Draft | 6/10/2024 11:39:56 AM

The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Lincoln Stars have had at least one player selected in the NHL Draft for 13 straight years, while a total of 63 players all-time have been chosen. In 2023 two Stars players were selected, Tanner Ludtke was selected 81^st overall by the Arizona Coyotes and Luke Mittelstadt at 197^th overall to the Montreal Canadiens. Brian Lee, a defenseman who played for Lincoln in 2004-05, was selected ninth overall by Ottawa in 2005 and ranks as the highest-ever Stars draft pick.

Top Prospects for 2024
Adam Kleber | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #34
College: University of Minnesota-Duluth

Adam Kleber played for two seasons with the Stars from 2022-24. During his rookie season, Kleber played 56 games and tallied eight assists. He followed that up with a big jump during the 2023-24 season and led all Lincoln defensemen in scoring with 21 assists and 5 goals in 56 games played. The 6-foot-5, 207 lb. defenseman played for Team White in the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game and helped Team USA win a bronze medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup & World Jr. A Challenge. Following his junior hockey career Kleber is set to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota–Duluth.
 
Tanner Henricks | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #79
College: St. Cloud State University

In his rookie season in the USHL, Henricks put up 9 assists in 59 games played for the Stars. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native played for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks during the 2022-23 season prior to making the transition to the USHL; there recorded 16 goals and 63 assists for 79 points in 85 games. Henricks represented Team USA on the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Team helping Team USA take home the Bronze Medal. Henricks is committed to play college hockey for the St. Cloud State Huskies.
 
Blake Montgomery | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #101
College Commitment: University of Wisconsin

In his first season with the Stars Montgomery tallied 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points in 58 games played. His 22 goals tied fellow Stars forward Keaton Peters for most goals by a Lincoln player during the 2023-24 season. Standing at 6’2”, Montgomery gave the Stars a mix of size and scoring. During the season, he scored four game-winning goals and had five multi-goal games. Following his junior hockey career Montgomery is committed to play college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers.
 
The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last six NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 1,041 of its players selected in total, including four first-overall picks, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981.