PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Twenty members of the 2020-21 U.S. National Under-18 Team and five former NTDP players were named to the National Hockey League Central Scouting's second rankings ahead of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
All 20 age-eligible U18 skaters for the draft were rated on the opening list.
Three current NTDP players, including forwards Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) and Sasha Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.), and defenseman Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich.) were listed as A-rated skaters, which indicates a first-round candidate in the draft.
Forwards Tyler Boucher (Haddonfield, N.J.), Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) and Justin Janicke (Maple Grove, Minn.), and defensemen Sean Behrens (Barrington, Ill.) and Roman Schmidt (Midland, Mich.) were tabbed as B-rated skaters, indicating a second or third round selection.
Twelve skaters were marked C-rated players, indicating a fourth, fifth or sixth round selection, including Caden Brown (St. Louis, Mo.), Ty Gallagher (Clarkston, Mich.), Andre Gasseau (Garden Grove, Calif.), Liam Gilmartin (Falls Church, Va.), Aidan Hreschuk (Long Beach, Calif.), Jacob Martin (Eagle River, Wis.), Kaidan Mbereko (Aspen, Colo.), Ty Murchison (Corona, Calif.), Red Savage (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Ryan St. Louis (Riverside, Conn.), Ethan Straky (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Jeremy Wilmer (Rockville Centre, N.Y.).
In addition, five NTDP alumni were also named to the rankings.
Photo by Rena Laverty
Former NTDP forward and current University of Michigan Wolverine Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) received an A-rating, while Tri-City Storm winger Hunter Strand (Anchorage, Alaska) earned a B-rating. A trio of former skaters in defensemen Connor Kelley (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Daniel Laatsch (Altoona, Wis.), and goaltender Noah Grannan (Germantown, Wis.) received a C-rating.
Current forwards Jack Devine (Glencoe, Ill.), Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) and goaltender Gibson Homer (Grand Rapids, Mich.) are not age-eligible for this year's draft and will be eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
In addition, Owen McLaughlin (Spring City, Pa.) and Nick Roukounakis (Pembroke, Mass.), who have each appeared in five games for the U18s this season, were both listed as C-rated skaters.