The National Collegiate Hockey Conference brings back an impressive group of forwards, including three players who earned All-American honors a year ago in UND's Jordan Kawaguchi and Minnesota Duluth's Cole Koepke and Noah Cates.
Here's a list of the Herald's preseason top 20 forwards in the NCHC.
1. Jordan Kawaguchi, North Dakota
The senior from Abbotsford, B.C., was a Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist last season and is the top-returning scorer in the nation. Kawaguchi is one of three Hobey Baker Award finalists to return to college hockey this season, joining Boston University defenseman David Farrance and MSU-Mankato goalie Dryden McKay.
2. Cole Koepke, Minnesota Duluth (TBL, 6th, 183rd)
ADVERTISEMENT
The Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick was a second-team All-American last season. Koepke tallied 16 goals and 33 points last season.
3. Noah Cates, Minnesota Duluth (PHI, 5th, 137th)
The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick was a second-team All-American last season. Cates matched Koepke's output with 33 points.
4. Shane Pinto, North Dakota (OTT, 2nd, 32nd)
The 2020 NCHC rookie of the year is poised for a big sophomore season after leading No. 1 UND in goals last season with 16.
5. Bobby Brink, Denver (PHI, 2nd, 34th)
The 2020 NCHC rookie of the year runner-up will play with a loaded DU roster. Brink had 24 points in 28 games last season.
6. Collin Adams, North Dakota (NYI, 6th, 170th)
ADVERTISEMENT
Small but dynamic, Adams had a breakout junior season with 12 goals and 28 points. He centered UND's top line, which could be reunited this season.
7. Steven Jandric, Denver
Jandric led Alaska (Fairbanks) in both goals and points each of the last two seasons. The graduate transfer will step into a big role at Denver.
8. Brett Stapley, Denver (MTL, 7th, 190th)
Stapley is a skilled set-up man who had five times as many assists (25) as goals (5) last year.
9. Easton Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
An elite goal-scorer, Brodzinski has tallied three-straight double-digit goal seasons.
10. Nick Swaney, Minnesota Duluth (MIN, 7th, 209th)
ADVERTISEMENT
The senior has taken just two minor penalties in his last 75 games dating back to his freshman year.
11. Casey Gilling, Miami
Gilling had a big junior year (31 points) but lost both of his linemates from last season.
12. Cole Guttman, Denver (TBL, 6th, 180th)
The Tampa Bay Lightning pick scored 14 goals in each of his first two seasons.
13. Grant Cruikshank, Colorado College
The Tiger captain is an explosive skater, just like his mother, Bonnie Blair.
14. Paul Washe, Western Michigan
ADVERTISEMENT
Not only did Washe develop into a scoring threat, he’s one of the NCHC’s best faceoff men.
15. Tyler Weiss, Omaha (COL, 4th, 109th)
All the signs are there that Weiss is about to have a breakout season for Omaha.
16. Taylor Ward, Omaha
The son of former UND great Dixon Ward led Omaha in scoring last season.
17. Kobe Roth, Minnesota Duluth
The former Warroad High forward scored five of his 13 goals on the power play a year ago and had eight points with the extra-man advantage.
18. Grant Mismash, North Dakota (NSH, 2nd, 61st)
ADVERTISEMENT
Mismash has a lot of intriguing elements -- size, shooting ability, physicality, speed.
19. Sam Hentges, St. Cloud State (MIN, 7th, 210th)
Hentges fed on nonconference opponents last season, but had just one goal in NCHC play.
20. Jasper Weatherby, North Dakota (SJS, 4th, 102nd)
The former BCHL scoring champ’s game took off last season as he hit double digits in goals.
