A total of 22 Minnesota natives have been named to this fall's NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list, including six players who are believed to be returning to their respective high schools for the 2024-2025 season. 

At the top, a pair of Minnesota natives already in the NCAA ranks have been bestowed a preliminary 'A' rating by NHLCS, indicating a potential first-round draft pick. 6-foot-2, 197-pound Woodbury native Logan Hensley currently has one assist in four games for Wisconsin, while cerebral forward Cullen Potter (son of women's hockey legend Jenny Potter) has two goals and four points in six games for the Sun Devils. 

Former White Bear Lake standout and current National Team Development Program forward Conrad Fondrk was named a 'B' preliminary prospect by NHLCS, as were Eden Prairie native Mason Moe and former Spring Lake Park defenseman Jacob Rombach. Both Moe and Rombach are in the USHL this season, with Moe playing for Madison and Rombach skating for Lincoln. 'B' prospects are pegged as potential second or third-round picks. 

Shakopee High School's Cooper Simpson is the lone prospect slated to return for the Minnesota high school season that received a 'C' rating, indicating a fourth or fifth-round candidate. The North Dakota commit has 90 goals and 156 points in three seasons of varsity hockey for the Sabres.

Five of the seven Minnesotans with the high school season on the horizon were listed as 'W' prospects, indicating a potential pick in rounds six or seven.  

Max Anderson 
2024-2025 Team: Cretin-Derham Hall 
College Commitment: Miami (OH)

Anderson helped the Raiders to a third-place finish at last year's Class AA State Tournament, scoring four goals en route to being named to the Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team as a sophomore. 

Through two varsity seasons and 59 games, Anderson has 31 goals and 54 points for the Raiders and totaled five goals and eight points in six games played at this summer's USA Hockey National Select 17 camp for the Northern Plains District.  

Nolen Geerdes 
2024-2025 Team: Rogers
College commitment: Western Michigan

Since recording an impressive 83 points in his final stretch of youth hockey during the 2021-2022 season, Geerdes has become an integral piece of a talented Rogers team.

After posting 23 points in his debut sophomore season, Geerdes exploded for seven goals and 43 points last year, moving him into fifth-place all-time among Rogers defenders, according to Elite Prospects.

With his current scoring totals of 10 goals and 66 points, Geerdes needs 31 more points to surpass New Jersey Devils draft pick and current St. Thomas defenseman Chase Cheslock for the program's all-time lead. 

Henry Lechner
2024-2025 Team: Academy of Holy Angels 
College commitment: St. Thomas

A productive member of the Stars lineup since his freshman season, Lechenr has done virtually nothing but produce since arriving in Richfield from nearby Bloomington. 

In 77 career high school games, Lechner has totaled 77 goals and 191 points. If Lechner posts a third consecutive season with 70 or more points, he'll move into rarefied air with over 250 career points. 

Lechner finished the USA Hockey National Select 17 camp this offseason with four goals and seven points for the Minnesota District. His seven points ranked second behind 2024 Colorado Avalanche draft pick Will Zellers.  

Henry Peterson 
2024-2025 Team: Hermantown 
College commitment: St. Thomas

Peterson is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-shot defenseman who can move well both laterally and vertically. He posted 11 goals and 24 points last year for the Class A State Tournament runner-up Hawks and was named to the all-tournament team. Cedar Rapids owns Peterson's USHL rights. 

Brent Solomon 
2024-2025 Team: Champlin Park 
College commitment: Wisconsin

After a three-goal, six-point sophomore season, Solomon exploded for 34 goals and 48 points during the 2023-2024 campaign, helping the Rebels to a 16-10-1 record and an appearance in the Section 5AA semifinals. Solomon verbally committed to Wisconsin this fall and was selected in the 10th round of the USHL Phase II Draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede over the summer.  

Mason West 
2024-2025 Team: Edina 
College commitment: Uncommitted 

Before taking the ice as a supremely talented forward for the defending Class AA State Tournament champion Hornets, West is first building his case as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the midwest.

Through eight games on the gridiron, West has thrown for nearly 1,900 yards with 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions for the 6-2 Hornets. The multi-sport star (who also plays baseball) is currently uncommitted, but not for a lack of suitors. With his ability in hockey and football, he will have his pick of colleges. 

Last season, West used his 6-foot-5 frame to muscle his way to 15 goals and 38 points as a sophomore, building on an impressive freshman campaign that included nine goals and 27 points. Since West joined the lineup, the hockey Hornets have gone 48-11-2 and have advanced to back-to-back state championship games.