This year's NHL Draft looks to be a very strong one for local New England boys prep hockey players. That hasn't been the case in past years.
Dexter Southfield defenseman Myles Brosnan (Winchester, Mass.), St. Mark's forward Will Manchuso (Concord, Mass.), Thayer defenseman Brian McFadden (Holbrook, Mass.) and Winchendon forward Charlie Puglisi were all fourth-round candidates in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. Groton defenseman Kaiden Donia (Townsend, Mass.) was ranked in the sixth round. Hotchkiss goalie Neilan Johnson and Deerfield netminder Elliot Lennon were both ranked, too.
This story, however, isn't about them.
Instead, it's all about the former prep players. In May of last year, I wrote a story highlighting 19 current prep prospects who could be NHL Draft prospect candidates for 2026. Many of them left prep and became legitimate candidates.
Here are 15 to watch for Friday and Saturday.
Tommy Bleyl, Moncton Wildcats
Bleyl has catapulted up NHL Draft rankings, as many experts have him getting picked somewhere in the back half of the first round — and it's easy to see why. The Cushing product won Defenseman and Rookie of the Year in the QMJHL after he put up 81 points in 63 games. At 6 feet and 170 pounds, he's an effortless skater with high-octane offensive abilities. He projects as an offensive defenseman in the NHL someday, running a power play and kick-starting breakouts.
Casey Mutryn, U.S. NTDP U18
The former St. Sebastian's star spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, popping this past season with 46 points in 62 games. At 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, the Norwell, Mass., native could be a late first-round pick given his size, compete, intelligence and two-way abilities. He makes so much sense as a middle-six stalwart in the NHL.
READ MORE: How many players drafted out of prep make the NHL, AHL?
Rian Chudzinski, Moncton Wildcats
Chudzinski, an alum of St. Sebastian's and Dexter Southfield, had a strong winter with Moncton, notching 21 goals and 38 points in 54 games. At 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds, the Needham, Mass., native is known for his high motor, high rate of physicality and ability to play anywhere. He will likely be picked somewhere in the late second, early third-round range, and makes sense as a bottom-six forward in the NHL someday.
Liam Lefebvre, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Lefebvre was dominant at Trinity-Pawling last season with 57 points in 25 games. He followed that up this past season with a huge season in the QMJHL, putting up 59 points in 59 games. At 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, he's second-year draft eligible and looks to go sometime in the second or third round.
Luke Schairer, U.S. NTDP U18
Schairer did a season with Mount St. Charles in 2023-24, so I'm counting him. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound defenseman had 22 points in 62 games for the NTDP this past winter. Big, right-shot defenseman are always in high demand, and Schairer's two-way abilities make him an intriguing second or third-round candidate. He's committed to Boston University, but is slated to play for the OHL's Peterborough Petes next winter.
Dylan Dean, Edmonton Oil Kings
Dean was a standout with Mount St. Charles' 14U team before moving on to the Long Island Gulls. He spent this past season with the WHL's Oil Kings, putting up 15 goals and 29 points in 52 games. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward is likely a middle-round candidate.
Justin Graf, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
After being a standout at Rivers, Graf exploded in the USHL this winter with 23 goals and 55 points in 52 games. The 6-foot-1, 174-pound forward has a wicked shot and has high-level speed that allows him to blow past defenders and into high-danger areas. I could see him as a high-upside pick beginning in the fourth round.
Brady Murnane, Oshawa Generals
NHL scouts love big defensemen, which is what Murnane is: 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. The big lefty plays physical and a shutdown style. He jumped from Winchendon to the OHL in the fall, playing in 55 games and putting up eight points. He could make sense as a Round 5-7 pick.
READ MORE: Part 1 of the boys prep coaches survey | Part 2 of the boys prep coaches survey
Joe Salandra, Barrie Colts
Salandra's season ended with him getting stretchered off the ice on May 6. Still, the former Brunswick star had a great season in Barrie with 12 goals and 38 points in 59 games. He's 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds, and has a ridiculous shot. He was strong at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer, and could be an intriguing late-round selection.
Cooper Cleaves, Dartmouth
Another former Brunswick star. Cleaves was a stout, do-it-all defenseman for a strong Dartmouth team this past winter. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound, right-shot defenseman notched 10 points in 30 NCAA games. The Riverside, Conn., native is in his final year of draft eligibility, but don't be shocked if/when a team takes him late in the draft so they don't have to compete to sign him a few years from now as a free agent.
David Bosco, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Bosco was somehow left off NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, despite a nice first season in the USHL with 19 goals and 34 points in 54 games. The former Belmont Hill star can play center and wing, and has proved to have an edge in the USHL this season. He has skill, but he also has a high compete.
Colin Feeley, Oshawa Generals
Feeley is 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds. That alone excites scouts. The former Salisbury standout had eight assists in the OHL this season. He still has plenty of development ahead of him, but I find him interesting given that he moves pucks well for a player at his size, has a good stick and should continue to fill out, which will help him with physicality.
Connor Davis, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Davis was a potential NHL Draft pick out of Salisbury last season, but ultimately never heard his name called. That could change this season after he put up 55 points in 59 USHL games for Cedar Rapids. The North Dakota commit plays a heavy game and can play anywhere in a lineup.
READ MORE: Our final 2026 NHL Draft rankings
Maks Corovic, Collingwood Blues
Corovic's final prep moment was him making numerous saves to guide Cushing past Dexter for the 2025 Elite 8 title. This season, the 6-foot-3 netminder posted a 1.66 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in 20 games with the OJHL's Collingwood Blues.
Jacoby Weiner, Moncton Wildcats
Weiner was in net for Kent last season before moving on to the QMJHL, where he posted a 2.85 GAA and a .890 save percentage in 17 games for Moncton. He's a 6-foot-4, 227-pound netminder committed to Harvard.
