BUFFALO, N.Y. — We've looked at the forwards from USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp who are 2027 NHL Draft prospects. Now, it's time to look at the defensemen and goalies.
Select 17 Camp is a great appetizer for NHL scouts to get a look at who they might be watching a lot of this winter for the 2027 NHL Draft. Despite the 2026 NHL Draft having just wrapped up, several NHL scouts were in attendance. NHL Central Scouting was well represented.
For me, I was at the first two days of games on July 8 and 9. It's no secret that I know the New England and Massachusetts players better. But I was still able to glean some NHL Draft prospects from the other regions.
Let's dive in.
Easton Anello
Cape Breton Eagles, 1/19/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/184
Hometown: Windsor, Mass.
NCAA: UMass
Final stat line: Three assists in six gamesÂ
Anello wasn't flashy in my viewings, but he was a steady, reliable, two-way defenseman, which will be his path to getting drafted. He made smart reads when stepping up at his own blue line to negate zone entries. He's a good skater who consistently made intelligent, simple passes. How active his stick is should set him apart.
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Kurt Beck
Sherbrooke Phoenix, 4/2/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/196
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
NCAA: Providence College
Final stat line: One assist in six gamesÂ
Against Minnesota in Game 1, Beck was at his absolute best. He was physical and quick to close on opposing forwards when they entered over his blue line. He also moved pucks well, rushed it when given the chance and aided in the offense. The frame and tools are there for Beck to be picked next June. He just needs to put it all together.
Brody Berard
Youngstown Phantoms, 9/2/2009, D, right shot, 6-0/196
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.
NCAA: Northeastern
Final stat line: One goal and two points in six gamesÂ
Berard was his usual self when I was watching him at camp — reliable defensively and quick to step up for a big hit. But what made him pop were his rushes with the puck and his smooth, clean skating. Berard activated numerous times to join the rush. Against Central, he took it himself, beat a defender, cut middle and barged over the goalie for a scoring chance. The former Mount St. Charles standout is already known as a shutdown defenseman, but if the puck-moving and offensive game continues to grow, it's going to be difficult for NHL teams to pass on him.
Caleb Deanovich
Waterloo Blackhawks, 3/26/2009, D, right shot, 6-0/186
Hometown: Fon Du Lac, Wisc.
Final stat line: Zero points in six gamesÂ
In his game against New England, Deanovich was always involved. He moved pucks creatively and showcased great skating, which allowed him to get away from opposing players and into space. He jumped into the offense with ease. And in his own zone, he was physical and hard to play against in front of his own net. A productive full season in Waterloo (he missed time due to injury this past season) should boost his profile for NHL teams.
Rylan Hanson
Elk River High School, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Zimmerman, Minn.
Final stat line: One assist in six gamesÂ
Hanson was an at-large bid placed on New England. He showcased a strong, two-way game. He defended hard with good physicality, but he also made intelligent, clean first passes. I was impressed by a sequence of his against Central. On one shift, he got the puck twice right outside of the offensive blue line while teammates were trying to get onside. Rather than dump it in both times, he made creative passes to restart offensive sequences with possession. He showed off a heavy shot, too.
READ MORE: How the NCAA's new age-based eligibility model will impact prep
Kamden Jackson
Williston Northampton (last year), 3/4/2009, G, catches left, 6-0/187
Hometown: Manchester, N.H.
Final stat line: .892 save percentage, 2.33 GAA in six gamesÂ
A Division 1 assistant mentioned to me that Jackson reminds him of Hockey Hall of Famer Dominik Hašek — that's pretty good, right? Jackson navigated the net with so much poise in my viewings of him at camp. His mobility and ability to read shots from distance were the best I saw from a goalie at camp. He's coming off leading New England prep in save percentage (.945). It's unknown where he's playing next season.
Cam Minella
Halifax Mooseheads, 8/29/2009, D, left shot, 5-11/180
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
Final stat line: Two assists in six gamesÂ
Minella has always been a puck wizard. But in my viewings of him at camp, he was even better at navigating the blue line, walking it well to improve shot angles and transporting pucks lower in the zone. His fleet feet allowed him to elude pressure and also step up to get to loose pucks or negate opposing rushes the other way. When he rushed pucks, he didn't try to do too much. Against Southeastern, he had a nice offensive zone entry, but it was a 1-on-3. Rather than try and fight to the net, he chipped it in and got off. Managing the game like that will improve his stock in the eyes of NHL scouts.
Jack O'Dell
Phillips Andover, 7/30/2009, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
Final stat line: One goal and three points in six gamesÂ
NHL scouts are very excited about O'Dell. The do-it-all defender was stout in every situation. He made correct reads when stepping up in the neutral zone to break up plays and deliver hits. He also showed a penchant for using his good skating to jump into the offense and generate scoring chances. Sure, players sometimes take a hit with their NHL Draft stock by staying in prep. But O'Dell's size and all-around abilities make him look like a mid-round pick a year out.
READ MORE: 11 potential 2027 NHL Draft prospect forwards from Select 17 Camp
Marshall Paul
Avon Old Farms, 2/23/2009, D, right shot, 6-2/214
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Final stat line: One goal in six gamesÂ
Paul is another defenseman NHL scouts have already been asking me about. The Avon Old Farms product is big and rangy, and has the qualities of a strong shutdown defenseman. In 1-on-1s at camp, he kept great gaps and picked the perfect time to step up, put stick on puck and lay the body. But he also showed an ability to create offense, too. In his first game at camp, he let a missile go from the point that slipped low past the goalie.
