Mass. appeal of prospects
Local collegians projected as NHL picks
The last two NHL entry drafts have been loaded with storylines involving Boston-area college players, either already on campus or set to arrive there.
In 2015, Boston University’s Jack Eichel (No. 2) and Boston College’s Noah Hanifin (No. 5) were early picks on Day 1, and BC’s Colin White was selected later in the first round (No. 21), giving Massachusetts schools three of the first 21 selections.
The process was dominated a year ago by Boston University players with incoming freshman Clayton Keller (No. 7), sophomore Charlie McAvoy (No. 14) and incoming freshmen Dante Fabbro (No. 17) and Kieffer Bellows (No. 19) all going in the first round.
On Friday and Saturday at Chicago’s United Center, Massachusetts-based universities will not be quite so prominently represented at the NHL draft, but will again have players picked in Round 1 who appear destined for NCAA and NHL success.
“We don’t have the highend guy like Jack Eichel,” said one Eastern Conference amateur scout. “But there are some guys who’ll end up being good NHL players. We’ll be seeing them in a couple of years.”
For a change, the top local college pick may not come from BU or BC. UMass, under second-year coach Greg Carvel, could see its recent ill fortune (5-29-2 last season) turn around with the arrival of defenseman Cale Makar. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Calgary native is rated the top blueliner in a draft loaded with talented, offensive defensemen.
TSN draft expert Craig Button rates Makar No. 3 on his overall prospects list, trailing only Canadian junior centers Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick, either of whom can go No. 1.
Makar played this season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and will be the highest pick from the AJHL since the Bruins selected center Joe Colborne 16th in 2008. In 54 games, the quick and skilled right-shot defenseman posted 24-5175 totals. He committed to UMass in August 2015.
“He’s high end,” said Red Line Report scout Kirk Luedeke. “(He is an) elite skater, elite puck handler and shooter. I’ve watched him just take control of a game: Grab the puck, turn the entire other team into a pretzel and score the goal, and make it look easy.”
The Minutemen will also welcome a second draft candidate in USHL All-Star defenseman Mario Ferraro. He’s undersized (5-10, 185) but with great skating and scoring skills (8-33-41, 60 games).
“His game is all about sharp cuts and changes of direction,” said Luedeke. “He can stay with anybody. Des Moines would put him on the other team’s best guy, and often the guy could not get anything done. Ferraro was just on him, the way (former Bruins center) Steve Kasper used to blanket Wayne Gretzky.”
BC figures to have the second area player to hear his name called in incoming freshman winger Eeli Tolvanen of Finland. He is smallish at 5-10 and 170, and will need to grow better acquainted with the defensive half of the ice rink.
But he has the pure sniper skills all teams covet. Tolvanen posted 30-24-54 numbers in 52 games for Sioux City, and on various draft forecasts ranked anywhere from No. 4 to No. 15.
“He’s a great goalscorer, but he’s kind of a dog in the rest of his game,” said one pro scout. “He’s got an NHL shot, and if he would unleash it four times, he’d get two goals. But he’s a guy who can drive you crazy, because the details in his game are just lacking. On the night he shows up he’s dominant; you can’t stop him.
“But most nights he’s not showing up.”
BU’s top pick could be goaltender Jake Oettinger, the former U.S. national team starter who delivered a terrific freshman year for the Terriers (21-113, 2.11 goals-against average, .927 save percentage). The Minnesotan is 6-4 and 210 pounds, and could be viewed by an NHL team — possibly the Bruins, as Tuukka Rask turns 31 late next season — as a long-term answer in nets.
“Oettinger has the chance to be a franchise No. 1 goalie,” said BU coach David Quinn. “He obviously has all the physical tools, size, athleticism, (he) anticipates the play. What separates him is his mental toughness and focus. He’s also one of the best teammates I have been around; the players love him and he is very coachable. Other than that there isn’t much there.”
Two more first-year Terriers could be selected: Smart and skillful Waterloo center Shane Bowers (rated 28th by Button) and USA defenseman David Farrance (projected for the second or third rounds), yet another strong attacker.
Northeastern welcomes 6-3 USHL Lincoln Stars goalie Cayden Primeau, who is the son of former NHL star Keith Primeau. Primeau is rated the No. 7 North American goalie by NHL Central scouting.
College-bound New Englanders who expect to be selected: Wilbraham goaltender Keith Petruzzelli (Quinnipiac), Proctor Academy defenseman Reilly Walsh (Harvard), Newburyport defenseman Ben Mirageas (Providence) and West Roxbury defenseman Jack Rathbone (Harvard).