NHL Central Scouting's 2016 Midterm Rankings

There are a couple fewer uncommitted players on this list than their have been in recent years, likely a result of the phenomenon of college hockey prospects being recruited at a younger age. Still, there are gems still to be had.

125 - D - DEAN STEWART - PORTAGE - MJHL

128 - D - JAMES GREENWAY - USA U-18 - USHL

134 - D - FILIP DUSEK - STANSTEAD COLLEGE - HIGH-QC

144 - C - GUSTAF WESTLUND - THE GUNNERY - HIGH-CT

151 - RW - YUSHIROH HIRANO - YOUNGSTOWN - USHL

154 - LW - JACK JEFFERS - ORANGEVILLE - OJHL

168 - D - TYLER JETTE - FARMINGTON - HIGH-MN

185 - D - MATT DILLON - CUSHING ACADEMY - HIGH-MA

186 - C - COLIN GRANNARY - MERRITT - BCHL

189 - C - WILLIAM JERRY - ST. THOMAS - HIGH-MN

210 - D - WYATT AAMODT - HERMANTOWN - HIGH-MN

LV - RW - WALKER DUEHR - TRI-CITY - USHL In addition to these North American skaters, there are certain to be a handful of European skaters who decide to play NCAA hockey to develop their game. One is likely to be 35th ranked forward Kasper Björkqvist who has stated his intention to play NCAA hockey.

2016 NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch List

Typically there are a couple of uncommitted A or B rated prospect on this list when it's released each year. Surprisingly, there are no such gems waiting to be plucked this go around. All of the below players are eligible, uncommitted, and were rated as "C" prospects.

C - TY - WESTGARD - SURREY - BCHL
C - GUSTAF - WESTLUND - THE GUNNERY - HIGH-CT
C - JOSH - DICKINSON - GEORGETOWN - OJHL
C - LUKE - KEENAN - WHITBY - OJHL
LW - RILEY - SMITH - OLDS - AJHL
LW - COLIN - GRANNARY - MERRITT - BCHL
LW - BRENDAN - WALKOM - SELECTS U18 - SOUTH KENT SCHOOL - HIGH-CT
LW - ASHTON - ALTMANN - DULUTH EAST - HIGH-MN
LW - ROBERTS - BLUEGER - SHATTUCK - ST.MARY'S PREP - HIGH-MN
LW - JACK - JEFFERS - BURLINGTON - OJHL
LW - CHRISTOPHER (CJ) - DODERO - SIOUX CITY - USHL
RW - TY - AMONTE - THAYER ACADEMY - HIGH-MA
RW - BRADY - TATRO - BEMIDJI - HIGH-MN
D - REECE - SOUKOROFF - OKOTOKS - AJHL
D - MATT - DILLON - CUSHING ACADEMY - HIGH-MA
D - JACK - MCCOOL - ST. SEBASTIANS SCHOOL - HIGH-MA
D - SHAY - DONOVAN - DULUTH EAST - HIGH-MN
D - ALEX - SPENCER - DULUTH EAST - HIGH-MN
D - TYLER - JETTE - FARMINGTON - HIGH-MN
D - JASON - SMALLIDGE - ST. THOMAS - HIGH-MN
D - WYATT - NEWPOWER - WHITE BEAR LAKE - HIGH-MN
D - PETER - CHRISTIE - EXETER - HIGH-NH
D - DEAN - STEWART - PORTAGE - MJHL
D - ZAKERY - GALAMBOS - JOHNSTOWN - NAHL
D - CROIX - EVINGSON - KENAI RIVER - NAHL
D - SAM - DUNN - COBOURG - OJHL
D - CAMERON - LEE - GREEN BAY - USHL
D - LIAM - SCHIOLER - LINCOLN - USHL
D - BO - HANSON - MUSKEGON - USHL
D  - JAMES - GREENWAY - USA U-18 - USHL
G - MATT - LADD - AVON OLD FARMS - HIGH-CT
G - JACK - LAFONTAINE - JANESVILLE - NAHL
G - TOMMY - NAPPIER - SPRINGFIELD - NAHL
G - TYLER - JOHNSON - TOPEKA - NAHL

Stat Links Updated

Other than the late-starting USHL, all of the stat links to the right have been updated for the 2015-2016 season. Check them throughout the year to see how your favorite team's recruits and prospects are performing!

2016 NHL Central Scouting Futures List

The list only includes 100 top players, so it's not surprising that only a small few are uncommitted and NCAA eligible. There are some European players listed that are eligible (and one that is actually committed), but as per usual, we'll continue to leave them out of the conversation due to their low likelihood of playing NCAA hockey. Below are the five eligible players uncommitted as of this posting.

Dante Fabbro - D - Penticton-BCHL
Tyson Jost - F - Penticton-BCHL
Matthew Cairns - D - Toronto-OJHL
Chad Krys - D - USNTDP-USHL
Auston Matthews - F - USNTDP-USHL

The last name on the list is the most intriguing. Matthews is widely regarded as the most likely player to be drafted #1 overall. He has accelerated his studies and has graduated from high school, making him eligible for NCAA this coming season. He's likely going to pass on the opportunity. There is also a strong likelihood that he'll pass on the opportunity to play in the WHL, instead opting for a professional contract in some European league. That decision and subsequent announcement is expected in the very near future.

2015 NHL Central Scouting Final Draft Rankings

It's not unusual to have a handful of CSB rated players uncommitted and eligible for college hockey, as there are again this season. Below are the young men on the list who could still choose to play college hockey.

16 G HUSKA, ADAM GREEN BAY USHL
115 D JONES, CALEB USA U-18 USHL
123 C PEARSON, CHASE YOUNGSTOWN USHL
151 RW FRONK, JIRI CEDAR RAPIDS USHL
158 D JAYCOX, LUKAS WARROAD HIGH-MN
182 D FLANAGAN, MCKAY THE GUNNERY HIGH-CT
190 D REILLY, WILLIAM NORTH YORK OJHL
200 LW BERG, ADAM CALGARY MUSTANGS AJHL
209 D DESHARNAIS, VINCENT CHILLIWACK BCHL

Of this list, at least Fronk and Jones are not expected to play college hockey. But, as of now, both remain eligible.

The spring NCAA signing period begins tomorrow, so don't be surprised to see a few of these names drop from the list in the immediate future.

Stat Links Updated

All of the stat links to the right have been updated for the 2014-2015 season. Check them throughout the year to see how your favorite team's recruits and prospects are performing!

Central Scouting 2015 NHL Draft Preliminary Watch List

Below are all of the uncommitted, NCAA eligible prospects ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2015 Draft. The top two prospects on the list are "B" rated. The remainder are "C" rated prospects.

C JAKOB FORSBACKA KARLSSON OMAHA USHL

G MATEJ TOMEK TOPEKA NAHL

G VAUGHAN AHRENS WAYZATA HIGH-MN

D NICK AZAR HONEYBAKED U18 HPHL

C JACK BECKER MAHTOMEDI HIGH-MN

G RYAN BEDNARD JOHNSTOWN NAHL

D CARMINE BUONO POWELL RIVER BCHL

D VINCENT DESHARNAIS CHILLIWACK BCHL

D TIM FAULKNER SPRINGFIELD NAHL

D HUGO GALLET AUSTIN NAHL

C JACOB JAREMKO ELK RIVER HIGH-MN

D LUKAS JAYCOX WARROAD HIGH-MN

D CALEB JONES USA U-18 USHL

G MATTHEW JURUSIK JANESVILLE NAHL

G TREVIN KOZLOWSKI THE GUNNERY HIGH-CT

C JOHN MACLEAN AUSTIN NAHL

LW TOM MARCHIN MUSKEGON USHL

C STEVEN MERL MUSKEGON USHL

C/LW BROGAN O'BRIEN PRINCE GEORGE BCHL

G CONOR O'BRIEN NEW HAMPTON SCHOOL HIGH-NH

C CHASE PEARSON YOUNGSTOWN USHL

D ANDREW PESKI BROCKVILLE CCHL

G PAYTON PORTER KIMBALL UNION HIGH-NH

D VILI SAARIJARVI GREEN BAY USHL

LW TANNER SCHACHLE KENAI RIVER NAHL

G ERIC SCHIERHORN MUSKEGON USHL

RW RYAN SMITH GREEN BAY USHL

LW WILL SOMERS HOTCHKISS SCHOOL HIGH-CT

LW LUKE STEVENS NOBLE & GREENOUGH HIGH-MA

D DAVID TRINKBERGER MUSKEGON USHL

LW DANIEL WARPECHA SIOUX FALLS USHL

G STEFAN WORNIG POWELL RIVER BCHL

C/RW MIHA ZAJC DES MOINES USHL

College Hockey Recruits Getting Younger

This week, rumor spread of a barely 14 year-old Norwegian hockey player accepting a scholarship offer from Denver University. This turns out not to have been true*. But even if it had been, it would not have set any records for the youngest college hockey commitment. That honor goes to Oliver Wahlstrom who committed to Maine as a 13 year-old 7th grader earlier this year.

The debate over recruiting children more than four years removed from college will continue as long as loopholes in NCAA rules permit the practice. The phenomenon certainly isn't limited to college hockey either. In fact, all scholarship sponsored college athletic programs (women's and men's) have been known to recruit a youngster here and there. Football's youngest commitment was also 13. Women's soccer has offered 13-year-old players too.

I'll stay out of the debate but still provide the data. Based on information from Chris Heisenberg's current and past recruit lists, below are the thirteen youngest players to have accepted a men's D1 college hockey scholarship offer. Based on available data, this list should include every commitment made by a player under the age of fifteen.

Anthony Cipollone - 13y/2m/11d - Vermont
Oliver Wahlstrom - 13y/6m/28d - Maine
Mathias Emelio Petterson - 14y/0m/5d - Denver
Jake Goldowski - 14y/4m/7d - Penn State
Blade Jenkins - 14y/5m/7d - Michigan
Cam Askew - 14y/6m/5d - Boston University
Connor Anthoine - 14y/6m/7d - Vermont
Liam Pecararo - 14y/7m/8d - Maine
Cayden Primeau - 14y/7m/19d - Northeastern
Jon Merrill - 14y/8m/7d - Michigan
Jacob Pivonka - 14y/8m/7d - Notre Dame
Noah Hanafin - 14y/9m/0d - Boston College
Mikey Anderson - 14y/9m/12d - Minnesota-Duluth
Brannon McManus - 14y/9m/22d - Minnesota
Joel Farabee - 14y/9m/24d - New Hampshire
Keith Petruzzelli - 14y/10m/8d - Quinnipiac
Thomas Forgoine - 14y/10m/11d - Vermont
Brady Smith - 14y/10m/21d - Wisconsin
Casey Fitzgerald - 14/10m/29d - Boston College
Joey Anderson - 14y/11m/7d - Minnesota-Duluth
Mark Friedman - 14y/11m/13d - Bowling Green

Thus far, only one player on this list (Jon Merrill) has actually played D1 college hockey. Cam Askew opted to play in the QMJHL. Connor Anthoine ended up playing D3 hockey instead. The rest are still in committed to their respective programs.

*UPDATED 8/6/15 - EMP commitment possibly still true

Central Scouting 2014 NHL Draft Final Watch List

Below are the uncommitted NCAA eligible players ranked by NHL Central Scouting. The complete list can be found here.
 
Skaters
122 - F - Waltteri Hopponen - Sioux City-USHL
131 - F - Ryan Hitchcock - USNTDP
133 - F - Miguel Fidler - Edina HS
170 - F - Steven Merl - Belle Tire U18
185 - F - Jake Bresser - Eau Claire Memorial HS
 
Goaltenders
14 Joel Daccord - Cushing Academy
11 Blake Weyrick - USNTDP
30 Eric Shierhorn - Muskegon-USHL
LV Christian Short - Canterbury Prep

Central Scouting 2014 NHL Draft Midterm Watch List

This post is a bit late, but below are the uncommitted NCAA eligible players ranked by NHL Central Scouting. The complete list can be found here.

Skaters

54 Ryan Donato – Dexter
97 Nick Wolff – Eagan HS
121 Michael Turner – Cushing
150 Tyler Sheehy – Waterloo-USHL
169 Steven Merl – Belle Tire U18
180 Miguel Fidler – Edina HS
188 Dominic Franco – Kimball Union
191 Waltteri Hopponen – Sioux City-USHL
193 Billy Sweezey – Nobles  
LV Lawton Courtnall – Waterloo-USHL
 
Goaltenders
4 Thomas Perry – Wenatchee-NAHL
19 Sean Cleary – Lake Forest HS
25 Robert McGovern – Thayer  
30 Eric Schierhorn – Muskegon-USHL
32 Hunter Miska – Penticton-BCHL

G-32 Miska Hunter Penticton BCHL Uncommitted G-30 Schierhorn Eric Muskegon USHL Uncommitted G-25 McGovern Robert Thayer PREP Uncommitted G-19 Cleary Sean Lake Forest HS-IL Uncommitted G-4 Perry Thomas Wenatchee NAHL Uncommitted G-3 Weyrick Blake U.S. NTDP USHL Uncommitted LV Courtnall Lawton Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 207 Hillman Blake Dubuque USHL Uncommitted 193 Sweezey Billy Nobles PREP Uncommitted 191 Hopponen Waltteri Sioux City USHL Uncommitted 188 Franco Dominic Kimball Union PREP Uncommitted 180 Fidler Miguel Edina HS-MN Uncommitted 169 Merl Steven Belle Tire U18 Midget Uncommitted 150 Sheehy Tyler Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 121 Turner Michael Cushing PREP Uncommitted 97 Wolff Nick Eagan HS-MN Uncommitted 54 Donato Ryan Dexter PREP Uncommitted - See more at: http://collegehockeyinc.com/pages/2014-nhl-draft-mid-season-rankings#sthash.nn3i4Nj9.dpuf

G-32 Miska Hunter Penticton BCHL Uncommitted G-30 Schierhorn Eric Muskegon USHL Uncommitted G-25 McGovern Robert Thayer PREP Uncommitted G-19 Cleary Sean Lake Forest HS-IL Uncommitted G-4 Perry Thomas Wenatchee NAHL Uncommitted G-3 Weyrick Blake U.S. NTDP USHL Uncommitted LV Courtnall Lawton Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 207 Hillman Blake Dubuque USHL Uncommitted 193 Sweezey Billy Nobles PREP Uncommitted 191 Hopponen Waltteri Sioux City USHL Uncommitted 188 Franco Dominic Kimball Union PREP Uncommitted 180 Fidler Miguel Edina HS-MN Uncommitted 169 Merl Steven Belle Tire U18 Midget Uncommitted 150 Sheehy Tyler Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 121 Turner Michael Cushing PREP Uncommitted 97 Wolff Nick Eagan HS-MN Uncommitted 54 Donato Ryan Dexter PREP Uncommitted - See more at: http://collegehockeyinc.com/pages/2014-nhl-draft-mid-season-rankings#sthash.nn3i4Nj9.dpuf

G-32 Miska Hunter Penticton BCHL Uncommitted G-30 Schierhorn Eric Muskegon USHL Uncommitted G-25 McGovern Robert Thayer PREP Uncommitted G-19 Cleary Sean Lake Forest HS-IL Uncommitted G-4 Perry Thomas Wenatchee NAHL Uncommitted G-3 Weyrick Blake U.S. NTDP USHL Uncommitted LV Courtnall Lawton Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 207 Hillman Blake Dubuque USHL Uncommitted 193 Sweezey Billy Nobles PREP Uncommitted 191 Hopponen Waltteri Sioux City USHL Uncommitted 188 Franco Dominic Kimball Union PREP Uncommitted 180 Fidler Miguel Edina HS-MN Uncommitted 169 Merl Steven Belle Tire U18 Midget Uncommitted 150 Sheehy Tyler Waterloo USHL Uncommitted 121 Turner Michael Cushing PREP Uncommitted 97 Wolff Nick Eagan HS-MN Uncommitted 54 Donato Ryan Dexter PREP Uncommitted - See more at: http://collegehockeyinc.com/pages/2014-nhl-draft-mid-season-rankings#sthash.nn3i4Nj9.dpuf