There is a plethora of talent in New England across the 2006 birth year that will be eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft. Two players from the region made the U.S. National Team Development Program, two more tendered in the USHL, and a dozen or so other players stand out as having the potential to blossom into NHL prospects.
Left wing Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) and center Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) will skate for USA Hockey’s NTDP U-17 team in 2022-23 after being selected out of the evaluation camp in March. Defensemen Will Felicio (Holden, Mass.) and Owen Keefe (Saugus, Mass.) tendered with Madison and Muskegon, respectively.
Those four players will have a leg up in terms of training, competition and exposure. However, as many players before have proven, development is a marathon and not a sprint. There are a number of prep school or Midget players waiting in the wings to take that next step and raise their stock.
While a lot can happen in two years, there are a lot of good players in this draft class whose size is a possible deterrent to pro upside. Every one of New England’s 2024 NHL Draft hopefuls have strengths and weaknesses. Here’s an early look at this draft class, listed in alphabetical order.
MORE: 15 top New Englanders for 2022 NHL Draft | 13 top locals for 2023 NHL Draft
Thatcher Bernstein
Nobles, 7/17/06, G, catches left, 6-3/205
Bernstein, from Brookline, Mass., had a hot start to his freshman season of prep hockey. A good-sized goaltender, he had his ups and downs, as one might expect for such a youngster going up against shots from players three to four years older at times. Bernstein skates well and exudes athleticism in net. Rebound control is an area of his game that needs to improve over the coming years. Another area of concern for NHL scouts is how seriously he takes hockey, as he declined an invite to the NTDP in March.
Blake Burke
Mid Fairfield 15s, 5/18/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/154
Burke is a north-south power forward who has gotten better in terms of how he’s viewed against his peer group. From Trumbull, Conn., he has a hard shot, drives the net, and has a powerful skating stride. Whether or not he can improve his hockey sense will be a key for NHL scouts who start watching him more closely.
Cam Cooke
Junior Bruins, 2/2/06, C, right shot, 6-0/165
Cooke has been highly thought of in this draft class for a few years now, especially due to the fact he played up with the Junior Bruins 16-U during his Bantam major season. He has the size and skating ability to attract the attention of scouts. His stick and offensive hockey sense could limit his ability to be a top-six power forward at the pro level, but he projects as a potential bottom-six center down the road. A player comparable for Cooke is Providence Bruins center Jack Studnicka.
Cole Eiserman
Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep, 8/29/06, LW, left shot, 6-0/181
Eiserman is a pure goal scorer who has wowed observers for three to four years now. From Newburyport, Mass., he spent the past two seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. He put up astronomical numbers as a Bantam and followed that by scoring over a goal per game on the prep team in 2021-22. He’s physically mature, but his skating stride is powerful and he can fire a puck. He’ll be a fascinating prospect to watch over the next two years with the NTDP. Eiserman’s physical prowess, shot and which way he shoots is similar to Miles Wood of the New Jersey Devils or Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers.
Will Felicio
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 5/19/06, D, left shot, 5-10/161
Felicio is a puck-moving defenseman with a wide-ranging skill-set. His mobility, hockey sense and compete are all off the charts when watching him over the past two seasons at Mount. The Holden, Mass., native is able to open up his hips and avoid oncoming forecheckers with his agility. He can walk the blue line with precision. He sees the ice well and rarely forces a play that isn’t there. While he’s undersized, he defends with good gaps, feet and jam. A snub from the NTDP Evaluation Camp, Felicio tendered with the Madison Capitols in the USHL. The only question is whether his game will translate at his size, but I’m betting it will. Most likely, size will be the only knock when NHL scouts begin watching him. He’s somewhat similar in terms of playing style to current Boston University defenseman Dom Fensore.
Elliott Groenewold
Bishop’s College, 2/4/06, D, left shot, 6-0/170
Groenewold was the top defenseman at the New England District Festival in April. From Bellows Falls, Vt., he’s been a little off the radar while skating for Bishop’s College in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Groenewold’s skating, stick and defensive ability stand out as having pro potential. In terms of NHL upside, it’s fair to question his hockey sense.
Caeden Herrington
CP Dynamo U-16, 1/26/06, D, right shot, 6-0/150
Herrington is a solid, two-way defenseman who skates well. The Manchester, Vt., native has size, the ability and willingness to bring a physical element, and can also jump into the rush and activate offensively. He’s certainly capable of being a top-pairing defender as he transitions from Midget hockey to the prep level at Holderness. Herrington appears destined to be a Division 1 blueliner.
Dylan Hunt
Milton, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 5-11/150
Hunt is a sneaky pro prospect in this draft class, as he’s always been in the shadows of some of the bigger-name blueliners. He’s not flashy and he won’t wow any scouts with his offensive ability. However, his skating, poise and ability to defend at an elite level are reasons why I believe in his pro upside as a bottom-pairing guy. The Marlboro, Mass., native can be that steady, reliable defenseman who eats minutes.
Owen Keefe
Malden Catholic, 3/26/06, D, left shot, 6-0/170
Keefe always has been a rink rat at the top of this class, but his game has taken a big step over the past 12 months as he’s grown and improved in the gym. He has the size, shot and defensive toughness, but his skating has gotten better. He’s best when he’s playing a solid game that doesn’t involve jumping into the rush excessively. Having to play a mature game in the USHL sooner than his peers will help in that regard. He’s signed a tender with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks for the 2022-23 season. In terms of pro upside, he’s at the top of the class among New England defensemen.
James Marshall
BC High, 4/5/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/154
Marshall, from Weymouth, Mass., has a silky stride, elite stick and good vision. He has that ability to take over and change the tune of a game in a blink of an eye. He’s shown that ability with BC High and the River Rats. Finding a second gear and becoming more of a complete player without the puck will raise his stock among NHL scouts. He’ll be looking for a home in prep hockey for the 2023-24 season after one more go around with BC High.
Joe Mense
Nobles, 7/21/06, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Mense could find his way onto the radar of NHL teams, due to his size, strength and physical ability as a defensive defenseman. The Needham, Mass., resident looks like he’s turned a corner over the past 12 months. His skating has improved but still needs to get better before he’s a legit pro prospect. He’s putting an emphasis on hockey and working on his game on the ice and in the gym.
JJ Monteiro
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 1/12/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/174
Monteiro has been a player who has been at the top of his class in New England for several years. The Hudson, Mass., native is physically mature, strong and has a willingness to go to the net. Whether or not he continues to get bigger and better physically is a legitimate concern, but he’s kept proving naysayers wrong the past two years. His hockey sense and determination to get to scoring areas is a big reason why he’s been able to do just that. Pro upside is a ways away, but if I’ve learned anything over the past two years when watching Monteiro, it’s don’t count him out.
Pat Murphy
Mount Saint Charles U-16, 12/18/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/160
Murphy, from North Kingston, R.I., is a longshot, but he’s the one late ’05 who could draw interest. He’s a terrific athlete, and it shows when he’s playing. Murphy plays hard, gets in on the forecheck, and can score. His skating and hockey sense are areas that can get better, but he projects as a late bloomer who could find his way to the pros based on athleticism and a dogged work ethic.
Nate Porter
Dexter Southfield, 3/10/06, RW, right shot, 5-10/161
Porter is a smart, skilled offensive player whose game should keep trending in the right direction over the coming years. The Hingham, Mass., native started out this past season on the Junior Eagles’ second team and the JV at Dexter Southfield. He proved he belonged on the top team for both and did well once he got there. There’s some refining to be done in his game, but the potential is there for him to develop into a potential draft pick in 2024.
Kiernan Poulin
Boston Advantage 15O, 1/5/06, D, right shot, 5-7/126
Poulin will have to grow to be truly considered a 2024 NHL draft prospect, but his elite skating will keep him on the radar. While there are other good skaters out there in this draft class, the Norwell, Mass., native has the ability to keep up and exceed almost all of them. Poulin’s mobility allows him to be a one-man breakout. He transitions well from defense to offense and rarely is defending for too long at the Midget level. Outside of getting bigger and stronger, becoming more of a controlled hockey player away from the puck will help his stock among scouts.
Andrew O’Sullivan
Boston Advantage 15O, 8/15/06, D, right shot, 5-11/165
O’Sullivan doesn’t have the high-end skating ability of his defensive partner, Poulin, but he’s a winning hockey player. He’s not going to wow fans by flying up and down the ice, but he’ll impress scouts with simple, efficient plays and reliability on the back end. He’s smooth, sees the ice well, and has good gaps. Expect him to keep getting better at Kimball Union where his career trajectory could take off under the guidance of Tim Whitehead.
Jack Sadowski
Arlington, 7/29/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/160
Sadowski’s shot and hockey sense are up there with the best in this draft class among the region’s skaters. He knows where to go to find pucks and cash in on rebounds. His vision is underrated in terms of his passing ability. The big red flag when it comes to pro upside is his skating. He’ll have to become a more proficient skater and show more urgency as he transitions from the MIAA to Kimball Union in the fall.
Ryder Shea
St. George’s, 5/4/06, G, catches left, 6-0/181
Shea long has been considered the top goaltender in this draft class among New Englanders. The Framingham, Mass., native has had good size for a few years now and has shown poise in the net. He’s always been a top performer at various showcases, festivals and Bantam and Midget games. Shea showed well at St. George’s this past winter, despite facing shots from players much older than him. He’s now a step behind Bernstein, but development is a marathon, not a sprint.
Ryan Staples
Bishop Hendricken, 2/24/06, C, right shot, 6-0/159
Staples took a big step in his game over the past 12 months. The Middletown, R.I., native is a two-way center who plays a complete game with and without the puck. He tracks well on the backcheck, blocks shots and hunts pucks in all three zones. Offensively, his shot is an elite attribute. He can finish, but he also does a good job of setting up teammates for scoring chances. As he transitions from Bishop Hendricken to Loomis Chaffee, the one area of his game that he can improve on most is his first two steps. Based on his play, strengths and weaknesses, a reasonable player comp is Marc McLaughlin.
Teddy Stiga
Belmont Hill, 4/5/06, C, left shot, 5-9/141
Stiga’s skating and skill wow observers on a daily basis when he’s flying around the sheet. The longtime Junior Eagles standout worked his way into a first-line center role for the NEPSAC Elite 8 runner-up. There are very few forwards nationally in this draft class who can skate better than Stiga. Bulking up and becoming a more complete player will help him solidify his status among NHL scouts. His skating and stick skills are first-round caliber, and his development will be fun to watch over the course of two years at the NTDP.
Niko Tournas
Yale Junior Bulldogs 15O, 2/2/06, RW, right shot, 6-1/180
Tournas’ selection at the NTDP Evaluation Camp was questioned by a number of hockey professionals. It certainly was a wildcard pick by the USA Hockey staff. The Redding, Conn., native has good size and can score goals from anywhere. The big right winger has a tendency to float and needs to work on his skating. He doesn’t possess the elite hockey sense that Northeastern right wing Sam Colangelo has, but the physical tools and how he plays the game are similar.
Colton Whitfield
Bishop Hendricken, 4/10/06, D, left shot, 6-1/165
Whitfield had an interesting past season with Cape Cod Whalers and Bishop Hendricken. The physical tools are there as he’s tall, lanky and has length. His shot is a difference maker from the point as he gets it off with zip and accuracy. The Warwick, R.I., native showed in the fall his ability to be smart, efficient and simple. He tried to do a little too much at the RIIL level. His transition to Mount Saint Charles will help his game immensely.
