Welcome back to part three of our special edition prospect review series. In part I, I looked at the top fantasy hockey prospects of the KHL. In Part II, I covered the top fantasy hockey prospects of the AHL.
This week we’ll take a tour through the NCAA.
I have excluded players invited to their country’s World Junior team selection camp. Unless they have already been cut from the team. The reason is, I’m working on a three-part Christmas special focusing prospects that made the national team
This provides an opportunity to give deeper coverage and not duplicate players.
Now, I need to give my regular disclaimer. I am not a prospect expert. Nor am I pretending in any way to be one. I am simply a collector and sharer of information. The purpose is to bring my observations to your eyes and allow you to uncover a hidden gem.
That said, let’s dive in.
NCAA Fantasy Hockey Prospects
Massimo Rizzo, C, Philadelphia Flyers (Drafted by Carolina Hurricanes)
Drafted 2019, 7th Round, 216th Overall
Rizzo transitioned from the BCHL to the NCAA seamlessly. As a freshman, he produced 36 points in 39 games. He followed that up with 46 points in 39 games as a sophomore.
Producing 82 points in your first 77 NCAA games is impressive in itself. Yet, Rizzo has an encore for everyone, through 18 games, he leads the Nation in scoring with 31 points.
Rizzo looks to be a steal as a 7th-round draft pick. The Flyers made an under-the-radar trade in August to acquire him and a 5th for prospect David Kase.
Seventh-round picks have about a 10% chance of playing 100 career NHL games. The odds of becoming an impact player at the NHL level as a seventh-round pick are even lower. Rizzo is trending into that low-probability field of players.
If you’re looking for a sleeper prospect with top-six upside, this is a good one.
Aiden Fink, RW, Nashville Predators
Drafted 2023, 7th Round, 218th Overall
Fink appears to be the victim of size bias. At 5’9″ he was routinely ranked inside the top 100 prospects leading up to the draft. On draft day, he slid and slid and slid. He led the AJHL with 41 goals and 92 points in 2022-23.
He’s currently tied for fourth in NCAA freshmen scoring with 23 points in 19 games.
The Predators went into the draft wanting to draft skill, they found it late with Fink. He never should have made it to the seventh round. It’s a long wait for Fink. He almost assuredly spends one more year in college, likely two. Then one to two years in the AHL before he gets a shot at the Predators. That is if his development is a smooth, linear road.
There’s top-six upside if he continues to develop.
Bradly Nadeau, C/W, Carolina Hurricanes
Drafted 20223, Round 1, 30th Overall
He was electric in the BCHL last year, leading the league with 45 goals and 113 points. Nadeau’s team, Maine, has played fewer games than most in other colleges to date. Nadeau still finds himself top 20 in the Nation for points.
His 22 points in 17 games place him fifth in points per game, 1.5. Ironically, one of the four players ahead of him is his undrafted, 20-year-old brother, Josh Nadeau.
Nadeau likely returns to Maine for his sophomore season. The days of playing with his brother are numbered. This will definitely be a consideration when Nadeau decides to turn pro. It will be two to three years before Nadeau is a viable option for the Hurricanes.
Sean Behrens, D, Colorado Avalanche
Drafted 2021, 2nd Round, 61st Overall
Entering his third year of college, Behrens has been a rock of consistency for the University of Denver. His offensive numbers aren’t ‘jump off the page’ impressive, but his on-ice abilities will grab your attention. He has elite passing ability and a strong shot from the point.
His hockey IQ helps make up for his being slightly undersized at 5’10”. Still, he doesn’t shy away from the tough areas of the ice and will engage in the corners. Defencemen taken in the second round often take three to four years to develop into NHL-ready prospects. This is year two. He has another year of NCAA eligibility, but the odds are probably 50-50 that he will turn pro at the conclusion of this season.
Comparisons range from Jared Spurgeon to Shayne Gostisbehere. There’s a lot of in-between to consider as well.
Sam Lipkin, C, Arizona Coyotes
Drafted 2021, 7th Round, 223rd Overall
2021 held a lot of uncertainty with draft picks. COVID canceled a lot of seasons and created a lot of uncertainty when drafting players.
As a freshman, Lipkin went off with 43 points in 39 games. This placed him second in team scoring behind undrafted, Collin Graf. Lipkin was instrumental in Quinnipac’s run to the national title last year, which included assisting on the game-winning overtime goal for the national title.
At 6’2″, 192lbs, Lipkin has NHL size. His skating lacks explosiveness, which is a large reason for his draft position. That said, he screams dark horse. The wait on Lipkin is likely too long for most fantasy owners to stomach. It could be several years, including multiple in the AHL. You never know though, he could transition much faster than anticipated.
He’s more of a wait-and-see prospect at this point. He currently projects as a middle-six forward and this isn’t what most fantasy teams are seeking. Keep an eye on him though, he could work his way into a top-six forward with time and continued effort.
Scott Morrow, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Drafted 2021, Round 2, 40th Overall
This should be Morrow’s last year of college hockey. He almost decided to turn pro this year before deciding to return for his junior year.
His third year is shaping up to be his best to date as well, with 20 points in 16 games. He lacks defensive awareness in his game but these deficiencies are often forgiven due to his offensive skill set.
Morrow is a big defenceman at 6’2″, 195lbs, and plays a physical game. Expect him to sign with the Hurricanes at the end of the season and then spend a full year in the AHL.
Folks shouldn’t worry too much about his defensive game as long as he remains coachable. Shayne Gostisbehere and Kevin Shattenkirk are two examples of offensive defencemen with large holes in their defensive game. They’ve done okay. Outside of SIM leagues, fantasy owners don’t care about defense anyway.
Ryan Ufko, D, Nashville Predators
Drafted 2021, Round 4, 115th Overall
The 2023 World Juniors should have been his coming-out party. With one goal, nine assists, and ten points over seven games, Ufko was impressive. His passing ability was on full display.
There was a two-month period where Ufko claims rose. And then, he faded back behind the Lane Hutson and Luke Hughes’ of the fantasy hockey world.
That’s okay. For those of us looking for the next Shayne Gostisbehere, this is good news. You want him to be available, he’s only rostered on 6% of Fantrax pools, so take a look. He’s likely a free agent in 50% of Fantrax dynasties.
Like a lot of players on this list, he’s a couple of years away, but we’re getting used to stashing fantasy hockey prospects and letting them develop, right?
That will do it for this week. Thanks for reading.
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