Michigan's Loaded Freshman Class Headlines a Stacked 2026-27 College Hockey Season
The portal window has closed and the star-studded rookie wave is rolling onto campus. Here is who is turning heads before puck drop this fall.
Key takeaways
- Michigan's incoming freshman class rates No. 1 nationally, headlined by presumptive 2027 top NHL pick Landon DuPont.
- North Dakota and Boston University are reloading with a mix of drafted and undrafted freshmen expected to contribute right away.
- Denver's smaller nine-player class carries the highest average recruit rating in the country, proof that quality can outweigh raw volume.
- Notre Dame leans on family ties for its rebuild as Sammy Nelson joins brothers Danny and Henry for a pivotal season.
Class rankings via Neutral Zone's recruiting evaluations, which stay fluid until rosters finalize closer to September 1.
Michigan Lands the Draft's Next Big Thing
College hockey's offseason quiet period just got a lot louder in Ann Arbor. Michigan locked up right-shot defenseman Landon DuPont, a recruit described by scouts as the most-coveted prospect in the entire class and the presumptive first overall selection for the 2027 NHL Draft. DuPont follows a path familiar to fans who watched Gavin McKenna go first overall out of college hockey, though his bigger frame and more well-rounded two-way game have scouts predicting a smoother early-season adjustment than McKenna's did.
DuPont is not walking into an empty cupboard either. Neutral Zone's class rankings put Michigan at No. 1 in the country with 15 total commits, a 63.25 aggregate star rating and a 4.22 average rating per recruit, good for 1,338.75 total points, tops in the nation. The Wolverines also added forward Ryerson Edgar, a top prospect from the 2009 birth year, and forward J.P. Hurlbert to round out a group built to win now and keep winning.
North Dakota Reloads a Nasty Blue Line
Grand Forks is building a defense corps that should make opposing forwards think twice. Ethan MacKenzie, drafted 69th overall by Toronto in 2026 after going undrafted in two previous years, joins a North Dakota blue line that already features fellow freshman commit Carson Carels and returning veteran Keaton Verhoeff. That is three legitimate difference-makers on the back end before the puck even drops on October hockey.
The Fighting Hawks are not only stacking star power either. Draft-eligible winger Eli McKamey arrives after a modest junior season of 17 points in 48 games, but coaches expect him to slot into a bottom-six role immediately, the kind of depth piece that turns a good freshman class into a complete one.
Boston University Stacks the Forward Corps
The Terriers are betting on volume up front. BU's class ranks No. 2 nationally with 12 commits and a 4.23 average star rating, the highest of any team in the top five, and it is headlined on the wing by Braidy Wassilyn, who put up 41 points in 56 games for the OHL's London Knights despite going undrafted. He arrives alongside center Caleb Malhotra, the headline name in a five-freshman forward haul that gives Boston immediate scoring depth to plug straight into the lineup.
That kind of forward flood matters in a league where freshmen are asked to produce from night one. BU is not just hoping its rookies develop over a few seasons, it is counting on several of them to be everyday contributors as soon as the schedule opens.
The Rest of the Country Is Loading Up Too
This is not just a two-team story. Denver added defenseman Ryan Lin and forward Adam Benak to its future lineup, Ohio State signed forward William Tomko and defenseman Jakub Fibigr, UMass brought in QMJHL scorer Maxim Masse out of Chicoutimi, and Michigan State bolstered its forward group with left wing Ethan Belchetz, a projected first-round talent.
Quinnipiac's 17-man class leads the entire country in sheer commit volume, while Denver's group of just nine recruits carries the highest average rating nationally at 4.31. Neutral Zone notes these rankings stay fluid until rosters lock in closer to September 1, but the early picture is clear: this incoming class is deep from the top programs all the way down.
Notre Dame's Rebuild Gets a Family Boost
Not every storyline is about a projected first overall pick. Notre Dame is coming off a nine-win season and leaning on center Sammy Nelson, a draft-eligible freshman joining his older brothers Danny and Henry on the same roster, to help steady a program mid-rebuild. Sometimes the best recruiting pitch is simply family.
Between a generational defenseman in Ann Arbor, a stacked forward corps in Boston, a reloaded blue line in Grand Forks and rebuild stories like Notre Dame's, this incoming freshman wave has something for every college hockey fan to track all season long. And if you would rather watch the drama play out live than just read about it, Ice Vegas Invitational keeps bringing college hockey to the Strip. Get your tickets and catch a game while these future NHL names are still wearing college sweaters.
8 Freshmen to Circle on Your 2026-27 Scorecard
From presumptive top NHL picks to family reunions, here are the rookies worth watching once the puck drops this fall.
- Landon DuPont (D, Michigan): The presumptive No. 1 pick for the 2027 NHL Draft and college hockey's most-coveted recruit.
- Ethan MacKenzie (D, North Dakota): Drafted 69th overall by Toronto in 2026 after going undrafted twice before.
- Carson Carels (D, North Dakota): High-end blueliner joining a suddenly stacked Fighting Hawks defense corps.
- Braidy Wassilyn (LW, Boston University): Put up 41 points in 56 games for the London Knights despite going undrafted.
- Caleb Malhotra (C, Boston University): Headline forward in BU's five-freshman haul up front.
- Ethan Belchetz (LW, Michigan State): Projected first-round talent joining the Spartans' forward group.
- Sammy Nelson (C, Notre Dame): Reunites with brothers Danny and Henry on a roster coming off nine wins.
- Eli McKamey (RW, North Dakota): Draft-eligible winger ticketed for an immediate bottom-six role.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026-27 college hockey season actually get going?
Recruiting classes and rosters stay fluid through the summer and won't fully lock in until closer to September 1, with most programs opening exhibition and regular-season play in October.
Who is the biggest name walking into a college locker room this fall?
Michigan's Landon DuPont, the right-shot defenseman tabbed as the presumptive No. 1 pick for the 2027 NHL Draft, headlines the country's top-ranked freshman class.
Which program has the deepest freshman class?
By sheer commit count, Quinnipiac's 17-man haul leads the nation, though Michigan's class rates highest for overall quality with a 4.22 average rating per recruit.
Will any of these future NHL names show up in Vegas?
College hockey has already found a home on the Strip, and with a rookie class this loaded hitting campuses nationwide, there is plenty of reason to expect more marquee names in the desert. Grab tickets to the next Ice Vegas Invitational and catch tomorrow's NHL talent tonight.
Sources
- The Most Intriguing Freshmen Heading Into the 2026-27 NCAA Season — The Hockey News
- Recruiting News, Lists and More — College Hockey News
- NCAA Recruiting Class Rankings — Neutral Zone