Between the ’04s and late ’03s, the 2022 NHL draft class is strong throughout New England. Harvard, Northeastern, Boston College, Providence and Michigan have strong candidates to hear their names called in a year.
1. Jack Hughes
U.S. NTDP U-18, 11/2/03, C, left shot, 6-0/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Hughes is the only projected first-rounder from the New England crop of prospects. The Westwood, Mass., native is a skilled, playmaking center, who will be a freshman at Northeastern during his draft year. Hughes skates well and has good vision. Prior to the NTDP, he played at St. Sebastian’s and the Junior Eagles. In 38 games this season, Hughes scored eight goals and 26 assists. Hughes will be put in a position to succeed at Northeastern, but having to be a young freshman in college hockey could pose a challenge for any prospect. With a good rookie season with the Huskies, Hughes will be a first-round pick.
2. Ryan Healey
Sioux Falls Stampede, 5/19/04,
D, right shot, 6-1/170
NCAA commit: Harvard
Healey had a strong 2020-21 campaign, which started at the 16-U level and finished with 15 games in the USHL. In addition to his time in Sioux Falls, the Hull, Mass., native skated in eight games with the NTDP U-17. Healey is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. The Boston Advantage youth product is a very good skater who sees the ice well and can jumpstart the transition. An athlete, his own zone is getting better and he’ll have two years of junior hockey under his belt before the 2022 draft. Healey should go in the second or third round.
3. Cameron Lund
Junior Bruins, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 6-1/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Lund’s timeline has been accelerated, due to the coronavirus. He would have been a sophomore at Cushing this winter, but he played for the Junior Bruins in the NCDC. The Bridgewater, Mass., native scored 17 goals and 17 assists in 40 games in a junior league known for having older players. He also scored a goal in two games as a call-up in the USHL with Green Bay. Lund has the size, skating and length to be a top two- or three-round pick. He’s smart and has shown the ability to play with an edge. He needs to show that on a more consistent basis and play more in the hard areas of the ice. If he can continue developing and show he can play a heavier game in Green Bay, he should head to Northeastern as a second- or third-round pick.
4. James Fisher
Belmont Hill/EC Wizards 16-U,
4/28/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
Fisher always has been an intriguing prospect, in my mind, dating back to his time with the Junior Bruins. His game started to come on toward the end of his freshman year at Belmont Hill in 2019-20. The Wilmington, Mass., native really took off this fall with the East Coast Wizards. Fisher is a big power forward with an explosive stride and a hard shot. If he continues trending in the upward direction, a third- or fourth-round pick is possible.
5. Michael Callow
St. Sebastian’s/CC Whalers 16-U,
1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
NCAA commit: Harvard
Callow has a lot of potential as a power forward. The South Boston, Mass., native has good size, a powerful stride, and a hard shot. In 34 games this fall for the Cape Cod Whalers, he had 19 goals and 14 assists. He also got a call-up for three games with the NTDP U-17. Callow needs to bring it on a more consistent basis, but he has all the tools to be drafted.
6. Andon Cerbone
Chicago Steel, 4/13/04, LW, left shot, 5-9/150
NCAA commit: Michigan
Cerbone, from Stamford, Conn., had a solid year split between Mid Fairfield 16-U and Chicago Steel. In 30 USHL games he had two goals and five assists. Cerbone is a slick skater with a lot of skill. His offensive instincts are very good. He’s got an ability to come off the wall and make plays while on the power play. Cerbone could very likely slide up this board with a successful year in Chicago.
7. Declan Loughnane
Thayer/CC Whalers 18-U, 11/22/03, D,
right shot, 6-0/200
NCAA commit: Providence
Loughnane missed much of the 2020-21 season with a lower-body injury. The Milton, Mass., native is an extremely smart, offensive defenseman. He does a great job at protecting pucks and avoiding oncoming forecheckers in his pursuit to get pucks north. His shot is very good and he can quarterback a power play. Defensively, he is strong, has a good stick, and plays with jam.
8. Jackson Dorrington
Junior Bruins, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-1/185
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Dorrington made the most out of a tough year as he moved up to the NCDC with the prep season canceled. The North Reading, Mass., native had two goals and 18 assists in 33 games for the Junior Bruins. He also was called up for a pair with the NTDP. Dorrington has size, skates well, and has a good stick. He should be selected at some point in the 2022 draft.
9. Brady Berard
U.S. NTDP U-17, 2/26/04,
LW, left shot, 6-0/175
NCAA commit: Providence
Berard, from East Greenwich, R.I., struggled in his first year with the NTDP. The former Mount Saint Charles skater scored eight goals and seven assists in 32 games. Despite the rough patch, I wouldn’t count out Berard from making a push in 2021-22.
10. Ben MacDonald
Nobles/EC Wizards 16-U, 2/24/04,
C, left shot, 5-11/160
MacDonald is a two-way center whose skating and skill have both become more dynamic over the past 12 months. He’s a smart playmaker who can also score. From Weston, Mass., he has some upside and at the very least will be a good college player.
11. CJ Foley
Thayer/CC Whalers 16-U, 2/11/04,
D, right shot, 5-10/155
Foley, from Hanover, Mass., is a little on the smaller side, but he’s a very good skater. He has a good stick, competes hard, and is versatile. Foley has a ton of Hockey East and ECAC interest.
12. Charlie Leddy
U.S. NTDP U-17, 1/11/04, D, right shot, 6-0/172
NCAA commit: Boston College
Leddy, from Fairfield, Conn., exceeded my expectations with the NTDP this past winter. He’s big, athletic, shoots it well, and has some jam.
13. Connor Welsh
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 16-U, 1/2/04,
C, right shot, 5-11/161
NCAA commit: Boston College
Welsh has a lot of upside and has shown that with Brunswick and Mid Fairfield. He has good size, hockey sense and skating.
14. Chris Romaine
Milton/CC Whalers 16-U, 2/21/04,
D, right shot, 5-10/150
Romaine, from Milton, Mass., is on the smaller side but has a lot of potential with his feet and breakout ability.
15. Bobby Landry
Dexter Southfield/CC Whalers 16-U,
3/22/04, C, right shot, 6-0/161
NCAA commit: Harvard
Landry is a smart, playmaking center who can make plays from the wall. His feet are an area that can get better, but his size and physical tools are intriguing. The Hingham, Mass., native previously played for Boston Advantage.
16. William Hughes
Dexter Southfield/CC Whalers 16-U, 1/14/04, C/RW, right shot, 6-2/185
NCAA commit: Harvard
Hughes transferred from Phillips Andover to Dexter Southfield. He’s played mostly center but was moved to wing this season. He had a successful stint on one of Dexter Southfield’s top line with 2021 prospect Matty Copponi at center. His size and skating ability will get him notoriety with NHL scouts.
Honorable mention
Forwards Grayson Badger (Dexter Southfield/CC Whalers 16-U), defensemen Kazimier Sobieski (Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U), Jordin Palmer (Avon Old Farms), Shaun McEwen (Seacoast Performance Academy 16-U), Nolan Joyce (St. Sebastian’s/Junior Eagles 18-U), Brian Grant (Nobles/CC Whalers 16-U).
