New England Hockey Journal is unveiling a new series: Our top 50 prospects for the '07, '08 and '09 birth years. We ranked the '07s on Monday. Now, it's time to rank the '08s. Let's start with ground rules. We included New England natives and prospects who played in New England this past winter. Players born in...
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New England Hockey Journal is unveiling a new series: Our top 50 prospects for the '07, '08 and '09 birth years.
We ranked the '07s on Monday. Now, it's time to rank the '08s.
Let's start with ground rules. We included New England natives and prospects who played in New England this past winter. Players born in 2008 who didn't play here this past winter and aren't from here but played a season or more in New England weren't eligible. An example: Someone like Luke Schairer, a Charlotte, N.C., native who played at Mount St. Charles for a season in 2023-24 and the NTDP the last two winters, isn't eligible.
Every player was evaluated based on their current performance and how I project them.
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I've watched the '08s since they were 14Us. As they've developed, it's become clear this is a really deep birth year — much deeper than the '07s. There were several prospects I wanted to get in here who got squeezed out by that depth. This could've been a top 60.
It's also fun to see how some uncommitted prospects have pushed past committed players.
Let's dive in with the '08s.
TOP 10
1. Casey Mutryn
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U18
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-3/201
NCAA: Boston College
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
NHL: 2026 NHL Draft eligible
2. Jamie Glance
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U18
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-10/181
NCAA: Boston University
Hometown: Stratham, N.H.
NHL: 2027 NHL Draft eligible
Top 10 notes: Glance's production has been big for the NTDP this season, but I still give the advantage to Mutryn, given his size and what he projects at in college and the NHL — a stout, middle-six center. Duskocy plays with power and was on Team USA's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup squad last summer. Bosco's production translated to the USHL, while Manchuso posted 59 points in prep and led USA Hockey's 18U nationals in points per game (2.5).
The back half of the top 10 is interesting. Drabczynski is a reliable, two-way defender who should pop in juniors next season. Bent has long been a top '08 and should also hit his stride in juniors production-wise next season. Puglisi was one of the best players in prep this winter with 76 points. Ciardiello is a powerful center with a hard shot, while Survilas' game is heavy on finesse.
Nos. 11-20
11. Brian McFaddenÂ
Team: Thayer (prep)
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-5/181
NCAA: Northeastern
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.
NHL: 2026 NHL Draft eligible
Team: Dexter Southfield (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-2/190
NCAA: Northeastern
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
NHL: 2026 NHL Draft eligible
20. Cole Sabourin
Team: Mount St. Charles (18U)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-10/170
NCAA: UNH
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.
11-20 notes:Â This is a fascinating group. McFadden has a high ceiling, but is already a solid, creative defenseman at his size. Krayer, Herron, Poirier and Weiner left the region early for junior hockey and should be much greater contributors to their teams next season. All have relatively high upsides among local '08s.
St. Louis and McHale opted to stay in prep, and it worked. St. Louis proved to be able to produce (41 points) without star Joe Salandra, and McHale became a productive agitator. Smail put up 62 points in his first prep season, and Sabourin stayed at Mount and led the team in points. Stockseth has had a solid season in the BCHL and has the size and ability to become a successful goalie in Division 1 college hockey.
Nos. 21-30
21. Neilan Johnson
Team: Hotchkiss (prep)
Position: G
Height/weight: 6-3/174
NCAA: Northeastern
Hometown: Annapolis, Md.
NHL: 2026 NHL Draft eligible
22. Elliott Lennon
Team: Deerfield (prep)
Position: G
Height/weight: 6-3/180
NCAA: Brown
Hometown: Kirkland, Quebec
NHL: 2026 NHL Draft eligible
21-30 notes:Â This section kicks off with two of the best goalies in prep this season. I think Johnson has the slightest edge on Lennon, but both are fantastic goalies who should be Division 1 starters someday. I'm surprised Hymovitz is still uncommitted, given how effective he is as a two-way center. While Thornborough has taken his licks in his first year of junior this winter, he should rebound next winter for a lot more production.
Wilkinson and Rothstein are intriguing forwards. While Rothstein is all about skill, Wilkinson has a slight edge due to his skating and size. Donia has a high ceiling given his size and speed, while Sherman is a shutdown, reliable defender. Najda plays with power for a forward and is coming off a high-end showing at USA Hockey Nationals. Roccas missed much of the previous two seasons due to injury, but he just began to scratch the surface of what he can be this past winter.
31-40 notes: Vandenberg has all the tools to be a strong two-way defender in juniors. Saulnier has long been a top '08 goalie from Massachusetts. Given the success he's had the last two seasons, I'm surprised a Division 1 program hasn't pounced yet. Cash and Short are similarly sized, speedy wings. Boyle was a power forward force for Kent this winter, and should progress as such in junior.
Janulis has good size and is a reliable, two-way defender. Martin is a force on the blue line and, with his size, has a relatively high upside. Bauer turned heads in prep this winter with how sound he is in between the pipes. Travis took a step back in production this winter with Tabor, but he has all the tools to make a big leap next winter. Sloper has grown into a big, mean defenseman in the USHL this season.
Nos. 41-50
41. Zach Gill
Team: Salisbury (prep)
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-0/195
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Moncton, New Brunswick
42. Mitchell Smith
Team: St. Paul's (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-0/185
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Team: St. Mark's (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-9/165
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.
41-50 notes: Gill is a responsible, puck-moving defenseman who I'm surprised is still uncommitted. Smith was one of the most underrated players in prep this winter. I've always thought Mertz was underrated, too. The former Mount St. Charles standout has had a strong season with Blackfalds, posting a 2.34 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. D'Urso is right there with him, as a stout netminder who has faced loads of prep pucks the last two seasons. Boutilier missed a lot of the prep season, but still had 30 points in 18 games and is a lethal playmaker from the wing.
Theodore had a down year in terms of production, but he has the skating and power to score at will. Donohue is the kind of player you want on your side of the fight. Kazan has the tools to be a lethal goal scorer. Messuri makes up for his size with the high-end compete and hockey sense. MacPherson has been one of the most productive players in prep the last three seasons with 113 points, and should once again progress next winter.
Teams with the most players:Â Three prep schools were tied at the top with three players in these rankings: Brunswick, Dexter Southfield and Thayer. St. Mark's, Winchendon and Tabor all had two each. For non-prep schools, the USNTDP, Charlottetown, Moncton and Saint John were tied with two.
Watch: The Top 50 boys in New England
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8. Charlie Puglisi
10. Noah Survilas
29. Tyler Roccas
38. Ethan Bauer
39. Ethan Travis
