NHL Prospect Roundup: Hage, Wyttenbach highlight early standouts from the NCAA

Oct 19, 2026, 12:00 EDT

NHL Prospect Roundup: Hage, Wyttenbach highlight early standouts from the NCAA

The NCAA men’s hockey season kicked off a few weeks ago – and some of the biggest stars have already come out to play.

Two NHL prospects on Tyler Kuehl’s list of top Hobey Baker candidates have been off to electric starts, with Michael Hage and Ethan Wyttenbach living up to expectations early. This is the time of year when a lot of the top college programs get their footing against some of the weaker schools. That will change as the season wears on, but that’s partly why we’ve seen some inflated offensive numbers already. Still, the cream always rises to the top, and there have been plenty of high-end prospects making names for themselves so far.

With three weekends in the books, here’s a look at some of the top NHL draft prospects in college hockey so far:

Drew Schock, LHD, 19, University of Michigan (Anaheim Ducks)

Just about everyone on the Wolverines is thriving right now, but Schock deserves a ton of love. After registering just 10 points as a freshman, Schock has exploded offensively with a point in every single game this season, putting him at three goals and eight points through six games. Schock had a pair of assists against Denver this past weekend and is averaging two shots a game. His ice time has been a bit all over the place, but he’s been a solid two-way threat who has shown a willingness to do whatever it takes to keep a play alive. I’m not sure what type of player he’ll be at the NHL level. But the USA World Junior hopeful is playing with the most confidence I’ve seen from him since his draft year, and it’s hard not to get excited about that.

Elliott Groenewold, LHD, 20, Quinnipiac University (Boston Bruins)

Having someone like Ethan Wyttenbach to pass the puck to doesn’t hurt. But Groenewold is off to a hot start, with a pair of multi-assist efforts kicking off his season. He’s averaging more than 20 minutes a night while being Quinnipiac’s primary offensive force from the blueline. He has never been known for putting points on the board, but he did show some promise with a seven-goal, 20-point sophomore campaign a year ago. A fourth-round pick in 2024, Groenewold is praised more for his defensive game and willingness to land a massive hit with his pure muscle. Groenewold’s added offensive confidence has to make the Bruins feel good right now, though. We’ll see how long this hot streak lasts.

Daxon Rudolph, RHD, 18, University of Denver (Buffalo Sabres)

Rudolph was one of the top freshmen heading into the season, and he hasn’t disappointed. He registered five points during the opening weekend against Alaska-Anchorage, highlighted by a three-point debut. He’s already playing more than 20 minutes a night on one of the top teams in the nation, which isn’t surprising given his pedigree as a top prospect. Rudolph didn’t look out of place in Denver’s first true test against the University of Michigan, averaging more than 25 minutes while registering seven shots (he failed to get on the board, though). Rudolph is a high-flying offensive defenseman capable of controlling the power play and getting a boatload of points on the board. Clearly, the NCAA hasn’t been a tough transition for him; maybe we’ll see Rudolph challenge for a roster spot in Buffalo next year.

Vasily Zelenov, RW, 20, University of Wisconsin (Buffalo Sabres)

Zelenov’s journey has been fascinating. He was drafted out of Austria before putting up modest numbers in the USHL. He then had a solid, yet unspectacular freshman campaign with Wisconsin, while also being one of Austria’s most dominant junior prospects. Now in his sophomore campaign with Wisconsin, Zelenov has been a man on a mission. He started the season with a three-point effort over Robert Morris (while only playing 12:24) and followed that up with a pair of multi-point efforts against Minnesota State. Zelenov is up to seven points in four games to give him the team scoring lead on a roster with eight NHL prospects. Zelenov is still a bit of a long shot to make the NHL, but given he was drafted from a smaller league, he’s doing whatever it takes to get himself noticed.

Ethan Wyttenbach, RW, 19, Quinnipiac University (Calgary Flames)

Wyttenbach was the talk of the town last year after registering 59 points in 49 games as a college freshman. He’s on track to blast past that already with points in every game so far, sitting at 11 through five games. You can make the argument yet again that he’s not playing against top competition. But he has easily been Quinnipiac’s best player by a mile and seems to make an impact every single shift. He was outstanding at the World Junior Summer Showcase with USA Hockey, proving he could shine against other elite competition his age. There’s no doubt right now that Wyttenbach has what it takes to become an impact NHLer as soon as next season. He might be a bit undersized, but he’s a detail-oriented winger who has the speed and skill to get where he needs to be all the time. That alone should take him far.

Jayden Perron, RW, 21, University of Michigan (Carolina Hurricanes)

Like Michael Hage, Perron’s been on an absolute heater, making him arguably Michigan’s best forward. After putting up 41 points as a junior last season, he’s already tracking for well north of 60 thanks to putting up 15 points in six games. While Perron isn’t a game-breaker, speed-wise, he still moves well and consistently gets himself into dangerous scoring lanes. He seems to always be in the right spot at the right time, and he’s a capable passer and shooter. Perron’s game is mostly about generating offense any way possible, and while his defensive coverage can still be a bit of a slog, he seems to have legit potential as a top-six forward. I like Perron’s hockey sense; I just wish he had the physical tools to be more well-rounded.

Michael Hage, C, 20, University of Michigan (Montreal Canadiens)

Hage’s decision to go back to college instead of turning pro will be talked about as the season wears on. There’s no question he could have hopped into Montreal’s lineup and challenged for the second-line center gig. Instead, he wanted to chase a national title – and he’s off to an excellent start, with Michigan boasting a perfect record. Hage had seven points on opening weekend against Bowling Green and then had another four-point effort against Alaska-Anchorage. He’s now up to 14 points through six games following Michigan’s first real test of the season against Denver. It’s clear that everything’s clicking for the Canadiens draft pick – beyond some just average physical play. For the most part, it looks like he’s playing on easy mode. Hopefully bad habits don’t emerge as a result; Hage absolutely needs to be in the NHL next year.

Quentin Miller, G, 21, Western Michigan University (Montreal Canadiens)

Miller was a huge part of Denver’s crease last year. But a mid-season injury effectively ended his season, because by the time he was back and healthy, Johnny Hicks had taken over and gone 16-0-1 en route to a national title. Miller decided to chase a starting job elsewhere and landed at WMU, where he currently boasts a 4-0-0 record with just two goals allowed and a .976 save percentage. He hasn’t been particularly busy, but Miller has clearly found his groove again in showings against Ferris State and Notre Dame. A fourth-round pick in 2023, Miller is positionally sound with a 6-foot-3 frame. He might not be the most reactive goalie in the NCAA, but he doesn’t give up many poor rebounds and is in the right spot more often than not. Miller has been highly regarded by scouts over the past year, and many believe the move to WMU to maximize playing time could help him earn an ELC sooner rather than later.

Mikhail Yegorov, G, 20, Boston University (New Jersey Devils)

Boston University is a stronger team this year, meaning Yegorov doesn’t have to do everything himself anymore. The 6-foot-5 keeper had an excellent 25-save effort against Alaska-Fairbanks in BU’s season opener before shutting them out the following night. He currently boasts a 3-1 record with just four goals allowed – pretty nuts. Yegorov is one of the most athletic goalie prospects in the world right now, often making highlight-reel saves feel routine. Yegorov doesn’t waste much movement, but he has the flexibility and speed to make massive saves on a second’s notice. It still feels like traffic can be a bit of a problem for him (which isn’t ideal for a goalie his size), but the raw talent and skating make me think he’s bound to become an NHL starting goalie one day.

Jayson Shaugabay, C, 21, University of Minnesota-Duluth (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Shaugabay has been highly productive at every level, and he proved that with a 43-point sophomore campaign with UMD last year. He had seven points through his first three games, showcasing a high level of skill and hockey sense. The 5-foot-9 forward loves driving the play and has quick hands to boot. Unfortunately, scouts are worried about his so-so speed and lack of physicality, which could prevent him from becoming a smaller player who makes it in an energy role. Right now, that doesn’t matter; he wants a championship. Shaugabay has been UMD’s top player, which you like to see out of a third-year forward. It feels like he’s a lock to sign an NHL deal later this year – and if any team knows how to get the most out of smaller depth forwards, it’s Tampa.

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