A popular opinion among coaches and onlookers is that boys prep hockey has become a younger league.
With more New England players going to junior leagues like the USHL earlier than they used to, standout freshmen and sophomore (or even eighth-grade) players in prep are often gone by the time their junior or senior year rolls around.
A trickle-down effect has been fewer high-end NHL Draft prospects playing their draft seasons in prep hockey. The days of Jay O'Brien (Hingham, Mass.) playing at Thayer and then being selected 19th overall feel like they're in the rear view.
And with the NHL Draft beginning Friday, we asked coaches a simple question for the final installment of our boys prep coaches poll.
Is prep hockey still a good place for NHL Draft prospects? All coaches were granted anonymity with their answers.
"Absolutely," one coach said. "The evidence is still there every year. Some of the elite, early-bloomers are ready to transition to the NTDP or USHL (Adam Fantilli, Will Smith, Matty Beniers, etc) but the majority of late-bloomers have and will benefit from staying through their senior year."
There's a lot to take away from those thoughts. Let's start with the first part. Fantilli, Smith and Beniers are phenomenal examples.
Smith, from Lexington, Mass., played his freshman year with St. Sebastian's during the 2020-21 season, while Beniers, from Hingham, Mass., played his freshman year with Milton Academy in 2017-18. Both were selected for the U.S. National Team Development Program and later selected inside the top five of their respective NHL Drafts.
Fantilli came from Nobleton, Ont., to play his freshman season at Kimball Union in 2019-20. He followed that up with two strong seasons for the Chicago Steel in the USHL. He was picked third overall, one spot before Smith, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Those kinds of players aren't going to be in prep long-term. With the evolution of junior hockey and the dominance of the NTDP, that probably won't change.
This year, Teddy Stiga is a great example of that. The Sudbury, Mass., native could be drafted as high as the first round this week. Stiga spent his freshman year at Belmont Hill in 2021-22 before making the NTDP. In the future, Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.), eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, and Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), eligible in 2026, are also good examples.
"Yes," another coach answered. "(Prep) may just be better for those prospects at slightly younger ages. Multi-sports, developing physically, playing against older kids, learning how to navigate being away from home (boarding), academics and time management. Lots of great skills that are taught in a supportive environment. Needs those skills for when you get to situations where people aren't looking after you."
A similar sentiment was echoed by another coach.
"Definitely," he said about prep. "Great place for younger prospects to develop and show what they can do against 18/19 year olds while getting a world-class education."
BOYS PREP COACHES POLL:Â Best newcomers and players this season, part 1Â |Â Best players and teams next season, part 2Â |Â A full-season model? Players leaving too early for juniors? Part 3
One thing prep hasn't been short on in recent seasons is good, young talent. That was evident this season. Freshmen David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.), Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.), Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.) and Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) were hard to miss. Eighth-graders Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) were sensations for Rivers. While the chances of all making it to their senior year in prep are low, they were still at least partially developed in prep and look to be high-end players to watch in their draft year.
Those seven examples, along with many others, will also develop another vital trait for later in their hockey careers.
"Playing pro hockey requires talent and character," a coach said. "Prep school helps develop character."
Then there's the second part of the first quote mentioned in this story: the late-bloomers. There are some great examples of those kinds of players who are candidates to be selected this week.
Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.), an '05, was a top player for St. Sebastian's this winter, notching 37 points in 25 games. He began to turn heads as a sophomore in 2022-23, but really hit his stride last summer.
Gio DiGiulian (South Burlington, Vt.) falls in the same category. He played his sophomore year at Kent in 2021-22, posting 14 points in 27 games. He averaged over a point per game as a junior the next season, but took off as a senior, tallying 25 goals and 49 points in 26 games.
On defense, there was Caeden Herrington (Manchester, Vt.) at Holderness. The Vermont commit had a strong junior campaign last winter, but elevated to a new level this winter, posting seven goals and 49 points in 29 games.
All three could be selected on Day 2 of the upcoming draft. Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.) fell in that category last season. The 6-foot-4 and 183-pound defenseman was hyped up as a senior at Dexter Southfield, but dealt with an injury for most of the year. He was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round of last year's draft.
BELMONT HILL ALUM: Could Teddy Stiga be picked in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft?Â
For draft-eligible players in prep, it's often been said they need to dominate the level to be selected. That's in large part due to the rise of juniors.
"NHL prospects are usually 17 years old," one coach said. "I think it's up to the NHL organizations on how much they weigh the level of competition for these kids. But that's been the case for the past 25 years."
Merrill projects to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick due to his blend of size, skill and skating. At 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds, what he can be makes him such an exciting prospect.
"Yes, it is getting tougher," another coach said. "But scouts know good players and they are drafting on potential. They're not looking for the player to play in the NHL anytime soon."
Everett Baldwin will go through this next season. The Providence commit is slated to return to St. George's. At 6 feet and 170 pounds, the East Providence, R.I., native is a high-level skater and offensive generator on defense. He should have no trouble dominating the prep field. His upside should make him a potential second-round pick.
"Why not extend the runway and make sure you dominate prep hockey before moving on to the next level (juniors)?" asked one coach. "Why take the risk of shortening your runway? And remember you don't have to get drafted to play in the NHL."
That last part is key — many players enter college undrafted, boost their stock and sign with an NHL team after.
FINAL RANKINGS: Top 14 New England prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft
Justin Hryckowian played for Salisbury in 2018-19 before two seasons in the USHL. He went on to Northeastern where he was a top player for the Huskies and signed with the Dallas Stars after this season ended. Collin Graf (Lincoln, Mass.) was a highly sought-after college free agent this season, too. While he never played prep, he was with the Boston Jr. Bruins for a long time, playing for them before going to Union and then becoming a star at Quinnipiac and winning a national championship. He signed with the San Jose Sharks earlier this year.
Everybody hits their stride at different times. It's an important thing to remember.
