It’s early, but scouts already are starting to take notes on players eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Players born between September 16, 2003 and September 15, 2004 will be in their first year of draft eligibility during the 2021-22 season.
During the River Rats Jamboree and Eastern Alliance Kickoff, NHL amateur scouts were in the rinks to watch players eligible for 2021, but a couple of 2022 eligible prospects would have stood out in games that they might have been watching.
To me, the top three prospects for 2022 are pretty clear. After that, the waters get a little murkier. There’s obviously a lot of time for players to make an impression one way or another. Below is a look at the top 14 first-year-eligible prospects from New England for the 2022 NHL draft.
New England's 2022 NHL draft prospects
1. Jack Hughes
U.S. NTDP U-18, 11/2/03, C, left shot, 5-11/160
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Hughes had a great first season in Plymouth, Mich., with the NTDP U-17 team. The Westwood, Mass., native scored 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 49 games played. Hughes checks boxes for skating, skill and hockey sense. His vision allows him to make plays for his linemates, but he also can finish. I’ve always liked Hughes, but he exceeded my expectations last season. The former St. Sebastian’s and Junior Eagles star likely will be a first-round pick in 2022.
2. Andon Cerbone
Brunswick, 4/13/04, C, left shot, 5-9/150
NCAA commit: Michigan
Cerbone put up huge numbers last season with Brunswick, which helped him earn an invitation to the NTDP Evaluation Camp as well as being a first-round pick of the Chicago Steel in the USHL Phase I draft. In 31 games, the Stamford, Conn., native had 11 goals and 36 assists. I’ve questioned his overall game in the past, but there is no denying his skill-set. He’s got the offensive instincts, hands and agility to be a first-unit power-play guy and a top-six forward. It’s obviously early, but I could see Cerbone being a second-round pick in 2022.
3. Declan Loughnane
Thayer, 11/22/03, D, right shot, 6-0/200
NCAA commit: Providence
Loughnane is best known for his offensive abilities from the back end. His shot, ability to break pucks out of his own zone, as well as protecting pucks are all attributes that have helped him earn that calling card. In 27 games for Thayer last season, he had seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points. He’s a strong defender who plays with jam. He has a good stick that helps disrupt the opposition’s flow by deflecting pucks out of shooting and passing lanes. Loughnane’s USHL rights are owned by the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He plays split-season hockey for the South Shore Kings 18-U.
4. Shaun McEwen
Bishop Kearney 16-U, 1/21/04, D, left shot, 6-0/160
NCAA commit: UMass
McEwen is a strong, athletic, two-way defender who continues to get better. He’s making the move to Bishop Kearney following last season when he starred at Selects Academy South Kent. He had 17 goals and 40 assists in 59 games played last season. McEwen can bring it physically, but he’s also able to jump up into the rush and his shot gets off with zip. The South Hadley, Mass., native is a third-round USHL draft pick of the Tri-City Storm.
5. Brady Berard
U.S. NTDP U-17, 2/26/04, C, left shot, 5-11/181
NCAA commit: Providence
Berard is a 200-foot forward who skates well, plays the game the right way and can be utilized in all situations. While his offensive numbers weren’t gaudy at Mount Saint Charles, I expect him to continue to get better with the puck on his stick. The East Greenwich, R.I., native scored 28 goals and 35 assists in 56 games last season.
6. Jackson Dorrington
Junior Bruins, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-1/172
Dorrington played two seasons at Cushing but has apparently left the Ashburnham, Mass., prep school for the USPHL NCDC’s Junior Bruins, due to coronavirus lockdowns impacting his ability to play split season on the weekends. Dorrington has good size, skating and offensive instincts. His ability to positively impact puck possession is a strong attribute. His shot could use some improvement, but he has a lot of intriguing tools. The North Reading, Mass., native had nine goals and 18 assists in 34 prep games last season for the Penguins. Dorrington is a second-round pick of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. Dorrington has several offers and likely will commit to a top Hockey East or ECAC Hockey school.
7. Ryan Healey
Boston Advantage 16-U, 6/5/04, D, right shot, 5-11/160
NCAA commit: Harvard
Healey, from Hull, Mass., is an offensive-minded, puck-moving defenseman. His forward mobility, stick and vision are all outstanding. If he can improve going backward, he’ll become an even more complete player. Healey put up nearly a point per game while playing for the Advantage’s 15 Pure team last season. He’s a first-round pick of the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.
8. Connor Welsh
Brunswick, 1/2/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/150
NCAA commit: Boston College
Welsh is a player who I believe is just scratching the surface in terms of his potential. He has that quick twitch in his stride, and I think he’ll grow into an even bigger, middle-six winger. He plays the game the right way and has good hockey sense with and without the puck. He had six goals and 14 assists in 31 games for Brunswick last season. This season, he’s playing split season for Mid Fairfield 16-U. Welsh is a second-round USHL pick of the Sioux City Musketeers.
9. Cam Lund
Junior Bruins, 6/7/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/165
Lund, hailing from Bridgewater, Mass., also has left Cushing for the USPHL NCDC’s Junior Bruins. Lund checks boxes for his size and skill. He’s shown flashes of being an elite skill player with size. I’d still like to see him play more between the dots and be more consistent. However, his production as a young freshman in 2019-20 was impressive. He had six goals and 26 assists for 32 points in 34 games. Lund was a second-round pick of the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL draft.
10. Grayson Badger
Dexter Southfield, 5/9/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/175
Badger put up monster numbers last season while playing for the Cape Cod Whalers 15 Pure and Brookline High School. He’s a right wing who plays with energy every shift. He goes hard hunting pucks, which helps him get a ton of chances. His offensive instincts, hands and skating are all making progress but could use continued growth. However, his bread and butter will always be as a player who a coach can count on to give 100 percent every game. The Green Bay Gamblers draft pick is drawing interest from multiple Hockey East and ECAC Hockey schools.
11. Shane Baker
Junior Bruins 16-U, 4/21/04, C, right shot, 5-11/180
Baker was a lesser-known prospect last season after playing at Grafton High School as a freshman in 2018-19. He’s entering his second season with the Junior Bruins 16-U and reportedly will get some games with the organization’s NCDC team. In 2019-20, he put up just under a point per game at the 16-U level. Baker is a strong skater and has some skill. His USHL rights are owned by the Omaha Lancers.
12. Will Hughes
Dexter Southfield, 1/14/04, C, right shot, 6-2/200
Hughes is a big center ice man who skates well and has a good stick. The Andover, Mass., native always has been an intriguing prospect, due to his size and skating ability. After two seasons at Phillips Andover, he’s transferring to Dexter Southfield. He had 10 goals and 13 assists in 27 games for the Big Blue last season. He’ll be playing split season for the Cape Cod Whalers 16-U. His USHL rights are owned by the Sioux City Musketeers.
13. Arthur Smith
Selects Academy 16-U, 4/30/04, G, catches left, 6-3/188
Smith is a big goaltender who got a chance to represent the U.S. at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games this past winter. The Farmington, Conn., native has good size and athleticism. He’s reportedly staying with the South Kent prep school, despite many of its players heading elsewhere. Smith was drafted by the Madison Capitols in the USHL Phase I draft.
14. Nick Ring
Boston Advantage, 10/26/03, C, right shot, 5-9/153
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Ring is on this watch list due to his skating and skill. He has good speed and can make plays. The Hingham, Mass., native has played up the last three seasons, despite having a late birthday.
