There are several very intriguing aspects to the top 2002-born players from New England.
With the advent of early recruiting, many of the top '02s are already committed to a Division 1 programs, but the best player from New England in this age group remains uncommitted.
Another anomaly is the abundance of late birthdays among the top '02s in New England. In hockey terms, anyone born after Sept. 15 is a late birthday. That's how the NHL collective bargaining agreement defines it so a 17-year-old can't appear in an NHL training camp. Five of the top 10 players born in 2002 happen to be late birthdays, meaning they will be drafted with the '03s in the 2021 NHL Draft.
