Never a stranger to sending talent to NHL Development Camps, Northeastern once again showed out by sending 19 current, future, and former players to camps run by 13 different NHL teams. Nearly split 50-50 among draftees vs undrafted free agent invites, 10 players attending camps were drafted by that team, and 9 were undrafted. As we’ve discussed previously, Northeastern is one of the best programs in the NCAA in the last 5-10 years putting late round and undrafted players into the NHL.
Boston Bruins– Cole Chandler (drafted 5th round, 133 overall, 2025). Chandler earned praise from Bruins Director of Player Development Adam McQuaid when McQuaid said “when he’s on, he’s really hard to handle.” He played the last three seasons for Shawinigan in the QMJHL, last year putting up 52 points (20 goals) in 62 games, tying for 44th-best among QMJHL forwards. He will play next season for Cape Brenton in the QMJHL and is projected to enroll to Northeastern in 2027.
Buffalo Sabres– Noah Laberge (drafted round 5, 135 overall, 2025), Samuel Meloche (drafted round 4, 116 overall, 2025). Laberge broke out last year playing for the Newfoundland Regiment in the team’s inaugural QMJHL season, scoring 56 points (7 goals) in 62 games, fourth-best among defensemen in the league. A puck-moving defenseman with a good physical build, he is enrolling to Northeastern this Fall. Meloche played the bulk of games for Rouyn-Noranda again, playing 50 games and finishing with 33 wins, a .897 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against-average, and 3 shutouts. He will play next season for Saint John in the Q before enrolling in 2027.
Columbus Blue Jackets– Amine Hajibi (undrafted), Marcus Kearsey (undrafted). Hajibi earned another development camp invite after finishing fourth on the Huskies with 26 points (7 goals) as a freshman. Showcasing high-end skating and hockey IQ last year, NUHB learned last year that multiple NHL teams came to NU games specifically for Hajibi. He is expected to be a key player on the 2026-27 Huskies. Kearsey comes in as a freshman this fall after regaining his scoring touch for the Charlottetown Islanders in the QMJHL, finishing with 55 points (15 goals) in 62 games, tied for fifth among Q defensemen. A veteran of over 244 QMJHL games, including two seasons as the Islanders’ captain, Kearsey is expected to be a lineup regular immediately, and has qualities of a future captain for the Huskies as well.
Dallas Stars– Dylan Hryckowian (undrafted, signed ELC), Dawson Sharkey (drafted round 6, 190 overall, 2025). Hryckowian signed with Dallas after his junior season concluded, leading the Huskies in scoring with 37 points in 30 games, and scored 6 points in his first 12 AHL games. He will start next year with the Texas Stars of the AHL. Sharkey, the latest addition to the 2026 NU enrolling class, finished last season with 62 points (33 goals) in 60 games for Newfoundland in the QMJHL. A rugged power forward who can shoot the puck well, expect him to start in the Huskies’ middle six.
Montreal Canadiens– Giacomo Martino (undrafted). Martino parlayed his freshman season at Northeastern, which saw him score 25 points (13 goals) and be named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, into an invite to Montreal dev camp. He will once again be leaned on heavily by Northeastern in their top six.
Nashville Predators– Owen Keefe (undrafted), Miguel Marques (drafted round 3, 87 overall, 2024). Keefe culminates his homecoming back to Northeastern enrolling this Fall, after making the jump to the QMJHL last season to play for Drummondville. The move paid off for the Saugus native, putting up 34 points (8 goals) in 63 games. Keefe projects as a third pairing defenseman as a freshman. Marques is an offensive dynamo transferring to Northeastern from Maine, where as a freshman he scored 23 points (10 goals) in 33 games after putting up 112 points in 96 games for Lethbridge in the WHL the two seasons prior. We have Marques pencilled into the vacated Dylan Hryckowian role for Northeastern in the top line.
Philadelphia Flyers– Nathan Quinn (drafted round 6, 164 overall, 2025). Quinn exploded last season to the tune of 73 points (34 goals) in 58 games, good for 17th-best in the QMJHL, to the point where we thought he might have earned a spot on the 2026 Huskies. He will instead return to the Quebec Remparts for the 2026 season, where the team will be a heavy favorite for the QMJHL championship. Quinn will enroll to Northeastern in 2027 and projects to be a huge piece for the Huskies heading into the new arena era.
Seattle Kraken– Lawton Zacher (undrafted). The Huskies’ beloved goaltender received a camp invite after turning in a cool .929 save percentage, 2.20 GAA, 5 shutout season in his debut year on Huntington Avenue, earning second team All-American honors. Zacher will return to Northeastern for his senior season and will once again be the anchor for Jerry Keefe’s squad.
Tampa Bay Lightning– Joe Connor (drafted round 7, 195 overall, 2024), Jacob Mathieu (undrafted). Two major pieces for Northeastern in 2025-26 and again this upcoming season, Connor broke out for 27 points (13 goals) playing in all 36 games, while Mathieu (30 points, 10 goals, in 32 games) put up one of the greatest freshman season outputs in modern Huskies history. Mathieu earned All-Rookie Team honors for his efforts. Both players will serve as assistant captains in the upcoming season, and will be arguably the two most important pieces for the Huskies’ offense for the year.
Toronto Maple Leafs– Vinny Borgesi (undrafted, signed ELC). The captain of the 2025-26 Huskies signed with Toronto after the season concluded, with interest from multiple NHL teams. He became the third defenseman since 2000 to notch three straight seasons of 20+ points, after Jeremy Davies and Jim Fahey did the same. Borgesi got 7 games in with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring his first professional point in the process, and the Marlies went on to win the Calder Cup. He will likely start next year in the AHL.
Vancouver Canucks– Matthew Perkins (drafted round 4, 119 overall, 2023). Perkins transferred to Northeastern after two years at Minnesota Duluth, scoring in the season opener before his momentum was curtailed but a nasty injury in the Fall. He returned in the spring semester and finished with 7 points (4 goals) in 29 games, largely playing on the third line. Potentially a big X-factor for Northeastern this year, he will be a senior this season.
Vegas Golden Knights– Cameron Whitehead (drafted round 4, 128 overall, 2022). Whitehead signed his ELC with Vegas after the 2024-25 season, and in his first professional season split time between Henderson in the AHL (.873 SV%, 3.54 GAA, 6 wins) and Lake Tahoe in the ECHL (.921 SV%, 3.01 GAA, 2 shutouts, 12 wins). He is expected to start in the AHL next year.
Washington Capitals– Jo Lemay (drafted round 4, 119 overall, 2021), Brian McFadden (drafted round 5, 144 overall, 2026). The oldest and youngest draft picks for Northeastern this camp cycle, Lemay will be co-captain for the Huskies in 2026-27 as he returns for a fifth year of college hockey off a medical redshirt. He did not participate in contact drills this camp as he continues to prepare his health for the upcoming season. McFadden was drafted out of Thayer Prep, and will likely play next season in the QMJHL for Saint John. We project him to enroll in 2028.
In addition to these 19 players, former Huskies Dylan Compton (Colorado) and James Fisher (Columbus) also attended development camps. Both players transferred out of Northeastern after last season. Somehow, forwards Philippe Veilleux (96 points last year in the QMJHL, 2027 enrollee), Nathan Lecompte (63 points in 61 games in the QMJHL, 2027 enrollee), and defenseman Jordan Tourigny (55 points in 57 QMJHL games, 2026 enrollee) did not attend camps.
As always, go Huskies!