Friday could be a particularly busy night for Denver hockey as it pertains the Pioneers’ not-so-distant future.

The recently released final NHL Central Scouting Service rankings have six future DU players and rising sophomore Jack Devine listed among their prospects with the potential to be drafted in this week’s Entry Draft. The first round will be held Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. MDT, (on ESPN and ESPN+) and rounds 2-7 will be Friday, starting at 9 a.m. (on NHL Network and ESPN+)

A trio of incoming freshmen – forwards Rieger Lorenz and Miko Matikka and defenseman Kent Anderson are listed in CSS’ rankings. Lorenz is a 2004 birth year, as are the majority of the first-time draft-eligible players.

Lorenz, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left wing, is the highest ranked soon-to-be Pioneer (No. 17 North American skater) after piling up 85 points (38 goals) in 60 games for Okotoks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The rating means he has a shot to go late in the first round or early in the second.

Matikka, like a Devine a late 2003 birth year, is the 32nd-rated European skater after 33 points (19 goals) in 30 games for Jokerit’s U20 team in his native Finland. He also will represent his country at the rebooted World Junior Championships in Alberta next month. He’s expected to be a mid-round pick.

Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder and another late 2003 birth year, is ranked the 189th North American skater after 28 points in 61 games for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League.

Devine, who had 19 points in 36 games as a Pioneers freshman, is 65th in the North American skater rankings. The projection could land him in the third round.

In addition, three players who are committed to join DU in the fall of 2023 – goaltender Paxton Geisel, defenseman Garrett Brown and forward Sammy Harris also are ranked.

The 6-foot-2 Geisel, who went 25-9-3 with a 3.13 goals-against average for Dubuque (USHL), is the 19th-rated North American goalie.

Brown, a 6-2, 180-pounder who is the 102nd-ranked North American skater, had 16 points in 62 games for USHL champion Sioux City.

And Harris, a 5-11, 186-pound left wing, is rated the 136th North American skater after putting up 35 points (16 goals) in 60 games for Sioux Falls (USHL).

Denver is expected to have as many as eight returning draft picks, and they will be joined by two more newcomers. The first is incoming freshman forward Samu Salminen, who was a third-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2021. The second is sophomore transfer Tristan Broz, who’s a 2021 second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

©First Line Editorial 2022