College Hockey 2025-26: Rising Stars and Draft Prospects to Watch
We're closing in on the start of the college hockey season, which will kick off Friday, Oct. 3, with 11 games. The CHL -- which includes the OHL, QMJHL and WHL -- pipeline adds excitement to college hockey this season, and we'll almost immediately obtain loads of information on how well players' past production in Canadian juniors translates to college hockey. We already took a look at a handful of players who were selected during this year's draft class and which teams are strong betting options, and this article will focus on additional players that we should keep an eye on during the 2025-26 season while monitoring potential dynasty options.
College Hockey Season 2025-26: Key Players to Watch
Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State
It's not necessarily that McKenna – who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft – will be the best player to ever play college hockey. Maybe he will be, but his hype stems from how he came to the NCAA. McKenna's commitment to Penn State in July altered the college hockey landscape and dealt a major blow to the CHL universe after last year's rule change dictated that CHL players would be allowed in the NCAA moving forward (they were previously regarded as professionals). The 17-year-old will be among the first NCAA players to have ever played in the CHL, and he's reportedly receiving up to $700,000 in NIL money.
We have multiple examples of forwards going to college in their draft year, either by having a late birthday or enrolling early. Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) is the most recent to go No. 1 overall in 2024. Jack Eichel (Boston University) went No. 2 overall behind Connor McDavid in 2015. Adam Fantilli (Michigan) was taken No. 3 overall in 2023. Both Celebrini and Fantilli hit the 30-goal and 60-point marks during their freshman seasons, while Eichel landed with 26 goals and 71 points, tied for the most points by a freshman since 1993. All three won the Hobey Baker Award for best college hockey player.
So what can we expect out of McKenna at Penn State? The Yukon product torched the WHL for 41 goals and 129 points through 56 games and earned CHL Player of the Year honors. Sidney Crosby and John Tavares are the only two players to receive the honor at a younger age. There's clearly nothing left for him to accomplish in the WHL, and now we'll see how he matches up against bigger, faster and stronger players in the NCAA. McKenna is listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds, and while that may be slightly small for the college game, he's an elite skater and high-end goal scorer. McKenna's prospect pedigree, creativity and talent should land him with about two points per game while being a Hobey Baker finalist.
Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
Verhoeff's highlight reels often give off the vibe that he's a forward. After all, 6-foot-4 defenseman aren't supposed to skate so fluidly, and they certainly don't play below the offensive-zone hash marks so often. If you dive a little deeper, though, you'll confirm that he is a defenseman, and a potentially elite one.
Verhoeff leverages his size and consistently positions his stick well in the defensive zone, and he commands space on the offensive blue line, making room for his wicked wrist shot. He piled up 21 goals and 24 assists through 63 games as a 16-year-old in the WHL last season, and he had five points in as many games at U18 World Juniors. Verhoeff's frame should make the adjustment smoother and allow him to play big minutes at North Dakota and possibly run the No. 1 power play. How quickly his defensive game translates to college hockey will ultimately determine his prospect trajectory. He's the favorite to go No. 2 overall behind McKenna in next year's draft.
Top Freshmen to Watch in the 2025-26 College Hockey Season
Porter Martone, F, Michigan State
Martone – the No. 6 overall pick by the Flyers in the 2024 NHL Draft – committed to Michigan State after Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard signed with the Oilers. He was seemingly tilting between Michigan State and Penn State, and McKenna's commitment helped him make the decision. Martone enters the season at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, and his style of play often draws comparison to the Tkachuk brothers by combining his offensive talent with an ability to get under his opponents' skin. Martone should smoothly transition to the college level and the physicality it brings. He should be in the Hobey Baker conversation, and there's a good chance he's on the NHL roster next year.
Roger McQueen, F, Providence
McQueen went 10th overall to the Ducks in this year's draft, and he committed to Providence in August. McQueen's CHL production is far less convincing on paper than players like Martone and McKenna, but it's worth noting that he posted eight goals through the first 12 games in the WHL before suffering a serious back injury. An ability to score like that, combined with his 6-foot-5 frame, makes him an intriguing and unique NHL prospect, but the back injury resurfaced in the playoffs, likely causing him to fall a bit on draft boards. McQueen is expected to be healthy to begin college and should be considered one of the best players in the nation if he can avoid aggravating his back, and he'll likely focus on strength training during his development to add to his 197-pound frame.
Cayden Lindstrom, F, Michigan State
Lindstrom is similar to McQueen in the sense that he's a huge forward at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with elite skill, evidenced by producing 27 goals over 32 games for Medicine Hat of the WHL during his draft year. However, that season was cut short due to back and hand injuries. He was still selected No. 4 by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Draft, and he subsequently underwent surgery in November of 2024, missing the entire 2024-25 regular season. The injuries are a significant concern because physicality is such a key part of Lindstrom's game. When he's healthy, Lindstrom's a strong center who's uniquely quick for his size, and even if he bumps to the wing at the NHL level, his heavy shot should make him a consistent contributor.
Elite Sophomores Poised for Breakout College Hockey Seasons
Cole Eiserman, F, Boston University
This season will be a major barometer of Eiserman's NHL trajectory. The Terriers' entire top line predictably signed pro deals, so Eiserman should immediately slot into that role. Eiserman – the 20th overall pick by the Islanders in 2024 – led Boston University with 25 goals as an 18-year-old freshman, but he added just 11 assists. Despite scoring at a high rate, he didn't necessarily add anything to his prospect profile. We already knew Eiserman was one of the best goal scorers in his age group before he stepped on the ice at BU. The incoming top-line minutes for Eiserman will show how much his off-puck and play-driving skills have developed, and that won't necessarily show up on the stat sheet. We should expect another 25-goal campaign from Eiserman, hopefully with some more assists, as the Terriers are among the favorites for the National Championship.
Teddy Stiga, F, Boston College
Stiga, Eiserman and James Hagens (Bruins' first-round pick in 2025) starred with the U.S. National Development Team, and all three chose Boston schools. A 2024 second-round pick by the Predators, Stiga produced 14 goals and 30 assists through 36 games as an 18-year-old freshman, ranking fourth on the team in both categories. Stiga's growth as a player has looked almost exponential, especially after a huge World Juniors performance, and now he's in line for a bigger role with Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard moving on to the pros.
Cole Hutson, D, Boston University
Hutson was a second-round pick by the Capitals in 2024, and he proceeded to dominate Hockey East with 14 goals and 34 assists over 39 games as an 18-year-old freshman. The St. Louis product also made the U20 World Junior team and led the tournament with 11 points through seven games. His freshman stats were nearly identical to his brother Lane, who was also a second-round pick and won the Calder Trophy for best rookie last season after producing 66 points with the Canadiens. Size is a concern for both defensemen, as Cole Hutson sits at 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, but if his defensive game improves in his sophomore season, he could wind up on the same trajectory as his brother.
Emerging Dynasty Options in NCAA Hockey
Tanner Ludtke, F, Minnesota
A 2023 third-round pick by the Coyotes (Mammoth), Ludtke's a deeper prospect that was a bit of a late bloomer but has convincing production nonetheless. In his draft year, the Minnesota native led the Lincoln Stars of the USHL with 32 goals through 57 games. He then started school at Omaha, where he paced the team with 28 points as a true freshman. Injuries derailed his 2024-25 campaign, and now he's moving closer to home with a big opportunity ahead. The Gophers graduated their top-five point producers from last season, so Ludtke has a chance to immediately slot onto the top line. All eyes will be on him in the State of Hockey, so deep dynasty league managers should act quickly if he starts producing at a high rate. Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) is another Gopher to watch after generating a point-per-game pace at World Juniors last year.
Eric Pohlkamp, D, Denver
Much like Ludtke, Pohlkamp slots into a highly favorable situation with one of the best college hockey programs in the country. A 2023 fifth-round pick by the Sharks, Pohlkamp produced 35 points over 44 games as a sophomore, and he should slot in as the team's No. 1 defenseman now that Zeev Buium has signed with the Wild. The Pioneers lost a ton of firepower to the pros this offseason, so Pohlkamp and forward James Reeder (Kings) will be counted on to fill the void.
Justin Poirier, F, Maine
Poirier led the QMJHL with 51 goals as a 17-year-old, and he added 18 goals over 17 games during the playoffs that season. It's somewhat baffling that a player who can score like that slid to the fifth round in 2024, where he was selected by the Hurricanes. However, his 5-foot-7 stature is a glaring concern. We've seen players thrive in college and the pros at this size -- the obvious (and generous) case study is Cole Caufield -- but most get weeded out because they're out-matched physically or can't be a dependable player in the defensive zone. We'll see how Poirier responds to the added challenges of Hockey East, but if he can thrive at Maine, he'll look like a steal at his draft position. Overall, when a player can score like Poirier, they're worth a flier in deep dynasty leagues.
Joey Muldowney, F, UConn
Muldowney is coming off an All-American season, where he registered 29 goals – second in the country – and 47 points across 39 games. The 2022 sixth-round pick (Sharks) is listed at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, so he would benefit if he were able to add some serious bulk over the offseason. The Sharks have a loaded prospect pool that Muldowney may struggle to crack once he leaves school. If the Sharks are unable to sign him by August of 2026, Muldowney will be an unrestricted free agent.
Quinn Finley, F, Wisconsin
Finley was leading the NCAA with 12 goals at winter break last year, and he stayed hot through January before suffering an upper-body injury in a win over Michigan on Jan. 24. Following that injury, Finley scored just two goals and added five assists over the final 12 games. Perhaps he simply regressed dramatically in the second half of the season, but there's a good chance the Wisconsin native was impacted by the injury down the stretch. With a full offseason of recovery behind him, the Islanders prospect (third round in 2022) will look to pick up where he left off.
Will Zellers, F, North Dakota
Zellers was a third-round pick in 2024, and he looks like a steal, as he subsequently led the USHL with 44 goals through 52 games. The next closest player was teammate Aidan Park, who registered 33 goals. Zellers joins a loaded North Dakota program and should be an immediate contributor as a 19-year-old.
Key Goaltenders Poised to Make an Impact in College Hockey
Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State
Augustine is staying for a third year at Michigan State after posting a .924 save percentage and 2.08 GAA through 30 games last season before losing in the first round to Cornell despite being the No. 2 seed in the tournament. He looks like the Red Wings' long-term answer in net, and there's a good chance he signs after this season. The Red Wings look prepared for the move, as John Gibson's contract expires in 2027 while Cam Talbot's deal ends after this season.
Hampton Slukynsky, G, Western Michigan
Slukynsky is a born winner. He won the Clark Cup in the USHL for the Fargo Force back in 2024, and he helped the Broncos win the National Championship as a 19-year-old freshman last season, recording a .922 save percentage and a 1.90 GAA along the way. Slukynsky also played two games at the U20 World Juniors, where he posted a .933 save percentage. Slukynsky was a fourth-round pick by the Kings in 2023, and he'll give the Broncos a chance every night as they look to defend their title.
Mikhail Yegorov, G, Boston University
Yegorov began the 2024-25 season in the USHL before leaving a highly dysfunctional organization in January to join the Terriers. The 2024 second-round pick by the Devils quickly won the starting job and led the team to the National Championship, where they lost to Western Michigan. Still, his .927 save percentage and 2.15 GAA are among the best in the NCAA despite his young age. At 6-foot-5, Yegorov is efficient in his movements and saves essentially everything he can see. He has proven he can play in big games, and while goaltender development can get tricky, he's positioned as one of the best goaltending prospects in all of hockey, not just college.
Michael Hrabal, G, UMass
Hrabal has been one of the best goalies in the NCAA over the last two seasons, posting a .912 save percentage as a freshman and a .924 mark as a sophomore. The Mammoth (previously the Coyotes) selected him No. 38 overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and the team reportedly wanted him to sign before this season, but he's going back to school for another year. His presence with the Minutemen makes them a true contender in Hockey East, and his 6-foot-6 frame makes him an appealing NHL prospect. He should be a consistent NHL goalie after a few more seasons of development.
