Top 10 NHL prospects to watch at the 2026 NCAA men’s Frozen Four

Apr 8, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 6, 2026, 16:11 EDT

Top 10 NHL prospects to watch at the 2026 NCAA men’s Frozen Four

Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK vi

The NCAA’s men’s hockey season will come to a close this weekend with the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Frozen Four is one of the most exciting events in hockey, featuring a mix of future NHL stars and others trying to carve their way in the hockey landscape. Wisconsin, North Dakota, Denver and Michigan will make up the four-team pool chasing a national title this weekend after fighting through the regular-season grind and the four different regional events back in late March.

For a full tournament preview, check out Tyler Kuehl’s post here. But if you’re looking for just the top NHL-affiliated prospects, we’ve got you covered below ahead of the tournament from April 9-11:

Will Zellers, LW, North Dakota (Boston Bruins)

What a season for Zellers. After decimating goalies in the USHL last year, Zellers forced his way from USA’s fourth line at the World Juniors to finish as the team’s top scorer. Add in an NCHC championship, an all-rookie team honor and a solid 34 points in 37 games and it was an outstanding campaign for the 2024 third-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche. The trade to Boston last year really beefed up the Bruins’ pipeline – Zellers looks like a legitimate top-six prospect. He’s quick, he has an outstanding shot, and he’s nearly unstoppable against college players when he has the puck. He had a pair of two-point games during the regionals – North Dakota will need more of that moving forward.

Luke Osburn, LHD, Wisconsin (Buffalo Sabres)

Osburn has been one of the most impressive freshmen defenders in college this year. He had a productive Draft +1 season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms last year, and followed that up by registering 12 points in 31 games with Wisconsin. He played 23 minutes a night and recently scored a huge goal to help Wisconsin eliminate Michigan State in the regionals. It was a huge moment for a defender who had found himself on a bit of a cold streak (offensively) for close to two months. Osburn is smart, moves the puck well and is reliable in his own zone. It already feels like the Sabres got a steal with him in the fourth round two years ago.

Cole Reschny, C, North Dakota (Calgary Flames)

It’s not every day a recently turned 19-year-old freshman is a No. 1 center on one of the top-ranked schools in the nation. Reschny has had a fantastic season with North Dakota, registering a point-per-game through 35 outings. Reschny’s ability to produce no matter the situation makes him so intriguing. He’s not huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. He’s an outstanding playmaker – legitimately one of the best outside of the NHL. Reschny is smart, competitive and has all the makings of a top-six player in the NHL one day.

Jayden Perron, RW, Michigan (Carolina Hurricanes)

Perron had a decent-at-best two-year run with North Dakota. Now, he has a chance to beat them for a national title. Perron had a breakthrough season with Michigan with 40 points through 39 games. He has eight points in his past five games while playing key minutes for the Wolverines. Playing with someone like Michael Hage helps. But Michigan’s system seemed to really favor Perron’s skill set. He’s a small but skilled winger who can outthink just about anyone with the puck. Perron is undersized, and it can limit his play around the net. But get him the puck anywhere else and he’s going to make something happen. It’s a good thing he’s on a hot streak right now.

Rieger Lorenz, LW, Denver (Minnesota Wild)

Lorenz definitely isn’t as high-profile a prospect as some others on this list. But he has been a solid producer throughout most of his tenure in Denver, which includes a personal best of 34 points in 41 games. He didn’t score against Western Michigan, which snapped a 12-game streak that saw him register 16 points. So, consistency actually has been one of his strengths, even if there’s nothing truly explosive about his game. Lorenz likes to play with a physical edge, and his footwork has improved a bit since his draft year. He’s a smart forward who can exploit open space, while also playing a highly detailed game away from the net, too. The Pioneers don’t have a true game-changing forward up front – but if they’re going to go deep, Lorenz will likely be a big reason why.

Michael Hage, C, Michigan (Montreal Canadiens)

Hage is one of the top prospects in hockey, and there’s hope he could step into Montreal’s lineup and contribute come playoff time. First off, though? Winning a national title. Hage has been one of the top players in college all season long, registering 13 goals and 51 points in 38 games. The 19-year-old was absolutely incredible at the World Juniors, finishing with 13 assists and 15 points in seven games en route to a bronze with Canada. It wasn’t surprising, given how dominant he has been in Michigan this year. Hage dealt with injuries during the regional but is expected to be fully good to go this week. That’s huge, because at his best, Hage is as close to a difference-maker the top-seeded Wolverines have.

Jack Ivankovic, G, Michigan (Nashville Predators)

Ivankovic looked excellent against Bentley and then kept things rolling in a much tighter affair against Minnesota-Duluth. He’s currently riding a six-game winning streak, and while he has only faced 30+ shots once, Ivankovic has had to come up clutch more than a handful of times. The undersized netminder has been one of the NCAA’s top goalies, becoming one of two freshmen goaltenders to earn a semifinal nod for the top goalie award (along with North Dakota’s Jan Spunar). Ivankovic handles chaos around the net quite well, often just getting in front of wild scrambles around the crease. He’s athletic, quick and boasts an impressive glove hand. He’s about to face the toughest challenge of his college career – and given his international record, he’s more than capable of stealing games under pressure.

Quinn Finley, LW, Wisconsin (New York Islanders)

Finley has registered more than 70 points through two college campaigns, making him one of the more dangerous wingers in the NCAA. He enters the Frozen Four second in points on the team but first in goals with 17. Finley is lethal in open space, but he’s not afraid to burst through the middle to crash the crease. There’s nothing overly special about his frame, but he has been one of the Islanders’ better prospects the past few years thanks to his goal-scoring drive and above-average hockey sense. Finley had five points in the two-game regional series last month – let’s see if he can keep that momentum alive.

Eric Pohlkamp, RHD, Denver (San Jose Sharks)

Pohlkamp was recently named one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy as the NCAA’s top men’s hockey player this year. It’s easy to understand why – he’s been lights out for Denver. He eats well north of 20 minutes a night, and he loves to shoot (he has 34 shots over his past five games… as a defenseman). The Sharks took a chance on Pohlkamp in the fifth round in 2023, and he has easily become one of the most intriguing college defenders. He played his freshman year at Bemidji State before producing more than 70 points over two years at Denver. Pohlkamp is as close to a play-driver as you’ll find on any NCAA blueline, often involving himself as a fourth forward. Pohlkamp is ready for pro hockey, even as an undersized defender.

Clarke Caswell, LW, Denver (Seattle Kraken)

Caswell was a fifth-round pick by the Kraken in 2024. Since then, he has remained a solid producer at all levels, which included a 62-assist, 84-point final campaign with the Swift Current Broncos a year ago. He has always known more as a playmaker, and 25 of Caswell’s 32 points have been helpers this year. Caswell isn’t huge, but he’s a good skater who beats you with pace and a high level of hockey sense. Many in the public scouting sphere were surprised to see him fall to the fifth round two years ago – many saw him as a potential top-75 selection.

Other notables: James Reeder, RW, Denver (Los Angeles Kings); Sam Harris, LW, Denver (Montreal Canadiens); Ben Strinden, C, North Dakota (Nashville Predators); E.J. Emery, RHD, North Dakota (New York Rangers); Will Horcoff, C, 18, University of Michigan (Pittsburgh Penguins)

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