Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Tynan Lawrence leaves USHL, joins Boston University

One of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft is on the move – to an entirely different league.

Center Tynan Lawrence has left the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks and will join the NCAA’s Boston University Terriers for the remainder of the 2025-26 hockey season, according to multiple reports.

Lawrence had 10 goals and 17 points in 13 games with the Lumberjacks after missing the first quarter of the campaign with an injury. He had 25 goals and 54 points in 56 games the previous year, when he won the league title and playoff MVP honors.

The 17-year-old is considered the unanimous top center for 2026. Lawrence was the fourth-rated prospect in Daily Faceoff’s most recent draft rankings. He plays a strong, rugged game and has proven on numerous occasions that he can dominate games all on his own. A native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Lawrence has spent the past few years playing in the United States.

Prior to joining the Lumberjacks, Lawrence spent two years with the Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school program. He was drafted 10th overall by the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens, but elected to play in the USHL instead. Lawrence committed to Boston University back on July 31, 2024, but wasn’t expected to join the team until this coming fall.

The Terriers boast a 9-8-1 record this season, with Washington Capitals prospect Cole Hutson leading the way with 20 points. Other notable prospects include New York Islanders’ Cole Eiserman, Minnesota’s Ryder Ritchie, Chicago’s Sacha Boisvert and Winnipeg’s Sascha Boumedienne.

The Terriers return to action on Jan. 9 when they begin a two-game series with UMass. They’ll then play Harvard University on Jan. 12, followed by two games against UMass Lowell the following weekend.

The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27, 2026, with the location still to be announced.