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?
