Five more current and future Denver players were selected by NHL teams earlier this month. Where they fit in those franchises’ future plans remains to be seen.

But what about current and recent Pioneers who have been drafted or who have signed pro contracts? With NHL prospect camp season wrapping up, it’s time to see where they might fit in NHL teams’ plans.

Need a reminder about the importance of prospect camps? Consider the summer of 2018, when just-named DU captain Logan O’Connor signed with Colorado after blowing up at prospects camp. The same happened with fellow forward Trevor Moore in 2016. You know how things turned out for O’Connor with the Avalanche, but Moore was one of the L.A. Kings’ better players this season, particularly during the playoffs. It took time but their summer showings helped launch strong pro careers.

I consulted two sources I trust for their in-season and post-season rankings of prospects within NHL teams’ systems to compile the following list.

Players are listed alphabetically by team.

Calgary – Emilio Pettersen

Pettersen left DU after his sophomore season two years ago in somewhat of a surprising move. He’s played in the AHL since and had an uneven time, going stretches without goals. However, he scored game-winners twice in a row during the Calder Cup playoffs this spring. He’s considered the Flames’ ninth-ranked prospect after scoring 26 points in 59 regular-season games.

Carolina – Massimo Rizzo

The rising sophomore was not ranked among the Hurricanes’ top 20 prospects, a bit of a surprise given his body of work this past season, when he struck for 36 points (12 goals) in 39 games at DU. The fact he didn’t play junior hockey in 2020-21 due to pandemic restrictions in Canada and didn’t have the tape other prospects amassed probably contributed to his omission as much as anything.

Colorado – Sean Behrens

Both publications are high on the rising sophomore, who debuted with 29 points. He was No. 4 in both, but the No. 2 defenseman. Keep in mind the No. 1 (Justin Barron) was moved at the trade deadline in the deal to acquire winger Artturi Lehkonen. If the former second-round pick again shows the type of improvement he showed during his freshman campaign, his stay at DU could end after this season. Teammate Cam Wright and Pioneers goaltending recruit Paxton Geisel (projected 2023) also attended prospect camp with Behrens and guest coach David Carle.

Detroit – Shai Buium, Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto

All three were rated among the Red Wings’ top 13 prospects, but where they landed depended upon who was doing the ranking. Buium, who steadily improved during his freshman year and finished with 18 points, was as high as 6 and as low as 13. His combination of size, skill and defensive ability is impressive. The same can be said for Tuomisto, his sometime D partner, who was rated No. 12. Mazur was in the 9-10 range after his 38-point, 14-goal freshman campaign. Buium and Mazur participated in prospect camp.

Edmonton – Carter Savoie

Savoie reinforced the notion he can score in bunches, netting 23 among his 45 points, but he also rounded out his game more during his sophomore season. Ranked the Oilers’ No. 5 prospect at midseason, he moved to fourth by season’s end and signed with the team days after DU’s national championship. He played two regular-season games for Bakersfield of the AHL.

Florida – Mike Benning

The rising DU junior enjoyed a breakout season, emerging as an offensive force – with 38 points (15 goals) in 41 games – and improving defender at the NCAA level. At midseason, he was rated the Panthers’ No. 7 prospect. He’d risen to No. 4 at season’s end, and Benning was Florida’s top-rated defense prospect. Given all of the prospect capital the Panthers surrendered at the trade deadline, one has to like Benning’s chances of playing pro hockey sooner than later. DU has to hope that time comes after his junior season and not before it.

Montreal – Brett Stapley

We saw what a healthy Stapley could do this past season, when he put up 43 points  in 41 games. Always known as more of a setup man, he flashed improved goal-scoring ability (18) and played in every situation. He ended the season as the Habs’ No. 18 prospect but had not signed a contract with them as of mid-July.

New Jersey – Samu Salminen

The incoming freshman was ranked between No. 7 and 10 at the end of his season with Jokerit’s U20 team, where he scored 48 points (19 goals) in 41 games after the Devils drafted in him the third round in 2021. (Update: On Aug. 2 it was announced Salminen was going to Connecticut)

Philadelphia – Bobby Brink

The former second-round pick was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award after leading Division I in scoring with 57 points, and, as was widely expected, signed with the Flyers, with whom he picked up four assists in 10 games. By the NCAA season’s end he was considered the Flyers’ No. 2 prospect and their top forward prospect. Given Philly’s struggles last season and his continued improvement, Brink has a solid chance to play in the NHL next season.

Pittsburgh – Tristan Broz

Opinions varied widely on the rising sophomore, a transfer from Minnesota. One publication listed him as the Penguins’ No. 8 prospect, while he was nowhere to be found by the other. He’s a second-round pick in an organization that doesn’t have much depth, which has to give him a chance if he can re-establish himself at DU the next few seasons.

San Jose – Magnus Chrona

Chrona was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay last summer and is considered the Sharks’ No. 16 prospect. He is the second goalie on the list. The Sharks have a logjam at the position at the NHL and AHL levels. Chrona did not participate in their prospects camp because he was back in Sweden.

Tampa Bay – Cole Guttman and McKade Webster

A report around the time of the draft indicated Guttman would not be signing with the team that drafted in him in 2017. He wasn’t ranked among the Lightning’s top prospects at midseason but was listed as 12^th after the season. His excellent senior campaign (45 points, 19 goals – both career highs by wide margins) surely contributed to that. Webster, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found in either ranking, but he did participate in the Lightning’s prospect camp. The latter should take on a much bigger role with the Pioneers this upcoming season.

Camp invites

Several more players in addition to Wright received camp invites. This group includes rising senior defenseman Justin Lee (Arizona), rising junior goaltender Jack Caruso (St. Louis), and projected 2023 incoming freshman Samuel Harris (Florida).

Three drafted incoming freshmen, forwards Jack Devine (Florida), Miko Mattika (Arizona) and Aidan Thompson (Chicago), headed to camps, as did projected 2023 freshman defenseman Garrett Brown (Winnipeg).

©First Line Editorial 2022