Several NCAA-Bound Skaters Selected in 2022 NHL First Round

The European-dominated first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal on Thursday night didn't feature very many NCAA-bound players. 

The ones who were selected were a half-dozen forwards who all came from the U.S. National Team Development program in Michigan, long a feeder to both the NCAA and the NHL. All six of those skaters are committed to NCAA Division I schools for the upcoming 2022-23 season. 

Logan Cooley was taken third overall by the Arizona Coyotes, after tallying 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points for the USNTDP during the 2021-22 season. He's headed to the University of Minnesota as a freshman this fall.

Cutter Gauthier (34-31⁠—65 pts.) went fifth overall to the Philadelphia Flyers and is committed to Boston College, while Frank Nazar (28-42⁠—70 pts.) was taken 13th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks and will skate for the University of Michigan.

Also committed to Michigan starting next season is Rutger McGroarty (35-34⁠—69 pts.), who was selected one slot after Nazar, and went to the Winnipeg Jets. Jimmy Snuggerud (24-39⁠—63 pts.) was tabbed 23rd overall by the St. Louis Blues and is off to Minnesota, while Minnesota-Duluth commit Isaac Howard (33-49⁠—82 pts.) was chosen 31st overall by the three-time Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Also selected on Friday at 25th overall by Chicago was defenseman Sam Rinzel, who played last season with Waterloo (USHL) and Chaska (Minn.) High School. He is committed to Minnesota, but not until the 2023-24 season, according to eliteprospects.com.

Rounds Two through Seven of this year's draft will be televised today, beginning at 11 a.m. ET (NHL Network).

ADDENDUM: The full slate of all 225 selections from this year's entry draft can be found here.