The Hobey Baker Memorial Award announced the beginning of fan voting last Monday. Choosing the top player in college hockey for the 2020-21 season will be as difficult as it has ever been, due to the wide disparity in number of games played and the lack of non-conference games.
I haven’t been able to attend as many college games as in the past, but I’ve watched more out-of-market contests than in the past. There are a lot of good players worthy of winning the 2021 Hobey Baker.
No player has truly set themselves apart from the field yet, like Boston University center Jack Eichel did in 2015 or UMass defenseman Cale Makar did in 2019. But one player from the Big Ten has jumped to the forefront when discussing who should win.
With a month left in the regular season, there are 10 players who are viable candidates to be finalists for college hockey’s top individual honor. Below is my list of top 10 candidates, ranked in order. This isn’t my list of the top 10 NHL prospects in college hockey. It’s not even my list of the top 10 players in college hockey, as the Hobey Baker Award committee always seems to spread the wealth between conferences. I kept that in mind when compiling my list, while also looking to put the best players on the list.
1. Cole Caufield
Wisconsin, so., RW, right shot, 5-7/165
Caufield leads the country in goals (17) and points (33) while having the most points per game (1.65) besides BU defenseman David Farrance, who has played only six games. The Stevens Point, Wis., native has been a driving force in the Badgers’ resurgence this year. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for in his innate ability to bury with his quick release and accurate shot. A first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 NHL draft, Caufield has plenty of notoriety from winning gold at the 2021 World Junior Championship and being a standout with USA Hockey’s NTDP. Fair or not, the Hobey Baker Award is still somewhat of a popularity contest. Caufield is deservedly the leader on merit, but the intangibles won’t hurt in his quest to become the first Hobey Baker winner at Wisconsin since Blake Geoffrion in 2010.
2. Dryden McKay
Minnesota State, jr., G, catches left, 5-11/175
McKay doesn’t play in one of the top three conferences — NCHC, Big Ten or Hockey East — but he’s the star goaltender for the undisputed best team in the WCHA. Hailing from Downers Grove, Ill., he leads the country in goals-against average (0.84), save percentage (.959), winning percentage (.917) and shutouts (7). McKay has been a very good goaltender throughout his three year collegiate career with the Mavericks. He benefits from a good team in front of him and certainly doesn’t have the stiffest of competition. Nonetheless, McKay is in position to win the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goaltender and is a potential Hobey Hat Trick Finalist.
3. David Farrance
Boston University, sr., D, left shot, 6-0/190
Farrance’s inclusion on this list comes with a huge caveat. He has played in only six games while the Terriers have played just two more. Obviously, it’s not entirely his fault. Much of the blame lies with Boston University’s COVID protocols that are far stricter than most other teams in college hockey. If Farrance can get back in the lineup and BU can play a good amount of games over the final month of the season, he should stay in the top 10 discussion. He leads the country in points per game with 2.33 while scoring four goals and 10 assists. The Victor, N.Y., native and Nashville Predators draft pick is a dynamic blueliner who can jump into the offense and promote possession.
4. Shane Pinto
North Dakota, so., C, right shot 6-3/194
Pinto has had a monster sophomore season, taking some of the limelight away from preseason Hobey favorite Jordan Kawaguchi, who was a Hobey Hat Trick finalist as a junior in 2019-20. Pinto ranks eighth nationally in terms of points per game with 1.28. His 11 goals and 23 points is tops in the NCHC, the undisputed top conference in college hockey. From Franklin Square, N.Y., Pinto has become a force up the middle for the Fighting Hawks, a top two or three team in the country. His faceoff percentage is first in the NCHC and fifth in Division 1. A second-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2019 NHL draft, few players in college hockey have seen their pro stock rise the way Pinto’s has this season. The sentimental vote might go to Kawaguchi, but Pinto is the most deserving Fighting Hawk, if you base it just on this season alone.
5. Spencer Knight
Boston College, so., G, catches left, 6-3/192
Knight leads Hockey East in save percentage (.935) while being the backbone for the Eagles, one of the top two or three teams in the country. He has a 10-1-1 record and boasts an impressive performance for USA Hockey at the World Junior Championship. The Darien, Conn., native was the 13th overall pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL draft. Knight has all the physical tools to believe he will have a long and prosperous pro career. In terms of pro upside, he has it over McKay, but the shutouts and gaudy numbers being put up by the WCHA star might put Knight a notch below when it comes to voting for postseason awards. The other thing going against Knight is the star power BC possesses throughout its lineup. There are certainly other deserving Eagles when it comes to consideration for the Hobey.
6. Odeen Tufto
Quinnipiac, sr., C, right shot, 5-7/174
ECAC Hockey has only four teams playing this season, but Tufto is the clear standout. At 1.45 points per game, he’s the only player above one point per game among the four teams playing in the league. The Chaska, Minn., native has 25 assists, which is tops in Division 1. He has 150 points in 130 career games for the Bobcats. On the smaller side, Tufto hasn’t always garnered NHL attention, but he’s had a terrific four-year college career. He might not win the Hobey Baker, but he’s a lock to be a top-10 finalist.
7. Owen Power
Michigan, fr., D, left shot, 6-5/215
Power is looking to secure top billing ahead of the 2021 NHL draft. The Mississauga, Ont., native is having a terrific freshman season in Ann Arbor and doing so as a young 18-year-old. The Chicago Steel product has two goals and 10 assists in 16 games. When watching the Wolverines, it’s easy to see what an impact Power has on the game. The big 6-foot-5 blueliner skates like the wind and can effortlessly carry pucks up ice. Power has the name and is certainly one of the best players in college hockey. There are other deserving players on the Wolverines, which could detract from his chances.
8. Nick Perbix
St. Cloud, jr., D, right shot, 6-4/200
Perbix’s inclusion in my top 10 was probably the player I debated the most. There are plenty of deserving candidates from the NCHC, but I went with him because he’s been an anchor on the SCSU blue line this season. The Elk River, Minn., native has taken a big step offensively in his third season wearing a Huskies uniform. He’s tied for the national lead in points by a defenseman with 17 and ranks fourth in points per game among blueliners with .89. He’s a big, rangy defender who has played a key role in SCSU staying among the top four teams in a hotly contested NCHC race. Perbix certainly will get some NHL interest as an undrafted free agent following the season.
9. Brandon Kruse
Bowling Green, sr., LW, left shot, 5-9/155
Kruse has 10 goals and 16 assists and his points per game (1.18) is ranked 15th nationally. He’s the unquestioned offensive catalyst for BGSU, the second-best team in the WCHA. Hailing from Saline, Mich., Kruse has been a four-year standout for the Falcons. Entering this weekend, he has amassed 134 points during his collegiate career. Kruse is undrafted but likely will get some attention from NHL organizations following the season. At the very least, he’ll get an AHL deal for the 2021-22 campaign.
10. Brennan Kapcheck
American International, sr., D, right shot, 5-9/160
Kapcheck leads Atlantic Hockey defensemen in assists with 14 while being second among league blueliners in points per game (.88). The Mount Prospect, Ill., native has 90 points over his college career while being on some very good teams. The Yellow Jackets are again pacing Atlantic Hockey. He’s picked up plenty of accolades over the course of his three years in Springfield, including Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 and Atlantic Hockey First Team All-Star in 2019-20.
