Hensler, Potter still highest-rated Minnesotans 

Defenseman Logan Hensler and center Cullen Potter remain the only players from Minnesota in North America’s top 25, with Hensler coming in at No. 12 and Potter remaining at No. 22. Hensler, a Woodbury native, finished his first season with the University of Wisconsin with two goals and 12 points in 32 games played.

According to Elite Prospects, Potter’s place of birth is now listed as Hortonville, Wisconsin, while his Arizona State player page has Minneapolis listed as his hometown. Potter is one of the top pure skaters in the draft, and totaled 13 goals and 22 points for Arizona State this season. 

High schoolers see biggest jump in numbers 

Obviously, the NHL Central Scouting rankings are not an exact science, no matter how much the general public and hot-seat General Managers want them to be. These rankings are not the same as the lists individual clubs have put together, and they differ from the various rankings of media members and outlets. 

Still, it’s notable that three Minnesotans have seen their stock rise, at least in the eyes of the NHL Central Scouting department. 

The biggest beneficiary of this change is Champlin Park’s Brent Solomon. Solomon was asked No. 161 at the midterm, which would have corresponded with the first overall pick of the sixth round by the final rankings’ metrics. After finishing the high school seasons with 38 goals and 56 points and being named the first Mr. Hockey finalist in program history, the Wisconsin commit finds himself ranked No. 114. That slot corresponds with a mid-fourth-round pick. 

Edina’s Mason West moved from an NHCLS-metric second-rounder into a possible first-round selection, likely helped by his performance during the Class AA State Tournament in March. The 6-foot-6, 207-pound West concluded the season with 27 goals and 49 points for the Hornets. West has one season of high school eligibility remaining, but may opt to stay in Fargo with the USHL’s Force next season. In 10 games with the Force since the end of the high school season, West has eight assists and nine points in 11 games. 

Perhaps the highest riser in this group could be Blake Vanek, son of former NHL All-Star Thomas Vanek. Vanek was unranked at the midterm and rose to No. 146 as of yesterday, indicating a possible fifth-round pick. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Vanek has the size to compete at the highest level, and he netted 22 goals this season for the state runner-up Ponies. Based on his genetics, size, and steady improvement during his prep career, Vanek could be in line as a home run selection for an NHL franchise. 

By the numbers 

Positionally, centers made up the majority of Minnesotans in the NHLCS final rankings, with eight players listed as primary centers. Six players are listed as wingers, five as defensemen, and one goaltender. Like the midterm rankings, former Chanhassen standout Kam Hendrickson is the lone goalie representing Minnesota. At the midterm break, Hendrickson was ranked No. 28 by NHLCS and finished as No. 21 among North American netminders. 

In terms of which league the players are coming from, the USHL leads as the primary league for the ranked Minnesotans, placing 10 players in the NHLCS final rankings. Six players played for their respective high schools before finishing the USHL season, two played college hockey this season, and one (St. Louis Park native Poul Andersen) skated in the BCHL.

The University of Minnesota leads with four Minnesotans ranked by NHLCS as verbal commits, including Jacob Rombach, Mason Moe, Maceo Phillips, and Jacob Kvasnicka. The University of the North Dakota is second with three verbal commits ranked in Sam Laurila, Cooper Simpson, and Ashton Schultz. Bobby Cowan and Nolen Geerdes have verbally pledged to 2025 national champion Western Michigan.