In an unprecedented NHL Draft, both due to the extenuating circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the sheer duration of the the event, four players affiliated with Northeastern hockey heard their names called in the 2020 Draft. Three current players (all freshmen) and one recruit were selected: Sam Colangelo, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Devon Levi, and Chase Bradley (2021).
Sam Colangelo: 36th overall, Anaheim Ducks
– The crown jewel of the 2020 recruiting class, there was a chance that Colangelo snuck into the first round of the draft. While that did not happen, he did not have to wait long to hear his name called, and now will join the organization that features former Huskies captain Josh Manson on its blue line. Colangelo comes to the Huskies with plenty of hype, and we should expect him to slide into the top six immediately, possibly the first line.
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine: 202nd overall, Nashville Predators
– A large break in the action for Huskies ended in dramatic fashion once round seven hit, starting with former Northeastern player David Poile drafting the overager from Rhode Island. Fontaine has been a scoring dynamo every stop along his hockey journey, and we expect him to continue that trend at Northeastern. Similar to Colangelo, we believe he is slated for a top-six wing spot from the get-go, and this writer believes that at the end of the season, he will lead Huskies freshmen in scorin
Devon Levi: 212th overall, Florida Panthers
– The new heir to the throne between the pipes was taken in possibly the best position for Huskies fans to see. Florida not only has starter Serge i Bobrovsky at the NHL level for years to come, they just spent last year’s first round pick on BC goaltender Spencer Knight. This likely means they will be in no rush to ink Levi to his entry-level contract, meaning he can develop for multiple seasons at Northeastern. Drafted college goalies tend to stay for three years on average, though we’ve seen some elite performers sign after two (such as Cayden Primeau and Connor Hellebuyck). We expect Levi to be the Huskies’ main goaltender for at least three seasons, with a reasonable chance he stays through his senior year. Like Fontaine, he has had success at every stop along his hockey journey, including dominating the CCHL last season in record fashion.
Chase Bradley: 203rd overall, Detroit Red Wings
– While we thought the first three players all had a chance to be drafted, Bradley’s selection came as a pleasant surprise. A highly-heralded forward when he committed in 2017, Bradley’s development has led him to Sioux City of the USHL, where he is now on their top line. Already lauded for his defensive play, we expect another year in the USHL to be beneficial for his offensive development, and he will enroll at Northeastern in 2021
The draft eligible players who were not selected include: Justin Hryckowian, Dylan Jackson, Ty Jackson Matt Choupani, Stanley Cooley, and Jack Williams. Choupani, Cooley, and Williams will all have another year of eligibility as overagers in the 2021 Draft.
A total of 25 players and recruits from Hockey East were selected, the most of any conference in the country. UMass was the only other school with four selections; Boston College, Boston University, UConn, and Providence each had three; New Hampshire and Merrimack each had two. UMass-Lowell had one. Maine and Vermont were the only Hockey East schools without draft picks. Among other rivals, Harvard paced the whole NCAA with a whopping seven players selected.