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The 2023 Hobey Baker Award won’t be handed out until April, but it’s not too early to look at some of the top candidates for the trophy given annually to the best men’s player in NCAA Division I hockey.
The winner will be announced during the 2023 Frozen Four in Tampa.
Minnesota State senior Dryden McKay won the award last season, becoming the third goalie to win in and the first since Ryan Miller of Michigan State in 2001. McKay led the Mavericks to the championship game at the Frozen Four in Boston, where they were defeated by the University of Denver.
But who will win it this season? Here are 10 players who figure to be in contention (in alphabetical order):
Logan Cooley, University of Minnesota
The freshman center was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the first round (No. 3) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The only freshman to win the Hobey Baker is Paul Kariya, who had 100 points for the University of Maine’s national championship team in 1993.
The 18-year-old is not going to hit triple digits, but he is off to a strong start, tied for the team lead in points with five (two goals, three assists) in four games.
He’s expected to be an important part of the United States team at the IIHF 2023 World Junior Championship.
Video: Cooley on Coyotes selecting him 3rd in 2022 NHL Draft
Brock Faber, University of Minnesota
The defenseman, one of the best in NCAA hockey, is Minnesota’s captain this year.
As a sophomore last season, Faber was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Big 10. He played for the United States in the Olympics in Beijing.
Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 45) of the 2020 NHL Draft, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild along with a first-round pick in exchange for forward Kevin Fiala on June 29, 2022.
The 20-year-old has three points (one goal, two assists) in three games this season.
Sean Farrell, Harvard University
The forward was not 100 percent healthy last season but had 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 24 games for Harvard, and led the United States in scoring at the Beijing Olympics with six points (three goals, three assists) in four games.
In good health heading into Harvard’s season, which begins Thursday, the sophomore is primed for a big year.
The 20-year-old was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (No. 124) in the 2020 draft.
Riese Gaber, University of North Dakota
The undersized forward (5-foot-8, 163 pounds) has a smooth scoring touch. He was a finalist for National Collegiate Hockey Conference player of the year last season after having 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 34 games.
The junior has four points (three goals, one assist) in four games this season.
The 23-year-old, who was top forward at Boston Bruins development camp in July, is a free agent who is expected to receive plenty of attention from NHL teams.
Luke Hughes, University of Michigan
Like his older brothers, Jack (New Jersey Devils), and Quinn (Vancouver Canucks), Luke is an elite skater and he’s the biggest of the brothers at 6-2, 190.
He was the top goal-scorer and point-scorer among college defenseman in 2021-22 with 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists). In 41 goals.
Hughes is one of three 2022 Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalists playing college hockey this season. (The others are Devon Levi of Northeastern and Yaniv Perets of Quinnipiac.)
New Jersey selected the 19-year-old in the first round (No. 4) in 2020.
Video: NHL Tonight compares Hughes and Sanderson
Matthew Knies, University of Minnesota
The sophomore forward has a combination of size (6-2, 210) and skill that is not seen that often in the college game.
He had a strong year with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 33 games last season and had two points (one goal, one assist) for the United States in the Beijing Olympics.
He has three points (two goals, one assist) in four games for the Golden Gophers this season.
The 20-year-old was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (No. 57) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Devon Levi, Northeastern
The goalie has picked up right where he left off as a freshman, when he had 10 shutouts and a .952 save percentage.
He’s 3-1-1 this season with a .943 save percentage and 1.77 goals-against average. He stopped 49 shots, including four breakaways, in Northeastern’s 2-1 loss to Providence College on Saturday night.
The Florida Panthers selected him in the seventh round (No. 212) of the 2020 draft. They traded the 20-year-old to the Buffalo Sabres on June 24, 2021, along with a first-round draft pick, in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart.
Carter Mazur, University of Denver
The NCHC Rookie of the Year on the national title team a year ago, he had 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 41 games.
Only Luke Hughes scored more points among NCAA freshmen.
Mazur has four goals in four games this season.
The 20-year-old was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round (No. 70) of the 2021 draft.
Aidan McDonough, Northeastern University
After scoring 25 goals in 38 games last season, the forward could have turned pro but opted to stay for his senior year.
Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh round (No. 195) in the 2019 NHL Draft, the 22-year-old has seven points (four goals, three assists) in five games this season as captain for Northeastern.
He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh round (No. 195) in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac is one of the top teams in the country and Metsa’s play at each end of the ice is one of the reasons.
A grad student, the 24-year-old was named the ECAC’s best defensive defenseman last season and led Quinnipiac in scoring with 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in 42 games. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in four games this season.
He will be a free agent when his NCAA season ends.
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