This is going to be a season unlike any other in the history of men’s college hockey. The introduction of players from the CHL, eligible for the first time since August, has already vastly changed the recruiting landscape. 

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While there is a ton of new blood in college hockey, there are plenty of players who have already established themselves in the NCAA and will make a big impact on the season.

As we adjust to the new landscape and all the new faces, I wanted to take a look at the 25 players that I think will help define this college hockey season. From fascinating freshmen to those veterans who could have an outsized impact on their teams’ national title hopes, this is a list that does not highlight the best 25 players. This is more about what their presence in college hockey will do for them, for their teams and for the sport as a whole. Let’s take a look.

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (2026)

The projected No. 1 pick in 2026 is viewed as one of the biggest recruits in the history of college hockey. A symbol of the new era in which CHL players have become eligible to play in the NCAA, McKenna is by far the highest-profile player among them.  He also is believed to be the highest paid as he is also an example of the new NIL era in college sports.

His entire season will be scrutinized against the top players of years past like Macklin Celebrini and Adam Fantilli in recent years. The scrutiny, however, will be trumped by the attention a player of McKenna’s notoriety brings to the sport. His debut against Arizona State will be aired worldwide on the NHL’s YouTube channel and several more will air on national television. Gavin McKenna just made Penn State appointment television and also likely put the program more firmly on the map for consideration by other top prospects. This is going to be a fascinating year to watch.

2. James Hagens, C, Boston College (BOS)

Hagens may not have gone No. 1 overall like many believed he could heading into last season, but I think the chip on Hagens’ shoulder after going No. 7 is going to be a problem for just about everyone else in the NCAA. Boston College has lost a lot of talent from last year’s team including both of Hagens’ linemates. He is going to be the offensive leader of the Eagles this season, something he wasn’t going to be with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault driving the bus. That new role is the one Hagens is most accustomed to. I think he's going to be a legitimate Hobey Baker threat this season.

3. Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State (DET)

Augustine deciding to return for his junior season was a big moment for Michigan State. He really wants to win the big one with the Spartans, who are closing in on a 20-year gap between national titles. Augustine is a proven winner, but Michigan State was stunned in the first round of the tournament last year and that’s not sitting well. I don’t think Augustine has played his best hockey yet as a collegiate goalie and when you consider his 42 career wins and .919 save percentage, it's scary that there is more to give. He’s been among the top goalies in the country, but I fully expect this to be his most dominant season. If he does that, Michigan State is as clear a favorite to win the whole thing as any team on paper this season.

4. Porter Martone, RW, Michigan State (PHI)

Another player who decided to go to the NCAA before turning pro, Martone was picked No. 6 overall by the Flyers last June. Some believed he could push for an NHL roster spot as soon as this season. Instead, he made a commitment to the Spartans, giving them arguably the best recruiting class in the country. Martone had 98 points in the OHL last season, played at the World Juniors and Men’s World Championship for Team Canada, and is still just 18 years old (for a few more weeks). As much as players with NHL Draft aspirations will be watching McKenna, the guys about to be picked out of junior next summer will be watching Martone to see how he fares. With his size, skill and hockey sense, he has a chance to be among the best freshmen in the country.

5. Hampton Slukynsky, G, Western Michigan (LAK)

The defending national champs have a lot of new faces, but one who isn’t new is their starting goalie. Slukynsky split time all season with an upperclassman in 2024-25 before being handed the keys to the net for the postseason. He dominated. The Hammer won 19 of 25 appearances including each of his last 10 starts, posted a .922 save percentage, won the NCHC and NCAA titles and even found time in the middle of the season to back up for Team USA at the World Juniors. The former USHL Goaltender of the Year looks like he is only just getting started to figure out the kind of goalie he is going to be. His approach to the game and how dominant he can be makes Slukynsky one of the early favorites along with Augustine to win the Mike Richter Award. I also would not be surprised to see Augustine and Slukynsky reunite as the tandem for the U.S. College Selects Team that will be playing in the Spengler Cup later this winter.

6. Sacha Boisvert, C, Boston University (CHI)

After leading North Dakota in scoring last season as a freshman, Boisvert left UND after they made a coaching change and instantly became the top prize in the transfer portal. Boston University, who finished as runner up in the NCAA championship last season, landed the top prize on the transfer market. Boisvert is a tremendous two-way forward with legitimate goal-scoring prowess. He has a chance to make Canada’s World Junior Team. He also has a chance to be a leading player on a Terriers team that is looking to replace an awful lot of scoring from last year.

7. Keaton Verhoeff, D, University of North Dakota

While McKenna has gotten all the headlines, the excitement around Verhoeff is pretty significant too. He’s been viewed as the consensus No. 2 prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft rankings and is also going to be among the youngest players in the draft. Verhoeff accelerated his schooling to go in early, following a path previously chosen by Noah Hanifin, Zach Werenski and last year Sascha Boumedienne. Each of those players went in the first round. Verhoeff’s move is going to be scrutinized in ways quite similar to McKenna’s, perhaps moreso considering his age. He won’t turn 18 until just before the draft in June. If he has success, that could send a signal to next year’s projected No. 1 prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft, superstar WHL defenseman Landon DuPont.

8. Cole Hutson, D, Boston University (WSH)

The offensive defenseman has ruled college hockey for the last several years and Hutson is the top returning producer among players on the back end. With 48 points last season, Cole’s freshman campaign finished even with older brother Lane’s first year at BU. Few players in the country can change the game the way Hutson can. His ability to dominate shifts and put opposing teams on their heels makes him one of the most exciting players to watch in the NCAA.

9. Roger McQueen, C, Providence (ANA)

Another CHL-to-NCAA player, McQueen was the 10th overall pick in the last NHL Draft. Many believed he would return to the Brandon Wheat Kings, but later in the summer he announced his intention to go to Providence. This was a big deal on a number of fronts. First, it’s a big-name recruit going to college, but it’s also one that decided not to go to the Big Ten where it seemed the vast majority of these kinds of players decided to go. McQueen chose Providence which desperately needed to replace some offense. After missing a bunch of time last season with a back injury, McQueen’s development and progression will be watched incredibly closely. If he makes a difference for Providence early, that will go a long way toward getting this player back on track to his incredible ceiling.

10. Aiden Fink, RW, Penn State University (NSH)

While McKenna is going to get all of the attention, the Nittany Lions have a Hobey Baker finalist on their roster already. Fink was a second-team All-American after putting up 53 points for Penn State. He is the top returning scorer in college hockey this season. Players like him, as much as McKenna, are why people view Penn State as a threat to reach the Frozen Four again. You need some experience to help get you there and Fink had a remarkable first two seasons in the NCAA. Now a junior, he will be viewed as an offensive leader still.

11. Quinn Finley, LW, Wisconsin (NYI)

Last season at Wisconsin was a disappointment, generally. They won just 13 games, marking the first losing season in Mike Hastings’ illustrious coaching career at both the junior and college levels. If the Badgers are going to bounce back this season, Finley is going to have a lot to do with it. Despite the chance to turn pro, he opted to return for this junior season. As much as programs need the big-time recruits that will garner headlines, they need players to return. Finley is going to be among the top juniors anywhere in the country and I’d be willing to guess this will be his last collegiate season before signing. Wisconsin starts their season on the road against Lindenwood, with both games airing on FloHockey.

12. Mikhail Yegorov, G, Boston University (NJD)

After joining BU after winter break last year, Yegorov was one of college hockey’s best goalies. The 6-foot-5 Russian netminder rattled off a .927 save percentage, won the Beanpot and backstopped the Terriers to the NCAA championship game. That half year of experience could go a long way for him being a big-time player in the NCAA this season. If he continues the path he is on, he’ll be among the best goalies in the NCAA. His upside is so high for the long-term, but what he has already showed in the short term makes the Terriers seem like a bigger threat despite a younger roster.

13. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State University (CBJ)

Lindstrom is the highest-drafted prospect entering college hockey this season as the 2024 No. 4 overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft. He missed almost all of last season and a good chunk of his draft year with a back injury. He was among the early CHL players to commit to a school and a big piece of that was a better schedule for him to continue in his recovery. College hockey used to be criticized for playing fewer games than the CHL, but for players like Lindstrom, it was seen as a benefit. On top of the schedule, the strength training and medical care at a Big Ten school were huge draws to getting his career back on track. If Lindstrom has a big season, it’s likely a one-and-done situation, but he is going to be watched very closely to see how his decision to go to school pays off.

14. Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (NYI)

One of the most gifted goal scorers in the college game, this is a very important season for Eiserman. After going 20th overall in 2024 and having a good, but not astonishing freshman season, it feels like a little bit of the shine is off the prospect. He can change that with a big year as a top-line producer for the Terriers and a big World Juniors. Eiserman thrives in the big moments and has scored his share of massive goals in his young career. If he shows that uptick in scoring this year and also continues his improvement away from the puck, his professional outlook improves greatly.

15. Michael Hrabal, G, UMass (UTA)

One of the best goalies in the country entering this season is also one of the biggest. The 6-foot-7 Czech netminder enters the season as a two-year starter at UMass. He has a career .919 save percentage in 66 appearances. Hrabal also represents an influx of European players in college hockey in recent years. My expectation is that we will see even more Euros in the college ranks in the next few years. Especially because the NCAA eligibility rules have been relaxed to the point where players who have played professionally can still have a chance to play in school. Hrabal took the traditional route to the NCAA and is a good example of the benefits of taking the longer view of development. He looks to be firmly on the NHL track still.

16. Charlie Stramel, C, Michigan State University (MIN)

We don’t have a ton of seniors on this list, but Stramel is one of them. After spending his first two years at Wisconsin, he rediscovered his game at Michigan State as a junior. He got himself on track to the point where he opted to stay in school for one more season. Stramel is going to wear a letter for the Spartans this year and could be a critical piece to their national title hopes. As important as their elite recruiting class is, the veterans are the ones that can be the difference when it comes to chasing a national title.

17. Michael Hage, C, Michigan (MTL)

Michigan is going to be an interesting team to watch this year because they are so incredibly young. The fact that Hage is only a sophomore and likely one of the team’s key leaders this year is telling. But he also showed a lot with how he played as a freshman. The speedy forward was just over a point per game last year, but will likely have to be a focal point offensively for the team to have success this year. He’s going to be a really interesting player to watch.

18. Eric Pohlkamp, D, Denver (SJS)

It would be hard to have a list of influential college players and not include someone from Denver. They sustained some key losses from the Frozen Four team, not the least of which is Zeev Buium, who turned pro. The replacement of such a player is going to be done by committee, but you’d have to think Pohlkamp is a big piece of that. He had 11 goals and 35 points last season and figures to see an even larger share of the minutes and power-play time. Look for him to be an All-America candidate this season.

19. Joey Muldowney, RW, UConn (SJS)

UConn is viewed as a legitimate threat in Hockey East this season due in large part to returning their top two scorers, Muldowney and Jake Richard (BUF). The Huskies have hovered around competitiveness, but last year took a big step. They reached the Hockey East championship game, beating BU in the semis and also beat in-state rival Quinnipiac in the NCAA tournament. Muldowney and company should be hungry to add some more hardware this season and it’s within their reach. The Huskies were picked to finish third in Hockey East this season. Meanwhile, after scoring 29 goals last season, Muldowney could be a Hobey threat.

20. Brodie Ziemer, RW, Minnesota (BUF)

This is a bit of a re-set season for the Gophers. They lost so much of their core from a season ago including each of their top six scorers. Ziemer is the top returning scorer in the mix after a 23-point freshman campaign. The Gophers are always a relevant team in the national landscape, but they’ve got some work to do this year. Ziemer is a natural leader of the next wave for the team and will likely be a big part of Team USA at the World Juniors. Minnesota did not dip into the CHL pool and did not go hard into the transfer portal either. We’ll see if that helps them build continuity or if they fall behind.

21. Jack Ivankovic, G, Michigan (NSH)

A Canadian World Junior player and high draft pick for a goalie, Michigan has needed some stability in net and they might get with Ivankovic. I also think this young netminder is going to see a ton of rubber this year. The Wolverines’ blue line has a lot of undersized puck-movers. Ivankovic has thrived in the big stage and big moments. He has won just about everything you can for Team Canada except a World Junior gold, but that could change as soon as this winter as he’s expected to be part of that roster. Of the goalies to commit to schools this summer, he is the most high profile and will be watched closely as a CHL-to-NCAA goaltender.

22. Cole Reschny, C, North Dakota (CGY)

One of the highest-profile players to commit to college right after the rule change, Reschny was among the CHL players who made his decision before the NHL Draft, which meant he faced a lot of questions about that choice at the combine and beyond. Joined by former Victoria Royals teammate Verhoeff, Reschny might not be the highest-profile prospect between the two, but I think he’ll make the biggest impact in Year 1. He was a dominant player in the WHL at points last season and was among the best players in the postseason. His competitiveness, hockey sense and skill are going to make him a major factor in Year 1 for the Fighting Hawks.

23.  Jack Stockfish, C, Holy Cross (UFA)

Every year NHL teams are going to dip into the college ranks for undrafted free agents and this year will be no different. Perhaps with more former CHL players, NHL teams will sign even more UFAs out of the NCAA. One guy who decided to go back to school despite NHL interest was Jack Stockfish. He is a big two-way center who is the Atlantic Hockey America preseason player of the year. In an era where players transfer all the time, Stockfish not only skipped a chance to go pro, he stayed with Holy Cross as opposed to going to the transfer portal. The AHA hasn’t had as many CHL players pick their programs for college hockey, but retaining great players like Stockfish is a huge plus for the competitiveness of the conference. You can watch Stockfish all season long on FloHockey.

24. Graham Sward, D, Quinnipiac (UFA)

This summer, following player eligibility was wild. We knew the CHL players would be eligible. What we didn’t know is that multiple players who played a full season in a North American professional league would be eligible to play in the NCAA. Sward might be the most accomplished of that group as a former NHL draft pick and one-time 80-point defenseman in the WHL. Sward played for the Norfolk Admirals all season in the ECHL in 2024-25, but will now look to help Quinnipiac get back to national prominence as one of their most important offseason additions.

25. Braxton Whitehead, F, Arizona State (UFA)

When the NCAA was sued by a Canadian junior player over its eligibility rules, Whitehead was the first player from the CHL to commit to a college. This was even before the rule officially changed to avoid that lawsuit. Now he’ll be a freshman at Arizona State and likely make an impact immediately. He’s not a top prospect for the NHL, but he should be a good player in the NCAA. More than anything though, he was the first player to take the leap and that matters. In this new landscape, there is a lot left to be learned and everyone will adjust as time goes on, but Whitehead will go down as the guy who made the commitment that ushered it all in. His impact on this season was already made in that one moment.

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