23 Minnesotans named in NHL Central Scouting final rankings

Twenty-three Minnesotans were named to the NHL Central Scouting final rankings last week. The list includes 11 players who played high school hockey in Minnesota last season, including four from Minnetonka High School. The list includes five players from Team USA’s National Team Development Program (USNTDP), five who played a full season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), and two who played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

The list includes 12 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies.

#32 Colin Ralph, D, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Maple Grove, MN) 

Colin Ralph of Maple Grove led all North American Skaters with a final ranking of 32, which pegs him as a likely second round pick. Ralph, according to EliteProspects.com, last played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 19U squad where in the past two seasons played in 111 games, scored 10 goals and added 91 assists. At 6’4″ and 227 pounds, Ralph is a physical presence and described as a stay-at-home defensemen. Scouting reports indicate he has good hands and moves the puck well. Size and skill are his biggest attributes as he looks to potentially be the first player with Minnesota ties off the draft board come late June in the NHL Entry Draft. He is committed to St. Cloud State University.

#34 Adam Kleber, D, Lincoln Stars (Chaska, MN)

Chaska native Adam Kleber is the second-ranked player in the NHL’s central Scouting rankings. Another towering defenseman at 6’5″ and 203 pounds, Kleber has spent the past two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. In 2020-21 he played for Chaska/Chanhassen’s Bantam AA team and played one year of high school hockey for Chaska in 2021-22. He ha splayed in 123 games for Lincoln and has 5 goals and 35 assists. He is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

#43 Max Plante, F, USNDTP (Hermantown, MN)

Hermantown native Max Plante is the top-ranked forward in this year’s draft class with an overall ranking of 43, jumping 10 spots from his midterm ranking of 53. The Hermantown native has spent the past two season in the U/S. National team Development Program. For the U-17 squad 2022-23 he had 46 points in 54 games. Last season he notched 50 points n 43 games (12 goals, 38 assists) and also put up point-a-game numbers for the UNSDTP Juniors squad with six goals and 23 assists in 25 games. Plante is the brother of Zam and Victor Plante. Victor, 16, was recently named to Team USA’s U-17 squad. Zam, 19, was a 5th round selection by Piuttsburgh in the 2022 NHL Draft. They are the sons of former NHL player Derek Plante who played 450 games in the NHL after a fantastic career at UMD. Both Zac and Max are committed to follow in their father’s footsteps and play for the Bulldogs as well.

#47 Javon Moore, F, Minnetonka HS (Minnetonka, MN)

Minnetonka’s Javon Moore is Minnesota’s top-ranked high school player at 47 in the NHL Central Scouting rankings. Moore is a smooth skater with good hands, playmaking ability and a knack for scoring. He helped lead the Skippers on a 47-game unbeaten streak between the past two seasons of high school hockey. The University of Minnesota commit had 26 goals and 27 assists in 28 games. He is currently rostered with Sioux City of the USHL. At 6’2″ and 181 pounds, Moore possesses a combo platter of skill, size and speed with still plenty of room to get better as he adjusts to higher levels of hockey.

#54 Will Zellers, F, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Maple Grove, MN)

Will Zellers is another Shattuck-St. Mary’s product who is on teams radars for the 2024 NHL Draft with a final ranking of 54. Zellers is from Maple Grove but began playing for Shattuck in 2021-22 where he had 79 points in 61 games for their 15U AAA squad. Last season playing for the 18U team he notched 111 points in just 54 games, including 57 goals. The speedy forward will play college hockey at the University fo North Dakota.

#56 Will Skahan, D, USNTDP, (Orange County, CA/St. Thomas Academy)

Will Skahan is the third-ranked defenseman in this year’s draft class with a final ranking of 57. Born in Orange County, CA, he played two seasons for Shattuck-St. Mary’s and one season at St. Thomas Academy before joining Team USA’s NTDP U-17 squad in 2-22-23. This past season he played for the U18 team. Like Ralp and Kleber, Skahan is big, strong and athletic. At 6’4″ and 209 pounds he has the size and skill NHL teams are looking for in blue liners. He is committed to Boston College.

#59 Brodie Ziemer, F, USNTDP (Carver, MN)

Brodie Ziemer was also a member of Team USA’s U18 squad where he had 57 points in 53 games. A native fo Carver, Minn., Ziemer played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s before joining the NTDP. He is ranked No. 59 in the NHL’s final rankings. He is committed to the Gophers.

#68 Hagen Burrows, F, Minnetonka HS (Orono)

Minnetonka’s Hagen Burrows si ranked 68th by the NHL scouting team. Coming off a season for Minnetonka High School where he was crowned Mr. Hockey after a 19-goal and 40-assists season, he has also excelled for Sioux City of the USHL with 22 points in 25 games. Burrows, like his teammate and lineman Moore, is a good skater with size. What perhaps set him apart in a strong class of Mr. Hockey candidates is his vision and playmaking ability. He is committed to the University of Denver.

#95 Jimmy Dodig, D, Cretin-Derham Hall HS (Minneapolis)

Another high school product, Jimmy Dodig of Cretin-Derham Hall, ranked 95th in the NHL’s final rankings. Dodig helped lead the Raiders to a third-place finish at state. Another tell and steady defenseman, the 6’4″ Minneapolis native doesn’t turn 18 until June. He is slated to play collegiately at Merrimack College.

#97 Jake Fisher, F, Fargo Force (Woodbury/Cretin-Derham Hall HS)

Another Cretin-Derham Hall alumni, Jake Fisher, has been part of a memorable season for the Fargo Force where they have broken single-season records. Fisher was a finalist for Mr. Hockey in 2023 after leading the Raiders to the state tournament for the second year in a row. In his first full season with the Force has has 23 goals and 24 assists in 51 games. At 6’2″ and 190 pounds, possesses the needed size to match his skill level. he is committed to the University of Denver.

#113 Austin Burnevik, F, Madison Capitols (Ham Lake, MN/Totino-Grace HS)

Like fisher, Austin Burnevik is another 19-year-old player who played their first full season fo the USHL. Burnevik played high school hockey at Tornio-Grace before joining Team USA’s U-17 and U-18 teams. He played youth hockey in Blaine and spent last season with the Madison Capitols of the USHL. The 6’4″ forward has notched 40 goals and 71 points in 61 games. He is committed to St. Cloud State.

#121 Nolan Roed, F, White Bear Lake HS (White Bear Lake, MN)

Nolan Roed was Mr. Hockey finalist and the latest Roed product to come out of White Bear Lake (brother Lleyton plays for Bemidji State). Roed helped lead White Bear Lake to the state tournament after a 58-point senior season. Most recently he has notched three goals and five points for Tri-City in the USHL playoffs. He is ranked 121st in the NHL Central Scouting final rankings, making a strong leap of 21 spots form the midterm rankings. He is committed to St. Cloud State University.

#147 Brendan McMorrow, F, USNTDP (Lakeville, MN/Benilde-St. Margaret’s HS)

Brendan McMorrow, like several on this list, played a season fo high school hockey before joining Team USA’s National Development Program. A 5’11” forward, McMorroiw played a season at Benilde-St. Margaret’s before joining Team USA’s U-17 squad. He doesn’t have the gaudy scoring numbers with just 22 points in 53 games for the U-18 squad this past season, but his game is strong enough to garner him a ranking of 147, a huge jump from a ranking of 203 in the midterm rankings. He is committed to the University of Denver.

#148 Sam Laurila, USNTDP (Moorhead, MN)

Moorhead native Sam Laurila was a teammate of McMorrow’s for Team USA’s U-18 squad and is a 6’0″ 190-pound blueliner. A steady, stay-at-home defender, Laurel notched a plus-18 rating for Team USA this season. He is committed to the University of North Dakota.

#158 Jackson Smithknecht, D, Rogers HS (Albertville, MN)

Defenseman Jackson Smithknecht fits the profile of what NHL scouts are looking for in defensemen as he is the fifth blueliner on this list with a height exceeding 6’4″. Smithknecht played for Rogers High School this past season and has a high upside as he doesn’t turn 18 until the end of July and just finished his junior season at Rogers High School. He is committed to Colorado College.

#159 Carson Pilgrim, F, Warroad HS (Warroad, MN)

It wouldn’t be much of a list without a Warroad native on it. Warroad’s Carson Pilgrim comes in at No. 159. Last season teammates Hampton Slukynskey and Jason Shaugabay were both chosen in the fourth round of the draft. Pilgrim had a 92-point season as a junior for Warroad skating with Shaugabay and followed up with a 70-point performance as a senior. He is committed to the University of North Dakota.

#169 John Stout, D, Minnetonka HS (Minnetonka, MN)

John Stout is one of four Minnetonka high school players on the NHL Central Scouting list. Ranked 165th, Stout was named the state’s top prep defenseman as the winner of the Reed Larson Award. Strong and steady, Stout has since joined the Madison Capitols of the USHL and is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

#173 Jake Sondreal, F, Dubuque FightinG Saints (Woodbury, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall HS)

Jake Sondreal is the oldest player on the list at age 20 after spending his second season with Dubuque in the USHL. He has put up some solid numbers, scoring 27 goals and 69 points this season in 60 games. He went unranked in the NHL’s midterm rankings, but put together an impressive campaign this past season. he played high school hockey at Cretin-Derham Hall, serving as the team’s captain in 2021-22. Sondreal is committed to Boston College.

#193 Hawke Huff, D, Wayzata HS (Mazama, WA)

Like Sondreal, Wayzata’s Hawke Huff was not ranked in the midterm rankings, bu earned a 193 ranking in the final slate. The 6’2″ defenseman was a finalist for the Reed Larson Award. Losted as 6’2″ but may be closer to 6’3″ Huffeis another lanky defenseman with solid tools and high upside. He is playing juniors for the Minnesota Wilderness and is committed to St. Cloud State.

#196 Alex Lunski, F, Minnetonka HS (Chanhassen, MN)

Alex Lunski is the fourth and final Minnetonka High School player to crack the final rankings coming in at 196. At 6’4″ and 206 pounds he is a prototypical big-bodied center coveted by NHL teams simply because they are rare. Lunski was perhaps overshadowed by teammates Moore and Burrows, but possesses a high ceiling. he is committed to the University of St. Thomas.

Goalies:

#23 Caleb Heil, Sioux Falls Stampede (Victoria, MN)

Caleb Heil is the lone Minnesota goalie to make the NHL’s final list, coming in at No. 23. Heil played this season with Sioux Falls in the USHL where he posted a 4.32 goals against average and a .850 save percentage. But he’s just 17 and doesn’t turn 18 until June 19. At 6’2″ scouts like his size and athleticism. In a pair of games with the USNTDP he posted a .925 save percentage. He is committed to the University of North Dakota.

#28 AJ Reyelts, Proctor HS (Proctor, MN)

Reyelts put together an impressive senior season at Proctor High School to catch the eyes of NHL scouts. Ranked 28th amongst North American goalies, Reyelts was a finalist for the Frank Brimsek Award given to Minnesota’s top prep netminder. Reyets posted a .942 save percentage and 1.70 goals against average this season. he is listed as 6’1″ by the NHL and is currently playing for the Kenai River Brown Bears in the North American Hockey League. He is committed to Lindenwood University.

#32 Kam Hendrickson, Chanhassen HS (Chanhassen, MN)

Kam Hendrickson as the winner of the Frank Brimsek Award given to the state’s top prep goaltender. He helped lead Chanhssen to state title game with a string of impressive playoff performances. He is a 6’0″ and catches with his right hand. He posted a 1.07 goals against average in high school this past season and a .9521 save percentage. He has played in seven games with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL: and has posted a solid 2.92 goals against average, .924 save percentage, four wins and a shut out.

*Height and Weight listed are those from the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings

** Information also sourced from EliteProspects.com

North American Skaters: https://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=1&sort=finalRank&year=2024

North American Goalies: https://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=1&sort=finalRank&year=2024

European Skaters: https://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=2&sort=finalRank&year=2024

European Goalies: https://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=4&sort=finalRank&year=2024