Class of 2022- Top Uncommitted Defenseman
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Yesterday on Prep Hockey we released an article about the top uncommitted Forwards. Today we take a look at the top uncommitted Defenseman based on our class of 2022 rankings. There are 3 currently committed senior defensemen. #3 overall Daimon…
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Continue ReadingYesterday on Prep Hockey we released an article about the top uncommitted Forwards. Today we take a look at the top uncommitted Defenseman based on our class of 2022 rankings. There are 3 currently committed senior defensemen. #3 overall Daimon Gardner Daimon Gardner 6'2" | Forward Warroad | 2022 State MN is currently committed to Clarkson. The #4 overall player in our rankings is Thor Byfuglien Thor Byfuglien 5'9" | Defense Roseau | 2022 State MN and he is committed to St. Cloud State. And the last current Defenseman committed to a college is Benilde St. Margarets and our #8 overall Tristan Sarsland Tristan Sarsland 6'0" | Defense Benilde St. Margarets | 2022 State MN . In this article, we highlight the top five uncommitted defensemen in the senior class.
#1 Leo Gruba | 6’2 Defenseman | Hill Murray | #12 Overall ’22
Leo Gruba is the top uncommitted Defenseman for one main reason right now. Before this season in October, the NHL Central Scouting put him on the watch list for this current season. Gruba ended up receiving a C grade from the NHLCS, meaning he could get drafted in the mid-rounds with a good season. He is eligible to be drafted this summer. Gruba is having a pretty solid year so far, with 13 points in 12 games. Leo is likely going to beat the number of points that he had in the junior year by a good margin, as he had 15 points in 20 games played. Gruba is a great two-way defenseman that has some solid size. If Gruba is on the NHL Draft scouting watch list he is for sure a future D1 player.
#2 Finn Loftus Finn Loftus 6'0" | Defense Blaine | 2022 State MN | 6’0 Defenseman | Blaine | #16 Overall ’22
Finn Loftus Finn Loftus 6'0" | Defense Blaine | 2022 State MN , like Gruba, also received a C grade from the NHL Central Scouts. Finn is one of the best playmakers in the state. In his sophomore season, he finished with 25 assists in 25 games- 1 assist per game. In his junior season, he played in 15 games and had 13 assists, then currently in his senior season he has 15 assists in 12 games. His sophomore year he only had one goal, so a big gripe against him is that he is only a playmaker. He is currently proving us wrong as he has 7 goals so far this year in 12 games. Loftus is currently having a breakout year and showing how dynamic of a scorer he is from the point. Finn will get his shot at the next level.
#3 Weston Knox Weston Knox 5'9" | Defense Andover | 2022 State MN | 5’9 Defenseman | Andover | #18 Overall ’22
Knox is the next MN player on the NHLCS watch list for this season. Knox had a huge breakout season last year for the Huskies of Andover. Totalling 27 total points in 22 games, with 23 assists. Knox is also one of the state’s elite playmakers from the blue line. This current season Weston Knox Weston Knox 5'9" | Defense Andover | 2022 State MN has 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points. Knox likely will have to go to juniors and has a lower chance to get drafted to the NHL than Loftus and Gruba. Knox is also a very good football player- and that translates to hockey. He is very physical, has great awareness, and is also very fast.
#4 Miken Miller Miken Miller 5'11" | Defense Rogers | 2022 State MN | 5’11 Defenseman | Rogers | #24 Overall ’22
Miller had a very impressive junior season that lead to his rise in the ranks, where he had almost 2 points per game as a defenseman. Last year for his junior year he had 9 goals 28 assists for 37 total points in just 20 games. Miller is off to a slower start, as he only has 6 points in 7 games. He is on the watch list of many college coaches, and with a good end of the season. Miller is a big help on offensive and defense for Rogers and had a great high school career.
#5 Carson Reed Carson Reed 6'1" | Defense Warroad | 2022 State MN | 6’2 Defenseman | Warroad | #27 Overall ’22
Carson Reed Carson Reed 6'1" | Defense Warroad | 2022 State MN is one of the top players on the very talented Warroad team. Reed currently has 67 total career points with a month left of the season. Reed is having a pretty good season this year, but he is on pace to have less points per game than last year. Reed is a really good defensive defenseman, that can also rack up some points. Reed has likely done enough to go juniors after highschool. Could finish with over 80 points as a defenseman in his career. Very solid.