With the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in the rearview mirror, attention turns to the 2022 class, which is made up of late 2003 birth year players and ’04s born on or before Sept. 15.
The rankings for New England’s top prospects ahead of next year’s draft have changed quite a bit over the past few months. While always worthy prospects, Cameron Lund (Bridgewater, Mass.), Jackson Dorrington (North Reading, Mass.), Ben MacDonald (Weston, Mass.) and Michael Fisher (Westboro, Mass.) had strong performances at the 2021 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp.
Despite the movement, Northeastern freshman Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) continues to lead the charts when it comes to New England’s top prospects eligible for the 2022 draft.
1. Jack Hughes
Northeastern, 11/2/03, C, left shot, 6-0/165
Hughes hasn’t been in action since the U18 World Championship almost three months ago just outside of Dallas. As a result, nothing has changed in terms of his standing at the top of this list. The slick-skating, skilled Hughes will center one of the top two lines for Northeastern this upcoming season. While he might have some growing pains as a younger player in college hockey, his offensive skill-set, including his vision, will stand out to scouts when watching the former St. Sebastian’s and NTDP star. Hughes projects to go in the first round of the draft.
2. Cameron Lund
Green Bay Gamblers, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 6-1/165, NCAA commit: Northeastern
Lund wasn’t wildly productive at Select 17s, but he stood out due to his physical tools and overall skill-set. He had just two goals and an assist, but his height, length, skating and skill clearly were at the top of the class in Buffalo. It earned him a spot on the American roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The Northeastern commit is making the jump to the USHL in 2021-22 after playing previously for the Junior Bruins, Cushing and South Shore Kings.
3. Ryan Healey
Sioux Falls Stampede, 5/19/04, D, right shot, 6-1/170, NCAA commit: Harvard
Healey had a goal and two assists at the USA Hockey Select 17 Camp as he solidified his spot on the Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster. From Hull, Mass., Healey is a great skater who impacts the puck possession game in a drastic way. He can jump up into the play and move pucks north on a consistent basis. His defensive game is a work in progress, but that should continue to get better as he embarks on his second season in the USHL’s Western Conference.
4. Jackson Dorrington
Des Moines Buccaneers, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-1/185, NCAA commit: Northeastern
Dorrington had a monster camp this June in Buffalo. He scored two goals and three assists in four games as he earned his way onto the Hlinka Gretzky Cup team. Not only was he strong with the puck, his play on the other side of it was equally impressive. He delivered a couple of bone-crushing hits and took away time and space from opposing forwards. As he continues to grow into his frame, he’ll become even more of a threat.
5. Ben MacDonald
Nobles/EC Wizards 18-U, 2/24/04, C, left shot, 5-11/160, NCAA commit: Harvard
MacDonald had a couple of goals at the Select 17 camp and showed well. While he didn’t make the Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster, he improved his stock in Buffalo. His skating and hockey sense both were at the upper echelon of the camp. What validates this lofty ranking is his development trending in an upward direction. The Weston, Mass., native has committed to Harvard and should be a draft pick next summer.
6. Michael Fisher
St. Mark’s/Little Bruins 18-U, 5/2/04, D, right shot, 6-2/178, NCAA commit: Princeton
Fisher has steadily been on the rise, which resulted in a college commit earlier this calendar year. The defensive defenseman made a positive impression in Buffalo, his first trip to a national camp. He has the size and range to take away scoring chances from opposing teams. He knows his identity and plays to it. Fisher will have the chance to become the second St. Mark’s defenseman taken in three years when the 2022 draft rolls around.
7. James Fisher
Belmont Hill/EC Wizards 18-U, 4/28/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
Fisher didn’t make national camp, but he’s a raw power forward who is still flying under the radar. The Wilmington, Mass., native has upside with his size, powerful stride and ability to control play below the dots. His physical tools will intrigue scouts right from the opening puck drop, but he’ll need to improve on his hockey sense and consistency in order to make that next step up the ladder.
8. Andon Cerbone
Chicago Steel, 4/13/04, LW, left shot, 5-9/150, NCAA commit: Michigan
Cerbone is a skilled player who had three goals at Select 17s. The Stamford, Conn., native is looking to prove his naysayers wrong as he starts his first full campaign in the USHL. Cerbone is a player who can play the wall on the power play. He does a good job of coming off the wall and making plays. His offensive instincts and stick are both high end. Cerbone will have to prove he’s strong and heavy enough to be more of a complete player.
9. Michael Callow
St. Sebastian’s/CC Whalers 18-U, 1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170; NCAA commit: Harvard
Callow’s physical tools certainly put him in the category of being draft-worthy. The South Boston native is a big power forward from the right wing position. With his size, he has shown glimpses of being able to drive the net, protect pucks, shoot it hard, and finish. He needs to bring that skill-set on a more consistent basis if he’s going to impress more NHL scouts.
10. Declan Loughnane
Thayer/CC Whalers 18-U, 11/22/03, D, right shot, 6-0/200, NCAA commit: Providence
Loughnane is one of the few players on this list who I haven’t seen play in 10 months or so, due to an injury. The Milton, Mass., native has a good shot, can break pucks out of his own zone, and plays with jam on the defensive side of things. He’s able to protect pucks and fend off opposing forecheckers. He doesn’t play at a high pace, but he thinks the game well and can slow things down.
11. Brady Berard
U.S. NTDP U-18, 2/26/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/175, NCAA commit: Providence
Berard had a slow start to his NTDP career in 2020-21, but I wouldn’t count him out. He’s an athlete who plays hard. Brother Brett made a big jump in his second season in Plymouth, Mich. It will be interesting to watch and see if the younger Berard can make similar strides as a U-18 player with the national program.
12. CJ Foley
Thayer/CC Whalers 18-U, 2/11/04, D, right shot, 5-10/155
Foley is a flashy offensive defenseman who likes to jump up into the rush. He skates well, has a good stick and competes hard. The biggest area of his game that needs to be improved is on the defensive side of the puck. He’s often caught up ice and out of position and doesn’t skate as well going backward as he does going forward. There’s upside with his athleticism, especially if he can reel it in and be better defensively.
13. Charlie Leddy
U.S. NTDP U-18, 1/11/04, D, right shot, 6-0/172, NCAA commit: Boston College
Leddy outperformed my expectations in his first season with the NTDP. The Fairfield, Conn., native has good size and can be physical at times. He needs to be more consistent in terms of his compete and be harder to play against all the time. He’s strong and can make an impact when he’s keeping things simple and playing to his identity.
14. Connor Welsh
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 18-U, 1/2/04, C, right shot, 5-11/161, NCAA commit: Boston College
Welsh had an average national camp, scoring a goal and an assist in four games. His skating and quick twitch are both reasons for optimism when it comes to projecting his upside. He’s still raw, compared to a lot of the other prospects here. Projecting forward, he’s likely a middle-six center who will have to bulk up and be a force on the penalty kill and defensive situations.
15. Chris Romaine
Milton/CC Whalers 18-U, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Romaine has a bit of upside as a puck-moving defenseman. His skating, footwork and breakout ability are all assets. He sometimes looks for the home-run pass too much, but he can be a force on the breakouts and sees what’s in front of him well. He’s a good athlete who could improve his offensive skill-set, in order to take that next step in his game as an undersized puck mover.
16. Grayson Badger
Dexter Southfield/CC Whalers 18-U, 5/9/04, RW, right shot, 6-0/172
Badger finished in a tie for second with three other skaters for most goals scored at USA Hockey Select 17 Camp. The Hyde Park, Mass., native is a competitor. He’s around the puck a lot and came up clutch in some key situations, as is usually the case. His skating isn’t bad, but it’s an area that could continue to get better. He gets around, despite it not looking pretty. His compete and tenacity on pucks earn him a lot of chances. He’s one of those players whose intangibles might excite an NHL organization.
Honorable Mentions
Defensemen Kazimier Sobieski (Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U), Jordin Palmer (Avon Old Farms), Shaun McEwen (Seacoast Performance Acad. 16-U), Nolan Joyce (St. Sebastian’s/Junior Eagles 18-U), Brian Grant (Nobles/CC Whalers 16-U).
This article appeared in the print edition of the July/August 2021 New England Hockey Journal magazine.
