NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings have NCAA connections aplenty

Wisconsin freshman forward Luke Kunin is ranked 16th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft (photo: Bradley K. Olson).

NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term ranking of the top prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft was released on Tuesday and a slew of current and prospective NCAA players are ranked.

The draft will be held June 24-25 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The highest-ranked player with NCAA ties is Boston University recruit and forward Clayton Keller, who currently plays for the U.S. NTDP’s Under-18 Team, at No. 8.

BU freshman defenseman Charlie McAvoy is ranked ninth.

Here are the rankings of college-committed players or those from leagues that traditionally produce college players:

Skaters

RankNameTeamPosCommitment
8Clayton KellerUSA U-18 (USHL)CBoston University
9Charles McAvoyBoston University (HEA)D
12Kieffer BellowsUSA U-18 (USHL)LWBoston University
15Tyson JostPenticton (BCHL)CNorth Dakota
16Luke KuninWisconsin (B1G)C
17Riley TufteBlaine (HIGH-MN)LWMinnesota-Duluth
18Dante FabbroPenticton (BCHL)DBoston University
24Tage ThompsonConnecticut (HEA)C
30Chad KrysUSA U-18 (USHL)DBoston University
39Trent FredericUSA U-18 (USHL)CWisconsin
48Dennis CholowskiChilliwack (BCHL)DSt. Cloud State
49Mitchell MattsonGrand Rapids (HIGH-MN)CNorth Dakota
50Andrew PeekeGreen Bay (USHL)DNotre Dame
51Ryan LindgrenUSA U-18 (USHL)DMinnesota
52Joseph AndersonUSA U-18 (USHL)RWMinnesota-Duluth
54Griffin LuceUSA U-18 (USHL)DMichigan
59Cameron MorrisonYoungstown (USHL)LWNotre Dame
64Matt FilipeCedar Rapids (USHL)LWNortheastern
66Max ZimmerChicago (USHL)LWWisconsin
67Adam FoxUSA U-18 (USHL)DHarvard
69William LockwoodUSA U-18 (USHL)RWMichigan
73Brett MurrayCarleton Place (CCHL)LWPenn State
85Michael GrahamEden Prairie (HIGH-MN)CNotre Dame
86Keenan SuthersUSA U-18 (USHL)LWWestern Michigan
89Mitchell EliotMuskegon (USHL)DMichigan State
92Graham McPheeUSA U-18 (USHL)LWBoston College
93Matthew CairnsGeorgetown (OJHL)DCornell
97Kenneth JohnsonShattuck - St.Mary'S Prep (HIGH-MN)DMichigan
99Marshall RifaiHotchkiss School (HIGH-CT)DHarvard
100Nick PastujovUSA U-18 (USHL)LWMichigan
101Tanner LaczynskiChicago (USHL)COhio State
105Joseph MasoniusConnecticut (HEA)D
108Casey FitzgeraldBoston College (HEA)D
109Scott PerunovichHibbing/Chisholm (HIGH-MN)DMinnesota-Duluth
110Michael CampoliUSA U-18 (USHL)DBoston College
116Jake RyczekSioux City (USHL)DProvidence
118Luke McInnisYoungstown (USHL)DBoston College
125Dean StewartPortage (MJHL)D
127Greg PrintzSelects U18 - South Kent School (HIGH-CT)LWProvidence
128James GreenwayUSA U-18 (USHL)D
129CJ DoderoSioux City (USHL)LWDenver
130William KnierimDubuque (USHL)RWMiami
131Kohen OlischefskiChilliwack (BCHL)RWDenver
133Jamie ArmstrongAvon Old Farms (HIGH-CT)LWNortheastern
134Filip DusekStanstead College (HIGH-QC)D
135James SanchezUSA U-18 (USHL)LWMichigan
138Owen GrantCarleton Place (CCHL)DVermont
141Rem PitlickMuskegon (USHL)CMinnesota
144Gustaf WestlundThe Gunnery (HIGH-CT)C
146Patrick HarperAvon Old Farms (HIGH-CT)CBoston University
147Brinson PasichnukBonnyville (AJHL)DVermont
149Dylan GambrellDenver (NCHC)C
151Yushiroh HiranoYoungstown (USHL)RW
154Jack JeffersOrangeville (OJHL)LW
157Kyle BettsPowell River (BCHL)CCornell
162Adam KarashikAvon Old Farms (HIGH-CT)DConnecticut
163Zach WalkerUSA U-18 (USHL)RWBoston College
168Tyler JetteFarmington (HIGH-MN)D
170Ethan SpaxmanMerrimack (HEA)D
172Robert HamptonNorth Jersey Avalanche U18 (USMAAAE)CNortheastern
175Sam RossiniWaterloo (USHL)DMinnesota
178Mikael HakkarainenBrookings (NAHL)CProvidence
179Kevin O'NeilAlbany (HIGH-NY)RWYale
183Chase PriskieQuinnipiac (ECAC)D
184Matt GosiewskiCedar Rapids (USHL)CHarvard
185Matt DillonCushing Academy (HIGH-MA)D
186Colin GrannaryMerritt (BCHL)C
189William JerrySt. Thomas (HIGH-MN)C
190Callum FryerMassachusetts (HEA)D
192Wade AllisonTri-City (USHL)RWWestern Michigan
193Josh DickinsonGeorgetown (OJHL)CClarkson
195Dylan MalmquistNotre Dame (HEA)C
200Vincent De MeyShattuck - St.Mary'S Prep (HIGH-MN)RWOhio State
203Todd BurgessFairbanks (NAHL)RWRensselaer
205Carter LongSelects U18 - South Kent School (HIGH-CT)DVermont
208Brian MatthewsBelmont Hill (HIGH-MA)DYale
210Wyatt AamodtHermantown (HIGH-MN)D
LVWalker DuehrTri-City (USHL)RW

Goalies

RankNameTeamPosCommitment
8Joseph WollUSA U-18 (USHL)GBoston College
10Jack LaFontaineJanesville (NAHL)GMichigan
15Matt JurusikWisconsin (B1G)G
16Tyler JohnsonTopeka (NAHL)GMaine
17Colton PointCarleton Place (CCHL)GColgate
19Peter ThomeAberdeen (NAHL)GNorth Dakota
21Matthew LaddAvon Old Farms (HIGH-CT)G
22Peyton JonesLincoln (USHL)GPenn State
24Zackarias SkogOmaha (USHL)G
26Tommy NappierSpringfield (NAHL)GOhio State
27Matt MurraySpruce Grove (AJHL)G

College commitments are according to College Hockey Inc. as of Jan. 19.