Last season was a down year for prep prospects getting picked in the NHL Draft.
The only two were Dexter Southfield's Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.) and Taft's Rudy Guimond. Both went in the sixth round. Ironically enough, Adam Fantilli, the third overall pick, played a season at Kimball Union, while local star Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.), picked sixth overall, played a season for St. Sebastian's.
The 2024 NHL Draft projects to be an interesting one for prep prospects.
There are no first- or second-round candidates. But various players had strong prep campaigns that they could be options for NHL teams in the third round and after when they pick June 28-29.
Back in February, I ranked the 13 locals who were most likely to get taken in the NHL Draft. That was heavily based on talking with pro scouts.
This story is fully based on my opinion. I put on my general manager hat and ranked the NHL Draft prospects in prep. It should also be noted that most of these players will not be selected in June.
Let's dive in.
1. Ben Merrill
St. Sebastian's, 11/4/2005, C/RW, right shot, 6-4/194
NCAA: Harvard
Even though Merrill doesn't have the most eye-popping numbers on this list, what he could be at the pro level makes him so intriguing. He has a combination of size, skating and skill that can be rare. He has high-end vision, too. The biggest question mark is the compete and willingness to go to the dirty areas. I still would project him to be picked somewhere in the third or fourth round.
2. Gio DiGiulian
Kent, 9/25/2005, RW, right shot, 6-1/161
NCAA: Cornell
DiGiulian was highly thought of entering the Large School Tournament. Then, the Cornell commit scored five goals in three games, including two against Dexter Southfield in the championship. One of the big things NHL scouts look for in prep players is can they clearly be the best player on the ice? He was clearly the best player on the ice in that championship game with his powerful strides and high hockey IQ. He also drove play constantly, and this came with various NHL scouts in attendance. I'd be shocked if he wasn't taken somewhere in the later rounds.
3. Caeden Herrington
Holderness, 1/26/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
NCAA: Vermont
Herrington boosted his stock throughout the prep season quite a bit, scoring seven goals and tallying 49 points in 29 games. The versatile blue-liner was able to make an impact at both ends of the ice, leading Holderness to a spot in the Elite 8. He's adjusted quickly to the USHL, potting a goal and four points in six games for the Green Bay Gamblers. He's looked the part in the USHL, which will only help his stock come June. Like with DiGiulian, I'd be shocked if he wasn't selected.
CHAMP RECAPS AND TAKEAWAYS: KUA wins Elite 8 | Kent wins Large School | Canterbury wins Small School
4. Marko Bilic
Cushing, 3/3/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/180
NCAA: Arizona State
Despite not having the greatest showing in the Elite 8 championship game, that shouldn't diminish what Bilic was able to do for Cushing this season. A 1.45 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage are eye-popping numbers. But the reason why Bilic should be taken is the raw abilities. He has the size that NHL scouts look for when evaluating netminders, yet he still moves effortlessly in the net. I'm no goalie expert, but there's a lot that could make him a late-round pick.
5. Jack Sadowski
Kimball Union, 7/29/2006, LW, left shot, 6-0/179
NCAA: New Hampshire
Sadowski is an interesting one. He scored the most goals in prep (41) and had the most points (87). That point total was the most in prep since Josh Robertson tallied 93 for Proctor in 2003-04. Sadowski always produces, as evidenced by his time at Kimball Union, Arlington (Mass.) High and at USA Hockey's Select Camps. He proved he could shine on the biggest stages, such as when he scored two goals against Cushing in the Elite 8 final. He went toe-to-toe with St. Andrew's Prep's Dean Letourneau — a 6-foot-7 potential first-round pick — and won, netting the OT winner and two assists. Some may knock his skating, but it has improved.
It wouldn't surprise me if an NHL general manager is sitting there with his sixth- or seventh-round pick, and he asks his scouts, "Hey, why aren't we taking the kid who almost put up 90 points in prep?"
6. Cooper Cleaves
Brunswick, 1/5/2006, D, right shot, 6-4/205
NCAA: Dartmouth
Cleaves wasn't even on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary list, but made it onto the midterm rankings, and rightfully so. Cleaves proved himself as a strong, two-way defenseman throughout the winter, posting seven goals and 37 points in 34 games. He helped Brunswick land the No. 3 seed in the Elite 8. He moves well for a defender with size, can shut down the opponents' top players and has a strong ability to move the puck.
7. Kole Hyles
Cushing, 1/16/2006, C, right shot, 6-0/181
NCAA: New Hampshire
While the production didn't pop off the page for Hyles this winter (14 goals and 23 points in 32 games), I always really enjoyed his game. He's a powerful skater who can drive play and help out anywhere in any part of the ice. In my viewings of Cushing, his line with Josh Iby (Munson, Mass.) and Luke Goukler consistently hemmed teams in their own zone. Hyles was a junior this season and personally, I'd be curious to see how much his production would jump as a senior at Cushing.
ON THE RADAR: 13 uncommitted forwards who boosted stock in NEPSAC playoffs | 7 uncommitted defenders
8. Sam LeDrew
Kimball Union, 1/19/2005, RW, right shot, 6-1/181
NCAA: St. Lawrence
This is an off-the-board pick. LeDrew hasn't been mentioned in any of NHL Central Scouting's rankings and he's in his second year of NHL Draft eligibility. But the St. Lawrence commit was dominant this season, posting 38 goals and 75 points for Kimball Union. He often drove play and was great at finding routes through the neutral zone. One of his more underrated qualities is his vision.
9. Luke Goukler
Cushing, 8/11/2006, LW, left shot, 5-11/175
NCAA: Merrimack
Goukler is all about speed. The Merrimack commit can fly, boasting a strong north-south game. He had 16 goals and 27 points in 32 games this season for Cushing, but will need to round out his game a bit more to rank higher for the NHL Draft.
10. Sam Caulfield
Milton Academy, 8/29/2006, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Caulfield is coming off yet another strong season in prep. The Needham, Mass., native sported a 2.85 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. The biggest thing Caulfield has going for him is his athleticism. He always finds ways to get to pucks and make saves. He probably doesn't get drafted, but he'd be a good get for a Division 1 program in the next 12 months.
11. Dylan Hunt
Milton Academy, 2/9/2006, D, left shot, 6-1/175
NCAA: Yale
Hunt was long thought of as just a shutdown defenseman, but the Yale commit proved to be more this season, scoring eight goals and leading his team in points with 40. He's reliable, has a great stick and has a high hockey IQ. He makes smart puck plays and often showcased his ability to skate the puck more this season. He could someday make an intriguing college free agent.
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12. Laz Giardina
Lawrence Academy, 6/29/2006, LW, left shot, 6-4/198
Now we get into the raw players. Giardina, at his size, is still raw. He transitioned nicely from Reading (Mass.) High in the MIAA to Lawrence Academy this season, scoring 12 goals and tallying 22 points in 28 games. He skates well and has a good shot, but still needs to round out his game and increase his dominance at the prep level. He will be a senior at Lawrence Academy next season, which will give him a great opportunity to do that.
13. Jack Harney
St. Sebastian's, 11/22/2005, D, right shot, 6-9/225
Harney is really raw. The St. Sebastian's defenseman hasn't even been 6-foot-9 for a year and has had to work on playing in that big of a body. His skating has improved and he moves the puck well for someone with that kind of size. Harney is a long-term project. What will be interesting is what junior league does he end up in and how do they develop him?
