While it may not have the historic significance of last month's 2015 NHL Draft - which saw three current NCAA players taken in the top eight selections - the 2016 NHL Draft promises to again feature a heavy NCAA influence, according to the Futures List of 2016 draft prospects released Thursday by NHL Central Scouting.
Twenty-five current NCAA commitments or prospective recruits are included on the list, highlighted by three commits each to Boston University, Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth. Michigan, Northeastern and Wisconsin each have a pair of recruits on the list.
Six players on the list have not committed to schools but are playing in NCAA-eligible junior leagues, led by highly touted Penticton Vees teammates Dante Fabbro and Tyson Jost. Those two potential first-rounders are the lone representatives from the BCHL on the list.
NCAA Prospects on NHL Central Scouting's Futures List
First Name | Last Name | Pos. | 2014-15 Team | League | NCAA Commitment |
Joey | Anderson | F | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Minnesota Duluth |
Jamie | Armstrong | F | Avon Old Farms | Prep | Northeastern |
Kieffer | Bellows | F | Sioux Falls | USHL | Boston University |
Matthew | Cairns | D | Toronto Patriots | OJHL | Uncommitted |
Dante | Fabbro | D | Penticton | BCHL | Uncommitted |
William | Fallstrom | F | Djurgarden Jr. | Sweden-Jr. | Minnesota |
Matt | Filipe | F | Malden Catholic | HS | Northeastern |
Michael | Graham | F | Eden Prairie | HS | Minnesota Duluth |
James | Greenway | D | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Uncommitted |
Kenneth | Johnson | D | Shattuck-St. Mary's | Prep | Michigan |
Tyson | Jost | F | Penticton | BCHL | Uncommitted |
Clayton | Keller | F | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Boston University |
Willie | Knierim | F | Dubuque | USHL | Miami |
Chad | Krys | D | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Uncommitted |
Luke | Kunin | F | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Wisconsin |
Ryan | Lindgren | D | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Minnesota |
Griffin | Luce | D | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Michigan |
Mitchell | Mattson | F | Grand Rapids | HS | North Dakota |
Charles | McAvoy | D | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Boston University |
Michael | O'Leary | F | Salisbury | Prep | Cornell |
Andrew | Peeke | D | Selects Academy | USPHL | Notre Dame |
Sam | Rossini | D | Waterloo | USHL | Minnesota |
Tage | Thompson | F | U.S. NTDP | USHL | Connecticut |
Riley | Tufte | F | Blaine | HS | Minnesota Duluth |
Max | Zimmer | F | Wayzata | HS | Wisconsin |