<p>The NCAA’s men’s hockey season will come to a close this weekend with the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota.</p>



<p>Denver, Western Michigan, Penn State, and Boston University clinched spots in the national title game after winning their respective regional tournaments late last month. Penn State and WMU have never played in the Frozen Four before, so this is uncharted territory for the two proud hockey programs. BU and Denver are more seasoned pros, with Denver looking to win back-to-back titles under coach David Carle.</p>



<p>For a full tournament preview, check out <a href="https://dailyfaceoff.com/western-michigan-denver-boston-university-penn-state-fight-it-out-in-ncaa-frozen-four/">Tyler Kuehl’s post here</a>. But if you’re looking for just the top NHL-affiliated prospects, we’ve got you covered below ahead of the tournament from April 10-12:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders</a>)</h2>



<p>Eiserman has one of the best pure shots in college hockey, and he’s about to show the hockey world again why he’s so lethal. He has 23 goals in 37 games this year and is the only U-19 college player with at least 20. That’s exactly the type of offense we were expecting from him this year and why I think the Islanders landed an absolute gem at No. 20 in 2024. He’s built for big moments, like his two-point effort against Canada at the World Juniors. Let’s see if he can come up clutch for BU.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="215"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cole Hutson, LHD, Boston University (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/washington-capitals/line-combinations">Washington Capitals</a>)</h2>



<p>Lane Hutson never got the chance to win a national title. So Cole is hoping to have the one-up there. It’s been a remarkable season for Hutson, who has 46 points in 37 games as a freshman. For reference, Lane’s personal best was 49 points in 38 games a year ago, so it’s not out of the question that Cole could finish with more. Cole also led the World Juniors with 11 points in seven games, something no defenseman has ever done in tournament history. So, yeah, Hutson is a big deal – and we know he likes to be competitive with his brother. I can totally see him finishing his college career with more points than Lane, especially since it’s expected that he’ll return to school next year. A big weekend to close out his freshman year would go a long way in making that happen.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="147"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tom Willander, RHD, Boston Univ. (<a href="http://canucksarmy.com">Vancouver Canucks</a>)</h2>



<p>Hutson might have the flash, but Willander is the steadier defensive presence. He’s a two-way, strong-skating blueliner who makes a lot of skilled plays with the puck. I feel like his overall control of the disk is much more refined this year than a season ago, and he has really figured out how to handle his gap control on smaller North American ice. Willander was one of the best defenders at the World Juniors, and he’d love to keep the ship moving in the right direction with a national title.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Arsenii Sergeev, G, Penn State Univ. (<a href="http://flamesnation.ca">Calgary Flames</a>)</h2>



<p>Sergeev had to be excellent against UConn, stopping 42 of 44 shots for the overtime win on March 30. it was one of the best games of Sergeev’s collegiate career, which includes four shutouts and a 19-8-4 record this season. It had to feel even sweeter, given he was UConn’s backup the previous two years. Sergeev has had to do a ton of heavy lifting over his three-year college tenure, so he knows how to deal with heavy expectations. But when Sergeev is in the zone, he’s dialed in –&nbsp;and that’s what PSU is going to hope for again with the stakes never being higher.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="195"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aiden Fink, RW, Penn State Univ. (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a>)</h2>



<p>Fink has been one of the top players in college hockey this year, and he’s a big reason why Penn State is chasing a title. He has 53 points in 39 games this year, but had just one point in the two regional games late last month. Still, he was one of Penn State’s most effective playdrivers and ultimately made himself hard to contain, especially with six shots against UConn. Fink has 15 multi-point games to his credit this year while also being a dangerous power-play producer. The Preds selected the 5-foot-10 forward in the seventh round in 2023, and while he’s a little undersized and his skating is still underwhelming, his work with the puck is tremendous. If PSU is going to do the distance, they’ll need Fink to play the best two games of his life.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aidan Thompson, C, Univ. of Denver (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/line-combinations">Chicago Blackhawks</a>)</h2>



<p>Maybe it’s because he’s a smaller center, but it has felt like Thompson has gone underrated for quite some time. The 5-foot-11 forward, Thompson might not be big, but his impact sure is. He’s one of the top forwards in the NCAA with 20 goals and 54 points in 43 games during his third year at Denver. He took on a more leading role after the national title last year, and had three points in the two regional games late last month. He’s been playing some great hockey over the past two months, and Denver will be hoping to see him come alive again in all situations this weekend.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jack Devine, RW, Univ. of Denver (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a>)</h2>



<p>If Denver goes the distance – again – Devine is going to be a big reason why. He has 44 assists and 57 points in 43 games. He’s actually been quieter recently, with just one assist in his lats three games. But like with Fink, you still positively notice Devine. The 21-year-old has a good shot, but he’s more dangerous as a playmaker. Devine has been one of the NCAA’s most effective wingers the past few years and was a repeat Hobey Baker top 10 finalist after earning recognition in both 2024 and 2025. Devine is a speedy, energetic forward who just makes things happen. He’s set to turn pro this offseason after already winning two national NCAA titles – but adding a third would be massive.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="236"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/minnesota-wild/line-combinations">Minnesota Wild</a>)</h2>



<p>Many consider Buium to be the best prospect in hockey right now –&nbsp;unless you’re an Ivan Demidov fan, it’s hard to disagree. All he does is win –&nbsp;and he plays a big role every single time. Since Jan. 2024, Buium has won two World Junior Championships with USA and a national NCAA title with the University of Denver. And Buium has been a key part of all of that, playing important minutes while establishing himself as a play-driving, all-around defender. He’s so effective at both ends of the ice, and he’s a truly remarkable skater. Buium isn’t particularly big or strong, but many scouts aren’t worried because his hockey IQ and pure skill are so high-end already. Look for Buium to push for an NHL spot next year – but another national title before that wouldn’t hurt.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hampton Slukynsky, G, Western Michigan Univ. (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/los-angeles-kings/line-combinations">Los Angeles Kings</a>)</h2>



<p>How important has Slukynsky been down the stretch for WMU? He has allowed more than two goals just once in his last seven games and hasn’t lost a game in regulation since Nov. 30. He didn’t play a ton early in the season and a trip to the World Juniors disrupted things (he won gold as USA’s backup, however). But the second half has been absolutely electric as Slukynsky has established himself as a top 15 goaltending prospect in the NHL. He has the reflexes, the speed, and a strong mental game to build around, and I can’t wait to see him turn pro at some point.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alex Bump, LW, Western Michigan Univ. (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a>)</h2>



<p>Bump had a fantastic freshman season with 36 points a year ago and turned it up a notch with a further 47. Bump has been far and away WMU’s most important forward, so it was a bit surprising not to see him contribute on the scoresheet in any of the four goals during the regionals. But he did play a whopping 32:34 against Minnesota State, registering eight shots – the third game in a row in which he had at least that many. He generates a lot of chances every single night, and WMU will need that this weekend.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="206"></div>



<p><em>Other notables: Sam Harris, LW, Univ. of Denver (Montreal Canadiens); Mikhail Yegorov, G, Boston Univ. (New Jersey Devils); Reese Laubach, C, Penn State Univ. (San Jose Sharks); Zachary Nehring, RW, Western Michigan Univ. (Winnipeg Jets)</em></p>



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