NCAA Stock Watch: New Jersey Devils prospect Mikhail Yegorov dazzling at Boston University
NCAA hockey is a factory, working at overdrive, creating compelling rivalries, high-stake moments, and providing a springboard for NHL prospects looking to further their career in the professional game.
One of the more interesting dynamics revolves around players at different points in their academic and athletic careers; Seniors looking to make a final mark or earn a contract, drafted prospects growing their game, and even true freshman, set on the upcoming NHL draft.
Interesting stories, such as a goaltender parachuting in to save the day, an undrafted forward garnering NHL interest, and draft-eligible defenders taking considerable steps, littered February, only making the hockey more captivating.
Stock Rising 📈
Mikhail Yegorov, G, Boston University (New Jersey Devils / 2024)
At the end of February, Mikhail Yegorov, a second-round pick in 2024 by the New Jersey Devils, was parachuted into NCAA hockey to help bolster goaltending depth for Boston University. Leaving a struggling Omaha Lancers team, Yegorov was on a miraculous run in his last four USHL games. Despite losing each contest, he stopped 163 of 174 (0.937) shots, including a game where he faced a monstrous 69 shots on goal.
Rolling into college hockey, the trend just continued. Across ten games, mainly in February, Yegorov boasts a sparkling 1.97 goals-against average and a 0.930 save percentage. Even more impressive, the 6-foot-5 Russian started in the Beanpot final, descending on Massachusetts like an Avenger walking out of a portal, taking on the juggernaut Boston College, winning the game, capturing the championship, and allowing just one goal on 44 shots.
Yegorov’s tracking and size blend stand out the most. He looks massive in net, quickly setting and filling up space. He’s clutch in key moments, stonewalling momentum-sapping attacks and withstanding relentless pressure at the crease. Rebound control and chaotic movement have been the weak points of his game across his NCAA performances. Pucks redirecting into the slot have given him the most trouble. Still, this is a goaltender stopping shots in volume at just 18 years old—the future is bright for the St. Petersburg product.
Aryton Martino, LW, Clarkson University (Dallas Stars / 2021)
Always such an intelligent prospect, it’s a bit shocking that Ayrton Martino is already on the verge of finishing his senior year of NCAA hockey. The driver of Clarkson University’s offence, the Toronto product and Dallas Stars third-round pick is going out with a bang.
Seventh in the nation for points per game and tied for second in goals, Martino has simply been ridiculous this season. His current run, in a word, absurd. Over his last five games, Martino has racked up six goals and 14 points. Over the month, he has helped Clarkson win seven games, scoring 20 across his last ten contests.
Martino processes like a supercomputer, proactively moving into soft areas of the ice while operating with a constant mental map of his opponents and teammates. He’s crafty in space, a stronger, more physical player, and while his skating still represents a weakness, he’s added considerable power to his game. A true dual-threat scorer, his catch-and-release shot is deadly, and he’s always capable of connecting with a teammate thanks to his high-end passing skill. His vision is a difference-maker, creating a monster to deal with at the NCAA level.
Primed for professional hockey, Martino will have to continue adding mobility and strength to his game, even with the improvements seen in past seasons. Nevertheless, he will need a contract first—still property of the Stars until the summer, and if he goes that route, he should be able to make an impact with their AHL team, which has been graduating players to the NHL level with ease in recent years. He has middle-six upside.
Logan Hensler, D, University of Wisconsin (2025 NHL Draft)
Logan Hensler is a lesson in how some prospects, especially 18-year-olds, just need time to adjust to the rigours of the NCAA game. At the start of the season, his performances were not pretty. He struggled handling the forecheck, his retrieval work often led to compounding errors, and physically, he looked out of his depth. Hensler seemed uncomfortable and behind the pace of play. Still, the flashes were always present, especially while carrying the puck off the rush.
Fast forward to the present day, and things have changed. In a February 15 game report, I was shocked by his development:
“I am blown away by how much Hensler has improved over this season. This is a more confident player who has adjusted to the pace of the NCAA game—to the point where he is leveraging his tools at a high level to put forth effective shift after shift.”
Not only was he flashing space-creating physical habits on the retrieval, but he was also executing successful passes under pressure in tight spaces. His disruption, reads, and ability to box out secondary threats in the crease have all taken considerable steps forward.
Frankly, the 6-foot-2 defender looked markedly more confident in every facet of the game. With that, Hensler’s mobility—clearly an above-NHL-average skill—shone consistently across viewings. His dynamic four-way movement, effortless speed generation, proactive crossovers on pass receptions, and deft edge work stood out on tape. He’s daring, working weight shifts, large-ice handles, and blended lateral cuts off the blue line, rotating defenders to open shooting lanes and attacking downhill.
The Minnesota product landed 25th in our February rankings, which equates to a B-grade prospect in this draft. At this point, he has surpassed that. When you consider his size, physical runway, and right-shot handedness, bundled with his mobility advantages, this prospect should be ranked higher. You simply cannot overlook clear top-four projections like this.
Check out the rest of Hensler’s game reports here.
Brett Chorske, C/W, Colgate University (Free Agent)
Standing at 6-foot-7, Brett Chorske is hard to miss when watching Colgate University games. Splitting his NCAA hockey career between Colorado College and the aforementioned Colgate University, the senior centre has broken out, leading his school in scoring with 33 points across 34 games, racking up nine in his last ten.
Beyond his hulking size, his skill also creates intrigue. A rangy attacker who exploits defender triangles with deft handles, Chorske leans into power moves, connects plays, and leverages his entire frame into his shooting. Chorske sits at an interesting developmental crossroads. While he doesn’t possess the pace to operate at the NHL level full-time and doesn’t fully leverage his frame to all the advantages it could bring, he has an archetype that can be moulded into an NHL asset.
Developing a more robust space-creation game and leaning on his already proficient net-front play, Chorske has the opportunity to carve out a role around the net, using his reach to find redirects and dislodge rebounds and pucks on the end boards—while being able to fall back on the advantage-creating tools he flashes at the NCAA level.
The Minnesotan is a nearly 24-year-old project—while development never stops, there’s less time to stack more ability onto his game. Nevertheless, it may be worthwhile for an NHL organisation looking to develop a unique asset for its system—one that may eventually operate on a fourth line.
Keep an eye out for the 2025 Elite Prospects NCAA Free Agent Guide later this month, which will feature Chorske with a more in-depth breakdown of his game.
Stock Steady ↔️
Sascha Boumedienne, C, Boston University (2025 NHL Draft)
Sascha Boumedienne has been an enigma this season. After an uneventful Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, the Swedish product has hovered between the 30-to-50 spots across our rankings this season.
We have always seen a prospect who was a stabilising factor for his pairing, but like Hensler, there was an adjustment period to his game at the start of the season. Overall, his play was quite bland—he lacked mobility, his reads were inconsistent, and his breakouts were not pretty.
At present, Boumedienne looks faster and more confident, stringing together stingy defensive performances. In particular, he was a rock during Boston University's Beanpot win, playing heavy minutes against the loaded Boston College attack. Closing space immediately, stepping up, combating outside speed, and staying in front of attacking players make up the core of his game. In a February 22nd game report, I commented on his defensive play:
“Primarily, he was quick to close, occupied the edge of the dotted lines, closed off entries into the middle of the ice, and worked non-stop stick work in the form of chops, pokes, and lifts. In the second, he had a skating sequence where Boumedienne pivoted to combat an outside rush, took the angle, and kept the play on the perimeter—way better movement and play reading.”
A constant scanner and disruptor in the crease, Boumedienne’s size is more of an advantage creator, especially at the net-front. He’s very susceptible to opponent cutbacks, but he works hard to get back in position, limiting compounding errors. Even offensively, he’s far more involved, detaching from the point to activate on the weak side and pushing aggressive pinch plays to keep cycles alive. His transition game is a work in progress—simple in general, but he’s getting in motion more consistently and has found opportunities to blend more complex passes north-to-south.
Boumedienne will likely remain in the aforementioned range on our next board, but his outlook is far more positive than it was earlier in the season. His projection hinges on further improvements to his skating, becoming a fluid mover to combat faster NHL attackers. If that happens, the foundation is here to develop into a middle-pairing insulator.
Check out the rest of Boumedienne’s game reports here.