Seventeen Standouts from the NJ Avalanche Showcase

Some of my favorites from Hackensack last month

I spent three days in Hackensack, New Jersey last month for the NJ Avalanche showcase, which I wrote about at the time. I saw a lot of talented prospects and produced a full report on the U16 division for subscribers (click here), as well as some notes from the 15U and 18U divisions (click here). This write-up includes comments on most of my top-rated prospects from the showcase.

03 F Ryan Greene - Selects Academy 16s - BU

High-end center from Newfoundland committed to BU in the spring and looks like a terrific get. Greene leads or joins the offensive motion with ease and will create a lot of goals for his teammates over the coming years. 2022 NHL draft-eligible.

04 F Cutter Gauthier - Compuware 16s - Uncommitted

Another terrific 2022 NHL draft-eligible center with size and good skating ability, but Gauthier plays with more of an edge and impacts the game in a lot of different areas. Will be heavily pursued by top programs.

03 F Zack Bolduc - Mount 16s/QMJHL

Electrifying offensive talent on the wing who has since signed for QMJHL-Rimouski.

03 F Kenny Connors - Mount 16s - UMass

The UMass recruit is probably Mount’s top forward with the loss of Zack Bolduc, a talented center who can make things happen in all three zones and seems likely to be a terrific rookie in the USHL next season.

03 D Guillaume Richard - Mount 16s - Maine

Strong-skating offensive defenseman with size and a terrific upside. Drips confidence when he has the puck. 2021 draft-eligible.

04 D Lane Hutson - Avalanche 16s - BU

Gifted skater with a remarkably refined game on the puck, Hutson is exceedingly dangerous on the blue line and always a threat to activate, creating chaos for defenders who often can’t contain or even really check him.

04 F Devin Kaplan - NJ Avalanche 16s - BU

A gifted athlete with size, skill and poise, Kaplan played a year of U16 hockey as a bantam last season and is one of the most imposing, effective forces up front despite still being one of the youngest in the division.

03 F Paul Davey - Mid-Fairfield 16s - BC

Great skating center who makes strong plays, Davey is a well-rounded force down the middle.

04 D Tyler Duke - Compuware 16s - Notre Dame

Like Hutson, Duke is not particularly big but is very noticeable none-the-less. After playing a year of U16 hockey as a bantam, Duke has poise in possession beyond his years and defended well against some of the top teams in the country.

04 F Logan Cooley - Pittsburgh 16s - Notre Dame

Very talented forward who seems to have been called up from the U15 team for this weekend, Cooley committed to the Irish this time last year and was eye-catching on the puck against great competition here.

03 D Carter Schade - Pittsburgh 16s - Penn State

Strong two-way defender who moves well, creates, reads the play and makes decisive reads. Schade should be a strong boost to the Lincoln Stars d-corps next season in the USHL, having already looked good for them at the Fall Classic last month.

04 F Zach Filak - Compuware 16s - Michigan State

Aggressive, skilled skater at wing who could come on very strong over the next few years.

04 F Oskari Vuorio - Selects 16s - Uncommitted

Talented Finn was still being introduced to youth hockey in North America but looked very sharp and effective, Vuorio’s game grew on me in a big way.

04 D Chris Able - Mission 15s - Ohio State

My favorite (and only player listed here) from the U15 division, a very ‘able’ defenseman with competencies both on and off the puck.

02 F Phil Tresca - Jr. Eagles 18s - Yale

I caught a great game from this talented right-shot skater with decent size. After breaking out with 50 points for Rivers in prep hockey last year, he looks poised to go on another tear as a senior for his draft year.

02 F Aidan Thompson - River Rats 18s - Denver

Another draft-eligible who I thought played well from what little I saw of him, Thompson is an athletic, strong two-way skater from Colorado who will be back at Berkshire School for his second season this winter.

02 F Matt Yeager - Jr. Sabres 18s - Uncommitted

Huge draft-eligible right shot winger is still a ways away from putting it all together for the next level, but he’s got an intriguing offensive upside.