Fall hockey isn't always the best spot for NHL scouts to get a taste of what a player is. Games can lack structure. Come the middle of the fall, fewer players may be on the bench due to injuries or players having prior commitments.
Two players — Everett Baldwin (Providence, R.I.) and Grayden Robertson-Palmer — were taken in this year's NHL Draft. Baldwin played for the Boston Little Bruins last fall, while Robertson-Palmer was a Neponset Valley River Rat. The year before, Cape Cod Whalers forward Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) was the lone draft pick who played local fall hockey.
This fall, however, may be different.
Several prospects are playing New England fall hockey who I would put at a higher than 50 percent chance of getting drafted. A lot has to go right between now and next June, but early signs point to a relatively good year for local NHL Draft prospects.
There would have been even more names on this list, but players like David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.), Jack Torr and Brady Murnane skipped town for junior hockey. Bosco (Belmont Hill, Boston Junior Eagles) and Torr (East Coast Militia, Governor's Academy) are in the USHL, while Murnane (Islanders Hockey Club East, Winchendon) is in the OHL.
Let's dive in.
1. Brian McFadden
Boston Junior Eagles, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.
NCAA: NortheasternÂ
McFadden is my No. 1 right now due to his high ceiling as a 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman. He's sound in his own zone and can shut top opposing players down. He also has an offensive side to his game, with good hands for someone of his size and an ability to produce. He makes smart, simple passes when exiting his own zone, too. He's mobile.
Add that all up, and it's hard to tell what exactly you get. That's where the intrigue lies for NHL scouts — a 6-foot-5 defenseman who could turn into anything. His prep season at Thayer will likely be the biggest indicator of which round scouts want to pick him in.
2. Myles Brosnan
Brookline Whalers, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/194
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
It's hard to keep Brosnan out of the No. 1 spot because he's the better player right now. The Dexter defenseman doesn't really have any holes in his game. He's intelligent in his puck-moving and knows when to pick his spots to join the offense. He can shut opposing players down in the defensive zone with his stick and physicality. He can kill penalties and run a power play. His frame allows him to protect pucks from opposing players with his composed skating.
His size is still very good and keeps him draftable. NHL scouts will also be watching him when he plays with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers on select weekends this fall. I'm confident Brosnan will play NHL games someday.
3. Will Manchuso
Neponset Valley River Rats, 1/8/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
NCAA: DartmouthÂ
The one thing NHL scouts arguably love more than size is skating, and Manchuso is a phenomenal skater. The St. Mark's winger can absolutely fly, which helps him drive play and create offense. He leads the River Rats 18U team in goals (15) and points (33) in 20 games. He's a force to deal with in the offensive zone, as his powerful strides and good frame help him hold onto pucks. He is also just beginning to break out, so NHL teams would be taking a stock that has the potential to go much higher.
READ MORE: Why Will Manchuso is such a compelling 2026 NHL Draft prospect
4. Elliot Lennon
Northern Connecticut Nor'Easters, 3/5/2008, G, catches left, 6-6/201
Hometown: Kirkland, Quebec
NCAA: Brown
Goalies are always hard to judge at this age, but Lennon has the size and ability that will keep NHL scouts watching him throughout the fall with the Nor'Easters and during the winter with Deerfield. He's athletic and takes away so much of the net. The tough part for scouts is defending picking a goalie out of U18 and prep hockey. Most NHL general managers would be fine with selecting a 6-foot-6 netminder, even if it means just taking a flier.
5. Kaiden Donia
East Coast Militia, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.
NCAA: QuinnipiacÂ
Donia is so interesting to me. This summer, he went to USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp and advanced to the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Camp. In 2024, he attended the U.S. National Team Development Program's Evaluation Camp. He was picked in the second round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft in 2024 and went in the fourth round of the QMJHL Draft earlier this year. That shows that several decision-makers believe there is massive upside.
He's extremely raw, and it sometimes shows in his game, as it did on Saturday. That said, there will likely be NHL teams that believe in his upside and select him at some point in June.
6. Andrew Mohesky
South Kent 18U, 2/9/2008, F, left shot, 6-5/209
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Mohesky's size is the biggest reason he's this high. I can't say it enough times: NHL scouts love size, and Mohesky has a lot of it. He's a hard-hitting power forward. He moves extremely well for his size and uses his hands to get around defenders in transition and the offensive zone. Mohesky projects as someone who could play anywhere in a lineup. Through 12 games with South Kent this fall, he has five goals and 13 points. He also had a goal and an assist at Select 17 Camp this summer.
7. Josh Phillips
Fall Prep Wildcats, 4/23/2007, F, right shot, 6-3/195
Hometown: Mountain View, Calif.Â
This is an off-the-board pick. Phillips is a second-year NHL Draft-eligible player in prep, and he's still uncommitted, so his chances of getting drafted are low. I still think he deserves attention from NHL scouts given his size, skill and overall power in the offensive zone. Watching him at the fall prep hockey showcase this past weekend and at Harvard's College Hockey Experience during the summer, he was well above the competition. Does that automatically mean he's an NHL Draft pick? Absolutely not. But he's worthy of a watch.
FALL PREP SHOWCASE: 16 uncommitted standout forwards | 13 uncommitted standout defenders
8. Alex Theodore
Neponset Valley River Rats, 5/21/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/185
Hometown: Tampa Bay, Fla.
NCAA: DartmouthÂ
Theodore has been out of fall hockey due to injury. The big left winger is still raw, but has good skill in the offensive zone, and hasn't hit his ceiling yet. He had a great season at Andover last winter, posting 31 points in 27 games en route to a Large School Tournament title.
9. Will Schlechtweg
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 4/16/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Goshen, N.Y.Â
Schlechtweg has the size as a left wing to be considered by NHL scouts. He also has the vision and puck play, too. When I've watched him this fall, he was a force in the offensive zone, especially on the cycle. After a productive fall last year with the Yale Junior Bulldogs, that production fell off a bit with Kent, as he put up 17 points in 26 games. He looks poised for a breakout winter with Kent this year, which should improve his draft stock.
10. Greg Najda
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 1/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/196
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
NCAA: YaleÂ
Najda is a good-sized left wing for the Junior Bulldogs, who missed the River Rats Jamboree in late August due to being at the OHL's Sudbury Wolves camp. He was the driving offensive force for a rebuilding Choate last season with 12 goals and 23 points in 24 games. He should be due for a big fall with the Junior Bulldogs and a massive jump in points with Choate come the winter.
11. Charlie Puglisi
Islanders Hockey Club East, 4/16/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.
NCAA: CornellÂ
Puglisi had a strong showing at the River Rats Jamboree in late August, which was heavily watched by NHL scouts, and committed to Cornell immediately after. He has a lethal shot and can play in all situations as a center. At Winchendon last winter, he had 19 points in 28 games. He will need to up that production during the fall and winter to continue getting attention from NHL scouts.
12. Owen McHale
Boston Junior Eagles, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
NCAA: NortheasternÂ
In what was likely the first time NHL scouts got a glimpse of him, McHale thrived at Select 17 Camp with two goals and six points. That production will need to continue into the fall with the Junior Eagles and the winter with Dexter Southfield, after only posting five goals and 19 points in 28 games last year. But production isn't the reason for McHale being on here — it's his power forward style. McHale can lay the body and create turnovers off the forecheck with his hard hits. He plays on the edge, which is exactly what NHL scouts love to see.
READ MORE:Â What the Bruins think about college hockey recruiting and prep hockey
13. J.T. Rothstein
CEM Team Red, 1/19/2008, F, left shot, 5-9/154
Hometown: New City, N.Y.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
Rothstein's a terrific skater who can set teammates up for scoring chances and navigate the offensive zone with ease. Through six CEM games, he has seven goals and 17 points. He had a nice season at Taft last winter with 13 goals and 30 points in 24 games. Unfortunately, size will likely work against him in the eyes of NHL scouts. He's still worth a watch.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include Greg Najda, who was inadvertently left off the first version of this story.Â
