How the 2024 NHL Draft Is performing in the NCAA This Season

The 2024 NHL draft feels like it was yesterday, but some of the players selected that weekend are now seniors in the NCAA, while some are just getting their start in the college game. Let’s break down the top performers in this class this season and who’s ahead of the pack.

Michigan’s Michael Hage leads this class in points with 14 in seven games; only 2023 draft pick and teammate Jayden Perron is ahead of him. Hage put up a Hobey Baker-level season last year and is looking to chase the trophy along with the national title before he turns pro with the Montreal Canadiens organization. 

A name that has been interesting so far in this class is Boston College forward Dean Letourneau, who was taken by the Boston Bruins in 2024 and has had ups and downs in his college career. He was jump-started to BC after Will Smith went pro, where he struggled to get ice time and finished with just three points in the year. He came back to be an above-average point-per-game player last year, and so far this season with the Eagles, he has three goals and six points in five games. 

Western Michigan’s Joona Vaisanen was drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the Finnish defenseman leads the class so far this season with seven points in five games. He’s currently sixth in points in the country and has contributed a lot to what the Broncos have done well this year. 

This class also has an interesting goalie with Boston University’s Mikhail Yegorov, who became best known for the website he created tracking his advanced stats, showing what stats are truly important to netminders. The New Jersey Devils prospect has had a great start to his junior year, posting a save percentage of .924, a goals-against average of 1.98, and currently stands at a 4-2 record.

This class has shown promise and continues to show it throughout this season. Some of the players listed here may just be the next stars in the NHL, but for each of them, the next task at hand is a national championship.