Will Smith and Ryan Leonard went off the board early in the 2023 NHL draft. It was a win for New England, particularly Massachusetts, as both players were both from the Bay State.
But then came the rest of the draft. It wasn’t until Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.), who was picked in the sixth round by the Buffalo Sabres, that another local came off the board. The Edmonton Oilers selected Matt Copponi (Mansfield, Mass.) in the seventh round.
Four for Massachusetts. None for the rest of New England. Meh.
When the 2024 NHL Draft begins, Massachusetts will again have representation inside the top 10. As for the rest of the crop, it’s a bit more unclear. The opinions vary quite a bit.
“Not a very good group from New England,” one NHL scout said.
Others would disagree.
“No sure bets,” another NHL scout said of the crew outside of Eiserman. “But I think at least six will get drafted.”
One scout, after seeing my list and being asked how many of these players will get drafted, said, “Most of the top 10.”
Hindsight, of course, is 20/20. But the group of locals this year looks to be stronger than last season’s. Two players who weren’t drafted last year made this list.
In talking with NHL scouts, there are many opinions on many different players. Some like one player more than the other. Some players are more divisive, drawing rave reviews from a handful of scouts, while a different group of scouts aren’t as big of fans.
It’s extremely difficult to be selected in the NHL draft. All it takes is one team to make a dream come true. However, players from all over the world are vying for a dream to come true.
Ultimately, these 13 players look best-equipped to be selected in June. Lots can change between now and then.
1. Cole Eiserman
NTDP U-18, 8/29/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/192
NCAA commit: Boston University
It’s been a long time coming for Eiserman. The Newburyport, Mass., native has been the top ’06 in the United States for a while. His goal-scoring prowess has made him a sensation and will be one of the biggest topics come June’s draft. The question is can he be picked No. 1 over BU’s Macklin Celebrini? From talking to scouts, Celebrini seems like the consensus No. 1 selection with his 200-foot game at center. Eiserman, while a prolific goal-scorer, likely goes somewhere in the top five, as his defensive game and play away from the puck need improvement. Still, there’s a chance of Eiserman being the region’s highest draft pick since Matty Beniers went No. 2 in 2021. A lottery team will look for Eiserman to be the future. His shot and offensive IQ should guarantee a strong professional career.
2. Teddy Stiga
NTDP U-18, 4/5/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/176
NCAA commit: Boston College
As murky and debatable as the local class becomes after Eiserman, there is no debate that Stiga is No. 2. The Sudbury, Mass., native was hampered by injuries during his U-17 season at the U.S. NTDP. That gave him time to build much-needed strength, which has paid massive dividends this winter. The fully healthy Stiga has been a perfect Robin to James Hagens as Batman. Stiga, who came from Belmont Hill, has 24 goals and 49 points in 41 games with the U18s. While his size could work against him, his compete and ability to produce should make him a fourth- or fifth-round candidate.
3. Ben Merrill
St. Sebastian’s, 11/4/05, C, right shot, 6-4/194
NCAA commit: Harvard
Outside of Eiserman, Merrill has the highest upside of anyone on this list. At 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds, the Hingham, Mass., native has the size to be effective at any level. He has high-end vision, connecting on passes anywhere on the ice. He has good hands that help him dangle and protect the puck in tight. One scout mentioned Boston Bruins center and Weymouth, Mass., native Charlie Coyle as a comparable. While some scouts have him lower in their top 10 than I do, most agree that he will be drafted. He should fit somewhere in the fourth or fifth round.
4. Elliott Groenewold
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2/4/06, D, left shot, 6-2/201
NCAA commit: Quinnipiac
When I submitted my initial top 10 to scouts for their thoughts, I had Groenewold at No. 8. Four different scouts were adamant about me moving him up. The Bellows Falls, Vt., native is a reliable shutdown defender with size, which is all the rage in the NHL. When I saw Groenewold help the New England District to a championship at USA Hockey’s Select 17 Camp last June, he scored only one goal. But a good stick and his ability to make smart reads on defense made him almost impossible to get past. That’s continued into the USHL with Cedar Rapids, and NHL scouts have reason to believe those qualities will make him into a strong pro.
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5. Will Felicio
Waterloo Black Hawks, 5/19/06, D, right shot, 5-10/161
NCAA commit: Denver
While Groenewold brings the shutdown defense, Felicio carries high-end puck-moving abilities and good offense. Last season, he posted 28 points in 55 games for the Madison Capitals, playing in the USHL as a 16-U. Since arriving in Waterloo midway through this season, he has two goals and five points in 10 games. The Holden, Mass., native is a great skater and has high hockey IQ, which are reasons why NHL teams will consider drafting him. On the flip side, smaller defensemen are being phased out of today’s NHL, which could work against him.
6. Caeden Herrington
Holderness, 1/26/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
NCAA commit: Vermont
Herrington proved to be the most debatable of the 10 players on this list. From talking to scouts and onlookers at the holiday tournaments, some were adamant about him getting drafted in June, while others pointed to his hockey sense and foot speed as reasons he shouldn’t. What can’t be argued is the Manchester, Vt., native opened the prep season producing at a two-points-per-game rate and has the size that can translate at higher levels.
7. Joe Connor
Muskegon, 3/31/2005, C, left shot, 5-10/174
NCAA commit: Northeastern
When Connor graduated from Avon Old Farms and entered the USHL, the biggest question was how he would hold up at his size. Early returns in the USHL are strong, with the Amherst, N.H., native posting 17 goals and 35 points in his first 31 games. While he was passed over in the 2023 NHL draft, a strong showing in the USHL this season has him poised to be a late-round steal. His sheer compete will make him a productive player at any level. Connor even earned a spot in USA Hockey’s All-American Game.
8. Owen Keefe
Sioux City, 3/26/2006, D, left shot, 6-0/194
NCAA commit: Boston University
Keefe has long been a highly-touted defenseman from this region. The Saugus, Mass., native starred at Malden Catholic before being tendered by the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks for 2022-23 where, at 16 years old, he scored four goals and 13 points. Keefe was dealt to Sioux City in November and in his first 30 games, tallied two goals and eight points. Keefe is at his best when he keeps things simple. He’s the son of Northeastern head coach Jerry Keefe.
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9. Ethan Gardula
Sioux City, 2/28/2005, LW, left shot, 5-11/174
NCAA commit: UConn
Speaking of the All-American Game and players passed over in the 2023 NHL draft, there’s Gardula. The Princeton, Mass., native has 12 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Musketeers of the USHL. The biggest knock on Gardula entering last year’s draft was he was too much of a perimeter player. That’s been worked on this season, and producing at a higher level always helps boost draft stock. Multiple scouts I talked to believe both Connor and Gardula are strong candidates to be picked.
10. Gio DiGiulian
Kent, 9/25/2005, RW, right shot, 6-1/161
NCAA commit: Cornell
DiGiulian opted to stay at Kent for his senior year, and he's been highly productive with 17 goals and 34 points in 19 games. DiGiulian is a good skater who plays with power. His skill also is strong, which pairs well with his size, making him a candidate to be selected.
11. Landan Resendes
Cedar Rapids, 12/10/2005, RW, right shot, 5-9/166
NCAA commit: Boston College
Resendes entered the USHL after lighting up prep with Cushing, potting 27 goals and totaling 54 points in 32 games. While that level of production wasn't there early in his Cedar Rapids career, the Marlboro, Mass., native has improved as the year has gone on, with 12 goals and 18 points in 38 games. The upside to Resendes is big, however. He’s dynamic and plays with an edge. He's proved this season he's not afraid to drop the gloves either. Whether it’s this year or next year, he projects to be a strong value pick late in the draft.
12. Jack Sadowski
Kimball Union, 7/29/2006, LW, left shot, 6-0/179
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Sadowski might be the best player in prep hockey this winter. He leads the region in goals (35) and points (68) and that's just in 29 games. At all levels, Sadowski has been known for his consistent production, high hockey IQ and shot. The only area that gives scouts some pause is his skating. If Sadowski continues to produce at the next level, the Arlington, Mass., native should sky rocket up these rankings.
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13. Thatcher Bernstein
Tri-City, 7/17/2006, G, catches left, 6-4/212
NCAA commit: Harvard
Bernstein's stock was much higher when he was at Nobles and was still widely considered to be one of the better '06 goalies in the country. Since arriving in juniors, Bernstein only played in 10 games for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, posting a 4.11 goals-against average and an .859 save percentage. He was recently traded to the Tri-City Storm where he's played one game — a 23-save loss to Des Moines. Still, he was invited and played in the All-American Prospects Game. Bernstein carries a lot of upside.
