NHL prospects to watch in the 2023 NCAA hockey tournament

The 16-team field is set. The 2023 NCAA men’s hockey tournament will drop the puck on Thursday for opening-round games, with the national championship final set for April 8 in Tampa.

It’s a chance to see yesterday’s draft picks, today’s amateur free agents and, in the case of Michigan center Adam Fantilli, tomorrow’s franchise players.

Here’s a look at some of the names in the NCAA tournament with current and future NHL connections, from draft prospects to previous selections to the free agents pro teams will be chasing.

NHL draft prospects

Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan

As Connor McDavid had Jack Eichel, Connor Bedard has Adam Fantilli. In other words, the NHL draft has a clear No. 1 choice followed by a clear No. 2 choice that would have been No. 1 under different, generational player-absent circumstances.

The 6-foot-3 center had 61 points in 33 games this season with the Wolverines, including 27 goals. He led the nation in points per game (1.85) in earning a Hobey Baker nomination as a freshman. “He’s a hard-driving player. He’s got the speed and the size, but he’s always driving and attacking. He’s a dog on the bone — in and around the net with the puck,” TSN senior draft analyst Craig Button said. “He’s relentless. Adam has the size, the will and the skill.”

Gavin Brindley, C/RW, Michigan

Button believes that a strong NCAA tournament could really bolster the stock of Gavin Brindley, ranked No. 24 overall for the draft by Elite Prospects. He had 36 points in 38 games playing on Fantilli’s wing.

Matt Copponi, C, Merrimack College

The 19-year-old center is one of the top 100 North American prospects according to NHL Central Scouting. He leveled up offensively as a sophomore with 29 points in 36 games. He’s found a groove on Merrimack’s top line, and a run in the tournament could open more eyes.

Charles-Alexis Legault, D, Quinnipiac

The 19-year-old defenseman is ranked in the top 200 draft prospects by Central Scouting. Button believes with a strong showing at the tournament, the blueliner could move up some draft boards.

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Bucci’s storylines to watch in the NCAA men’s hockey tourney

John Buccigross shares the storylines that fans should keep an eye out for in the 2023 NCAA men’s hockey tournament.

Drafted NHL prospects

Michigan Wolverines

Seamus Casey, D (New Jersey Devils)

Drafted 46th overall by New Jersey in 2022, the freshman defenseman had 25 points in 34 games for the Wolverines. He’s a very solid puck-handling right-shot defenseman … but not the blueliner…