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Prospect Notes: Lafreniere, Gildon, Whelan, Richter Award

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The announcement this afternoon that the NHL would be postponing the 2020 NHL Draft means that top prospect Alexis Lafreniere will have to wait a while longer to presumably be selected first overall. Yet, with his QMJHL season already canceled, the young forward has little else to focus on. The same can be said for a number of NHL teams who already know that they won’t be making the postseason regardless of the format the league chooses if and when they return to action. No team has more to gain from the coming draft than the Ottawa Senators. If the NHL Draft Lottery were to be held without any further changes to the regular season standings, the Detroit Red Wings would have the best singular odds of winning, 18.5%, but the Senators in both second and third, given their ownership of the San Jose Sharks’ pick, would actually have much better odds at a combined 25%. Naturally, the question was asked by TSN today of the Quebec native Lafreniere how he would feel about playing in Canada’s capital. “It would be fun. It would be special,” Lafreniere said, “It’s a great place to play and it would be an honor [to be selected.]” While the Senators have not exactly been a top free agent destination in recent years, the club is building up quite a talented group of prospects and Lafreniere would be a great fit to lead the team into the future, especially alongside whoever else the team selects early in the first round.

  • One existing NHL prospect who may soon be joining his pro home is Florida Panthers pick Max Gildon. Gildon, who just wrapped up his junior season at the University of New Hampshire, is close to signing an entry-level deal reports New England hockey insider Mark Divver. Divver expects the two sides to come to terms on a deal within a week. Gildon was a 2017 third-round pick out of the U.S. National Team Development Program, but has outplayed his draft slot over three productive years on the UNH blue line. He also pairs a big frame, physical play, and ability to play in all situations with his considerable skill and vision. Joining a Florida team with a pretty thin pipeline of defensive talent, Gildon could be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
  • Quinnipiac University forward Alex Whelan has found his first pro destination, as the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack announced a contract with the nearby product or the 2020-21 season. Whelan, who just finished his fourth and final year with Quinnipiac, was nothing if not consistent in his NCAA career. However, his 24 points this season came in just 29 games as opposed to 25 in 38 last year. On a per-game basis, he was the Bobcats’ second-best scorer on a team that was within reach of an NCAA Tournament berth. A power forward who looks prepared for the pro game, Whelan is a nice pickup for Hartford and will likely bring some Quinnipiac fans along with him.
  • The NCAA announced the ten semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award for top goaltender on Tuesday, with several NHL prospects on the list. Maine’s Jeremy Swayman, who recently signed his entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins, heads up a list that also includes 2019 top goalie draft pick Spencer Knight of Boston College and the Florida Panthers, as well as UMass Lowell’s Tyler Wall, whose rights are owned by the New York Rangers but could be headed for unrestricted free agency. However, the favorite for the award is likely an undrafted product, Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay, who led the nation in wins, save percentage, and GAA. McKay and Swayman are the only Richter semifinalists who are also Hobey Baker finalists. Other standouts include Cornell’s Matthew Galajda, Michigan’s Strauss Mann, and Bemidji State’s Zach Driscoll. The three finalists will be announced at a later date.

Snapshots: 2020-21 Season, Trade Conditions, 2020 Draft

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While hockey minds are hard at work trying to come up with a plan to fairly complete the 2019-20 NHL regular season and playoffs, if and when the league returns to action, those strategies cannot interfere with a full 2020-21 season. TSN’s Pierre Lebrun relays word from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly that the league sees an 82-game season next year as imperative and will not entertain any options that call for a shortened 2020-21 season due to the interference with the 2019-20 campaign. With that said, LeBrun adds that the league will be flexible when it comes to start and end dates and schedule density next year, so long as each team plays 82 games. This could allow for the NHL to adopt an idea that has become popular amongst players during the break: a brief training camp and resumption of regular season play in July, an August and September postseason, an October off-season, and a return to action for a condensed 2020-21 season at some point in November. LeBrun notes that a cancellation of bye weeks and All-Star events next year could help to make a plan like this become reality. The NHL will look at all of their options, assuming there is a possibility that the current season can resume, to make next season run as normally as possible with 82 games being the critical criteria.

  • Should the NHL not be able to complete the 2019-20 season as scheduled, TSN’s Frank Seravalli states that one of biggest things that the NHL will need to clarify is a policy on trade and contract conditions. Those conditions are made with the implication of an 82-game schedule, as well as a full postseason. If those things become an impossibility, is there a fair way to determine whether conditions were met or not? Seravalli uses last summer’s trade between Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Calgary as an example. In the swap of Milan Lucic for James Neal, a unique condition was added that awards the Flames a 2020 third-round pick if a) Neal scores at least 21 goals and b) Lucic scores ten or more goals fewer than Neal. As it stands, Neal has 19 goals on the season, so the first condition would not be met if the season ended today. However, since the deal was made with the assumption of 82 games, a pro-rated result would see Neal with 23 goals and Lucic with nine, which would result in Calgary landing the pick. The problem, as Seravalli describes, with either strategy is that it does not accurately make up for missed games. With a number of conditional picks and bonus clauses in play, the NHL would face the tough task of how it decides to treat conditions if the regular season and possibly the playoffs as well cannot be completed. Seravalli even mentions compensatory draft picks as a possibility to offset effected trade conditions.
  • One league event that is certain to occur, at some point and in some manner, is the 2020 NHL Draft. The draft is likely to remain in Montreal, but the June 26-27 dates look unlikely and the usual public audience and organized fanfare would be even more improbable if the event does go on as scheduled. In all likelihood, the draft will be postponed, but it will occur all the same. As such, NHL.com has released their updated March rankings of the top 31 players in the class. Although there hasn’t been much new film to study in recent weeks, with junior leagues paused, the college season cancelled, and most European leagues ending as well, the staff at NHL.com has made a notable changes since their last edition earlier this month. Finnish forward Anton Lundell has snuck into the top ten, supplanting Russian goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. Much like eventual Florida Panthers pick Spencer Knight last year, there was heavy top-ten talk about Askarov this season as well, but it has cooled somewhat of late as the depth of elite forward in the class could make it difficult to select a netminder so early.

NHL Draft Picks Participating In The World Junior Championship

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The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship is underway from Ostrava and Trinec in the Czech Republic. The tournament began today and will run through the championship game on January 5th. Each of the NHL’s 31 teams has at least one representative at the WJC. Five teams have only one draft pick participating, while the Los Angeles Kings (9) and Arizona Coyotes (7) each have more than those teams combined. However, it only takes one player and one moment to make history at the WJC. Check out which future NHLers will have that chance this year:

Anaheim Ducks (2):

G Lukas Dostal, Czech Republic
F Trevor Zegras, USA

Arizona Coyotes (7):

F Barrett Hayton, Canada
F Jan Jenik, Czech Republic
F Matias Maccelli, Finland
D Aku Raty, Finland
D Victor Soderstrom, Sweden
F Valentin Nussbaumer, Switzerland
D Ty Emberson, USA

Boston Bruins (3):

F Jakub Lauko, Czech Republic
F John Beecher, USA
F Curtis Hall, USA

Buffalo Sabres (4):

F Dylan Cozens, Canada
F Matej Pekar, Czech Republic
G Erik Portillo, Sweden
D Mattias Samuelsson, USA

Calgary Flames (1):

G Dustin Wolf, USA

Carolina Hurricanes (5):

D Anttoni Honka, Finland
F Lenni Killinen, Finland
F Patrik Puistola, Finland
F Dominik Bokk, Germany
F Jack Drury, USA

Chicago Blackhawks (2):

F Antti Saarela, Finland
F Michal Teply, Czech Republic

Colorado Avalanche (4):

D Bowen Byram, Canada
G Justus Annunen, Finland
F Sampo Ranta, Finland
D Daniil Zhuravlyov, Russia

Columbus Blue Jackets (4):

F Liam Foudy, Canada
F Kirill Marchenko, Russia
F Dmitri Voronkov, Russia
D Tim Berni, Switzerland

Dallas Stars (3):

F Ty Dellandrea, Canada
F Oskar Back, Sweden
F Albin Eriksson, Sweden

Detroit Red Wings (5):

D Jared McIsaac, Canada
F Joseph Veleno, Canada
D Moritz Seider, Germany
F Jonatan Berggren, Sweden
F Jesper Eliasson, Sweden

Edmonton Oilers (4):

F Raphael Lavoie, Canada
G Olivier Rodrigue, Canada
F Matej Blumel, Czech Republic
D Philip Broberg, Sweden

Florida Panthers (3):

Justin Schutz, Germany
F Grigori Denisenko, Russia
G Spencer Knight, USA

Los Angeles Kings (9):

F Aidan Dudas, Canada
F Akil Thomas, Canada
F Lukas Parik, Czech Republic
F Rasmus Kupari, Finland
D Kim Nousiainen, Finland
D Tobias Bjornfot, Sweden
F Samuel Fagemo, Sweden
F Arthur Kaliyev, USA
F Alex Turcotte, USA

Minnesota Wild (1):

F Alexander Khovanov, Russia

Montreal Canadiens (4):

D Alexander Romanov, Russia
D Mattias Norlinder, Sweden
F Cole Caufield, USA
D Jordan Harris, USA

Nashville Predators (1):

D Spencer Stastney, USA

New Jersey Devils (5):

D Kevin Bahl, Canada
D Ty Smith, Canada
D Daniil Misyul, Russia
F Nikola Pasic, Sweden
G Akira Schmid, Switzerland

New York Islanders (2):

F Jacob Pivonka, USA
F Oliver Wahlstrom, USA

New York Rangers (5):

D Nico Gross, Switzerland
F Karl Henriksson, Sweden
D Nils Lundkvist, Sweden
D Zachary Jones, USA

D K’Andre Miller, USA

Ottawa Senators (3):

D Jacob Bernard-Docker, Canada
D Lassi Thomson, Finland
F Shane Pinto, USA

Philadelphia Flyers (4):

F Egor Zamula, Russia
D Adam Ginning, Sweden
F Bobby Brink, USA
D Cameron York, USA

Pittsburgh Penguins (1):

D Calen Addison, Canada

San Jose Sharks (1):

Santeri Hatakka, Finland

St. Louis Blues (2):

G Joel Hofer, Canada
F Nikita Alexandrov, Russia

Tampa Bay Lightning (3):

F Nolan Foote, Canada
F Maxim Cajkovic, Czech Republic
G Hugo Alnefelt, Sweden

Toronto Maple Leafs (3):

D Mikko Kokkonen, Finland
D Rasmus Sandin, Sweden
F Nicholas Robertson, USA

Vancouver Canucks (4):

F Karel Plasek, Czech Republic
D Toni Utunen, Finland
F Vasily Podkolzin, Russia
F Nils Hoglander, Sweden

Vegas Golden Knights (3):

F Pavel Dorofeyev, Russia
F Ivan Morozov, Russia
G Isaiah Saville, USA

Washington Capitals (2):

F Connor McMichael, Canada
D Martin Has, Czech Republic

Winnipeg Jets (2):

F David Gustafsson, Sweden
D Ville Heinola, Finland

USA Hockey Announces Preliminary WJC Roster

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December 23rd: According to Corey Pronman of The Athletic, Janicke, Regula and Krygier are the final three cuts for the Americans. Previously the team had been trimmed down to 26, with Johnson, Gruden and Mastrosimone being sent home. Oliver Wahlstrom was added to the group late and will play in the tournament.

December 9th: USA Hockey has followed several other countries in announcing their preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior tournament. The team will compete for spots at a training camp in Plymouth, Michigan later this month, where a 23-man roster will be selected.

The full camp roster:

Goaltenders:

Spencer Knight (FLA)
Isaiah Saville (VGK)
Dustin Wolf (CGY)

Defensemen:

Ty Emberson (ARI)
Jordan Harris (MTL)
Ryan Johnson (BUF)
Zac Jones (NYR)
Christian Krygier (NYI)
K’Andre Miller (NYR)
Alec Regula (CHI)
Mattias Samuelsson (BUF)
Spencer Stastney (NSH)
Cam York (PHI)

Forwards:

John Beecher (BOS)
Bobby Brink (PHI)
Cole Caufield (MTL)
Jack Drury (CAR)
Parker Ford (2020 eligible)
Jon Gruden (OTT)
Curtis Hall (BOS)
Trevor Janicke (ANA)
Arthur Kaliyev (LAK)
Robert Mastrosimone (DET)
Shane Pinto (OTT)
Jacob Pivonka (NYI)
Nick Robertson (TOR)
Alex Turcotte (LAK)
Trevor Zegras (ANA)

College Hockey Round-Up: 12/12/19

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In the biggest departure from their pro and junior counterparts, college hockey is about to take a significant holiday break. As student-athletes take final exams for thee fall semester and then enjoy a break over Christmas, there are just five games scheduled from December 15-27. The final weekend of the month is also a lighter schedule than normal, as many teams are already done until January and many more will be after this weekend.

Recent Results

It has not been so much of a fall from grace for several top teams of late as it has been a plummet. Notre Dame and Harvard, both of whom began their seasons with substantial undefeated streaks, have both failed to pick up a point in the past two weeks, and Wisconsin, a popular pick to be title contender this season, has fallen out of the rankings with three straight losses. Notre Dame has fallen ten spots in the rankings from No. 5 to No. 15 after back-to-back sweeps at the hands of No. 10 Bowling Green and No. 5 Boston College by a combined score of 20-5. BC also took down Harvard, as did Boston University, No. 3 Cornell, and Colgate. The Crimson have moved from No. 9 to No. 17 as a result. Wisconsin had a disastrous run-in with their next door neighbors, splitting a home series against unranked Michigan before being swept on the road at No. 18 Michigan State.

Meanwhile, the teams at the top continue to soar. No. 1 Minnesota State continues to be unbeatable, taking both games against defending champion No. 11 Minnesota-Duluth and extended their winning streak to nine games with a sweep of Lake Superior. Mankato currently has an unassailable lead in the NCAA rankings. Goaltender Dryden McKay’s impeccable .957 save percentage and 1.06 GAA are miles ahead of even his closest rivals, Tyler Wall (NYR) of No. 14 UMass Lowell and Cornell’s Matthew Galajda. The Mavericks’ keeper could be on the fast track to taking home the Hobey Baker Award this year.

However, another player in the hunt will be Jordan Kawaguchi of No. 2 North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks have been on fire of late, knocking off Minnesota on Thanksgiving Day (and again the day after) and then sweeping No. 19 Western Michigan, and Kawaguchi has been the catalyst. The junior forward is up to 24 points on the year, third-best in the NCAA, and could become a real threat to Jack Dugan (VGK) of No. 13 Providence for the scoring title.

Providence themselves split a chippy series with UMass Lowell in a battle between two teams pushing for a spot in the top ten. It’s been a better stretch for Hockey East over the past two weeks, as Boston College is also surging, No. 12 Northeastern came away with a tournament win in Belfast, Northern Ireland two weeks ago, and No. 9 UMass  has not surrendered more than two goals in a game in a month.

World Junior Participation

While most NCAA teams will take a break for much of the remainder of December, not all of their players will be out of action. With the majority of preliminary rosters released for the upcoming U-20 World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic, it looks as though a number of college standouts will get a chance to make their mark on the international stage. Below is the list of NCAA participants:

Canada: D Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT), North Dakota; F Alex Newhook (COL), Boston College; F Dylan Holloway (2020), Wisconsin

Finland: F Sampo Ranta (COL), Minnesota

Switzerland: F Matthew Verboon, Colgate

United States: G Spencer Knight (FLA), Boston College; G Isaiah Saville (VGK), Nebraska-Omaha; D Ty Emberson (ARI), Wisconsin; D Jordan Harris (MTL), Northeastern; D Ryan Johnson (BUF), Minnesota; D Zac Jones (NYR), UMass; Christian Krygier (NYI), Michigan State; D K’Andre Miller (NYR), Wisconsin; D Mattias Samuelsson (BUF), Wester Michigan; D Spencer Stastney (NSH), Notre Dame; D Cam York (PHI), Michigan; F John Beecher (BOS), Michigan; F Bobby Brink (PHI), Denver; F Cole Caufield (MTL), Wisconsin; F Jack Drury (CAR), Harvard; F Parker Ford, Providence; F Curtis Hall (BOS), Yale; Trevor Janicke (ANA), Notre Dame; Robert Mastrosimone (DET), Boston University; F Shane Pinto (OTT), North Dakota; F Jacob Pivonka (NYI), Notre Dame; Alex Turcotte (LAK), Wisconsin; Trevor Zegras (ANA), Boston University

 

Florida Panthers Demote Sam Montembeault

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The plan in net seemed so simple for the Florida Panthers. The team made two huge splashes on the goalie front this summer, signing top available free agent Sergei Bobrovsky to a long-term deal and drafting top available prospect Spencer Knight with the No. 13 overall pick. The team believed they could lean on Bobrovsky, a netminder capable of making 60+ appearances in a season, for many years to come before eventually moving on to Knight as the starter. All they needed was a backup who could put up decent numbers in limited action for a few years while bridging the gap to Knight. They believed the man for the job was Sam Montembeault.

On many levels, that plan has not worked out for Florida and now changes are being made. The team announced that Montembeault has been reassigned to the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds with Chris Driedger getting the call as his replacement. Yet, the issues in net truly stem from the keeper not involved in this transaction: Sergei Bobrovsky. After inking a seven-year, $70MM contract this off-season, the Panthers $10MM man has been nothing but a massive disappointment. Bobrovksy is in the midst of the worst season of his career – and it’s not particularly close. He holds an .888 save percentage and 3.44 GAA, both well worse than his existing career lows. Yet, the Panthers have had little choice but to continue playing him over the inexperienced Montembeault. In fact,  Bobrovsky actually leads the league with 20 appearances. He has started 19 of the team’s 24 games despite a paltry .368 quality start percentage.

Bobrovsky may be on pace for 65 starts, but Florida still likely did not plan for Montembeault to have made five starts and two relief appearances at the quarter pole of the season. The 23-year-old was supposed to have a sheltered role, but has instead been exposed frequently early this season; and it shows in the results. Montembeault has been just as bad as Bobrovsky, posting an .889 save percentage and 3.31 GAA. The young keeper, who can still be moved to the minors without needing waivers, has been asked to do too much and now the team has opted to send him to the AHL, where he can hopefully see some consistent action and re-discover his game against weaker opposition. Whether or not they trust him to be back as Bobrovsky’s backup anytime soon remains to be seen.

If there is one silver lining to this situation, it is that Driedger will get a chance to show what he can do at the highest level. Two of Driedger’s three NHL appearances have been shutouts, but that hasn’t stopped him from also spending time in the ECHL in five of the past six seasons as he has continually been passed up on the depth chart. Driedger has earned a real chance in the NHL, especially as he sports a .983 save percentage and 2.08 GAA in 14 appearances for Springfield this year. The 25-year-old former Ottawa Senators prospect will undoubtedly get another NHL opportunity soon given Bobrovsky’s play and his edge in experience over the previous backup Montembeault. Who knows, he could even be a candidate for a Jordan Binnington-esque storyline this season if the Panthers’ starter continues to falter. The Panthers could use that sort of breakout, as they undoubtedly are already re-thinking this summer’s big investment.

College Hockey Round-Up: 10/17/19

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Welcome to a new bi-weekly column at Pro Hockey Rumors, where we’ll stray from the “pro” in favor of the “soon-to-be pro”. The depth of talent at the college level in hockey is at an all-time high. Of the 217 players selected in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 72 were either enrolled or committed to an NCAA institution, with others likely to follow suit. This included nine first-round picks, including eight from the lauded U.S. National Team Development Program. The talent level is also evident in the parity between NCAA programs. Of the 16 teams in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, only six had won a national championship and historic powerhouses Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota were all absent for the first time since 1970. College hockey is growing – in ability, popularity, and geography – and we here at PHR hope you will enjoy the expanded coverage that the collegiate level has earned.

The Season Begins

The NCAA season is only about two weeks old, getting underway back on Saturday, October 5th. Yet, there has already been rankings movement among the Top 20 teams in the country, after some impressive performances.

While most top teams schedule cushy match-ups for opening weekend, No. 13 Providence College and the University of Maine got right to it with an early Hockey East clash. It wasn’t the battle many expected though, as the Friars cruised to a 7-0 win. Mostly due to that blowout, through two games Providence’s Greg Printz is the top per-game goal scorer in the NCAA with five tallies, as well as one helper.

This past weekend featured more heavyweight bouts, including the No. 3 University of Minnesota-Duluth facing the first test in their pursuit of a third straight championship. They faced No. 18 University of Massachusetts Lowell in a two-game home series and it was the River Hawks who took the first game, 3-2. While the Bulldogs edged out the 2-1 win in game two, the early-season loss was enough to bounce them from the No. 1 ranking. As for UMass Lowell, the team entered the Top 20 with a 3-1 start to the year, led by goaltender Tyler Wall (NYR), who boasts a .942 save percentage thus far.

In a battle between star-studded squads, No. 6 Boston College took down No. 17 University of Wisconsin by a score of 5-3. The game featured five 2019 first-round picks in Alex Turcotte (LAK) and Cole Caufield (MTL) for the Badgers and Spencer Knight (FLA), Matthew Boldy (MIN), and Alex Newhook (COL) for the Eagles. Wisconsin took their frustration from the loss out on a different Hockey East the following night, scoring eleven goals in a win over Merrimack College. In his first two college games, Caufield recorded four goals and five points and it certainly looks like his torrid scoring pace from the USNTDP could continue in the NCAA. Meanwhile, Caufield’s former teammate Knight is also continuing his dominance despite transitioning to the college level. He has a .954 save percentage and perfect 2-0 record thus far with BC.

The No. 1 ranked team in the country is now the University of Denver. The Pioneers have jumped out to a 4-0 record and, while their competition has not been elite, most teams haven’t even played four games, nevertheless won all four. Freshman goaltender Magnus Chrona (TBL) manned the net in all four wins, posting a .935 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average, getting off to a hot start. Ian Mitchell (CHI), Bobby Brink (PHI), and the rest of the Pioneers will face their first real test this coming weekend when they host Boston College.

Other standout performances from the first two weeks of the season came from a pair of intriguing undrafted prospects. Speedy senior forward Nate Sucese of No. 9 Penn State University is the NCAA’s scoring leader with seven points in just two games. In net, No. 2 Minnesota State University got a stellar performance from keeper Dryden McKay as he won his first two games while sporting a .975 save percentage.

College Commitments

Penn State may be losing Sucese at the end of this season, but they may already have a suitable replacement waiting in the wings. Small but skilled 16-year-old forward Colby Saganiuk announced that he has committed to play his college hockey for the Nittany Lions. A current member of the USNTDP’s U-17 team, Saganiuk is unlikely to arrive at State College, PA until at least 2021, but when he does he will make an instant impact. Already on the radar for the 2021 NHL Draft, Saganiuk scored at a point-per-game clip for the U-16 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite last year and will grow tremendously with the USNTDP.

Saganiuk’s teammate with the USNTDP and fellow top 2021 draft prospect Matthew Beniers has also planned his college career. Beniers will attend Harvard University and reportedly will enroll next year. While Beniers is just 16, the talented center has played exclusively with the U-18 team with the USNTDP so far this season and played in 20 games with the top team last year compared to 42 with the U-17 team. A mature player with a well-rounded game, Beniers will be one of the top players to watch in college hockey next season, likely as the top draft-eligible prospect playing in the NCAA.

Draft Watch

Wisconsin forward Dylan Holloway and University of Connecticut defenseman Yan Kuznetsov may be the only current college players who will be drafted next June, but there are plenty of future NCAA players set to be selected. NHL Central Scouting released a preliminary watch list last week for the upcoming draft class which featured a number of USNTDP standouts headed for the college level. University of North Dakota commit Jake Sanderson led the way with an “A” rating, alongside Ty Smilanic, who has yet to decide on his college destination. One of these two is likely to follow Holloway as the top college-bound player selected this summer. Sanderson’s current teammate and fellow North Dakota prospect Tyler Kleven, University of Michigan commit Thomas Bordeleau, Boston College commit Eamon Powell, Boston University duo Luke Tuch and Dylan Peterson, and undecided Brock Faber all received “B” ratings and could push for first-round consideration. Ten other USNTDP players received “C” ratings. While this draft class may not be nearly as strong as last season’s historic group when it comes to Americans and NCAA prospects, many of these players will be high picks and future pros, after they take their talents to the college game.

2019-20 NCAA Players To Watch

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Following their professional and junior counterparts, the college hockey season is about to get underway this weekend. With each passing year, the NCAA’s influence on the world of hockey grows. The NHL boasts more than a few top rookies fresh out of the college ranks this season and many elite prospects still in school in 2018-19 will soon join them. This year’s crop of talent is sticking with the trend, with several players in need of watching:

The Recent Draft Picks

G Spencer Knight, Boston College (FLA): When Knight was selected by the Panthers 13th overall in June, he became the highest selected goaltender this decade after Jack Campbell went No. 11 overall  in 2010. Considered the best prospect goalie in an NHL pipeline – at least until Yaroslav Askarov hears his name called next year – Knight is a special prospect and easily a top name to watch in the NCAA. It’s hard to know just how well the USNTDP product will perform right out of the gate for a strong BC squad, and on top of that how long it may take for him to be pro-ready. However, if he can translate his junior game to the college level, Florida will want to test that same progression in the pros sooner rather than later.

F Matthew Boldy, Boston College (MIN): Speaking of the Eagles, they nabbed another top pick in this year’s recruiting class in the dynamic winger Boldy. A rare combination of skill and finesse with size and strength, the Wild landed a gem at No. 12. A teammate of Knights with the USNTDP and now at BC, Boldy stands a better chance of making an immediate impact at the college level. The pairing of his stature and his talent – both above average – should give him a leg up against some older, more experienced NCAA competition. Expect he and fellow first-rounder Alex Newhook (COL) to get off to a hot start.

F Trevor Zegras, Boston University (ANA): Across town, Zegras and six other 2019 NHL Draft selections are set to take the ice for the rival Terriers. Zegras is a dynamic play-maker who few expected to fall to the Ducks at No. 9. Zegras brings a high-energy game in all three zones that his bound to create chances for he and his BU teammates. After losing much of last year’s talent to the pros, the Terriers need Zegras to step into a lead scoring role right away and he is likely up for the task. The USNTDP standout has already showed that he can put up big numbers against tough competition.

D Cam York, University of Michigan (PHI): Rounding out the top four recent draft picks to watch in the NCAA this year is yet another USNTDP product, but the first defenseman on the list. York is a skilled blue liner who sees the ice extremely well for a player his age. His skating allows him to be omnipresent on the ice and an asset in all three zones. Highly-drafted defensemen have excelled at the college level of late, namely Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. The Wolverines hope lightning strikes twice by replacing Hughes with York. Fellow first-round pick John Beecher (BOS) will also be around to help out in Michigan this season.

The Soon-To-Be Draft Picks

F Dylan Holloway, University of Wisconsin: A string of years with at least one top draft prospect coming out of the NCAA came to a screeching halt last year, with the college level having nearly no current players of note in the early rounds. That will change this year, as Holloway begins the season as a consensus top-ten pick in 2020. The polished winger dominated the Alberta Junior Hockey League last year, posting 88 points in just 53 games. He brings a complete arsenal of skill, speed, and aggression, but will need to use his college campaign to work on increasing his positional awareness. If he can replicate his scoring success and improve his hockey IQ, Holloway could enter top five territory next summer.

D Yan Kuznetsov, University of Connecticut: Kuznetsov is not the same caliber player as Holloway, but an exciting talent nonetheless for the Huskies. The Russian defenseman came over to North America last season and made a strong first impression in the USHL. Not one to put up lots of points, Kuznetsov is instead a solid shutdown defender who also moves the puck well. At 6’3”, 200 lbs., Kuznetsov has menacing size for a 17-year-old and isn’t afraid to play a tough game, but is also a smooth skater and an asset in puck possession. While not a flashy prospect, Kuznetsov could surprise with his confidence as a freshman in the NCAA and move up draft boards.

The Soon-To-Be NHLers

F Evan Barratt, Penn State University (CHI): One of the best players at the college level last season, Barratt took a major leap forward in his development. The third-round prospect had a quiet freshman year but exploded for 43 points in just 32 games as a sophomore, among the top five per-game scorers in the NCAA. Barratt’s ability to think the game is matched only by his ability to act on those thoughts. A great play-maker with an eye for creating scoring opportunities, Barratt doesn’t need to be the fastest or strongest player on the ice to make a difference. He seems ready to test his hockey sense at the pro level already and almost certainly will be signing with the Blackhawks after this season. Penn State can enjoy one last season with their star center.

D Ian Mitchell, University of Denver (CHI): Chicago nearly convinced Mitchell to leave school early this summer, but he’ll return to the Pioneers for one last season. A smart, two-way defenseman, Mitchell plays a largely mistake-free game. He contributes on offense, but rarely at the cost of defensive liability and uses his skating to get up and down the ice with ease. He pairs a good shot with a strong outlet pass to both start and finish offensively. A modern-day NHL defenseman in many ways, Mitchell truly plays the position well and will be a regular at the top level in no time.

D Scott Perunovich, University of Minnesota-Duluth (STL): A two-time NCAA champion has to be doing something right. While plenty of talented players have moved on from Duluth over the past two years, Perunovich is still there and still making an impact. A dynamic offensive defenseman, Perunovich is a power play magician and a creative play-maker at even strength as well. A talented puck-mover who doesn’t let his size deter him from jumping into a play and taking battles in tough areas, Perunovich is undoubtedly a fun player to watch. An added benefit of catching some Bulldogs action is fellow blue line prospect Dylan Samberg (WPG), who brings the smash to Perunovich’s dash as an elite NCAA pairing.

F Mitchell Chaffee, University of Massachusetts: At the top of the list among potential NCAA free agents is the sharp-shooting Chaffee. A member of the UMass team that made a run to the NCAA Finals last year, Chaffee was better than a point per game scorer, finishing in the top-20 in goals and points and amassing a top-ten plus/minus rating. Chaffee plays a mature, intelligent game but not without some grit and energy as well. He does whatever it takes to put himself in scoring position. With the Minutemen losing several core players to the pros, look for Chaffee to take on an even bigger role as he tries to establish himself as an NHL-caliber prospect. Bowling Green ace center Max Johnson and veteran North Dakota defenseman Colton Poolman are other potential premier college free agents to watch for.

The University of Wisconsin

Every year there is one team whose NHL pedigree jumps off the page. Sometimes those teams don’t necessary put it all together, but they’re still fun to watch. Wisconsin is that team this year, and frankly it’s not that close even with the influx of talent to the likes of BC, BU, and others. You already heard about Holloway, but take a look at who else is suiting up for the Badgers this year:

F Alex Turcotte (LAK): The highest-drafted player in the NCAA, Turcotte was the No. 5 overall pick by the Kings in June and considered by some to be the most complete player in the draft class. Injuries slowed down his season with the USNTDP last year, but he still accounted for 62 points in just 37 games. A two-way skill set and intelligence, play-making ability and elite offensive instincts, and a competitive, hard-nosed style are just some of the elements to Turcotte’s game that should make him the most talented player in college hockey this season.

F Cole Caufield (MTL): Caufield is coming off a record-setting campaign with the USNTDP. While he spent most of his time skating alongside Jack Hughes, he is more than familiar with Turcotte which should make his adjustment to the NCAA smoother. Caufield’s size can be a liability, but it’s a risk that Wisconsin will gladly take in exchange for his natural goal-scoring ability. Caufield potted 72 goals as part of a 100-point campaign last year that established him as one of the most dangerous shooters in hockey – yes, all of hockey. Caufield works hard, skates fast, and puts himself in a situation to score with great frequency. An electrifying talent, Caufield will almost certainly follow Turcotte to the NHL next season (the Canadiens can hardly wait) but until then the duo should do some damage in the NCAA this year. Unbelievably, fellow USNTDP teammates Owen Lindmark (FLA) and Ryder Donovan (VGK) also join Turcotte and Caufield with the Badgers this year.

D K’Andre Miller (NYR): It doesn’t stop there, either. Wisconsin has top NHL talent on the blue line as well, primarily in first-round defender Miller. A big, strong defender who also has the tools to contribute on offense, Miller is a special player. Considered a raw talent when drafter, Miller immediately showed last year that there was more to his game than just athleticism. Miller plays an instinctual style of hockey, which allows him to excel with defensive positioning as well as awareness of when to jump in on offense. He truly has a presence on the ice and there is still room to improve into an elite prospect, especially with so much ability surrounding him this season. He could very well join the Rangers right away next season if he continues to progress. Look for pair-mate Ty Emberson (ARI) to take a step forward in his own development this year as well.

Cameron Rowe Commits To The University Of Wisconsin

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A tumultuous off-season for prospect Cameron Rowe is finally trending upward. After being one of the biggest surprises among undrafted players back in June and de-committing from the University of North Dakota earlier in July, Rowe appears to have his development path back on track. Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal hears that Rowe has committed to the University of Wisconsin and cites the young goaltender’s own social media as further proof. Rowe will join a Badgers program that is adding significant talent over the next two years and will continue to have the attention of NHL scouts.

Rowe, 18, did not exactly grab headlines last season, but impressed many hockey minds who did get a chance to see him in action. Rowe played second fiddle to Florida Panthers first-round pick Spencer Knight for the U.S. National Team Development Program last season. Even with Knight missing some time due to injury, Rowe only made 30 appearances to Knight’s 33. He was also overshadowed performance wise, as his respectable 3.40 GAA and .875 save percentage at the junior level paled in comparison to Knight’s 2.36 and .913. Yet, Rowe still emerged as a top goalie prospect in the recent draft class. NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the No. 4 goalie in North America and several other sources pegged him as a fourth- to sixth-round pick. Somehow, Rowe slipped through the cracks and will have to try his luck again next year as an overage prospect.

Things took another turn earlier this month, when Rowe left his commitment to North Dakota. The rumor was that the Fighting Hawks coaching staff was frustrated about Rowe’s lack of dedication to the college route, as he had at least entertained the idea of a jump to the major junior level to play for the OHL’s London Knights. The team released Rowe from his commitment, making him a free agent of sorts beyond the 2019-20 season, during which he will play for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.

Well, Rowe didn’t stay available for very long and it seems North Dakota was wrong about his commitment to the NCAA route. Committing to Wisconsin less than a month later, Rowe joins a program that has high expectations in the coming years. Rowe’s USNTDP teammates Alex Turcotte (LAK), Cole Caufield (MTL), and Owen Lindmark (FLA) are set to join the program this year, alongside top 2020 prospect Dylan Holloway. Joining Rowe in the 2020 recruiting class are more intriguing American forwards in Tanner Latsch and Liam Malmquist. Head coach Tony Granato’s team is in for an exciting few years and now have their goalie of the future in Rowe, who will also be excited to get to Madison and show NHL teams what they missed out on in the draft this year.

College Notes: Rowe, Stratton, Makar

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It’s been a difficult stretch for goaltender Cameron Rowe. The backup to first-round pick Spencer Knight for the U.S. National Team Development Program this season, Rowe nevertheless entered the draft expecting to be selected based on countless reports. NHL Central Scouting in particular ranked him as the No. 4 goaltender in North America. Yet, the young netminder did not hear his name called this year. Now, his future is changing again. According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, the University of North Dakota has released Rowe from his commitment. Rowe was expected to arrive at North Dakota in 2020-21, but instead will be playing elsewhere. Schlossman reports that the Fighting Hawks staff grew frustrated with Rowe’s interest in pursuing the Canadian junior route instead of the NCAA path and did not want to wait around to find out if they had a starting goalie of the future or not. It’s unclear now what Rowe will do moving forward, although he is currently expected to play for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers next season. Rowe could simply commit to a new college program or, as North Dakota suspected, could sign with the OHL’s London Knights, who own his CHL rights. Either way, the winding and unpredictable development path for Rowe is not done twisting and turning just yet.

  • North Dakota also lost the commitment of BCHL forward Murphy Stratton, Schlossman writes. Stratton, 19, played 45 games for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen in 2016-17 before realizing that the major junior route was not for him. Stratton wished to pursue the collegiate route, but the NCAA considers the CHL to be a “professional league” barring former players from NCAA participation due to amateurism rules. In some cases, limited CHL action has been overlooked at a cost in terms of eligibility years, but Stratton’s half season would have been an unprecedented case. Yet, he still committed to UND last year, expecting a ban of one year and seven games to begin his sophomore year. Schlossman reports that Stratton recently found out that the ban would actually be much longer and has opted to change course on the college level as a result. He will not play at North Dakota nor any other NCAA program and is likely to return to the WHL. Over the past two years, Stratton has compiled 99 points in 110 games as arguably the best player for the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild, so this is a substantial loss for the Fighting Hawks. Stratton however should be able to continue pushing for pro hockey relevance if he can produce at a similar level in the WHL.
  • Another Makar is headed to the University of Massachusetts. The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark reports that Taylor Makar, brother of Colorado Avalanche top prospect Cale Makar, has committed to UMass. Now, Taylor is not the player that Cale is; Taylor is an undrafted center who put up pedestrian numbers for the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits – another former team of Cale’s – this season. However, Taylor is likely familiar with head coach Greg Carvel and his staff and should head to a great environment for him to grow as a player and perhaps break out. No one is expecting Taylor to ever come close to his Hobey Baker-winning brother, but his tenure in Amherst will certainly be interesting to follow.

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