The United States National Team Development Program has established itself as one of the top NHL player factories in the world. Last year was a bit of an anomaly with just a couple of high-end entrants for the draft, but 2022’s class once again features several players near the top of the list.
The development system brings together the top young players in the U.S. and develops them through a series of levels as they progress toward the professional game. Occasionally there are players who prove to be too strong for their assigned section, and that was the case last season for a 16-year-old Isaac Howard.