The present is quite solid, and the future looks to be pretty strong as well for Denver’s prospect pipeline.

The Pioneers, who have 12 NHL draft picks on their roster this season, could add at least seven more in the next two seasons if you go by NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term draft rankings, which were released Wednesday.

A total of seven players – freshman right wing Jack Devine and six Pioneers commits – are listed in Central Scouting’s ratings for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

In addition to Devine, the 64th ranked North American skater, the group includes forwards Reiger Lorenz (24th North American skater), Miko Matikka (39th International skater) and Sammy Harris (181st North American skater, defensemen Kent Anderson (70th North American skater) and Garrett Brown (185th North American skater) and goaltender Paxton Giesel (28th North American goalie). All of the commits, except for Giesel, are projected to join the Pioneers next season. At this time, Geisel is slotted to arrive in 2023.

Here is a closer look at each:

Jack Devine

Right wing Jack Devine – Pioneers fans shouldn’t need much introduction to Devine, an electric player who is part of an outstanding freshman class. An excellent skater and playmaker, the 5-foot-11, 173-pounder has 13 points, including two goals in 17 games. He’s played on a very effective third line with seniors Brett Stapley and Ryan Barrow. He previously spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development program. This is the suburban Chicago native’s first year of draft eligibility because he is a late 2003 birth year.

Defenseman Kent Anderson – You want size and ability on the blue line? You got it. Anderson, a Calgary native and late 2003 birth year, is 6-2 and 200-plus pounds. He has 10 assists in 26 games for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the same team that brought you current Pioneers McKade Webster and Matt Davis. He played two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and rang up 23 points in 56 games as a 16-year-old.

Defenseman Garrett Brown – The 2004 is another 6-2 blue liner plying his trade in the USHL. The San Jose native and son of longtime NHL player Curtis Brown has four points in 29 games for Sioux City. He has more offensive upside than he has produced in his first year of junior hockey, putting up 47 points in 71 games over his final two seasons of youth hockey.

Goaltender Paxton Giesel – The Estevan, Sask., native has played two seasons of junior hockey in the United States, first in the North American Hockey League and this season with Dubuque in the USHL. He’s a shorter goalie (6-0) than the current template of giants in net, but then so was Tanner Jaillet, and DU fans remember how he worked out. Giesel has improved his numbers in a tougher league (12-5-2, 3.16, .899) this season. He’s a 2004.

Left wing Sammy Harris – The 5-11, 180-pound native of Encinitas, Calif., is a late 2003 birth year who has 11 points (three goals) in 27 games for Sioux Falls of the USHL. His first junior season comes after three seasons at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep in Minnesota, where he had 37 points in 36 games last season.

Left wing Reiger Lorenz – The Calgary native is lighting up the AJHL this season with 26 goals among his 63 points in the Okotoks Oilers’ first four 40 games. Two seasons ago while playing U18 hockey as a 15-year-old he had 72 points in 35 games. So yes, offense is a big part of the question with the 6-foot-2, 184-pounder. His father Terry played four seasons at Notre Dame and captained the Irish as a senior.

Right wing Miko Matikka – The Jokerit native, another late 2003, was selected to Finland’s World Junior Championship team for a good reason – he knows how to put the puck in the net. He’s done it six times in 13 games of junior hockey this season, and he had 14 goals in 26 games last season. Combine excellent hands with a 6-3, 187-pound human and he should fit nicely with one of DU’s dynamic young centers.

Notable: Carter Savoie‘s younger brother Matt, who has 52 points in 34 games in the Western Hockey League, is the third-rated North American skater and expected to be a high lottery pick.

©First Line Editorial