The 2022 NHL draft class in New England runs deep, but there isn’t a Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass.), Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) or Oliver Wahlstrom (Yarmouth, Maine) projected to go in the top half of the first round.
The top New England prospect for the 2022 NHL draft is Northeastern freshman Jack Hughes, the son of Kent Hughes, recently named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Hughes, from Westwood, Mass., often is referred to as the “other Jack Hughes,” in reference to the 2001 birth-year forward selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2019. The Huskies’ Hughes is a skilled, smart center who can make plays and finish.
In these rankings, you’ll see that I prioritize players who have moved on to the USHL. While prep school hockey is a terrific route for the vast majority of players, I value prospects with a desire to challenge themselves at the highest level. There are still some very talented players in the prep school circuit, and a handful of them will hear their names called this July. Obviously, more than a few of the players in these rankings won’t be drafted. However, each player to make this list, even at the bottom, has at least one skill-set worth monitoring.
More rankings from this series:
Nos. 1-5 | Nos. 6-10 | Nos. 11-15 | Nos. 16-20
10. Michael Fisher (Westboro, Mass.)
St. Mark’s/EC Wizards U-18, 5/2/04, D, right shot, 6-2/193
NCAA commit: Princeton
Fisher’s skating and size are what draw NHL scouts to him. A big righty who skates the way he does is in huge demand. The one area of his game that most NHL scouts would like to see improve as he moves through junior and college is his making and finishing more plays. However, his character as a junior captain and his physical tools almost certainly will lead to him being drafted come July.
9. Michael Callow (South Boston, Mass.)
St. Sebastian’s/Junior Eagles U-18, 1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-4/190
NCAA commit: Harvard
Callow’s lack of consistency is what kept him down this list. He’s shown some glimpses, especially in the fall for the Junior Eagles. With his size and skating ability, he should be absolutely dominating at the prep level. As of press time, he’s the third-leading scorer on his own team. If he ever puts it all together and plays with passion every shift, there is big-time potential.
8. Andon Cerbone (Stamford, Conn.)
Chicago, 4/13/04, C, left shot, 5-8/150
NCAA commit: Michigan
Cerbone’s ranking on this list was something I have wrestled with a lot this season. The former Brunswick and Mid Fairfield scoring sensation is putting up slightly over half a point per game in his second year of junior hockey. He’s a perfect example of a player who’d be putting up giant numbers in prep but has chosen to challenge himself in junior. Cerbone’s skating, stick and offensive instincts are all good attributes. He comes off the wall and can be a power-play specialist. He’s slight but has shown more of a propensity for physical play than I expected this season.
7. Charlie Leddy (Fairfield, Conn.)
U.S. NTDP U-18, 1/11/04, D, right shot, 6-1/176
NCAA commit: Boston College
Leddy doesn’t have the upside as a number of others on this list. His skating and hockey sense are good for this level but average at best when projecting to the NHL. What does stand out is his ability to be reliable in his own zone. He concentrates on that aspect of his game and brings a hard, physical presence night in and night out while being paired mostly with offensive dynamo Lane Hutson. A former Mid Fairfield and Avon Old Farms standout, Leddy climbs my list due to his defensive success while playing against USHL and college competition.
6. Ben MacDonald (Weston, Mass.)
Nobles/EC Wizards U-18, 2/22/04, C, left shot, 6-1/175
NCAA commit: Harvard
As I’ve stated quite a few times, MacDonald’s hockey sense and 200-foot game have been longstanding trademarks of his game. Over the past two years, his skating and stick have become more dynamic. I’d still like to see him possess the puck more than he does, but his offensive creativity has taken off. There’s significant pedigree and he’s got a lot of potential to be a cerebral center as he continues to develop.
