In April, we covered the 2025 NHL Draft prospects in New England prep hockey this past season. It's not a deep class, and there's only one player more than likely to be picked this June.
It's a trend that's been happening since 2023. That season, only two players were taken in the draft. St. Sebastian's forward Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) was the only player plucked out of prep last summer.
What about next year?
A way-too-early look forecasts a better class than this season. But that hinges on one big thing: How many of these players will stay in prep?
Prospects are already departing for the USHL and BCHL at higher rates than ever. Add in the CHL ruling, which allows players to play in the CHL and still play in the NCAA, and players have three new junior leagues to pick from — the QMJHL, the WHL and the OHL.
The QMJHL has the rights to New England natives. We will likely see a slew of prep prospects opt for QMJHL teams next season.
To be eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, players have to have been born between Jan. 1, 2006 and Sept. 15, 2008. I'm only focusing on first-year eligible players who were in prep this past season. So, this does not include every top New England prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft. This also doesn't automatically mean they will be in prep next season.
Here are the 2026 NHL Draft prospects who played in prep this past season.
Chris Baird-Gajdos
Salisbury, 1/25/2008, D, left shot, 6-3/190
Hometown: Clarence, N.Y.Â
Baird-Gajdos didn't put up the season I thought he would as a junior, scoring three goals and tallying 12 points in 31 games. But the defenseman has the size to attract NHL eyes. He's also a good puck mover, which isn't always prevalent with defenseman over 6-foot-2. If he's to return to Salisbury, a big jump in points should be expected, which would help brand him as a puck-moving defenseman that NHL scouts should at least consider.
Tommy Bleyl
Cushing, 12/1/2007, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.
NCAA: Michigan StateÂ
I'd put Bleyl in the "Likely Drafted" category. His skating is elite, and his ability to decipher when to rush the puck and when to facilitate up ice is, too. His routes on his puck rushes are calculated and smart, while he never seems to panic when he has possession. He's also physical and defends his own zone intelligently. His numbers don't jump off the page (six goals and 29 points in 30 games) from this season, but he was at his best with the most eyes on him in the Elite 8 playoffs.
While nothing is official, I wouldn't expect him back at Cushing next season. He's likely to play for the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints next season, as they drafted him in the eighth round of the Phase 1 Draft in 2023.
READ MORE: Which ’10s from the Mass. Hockey boys festival could make an impact in prep next season?
David Bosco
Belmont Hill, 2/8/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/163
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Bosco was a top prospect at 14U and has remained one of the better '08s in the country since then. As a sophomore, he scored 18 goals and posted 47 points in 32 games, leading the Sextants in scoring. He primarily played the wing but can play the middle, too. He's offensively gifted with skill and a wicked shot, while his biggest areas to improve are away from the puck and in his own zone. He's currently mulling his options for next season. The USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders selected him in the third round of last year's Phase 1 Draft.
Myles Brosnan
Dexter Southfield, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
A late '07, Brosnan wrapped up his sophomore year at Dexter, and it was a success. He was a driving force behind Dexter getting to the Elite 8 championship with nine goals and 36 points in 28 games. He has the size to garner NHL attention. But even more so, he's a phenomenal two-way defenseman with great instincts when the puck is on his stick. He's not the fastest skater on the ice, but his ability to take smart routes and slow the game down makes him someone to watch next season. As of now, the plan is for him to return to Dexter.
Rian Chudzinski
Dexter Southfield, 12/30/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
NCAA: Boston UniversityÂ
Of all the players in this story, I'd label Chudzinski as the most likely to be drafted — and he should go in the first half. In his one year at Dexter, Chudzinski was one of the best players in prep with 26 goals and 52 points in 27 games. He played the right wing mostly, but can play center. He can drive play with his speed and skill, using his compete and fearlessness to sift through defensemen to the front of the net. He also has a great shot and showed this season that he was at his best in the biggest moments.
What he does next season is still unclear. The USHL's Youngstown Phantoms drafted him in the fifth round of the Phase 1 Draft last year. The QMJHL is certainly an option, too. I'm a big proponent of dominating prep before moving onto juniors, and there's no denying that Chudzinski dominated this past season.
Maksim Corovic
Cushing, 5/28/2008, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Hometown: Stony Creek, Ont.Â
Corovic finished the prep season on a high note, guiding Cushing to an Elite 8 championship with 30 saves on the biggest prep stage. His numbers were solid on the season — a 2.44 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage — and he has the size and athleticism to attract NHL Draft attention. Drafting goalies is always risky. The last goalie to be selected out of prep was Taft's Rudy Guimond in 2023. There likely won't be one picked this season. Nevertheless, Corovic will have NHL eyes on him next season.
READ MORE:Â 10 players who boosted stock at the Mass. Hockey boys festival
Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/190
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.Â
It's hard to ignore a 6-foot-5 defenseman. Donia got attention when he was invited to the U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp in 2024, and while he didn't make the team, he was still a second-round pick by the Lincoln Stars in last year's USHL Phase 1 Draft. He had five goals and 12 points in 28 games this season, which wasn't an offensive upgrade over the 13 points he notched as a sophomore. Donia did, however, have a good showing at USA Hockey's 16U nationals.
Donia probably won't be an offensive defenseman at higher levels. But if NHL scouts view him through the prism of a potential shutdown defender someday, he might be appealing.
Oskar Drabczynski
Avon Old Farms, 2/13/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Easton, Conn.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
In his first prep season, Drabczynski scored four times and logged 21 points in 27 games. He's a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman who, if he pops offensively as a senior next season, should at least be someone NHL teams watch. It also helps that he's over 6 feet as a defenseman. He was drafted in the fifth round by the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers in the Phase 1 Draft last season.
Colin Feeley
Salisbury, 3/7/2008, D, left shot, 6-6/185
Hometown: Wyckoff, N.J.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
This isn't so much about what Feeley is now — the Harvard commit posted five goals and 13 points in 31 games for Salisbury this winter. It's more so about what he could be. A 6-foot-6 defenseman with offensive abilities and good stick skills at 16 and 17 years old? That was enough to get Harvard to sign on, and it will likely be enough to get NHL teams to watch him closely next season. It will likely be a while before Feeley is at his best, which makes him even more intriguing.
Indiana Grossbard
Avon Old Farms, 12/21/2007, F, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.Â
In his first year with Avon Old Farms, Grossbard was one of the best players in prep with 26 goals and 42 points. He drives play with his strong skating and high skill, along with great instincts in knowing how to get to soft spots in the offensive zone. He's slated to be back at Avon Old Farms next season and is a candidate to be the best player in prep. His biggest question in the eyes of NHL scouts will be his size.
Elliot Lennon
Deerfield, 3/5/2008, G, catches left, 6-3/180
Hometown: Kirkland, Quebec
Lennon was one of the best goalies in prep this winter with a 2.03 GAA and a .926 save percentage. He led Deerfield to the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8. To NHL teams, the biggest thing will be his size. He's 6-foot-3 and takes away so many scoring options with his positioning.
READ MORE: Which ’10s from Massachusetts are on the NTDP track?Â
Will Manchuso
St. Mark's, 1/8/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
One thing NHL scouts look for is players who are great skaters. That is certainly Manchuso. The St. Mark's forward has a powerful stride and can drive play. He put together a strong first season with St. Mark's, scoring 12 goals and posting 37 points in 30 games. He can play down the middle or on the wing, and does bring some added physicality. He's a candidate to commit to a Division 1 program Aug. 1 when he becomes eligible, and bolstered his stock by being one of the best '08s at the Mass. Hockey boys festival earlier this month.
Brian McFadden
Thayer, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.Â
Oh, look — another big defenseman. McFadden missed a lot of the prep season due to injury, but still put up nine points in 14 games. The Catholic Memorial product defends his own zone well with a great stick and physicality, but he's also great with the puck on his stick. He makes smart, responsible passes up ice. In the offensive zone, he facilitates from the top of the zone and can generate scoring. In my eyes, he was the top defenseman among the '08s at the Mass. Hockey boys festival.
Owen McHale
Dexter Southfield, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.Â
This is a recent development and a bit of an off-the-board pick. But my guess is that he doesn't look so off-the-board after Select 17 Camp this summer. McHale had solid numbers as a sophomore at Dexter Southfield this past season with five goals and 19 points in 28 games. But the reason he's on here is for his toughness and power forward game. He's developing nicely, and if he can put production with being a menace on the ice, NHL teams will be all over him.
Joe Salandra
Brunswick, 2/15/2008, F, right shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Pleasantville, N.Y.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
Salandra was one of the three best players in prep this winter. In his first prep season, he led the region in points (72) and posted 38 goals in 35 games. He can play center, but primarily plays the wing. He has a deadly shot that he can put in the back of the net from anywhere. He drives play consistently and uses his great skating to sift through defenders. While size often matters to NHL scouts, Salandra's production and ability to dominate a game should make him a priority to watch. He was a fourth-round pick by the USHL's Chicago Steel in the Phase 1 Draft last year.
Mason St. Louis
Brunswick, 1/16/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Old Greenwich, Conn.
NCAA: DartmouthÂ
St. Louis also had a phenomenal first season for Brunswick, potting 20 goals and tallying 53 points in 33 games. He mostly played center this season and used his speed to drive play in an up-tempo Bruins offense. St. Louis has great vision and is extremely intelligent. He reads plays well and is responsible in his own zone. He's also the son of NHL legend and current Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis.
Spencer Thornborough
Governor's Academy, 6/22/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/180
Hometown: Boxford, Mass.Â
Thornborough missed some time this season due to injury but produced when he was in the lineup, scoring eight goals and tallying 20 points in 16 games. He's a powerful skater who plays a power-forward style of game and projects as someone who can likely play anywhere in a lineup at higher levels. Last year, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Lincoln Stars in the USHL Phase 1 Draft and in the 10th round by the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL Entry Draft.
READ MORE: 5 takeaways from the latest in college hockey recruiting
Hampus Vandenberg
Brunswick, 4/24/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/180
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
NCAA: PrincetonÂ
Vandenberg is a steady, reliable defenseman who excels at both ends of the ice. The Princeton commit has the size to attract NHL eyes and posted four goals and 21 points in 35 games this year. He's an early candidate to be one of the best defensemen in prep next season. If he ramps up his offensive production even more, he should be someone NHL teams at least keep an eye on.
Jacoby Weiner
Kent, 6/19/2008, G, catches right, 6-4/240
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
Weiner had a tough first season in prep with a 3.77 GAA and a .892 save percentage. Still, it's hard to ignore a goalie who is 6-foot-4 and has been as positionally sound as Weiner has been in the past. He was at the NTDP Evaluation Camp last year. He was also a sixth-round pick by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL Phase 1 Draft and was picked in the seventh round by Moncton in the QMJHL Entry Draft.
