Matty Beniers of Hingham, Mass., and the University of Michigan is set to make New England proud by going early in the first round of the 2021 NHL draft.
The USA Hockey NTDP alum is set to be the first local selected, but he won’t be the last. The 2003 class isn’t a strong one across the country, but there are several other New England prospects who will hear their names called.
The 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be held virtually and is slated for July 23-24. Here’s NEHJ’s top 15 prospect rankings:
Matty Beniers
Michigan | 11/5/02 | C | left shot | 6-1/168
Previous NEHJ ranking: 1
Beniers is the undisputed top prospect in New England for this draft class. The Hingham, Mass., native played one season at Milton Academy before embarking on a two-year stint with USA Hockey’s NTDP. He originally was committed to Harvard but switched to Michigan, due to the coronavirus and the Ivy League’s decision to cancel winter sports. As a freshman for the Wolverines, he scored 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games. In addition, Beniers had a strong showing at the World Junior Championship. A two-way center, he skates well and has a great motor. His hockey sense and habits are top-notch. Projecting to the NHL, he is likely a middle-six center who can play in all situations. Beniers likely will hear his name called in the first half of the first round.
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Mackie Samoskevich
Chicago Steel | 11/15/02 | RW | right shot | 5-11/168 | NCAA commit: Michigan
Previous NEHJ ranking: 2
Samoskevich had another good season in the USHL before heading off to Ann Arbor, where he’ll join Beniers. The Newtown, Conn., native had 13 goals and 24 assists in 36 regular-season games with the Steel. His speed is his elite attribute. He can create offense on the rush and his skill is above average. Samoskevich has a tendency to play on the perimeter, but that aspect of his game is improving. Look for the Shattuck-St. Mary’s product to be selected late in the first round or at the beginning of the second round.
Scott Morrow
Shattuck St. Mary’s | 11/1/02 | D | right shot | 6-2/192 | NCAA commit: UMass
Previous NEHJ ranking: 4
Morrow is one of the most discussed prospects from New England for this draft. Opinions vary widely on the Darien, Conn., native who is now committed to UMass after previously pledging to North Dakota. Morrow had eight goals and 40 assists in 30 games for Shattuck’s prep team. He joined the USHL’s Fargo Force for the playoffs. Morrow has good size, an elite stick, and notable offensive instincts. He’s able to transition from defense to offense and quarterback a power play. His skating is a question mark, in terms of NHL upside. Morrow likely will be a late second- or third-round pick. It all depends on when a team is comfortable taking him, as some have him ranked very highly, while others aren’t as sold.
Paul Davey
Des Moines Buccaneers | 1/11/03| LW | left shot | 6-2/181 | NCAA commit: Boston College
Previous NEHJ ranking: 5
Davey helped his stock tremendously by going out to the USHL and performing well after playing prep and Midget for Avon Old Farms and Mid Fairfield, respectively. The Greenwich, Conn., native had nine goals and nine assists in 41 games for Des Moines. Davey has the size, length and vision to impress NHL scouts. There have been times throughout his prep and Midget career where I felt he could have been more consistent. Look for Davey to be a third- or fourth-round pick.
Ryan St. Louis
U.S. NTDP U-18 | 6/13/03 | LW | left shot| 5-9/161 | NCAA commit: Northeastern
Previous NEHJ ranking: 3
St. Louis is an undersized winger who sees the ice well and can make plays. In 50 games for the NTDP, he had 13 goals and 18 assists. From Riverside, Conn., St. Louis’ draft status was negatively impacted by his showing at the U-18 World Championship. Fair or not, it will likely result in him dropping in the draft. It’s important for NHL teams to remember that he still was good enough to be in the tournament. The third or fourth round now seems like the likely destination for St. Louis.
Nate Benoit
Mount Saint Charles 18-U | 11/26/02| D | left shot | 6-1/181 | NCAA commit: North Dakota
Previous NEHJ ranking: 6
Benoit’s stock soared over the past two seasons at Mount Saint Charles. The Bow, N.H., native doesn’t have one flashy attribute, but he does a lot of things well. He has decent size, skates well, and has some jam to his game. He had to endure several shutdowns this season, due to Rhode Island’s strict rules on COVID. He was watched closely at USA Hockey Nationals as well as several other events. In three games for Tri-City, he impressed several scouts with his mature game. Benoit will likely be a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
Matt Copponi
Dexter Southfield | 6/4/03 | C | right shot | 5-11/165 | NCAA commit: Merrimack
Previous NEHJ ranking: 9
Copponi, from Mansfield, Mass., came from rather obscurity to being one of the top 2003-born players in Massachusetts over the past few years. He skated for the Neponset Valley River Rats for the past four years, and his games with that program this fall were scouted heavily. Most preps didn’t attempt to play games, but Copponi was fortunate Dan Donato did so at Dexter Southfield. He competes hard, hunts pucks and has some skill. Copponi is a player who would have benefited from a year in the USHL next year before going to Merrimack. However, the current plan is for him to enroll right away at Merrimack. I could see a team taking a flyer on Copponi in the sixth or seventh round.
Tim Delay
St. Sebastian’s | 6/16/03 | C | right shot 6-1/170 | NCAA commit: Boston College
Previous NEHJ ranking: 14
Delay is a prospect with a lot of the physical tools NHL scouts are looking for. The Hingham, Mass., native is an elite skater with high-end skill and good size. St. Sebastian’s didn’t play games this winter, so his only viewings in front of NHL scouts came with the Junior Eagles. He played well just outside of St. Louis at USA Hockey Nationals. His compete level and hockey sense are areas of concern, but his athleticism should get him picked in the sixth or seventh round.
JP Turner
Sioux Falls Stampede | 1/31/03 | C | right shot | 5-11/190 | NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Previous NEHJ ranking: 12
Turner, from Falmouth, Mass., had a good prep and Midget career with Avon Old Farms and Neponset Valley River Rats. Turner is a physical forward who can score goals with his hard shot and by being heavy on pucks. His skating is an area of concern. It was an issue for him when he joined Sioux Falls this winter, scoring just four goals in 21 games. Turner likely would have been picked in a normal year, by standing out in prep and split-season play. His struggles in the USHL will negatively impact his draft chances.
Shane Lachance
Junior Bruins | 8/30/04 | LW | left shot | 6-4/190 | NCAA commit: Boston University
Previous NEHJ ranking: 10
Junior Bruins forward Lachance is in a similar predicament to Turner, in that he probably jumped to junior hockey a year before he should have, due to the coronavirus. In 25 NCDC games, he had six goals and nine assists. The Andover, Mass., native is a power forward with a goal-scoring touch. His heavy boots were a negative for him at the junior level. If Lachance can continue developing his skating ability, he could become more of a legitimate pro prospect. Lachance, grandson of Jack Parker, Boston University’s legendary coach, will head to the USHL for next season before going to BU. I could see a NHL team taking a flyer on him in the final round of this summer’s draft.
Brendan Fitzgerald
Governor’s | 3/6/03 | D | left shot | 5-11/160 | NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Previous NEHJ ranking: 15
Fitzgerald is a puck-moving defenseman from North Reading, Mass. Fitzgerald has a good stick and vision that allows him to push the pace. His ability to defend the rush and play tough are underrated aspects of his skill-set. His skating is an issue in terms of his pro upside. I don’t see him being a pick this time around, but he’s a player who likely will get to the AHL eventually.
Matt Fusco
Dexter Southfield | 3/7/03 | D | right shot | 5-10/180 | NCAA commit: Harvard
Previous NEHJ ranking: 17
Fusco, from Westwood, Mass., had a strong year as an offensive D-man for Dexter Southfield. He has a good shot and is able to jumpstart the transition game. His size and skating are just average. Son of 1983 Hobey Baker winner Mark (Harvard), he has an outside shot at being drafted in 2021.
Sasha Teleguine
Chilliwack Chiefs | 9/17/02 | LW | left shot | 5-9/178 | NCAA commit: Northeastern
Previous NEHJ ranking: 13
Chilliwack Chiefs forward Teleguine’s skating and stick will garner him interest. The North Attleboro, Mass., native had great edges and hands that allow him to make plenty of dynamic offensive plays. However, his habits away from the puck, hockey sense and compete are reasons he likely won’t be picked.
Nick Roukounakis
Thayer | 9/8/03 | LW | left shot | 6-2/205 | NCAA commit: Boston University
Previous NEHJ ranking: 7
Roukounakis, from Pembroke, Mass., is a big, heavy winger. When he’s on top of his game, the Thayer Academy forward uses his size and strength to win puck battles and fight for positioning down low. Roukounakis didn’t have a good national tournament, which likely sealed his fate in terms of not being a draft pick this year.
Cooper Flinton
St. Paul’s | 8/16/03 | LW | left shot | 6-2/210 | NCAA commit: Dartmouth
Previous NEHJ ranking: 20
Flinton got limited views this winter while skating for the Northern Cyclones Prep. His scrimmages at St. Paul’s were off-limits. The Auburn, N.H., native has good size and can shoot it hard. He’s spent time at wing and center in prep, but he likely won’t play down the middle in college or pro hockey, if he gets there. He’s gotten better and might be a free agent down the road, but he’s not ready to be picked yet.
