Winning the Hobey Baker Award is the highest individual honor for any NCAA men’s hockey player. 

The winners of the award range from Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini to Johnny Gaudreau and Paul Kariya. The Hobey Baker Award annually recognizes the top NCAA Div. I men’s ice hockey player in the country. Hockey skills and stats aren’t the only criteria, because the Hobey is awarded to the player who most embodies a variety of qualities, including sportsmanship and character.

This year, we have three highly deserving players, all of whom are top prospects for the NHL teams that drafted them. They were among the most productive players in college hockey this year, leading their teams to NCAA tournament berths. Although only one of them made it to the Frozen Four, the trio of Hobey Hat Trick finalists are true examples of what high-end college players look like. 

Forwards Ryan Leonard (Boston College) and Isaac Howard (Michigan State) and defenseman Zeev Buium (Univ. of Denver) each have a fantastic case for winning the award. Only one can take the award home on April 11, during the Frozen Four weekend in St. Louis. 

Let’s examine each finalist and why they should win the award. 

Isaac Howard, LW, Michigan State

Drafted 31st overall in 2022 by Tampa Bay

Although he finished fifth in scoring nationally, Howard led the nation in points per game after putting up 52 points in 37 games. Howard’s 26 goals were good for third in all of college hockey as well. 

Statistically, Howard was as good as anyone across the NCAA. What really pushed him over the top and into the trio of finalists was his diverse offensive skill, combining his goal-scoring with excellent playmaking ability. He was the only player with more than 25 goals who also eclipsed 20 assists. 

The Michigan State Spartans had a very good year, and they needed someone up front to star offensively because they didn’t have many true difference-makers. While most top-end teams have a few dominant stars, the Spartans only had one other player eclipse 30 points on the season: Karsen Dorwart with 31. Howard was the offense for Michigan State on most nights and is the true definition of MVP. 

Ryan Leonard, RW, Boston College

Drafted eighth overall in 2023 by Washington

Although Leonard is now playing in NHL games with the Washington Capitals, he has one last thing he hopes to accomplish at the college level – winning the Hobey Baker. 

Leonard was the only player to hit 30 goals and was a bull in a china shop against NCAA competition. He persisted on attacking downhill, using his power and skill to fire booming shots on net. 

Leonard was the best player on the best team in the country for most of the season. While the University of Denver eliminated them, Boston College went into the tournament as the No. 1 seed. 

Leonard took over a shift when BC needed it, and his ability to elevate those around him by drawing so much attention allowed Gabe Perreault and James Hagens to play their best. 

Aside from leading the nation in goals, Leonard’s statistical case isn’t quite at the level of everyone else as he had just 19 assists, but when you watch him play, you realize just how physically dominant he was for BC. 

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Zeev Buium, D, Univ. of Denver

Drafted 12th overall in 2024 by Minnesota

Coming into the season, it was going to be hard for Buium to top his freshman year, as he led all defenders in scoring and won a national championship. 

Well, in his sophomore season, Buium has once again led the nation’s defensemen in scoring, and he is in the Frozen Four once again. The biggest difference from last year to this year is that Buium’s game has taken a step in about every way. 

Buium’s offensive game has always been impressive. He brings such a translatable puck-moving game that blends his mobility and vision to find teammates in space and give them a chance to score. 

His biggest area of growth this season was in the defensive end. He’s always been an excellent tracker, and he’s engaged with his stick, but his ability to shut down play this year and flip the ice has been incredible. 

Buium has been the most dominant two-way player in the NCAA this season, and that deserves Hobey Baker love.

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