The exodus of NCAA hockey underclassmen to the NHL continues.
Luke Hughes (Michigan) signed an entry-level contact with the New Jersey Devils last week after Michigan was eliminated by Quinnipiac in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday. The 19-year-old defenseman from Canton, Mich. leaves Michigan having tallied 27 goals and 60 assists for 87 points in 80 career games over the last two years. A first-team All-America choice this season as a sophomore, he led the Wolverines to two Big Ten Tournament titles and two Frozen Four appearances, and was drafted fourth overall by New Jersey in 2021.
Brock Faber (Minnesota) left college hockey after three seasons by signing with the Minnesota Wild shortly after the Golden Gophers fell to Quinnipiac in overtime in the NCAA title game on Saturday. A 20-year-old defenseman from Maple Grove, Minn., who was drafted 45th overall in 2020, Faber notched 7-46—53 points in 97 career outings with the Golden Gophers. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons in helping Minnesota to two Frozen Fours, earned 2022-23 First Team All-America accolades, and also represented the United States at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.
Also signing recently was sophomore Matthew Knies (Minnesota), who inked an entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Drafted 57th overall in 2021, the 20-year-old forward from Phoenix, Az. collected 36-39—75 points in 73 career appeaances with the Golden Gophers, and along with linemate Logan Cooley was a top-three finalist this season for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player. Knies was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a First Team All-American this season, and was a 2022 U.S Olympian.
Hughes and Faber are both products of the U.S. National Team Development program in Plymouth, Mich., while Knies played junior hockey with Tri-City (USHL). All three skaters are expected to make their NHL debuts this week as the league's regular season concludes, with the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning next Monday.
ADDENDUM: Hughes made his pro debut in New Jersey's 6-2 win over visiting Buffalo on April 11. Two nights later, he tallied his first NHL goal/point, scoring the game-winner in overtime to lift the Devils to a 5-4 victory at Washington. Faber went scoreless in his first two games with the Wild, while Knies had one assist over his first three appearances with Toronto.
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