NCAA men’s hockey regional championship: Top 5 2023 NHL Draft prospects

Credit: John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK

Think you know sports? PointsBet Canada is live in Ontario!

_____

With many of the game’s top prospects set to take part in the NCAA’s regional championships this week, there’s going to be some significant eyes on the future of the game.

But there are also some NHL Draft prospects ready to take center stage, too. There aren’t many, because most have already passed their first year of eligibility before college. But for some – mainly late birthdays and late-bloomers – this will be the last chance to show what they’re capable of before the draft in Nashville this June.

We’ve already done a bigger breakdown of some of the biggest names in the tournament. Today, we’re looking at five players that could have their names called at the 2023 NHL Draft, led by Michigan’s Adam Fantilli:

Adam Fantilli, C (University of Michigan)

Projected to go second overall at the NHL Draft, the NCAA’s top scorer is hoping to keep the fun going. Fantilli helped Michigan to the Big Ten championship with one of the best offensive outputs seen by a U-19 forward. He has 27 goals and 61 points in 42 games with a 1.85 points-per-game mark, besting Jack Eichel’s incredible 2014-15 season when he had 71 points and 1.78 PPG. The big, powerful forward has the makings of a star NHLer and if he decides to go the pro route next year, he has the tools to make an immediate impact. He’s intelligent, physical, is a tremendous skater, and doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses. Michigan has a real shot at winning it all this year, and Fantilli will need to do everything in his power to ensure that happens.

Gavin Brindley, RW (University of Michigan)

While all eyes might be on Fantilli, Brindley has had quite the season himself. He isn’t the dominant force like his teammate, but he’s quick, skilled and still managed to put up just under a point a game. He spent time with Fantilli, and the two seemed to click, but Brindley has shown the ability to play any role with just about anyone. He’s a coach’s dream: a buzzsaw forward that isn’t afraid to lay the body, even as a smaller 5-foot-9 winger. He loves to shoot the puck, but he’s a slick playmaker with a high offensive IQ. Brindley isn’t a sure-fire bet to go in the first round, but I think teams will be making a mistake if he slips too far down.

Luke Mittelstadt, D (University of Minnesota)

A third-year eligible prospect, there’s a good chance Mittelstadt gets taken this time around. The University of Minnesota defenseman took his time to get to the college level. Still, he’s been a solid piece of the team’s back end as a hard-working, positionally sound D-man. He’s a solid setup guy from the point, and he showed at the World Junior Championship that he could do a good job of pushing players to the perimeter. Minnesota has one of the best blueliners in the country, with Mittelstadt – a member of the all B1G rookie team – showing he can play just about anywhere needed. He’s more of a project player, but one that’s turning into a solid late-bloomer.

Matt Copponi, C (Merrimack College)

Copponi, a third-year eligible prospect, has had a solid sophomore season with Merrimack, becoming one of the team’s most vital scoring forces behind New York Islanders prospect Alex Jefferies. Copponi had a hot run to end the season but was seemingly shut out in the final against BU on Saturday. Still, Copponi is consistently effective and highly competitive, giving it everything he has every shift. Copponi is projected to go in the later rounds of the NHL Draft, but given he’s still early in his college career, he could be a decent long-term project.

Charles-Alexis Legault, D (Qunnipiac University)

Legault had a decent freshman season with Quinnipiac and is another player that was passed over twice at the NHL Draft. That could change this year for the 199th-ranked North American skater. The big 6-foot-4 defenseman moves well for his size and has a long stride that allows him to get to the puck in quick bursts. He can also put some serious power behind his shot, but I wish he shot more. He has continued to add bulk over the past few years, and I think there’s some potential as a punishing, shutdown defenseman in the future.