Eleven players from New England were selected in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft that took place virtually over the past two days. After the first round Tuesday night, rounds two through seven were conducted Wednesday.
Twenty-two other players with ties to the New England region also were selected in Wednesday’s second day of the 2020 NHL draft.
There were several intriguing trends in the draft picks from the New England region. Ten of the 11 local players selected played prep school at one time or another. Only four were drafted directly out of prep school. The only draftee who didn’t come through the prep ranks spent time in Rhode Island high school prior to leaving for the NTDP.
While Boston College and Boston University have long dominated the local recruiting scene, only one of the 11 New England players drafted is committed to one of the two Beanpot powers. That doesn’t mean BC or BU isn’t void of incoming talent. It just means that both schools went outside of the geographic region during this recruiting cycle.
Of the 11 locals, three are committed to Harvard while Providence and Northeastern have two players each. BU, Connecticut, Merrimack and UMass Lowell each had one incoming local player selected.
Overall, Harvard led local schools with seven committed players picked in the draft. UMass and Northeastern both had four while Boston College and Boston University had three each. Connecticut, Merrimack and New Hampshire each had two players selected.
As far as local prep programs, Lawrence led the way with three former players selected. Dexter Southfield, Salisbury, St. Mark’s each had two former players drafted. The Gunnery and St. Sebastian’s each had one former player picked.
Colangelo tabbed by Anaheim
There was little surprise in the first New Englander who went off the board at the 2020 NHL draft. Northeastern right wing Sam Colangelo, who spent the 2019-20 season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL, was taken in the second round, 36th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks.
Colangelo played three seasons of prep school hockey at Lawrence Academy before heading off to the USHL. The Stoneham, Mass., native had 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 28 games played in his final season at Lawrence in 2018-19.
Colangelo’s stock continued to rise as the 2019-20 season moved along. He finished third in the USHL in goals and points while playing on a loaded team in Chicago. His final total for the season was 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points in 44 games played.
Colangelo checks boxes for size, shot and offensive hockey sense. At 6-foot-3, Colangelo is a gifted finisher, but his playmaking ability is sometimes underrated. His vision allows him to make some nifty passes that thread the needle.
His skating and compete sometimes have been criticized, but he’s gotten better in both regards. His compete and ability to win battles for loose pucks should continue to improve at Northeastern as the Huskies’ coaching staff puts a premium on being heavy on pucks.
Steve Lyons is Anaheim’s amateur scout for the New England region and he does a lot of work in the USHL as well. Assistant general manager Dave Nonis has some New England connections, having played college hockey at Maine and his son being a Governor’s Academy hockey alum.
Commesso chosen by Chicago Blackhawks
Boston University freshman goaltender Drew Commesso was picked later in the second round by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 46th overall pick. The Norwell, Mass., native played the past two seasons with USA Hockey’s NTDP after playing prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s prior to that.
Commesso was the second goaltender selected, behind only Russian Yaroslav Askarov, who was taken 11th overall by the Nashville Predators. Commesso long has been regarded as the top goaltender in this age group among New England prospects. He took the starting job with the NTDP and saw his stock soar over the past 18 months.
In 2019-20, Commesso had a .920 save percentage with the NTDP U-18 team. He’s slated to take on the starting role with the Terriers when the Hockey East season begins in November.
Chicago’s scouting department has plenty of New England connections. Mike Doneghey, Chicago’s director of player evaluation and recruitment, is a former goaltender and assistant coach at Merrimack. Dan Ellis, based in Omaha, Neb., is the organization’s goaltending scout and would have seen Commesso a lot in his travels across the USHL. Rob Faca is the Blackhawks’ head USA scout and would have also played a key role in this pick.
Another local player for Anaheim
St. Mark’s defenseman Ian Moore was taken in the third round, 67th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks. The Concord, Mass., native was a longtime standout at the Southboro, Mass., prep school. Committed to Harvard for 2021-22, he’ll spend this upcoming season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel.
In 2019-20, Moore had 11 goals and 34 assists for 45 points in 28 games played for Carl Corazzini’s Lions. Moore has good size, footwork and shooting ability. He’s able to sidestep forecheckers and get pucks going north. He has the skill-set to quarterback a power play. In prep, he had the puck on his stick a lot. His defensive play isn’t poor, but he’ll need to continue honing that portion of the game as he develops.
There was some concern among NHL organizations when it came to drafting Moore, due to the fact he’d almost certainly hit free agency, if he wanted to after a few seasons at Harvard.
New York Islanders select Jefferies
The Gunnery alum Alex Jefferies, a freshman at Merrimack, was selected in the fourth round, 121st overall, by the New York Islanders. The Lunenburg, Mass., native is a right wing who can shoot the puck hard and see the ice well. When he’s on top of his game, he’s hunting pucks in all three zones. His skating and whether or not he can slide down in the lineup are two concerns that some NHL scouts had when evaluating Jefferies.
As a senior in 2019-20, Jefferies had 33 goals and 36 assists in 32 games. Prior to going to prep school, Jefferies played Midget hockey for the Islanders Hockey Club. He is opting to go straight to college from prep school, which could be a detriment in his development.
Paul Carlow is the New York Islanders scout for the New England region, who would have been responsible for the majority of viewings on Jefferies. He’s also the head coach of the King Phillip high school varsity team. Former Boston University star Chris O’Sullivan is another Islanders scout who would have watched Jefferies a good amount of time.
Farrell picked by Montreal Canadiens
Harvard commit Sean Farrell was the last player selected in the fourth round. The Hopkinton, Mass., native was taken by the Montreal Canadiens with the 124th overall pick.
After two seasons with USA Hockey’s NTDP, Farrell played the 2019-20 season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL. Farrell had 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points in 44 games. Farrell, who played at St. Mark’s prior to the NTDP, is a smart, playmaking winger. His skating and compete also are notable assets. The biggest concern some scouts have is his lack of size.
The two Montreal scouts most responsible for watching and drafting Farrell were Bobby Kinsella and Providence alum Trevor Hanson. Both are New England natives.
Rangers pluck Berard
The New York Rangers selected Providence left wing Brett Berard with the 134th overall pick in the fifth round. From East Greenwich, R.I., Berard played two seasons with the NTDP after competing at the local high school level for Bishop Hendricken.
Berard is an athletic, hard-nosed winger whose lack of size was considered a concern among some scouts. Despite not having the physical stature of many of his opponents, he always seems to go into the dirty areas and he plays between the dots. He draws a comparison to Brad Marchand in that he’s fast, skilled and gritty. Berard had 16 goals and 18 assists in 41 games last season with the NTDP U-18 team.
I don’t necessarily think the fifth round was too low for Berard, but I believe he should have gone ahead of some high school and prep players from here and Minnesota. This is a terrific value pick for New York. Rangers scouts Brendan Clark and Jamie Herrington would have seen Berard quite a bit over the past few years.
Meehan selected by Los Angeles Kings
UMass Lowell freshman defenseman Ben Meehan was taken in the fifth round, 140th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings. The Walpole, Mass., native spent the 2019-20 season in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders after spending his prep career at Dexter Southfield.
Meehan played in only 25 games last season before suffering a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. In that short period of time, Meehan displayed more of an offensive touch than he ever did at the prep level. He had eight goals and 10 assists, which was good for third in goals among defensemen in the USHL.
Meehan won’t jump right off the page at observers, but he’s got a good stick and plays with jam. He does a good job of winning battles and makes smart puck touches. He’ll learn and get better under Norm Bazin with the River Hawks.
Credit goes out to Kings amateur scout Ted Belisle, who would have watched Meehan quite a bit in the USHL and might have gotten a viewing or two when he was still in prep. This is a pick that the Kings should feel good about.
Capone picked by Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Connecticut freshman right wing Nick Capone in the sixth round with the 157th overall pick. The East Haven, Conn., native played prep school hockey at Salisbury before spending this past winter with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.
In 34 games, Capone had seven goals and 12 assists. He racked up 96 penalty minutes and was suspended four times for a total of 15 games missed. His size, physical presence and ability to cycle pucks below the dots are positive attributes. His skating is an area that has gotten better, but will need to continue to get better in order to make the NHL.
Capone is a former Maine commit who switched his allegiance to his home-state school during the past season. UNH alum Brian Putnam is Tampa’s scout in the New England area, but he also does some cross-over work. Josh Dye is the organization’s scout in the USHL and midwest.
Duran drafted by hometown Bruins
Woburn, Mass., native Riley Duran was plucked by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round with the 182nd overall pick. A Providence commit, Duran played the past two seasons at Lawrence Academy after a year each at Woburn High School and Malden Catholic.
Duran has played some right wing and some center. He’s a big north-south power forward who is at his best when he’s forechecking hard, keeping it simple and being physical. He has a hard shot and can drive the net. In 27 games for Lawrence last winter, he had 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points.
Duran’s best hockey is ahead of him. He’ll head to the USHL for the 2020-21 season with the Youngstown Phantoms before matriculating to Providence in 2021-22. He comes from an athletic family that includes his sister, Kayla Duran, who plays soccer at Boston College. His dad, Jim Duran, played collegiately at Plattsburgh State and is now the athletic director and hockey coach at Woburn.
With Duran playing many of his games in close proximity to the Bruins’ office, he was watched many times by the organization. Director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau, assistant general manager Evan Gold, director of analytics Jeremy Rogalski, hockey operations assistant Colin Mayberry and amateur scout Doug Leaverton are members of the Bruins organization who I saw watching Lawrence or Cape Cod Whalers last season.
Toronto goes off board with Fusco
Dexter Southfield alum John Fusco was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs late in the seventh round with the 189th overall pick. The Westwood, Mass., native is a defenseman headed to play college hockey at Harvard.
In 24 games as a senior at Dexter Southfield, Fusco recorded 10 goals and 21 assists. He captained the team that fell just short of a prep school title, losing to Salisbury in the final. 2019-20 capped off a tremendous four-year career at the Brookline, Mass., prep school.
Fusco was picked in his second year of draft eligibility. His offensive skill, especially his shot, are what he’s most known for. His lack of size and skating are two areas that kept him from being on more teams’ radar.
Fusco would have been watched most by Maple Leafs scout Jim Vesey. The organization’s director of amateur scouting, John Lilley, also lives in the Boston area and might have seen Fusco live a few times.
Third time’s a charm for Fontaine
Also in his second year of draft eligibility, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine heard his name called when the Nashville Predators made him their seventh round pick, 202nd overall.
Fontaine played the past two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. Prior to that, he played prep hockey at Lawrence Academy and Moses Brown. Fontaine climbed up draft boards and saw his stock soar over the past few years. The one-time RPI commit is now slated to begin playing college hockey at Northeastern next month.
From East Greenwich, R.I., Fontaine had 26 goals and 31 assists for 57 points in 44 games this past season. His point total was good for fifth in the USHL. That followed up a 43 point campaign in 2018-19.
Fontaine is on the smaller side, but he’s fast and creates offense on the rush. He’s gritty, forechecks tenaciously, and is worth the pick. Boston University alum Jeff Kealty is Nashville’s assistant general manager and director of scouting. New Hampshire alum Tom Nolan is the organization’s chief scout. Both would have played an important role in drafting Fontaine.
Tuch, Kuznetsov lead group of players with ties to New England
Twenty-two non-local players with ties to the region were selected in the 2020 NHL draft. Boston University freshman left wing Luke Tuch out of the NTDP was the first such player taken. The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native was selected 47th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. In 47 games with the U-18 team in 2019-20, he had 15 goals and 15 assists. Tuch is a familiar name to hockey fans as his older brother, Alex Tuch, played collegiately at Boston College and now stars with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Speaking of Vegas, the organization picked the next non-local who is playing in the region. The Golden Knights took Connecticut sophomore defenseman Yan Kuznetsov, who played in Hockey East as a 17-year-old last winter. The Murmansk, Russia, native scored two goals and added nine assists as a freshman for the Huskies.
Three players committed to New England college hockey programs were selected in the third round. Quinnipiac freshman center Ty Smilanic out of the NTDP was taken by the Florida Panthers. Next up was Harvard recruit and former Kent School star Alex Laferriere, who went to the Los Angeles Kings. Boston College freshman center Trevor Kuntar, a three-year USHL veteran with the Youngstown Phantoms, was drafted by the Boston Bruins.
In the fourth round, Merrimack defenseman Zachary Uens went to the Florida Panthers with the 105th overall pick. A pair of Boston College freshmen, defenseman Eamon Powell and center Colby Ambrosio, went later in the fourth to Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche, respectively.
UConn freshman center Artem Shlaine (New Jersey Devils), UMass sophomore defenseman Matt Kessel (St. Louis Blues) and Harvard commit Mason Langenbrunner (Boston Bruins) were the players with local ties selected in the fifth round.
Ten more players with ties to the New England region were selected in the sixth and seventh rounds. All non-local players with ties to the region who were drafted on Wednesday are listed below in the chart.
Top three picks include former UNH commit
There was little surprise in the first three picks at the 2020 NHL draft. Rimouski Oceanic left wing Alexis Lafreniere was taken first overall by the New York Rangers. With the next two picks, the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators plucked Sudbury Wolves center Quinton Byfield and Adler Mannheim left wing Tim Stutzle, respectively.
While none of the top three picks were Americans, Stutzle did have somewhat of a New England connection. New Hampshire’s coaching staff found Stutzle prior to him really popping, and landed a commit from the German. However, he turned pro before he could make it to Durham. Regardless, it should be considered a positive that the Wildcats were able to identify and recruit such an elite prospect.
Light year for Americans at NHL draft
2019 was a banner year for the Americans at the NHL draft, but 2020 wasn’t as favorable. Only two players from the United States were selected in the first round. North Dakota defenseman Jake Sanderson, a NTDP alum, was taken fifth overall by the Ottawa Senators. Michigan center, formerly of Chicago Steel and Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Brendan Brisson was the 29th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights.
In total, 52 Americans were selected among the 217 players drafted. Canada led the way with 70 players taken. Sweden (32), Russia (24), Finland (16), Czech Republic (8) and Germany (4) were the next five most represented countries at the 2020 NHL draft.
