The NHL Draft begins later this week. Things are much clearer than they were at the beginning and middle of the season.
There’s a shot that the region puts up a first-round pick this year. But New England has done that in recent seasons.
What New England hasn’t had as much of in recent seasons is depth in players drafted on Day 2. That looks to change this time around.
Several prep prospects have a high likelihood of hearing their names called on Day 2. Two players in their third year of draft eligibility are likely to be picked as well.
Five locals were picked in the 2025 and 2024 NHL Drafts. There should be more than five that are picked this June.
For the final time before the draft, let’s dive into ranking the locals.
1. Casey Mutryn
U.S. NTDP-U18, 7/5/2008, F, right shot, 6-3/201
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
NCAA: Boston College
There are always draft prospects who get a bump in the time between the season ending and the draft. Mutryn has been one of those players this time around, going from a potential second-round pick to being talked about as a mid-to-late first. He scored 14 goals and finished with 37 points in 55 games. His physical tools and traits, along with his leadership, make him a very compelling middle-six option in the NHL someday. He’s tough to play against and has a relentless compete. There is still untapped offensive potential, and he can play wing and center. He can play anywhere in a lineup, too. He’s the kind of guy you want on your side of the fight.
2. Rian Chudzinski
Moncton Wildcats, 12/31/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
NCAA: Boston University
The BU commit opted to leave prep a year early for the QMJHL, and it worked out. Chudzinski scored 21 goals and posted 38 points in 54 games for Moncton this season. He also has 13 points in 13 playoff games as of early May. Chudzinski has good size and a high motor, which, like Mutryn, makes him someone who likely can play anywhere in professional hockey, although Chudzinski probably profiles more of a bottom-six forward in the NHL. He is likely to go somewhere from the end of the second round to the third.
3. Myles Brosnan
Dexter Southfield, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/194
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: Harvard
Brosnan stayed in prep, and it worked out as he was arguably the top player in the league, leading all defensemen in points with 51. He’s a fantastic skater who picks his times to rush the puck well. On breakouts, he can use his feet to exit the zone himself or has no problem making the simple play. He can run a power play and is fantastic walking the blue line to open up new shooting lanes. He was much better defensively this winter, too, succeeding at managing games.
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4. Brian McFadden
Thayer, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.
NCAA: Northeastern
With McFadden, it’s all about what he could become. He had a good prep season with 20 points in 29 games. His puck decisions and offensive creativity are rare in players of his size. He still needs to put on muscle and fill out. In junior hockey, his physicality should be more evident. But the tools are there to make him a fascinating prospect to track through college. Players like him don’t come around often.
5. Niko Tournas
Moncton Wildcats, 2/17/2006, F, right shot, 6-2/198
Hometown: Redding, Conn.
NCAA: New Hampshire
Tournas popped off for 43 goals and 74 points in 64 games for Moncton this season. As lethal an offensive threat as he is, what stands out the most with Tournas is his resilience. Since moving to junior hockey in 2023, he struggled in the USHL, went to the NAHL to find himself again and then thrived this winter. Those early struggles should serve him well. I’d expect him to be gone sometime in Rounds 3-5.
6. Will Manchuso
St. Mark’s, 1/8/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
NCAA: Dartmouth
Manchuso boasted a strong winter with St. Mark’s, leading the region with 32 goals and posting 59 points. While 6-foot left wingers aren’t hard to find, he’s a phenomenal skater and has a wicked shot. Those two traits can be rare in players, which makes him an intriguing late-round snag. The skating alone makes him draftable. Add in the shot, and there is the potential (which is what the draft is about) that he hits in the NHL someday.
7. Cooper Cleaves
Dartmouth, 1/5/2006, D, right shot, 6-4/205
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
Every NHL scout is trying to project what players will be at higher levels. Scouts don’t have to do that as much with Cleaves, who proved to be a steady, dependable right-shot defenseman for Dartmouth this winter. He’s a good skater, and with his size, he projects as a safe bet to be a steady pro — whether that’s in the AHL or NHL.
8. Justin Graf
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 7/10/2007, F, left shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Lincoln, Mass.
NCAA: Harvard
Graf had a big season with the RoughRiders, putting up 23 goals and finishing with 55 points. In his first junior season, he showcased high-end vision, and he’s an elusive skater. At Rivers, he was often overshadowed by the line of Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) — yet he still produced a ton. But on his own, he shone with Cedar Rapids and could be an intriguing late-round pick. His older brother is Collin Graf, who plays for the San Jose Sharks.
9. Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.
NCAA: Quinnipiac
Donia was productive with Groton this winter, scoring five goals and posting 22 points. He has two big assets: his size and his skating. At 6-foot-5, he moves extremely well. I wouldn’t be stunned if an NHL team took a late-round flyer on him in hopes that he continues to develop physically and with his hockey IQ.
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10. David Bosco
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2/8/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: Harvard
Bosco had a nice first season in the USHL, but was left off NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings. He scored 19 goals and posted 34 points in 54 games. He also proved to be someone who could mix it up and show toughness and an edge to his game. That, mixed with his hands and vision, could make him someone an NHL team snags late.
11. Owen McHale
Dexter Southfield, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
NCAA: Northeastern
McHale turned in an impressive winter with 18 goals and 36 points in 27 games at Dexter. But the reason why he’s on this list is his toughness and edge. McHale is a pest and a pain to play against. When you’re playing him, and he jumps over the boards, you take notice. NHL teams love those kinds of players.
12. Jack Galanek
UMass, 6/4/2006, F, left shot, 6-0/187
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.
Galanek had a nice freshman season at UMass with five goals and 24 points in 36 games. NHL Central Scouting ranked him as a seventh-round candidate, so it’s not likely that he’s picked. But if an NHL team believes he will progress more and more through his time at UMass, they may want to pick him late to avoid having to try and sign him at the end of his collegiate career.
13. Jacoby Weiner
Moncton Wildcats, 6/19/2008, G, catches right, 6-4/227
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
NCAA: Harvard
After a tough campaign with Kent in 2024-25, Weiner rebounded nicely as Moncton’s back-up goalie this season, posting a 2.85 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage in 17 games. His size is what makes him a potential draft pick. He’s long been a top ‘08 goalie in the United States.
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14. Will Bent
Halifax Mooseheads, 3/12/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/201
Hometown: Dover, Mass.
NCAA: Providence College
Bent has long been a top ‘08 forward in the United States. He wasn’t a top point-getter with Halifax this winter, putting up 11 points in 37 games and falling off NHL Central Scouting. His size and shot make him an interesting prospect, however, and if he bounces back next season, he could be a very intriguing second-year eligible pick.
