Jack Eichel recently completed his freshman year at Boston University. He and projected No. 1 pick Connor McDavid were considered neck-and-neck for first overall honors for much of the year, and while it appears McDavid has pulled ahead as the consensus top pick, Eichel may go down as one of the best consolation prizes in league history.
The Massachusetts native had a spectacular season in one of the best conferences in college hockey, carrying the Terriers to the Frozen Four and becoming the second freshman in history to win the Hobey Baker Award. Eichel is keeping good company, as Paul Kariya was the only other first-year player to win the Hobey Baker back in 1993 at Maine.