Scout’s Analysis: Exciting NHL prospects competing in NCAA event

The NCAA males’s hockey event is ready to start Thursday with regional match-ups being hosted throughout 4 cities within the USA. The defending champion Western Michigan Broncos return to the event as a high seed of their bracket based mostly out of Loveland, Colorado. It’s a troublesome bracket for the Broncos, who might find yourself having to undergo the University of Denver Pioneers within the second-round to get to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. 

Here’s a have a look at among the high prospects I’m monitoring intently on the event. Notably, these gamers have both already been drafted by an NHL staff, or are on their approach to being a free agent. We’ll take a team-by-team look, however I needed to begin with one participant particularly who I feel might have the biggest long-term (and probably short-term) influence for a Canadian NHL staff:

Future Montreal Canadiens Second Line Centre

The Canadiens have a humiliation of riches scattered all through their prospect pool. The group has, up to now, held off buying and selling for a second-line centre and it might need one thing to do with the actual fact Michigan Wolverines ahead Michael Hage is a participant who might find yourself filling the void within the close to future. 

Hage is a play-driving centre who leans distributor greater than pure shooter, however nonetheless tasks as a prospect who might rating 20 or extra targets on the NHL degree. He’s particularly harmful on the Wolverines’ energy play. Hage has high-end imaginative and prescient with the puck on his stick and he’s extremely aggressive. He will get between 16-19 minutes per sport for the Wolverines, relying on particular groups. Almost all of his shifts have come at even power and on the ability play this season. 

Michigan performs Bentley on Friday and, in the event that they transfer on, would face the winner of Minnesota-Duluth and Penn State on Sunday. If the Wolverines are eradicated a while this weekend within the regionals, I’m anticipating Hage to signal with the Canadiens after wrapping up his sophomore season.

What can be attention-grabbing to see every time Hage does signal is how the Canadiens deal with it. James Hagens signing an ATO (newbie tryout) contract with the AHL’s Providence Bruins permits him to get some professional expertise earlier than the Bruins signal him to his entry-level contract. That might set a precedent for the way Montreal proceeds with Hage since they’re within the thick of a playoff race as properly and have a troublesome lineup to crack. By going that route, Montreal might signal him to his ELC at any time, both to make use of him within the lineup on the finish of the common season or within the playoffs, relying on their situation.

Now on to the NCAA groups and the gamers I’m watching intently for his or her potential NHL influence.

The Spartans enter the event as the highest seed within the Worcester area with a document of 25-8-2. They have a number of gamers on their roster who look poised to signal entry-level contracts on the conclusion of their season. 

Charlie Stramel, 6-foot-3, 222 kilos, senior ahead 

Stramel is property of the Minnesota Wild, who drafted the ability ahead within the first-round (21^st general) in 2023. Stramel took a while to evolve on the faculty degree, however discovered his footing after transferring from Wisconsin after his sophomore season. He produced 19G-25A this 12 months at MSU. He averaged practically 20 minutes per sport of ice time whereas being deployed in all conditions. There was a time once I was involved about Stramel’s capability to trace up and down the ice, however he’s developed over his faculty profession and eradicated my concern within the course of. 

Wild GM Bill Guerin values gamers like Stramel. It would shock me if Minnesota determined to not signal Stramel on the finish of his season. 

Trey Augustine, 6-foot-1, 190 kilos, junior goaltender

The Detroit Red Wings chosen Augustine within the second-round (41^st general) in 2023. He’s a finalist for the Mike Richter award (high NCAA goalie) after a season that resulted in Augustine main the Big Ten in save share, goals-against common and shutouts. He isn’t the tallest goaltending prospect, however Augustine has huge shoulders and takes up his share of the web. He squares as much as shooters on time, has glorious crease composure and he’s lots athletic sufficient to make second and third saves when required. Here’s a have a look at Augustine’s statistics his first three years at Michigan State. He’s a confirmed winner. 

Porter Martone, 6-foot-3, 204 kilos, freshman winger 

The Philadelphia Flyers chosen Martone sixth general final June. The freshman winger is the Spartans’ main scorer (24G-23A) and seems able to signal his entry-level contract. 

Martone averages round 18 minutes of ice time. His mixture of energy and purpose scoring upside are a lovely component. Pucks are on and off Martone’s stick in a rush. He leans purpose scorer however, along with his measurement and size, extends performs for linemates within the trenches that finally result in assists. 

Ethan Wyttenbach, 5-foot-10, 181 kilos, freshman winger

The Calgary Flames must be ecstatic with the step Wytennbach took along with his sport this 12 months at Quinnipiac. Calgary chosen him within the fifth-round (144^th general) simply final June out of the USHL and he led all the NCAA in scoring with 24G-34A this season. Wyttenbach has nice puck contact and the power to flee strain in small areas. He’s fast off the frenzy and inventive general. All of his ice time comes at even power and on the ability play. He typically will get between 18 and 22 minutes per sport relying on particular groups. 

It can be attention-grabbing to see what the Flames determine to do with Wyttenbach on the finish of the 12 months. The 19-year-old has time on his facet to proceed to develop on the faculty degree and preserve rounding out his general sport. Wyttenbach is a high 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker award.  

TJ Hughes, 6-foot, 185 kilos, senior ahead

After mentioning Hage on the outset of my evaluation, I’d be remised if I didn’t promote the main scorer for the Wolverines. 

Hughes is the second-leading scorer within the NCAA (20G-33A). He averages simply shy of 19 minutes per sport of ice time with nearly all of his shifts coming at even power and the ability play. Hughes leads by instance along with his relentless method. He’s energetic up ice as F1 on the forecheck creating turnovers, robust on the puck and possesses a misleading launch. Hughes has professional prepared habits general. Although he doesn’t kill penalties, he’s typically reliable defensively along with the influence he offers offensively. 

Matt DiMarsico, 6-foot, 180 kilos, junior ahead

Gavin McKenna has garnered many of the consideration at Penn State this 12 months, however DiMarsico has stood out for me as properly. 

DiMarsico is the second-leading scorer at Penn State (18G-24A) behind McKenna (15G-36A). I respect DiMarsico’s competitiveness and consistency. He’s deployed in all conditions and has averaged 18 minutes per sport of ice time. DiMarsico may venture as extra of a bottom-six power ahead on the professional degree, however he’s confirmed he has, no less than, secondary scoring upside. His pace and dedication to element in all three zones are engaging components.

Dimarsico is 22 years previous and undrafted, but it surely feels to me like there are a number of NHL groups which have curiosity in him. He might find yourself foregoing his senior season to show professional. 

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs 

Max Plante, 5-foot-11, 180 kilos, sophomore ahead

Plante was chosen by the Detroit Red Wings within the second spherical (47^th general) in 2024. He can be a extremely aggressive ahead who doesn’t shrink back from partaking within the arduous areas of the ice. He’s fast and quick on straight traces, reads how performs are growing and is exceptionally harmful from the bumper place on the ability play. Plante is the main scoring at Duluth and fifth within the nation general (24G-25A). He has the power and dedication for use in quite a lot of roles, together with penalty-killing. 

Western Michigan Broncos 

Grant Slukynsky, 6-foot-1, 200 kilos, junior centre

Defending NCAA champion Western Michigan performs a tough, buttoned up, fashion of sport as a staff and Slukynsky is an enormous contributor to their general staff success. He’s deployed in quite a lot of roles, one of many high face-off centres in all the NCAA and the main scorer for the Broncos (10G-30A). NHL groups will worth his general element and “lead by example” method to the sport. I’m projecting Skukynsky as a possible bottom-six/two-way ahead on the NHL degree. 

Jonathan Castagna, 6-foot-2, 195 kilos, junior centre

The Calgary Flames acquired Castagna’s rights within the commerce that despatched defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth on the commerce deadline. Castagna is the main scorer for the Big Red and a ahead who has an actual likelihood at sometime maturing right into a bottom-six contributor for the Flames. Castagna performs quick and makes use of his measurement and size as a bonus. He’s not a extremely excessive quantity shooter, however when he has a clear have a look at the web he undoubtedly is aware of how one can deposit the puck behind it. Castagna averages round 19 minutes of ice time per sport. I view him as an rising two-way ahead with secondary scoring upside, measurement, and dedication for use in quite a lot of roles.

Boston Buckberger, 5-foot-11, 181 kilos, junior defenceman

Buckberger is a 22-year-old undrafted free agent who has developed properly on the faculty degree. Sometimes prospects want extra time to work on their sport. Buckberger is an ideal instance. His skating, for his measurement, wanted to enhance for me to realize extra belief in his trajectory. Now that he has confirmed his tempo isn’t a problem the remainder of his sport has come into focus. Buckberger averages over 24 minutes per sport of ice time. He’s within the high 10 for factors by a defenceman in all the NCAA (10G-18A) and high 5 within the plus/minus class (plus-29). 

Buckberger may find yourself returning to Denver for his senior season, however I’m assured in saying groups are circling him as properly. I’m pulling for this participant. He’s labored arduous to get to the stage he’s at and, truthfully, how can’t you pull for a participant with such a terrific identify. What a deal with.

Rieger Lorenz, 6-foot-3, 210 kilos, senior ahead

Lorenz was chosen by the Minnesota Wild within the second-round (56^th general) in 2022. The senior ahead has blossomed right into a dependable three-zone contributor at Denver. After a down 12 months offensively final 12 months as a junior (6G-14A) Lorenz has improved to 15G-18A this season. He’s being deployed in all conditions and is dedicated defensively. He has an opportunity to probably present the Wild with some bottom-six minutes on the NHL degree in time. 

Why senior gamers are in command of their future

Something to maintain an in depth eye on presently of the 12 months, in relation to seniors whose rights are already owned by an NHL staff that drafted them, is the timeline to get graduating participant signed to contracts. 

If a graduating participant, like Lorenz for instance, isn’t signed by August 15 this summer time he turns into an unrestricted free agent free to signal with any NHL group. Seniors are in final management of their future. They can select to signal with the staff that drafted them or wait it out till August 15. When a staff is knowledgeable that the graduating participant isn’t fascinated about signing with them, they are going to normally try and commerce his rights to a different NHL group in return for a later spherical draft choose.