Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, & The Top 5 NHL Prospects In The NCAA

Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, & The Top 5 NHL Prospects In The NCAA

The NCAA is loaded with potential NHL talent from blueliners to deadly scoring threats.

Sep 22, 2018 by Jacob Messing
Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, & The Top 5 NHL Prospects In The NCAA

After offering up 7 NCAA-To-NHL Rookies To Watch In 2018-19, FloHockey is detailing its top 10 NHL prospects set to play in the NCAA this season.

As the NCAA continues to increase its output and overall development of NHL prospects, the 2018-19 collegiate season will see the whitecaps form on the next wave of NHL stardom.

1. Cale Makar

D | University of Massachusetts Amherst

2017 Round 1, 4th overall | Colorado Avalanche

In 2017, the Avalanche fell victim to the draft lottery and watched their 18-percent chance at the No. 1 pick end in the worst possible scenario: fourth overall. But it could have been worse, as they grabbed Makar in the No. 4 slot, a high-end defensive prospect they desperately needed.

Makar was committed to UMass Amherst, where many suspected a one-and-done outcome before turning pro. But after an improbable bounce back from the Avalanche in 2017-18, the team looked like it could suffice another year without him.

Makar saw himself in a similar boat, showing maturity when he announced another year with the Minutemen would be best for himself and his development.

“I feel that I need another year of development. Hopefully, we’ll see where I’m at after that,” Makar told Tyler King back in April.

It came after the freshman posted a modest five-goal and 21-point season, citing that his biggest strengths transitioned well into the NCAA. But the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Makar wanted to bolster his frame and better prepare himself for the tenacity of the NHL.

His aptitude to forgo a hasty jump to the NHL shows just what he’s capable of once he gets there, and his all-around game should flourish as “undersized” players are becoming more abundant due to their head-turning skill.

2. Quinn Hughes

D | University of Michigan

2018 Round 1, 7th overall | Vancouver Canucks

Hughes’ ridiculously smooth skating is comparable to Chicago’s Duncan Keith. Similarly to Makar, he opted to return to the Wolverines for his sophomore season, wanting more out of himself and his college career.

“I want to win the national championship,” Hughes told Daniel Wagner of the Vancouver Courier. “I was heartbroken when we lost to Notre Dame in the Frozen Four last year.”

Hughes, another undersized defensive prospect at 5-foot-10, was a huge part of Michigan’s turnaround in 2017-18.

The savvy defenseman returns to Michigan as the team’s top blueliner capable of playing in all situations given his complete game and offensive mindset. He posted 29 points (5 G, 24 A) in 38 games last season, but he was noticeably better during the winter semester.

Hughes had a 1-9-10 stat line over 16 fall-semester games. Upon returning from the winter break, he capped off his final 21 games with four goals and 19 points. A year of experience, coupled with confidence and a summer of training, should see him breakout as one of the top defensemen in the NCAA in 2018-19.

After that, he can be expected to trade in his blue and maize for blue and green with a move out west.

3. Oliver Wahlstrom

RW | Boston College

2018 Round 1, 11th overall | New York Islanders

Many analysts labeled Wahlstrom as the “best goal scorer” entering the 2018 draft, and a week after the Islanders selected him, he displayed his ability in minicamp. 



Wahlstrom was fresh off a 48-goal season with the U.S. national U18 team, where he added another 46 assists for 94 points in 62 games. He’s an electric forward with strong vision, boundless creativity, and a drive to be the best every shift.

Individual team needs saw Wahlstrom fall out of the top 10 in June, but he stood no chance at making past the Islanders’ consecutive picks. He’s already turning heads, even without projected 2019 No. 1 pick Jack Hughes (Quinn’s brother) as his center, which many attributed to his strong season in 2017-18.

Unlike Makar and Hughes, Wahlstrom is entering his first season at the NCAA rank, joining a strong BC team already packed with young players. His unwavering confidence and power forward drive aren’t abundant assets in the NCAA and will go along way in his development.

A strong season could see him vie for an NHL roster spot in 2019-20 as he builds his case to be the Islanders next star alongside 2018 Calder Trophy winner, Mathew Barzal.

4. Tanner Laczynski

C | Ohio State University

2016 Round 6, 169th overall | Philadelphia Flyers

Back in August, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked each NHL farm system heading into the 2018-19 season. The Philadelphia Flyers came in at No. 12, partially thanks to a sixth-round pick developing into a future NHL player. That player is Laczynski.

He posted 32 points (10 G, 22 A) in 34 games as a freshman with the Buckeyes in 2016-17, good enough for fifth on the team, which lost in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament to eventual runner-up Minnesota Duluth.

As a sophomore, he finished tied for 11th in NCAA scoring last season with 47 points (17 G, 30 A) in 41 games before the Buckeyes were once again eliminated by Minnesota Duluth, which went on to claim the NCAA title in April.

John Buccigross offered the following on Laczynski: “Legit player at NHL level. He is great at protecting pucks and very strong with great balance. He’s hard to move off pucks as well. Shoots it a ton with an NHL release and shot. Great work ethic as well. Always doing extra after practice on ice and in the weight room.”

If Laczynski can duplicate his sophomore season in 2018-19, consider him a strong candidate for the Hobey Baker come season’s end.

5. Dante Fabbro

D | Boston University

2016 Round 1, 16th overall | Nashville Predators

The Predators have excelled at drafting and developing true NHL-caliber defensemen, which is a big reason for the team boasting arguably the best blue line in the NHL. However, the strength of the backend may be hindering an entry-level deal with Fabbro.

Fabbro has publicly maintained he wants to be a Predator, but he has also made comments that suggest the team could have another Jimmy Vesey on their hands, who opted for free agency in 2016 after failing to sign in Nashville.

“I honestly don’t think it’ll come to that, but a lot of things can happen,” Fabbro told Adam Vingan, then of The Tennessean, when asked about potentially taking the same path.



A strong two-way defenseman with high offensive upside, Fabbro has been named co-captain of the Terriers entering his junior season. He finished last year with nine goals and 29 points in 38 games and is likely to receive a bigger role this year.

He has the makings to be another NHL stud defenseman churned out by the Predators and what would be to the dismay of the organization, could opt for a larger role should he return to BU a year from now and complete his senior season.


Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.