Dr. Tee’s Beginning of SeasonTop 10 Hobey Baker Candidates for the 2024-2025 Season
October. The official beginning of the 2024-25 College Hockey season. Wow.
It seems like yesterday we were left in awe of Matt Davis’ jaw-dropping NCAA-tournament stretch… that we were star-struck at Macklin Celebrini’s historic Hobey Baker-winning season, as just a 17-year-old (the youngest player in the NCAA by the way)… and of course, witnessing possibly the greatest roster ever assembled dominate the regular and postseason… just to be struck down in a David vs Goliath fashion.
It’s been six months since Denver conquered Boston College. But as the autumn leaves start to fall, apples begin to crisp, and the air begins to chill - yet again - we leave behind the ruins of last year’s Rome, and focus towards today's next Empire; and who’ll eventually be crowned Emperor. Today, we’ll focus on the Emperor aspect, and more specifically take a look at ten players who I think have the best shot at sitting on the throne in 2024.
The Recent Growth of College Hockey
Last season saw the re-emergence of lowerclassmen dominance in College Hockey. With more and more players opting to go D1 instead of Juniors than ever before, the talent in College Hockey is at an all time high. To continue on, this recent trend is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. The two most prime examples of this came during last year’s OHL Priority selection, when Canadians Adam Valentini (13th overall selection) and Caleb Malhotra (8th overall selection), chose the College route despite being two of the best CHL prospects available. Valentini, a Michigan commit, is playing this season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL. Malhotra, a Boston University commit, is playing with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL. The fact of the matter is, NCAA hockey is no longer a pushover-after-thought that only American born players drafted in the 3rd round or later decide on doing. No, that’s simply not the case anymore. We all know who Macklin Celebrini is, and if the recent players before him hadn’t already kicked off this trend, he now officially has.
Back to Celebrini. Out of the top ten leading scorers in the country last season, nine were sophomores or freshmen; and like the rising popularity of the NCAA, I don’t expect that to slow down at all. The more talent that’s entering College Hockey, the younger and better we’ll see players getting. However, I do expect a jump in upperclassmen scoring as well. Only a few teams mastered this aspect of roster construction last season, with the most notable being the University of Michigan and Denver University. What was different about the Wolverines and Pios as opposed to most of the rest of the country, was that not only were they stacked from head to toe in lowerclassmen talent that oozed with future NHL experience, but they had players like TJ Hughes and Massimo Rizzo respectively. Hughes being a junior, and Rizzo a senior. They both weren’t the best on their respective teams, but were both within the top 25 in national scoring. Now, with more international talent merging into the College game, we’ll be seeing more and more 3 to 4 year players that are not only great, but are great for longer periods of time - like Hughes and Rizzo - to help balance out the NHL prospects that are likely to leave after their freshman or sophomore seasons.
So with all that being said - naturally - expect an all-time great season ahead of us.
However, one more thing I have to warn everyone about before reading is that this list may be quixotic to many of you, so why not just read for the fun of it? Without further ado, here are my official preseason top 10 Hobey Baker candidates.
My Top 10 Hobey Baker Candidates
#10.
Michael Hage, C
Freshman, Michigan University
He’s tranquil, yet vicious at the same time. Ripping apart the opposing team’s defensive structure to shreds while in contrast, nothing seems to be able to deter him when the puck is on his stick. That alone should sum up what makes Michael Hage such an amazing and talented hockey player. With that being said, it should be no surprise he is a top Hobey Baker Candidate as just a freshman.
Originally, I was not expecting to place the 6’1”-190lbs. center out of Missassuage on my list. To say I didn’t expect him to take this big of a leap in his first season as a Wolverine would be an understatement. Now, Hage is looking like a legit Hobey Baker Candidate, and a player that could be a one and done - something I never expected Hage to be, regardless of his talent. I usually won’t mention the success that these players have had early this year in this article, simply because it’s just that: extremely early, and because of that extremely hard to judge whether or not these players are legitimately top Hobey Baker Candidates. However, for Hage the case is opposite. His early season success has been the talk of College Hockey lately, scoring a point in every game so far for a total of seven in six games.
The plays that Hage has been making this season have been nothing short of magnificent. His skill, combined with his high end skating and acceleration have become one of the most deadly duos in College Hockey. But when watching his games, there’s usually no player on the ice with as much confidence and demand for the puck as himself. Personally, I believe this can be pointed to as the sole reason for his early dominance. Why? Because he’s done that at every single level he’s played at in his hockey career: dominate quick and early. The confidence in Hage’s game can’t be taught, and when you take account of Brandon Naurato’s high paced, high energy coaching style and the talent on Michigan’s roster, all signs point up for Michael Hage.
Hobey Baker Expectation
He’s wearing #19, so it feels only right that he’s going to have replicate another #19’s success that went to Michigan to win the Hobey Baker. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, I’m talking about Adam Fantilli, the 2023 Hobey Baker award winner. During Fantilli’s freshmen year, he scored 65 points (was a 30/30 player) and Michigan made it to the Frozen Four. I feel like the same has to be done by Hage considering the track record of Michigan hockey, and the talent surrounding him in the current College Hockey landscape. What Hage has done this season so far has been a remarkable statement of how good he is, and how good he is going to be. The 60-point mark seems lofty and far away, however with what he’s shown so far there’s no reason to believe he can’t do it.
#9.
Jack Devine, RW
Senior, Denver University
“They don’t ask how, they ask how many” must be hung up somewhere in Jack Devine’s dorm room because that’s how he plays hockey. The Senior from Glencoe, Illinois made a huge step in his overall development last season, notching over a point per game for the first time in his College career, not to mention being in the Hobey Baker conversation as well. He finished his 2023-24 campaign with a near 30-30 season, racking up 27 goals and 29 assists for an impressive 56 points in 44 games. He did so, alongside one of the greatest Denver Pioneers ever in Massimo Rizzo who really helped Devine get off to a fast start last year.
The best part of Devine’s game is definitely his shot. He has the complete package when it comes to scoring, as his hard, heavy snapshot is quick off his stick. This allows him to score from distance and in small areas like below the hashes. On top of this, his big 180-pound frame at 6’0” allows him to get to the gritty areas of the ice, like around the net and also helps him dig pucks out of corners. His stride, although sometimes choppy and slow to accelerate, can be powerful once he gets going, and he always skates with intent. Did I mention that he can also dish the biscuit as well? Devine has had more assists than he has had goals in every season of his College career. Despite the fact a lot of his assists are from shots, Devine is far from a one dimensional, and is extremely unselfish inside the blue lines.
Hobey Baker Expectation
I think Devine will have to prove a little before we can really start putting him up with the top dogs of College Hockey. However, I definitely think he can do it. The only real big losses that are occurring on the DU roster include Massimo Rizzo, Tristan Broz and Carter Savoiez Even then, returning Pios include Aidan Thompson, Carter King, Rieger Lorenz, and Alex Weiermair who flashed consistently last season; not to mention the major additions they made through recruiting and the transfer portal. My point is, Devine won’t be alone. He’ll have a great roster behind him to help propel his numbers even more, it’s simply up to him if he can take his game up one more notch. All I want to see from Devine this year is a 30/30 season, then we can start talking about a potential Hobey Baker.
#8.
Oliver Moore, C
Sophomore, University of Minnesota
Call me biased. Go ahead. But nothing would’ve stopped me from having the sophomore debut on my list at the number eight spot (would’ve been higher if he wasn’t the 2nd option on his team). Moore’s game is simply too refined for a 19-year-old. Will and skill are the two most valuable attributes one has in their game, and how good you are usually depends on: #1. How hard do you work when the puck isn’t on your stick? And #2. How good are you when the puck is on your stick? Moore embodies these two qualities and provides even more on top of that (see what I did there?). Last season, he had 33 points in 39 games on a Minnesota team that had a pathetic end to their season on the offensive side of the ice.
This upcoming season however, it’s no secret Minnesota will be placing most of the load on both Moore and Jimmy Snuggerud when it comes to carrying the puck up the ice. It’s also no secret the expectation this season is a National Championship. The Gophers roster is constructed well, but what will determine if they hit their expectations or not, is how well they’ll be able to get the puck into the offensive zone and keep it there. When it comes to talent, the Gophers roster is top to bottom one of the best in the country. Moore’s speed, elusiveness and strong hockey IQ with the puck will be a determining factor in how good that transitional game is for Minnesota. If - and it’s a major if - he can play up to and exceed the expectations many are setting for him, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be representing Minnesota on the Hobey Baker Ballots.
Hobey Baker Expectation
First off, Moore will definitely have to surpass his teammate Jimmy Snuggerud, who’s possibly the best player in the country right now, in production. He’ll also need to be the guy for the Gophers. However, I’m not too worried about that. Last season, we saw Boston College roster arguably the top four players in all of College Hockey, and the one player that represented the Eagles on the Ballots was both not the best player on his own team, and didn’t win the award at all. As long as Moore can keep pace with Snuggerud, he’ll have a shot. 20 goals, 60 points, a Big Ten Championship and a National Championship.
#7.
Isaac Howard, LW
Junior, Michigan State
Captain America.
That’s the word I’d use to describe Isaac Howard if someone asked me to sum him and his game up into one word or phrase. If Oliver Moore embodies what it means to be a good hockey player, Isaac Howard embodies what it means to love being a good hockey player. When you watch a Michigan State game you’ll notice two thing almost immediately: an extremely sound and mature group of kids that play the game the right way and #22 in green, absolutely buzzing up and down the ice.
While going through the draft process, there was a big narrative surrounding Howard: he could score goals and look good doing it, and after an underwhelming freshman season at Minnesota Duluth, something changed in Howard’s game. Something drastic. Making the move to East Lansing, Howard became a cerebral tactician with the puck on his stick. Dissecting defenses mentally by always posing as a constant threat to score (which he was), and physically by using his hands and vision to attack and create prime scoring chances for his teammates that, more often than not, ended up in the back of the other team’s net.
Hobey Baker Expectation
The one thing that is holding back Howard is hitting that next level in his game. That’s it. He has it, and we’ve seen it, the prime example being last year’s World Juniors. I truly believe Howard can be one of those rare 30 goal-30 assist College Hockey players, but will we see it? As much as I would love to, I’ll lower my expectations just a smidge: 20 goals, 35 assists, 55 points, and a convincing Frozen Four run.
#6.
Matt Davis, G
Senior, Denver University
April 13th, 2024. The day Matt Davis became a College Hockey legend. But when you take a closer look at who Davis is a player and where he’s come from, we should’ve expected it. Throughout all of last season, everyone knew that Davis was in that upper-echelon of players in the country, but there were definitely question marks about if he was good enough to be the Pios starting guy for 2024. Those questions were quickly answered as Davis would appear in 31 games, allowing on average only 2.34 goals a game, and sporting a save percentage of .917%. Anyone that still had doubts, would quickly be put to shame when the NCAA tournament rolled around.
Arguably the greatest tournament run by a player ever, Davis would allow only three goals in four games as Denver would shut down four of the nations best offensive teams in the process; including a juggernaut in Boston College which rostered the likes of Cutter Gauthier, Gabe Perreault, Will Smith and Ryan Leonard along with many, many more. Davis would hold that bunch scoreless for 60 minutes, ultimately rewarding Denver with its 10th National Championship, and 3rd in the last eight years. In 2025, Davis will carry over the weight of the monster expectations that he placed on his shoulders after going on one of the greatest goaltending runs we’ve seen by a College Hockey player.
Hobey Baker Expectation
Although a fall-off shouldn’t be expected, it’ll be hard for him to replicate the same monster success he had last year. Because of that, and with how hard it is to win the Hobey Baker as a goalie, I think his chances are slim, however far from zero. If we can see slightly better numbers, and a regular season in which the Pios continue to sit comfortably atop the College Hockey throne, give me Matty D. for the Hobey B. ~2 GAA, ~.925 SV%, ~35 wins.
#5.
James Hagens, C
Freshmen, Boston College
What happens when you combine the projected number one pick with two of the best players in the country? A National Championship, or what should be one. Last season the Eagles dominated the regular season, and all but one game in the NCAA tournament. They had six 35+ point scorers, which included four that had 60+. So, what do you do when you can’t win with four Hobey Candidates? You replace two, with one - except this one is arguably the best American born prospect since Jack Hughes.
Last season with the U.S. National Development Team, Hagens played with kids a year older than him, and against kids as much as three years older than him. He scored at a historic rate, putting up 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 58 games. Not to mention a U18 Worlds for the ages, putting up a tournament record 22 points in just 7 games, also bringing home tournament MVP. Aside from the numbers, aside from the headlines we have grown accustomed too, what makes Hagens so, so good, and such a good hockey player is by far Hockey IQ. He thinks the game like an NHL veteran, and faster than a Ferrari. Whatever you think he’s going to do, he’s already been setting up since the moment he’s got the puck. He knows where to be on the ice in order to get the puck, and he knows where to go and how to get there in order to make the next best play. To put it simply, he’s playing chess while his competition is playing checkers. His ability to break down a defense and manipulate his opponents in all aspects of the game is how he’s able to be so dangerous offensively. The constant threat of being able to score from anywhere on the ice, while being able to make any pass on the ice is simply unfair. Cerebral tactician and a mind for the game that far exceeds his peers? Yes. Bonafide hands, elite edgwork, and the sheer ability to turn anything into something? Yes. High-end competitor? Yes. Hagens checks off all the boxes of being a generational player, and if BC can’t bring home a National Championship with the addition of him, I don’t know if that’s a players problem or a Greg Brown problem.
Hobey Baker Expectations
Like I just said, if Hagens isn’t the missing piece to this Eagles team, I don’t know what direction they can or should go in next. At this point, a National Championship (like teams like Minnesota, and Denver) is the expectation. On top of this, Hagens has to put up Macklin Celebrini-esque numbers to even be considered for this award. Given that, if anyone is going to, he is. He has all the intangibles you could ever ask for in a player, and that’s why I think it’s a given he scores 60 points this season. In order to take home the Hobey Baker, however, he’ll have to outscore his fellow linemates in Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. 25 goals, 45-50 assists and 70 points, that’s my line for Hagens.
#4.
Zeev Buium, D
Sophomore, Denver University
The dynamic blue-liner was one of my favorite prospects in last year’s draft, and Denver is spoiled to have him returning for a second season. Buium’s real coming out party was last year’s National Championship. He controlled the game when he was on the ice in almost every aspect. He showed his poise and tenacity with the puck, attacking high danger areas and creating opportunities for his linemates which included an unbelievable spin-o-rama assist to Rieger Lorenz. Entering College, one of the major concerns from NHL scouts was his skating, which has ironically become one of his biggest strengths ever since joining the Pioneers. His edgwork is impeccable, it allows him to evade opposing players with ease, and walk the blue line with both style and elusiveness. His shot, although isn’t a rocket, is by no means a weakness in his game, as he tallied 11 goals as Freshman. His real strength comes in the playmaking and puck handling aspects of his game. Although I briefly touched on this before, I’ll do it again. He’s a quick thinker that’s able to stay calm, cool and collected under just about any situation, his maturity on the ice is far beyond his years. Buium is also a strong defender, and got significantly better in his own zone as the season progressed, learning how to use his body more and more effectively even if he’s not the biggest player. With what he lacks in strength, he makes up for in work and decision making, executing quick breakout passes and zone exits with his thinking and vision.
Despite the fact that I’ve already covered most of Buium’s game, I’ll do so some more in the aspect of what we should expect to see from him this season. Denver is coming into the year having lost two of their key pieces on the backend in Shai Buium (Zeev’s brother), and Sean Behrens both to pro hockey. Should this cause for concern in terms of Buium’s personal success? Absolutely not. Buium is adaptable, and plays a style of game that, although may benefit from a high-end partner, doesn’t exactly need one. Much of his offense is created individually, so the only aspect I may see him taking a slight decline in is his goal scoring.
Hobey Baker Expectations
In terms of numbers, Buium simply has to replicate the same success he had last season in order to be firm in the conversation throughout the whole season. Last year, his 50-point, point per game season was overlooked by the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. This year however, is different simply for the fact that we’re expecting Buium to be the dominant player we all know he is. As long as he can stay north of 50 points, while continuing to be the solid defensive player he is, we can rely on Buium to stay in the Hobey Baker race throughout the year.
#3.
Ryan Leonard, LW
Sophomore, Boston College
Who else did you expect? At this point you can probably guess the next two players on this list, but that’s besides the point. Ryan Leonard, a local Sophomore from Amherst, Mass was slightly overlooked last year by the three other studs on Boston College. Despite this, he still managed to score 60 points and finish with 31 goals (both of which were top five in the country in their respective categories). Now, Leonard is faced with stepping up into the spotlight that was left behind by Cutter Gauthier, and Will Smith… but something’s telling me he’ll have no problem doing that.
Leonard is the traditional power forward, except multiply your expectation of his raw skill by at least ten. Not only is he physical, but extremely crafty and gifted with the puck on his stick. The Capitals draft pick is tenacious and hard to play against, always racing to the boards and finishing checks hard. Of the players on the renowned All-American line last season (Will Smith, Gabe Perreault, Ryan Leonard), Leonard was the garbage man, getting to the dirty areas of the ice and picking up what was left over from Smith’s and Perreault’s mess. Don’t get it twisted, Leonard is no scrub with the puck on his stick, but he also doesn’t shy away from what hockey truly is: an extremely physical game played by a bunch of dumb athletes who probably got bullied by the Varsity Football team growing up (don’t worry, not me). Leonard plays a 200-foot game which matches perfectly with the mentality he displays on the ice. But the big thing that stands out when you really assess how he plays, is that not only can he make the physical plays along the boards and in front of the net, but he’s always able to make the skillful play when retreating from those situations. It’s like he has a switch that flips constantly back and forth between bash bro to Adam Banks (Mighty Ducks reference) - and yes, that’s the best way I can explain it as a 15-year-old.
Hobey Baker Expectation
I think I summed up Leonard’s play style pretty well there, and because of his play style I think it’s very easy to see why and how he’s the third best candidate for the Hobey Baker entering the season. The only thing that blemishes his Hobey Baker hopes, is really the talent surrounding him on his own team. If Leonard (just like Hagens) is the best player on his team this season, he will be nominated for the award. If he’s not, he won’t be (unless he pulls a Cutter Gauthier which I’ll further explain in a second). To me, there’s one of two ways he can win it. One, he absolutely shreds the nation apart and leads the country in points alongside Gabe Perreault and James Hagens. The second way, and the way I think is more realistic, is if he pulls a Cutter Gauthier and leads the country in goals by a healthy margin. Anything north of 35 is extremely hard to hit in College Hockey, and only the best players have done it. If he can do it, he’ll be putting himself in elite company and it’ll be hard for the voters to overlook that. 35 goals, 65 points, and a National Championship.
#2.
Gabe Perreault, RW
Sophomore, Boston College
Perreault was arguably the Hobey Baker front runner last season before he sustained an injury which sidelined him for five games. Even with the injury, Perreault had one of the best point per game averages in the country last season because of it; tallying 60 points in only 36 games compared to the rest of the Eagles roster who all played 41 a piece. I’ve said the word “cerebral” too much in this article, I’ll admit that, but if Perreault isn’t then I shouldn’t be mentioning the word at all. He’s hands down the best playmaker in the country and arguably the most creative and skilled player as well. Remember when we were questioning his game because we thought he was too slow to succeed in the NHL as a so-called “undersized player”? Those were the days. Ever since being picked up by the Rangers at the 23rd spot in the 2023 Draft, Perreault has done nothing but prove the doubters wrong.
When dissecting his game and taking a closer look at how he finds the ucess he does, you’ll realize his hands and mind are coordinated to work as one unit. When he surveys the ice to try and make a play, he’s not like your casual player that will strictly read and then react to the play (although Perreault does do that extremely well). Instead, he often pre-determines where his passes and shots will go based on where he knows both his linemates and the opposition will be. From there, he’ll be able to move to open ice in order to protect both his body and the puck so that he’ll have enough time to make a play. That’s why he’s so extremely good while not being the biggest or fastest player on the ice. To cap it all off, the most exciting part of his game is his stickhandling abilities. Out of all the players in the country to go 1-on-1 with, Perreault is probably the player I’d least want to go against. The way that he’s able to pick apart a defender 1-on-1 and off the rush reminds me a lot of Patrick Kane. They both use a wide range of head fakes, decelerations and quick accelerations to get the defender moving in the direction they want him to, before using that to their advantage by simply putting the puck where the defender isn’t.
Hobey Baker Expectations
Out of all the players on BC, Perreault is the one I trust the most when it comes to being the guy. That’s why he’s ranked second, and that’s why he’s ranked the highest out of all three of the BC kids. One thing that cannot happen this season if Perreault wants to win the Hobey Baker though, is him missing time. That will only further hurt both his own success and his team’s success. I need a fully healthy season in which Perreault eclipses 70 points and leads Boston College to the Natty. Nothing more, nothing less.
#1.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW
Junior, University of Minnesota
Well, well, well. Where should I start? Should I start with saying he's the best player in the country because he has the most experience? How about he’s a top ten NHL-affiliated prospect in the world right now? No. Where I should start is that the end of last season was utterly embarrassing for Minnesota, but specifically Snuggerud. When you start off with 17 goals in your first 22 games you’re doing something right. When you end the season with 21 goals in 39 games, and five points behind a point per game, you did something wrong, and drastically different. That was the situation that Snuggerud found himself in last year. I remember watching their Regional Championship game against Boston and when the game was finally over (and the Gophers had officially blown a two goal lead), I was left with one glaring question: where was Jimmy Snuggerud? A complete no-show, blank on the scoresheet in all boxes, whatever you want to call it. They say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but it’s hard for it not to be when you’re in a desert. For that reason, Snuggerud decided on coming back for what will inevitably be his last season of College Hockey, and because he has a point to prove.
Here are the main questions we need answered:
We all know Snuggerud is pound for pound arguably the best player in the nation. Do the numbers support and back up this claim? During his Freshman season he played with Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley. He was left on an island as a Sophomore and we saw glimpses of Snuggerud being as good as we know he can be, but we also saw the other side. Can he be the main man in Minnesota for an entire 40 game season? Minnesota hasn’t won a National Championship since 2003, and this might be their best shot including that Cooley, Knies and Snuggerud team they had in 2023. Can Snuggerud get them over the hump, and can Minnesota lift a banner that says “National Champs” in 2025?
Look, I’ve given Snuggerud a lot of crap. So, let’s talk about why he’s actually number one on my list, and why I think the Hobey Baker is his to lose this year. He’s a sharpshooter. There’s no better way to put it. There’s a reason he had 17 goals in his first 22 games last season. He has arguably the best pure shot out of anyone in the country, and when it comes to shooting from a distance, he’s easily the best at it. The puck pops off his stick like something I’ve never seen before, hitting corners and openings in the net that aren’t viewable from a watcher’s perspective. He’s insanely good at getting to the areas of the ice where he can score goals, whether that be by his speed, or whether that be by timing a high-slot shot. He just has a knack for getting to the areas of the ice where he can find the back of the net. We didn’t see his playmaking prowess a lot last season, but during his Freshman year we saw a more offensively complete version of Snuggerud. That is something I’m expecting to see again this year, but that I’m also excited to see and anticipating. I have no doubt he can get back to being that player, not solely because of his talent, but because of the talent surrounding him. Oliver Moore is looking to make a huge leap this season, and if Minnesota is going to have success as a whole, Moore and Snuggerud have to be big reasons for each other’s success. What makes my head turn even more, is that himself and Moore already have a pretty chemistry on the ice. With all that being said, everything is lining up for Snuggerud to have an absolute monster season.
Hobey Baker Expectation
You know what he has to do, I’ve already said it enough. I’m expecting a 30-30 season bare minimum, but I think that he can definitely hit 70 this season with anywhere between 30-40 goals. And of course, my expectations wouldn’t be complete without a National Championship banner.
My Dark Horse Candidates
Trey Augustine, G, Sophomore, Michigan State, Aidan Thompson, C, Junior, Denver University, TJ Hughes, RW, Junior, University of Michigan, Quinn Hutson, RW, Junior, Boston University, Jacob Fowler, G, Sophomore, Boston College, Ryan Greene, C, Junior, Boston University, Aydar Suniev, LW, Sophomore, University of Massachusetts, Liam McLinskey, RW, Redshirt Junior, College of the Holy Cross, Kaidan Mbereko, G, Junior, Colorado College, Rhett Pitlick, LW, Grad Senior, Minnesota State, Jay Ahearn, LW, Junior, University of Niagara, Cullen Potter, LW, Freshmen, Arizona State University, Cole O’Hara, RW, Junior, University of Massachusetts, Aiden Fink, RW, Sophomore, Penn State University, Connor Kurth, RW, Junior, University of Minnesota, Noah Beck, D, Grad Senior, Arizona State University
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, this list is subject to change. So much of this is simply preference, and predicting who I think will take on bigger roles and thrive in them, which alone is probably the hardest part about making a list like this. After all, there’s still many questions we need answered even as the College Hockey season starts to get underway. We are a long way from where we will be in April, but as of now, we should all simply be excited to see the NCAA and its phenomenal athletes back in action.