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NCAA DI Men's Hockey

Frozen Four 2025: Zeev Buium Leads Top NHL Prospects To Watch In St. Louis

Frozen Four 2025: Zeev Buium Leads Top NHL Prospects To Watch In St. Louis

A number of high-profile NHL prospects will be competing in the 2025 NCAA Men's Frozen Four this week. Chris Peters details who you should know.

Apr 10, 2025 by Chris Peters
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The 2025 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four features two of the perennial best programs in college hockey in Denver and Boston University, as well as two first-time participants, Western Michigan and Penn State.

While Denver and BU are loaded with NHL Draft picks up and down their lineup, both Western and Penn State boast a number of high-profile players as well.

To give you a guide of players to watch ahead of Thursday’s semifinals, here’s a look at some of the best NHL prospects that already drafted, a number of notable free agents and even one draft-eligible player to watch when the puck drops.

NHL Prospects To Watch In The 2025 Men's Frozen Four

Denver

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

A Hobey Hat Trick finalist and the best defenseman in college hockey this year by a large margin, Buium is likely bound for the NHL as soon as Denver’s season ends. He’s a proven winner with two WJC gold medals, a U18 gold and last year’s national championship. He will play upwards of 25 to even 30 minutes of the games this weekend and will get many of the opposing teams’ top players. Buium is an especially productive defenseman, but he has become a reliable shutdown option for his team as well. He’s by far the best NHL prospect still playing in the NCAA tournament. Also, you know why all of those USA Hockey teams are using Free Bird as their goal song now? You can thank Zeev Buium for that.

Aidan Thompson, C, Chicago Blackhawks

Amid an explosive junior season, Thompson has 20 goals and 54 points, putting him among the top scorers in the country. He is a dogged competitor who is responsible on both sides of the puck, but has really thrived in being a driving offensive presence for his team. He is a dangerous scorer, but also has 34 assists in just 43 games this season.

Jack Devine, C, Florida Panthers

The leading scorer in the NCAA, Devine is a crafty, heady player who simply knows how to produce. He is his team’s offensive engine, driving play and making those around him better. Devine has surpassed 55 points in each of his last two NCAA seasons and was a Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist in each. He can become a free agent this summer if he doesn’t sign with the Panthers.

Matt Davis, G, Free Agent

The postseason is when Davis shines brightest. Over the last two years, he has yet to allow more than one goal in any NCAA tournament game he plays. With a .923 save percentage this season, he’s been consistent and competitive, always giving his team a chance to win. He doesn’t have the NHL-coveted size, but the winning pedigree he’s shown should get him on NHL team radars for no worse than an AHL contract.

Western Michigan

Alex Bump, LW, Philadelphia Flyers

Over two years at Western, Bump’s development has been on a rapid ascent. Selected in the fifth round in 2022, Bump spent an extra year in junior before going to college. A late coaching change at Vermont led him to WMU and it has been a match made in heaven. Bump produced 23 goals and 47 points this year and was the driving force behind WMU’s historic season. He is hard to knock off the puck and plays an attacking style that makes him a continual threat. Bump has gone from a good prospect to one that looks like he’s on a clear NHL trajectory. 

Hampton Slukynsky, G, Los Angeles Kings

The reigning USHL goalie of the year has also been among the best in college hockey this season. Slukynsky split the net this season with Cam Rowe, but has taken the reins in the postseason and has been especially sharp. He allowed just one goal in each of his NCAA tournament games and owns a .923 save percentage for the season. After backstopping the Fargo Force to the Clark Cup last year and winning gold at the World Juniors as Team USA’s No. 2, he has that championship pedigree. It’s a big stage, but he’s been shining brightly in the highest-pressure situations.

Joona Väisänen, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

A sixth-round pick at last year’s draft, Väisänen has been sharp in his freshman season with Western. The Finnish blueliner can play big minutes and has 24 points in 40 games this season. He’s a reliable presence on the back end and is only just scratching the surface of his full potential.

Tim Washe, C, Free Agent

Watch the postseason for a few minutes and you can see just how valuable Washe is to his team and why NHL teams could ultimately hand him a NHL contract when his season is over. He’s a 6-foot-3, 216 pound center in his fifth and final year of college hockey. Despite that experience, he’s still 23 years old and just put together by far his best collegiate season with 35 points in 40 games.

Boston University

Cole Hutson, D, Washington Capitals

The natural replacement for his older brother Lane at BU, Cole has been everything Lane was and sometimes more as a freshman. Cole has 14 goals and 46 points as one of the most productive defensemen in the country. His numbers are almost identical to Lane’s with a 1.24 points per game average over 37 games, marking one of the best seasons by a U19 defenseman in college hockey history. Cole’s ability to score goals, big ones, is a major separator from him among his peers. He’ll be a factor if BU has success in St. Louis.

Cole Eiserman, RW, New York Islanders

A deadly goal scorer with an elite release, Eiserman had 23 goals in 37 games this season. He’s rounding out his game better and playing stronger off the puck, too. His ability to pop goals in from all angles is part of what makes him especially dangerous. He’ll be one to watch when the Terriers need to find a goal.

Mikhail Yegorov, G, New Jersey Devils

After joining the team in January following a first half with Omaha in the USHL, Yegorov has been an immediate difference maker. He took over the crease and has increased BU’s ability to compete against the very best teams. He has a .931 save percentage over 16 games and sees quite a few shots per game. He stopped more than 30 in each of his NCAA tournament starts and backstopped BU to the Beanpot earlier in the year. He’s a big, athletic yet cerebral goaltender, which is why he was one of the first netminders off the board last draft.

Quinn Hutson, RW, Free Agent

His younger brothers have gotten all the attention, but Quinn Hutson has been among the best players in college hockey this season and is second in the NCAA with 1.39 points per game. He is expected to consider NHL offers when the season is over. What makes Hutson impressive is that he’s leveled up every year he’s been at BU and now has his team in the hunt for a national title.

Sascha Boumedienne, D, 2025 NHL Draft Eligible

Boumedienne has a chance to go in the first round of the upcoming draft thanks to his tall frame, smooth skating ability and high upside. He’s still learning how to put his game together, but plays a regular shift despite being one of college hockey’s youngest players. He moves pucks well and defends adequately enough, but it’s more about what Boumedienne is going to be down the road than what he is right now when it comes to his first-round projection.

Penn State

Arsenii Sergeev, G, Calgary Flames

A transfer from UConn, Sergeev has the net all to himself for the first time in his collegiate career and he has delivered. He’s made 32 appearances, posting a .918 save percentage with four shutouts. He had 42 saves against his former team to advance to the Frozen Four and showed how good he can be when he’s dialed in. Could the Flames have found another goalie gem in the seventh round? Sergeev is trending well.

Aiden Fink, LW, Nashville Predators

A Hobey Top 10 candidate, Fink is one of college hockey’s most productive players with 53 points in 39 games. He had 23 goals and scored a bunch of big ones for the Nittany Lions this year. A former AJHL champion and MVP, Fink has taken his game to a new level. Despite the fact that he lacks size, he’s proven difficult to play against with his shifty, aggressive style and high end release. His game has trended up significantly over the last four years, going back to his time with the Brooks Bandits.

J.J. Wiebusch, F, Free Agent

If there’s a hotter player in the country when it comes to scoring goals right now, good luck finding him. Wiebusch has goals in five straight games and seven of his last eight contests. He’s scored some big goals, too, including in Game 1 of the Big Ten tournament against Michigan. He has 14 goals all season, but nine have come in the last month. I don’t think there’s much risk of him leaving school for the next little bit, but his heater has definitely gotten him some extra notice.

How Many NHL Draft Picks Are Playing At The Frozen Four?

There will be 37 players drafted by NHL teams participating at the 2025 NCAA Men's Frozen Four. Additionally, there are multiple players that are likely to sign free-agent contracts with NHL teams and one first-year NHL Draft-eligible player competing this week in St. Louis.

NHL Draft Picks On Boston University Roster

There are 14 NHL Draft picks on Boston University's roster at the 2025 Men's Frozen Four. They Are:

  • Kamil Bednarik, F (NYI)
  • Aidan Celebrini, D (VAN)
  • Matt Copponi, F (EDM)
  • Cole Eiserman, F (NYI)*
  • Ryan Greene, F (CHI)
  • Jack Harvey, F (TBL)
  • Cole Hutson, D (WSH)
  • Jack Hughes, F (LAK)
  • Devin Kaplan, F (PHI)
  • Shane Lachance, F (NJD)
  • Gavin McCarthy, D (BUF)
  • Brandon Svoboda, D (SJS)
  • Tom Willander, D (VAN)*
  • Mikhail Yegorov, G (NJD)

* - First-round pick

NHL Draft Picks On Denver Roster

There are 13 NHL Draft picks on Denver's roster at the 2025 Men's Frozen Four. They Are:

  • Garrett Brown, D (WPG)
  • Zeev Buium, D (MIN)*
  • Hagen Burrows, F (TBL)
  • Jack Devine, F (FLA)
  • Jake Fisher, F (COL)
  • Sammy Harris, F (MTL)
  • Rieger Lorenz, F (MIN)
  • Tory Pitner, D (COL)
  • Eric Pohlkamp, D (SJS)
  • James Reeder, F (LAK)
  • Samu Salminen, F (NJD)
  • Aidan Thompson, F (CHI)
  • Jared Wright, F (LAK)

* - First-round pick

NHL Draft Picks On Western Michigan Roster

There are seven NHL Draft picks on Western Michigan's roster at the 2025 Men's Frozen Four. They Are: 

  • Alex Bump, F (PHI)
  • Matteo Constantini, F (BUF)
  • Ty Henricks, F (NYR)
  • Zachary Naring, F (WPG)
  • Wyatt Schingoethe, F (TOR)
  • Hampton Slukynsky, G (LAK)
  • Joona Väisänen, D (PIT)

NHL Draft Picks On Penn State Roster

There are three NHL Draft picks on Penn State's roster at the 2025 Men's Frozen Four. They Are:

  • Aiden Fink, F (NSH)
  • Reese Laubach, F (SJS)
  • Arsenii Sergeev, G (CGY)

2025 Frozen Four Schedule

Here's the NCAA Hockey Tournament Frozen Four schedule.

Thursday, April 10

  • 5:00 p.m. ET - Denver vs. Western Michigan (ESPN2) 
  • 8:30 p.m. ET - Penn State vs. Boston U. (ESPN2)

Saturday, April 12

  • National Championship (ESPN2)

How To Watch Frozen Four 2025

The Frozen Four will be live on ESPN2 on April 10 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET.

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