PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Twenty members of the 2021-22 U.S. National Under-18 Team and seven NTDP alums were named to the National Hockey League Central Scouting's 2021-22 Preliminary Players to Watch list in advance of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Five current players and one alum were named as A-ranked skaters, which indicates a player who is a candidate to be drafted in the first round. Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.) was the lone blueliner, joined by forwards Logan Cooley (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) Frank Nazar III (Mount Clemens, Mich.) and current Northeastern University forward Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.), a first-year draft eligible player who skated with the NTDP from 2019-21. 

Six alums were listed in Caden Brown (St. Louis, Mo / 2019-21), Jack Devine (Glencoe, Ill. / 2019-21), Gibson Homer (Grand Rapids, Mich. / 2019-21), Kaidan Mbereko (Aspen, Colo. / 2019-21), Ethan Straky (Ormond Beach, Fla. / 2019-21) and Hunter Strand (Anchorage, Alaska / 2018-20). 

Listed C-ranked players who wore the red, white and blue during the 2020-21 season include Trey Ausmus (East Grand Forks, Minn.), Michael Callow (South Boston, Mass.), Jack Harvey (Stacy, Minn.), Cole Knuble (East Grand Rapids, Mich.), Cameron Korpi (South Lyon, Mich.) and Jake Livanavage (Gilbert, Ariz.).

Current Under-18 players Hunter Brzustewicz (Washington Twp., Mich.) and Charlie Stramel (Rosemount, Minn.) are not age-eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft as their birthdays fall after the September 15 cutoff. 

In total, 36 players who have appeared for the NTDP were listed in the first rankings of the season. For the complete Central Scouting listing, click here.