Looking ahead: USHL honors for Wilmer; 3 recruits at NHL draft combine

2022 recruit Jeremy Wilmer, who led the USHL in scoring and led the Tri-CIty Storm to the regular-season title, has been named the league’s Forward of the Year. The Rockville Center, NY native’s 98 point were third most ever in a single season since the USHL became a Tier 1 junior league. His 73 assists are the most ever. The 5’7” left-shot center spent the previous two seasons with the NTDP U17s & 18s. Previously, he played for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U, skating on a line with fellow recruits Devin Kaplan and Quinn Hutson.

Tri-City GM Jason Koehler:

A huge credit to Jeremy, as after two seasons with the USA NTDP, Jeremy had a chance to play a role that he really had not played prior to this season at the junior level and took full advantage of the opportunity. We expected great things and a strong season, but I would be lying to you if we told you that we knew we would be getting a player that would lead the entire league in scoring, assists, and power play assists let alone set a number of internal offensive records for our club this season. This season and award are truly a testament to Jeremy’s focus on being an impact player prior to moving on to college. Boston University will be getting a weapon next season.

● Ushl.com report

● Stormhockey.com report

● Elite Prospects page

Three other 2022 recruits were invited to the NHL Scouting Combine: 5'8.5" LD Lane Hutson (ranked #25 among North Americans) , 6'1" C Ryan Greene (#46) and 6'3" RW Devin Kaplan (61).

 

The Athletic's Cory Pronman has ranked small-but-high skilled defenseman Hutson (63 points in 60 games for the NTDP U18s) at #22 for the NHL Entry Draft. He calls Hutson "the smartest player in the draft" and provides this profile: 

22. Lane Hutson, D,

Feb. 14, 2004 | 5′ 8.5″ | 148 pounds | Shoots left

Tier: Projected middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: NHL average

Player comparable: Torey Krug

Background: Hutson was a top-four defenseman for the U.S. NTDP all season and generated a lot of offense. He was invited to the U18 team as an underage player where he was a top player for that team as well, being named one of the top three players at the U18 World Championship in 2021 for USA. He was named top defenseman of the 2022 U18 Worlds. He’s committed to Boston University.

Analysis: Hutson is a constant threat with the puck on his stick. He’s the smartest player in the draft. He makes so many seam passes to generate chances. Hutson is also a highly-skilled puck-handler who shows great creativity off the offensive blue line. He makes a lot of crafty fakes and dekes to evade pressure. He’s not the fastest skater, but his edgework is quite good and allows him to use his skating to attack. The offense is clear NHL quality. Whether a barely 5-foot-9 defenseman who isn’t an elite skater can defend in the NHL is the question with Hutson. He’s a competitive, quality defender versus juniors and college opponents but that will need to be a test he’ll need to clear down the line. I think he plays in the NHL, and projects as an offensive-tilted top-four defenseman, but I realize the odds are against a player who looks like him becoming that. I stamp him this high because he’s the smartest player in the draft and I see just enough to the rest of his game to be able to elevate at higher levels.

● Elite Prospects page