Rachel Kryshak
Multiple Authors
The 2026 Frozen Four is about to happen Thursday and Saturday, and for the first time, the occasion is being hosted in Las Vegas.
The match consists of loads of NHL-affiliated expertise and one participant who’s prone to be chosen in the early first spherical of the 2026 draft.
Winning the Frozen Four is not about which crew has the most expertise, it is about which gamers can carry out below the lights, decide to the particulars and make a key saves. More than a handful of the gamers in the match will discover themselves in NHL lineups subsequent season — if not subsequent week.
As the ultimate three video games of the collegiate season get underway, here is a take a look at who to observe on every crew, their NHL potential and after they might play an everyday function in the NHL.
Jump to a crew:
Michigan | North Dakota
Denver | Wisconsin
Michigan Wolverines
Big Ten
Life is absolutely good in Ann Arbor proper now. With Michigan’s males’s basketball crew coming off an NCAA championship, its hockey crew now has an actual shot at successful the Frozen Four. The Wolverines are stacked with high-end expertise, and a few of the gamers could possibly be playing significant NHL minutes fairly quickly.
Lots of scouting eyes might be on Hobey Baker nominee T.J. Hughes, who’s the top school free agent this season. Hughes is anticipated to signal an NHL contract when his season ends, and if time permits, make his NHL debut. Hughes, a right-handed heart, is primed to play a middle-six function in the NHL, producing secondary offense and successful matchups. Hughes already appears like an NHL participant, and whereas he would possible profit from some AHL time, the key to signing him might come down to groups providing him an NHL roster spot instantly.
Michael Hage will play his ultimate video games in the NCAA this weekend and is anticipated to signal with the Montreal Canadiens at the conclusion of the match. Hage is an excellent expertise, who appears the a part of the second-line heart behind Nick Suzuki for the subsequent decade-plus. Hage has good offensive decision-making and a misleading curl-and-release, and he is a key play driver. The Canadiens are hoping he is able to contribute as the crew performs in powerful divisional playoff video games in the coming weeks.
Malcolm Spence (New York Rangers) discovered himself on the top line with Hughes and Jayden Perron (Carolina Hurricanes), and the trio helped Michigan clinch a spot in the Frozen Four. Spence is a fast, in-your-face participant with glorious arms and the means to play left and proper wing. He has the sort of versatility and play fashion that may make him an ideal middle-of-the-lineup participant in the NHL who wins battles and forechecks and creates havoc at the web entrance.
Perron is an offensive creator with a superb set of arms. He’s on the small aspect, which makes his NHL path harder, however his offense has come to life in the most necessary a part of Michigan’s season. Perron has an opportunity to be an impactful NHL ahead in the top six however wants to search out extra consistency or he is unlikely to stay in the NHL.
Will Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguins) has carried out effectively this season and will have a possibility to develop his play-driving means subsequent season with the Wolverines, as a couple of top forwards might be departing Ann Arbor. Horcoff is probably going a high-end third-line ahead in the NHL or a second-line participant beside a superb play driver.
Nick Moldenhauer (Toronto Maple Leafs) has been stable in a bounce-back season, offering offense at crucial occasions. Toronto’s administration flux may impression his willingness to signal instantly, however Moldenhauer has third-line potential in the NHL if he can construct off his robust season.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks
NCHC
North Dakota is again in the Frozen Four for the first time since 2016, and with a goal. The second-ranked crew is playing a house Frozen Four as host, albeit in Las Vegas as a substitute of North Dakota.
The Fighting Hawks have some critical NHL expertise on their roster, led by 2026 projected lottery choose Keaton Verhoeff. Scouts and NHL executives might be watching him like a hawk at the Frozen Four, with the expectation that Verhoeff will go very early in June’s draft. Verhoeff has the potential to be a top-pairing NHL defender and a foundational participant for a contender. There is little doubt that groups are itching to draft him given the significance of elite defensemen in at this time’s sport.
Another defender price conserving an eye fixed is EJ Emery (Rangers). He’s an above-average skater and holds worth as a giant, right-handed defender. He has been a top defender for North Dakota this season and can play key matchups at even energy and penalty kill towards a few of the finest offensive models in the NCAA. To attain his potential as a middle-pair defenseman in the NHL, he wants so as to add uncooked energy and make enhancements to his puck-moving sport. He’s at the least two years away from the Rangers’ lineup, however with projectable attributes, he needs to be part of the subsequent Rangers upswing.
Cole Reschny (Calgary Flames) scored at a point-per-game tempo as a freshman and was a key two-way participant for the Fighting Hawks this season. He’s just one level off the crew lead in scoring whereas playing an necessary penalty-killing function and having a depressed capturing share (about 9%). His play on and off the puck — coupled together with his compete stage — has all the makings of two-way impression heart in the NHL. His ceiling is as a second-line heart, however he is possible a third-line, go-to man on a contender.
Will Zellers (Boston Bruins) has had fairly the season as a freshman, which included scoring successful targets in every of the USA World Junior crew’s wins. He has a knack for performing when the stage is greatest, and there is not an even bigger stage than the Frozen Four in the NCAA. He performs in the center of the ice, will get to the scoring areas and beats goalies with a shot that would choose a lock. He’s a secondary offense form of NHLer, however he is precisely the man who scores a giant playoff aim to tip a collection — even when he is a few years away from being in a place to take action.
Denver Pioneers
NCHC
Denver comes into the Frozen Four firing on all cylinders as the hottest crew in the nation over the second half of the season.
With much less first-round expertise than the favorites, Denver is buoyed by Hobey Baker finalist Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks). The 22-year-old led all NCAA defensemen in scoring this season with 39 factors in 41 video games and powered Denver by way of the stretch run. Pohlkamp is one in all many younger defenders in the Sharks’ system, however he is their finest defensive prospect on the proper aspect. His measurement (5-11, 205 kilos) works towards him, however his fashion of play and bodily construct give him an opportunity to be an everyday NHL defender in the No. 4/5 function who runs a second power-play unit.
James Reeder (Los Angeles Kings) is a brilliant winger who performs with tempo. His manufacturing elevated by greater than 50% from final season, following a projectable improvement curve. His off-puck motion is amongst the finest in the NCAA and boosts his means to facilitate give-and-goes, discover quiet areas and be in good spots on the defensive aspect. He’s a constant optimistic impression participant, with Denver successful his minutes, and he offered dependable manufacturing at even energy. Reeder’s measurement and lack of elite manufacturing make him an extended shot to make the NHL, however he is prone to be a productive AHL participant who can fill in as a call-up.
Reeder’s reverse winger, Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota Wild), is prone to be a top quality AHL participant, with a greater likelihood of constructing the NHL in a bottom-six function, given his bodily attribute. Both have the likelihood to raise their worth by making an impression at the Frozen Four with stable performances.
Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten
After upsetting Michigan State with a third-period comeback and eventual time beyond regulation winner to get to the Frozen Four, the Badgers are using excessive. Unlike their opponents who’ve relied on NHL-affiliated expertise in their early 20s, Wisconsin is a veteran crew led by gamers who’re unlikely to have NHL careers. Given their efficiency in the match, they’re price noting for potential AHL free agent offers.
The captain, Ben Dexheimer, is a smaller, right-handed defender who scored the OT winner towards Michigan State and will draw some consideration as a defender who can present depth inside a corporation. He has good offensive instincts, skates effectively and performs a dependable two-way sport. He’s unlikely to be a full-time NHL defender, however his profile might present stable AHL minutes.
Left wing Quinn Finley (New York Islanders) has blossomed into an exquisite collegiate participant who produced reliably at practically a point-per-game tempo over the previous two seasons. His constant work charge paired together with his above-average ability and high quality launch give him a good likelihood at making the NHL. It is anticipated that the Isles will signal him and assign him to the AHL for additional improvement. Finley is almost certainly to turn into a participant who slots in the backside six and might present dependable minutes, make performs and generate occasional offense.
