Top prospect for 2023 NHL Draft led nation in scoring for University of Michigan

NHL.com @NHLdotcom

April 7, 2023

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Adam Fantilli, a top prospect for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday.

The 18-year-old University of Michigan freshman was voted the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey this season ahead of two other finalists: University of Minnesota forward Logan Cooley, an Arizona Coyotes prospect, and Matthew Knies, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.

Fantilli, who is No. 2 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, leads NCAA players with 65 points and is tied for first with 30 goals in 36 games.

"I'm extremely honored and grateful to have my name called," Fantilli said. "These guys are both phenomenal hockey players, so it could've gone to any of us. It was an honor to be nominated, and I'm honored."

Fantilli is the third Michigan player to win the award since it was first presented in 1981, joining forwards Brendan Morrison (1997) and Kevin Porter (2008).

He also was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and also made Big Ten First-Team All-Conference and the conference's All-Freshman Team.

"I would say No. 1, it's just his compete level," Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said of Fantilli on the "NHL Draft Class" podcast.

"He's such a competitive kid on and off the ice, wants to win every race and battle in the game, every small-area game in practice. And he has such a high-end motor. … He's always going 100 mph all the time."

Cooley, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is second among NCAA players with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 38 games. He also was named Big Ten First-Team All-Conference and to the conference's All-Freshman Team.

Knies, a second-round pick (No. 57) by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Draft, is third for Minnesota with 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) in 39 games as a sophomore this season, and his seven game-winning goals are tied for the NCAA lead. The 20-year-old forward was named Big Ten Player of the Year and made Big Ten First-Team All-Conference.

They will lead Minnesota into the NCAA Tournament championship game against Quinnipiac University at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+).

Minnesota State goalie Dryden McKay won the Hobey Baker last season.

NHL.com independent correspondent Corey Long contributed to this report

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