It’s gonna be a great year for college hockey. Here are the Top 50 College Hockey Prospects.
1. Jack Eichel, Boston University – Dynamic center will challenge for first overall in 2015 draft and lead the U.S. world junior team’s offense.
2. Noah Hanifin, Boston College – Big, poised blueliner a near lock to go third in 2015 after Connor McDavid and Eichel. And he’ll start the year as a 17-year-old.
3. Mike Reilly, Minnesota – Columbus pick is a great mobile defenseman who will take a shot at the Hobey Baker Award.
4. Dylan Larkin, Michigan – Talented freshman center is a Detroit first-rounder who will bring speed and character to Wolverines.
5. Jon Gillies, Providence College – Towering junior goaltender is a Calgary pick who will determine how far a great-looking Friars team will go.
6. Zach Werenski, Michigan – Freshman defenseman has great offensive ability and is up for the 2015 draft – like Hanifin, he’s still only 17.
7. Alex Tuch, Boston College – Freshman Minnesota first-rounder has a power forward’s build, great hands and a blistering shot.
8. Riley Barber, Miami – Incredible offensive prowess has boosted the Washington pick’s stock since he came to RedHawks; look for more of the same from the junior.
9. Jordan Schmaltz, North Dakota – St. Louis first-rounder is a maturing, mobile defenseman who doubled his points as a sophomore last season.
10. A.J. Greer, Boston University – Big prep school power forward jumps up to Hockey East for his NHL draft year.
11. Kyle Rau, Minnesota – Small but ultra-talented, the Florida prospect led the Gophers in scoring as a junior last year and will likely do so again.
12. Nick Schmaltz, North Dakota – Jordan’s younger bro joins him in Grand Forks. The Chicago first-rounder is blessed with a number of sick offensive moves.
13. C.J. Motte, Ferris State – Senior goaltender is a rare free agent on the list, but NHL scouts have been circling him for a couple years now.
14. Thatcher Demko, Boston College – Can the Vancouver pick replicate his incredible freshman season with Eagles? World juniors also on the checklist.
15. J.T. Compher, Michigan – Gritty, annoying and talented, Compher is a Buffalo prospect who will be key to Team USA’s forward corps at the world juniors.
16. Hudson Fasching, Minnesota – Tank-sized power forward was brilliant at 2014 world juniors. Rights strangely traded from Los Angeles to Buffalo last season.
17. Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State – Gifted goal-scorer will once again light the lamp large for the Huskies; he’s a Los Angeles selection.
18. Josh Jacobs, Michigan State – New Jersey second-rounder will bring a good dose of skating and athletic ability to the Spartan blueline.
19. Jack Dougherty, Wisconsin – The Nashville second-rounder has a knack for offense and getting the puck through from the blueline, plus he has good size.
20. Kevin Roy, Northeastern – The Anaheim pick is one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in the land and will propel the Huskies attack again.
21. Evan Cowley, Denver – With Sam Brittain gone, Cowley can put his stamp on the crease with the Pios. The big netminder is a Florida pick.
22. Devin Shore, Maine – Vision, playmaking and production are all hallmarks of Shore’s game. The Black Bears center is a Dallas selection.
23. Cameron Hughes, Wisconsin – Last of the first-time draft-eligibles, Hughes is a gifted skater who will use his college time to bulk up.
24. Mark Friedman, Bowling Green – A slick offensive defenseman, the Philadelphia pick is one of the more high-profile Falcons commits in recent years.
25. Warren Foegele, New Hampshire – Carolina grabbed the raw winger in the third round this summer; Foegele has great size and skates like the wind.
26. Tyler Bird, Brown – The Columbus prospect is a power forward who played on a line with Greer (No. 10) and Devils pick J.D. Dudek at Kimball Union prep last year.
27. Jake Guentzel, Nebraska-Omaha – Smaller Pittsburgh pick had an outstanding freshman season with the Mavs and they’ll need his playmaking prowess again.
28. Andy Welinski, Minnesota-Duluth – Mobile Anaheim pick with great size led the Bulldogs in points from the blueline as a sophomore.
29. Adam Wilcox, Minnesota – The Tampa Bay pick was a rock in net for the Gophers and no doubt has a national title on his mind as a junior.
30. Brandon Hickey, Boston University – Calgary’s third-rounder this summer brings size and speed to the Terriers blueline.
31. Brett Pesce, New Hampshire – Big Carolina third-rounder experienced a huge jump in offense from the blueline as a sophomore.
32. Connor Hurley, Notre Dame – Buffalo pick set for his freshman season with Irish, where he’ll bring speed and vision up front.
33. Zane McIntyre, North Dakota – Boston prospect formerly named “Gothberg,” will hold down the fort in net for UND as the team eyes a national title.
34. Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College – The Carolina prospect is much bigger than he was when the Canes drafted him and he plays all situations on the back end.
35. Quentin Shore, Denver – The third of four hockey brothers, Shore is an Ottawa prospect who brings some nice scoring punch back to the lineup.
36. Anthony Florentino, Providence College – Buffalo pick looked great as a freshman on defense. He hits hard and can contribute in all areas of the game.
37. Michael Matheson, Boston College – Entering his junior campaign, the Florida prospect will once again bring skating and smarts to the blueline.
38. Paul LaDue, North Dakota – A late-blooming defenseman snagged by Los Angeles as a depth pick, LaDue was great as a freshman, grabbing all-conference rookie honors.
39. Colton Parayko, Alaska-Fairbanks – The St. Louis prospect has a huge frame and plays a great two-way game for the Nanooks.
40. Teemu Kivihalme, Colorado College – Incoming freshman boasts a crazy set of wheels from the blueline; he’s a Nashville pick.
41. Cliff Watson, Michigan Tech – The San Jose prospect is a huge shot-blocker and Tech’s reigning defensive player of the year, winning as a freshman.
42. James De Haas, Clarkson – Mobile defenseman with great size is a Detroit selection who is also steady in his own zone.
43. Jimmy Vesey, Harvard – Nashville prospect was Harvard’s leading scorer as a sophomore and returns with an eye on rounding out his game.
44. John Hayden, Yale – Chicago pick is a big center with puck protection skills who can handle himself in the defensive zone as well.
45. Aidan Muir, Western Michigan – Raw Edmonton project kicks off his college career in Kalamazoo; he boasts size, speed and skill.
46. Michael Downing, Michigan – Defensive defenseman is a Florida selection who can bring the pain when opponents encroach on his turf and add some offense.
47. Sean Kuraly, Miami – San Jose prospect was known for his responsible side early on, but now the big forward has added offense, too.
48. Ryan Collins, Minnesota – Incoming freshman boasts great size and all-around ability; he a Columbus prospect.
49. Michael Prapavessis, R.P.I. – A smart defenseman who is valuable on the power play, the incoming freshman is a Dallas pick.
50. Joey LaLeggia, Denver – The skilled offensive blueliner is an Edmonton pick primed to put up big numbers as a senior.
(reprinted from The Hockey News)