The 2021 NHL draft season has begun with amateur scouts heading to rinks across New England, Minnesota and Quebec to watch eligible prospects.
While the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs march on, Midget hockey has flipped the switch to start the 2020-21 season. Junior hockey already has started in some areas, including the QMJHL, and college hockey is expected to begin sometime in November.
The crop of first-year eligible prospects in New England is led by University of Michigan freshman center Matt Beniers out of USA Hockey’s NTDP. He’s expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2021 draft.
While Beniers is the headliner, there’s a couple of other intriguing prospects hailing from New England. There’s a few players with good bloodlines and a few players who are trending upward.
Every one of the 12 players I mention below are good prep or junior players. Most also will be good college players. Being an NHL draft pick is a difficult proposition, and getting to the game’s highest level is even more challenging. Any critiques of players’ games are based on their NHL potential.
2021 NHL Entry Draft: New England’s top 12 prospects
1. Matt Beniers
Michigan, 11/5/02, C, left shot, 6-1/168
Beniers is the only New Englander I’d pencil in to the first round. The Hingham, Mass., native switched his college commitment to Michigan after initially choosing Harvard. He’ll be part of an elite freshman class in Ann Arbor that also includes projected first-round picks Kent Johnson and Owen Power.
Beniers is a 200-foot center who plays the game the right way. He hunts pucks and is responsible at both ends of the ice. His skating and hockey sense are both valuable assets to his game. In 41 games with the NTDP U-18 team last season, he had 18 goals and 23 assists.
2. Shane Lachance
Tabor, 8/30/04, LW, left shot, 6-4/190
NCAA commit: Boston University
Lachance has elevated his game quite a bit over the past 24 months. The Andover, Mass., native played two seasons of high school hockey for his hometown team before repeating his sophomore year at Tabor in 2019-20. He’s always had the size, but he’s filled out his frame and his skating has gotten much better. Lachance projects as a goal scorer who can play a power game from the left wing position. He had 13 goals and nine assists in 28 games last season with the Seawolves. Lachance hasn’t been able to leave campus yet, but he’s scheduled to play split season for the Neponset Valley River Rats.
3. Mackie Samoskevich
Chicago Steel, 11/15/02, RW, right shot, 5-10.25/168
NCAA commit: Michigan
Samoskevich, from Sandy Hook, Conn., is entering his second season of junior hockey with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. The Shattuck St. Mary’s alum had 13 goals and 21 assists in 47 games last season. His speed is his best asset, but his skill is another positive checkmark in his toolbox. The biggest thing I’ll be looking for this year is to see if he can play less of a perimeter game.
4. JP Turner
Avon Old Farms, 1/31/03, C, right shot, 5-11/190
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Turner is another player whose stock has risen quite a bit over the past couple of seasons. He’s a goal scorer with a quick release and he plays heavy on pucks. His skating has gotten better as he’s become slightly more fleet footed. I like his compete level, physical presence and ability to win puck battles. The biggest concern is whether or not his game will translate to the pro game with his lack of size. For me, he’s a draft pick, due to his versatility and upward trajectory. He’s playing split-season hockey for Mid Fairfield before joining the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede for games before the prep season.
5. Ryan St. Louis
U.S. NTDP U-18, 6/13/03, LW, left shot, 5-9/161
NCAA commit: Northeastern
St. Louis didn’t have as productive of a season as I expected him to in 2019-20 with the NTDP U-17 team. The Riverside, Conn., native had 11 goals and 11 assists in 45 games. I think it’s important to note, especially when it comes to ranking draft prospects, that he’d likely have been more productive than every prep player on this list, if he had stayed at Brunswick. That’s not meant as a knock on prep hockey or those other players. It’s merely stated as an important factor when considering more than just stats. His hockey sense and vision are his top attributes. He might be a little bit of a late bloomer, once he gains more lower-body strength and explosiveness in his stride as a result.
6. Sasha Teleguine
Chilliwack Chiefs, 9/17/02, LW, left shot, 5-9.25/178
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Teleguine is moving to the BCHL for this season after playing prep hockey at Thayer. His skating and skill are both elite. He made plenty of highlight-reel plays with the puck on his stick last season with the Tigers. The North Attleboro, Mass., native had 21 goals and 31 assists in 26 prep games while also playing split-season hockey for the Boston Junior Eagles. His play away from the puck is an area of concern, but based on skill and skating, he belongs on every scout’s draft list.
7. Cully Wilson
Dexter Southfield, 3/12/03, LW, left shot, 6-0/180
Wilson is back for his third season at Dexter Southfield in 2020-21. The Hingham, Mass., native was the first-line left wing last season, scoring nine goals and 25 assists. Wilson played in all situations, including power play and penalty kill. He has the ability to be a 200-foot forward who can be heavy on pucks. His vision, skill and skating are all positive attributes. He needs to keep his feet moving and be more consistent in terms of production. Wilson plays split season for the Boston Junior Eagles.
8. Matt Copponi
Dexter Southfield, 6/4/03, C, right shot, 5-11/165
NCAA commit: Merrimack
Copponi, from Mansfield, Mass., is a skilled forward who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. He hunts pucks, skates well and can make plays. In 30 prep games with Dexter Southfield, he had 20 goals and 20 assists while centering the team’s top line. If there’s one part of his game that scouts can nitpick, it’s his hockey sense. He plays split-season hockey for the Neponset Valley River Rats.
9. Brendan Fitzgerald
Governor’s, 3/6/03, D, left shot, 5-11/160
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Fitzgerald is an offensive-minded defenseman hailing from North Reading, Mass. Most known for his offensive instincts and vision, I think his defensive play and ability to gap and defend the rush with jam is underrated. He’s entering his second season of prep hockey with Governor’s after playing a season each at Malden Catholic and Middlesex Islanders 16-U. He had seven goals and 25 assists in 32 games in 2019-20. If there’s one thing he’ll have to prove to scouts, it’s his skating. This fall, he’s playing split season for Boston Imperials.
10. Tim Delay
St. Sebastian’s, 6/16/03, C, right shot, 6-1/170
NCAA commit: Boston College
Delay’s top attribute is his skating. The Hingham, Mass., native also has good skill and above-average size. Those three ingredients have gotten him on the draft radar. His compete level and hockey sense are areas of his game that need to get better. He had 13 goals and 17 assists in 28 games played for the Arrows during the 2019-20 prep school season. This fall, he’s playing split season for the Boston Junior Eagles 18-U.
11. Cooper Flinton
St. Paul’s, 8/16/03, LW, left shot, 6-2/210
Flinton took a big step in his game last season, his second at the prep level. His production increased from six points in 2018-19 to 25 in 2019-20. The Auburn, N.H., native had 11 goals last season. While he moved from left wing to center last season, I think he projects as a winger at the college level and in the pros, if he gets there. His size and ability as a north-south power forward who can shoot the puck hard are intriguing tools. His agility and first two steps are areas that will need improvement in order to get the most out of his skill-set. He’s playing split season for the Northern Cyclones Prep this fall.
12. Will Killoran
Belmont Hill, 1/30/03, D, right shot, 6-3/185
Killoran, from Charlestown, Mass., is a physical, shutdown defenseman. He’s played three seasons at Belmont Hill, but he took a bigger role in 2019-20. Killoran saw time on the power play as he scored a goal and added 11 assists in 30 games. Still, his bread and butter will always be in the defensive zone. He has good size and strength, which allows him to play tough. He’s hard to get around and an intimidating presence along the wall and in front of his own net. His skating has gotten better and could still use some improvement. Another area of concern is his hockey sense. However, there’s a lot to like and he’s a player who should be more well-regarded among college coaches than he is currently. Killoran is playing for Boston Imperials this fall.
