For the second straight year, a local certainly will hear his name called in the first round of the NHL Draft.
It was Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) and Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) last June. It likely will be Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) this June.
Eiserman was a candidate to go No. 1 entering the 2023-24 season. Things are different now. Other prospects’ stocks soared over the winter. It’s looking more like Eiserman will be a late top-10 or early 11-20 pick.
But we’ve known Eiserman was going to go high for three years. What’s fascinating is the number of prospects behind him who had outstanding seasons and are likely to be selected in the draft.
The rankings have changed a lot throughout the past 12 months. As the draft, set for June 28-29 in Las Vegas, nears, here is our ranking of local prospects.
1. Cole Eiserman
U.S. NTDP U-18, 8/29/2006, LW, left shot, 6-0/196
NCAA: Boston University
The knock on Eiserman is his play away from the puck and his work in the defensive zone. But what he’s good at is why he should go very high: goal scoring. The Newburyport, Mass., native can score from everywhere. His shot is lethal and he knows how to get to high-danger ice with the puck, as well as how to get open in high-danger ice. He had 58 goals in 57 games with the NTDP, including 25 in 24 USHL games. NHL teams with center depth should be heavily considering Eiserman in Round 1.
2. Teddy Stiga
U.S. NTDP U-18, 4/5/2006, LW, left shot, 5-10/176
NCAA: Boston College
Stiga entered the season classified as a sixth- or seventh-round candidate by NHL Central Scouting. He finished the year as the No. 44 ranked (second-round) skater in North America by the scouting service — and rightfully so. After posting just 21 points as a U-17 with the program, the Sudbury, Mass., native exploded for 36 goals and 79 points in 61 games this season. He has high-end compete and skill, which make for a lethal combination. Expect him to be taken in the second round, but don’t be surprised if a team takes a chance on him at the end of the first round.
3. Elliott Groenewold
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2/4/2006, D, left shot, 6-2/201
NCAA: Quinnipiac
Groenewold’s numbers don’t pop — five goals and 16 points in 57 USHL games. But his abilities in the defensive zone do. The Bellows Falls, Vt., native has an outstanding stick, and he’s a good skater who can shut down opposing players and contest zone entries. Teams looking for a reliable defenseman who could someday be a second- or third-pair shutdown defender at the NHL level will look for him somewhere in the third or fourth round.
4. Gio DiGiulian
Kent, 9/25/2005, RW, right shot, 6-1/161
NCAA: Cornell
These next three players are close. On my initial NHL Draft prospects in prep rankings, I ranked Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) one slot above DiGiulian (South Burlington, Mass.). The more I’ve thought about it, however, I’d give the slight edge to DiGiulian. His ability to separate himself from other players in prep and be the best player on the ice was impressive. He also has a high hockey IQ and he’s a strong skater. I think he will reliably be a pro hockey player someday.
PREP HOCKEY: 13 top NHL Draft prospects from prep hockey
5. Ben Merrill
St. Sebastian’s, 11/4/2005, C/RW, right shot, 6-4/194
NCAA: Harvard
In terms of ceiling and potential, Merrill gets the edge. The Hingham, Mass., native has the size to catch NHL scouting eyes. To go along with that size, Merrill has high-end skill and a great shot, and he’s a smooth skater. An NHL team probably takes him somewhere in the fourth or fifth round based off upside alone. But there’s a lot to like in the present day, too.
6. Caeden Herrington
Holderness/Green Bay (USHL), 1/26/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
NCAA: Vermont
Herrington could just as easily be ranked No. 4 as he is No. 6. The Manchester, Vt., native dazzled at Holderness this winter, scoring seven goals and totaling 49 points. He’s a great skater and has a high level of skill for a defenseman. He also challenged himself and succeeded, spending some time with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL when the prep season ended. That time should boost his stock among NHL teams.
7. Joe Connor
Muskegon, 3/31/2005, C/LW, left shot, 5-10/174
NCAA: Northeastern
Connor (Amherst, N.H.) was passed over last June coming off a strong showing at Avon Old Farms. The big reason why was due to him being labeled undersized. Well, Connor went to the USHL this season and dominated, scoring 31 goals and posting 60 points in 50 games for Muskegon. The biggest attribute Connor has is his relentless compete. If he’s taken in the draft, I’d expect it to be in the sixth or seventh round. He will enter Northeastern this fall as a freshman.
8. Landan Resendes
Cedar Rapids, 12/10/2005, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/165
NCAA: Boston College
The same knocks on Connor being undersized can be said about Resendes. Both seem to have no trouble proving the doubters wrong. Resendes’ transition to the USHL wasn’t as smooth though, but the Marlboro, Mass., native figured it out in the second half. He finished with 14 goals and 30 points in 59 games for Cedar Rapids. Resendes also has a high compete and plays on the edge. He has really good skill, and if he stays in the USHL for another season, which he’s likely to do, he’s a candidate to see a huge jump in production. That would make him an even more intriguing NHL Draft prospect next season if he’s not drafted this year. He’s a bubble candidate for this June.
9. Thatcher Bernstein
Tri-City, 7/17/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/209
NCAA: Harvard
Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.) should be higher on this list, but he didn’t see much playing time in the USHL this season. Between the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Tri-City Storm, he played only 17 games, with mixed results. The USHL can be a culture shock for goalies, especially for a 17-year-old. Bernstein is still one of the better goalies in his birth year, which could result in a team picking him. The question is did he play enough to get drafted this year?
BOYS PREP COACHES POLL: Best newcomers and players this season, part 1 | Best players and teams next season, part 2 | A full-season model? Players leaving too early for juniors? Part 3
10. Jack Sadowski
Kimball Union, 7/29/2006, LW, left shot, 6-0/179
NCAA: New Hampshire
I probably have Sadowski higher than most. The biggest reason is that there’s no denying his ability to produce at any level. Whether it’s the MIAA, New England prep or USA Hockey’s Select Camp, the Arlington, Mass., native finds ways to produce. There are questions about his skating, but it has improved in recent seasons. He posted 41 goals and 87 points in 37 games for Kimball Union this winter. I’d have to imagine some NHL general managers looking at the draft board in Rounds 6 and 7 and saying, “Why aren’t we taking the 87-point getter?”
11. Will Felicio
Waterloo, 5/19/2006, D, left shot, 5-10/161
NCAA: Michigan
Felicio always has been regarded as one of the best offensive defensemen among the ’06s. After a strong first season with Madison in 2022-23, the Holden, Mass., native was traded to Waterloo midway through this season. He finished with 29 points in 54 games, which was a slight uptick from the previous season. The big knock against Felicio is that NHL teams are looking for big, mobile defensemen. While he’s mobile, he’s certainly not big.
12. Owen Keefe
Sioux City, 3/26/2006, D, left shot, 6-0/194
NCAA: Northeastern
Keefe (Saugus, Mass.) was dealt midway through the USHL season from Muskegon to Sioux City. The numbers aren’t eye-popping (three goals and 10 assists through 60 USHL games), but he’s a steady two-way defenseman. He’s slated to do another year of juniors, which will help his development even more. If he’s selected, that NHL team would be banking on what he can be with a little more seasoning.
13. Ethan Gardula
Sioux City, 2/28/2005, LW, left shot, 5-11/174
NCAA: UConn
Like Connor, Gardula (Princeton, Mass.) was passed over in last year’s draft, but mainly for being thought of as a perimeter player. He improved his stock quite a bit this season, scoring 20 goals and notching 49 points in 58 USHL games. NHL teams always love players who succeed at a high level like the USHL. Gardula is very much a bubble player when it comes to this draft. He’s slated to enter UConn in the fall.
AWARDS: Here are our 2024 boys and girls prep hockey awards
14. JJ Monteiro
Salmon Arm, 1/12/2006, C, left shot, 6-0/185
NCAA: Providence College
Monteiro was a longtime standout for Mount St. Charles, posting very strong 15O and 16-U campaigns. This past winter, the Hudson, Mass., native made the move to Salmon Arm in the BCHL, scoring 19 goals and tallying 33 points in 54 games. While his skating is a question mark, Monteiro plays with a high compete and uses his frame well to shield pucks. He’s likely to do another year of juniors, which will make him an even more interesting draft prospect next year.
