top 10 Finalist for the 2023 Hobe Baker Award — given annually to the best player in college hockey — was announced Wednesday, featuring prominent NHL prospects such as Adam Fantilie and Logan Culley.
Here is a list of the 10 candidates, in alphabetical order with their last names.
logan cooley
Culley, 18, was the third pick of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. Minnesota, as a freshman with Culley jagged 18 goals and 50 points in 34 games. Corey Proneman of The Athletic ranked Cooley the 17th-Best Player/Prospect Under 23Boasts about his skating and skills, plus some unexpected quips from a younger player.
adam fantilly
The 18-year-old Fantilie could go second overall in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft. As a freshman with Michigan, Fantilie scored the second most goals in the NCAA (27) and Easily topped all players with 60 points in 32 games, He also helped Canada win gold at the 2023 World Juniors.
Sean Farrell
The 21-year-old Harvard junior scored 20 goals and was third in points with 51 in 31 games. The playmaking forward was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (124th overall). The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Farrell As the Habs’ second best prospect,
colin graff
Graf, 20, finished second in the NCAA with 54 points (including 20 goals) in 36 games for Quinnipiac. As an undrafted player, it is possible that he could be seen as an NHL free agent.
lane hutson
known as the lone savior A 2023 Hobey Baker finalist, the 19-year-old put up the kind of scoring numbers a forward would do proud: 44 points in 34 games. Late second rounder in 2022 (62nd overall) Wheeler ranks Hutton the Canadiens’ top prospect over Farrell, Hutton was named Hockey East Rookie of the Year for his strong work for the Boston Terriers.
Matthew Nice
From Golden Gopher to Maple Leaf? It’s quite possible the 20-year-old could end up being a steal (Toronto selected 57th overall in 2021). While his points totals (21 goals, 40 points in 35 games) impress, the expectation is that he can turn his mix of size and skill into immediate dividends in the NHL. Either way, Nice is ranked among the best players in the NCAA in 2022-23.
devon levy
The 21-year-old Levy has come a long way since being a seventh-round pick (212th overall in 2020) by the Florida Panthers. After strong play at 2019 World Juniors, Levy was part of Sam Reinhart returns to the Buffalo Sabres. After a 2021-22 season (21-10-1, a ridiculous .952 save percentage), Levy was almost as effective for the Northeast in 2022-23. His record slipped to 17–12–5, but he maintained an excellent .933 save percentage, which Hockey East Player of the Year,
yaniv perets
The 23-year-old Perets posted an impressive 30-3-3 record and netted a .927 save percentage trending for Quinnipiac.
blake pitila
The 23-year-old Pietila produced a 23-10-3 record and .929 save percentage for Michigan Tech, earning CCHA Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Pietila posted 10 shutouts this season, more than Peres (nine) and Levy (six).
jason polin
With 29 goals, the 23-year-old topped all NCAA performers in 2022-23. The drafted forward scored 46 points in 38 games, earning some recognition for his two-way game.
Recent Hobey Baker Award winners include some impressive NHL players
goalkeeper Dryden McKay took home the 2022 edition of the award, which is awarded to the “top” NCAA men’s ice hockey player. Two of the three other recent winners (Cole Caulfield in 2021 and Cale Makar in 2019) are influential NHL players, while 2020 winner Scott Perunovich is in the Blues system.