NTDP Draft Preview
The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft.
The NTDP have an illustrious NHL Draft history developing some of the World’s top players throughout their history. In total the National Team Development Program has had 380 players selected in the NHL Draft, 91 of which were taken in the first round. Some of those first rounders include
Jack Hughes (New Jersey – 1
st overall in 2019),
Auston Matthews (Toronto – 1
st overall in 2016),
Patrick Kane (Chicago – 1
st overall in 2007) and many more.
This season 22 NTDP Players and Alumni were named to the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings, four of which secured a spot in the top 10;
Will Smith (#3 amongst North American Skaters),
Ryan Leonard (#5 amongst North American Skaters),
Oliver Moore (#8 amongst North American Skaters), and
Gabe Perreault (#10 amongst North American Skaters). NTDP goalies
Trey Augustine and
Carsen Musser made Central Scouting’s Rankings with Augustine sliding in at the #3 spot and Musser at #8.
Forward
Danny Nelson was ranked #22
nd by Central Scouting and is followed by defensemen
Paul Fischer (#58 amongst North American Skaters),
Drew Fortescue (#60 amongst North American Skaters) and
Brady Cleveland (#64 amongst North American Skaters).
Close behind is
Beckett Hendrickson (#67 amongst North American Skaters) followed by
Aram Minnetian (#78 amongst North American Skaters)
Austin Burnevik (#92 amongst North American Skaters) and rounding out the NTDP within the Top 100 is
Zach Schulz (#96 amongst North American Skaters). Other current players representing the NTDP include
Alex Weiermair (#120 amongst North American Skaters)
Will Vote (#145 amongst North American Skaters),
Salvatore Guzzo (#196 amongst North American Skaters),
Ryan Fine (#200 amongst North American Skaters) and finally
Charlie Cerrato (#222 amongst North American Skaters).
Top Prospects for 2023
Will Smith| Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #3
College Commitment: Boston College
Smith had an impressive season as centerman for the U18’s top line tallying 51 goals and 76 assists for 127 points in 60 games. He recently led the Team USA to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships where he scored nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in nine games. His 20 points led the tournament in scoring and he garnered Tournament MVP honors as well as Best Forward and a spot on the media All-Star Team. With 191 career points Smith is second on the all-time scoring leaderboard for the NTDP behind only
Jack Hughes. He is also ranked second in single season scoring (127 points) behind his linemate Gabe Perreault (132 points).
Ryan Leonard | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #5
College Commitment: Boston College
Ryan Leonard finished the 2022-23 season with 51 goals and 43 assists for 94 points in 57 games and a +77 rating. Leonard was the overtime hero in Team USA’s gold medal game at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship, his game winner at 2:20 in OT vs Sweden was his 17
th point of the tournament (8G-9A). Leonard was selected to play for Team Blue in the 2023 BioSteel All American game where he added a goal in Team Blue’s 6-3 victory over Team White.
Trey Augustine | Goaltender
Central Scouting Rank: #3
College Commitment: Michigan State
Augustine was a key player for the NDTP this season going 27-2-2-1 for a 2.13 GAA, a .926 SV% and one shutout. He backstopped USA Hockey to a gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship, with six wins and a 1.61 GAA including 30 saves against Sweden in the gold medal game.
The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last five NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 990 of its players selected in total, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981.