The NCAA tournament is not only an annual showcase of high-end college hockey. It also offers a glimpse of the talent of some terrific NHL prospects. The three days of intense hockey put these players in high-pressure situations, offering a great evaluation opportunity.
Although many of college hockey's blue bloods are not in the tournament this year, there is no shortage of high-end talent to watch when the puck drops Friday, starting with UMass vs. Harvard at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 (full schedule here).
Here's a look at the top 25 NHL prospects to keep an eye on, as well as some honorable mentions and names to watch looking ahead to the 2019 NHL draft.
1. Cale Makar, D, UMass
NHL affiliation: Colorado Avalanche
Makar is the most exciting collegiate hockey talent still playing this season, and you'll see why in about three strides. He is tied for sixth in the country with 46 points and can control shifts from the back end. Makar was ranked our No. 1 NHL-affiliated prospect at midseason and has an honest shot to win the Hobey Baker.
2. Adam Fox, D, Harvard
NHL affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes
Fox is leading the nation in points per game with 1.50, which is the highest scoring rate for a defenseman in the past 20 years. He has contributed a point on 45 percent of Harvard's goals this season and might be the best passer in college hockey, as evidenced by his 39 assists this season. Fox has elite vision and has really improved his puck management in three years with the Crimson. Will he return for his senior season?
3. Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State
NHL affiliation: Montreal Canadiens
Poehling's status for the tournament remains uncertain after he sustained an injury in the NCHC semifinals. But when healthy, he is one of the driving forces for St. Cloud State despite not being one of the team's leading scorers. He can play in any situation, and he possesses high-end two-way skills, a pro shot and excellent vision.
4. Ian Mitchell, D, Denver
NHL affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks
A talented offensive-minded defenseman who skates well and has tremendous poise with the puck on his stick, Mitchell makes a lot of plays in the offensive zone. He also handles himself well defensively with a little bit of tenacity. There's a good chance he signs with Chicago after the season.
5. Cayden Primeau, G, Northeastern
NHL affiliation: Montreal Canadiens
A seventh-round draft pick in 2017, Primeau has flourished as the No. 1 goaltender for Northeastern. He was also the starter for Team USA at the World Junior Championship and has put up some excellent numbers the past two seasons with the Huskies. The son of former NHLer Keith Primeau posted a .936 save percentage this season and was named the MVP of both the Beanpot and Hockey East tournaments, making him one of the best goaltenders in college hockey.
6. Tyler Madden, LW, Northeastern
NHL affiliation: Vancouver Canucks
Highly skilled and creative, Madden has put together a tremendous freshman season for the Huskies, which has helped soften the blow of losing last season's Hobey Baker winner, Adam Gaudette, to the NHL. Madden has 28 points in 35 games and a flair for the dramatic, as he has multiple OT game winners -- including the goal that sealed the second-straight Beanpot title for Northeastern. The son of former NHLer John Madden still needs to tack some muscle onto his frame, but there's no denying that he is a talent with the puck on his stick.
7. Mikey Anderson, D, Minnesota Duluth
NHL affiliation: Los Angeles Kings
Having won a national title last year, Anderson looks hungry for more based on his impressive showing at the NCHC tournament last week. A true two-way defenseman, Anderson has 24 points in 36 games while playing big minutes in all situations for the Bulldogs. He's an especially smart defenseman who skates well and makes excellent reads at both ends of the ice.
8. Jack Dugan, C, Providence
NHL affiliation: Vegas Golden Knights
One of the most impressive freshmen in the country this year, Dugan mixes some power with his skill. He finished with 37 points in 38 games, second both on the Friars and among all NCAA freshmen. After bridging his prep school and college careers with a season in the USHL, Dugan was able to be an instant contributor while playing a skill-meets-tenacity offensive style that should translate well to the pro game.
9. Dylan Samberg, D, Minnesota Duluth
NHL affiliation: Winnipeg Jets
A confident defender who takes care of his own zone first, Samberg picks his spots offensively much more carefully. He's a big, rangy defender who has improved quite a bit the past two seasons with the Bulldogs. Samberg had 17 points this season, and UMD seems to trust him in every situation.
10. Scott Perunovich, D, Minnesota Duluth
NHL affiliation: St. Louis Blues
One of the more dynamic defensemen in the country, last season's national Rookie of the Year continues to perform at a high level. Perunovich enters the tournament with 28 points in 35 games, which ties him for the team lead. His skating just keeps getting better, and that allows him to make plays with his feet while either escaping the defensive zone or jumping in offensively.
11. Tanner Laczynski, RW, Ohio State
NHL affiliation: Philadelphia Flyers
A tremendous two-way talent, Laczynski has an unending motor and work ethic on the ice. He was sorely missed by Ohio State when out with injury, as he has averaged 1.15 points per game the past two seasons.
12. Emilio Pettersen, LW, Denver
NHL affiliation: Calgary Flames
With some of the better puck-handling skills in college hockey this season, Pettersen is a lot of fun to watch. He was putting up points left and right early in the season but hit a bit of a wall once conference play began. The crafty Norwegian still entered the tournament as the fourth-leading scorer among freshmen in the NCAA and has plenty of time to bring more consistency to his game.
13. Morgan Barron, LW, Cornell
NHL affiliation: New York Rangers
This has been a breakout season for the 6-foot-3, 214-pound sophomore. Averaging nearly a point per game, Barron has been the offensive catalyst for the Big Red. The jump in development from one season to the next has been really impressive. Barron's mix of size and skill is tough to contain.
14. Jack Rathbone, D, Harvard
NHL affiliation: Vancouver Canucks
A talented young defenseman who exceeded expectations as a freshman, Rathbone skates well and gets shots through with regularity, making him a solid weapon on the back end.
15. Brandon Kruse, RW, Bowling Green
NHL affiliation: Vegas Golden Knights
One of the top playmakers in college hockey, Kruse tied for third in the nation with 31 assists. He isn't a big guy, but he darts around the ice and has great vision, making him Bowling Green's best offensive weapon.
16. Chase Priskie, D, Quinnipiac
NHL affiliation: Washington Capitals
The top goal-scoring defenseman in the country, Priskie has been the engine driving Quinnipiac this season. Sources around college hockey have indicated that he might decide not to sign with Washington in an effort to hit the open market as a free agent in August.
17. Mario Ferraro, D, UMass
NHL affiliation: San Jose Sharks
Ferraro saw a dip in his offensive numbers this season, but his defensive play and aggressiveness made a big impact, showing the added bonus of building strength and playing with a year of experience.
18. Jeremy Davies, D, Northeastern
NHL affiliation: New Jersey Devils
The picture of consistency in three collegiate seasons, Davies has been one of the most productive defensemen in college hockey and now has a second straight season of 35 points.
19. Reilly Walsh, D, Harvard
NHL affiliation: New Jersey Devils
Harvard's second-leading scorer with 31 points this season, Walsh is an offensive talent with a good shot and some solid puck skills.
20. Jacob Bryson, D, Providence
NHL affiliation: Buffalo Sabres
Despite not being the biggest guy, Bryson is a factor in all zones. He has skill, but he also closes fast on opposing forwards and disrupts rushes with the best of them.
21. Kasper Bjorkqvist, LW, Providence
NHL affiliation: Pittsburgh Penguins
A two-way player who brings some grit, Bjorkqvist is the kind of player you can win with, as the old cliché goes. His production has gone up every season. As he gets stronger, he gets more effective in battles in front of the net and along the boards.
22. Jack Drury, C, Harvard
NHL affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes
A solid all-around player who works hard every single game, Drury's production has been even better than expected as a freshman. He has 24 points in 31 games, and he has a chance to become a really good two-way forward.
23. John Leonard, LW, UMass
NHL affiliation: San Jose Sharks
A bit of a late-bloomer, Leonard had a breakout season in 2017-18 but has only gotten better in his sophomore campaign. I love his ability to make plays with pace and in tight spaces.
24. Nico Sturm, C, Clarkson
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
A big center who can skate and make plays, Sturm is the top unrestricted free agent in college hockey right now, in terms of NHL interest. He is tied for eighth in the country with 45 points heading into the tournament, earning a Hobey Baker finalist nod.
25. Connor Mackey, D, Minnesota State
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
A talented two-way defender whom NHL teams are really high on as a potential free agent, Mackey is another in a long line of defensemen who developed from undrafted player to NHL-caliber talent at Minnesota State.
Best of the rest
Joey Daccord, G, Arizona State
NHL affiliation: Ottawa Senators
If you're wondering how Arizona State is in this tournament, look no further than Daccord. He always gives his team a chance to win with sound technical skills and athleticism. Daccord had a .926 save percentage and a nation-leading seven shutout performances this season.
Jimmy Schuldt, D, St. Cloud State
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
Schuldt had the chance to jump to the NHL last season but stayed and put together another All-American season, thanks to his two-way skills and ability to make plays in all zones. He's one of the 10 Hobey Baker finalists.
Odeen Tufto, C, Quinnipiac
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
I wanted to point out Tufto because he quietly topped 40 points in each of his first two collegiate seasons. He's undersized but highly skilled and the offensive engine for the Bobcats. It's tougher to project him as an NHL prospect, but he's an exceptional college player.
Cale Morris, G, Notre Dame
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
One of the top goalies in college hockey the past two seasons, Morris is as steady as they come between the pipes. He owns a .938 career save percentage and is a big reason Notre Dame is in the tournament this season.
Tobias Fladeby, F, American International
NHL affiliation: Unsigned free agent
In the AIC action I saw this season, Fladeby was the guy who kept jumping off the screen. He leads the team in goals with 18, has a good shot and can do the dirty work to score.
NHL draft watch
There are several players in the tournament who have some 2019 NHL draft eligibility and could be selected in June.
UMass has a very talented pair of draft-eligible players in two-way defenseman Marc Del Gaizo and skilled winger Bobby Trivigno. Keep an eye on Providence winger Tyce Thompson, the younger brother of Sabres forward Tage Thompson. Forward Wyatt Bongiovanni of Quinnipiac and defenseman Josh Maniscalco of Arizona State have also stood out as potential draftees this season. All are in their second or third year of eligibility.