After the 2017-18 Hockey East season wrapped up, two freshmen in their second or third years of draft eligibility were selected at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas.
Boston College right wing Logan Hutsko was a third-round selection of the Florida Panthers, while UMass left wing John Leonard was picked in the sixth round by the San Jose Sharks.
As the NHL Draft continues to trend older with more organizations putting stock on players proving themselves at a higher level, the likelihood of a Hockey East freshman being taken in 2019 seems high.
There are several candidates among this year’s freshman class, one that already boasts three first-round picks from 2018. Those prior selections are Boston College forward Oliver Wahlstrom (New York Islanders), Boston University forward Joel Farabee (Philadelphia Flyers) and Providence College forward Jay O'Brien (Flyers).
Who could join them next summer?
Marc Del Gaizo
UMass, 10/11/99, Defense, Left Shot, 5-9/170
The Basking Ridge, N.J., native scored more goals than any other defenseman in the USHL last season en route to being named a USHL Second Team All-Star. Del Gaizo is undersized, but his ability to move pucks in transition and get shots through from the point are both uncanny. He does it with good feet –which allows him to side-step oncoming forecheckers – and by having above-average vision. While he might not get top power-play minutes due to Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro being ahead of him, he certainly will have the chance to prove his worth this season. Several NHL clubs, including the Montreal Canadiens, expressed significant interest leading up to the 2018 draft.
Marc McLaughlin
Boston College, 7/26/99, Center, Right Shot, 6-0/181
McLaughlin fell off the radar some during his first season of eligibility in 2016-17, for he adjusted from prep school to the USHL. The North Billerica, Mass., native put up huge numbers at Cushing before heading to Cedar Rapids. A serious knee injury held him out of the lineup until the second half of the 2017-18 season, but he came back with a vengeance, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 games. McLaughlin is effective because he’s heavy on pucks. He’s hard to knock off pucks and strong on his skates. He has a cannon of a shot that he’s not afraid to unleash from anywhere. He’s a two-way center who hunts pucks and can be counted on as a reliable leader on and off the ice.
Jack DeBoer
Boston University, 8/17/00, Center, Right Shot, 6-3/187
DeBoer suffered from the ill-effects of playing on the NTDP as a non-superstar. He’s a bottom-six center with size, but has limited offensive upside. The Madison, N.J., native posted seven goals and 15 assists while wearing the red, white and blue last season. There were players worse than DeBoer who were drafted, but they thrived or looked better playing against lesser competition. He’ll be drafted if he can prove his value at BU, especially against older players in Hockey East. He’s the son of San Jose Sharks coach Pete DeBoer.
Tyce Thompson
Providence, 7/12/99, Center, Right Shot, 5-11/150
Thompson comes from a familiar family to Hockey East fans. His older brother, Tage Thompson, is now with the Buffalo Sabres after starring at UConn. His dad, Brent Thompson, is the head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Tyce is a late bloomer of sorts, but has always shown the potential to be a very good center in Hockey East. He’s impressed the Friars’ staff in the preseason. While his numbers in Dubuque last season aren’t gaudy, it’s tough to score in the USHL. Thompson is just starting to fill out his frame. He’s a good skater who can hunt pucks and make plays. NHL organizations always like a good lineage and Thompson could really take off under Nate Leaman.
Fille Lindberg
UMass, 1/31/99, Goaltender, Catches Left, 6-0/181
The Espoo, Finland, native has the chance to take over the starting role in Amherst. Considered a potential goaltender for the Fins at the 2019 World Junior Championship, Lindberg comes to the Minutemen from Tuto in Finland’s top junior league. If he can put up big numbers while backstopping UMass, there’s an outside chance he’d get drafted, despite being on the smaller side for modern-era goaltenders. There will be no shortage of eyes on him when a cast of scouts descend on UMass games to watch Makar, Ferraro and Del Gaizo.
Corson Green
UConn, 3/4/99, Defense, Left Shot, 6-1/209
The Potsdam, N.Y., native was considered a prospect for the draft in 2017, but ultimately didn’t get the call. Green has the physical tools to be a pro hockey player. He has the size and mobility, despite not having the prettiest of strides. Once committed to UNH, Green’s first step and attention to detail in all three zones have kept him off the draft board. He comes to the Huskies after spending two seasons in the USHL with the Chicago Steel, Sioux Falls Stampede and Central Illinois Flying Aces.
