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Twenty-Two NTDP Players and Alums Named to Final NHL Central Scouting Rankings

By USA Hockey's NTDP, 04/18/23, 4:30PM EDT

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Smith, Leonard, Moore and Perreault land in top-10

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Nineteen members of the 2022-23 U.S. National Under-18 Team and three NTDP alums were named to the National Hockey League Central Scouting's Final Rankings ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, set to take place June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.. 

Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) was the highest-rated NTDP player and maintained his third overall ranking from the mid-season report from January. Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) sits in the fifth overall spot, while Oliver Moore (Mounds View, Minn.) is eighth overall and Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill.) rounds out the top-10 in the 10 slot. 

Photo by Rena Laverty

Photo by Rena Laverty

Forward Danny Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) ranks in the top-32, indicating a possible first-round selection in the draft, at 22nd overall.

A trio of defenseman appear next on the final rankings, as Paul Fischer (River Forest, Ill.) sits at 58th, followed by Drew Fortescue (Pearl River, N.Y.) right behind at 60th and Brady Cleveland (Wausau, Wis.) in the 64th slot.

Beckett Hendrickson (Minnetonka, Minn.) climbed up the rankings significantly to 67th overall after he sat 94th in January's mid-term rankings. Following Hendrickson is Aram Minnetian (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) at 78th, Austin Burnevik (Blaine, Minn.) at 92nd and Zach Schulz (South Lyon, Mich.) at 96th.

Team USA continued its representation with Alex Weiermair (Los Angeles, Calif.) at 120th, Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.) at 145th, Salvatore Guzzo (Old Tappan, N.J.) at 196th, followed by Ryan Fine (Center Moriches, N.Y.) at 200 and Charlie Cerrato (Fallston, Md.) rounding out the skaters at 222nd.

In the cage, a pair of NTDP goaltenders were ranked highly among North American netminders as Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich.) finished at third and Carsen Musser (Sherburn, Minn.) sits eighth in the final listing. 

In addition, three NTDP alums were named to the final report with two in the top-32. Gracyn Sawchyn (NTDP 2021-22/Seattle Thunderbirds) leads the way at 24th overall with Charlie Stramel (NTDP 2020-22/University of Wisconsin) behind him at 30. The third and final alum in Hunter Brzustewicz (NTDP 2020-22/Kitchener Rangers) came in at 41.

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