The 2022 NHL draft class in New England runs deep, but there isn’t a Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass.), Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) or Oliver Wahlstrom (Yarmouth, Maine) projected to go in the top half of the first round.
The top New England prospect for the 2022 NHL draft is Northeastern freshman Jack Hughes, the son of Kent Hughes, recently named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Hughes, from Westwood, Mass., often is referred to as the “other Jack Hughes,” in reference to the 2001 birth-year forward selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2019. The Huskies’ Hughes is a skilled, smart center who can make plays and finish.
In these rankings, you’ll see that I prioritize players who have moved on to the USHL. While prep school hockey is a terrific route for the vast majority of players, I value prospects with a desire to challenge themselves at the highest level. There are still some very talented players in the prep school circuit, and a handful of them will hear their names called this July. Obviously, more than a few of the players in these rankings won’t be drafted. However, each player to make this list, even at the bottom, has at least one skill-set worth monitoring.
More rankings from this series:
Nos. 1-5 | Nos. 6-10 | Nos. 11-15 | Nos. 16-20
15. Phil Tresca (Boston, Mass.)
Muskegon, 4/10/02, C, right shot, 5-11/190
In his second season in the USHL, Tresca has quadrupled his production from his rookie year. There’s never been a doubt as to Tresca’s skating and offensive skill-set. While with Rivers, he didn’t always produce or play hard on a consistent basis. His stock has soared this season, earning an invite to the USA Hockey BioSteel All-American Game as a double-overager.
14. Hank Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.)
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield U-18, 12/25/03, LW, left shot, 6-4/180
NCAA commit: Dartmouth
Cleaves is a late bloomer who has grown physically and athletically over the past 18 months. With his size, skating and length, he’ll get plenty of looks from NHL scouts. It’s easy to like a player with his physical tools, especially with his upward trajectory. He’s still raw and needs to add more of a physical element to his game. However, there’s upside as a power forward.
13. Grayson Badger (Hyde Park, Mass.)
Dexter Southfield/SS Kings Prep U-18, 5/9/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/185
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Badger had a big USA Hockey Select 17 camp last summer. I thought it was a sign of things to come, but he hasn’t produced a ton in the fall or this winter at Dexter Southfield. His compete level is his elite attribute. His skating and hockey sense are both works in progress, but both areas have gotten better. I’d take him on any prep, Midget or junior team, but it’s tough to rank him higher with his lack of offensive numbers so far this season.
12. Brady Berard (East Greenwich, R.I.)
U.S. NTDP U-18, 2/26/04, C, left shot, 6-0/180
NCAA commit: Providence
Berard projects as a bottom-six forward, if he were to ever make the NHL. The former Mount Saint Charles top-liner has taken a lesser role with the NTDP, but he brings intangibles, athleticism and compete every shift. It’s also certain that if he were still at Mount, his offensive numbers would be up in a big way. His style of play will fit in perfectly at Providence, where his game and development should take off.
11. Chris Romaine (Braintree, Mass.)
Milton/SS Kings Prep U-18, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 6-0/185
NCAA commit: Providence
Romaine is a big, strong breakout machine with elite feet. His first touch and skating are easy to like at first glance. There’s upside, but his lack of offensive production to date is reason for concern. He shows flashes of good vision, but he doesn’t consistently impact the offensive side of the puck. That might keep him from being drafted in July, but he’ll be a heck of a college player after junior hockey. With that could come plenty of opportunities as an undrafted free agent.
