Top NCAA Underage Stars Poised for NHL: Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff & More Draft Prospects

It's been a quiet stretch for College Hockey, with just a handful of games over the holidays -- though it included some huge matchups like No. 2 Wisconsin against No. 7 Western Michigan as well as No. 9 Dartmouth vs. No. 10 Quinnipiac. Additionally, several programs were without key members, who were away with their respective national teams for the World Junior Championships. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the top prospects from the first half of the NCAA College Hockey season. 

Check out all our Fantasy Hockey Prospects analysis, breaking down both NHL-drafted players and draft-eligible options from NCAA, juniors and international competitions. 

Underage NCAA Stars Poised for Top Draft Selection

Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State

The phrase "generational talent" gets thrown around almost annually, contradicting the descriptive word and watering down the term altogether. McKenna was labeled as such before he stepped foot on Penn State's campus, and such a spotlight was bound to draw criticism if he fell anywhere short of the college production of players like Macklin Celebrini and Jack Eichel. Indeed, he is pacing far behind those stars, producing four goals and 18 points through 16 games – fourth on the team in both categories. Rather than generational, McKenna's talent can be described as transcendent. The 18-year-old winger possesses exceptional hockey sense and playmaking ability, and it's often clear he's the best player on the ice even when his compete level is questionable. The latter is where the warranted criticism lies. McKenna's off-puck play and disinterest in backchecking would make him a liability in the NHL, and it's likely the only thing keeping him from being the surefire No. 1 pick at this point. I still peg him for the top pick in next year's draft despite the emergence of some serious contenders, but at this point, I'm almost expecting him to be back in college next year for further development and additional strength training.

Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota

Verhoeff continues to eat significant minutes on North Dakota's blue line, logging at least 19:54 in six of the last seven games, accruing five assists in that stretch. There's another level to his offensive game that we should see in the second half of the season, but it's encouraging that he has held his own defensively so quickly at the NCAA level. The 17-year-old blueliner is also coming off a strong performance at World Juniors, where he posted four assists through five games in a U20 tournament. Verhoeff remains a legitimate contender for the No. 1 pick. 

Tynan Lawrence, F, Boston University

Lawrence's outstanding start to the season in the USHL– where he has posted 10 goals and seven assists through 13 games – has put him on the radar for the first-overall pick. He will enroll in Boston University for the second semester as the Terriers aim to turn their season around and make a push for the tournament. Lawrence measures in at 6-foot, 185 pounds and should be an immediate top-six contributor, likely at center, where he has thrived in juniors. The New Brunswick product won't turn 18 years old until August, making him one of the youngest players in this draft class. His main features are a strong shot, solid defensive play and fluid skating. He's worth keeping an eye on immediately when BU is back on the ice this weekend versus UMass. 

Breakout Big Ten Forwards and Defensemen Making Waves

Michael Hage, F, Michigan

Hage led World Juniors with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) through seven games for Team Canada, continuing to prove he can drive the offense at center. He has done that all year for the Wolverines with 10 goals and 28 points through 20 games, and he carried a five-game, nine-point streak into the break. Hage should be considered the focal point of this team, even if Will Horcoff is pacing the country in goals. 

Will Horcoff, F, Michigan

Horcoff leads the nation with 19 goals through 20 games as a sophomore who will turn 19 years old later this month. Only eight of those goals have come at 5-on-5, however, and he's certainly more of a scorer than a play-driver. Horcoff has nifty moves and a wicked shot, though, and his 6-foot-5 frame should ease the transition to the NHL when his time comes. 

Porter Martone, F, Michigan State

Martone rises to the occasion, scoring key goals throughout the Big Ten schedule while leading the Spartans with 11 goals – three on the power play – through 16 games. The sixth-overall pick in 2025 has some sandpaper in his game that should transfer well to the next level, but we would've liked to see a bit more from him at World Juniors despite scoring six goals and adding three assists through seven games. Martone has a bright future, nonetheless, and there's a good chance he leaves school after one year. 

LJ Mooney, F, Minnesota

Mooney is the most noticeable player on the ice every time you turn on the Gophers, and he's third on the team in points with 15 through 19 games as an 18-year-old freshman. His 5-foot-8 frame is a continued limitation, however, and he struggled to separate himself at World Juniors. The Pennsylvania product will need some seasoning in the NCAA before he makes the jump, but if he never makes a true impact in the NHL, it won't be his hockey sense or skating that hold him back. 

Luke Osburn, D, Wisconsin

Osburn is a remarkable skater who can play a two-way game, and head coach Mike Hastings has deployed him 19:23 per game as a freshman, pacing ahead of 2025 first-round pick Logan Hensler. The World Juniors was another encouraging sign, as Osburn handled more than 21 minutes of ice time per night and showed strong flashes, but he hasn't proven elite offensive gifts quite yet. Wisconsin is in the tournament mix, however, and they're hoping his international experience can be a springboard in the second half. 

Charlie Cerrato, F, Penn State

Cerrato was a late bloomer who didn't get drafted until he was 20 years old, but he has been fantastic for the Nittany Lions through 1.5 seasons, producing 21 goals and 66 points through 56 games. The Maryland product has impressive hockey sense and excellent hands, and he looks comfortable with his linemates no matter where he is. He's strong on the faceoff dot, too. Cerrato probably needs at least one more year in college and maybe another in the AHL, but he has deep dynasty league intrigue. 

Hockey East Underclassmen Dominating 

Cole Hutson, D, Boston University

Hutson's basically on the same pace as he was last season, with seven goals and 20 points through 18 games, but he's playing massive minutes (26:32 per game) and stepping up defensively. The only reason he wasn't a first-round pick is because of his size (5-foot-11, 171 pounds), but he continues to extinguish those fears with his physical play and elite hockey sense. His play at World Juniors was fantastic, as well. There's a good chance he signs with the Capitals once the Terriers' season is over. 

Cole Eiserman, F, Boston University

Eiserman's production has taken a slight step back this season with eight goals and 12 points through 14 games. We're still not seeing a consistent ability to drive the offense from the wing, and while he has an NHL-ready shot, he's at risk of getting pigeonholed into a middle-six role in the NHL with power-play upside. 

Justin Poirier, F, Maine

Poirier is second in the country with 17 goals through 21 games as a freshman, scoring on a sustainable 19.8 percent of his shots. The 5-foot-9 winger has been a regular in this article this season due to his wicked wrist shot, and he's getting more comfortable showing off his speed and quickness at the college level. The Black Bears have some ground to make up in order to make the tournament, and the Quebec product will be key to that push.

Dean Letourneau, F, Boston College

After a brutal freshman season, the 2024 first-round pick has turned things around with a team-high 11 goals through 18 games, adding eight assists. Letourneau moves extremely well for his size (6-foot-7, 228 pounds), and his physicality has been a plus on both ends of the ice. We still need to exercise patience with him, but he looks like an intriguing NHL prospect. 

James Hagens, F, Boston College

Hagens' talent is evident with a deceptive wrist shot, fluid skating and keen hockey sense, but we're still waiting for him to truly take over. It hasn't happened yet at Boston College with 18 points through 16 games, and his World Juniors performance was merely good, not great. There's plenty of season left, but dynasty fantasy managers shouldn't be alarmed if he needs another season of development in college. 

NCHC Offensive Leaders and Goaltending Phenoms Elevating Their Teams

Cruz Lucius, F, Arizona State

Lucius has been putting on a clinic of late, scoring two goals and adding 10 assists through the last five games to boost him to No. 1 in the nation with 32 points through 22 games – just two points shy of his career high. His entire line is dominant, with Bennett Schimek stacking up 21 points and Cullen Potter (Flames) contributing 25 points. Potter has the higher long-term upside, but it's worth monitoring Lucius' production after injuries hampered his junior season. 

Eric Pohlkamp, D, Denver

Pohlkamp leads all defensemen with 13 goals this season, and he's just two goals away from tying the NCAA record in the category. The 2023 fifth-round pick is a solid 5-foot-11 whose shot was clocked at 102.1 mph at the Spengler Cup in Davos last month. Pohlkamp is averaging 23:26 of ice time per night and has a good chance to make an NHL roster in a couple of years. 

Will Zellers, F, North Dakota

Zellers was nearly left off the World Juniors roster, but luckily, he wasn't, as he led the team in goals (five) and points (eight) through five games. The Minnesota product has a precise shot but can clog up traffic in front of the net, too. Zellers needs at least another year of college hockey – possibly two – before he ascends to the next level, but his scoring ability at each level – he put up 44 goals through 52 games in the USHL last season – is an encouraging sign. 

Max Plante, F, Minnesota Duluth

It was disappointing that injuries held Plante back from a full performance at World Juniors. After all, he looks like the Hobey Baker favorite after he carried 16 goals and 14 assists through 20 games into the break. The 2024 second-round pick continues to handle big minutes and doesn't rely too much on the power play for his production. He can drive the offense and play both center and wing, but he'll probably stick to the latter in the NHL. If he keeps up this production, it wouldn't be surprising if he joined the Red Wings this spring. 

Adam Gajan, G, Minnesota Duluth

Gajan has taken a massive leap this season with a .919 save percentage and a 1.92 GAA through 20 games, propelling the Bulldogs to a top-5 ranking after the first half. He's an explosive goalie who uses his 6-foot-2 stature to his advantage. The Bulldogs have a gauntlet in the second half that features Western Michigan, Denver and North Dakota, so we'll see if he can truly steal some games in NCHC play.