Ever since he first joined the Bruins back in 2014, David Pastrnak has gone on to be the franchise guy in Boston. He's the number one intangible, and somewhat untouchable guy for the Bruins. Pastrnak has played with the best of the best -- Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Zdeno Chara -- but as of late, he seems to be the only real elite guy left.
In November 2024, the NCAA Division I council voted to make CHL players eligible for NCAA Division I hockey starting in 2025, allowing them to compete without jeopardizing their eligibility.
Gavin McKenna, the projected first overall pick, has committed to play for the Penn State hockey program for the upcoming 2025-26 NCAA season, signaling a trend toward NCAA hockey for top NHL prospects.