar or even maybe future teammate Rasmus Dahlin, he should be a lock to play big minutes in the NHL when he finally arrives.
With three of the top five picks this year already playing for Michigan, and a fourth in Luke Hughes set to join them, the Wolverines will be one of the most dynamic programs to watch in all of college hockey. Power, Hughes, Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson—should they all decide to return instead of signing in the NHL—form the backbone of a deep lineup that could probably rival some professional teams. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that they go all the way to a title as there are other great programs as well, but there’s little doubt that Power will be playing more meaningful hockey (at least in terms of title contention) by going back to Michigan this season.
It doesn’t mean he won’t see some time in a Sabres uniform though. Depending on how their season goes, the Wolverines could be finished in time for those top names to sign an NHL deal and get playing time down the stretch. Even if that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to see Power returning for 2022-23 (though obviously not impossible), when a full-time NHL role will be waiting for him.
2021 NHL Draft Selections By Team
Today concluded the 2021 NHL Draft, the first edition with 32 teams in the running. Some teams selected just three times (sorry, Toronto), while Don Waddell and the Carolina Hurricanes selected an NHL-record 13 times for a seven-round draft. After all the chaos of last night and today, catch up here on who your team selected and when.
Anaheim Ducks
Round 1, Pick 3: F Mason McTavish
Round 2, Pick 34: D Olen Zellweger
Round 3, Pick 66: F Sasha Pastujov
Round 3, Pick 76 (from CHI via MTL): D Tyson Hinds
Round 4, Pick 98: F Josh Lopina
Round 5, Pick 130: F Sean Tschigerl
Round 5, Pick 148 (from EDM via OTT): G Gage Alexander
Round 6, Pick 162: F Kyle Kukkonen
Arizona Coyotes
Round 1, Pick 9 (from VAN): F Dylan Guenther
Round 2, Pick 37 (from CBJ via OTT): F Josh Doan
Round 2, Pick 43: F Ilya Fedotov
Round 2, Pick 60 (from COL via NYI): D Janis Jerome Moser
Round 4, Pick 107: D Emil Martinsen Lilleberg
Round 4, Pick 122 (from PIT): G Rasmus Korhonen
Round 5, Pick 139: F Manix Landry
Round 6, Pick 171: D Cal Thomas
Round 7, Pick 223 (from MTL via CHI): F Sam Lipkin
Boston Bruins
Round 1, Pick 21: F Fabian Lysell
Round 3, Pick 85: F Brett Harrison
Round 4, Pick 117: G Philip Svedeback
Round 5, Pick 149: F Oskar Jellvik
Round 6, Pick 181: D Ryan Mast
Round 7, Pick 213: F Andre Gasseau
Round 7, Pick 217 (from TOR): D Ty Gallagher
Buffalo Sabres
Round 1, Pick 1: D Owen Power
Round 1, Pick 14 (from PHI): F Isak Rosen
Round 2, Pick 33: F Prokhor Poltapov
Round 2, Pick 53 (from BOS): F Alexander Kisakov
Round 3, Pick 88 (from FLA): F Stiven Sardarian
Round 3, Pick 95 (from MTL): F Josh Bloom
Round 4, Pick 97: F Olivier Nadeau
Round 5, Pick 159 (from MTL): F Viljami Marjala
Round 6, Pick 161: F William von Barnekow Lofberg
Round 6, Pick 188 (from COL): D Nikita Novikov
Round 7, Pick 193: F Tyson Kozak
Calgary Flames
Round 1, Pick 13: F Matthew Coronato
Round 2, Pick 45: F William Stromgren
Round 3, Pick 77: F Cole Huckins
Round 4, Pick 89 (from TOR via LAK): D Cameron Whynot
Round 5, Pick 141: D Cole Jordan
Round 6, Pick 168 (from LAK): F Jack Beck
Round 6, Pick 173: F Lucas Ciona
Round 7, Pick 205: G Arsenii Sergeev
Carolina Hurricanes
Round 2, Pick 40 (from LAK via NSH): D Scott Morrow
Round 2, Pick 44 (from CHI via CBJ): D Aleksi Heimosalmi
Round 2, Pick 51 (from NSH): F Ville Koivunen
Round 3, Pick 83 (from NSH): G Patrik Hamrla
Round 3, Pick 94 (from VGK via DET): D Aidan Hreschuk
Round 4, Pick 109 (from CGY via LAK): F Jackson Blake
Round 5, Pick 136 (from LAK via OTT): F Robert Orr
Round 5, Pick 147 (from NSH): F Justin Robidas
Round 6, Pick 170 (from OTT): D Bryce Montgomery
Round 6, Pick 187: G Nikita Quapp
Round 7, Pick 200 (from LAK): G Yegor Naumov
Round 7, Pick 209 (from STL): C Nikita Guslistov
Round 7, Pick 219: D Joel Nystrom
Chicago Blackhawks
Round 1, Pick 32 (from TBL via CBJ): D Nolan Allan
Round 2, Pick 62 (from VGK): F Colton Dach
Round 3, Pick 91 (from CAR): D Taige Harding
Round 4, Pick 105 (from VAN): D Ethan Del Mastro
Round 4, Pick 108: F Victor Stjernborg
Round 6, Pick 172: F Ilya Safonov
Round 7, Pick 204: D Connor Kelley
Round 7, Pick 216 (from FLA): F Jalen Luypen
Colorado Avalanche
Round 1, Pick 28: F Oskar Olausson
Round 2, Pick 61 (from NYI via NJD): D Sean Behrens
Round 3, Pick 92: F Andrei Buyalsky
Round 7, Pick 220: F Taylor Makar
Columbus Blue Jackets
Round 1, Pick 5: F Kent Johnson
Round 1, Pick 12 (from CHI): F Cole Sillinger
Round 1, Pick 25 (from TOR): D Corson Ceulemans
Round 3, Pick 69: D Stanislav Svozil
Round 4, Pick 101: D Guillaume Richard
Round 5, Pick 132 (from NJD): D Nikolai Makarov
Round 5, Pick 133: F James Malatesta
Round 6, Pick 165: F Ben Boyd
Round 7, Pick 197: F Martin Rysavy
Dallas Stars
Round 1, Pick 23 (from WSH via DET): F Wyatt Johnston
Round 2, Pick 47: F Logan Stankoven
Round 2, Pick 48 (from NYR via DET): D Artem Grushnikov
Round 3, Pick 73 (from VAN): F Ayrton Martino
Round 3, Pick 79: F Justin Ertel
Round 4, Pick 111: F Conner Roulette
Round 5, Pick 138 (from OTT via MTL, DET): D Jack Bar
Round 5, Pick 143: D Jacob Holmes
Round 6, Pick 175: F Francesco Arcuri
Round 7, Pick 207: F Albert Sjoberg
Detroit Red Wings
Round 1, Pick 6: D Simon Edvinsson
Round 1, Pick 15 (from DAL): G Sebastian Cossa
Round 2, Pick 36 (from NJD via VGK): D Shai Buium
Round 3, Pick 70: F Carter Mazur
Round 4, Pick 114 (from WPG via VGK): F Redmond Savage
Round 5, Pick 134: F Liam Dower Nilsson
Round 5, Pick 155 (from CAR via VGK): D Oscar Plandowski
Round 6, Pick 166: F Pasquale Zito
Edmonton Oilers
Round 1, Pick 22 (from MIN): F Xavier Bourgault
Round 3, Pick 90 (from PIT via SJS, MIN): D Luca Munzenberger
Round 4, Pick 116: F Jake Chiasson
Round 6, Pick 180: F Matvei Petrov
Round 6, Pick 186 (from PIT): F Shane Lachance
Round 7, Pick 212: D Maximus Wanner
Florida Panthers
Round 1, Pick 24: F Mackie Samoskevich
Round 2, Pick 56: D Evan Nause
Round 4, Pick 120: D Vladislav Lukashevich
Round 5, Pick 152: G Kirill Gerasimyuk
Round 6, Pick 184: F Jakub Kos
Round 7, Pick 210 (from WPG): D Braden Hache
Los Angeles Kings
Round 1, Pick 8: D Brandt Clarke
Round 2, Pick 42 (from OTT): F Francesco Pinelli
Round 2, Pick 59 (from CAR): F Samuel Helenius
Round 3, Pick 84 (from EDM via CGY): D Kirill Kirsanov
Minnesota Wild
Round 1, Pick 20 (from EDM): G Jesper Wallstedt
Round 1, Pick 26 (from PIT): D Carson Lambos
Round 2, Pick 54: D Jack Peart
Round 3, Pick 86: F Caedan Bankier
Round 4, Pick 118: D Kyle Masters
Round 4, Pick 127 (from MTL): F Josh Pillar
Round 6, Pick 182: D Nate Benoit
Montreal Canadiens
Round 1, Pick 31: D Logan Mailloux
Round 2, Pick 63: F Riley Kidney
Round 2, Pick 64 (from TBL): F Oliver Kapanen
Round 3, Pick 87 (from WSH via SJS): D Dmitri Kostenko
Round 4, Pick 113 (from STL): D William Trudeau
Round 5, Pick 142 (from PHI): D Daniil Sobolev
Round 5, Pick 150 (from MIN): F Joshua Roy
Round 6, Pick 191: F Xavier Simoneau
Round 7, Pick 214 (from MIN): G Joe Vrbetic
Nashville Predators
Round 1, Pick 19: F Fedor Svechkov
Round 1, Pick 27 (from CAR): F Zachary L’Heureux
Round 3, Pick 72 (from LAK via CAR): D Anton Olsson
Round 4, Pick 115: D Ryan Ufko
Round 4, Pick 124 (from COL via OTT): D Jack Matier
Round 6, Pick 179: F Simon Knak
New Jersey Devils
Round 1, Pick 4: D Luke Hughes
Round 1, Pick 29 (from NYI): F Chase Stillman
Round 3, Pick 68: F Samu Salminen
Round 4, Pick 100: G Jakub Malek
Round 5, Pick 129 (from BUF): D Topias Vilen
Round 6, Pick 164: D Viktor Hurtig
Round 7, Pick 203 (from ARI): F Zakhar Bardakov
New York Islanders
Round 2, Pick 52 (from EDM via DET): F Aatu Raty
Round 3, Pick 93: G Tristan Lennox
Round 4, Pick 125: F Cameron Berg
Round 5, Pick 157: F Eetu Liukas
Round 6, Pick 189: D Aleksi Malinen
Round 7, Pick 221: D Tomas Machu
New York Rangers
Round 1, Pick 16: F Brennan Othmann
Round 3, Pick 65 (from BUF): F Jayden Grubbe
Round 3, Pick 75 (from ARI via NJD, WSH): F Ryder Korczak
Round 4, Pick 104 (from LAK): F Brody Lamb
Round 4, Pick 106 (from OTT): F Kalle Vaisanen
Round 4, Pick 112: G Talyn Boyko
Round 5, Pick 144: F Jaroslav Chmelar
Round 7, Pick 208: D Hank Kempf
Ottawa Senators
Round 1, Pick 10: F Tyler Boucher
Round 2, Pick 39 (from SJS): F Zach Ostapchuk
Round 2, Pick 49 (from STL via BUF, VGK, LAK): D Ben Roger
Round 3, Pick 74: F Oliver Johansson
Round 4, Pick 123 (from CAR): F Carson Latimer
Round 7, Pick 202: D Chandler Romeo
Philadelphia Flyers
Round 2, Pick 46: F Samu Tuomaala
Round 3, Pick 78: G Aleksei Kolosov
Round 4, Pick 110: D Brian Zanetti
Round 5, Pick 158 (from VGK via WSH): D Ty Murchison
Round 6, Pick 174: D Ethan Samson
Round 7, Pick 206: F Owen McLaughlin
Pittsburgh Penguins
Round 2, Pick 58: F Tristan Broz
Round 5, Pick 154: D Isaac Belliveau
Round 7, Pick 194 (from ANA): D Ryan McCleary
Round 7, Pick 215 (from WSH): D Daniel Laatsch
Round 7, Pick 218: F Kirill Tankov
San Jose Sharks
Round 1, Pick 7: F William Eklund
Round 3, Pick 81 (from STL): G Benjamin Gaudreau
Round 4, Pick 103: D Gannon Laroque
Round 4, Pick 121 (from TOR): F Ethan Cardwell
Round 5, Pick 135: D Artem Guryev
Round 5, Pick 156 (from COL): F Max McCue
Round 6, Pick 167: F Liam Gilmartin
Round 6, Pick 177 (from STL): F Theo Jacobsson
Round 7, Pick 199: F/D Evgenii Kashnikov
Seattle Kraken
Round 1, Pick 2: F Matthew Beniers
Round 2, Pick 35: D Ryker Evans
Round 3, Pick 67: F Ryan Winterton
Round 4, Pick 99: D Ville Ottavainen
Round 5, Pick 131: F Jacob Melanson
Round 6, Pick 163: G Semyon Vyazovoi
Round 7, Pick 195: F Justin Janicke
St. Louis Blues
Round 1, Pick 17: F Zachary Bolduc
Round 3, Pick 71 (from SJS): F Simon Robertsson
Round 5, Pick 145: D Tyson Galloway
Round 7, Pick 198 (from DET): F Ivan Vorobyov
Tampa Bay Lightning
Round 3, Pick 96: D Roman Schmidt
Round 4, Pick 126 (from VGK via MTL): F Dylan Duke
Round 5, Pick 160: F Cameron MacDonald
Round 6, Pick 192: D Alex Gagne
Round 7, Pick 196 (from NJD): D Daniil Pylenkov
Round 7, Pick 211 (from NSH): F Robert Flinton
Round 7, Pick 224: F Niko Huuhtanen
Toronto Maple Leafs
Round 2, Pick 57: F Matthew Knies
Round 5, Pick 153: F Ty Voit
Round 6, Pick 185: G Vyacheslav Peksa
Vancouver Canucks
Round 2, Pick 41: F Danila Klimovich
Round 5, Pick 137: G Aku Koskenvuo
Round 5, Pick 140 (from CHI): D Jonathan Myrenberg
Round 6, Pick 169: D Hugo Gabrielsson
Round 6, Pick 178 (from WPG): F Connor Lockhart
Round 7, Pick 201: F Lucas Forsell
Vegas Golden Knights
Round 1, Pick 30: F Zach Dean
Round 2, Pick 38 (from DET): D Daniil Chayka
Round 4, Pick 102 (from DET): F Jakub Brabenec
Round 4, Pick 128 (from TBL via DET): F Jakub Demek
Round 6, Pick 190: D Artur Cholach
Round 7, Pick 222: G Carl Lindbom
Washington Capitals
Round 2, Pick 55: D Vincent Iorio
Round 3, Pick 80 (from NYR): D Brent Johnson
Round 4, Pick 119: D Joaquim Lemay
Round 5, Pick 151: F Haakon Hanelt
Round 6, Pick 176 (from NYR): D Dru Krebs
Round 6, Pick 183: G Chase Clark
Winnipeg Jets
Round 1, Pick 18: F Chaz Lucius
Round 2, Pick 50: F Nikita Chibrikov
Round 3, Pick 82: D Dmitri Kuzmin
Round 5, Pick 146: F Dmitri Rashevsky