Next year's 2023 NHL Draft is shaping up to be top-heavy when it comes to the talent coming out of New England.
USA Hockey NTDP teammates Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) and Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) rightfully will steal most of the headlines, as the forward pair have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the region.
The two Boston College commits enjoyed a successful first season with the NTDP, earning both a call-up for the IIHF World U18 Championship. Will McDonough (Duxbury, Mass.), Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.) and Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.) round out the top five, but it gets light quickly after that.
The recent Massachusetts Hockey CCM High-Performance Festival emphasized the lack of high-end players remaining in the ’05 birth year, once you take away the four players skating outside of the region in the USHL.
There are still 12 months for an under-the-radar prospect to make a name for himself ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, but it looks like local NHL scouts will be left with slim pickings.
1. Will Smith
U.S. NTDP U-18, 3/17/05, C, right shot, 5-11/150
NCAA commit: Boston College
Smith has been at the top of this class for quite some time, dating back to his Bantam days with the Junior Eagles. He left no doubt as to who the top ’05 in the U.S. was with his play at the NTDP this past winter. Whether in USHL games or international competition, Smith was dominant offensively. A strong power forward, his skating and skill are dynamic. A first-line center, he can score or make plays. Another positive trend is his continued attention to detail and improved work ethic away from the puck. Smith is certainly positioning himself to be a top-10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
2. Ryan Leonard
U.S. NTDP U18, 1/21/05, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/165
NCAA commit: Boston College
Leonard is a pure goal scorer whose play on the ice earned him opportunities to advance and play up. The former Pope Francis standout has a great shot, but his hockey sense and ability to know where to be on the ice is almost as impressive. Leonard is one of those players who can be sleepy at times, but he can change the tune of a game in an instant with his shot. Leonard has first-round talent, but improving his maturity on the ice will carry him a long way to furthering his potential. He’s the younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward John Leonard, a former star at UMass.
3. Will McDonough
Sioux Falls Stampede, 6/18/05, C/RW, right shot, 6-1/181
McDonough is an intriguing prospect, as there are two schools of thought as to his potential. His limited production over the final 26 games of the season in the USHL could be looked upon as a negative, but I choose to see it as a positive. He easily could have stayed in New England and dominated Midget major, prep or NCDC. Instead, he pushed himself to get better against the best of the best. Earlier in the season, he proved his goal-scoring capabilities with the Boston Advantage. McDonough has the size, strength, shot and is heavy on pucks. He scores a ton of rebound goals by being in the right position and winning battles. His boots are heavy, and that’s an area that will need to improve. However, he’s a force to be reckoned with on the ice and should see a significant jump in his second season in the USHL.
4. Sean Keohane
Dexter Southfield, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 6-3/165
NCAA commit: Harvard
Keohane is a late bloomer who has really elevated his stock more than any other prospect in this region among this draft class. He’s always had the size and ranginess to defend, take away time and space, and close on opposing forwards. He skates well, especially for his size. Where he really took his game to a whole new level in 2021-22 was offensively. Throughout his Midget and prep career, he had never hit double digits in points. He averaged nearly a point per game in 24 games with Dexter Southfield this winter. His stock could continue to soar, as defensemen with his size and skating don’t grow on trees.
5. Will Vote
U.S. NTDP U18, 2/1/05, C/RW, right shot, 5-7/145
NCAA commit: Boston College
Vote continues to exceed expectations. He’s constantly knocked for his lack of size, but his hockey sense and compete level are both off the charts. He scored more goals than I envisioned him doing in his first season of junior hockey. If he takes the expected jump from year one to year two with the NTDP, he could slide further up the draft rankings. Either way, he’s going to be a heck of a four-year college player.
6. Sam Scopa
Belmont Hill, 1/10/05, G, catches left, 6-0/172
Scopa is the best goaltending prospect from the region in this 2023 NHL Draft class. His skating and technical skills are both very good. He’s not overly big, but he’s at the magic mark of being 6-foot tall. He could grow further, but he’s a solid prospect as it is. The Lexington, Mass., native had a terrific prep school season for Belmont Hill, helping guide the Sextants to the NEPSAC Elite 8 championship game. Scopa sometimes gets critiqued more than he deserves to be, but it’s because he’s put himself in a position to be playing in bigger games than most goalies his age. He got a taste of junior hockey with a call-up to the NTDP late in the season. His character speaks volumes and is a major reason he’ll keep trending in the right direction.
7. Donovan Frias
St. George’s, 11/9/04, LW, left shot, 6-3/194
NCAA commit: Yale
Frias is another late ’04 who could be drafted next year with the ’05s. The Hudson, Mass., native always has been a player to watch, due to his size. However, his skating and skill have improved significantly over the past 18 months. He’s a power forward who can protect pucks, drive the net and finish. He had a solid year for St. George’s and is reportedly off to the BCHL for the 2022-23 season.
8. Ethan Gardula
Cushing, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 5-11/175
Gardula lost his two split-season linemates, Smith and Vote, to the NTDP. That didn’t deter him from having a solid fall with the Eagles, and he carried that into the prep season at Cushing. He’s a power forward who plays a north-south game. He’s strong on his skates and hard to knock off pucks. He can score goals by crashing the net and going to the greasy areas. He showed more of a playmaking side to his game this past winter. His skating isn’t high-end, but it’s getting better. While there are others in this 2023 NHL Draft class who skate better, the Princeton, Mass., native plays a heavy game and competes hard — two traits that can’t be taught.
9. Lucas St. Louis
Dubuque Fighting Saints, 3/30/05, D, left shot, 5-10/161
NCAA commit: Harvard
St. Louis had a strong year with Brunswick and Mid Fairfield before heading off to the USHL. The undersized, puck-moving defenseman got a taste of the junior league in two games with Dubuque at the end of the season. His vision, ability to transition pucks north, and walk the blue line on the power play are all exceptional assets. He’ll have to get bigger, stronger and defend better. His offensive acumen will keep him on the radar of NHL scouts during his draft year in Dubuque.
10. Ryan Shaw
Westminster, 1/29/05, LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Shaw is a sleeper, but the East Longmeadow, Mass., native had a strong first prep season at Westminster and has played well throughout the spring at the Mass. Festival. He’s undersized, but he skates well, has a high motor, and keeps his feet moving. There’s still refining that needs to happen to his game, but he’s proving he might just be one of those players who consistently proves the naysayers wrong.
11. Brad Guden
Tabor, 8/29/06, D, left shot, 5-11/172
This pick is a little off the board, but Guden’s skating is strong enough to merit consideration. His size is a little bit of an obstacle, but he’s a late bloomer who is continuing to get better. Guden had a strong season for King Phillip, coached by New York Islanders scout Paul Carlow. While he didn’t get many views until the postseason, Guden was a one-man breakout for the Warriors. Hailing from Norfolk, Mass., Guden is going to make the jump from the MIAA to Tabor Academy for the 2022-23 season. His father, Dave, played college hockey at Providence.
12. Cam Russo
Governor’s, 1/3/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/185
Russo is an interesting prospect, as his size and stick should place him higher in the rankings. He has two weaknesses, which will hurt him in the eyes of NHL scouts. His skating and compete level, especially away from the puck, are parts of his game that need improvement in order to make the most out of his physical tools. The Middleton, Mass., native certainly can score goals, and he’ll have eyes on him throughout the fall and winter.
13. Michael Stenberg
Des Moines Buccaneers, 9/22/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/185
NCAA commit: Providence
Stenberg is a late-birthday skater whose body of work in the USHL certainly leaves a lot to be desired, but he should be commended for challenging himself in the top junior league in North America, rather than staying and playing prep school close to home. The Needham, Mass., native is a strong, athletic winger who is heavy on the forecheck and can create time and space with his physical prowess. His skating and hockey sense are areas of his game that will hurt him when it comes to being evaluated by NHL scouts.
