Earlier in the week, I chronicled all of the 2004-born commitments throughout the country and analyzed which college programs have the best classes among recruits in the birth year.
With 125 players in the '04 birth year now having committed to a Division 1 college program, many of the best prospects have already been accounted for on the recruiting trail. However, there are still some very good uncommitted players in the '04 class.
After missing out on a little over a year of recruiting opportunities, the '04s have been showcased on the big stage several times this summer. The USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y. along with the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the Czech Republic offered '04s an opportunity to flaunt their skill sets in front of college coaches and NHL scouts.
The top 10 uncommitted '04s in the country:
1. Gavin Brindley
Tri-City Storm, 10/5/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
Brindley is on the smaller side, but he’s an elite offensive player who projects to produce big numbers in the college game. He uses his speed to create on the rush and separate from opposing defenders. He’s quick, shifty, and can make plays in small areas, despite being undersized. The Estero, Fla., native played for his father, Miami alum Ryan Brindley, while with the Florida Alliance. He spent 2020-21 playing as a tender in the USHL with Tri-City. In 54 games, he scored 10 goals and 14 assists. He missed USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp with an injury. Assuming he returns to full health, look for him to take a further step in his second season of playing on the junior circuit. Michigan and Miami are the frontrunners to land Brindley’s services.
2. Cole Knuble
Fargo Force, 7/1/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Knuble was on my radar for being a smart, 200-foot player for a while. However, his game has taken a huge jump over the past 12 months. It showed down the stretch with Fox Motors at the USA Hockey Nationals and at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Knuble scored four goals at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup as the Americans finished fifth. The East Grand Rapids, Mich., native is still that cerebral forward with elite hockey sense. He’s added more of a goal scoring acumen while maintaining his strong habits with and without the puck. His dad, Mike, played in 1,068 games in the NHL, including many with the Boston Bruins. Knuble will likely land at Michigan, his father’s alma mater, Harvard or Yale.
3. Sam Rinzel
Chaska H.S., 6/25/04, D, right shot, 6-4/173
The term late bloomer is often thrown around too often, but it certainly applies to Rinzel, a big righty from Chanhassen, Minn. In 2020-21, he scored eight goals and 17 assists in 19 games for Chaska High School. It marked a 16-point increase in production from his sophomore year and he did it in six less games, due to Covid. He had a solid showing at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, earning a spot onto the Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster. Rinzel has a ton of pro upside with his size, skating and stick. He’s still raw, but the tools are there if he can put it all together. Without having much inside information, I’d have to assume every NCHC and Big Ten power is in on Rinzel.
4. Jimmy Clark
Edina H.S., 9/24/04, LW, left shot, 5-11/174
I’ve liked Clark for a few years, but he’s another player who has taken big strides over the past 12 months. The Edina, Minn., native is a power forward with finishing ability and a physical presence. He has good size, strength and plays hard. He wins a lot of puck battles along the wall and below the dots. In 20 games for Edina, Clark potted 15 goals while adding 11 helpers. Clark had a good showing at Select 17s and scored a goal and an assist at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Similarly to Rinzel, I’m not sure where Clark is leaning, but Minnesota and the other big boys in the Big Ten and NCHC are probable favorites.
5. Dylan Silverstein
NTDP U-18, 2/7/04, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Silverstein has been regarded as the top goaltender in the `04 birth year for at least a couple of years now. The Calabasas, Calif., spent one season playing prep hockey for Dexter Southfield before embarking on his journey with the NTDP. He missed significant time due to injury in 2020-21, but posted an .890 save percentage in 16 games. Silverstein has good size, athleticism and technique. He’s certainly the top uncommitted goaltender in the country. Every top program in the country is likely on Silverstein. If there’s one school out east that could be a possible destination, it’s Boston College as the Eagles only have one goaltending commit, '02 Grant Riley.
6. Quinn Finley
Madison Capitols, 8/8/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/166
Finley is a gifted offensive player with elite skating ability. The Suamico, Wis., native has good size and can burn opposing defenders with his speed. He does a good job of creating on the rush and snaps off a shot with zip. He still has to become less perimeter, but his vision and ability to make plays also stand out in his repertoire of talents. In 39 games this past season with the Chicago Steel, he scored a goal and dished out eight assists. Finley set up three goals at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He’ll return to Madison in 2021-22 with the Capitols set to return to USHL action after being dormant this past season.
7. Brennan Ali
Avon Old Farms, 2/9/04, C, left shot, 6-1/193
Another late bloomer in the '04 birth year is Ali, who hails from Glencoe, Ill. A lot of coaches and scouts watched him a lot with the Chicago Mission and he never really jumped out prior to this past season. He’s grown and he’s developed a dynamic skating stride that has allowed him to become more explosive. A big, 200-foot center, Ali has good vision and can protect pucks before setting up open teammates. He had a strong showing at Select 17s and dished out three assists at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. With Ali making the move to prep hockey in 2021-22, a lot of eyes will be on him out this way. Look for area colleges to make a move and certainly some of the top programs from the midwest will be following.
8. Nicholas Vantassell
Green Bay Gamblers, 4/18/04, RW, right shot, 6-4/192
There is a ton of untapped potential in Vantassell’s game. The big righty is a power forward from Basking Ridge, N.J. He has shown glimpses of dominance with his physical tools. His size, strength, long powerful stride, and ability to play a north-south game are all attributes that college coaches want. He’s still raw and hasn’t quite put it all together on a consistent basis. In 39 games for the New Jersey Rockets in 2020-21, he scored 15 goals and 20 assists. He had a goal in four games at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. There are a lot of schools in Hockey East and ECAC Hockey that are watching Vantassell closely. While he’s not a sure thing to make an impact at the college game, his pro upside is undeniably stronger than some others on this list.
9. Kaden Muir
NTDP U-18, 5/9/04, D, right shot, 6-0/172
There is a lot to like when scouting Muir, who is a dual citizen with Manchester, N.H., listed as his birthplace. He has good size, skating ability, and a physical presence at times. He does a good job of closing on opposing forwards and taking away time and space. He doesn’t appear to have much in the way of offensive upside. His hockey sense is the determining factor in how good he’ll turn out to be. Still, Muir is the only uncommitted skater on the NTDP U-18 squad heading into the season.
10. Seth Constance
Mount Saint Charles 18-U, 10/26/04, D, right shot, 6-1/178
Constance is a big time player who will further his development during the 2021-22 season under the tutelage of Matt Plante. Constance, from St. Louis, Mo., is a good-sized two-way defenseman. He doesn’t have a truly elite attribute, but he’s good at everything. That might be a limiting factor when it comes to pro potential, but he projects as a very strong college blue liner. He skates well and he can bring it physically while having an above average stick and brain. In 26 games for Mount Saint Charles 16-U in 2020-21, he scored seven goals and 11 assists. He’s a really good player that a lot of top programs should be coveting.
Honorable Mention
(alphabetical order)
Forwards Frank D’Ancona (Omaha Lancers), Colin Kessler (Culver), Casy Laylin (St. Michael/Albertville H.S.), Michael Mesic (North Iowa Bulls), Will Schumacher (Prior Lake H.S.), Kaleb Smith (Omaha Lancers), Justin Solovey (New Jersey Titans), Merril Steenari (Sioux Falls Stampede), Gavyn Thoreson (Andover H.S.); defensemen CJ Foley (Thayer), Brian Grant (Nobles), Sean Keohane (Dexter Southfield), Weston Knox (Andover H.S.), Eric Pohlkamp (Brainerd H.S.), Chris Romaine (Milton), Colby Woogk (Dubuque Fighting Saints); goaltenders Ben Behrens (New Mexico Ice Wolves), Nick Erickson (Hill-Murray H.S.), Austin McNicholas (Salisbury) and Lucas Szyska (Des Moines Buccaneers)
