We are back with a new list of potential NCAA targets.
Today, we shift our focus to the backend, where we’ve highlighted a few intriguing options for the Vancouver Canucks to target this spring.
As we mentioned in our initial forwards list, this year’s crop is a bit on the weak side. Yet, some intriguing defenders are in the mix, some of which we believe could make a splash as a professional stalwart.
Forewarning: one of those names at the top of our list, John Prokop, was signed to the Toronto Maple Leafs just hours before this article. So, he’s a name that was well worth it and could very well play NHL games down the line.
As you may notice, we place a higher emphasis on the right shots. We believe that is an area of need (always) and would garner a higher chance of seeing playing time in the system.
Cole McWard and Akito Hirose are the two NCAA undrafted defenders playing within the Vancouver system today. Let’s see if we can add one or two to that mix with a few of these prospects.
Let’s dive right in.
C.J. Foley, University of Maine
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Right | Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds | Age: 21
With his combination of dynamic skill and top-graded skating – at least among this list – C.J. Foley likely takes the cake as our top-ranked defender to target.
At 21, he leads Dartmouth in scoring 29 points and is leading the team in ice time by a country mile. If you’re catching a Dartmouth game, you’re going to get a lot of C.J. Foley exposure – no matter the situation.
While he’s not the prototypal free agent defender this organization typically prioritizes, i.e., a more well-rounded and sizeable two-way, he’s as dynamic as they come and understands how to drive play from the backend.
His limited defensive warts are well worth the gamble for the low-risk cost of an Entry-Level deal.
Foley uses solid edges to gain the edge, take control, and separate from pressure, setting up opponents or driving to the net himself. He’s not afraid to keep the puck to himself, circle the zone and search for the right opportunity to present itself.
He’s a treat to watch in the offensive zone go to work.
That said, he’s not a defensive liability. He’s responsible, and his skating allows him to cover tons of ground to break up pressure and cause turnovers. Like many on this list, he’s a 2025 Hobey Baker nominee as a prominent two-way stalwart and was this year’s IVY League Player of the Year.
We love those with a BC tie, and with a year in the BCHL (Salmon Arm Silverbacks), he brings that to the table, to boot.
Frank Djurasevic, University of Maine
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Right | Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 201 pounds | Age: 22
Frank Djurasevic’s transfer from Merrimack (freshman year) to Maine has unlocked his game. After a 10-point freshman year (four goals, six assists in 35 games) with the Warriors, he’s hit the ground running with the Maine Black Bears with 27 in the same amount of games.
From New Rochelle, New York, he crossed the border and country to suit up for the heavy hitters in Penticton for his junior days, where he racked up 85 points as a two-time BCHL Champion.
At 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Djurasevic’s got the size and is a two-way force that physically shuts down top lines. He pins forwards along the boards and powers transitions with strong skating for his size.
He’s an active trigger, and on the power play, he’s lethal, wiring pucks from the point or dishing from the half-wall. His tight-space stick handling remains a sneaky asset.
We like his rangy style and ability two-way ability.
Trey Taylor, Clarkson University
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Left | Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 200 lbs | Age: 23
We mentioned that we liked the BC tie. How about a Richmond, BC native who spent three years with the Vernon Vipers?
If Taylor shot the puck from the right side, there’s a good chance he’d spearhead the top of our list. He brings a little bit of everything to the table, whether it’s sound two-way play, solid skating, a calm approach to the game and most importantly, pro-ready size.
No matter the zone, he makes a difference and can shut down opponents’ top brass, using his frame to embed himself into the muck. Meanwhile, he can turn up the ice to produce points for his own team. He leads Clarkson’s defensive corps with career-highs in goals (8), assists (19) and points (27).
His strong junior season awarded him a spot as an ECAC First Team All-Star, and he was named the Conference’s “Best Defender” last season.
With everything on the table, Trey Taylor is likely one of the more pro-ready candidates from the backend this spring.
Noah Beck, Arizona State Unniveristy
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Left | Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 206 pounds | Age: 23
Noah Beck, who’s currently enjoying a five-game point streak en route to a hopeful ECAC Championship run, is enjoying a breakout senior year. The Richmond, Ontario native is the only player on this list previously drafted, as the St. Louis Blues selected him in the seventh round of the 2021 draft – a few picks after Vancouver’s Viktor Persson.
With his NHL rights expiring over the 2024 summer and his NCAA production hovering around mediocrity with Clarkson University, he transferred to Arizona State, where his game has popped off. With 32 points (five goals, 27 assists), he currently has the fourth-most points by any defender in the nation, shattering his previous high of 22.
Now, is that massive jump in production environment-based? There’s a pretty good argument to assume that it might be. But Beck brings an intriguing package, highlighted by pro-ready size, solid two-way intelligence, and high competitive level. He uses an active stick and uses his body well to come out on top in board battles. Like Trey Taylor, there’s a good chance his game translates well to the pro ranks.
Beck will be 24 in late March, so there’s a real “what you see is what you get” element to his game, with little runway in his development left. Yet, if a steady two-way presence is what you’d want over an offensive-minded gunner, Noah Beck feels like a decent bet.
Vinny Borgesi, Northeastern University
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Right | Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds | Age: 21
We know what you’re thinking; he’s a bit undersized.
It’s a shame he lacks size because Vinny Borgesi’s game is as fun as they come. Now a junior with the Northeastern Huskies, he led his team’s defensive group — fourth on the team — with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) to make up a 59-point-in-97-game NCAA career.
The Philadelphia native is always on the ice for the Huskies, leading the team by a country mile while playing in every situation.
Borgesi is a smooth criminal with the puck on his stick and an offensive defenceman by nature. He combines hands with strong edges and a fluid ability to maneuver around opponents with dipsy-doodles and quick pivots.
He may be on the smaller size, but the Hobey Baker nominee is a dynamic defender who makes things happen on the ice.
Zach Bookman, Merrimack College
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Right | Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 176 pounds| Age: 22
Zach Bookman turned heads last season with 28 points (4 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games, finishing second on Merrimack as a sophomore — a big jump from his 16-point sophomore campaign.
Now a junior, he remains one of the Warriors’ go-to defenders on a rebuilding team, often skating alongside younger partners.
Hailing from Syracuse, New York, he swung over to Canada for his junior career, suiting up for two years with the AJHL’s Brookes Bandits. In year two, he finished third in the entire league with a whopping 102 points (21G, 81A) in 55 games. Yes, that’s 102 points as a defender.
Bookman is an offensive sparkplug who dances with the puck, using quick, agile skating to ignite breakouts and quarterback the power play. Although his shot lacks punch, it is quick and accurate, and his ability to dance around the zone is notable. Can he do that at the pro level, though?
At 5-foot-11, he’s vulnerable against bigger forwards in the crease, which will likely cause some growing pains as he translates.
He’s a third-pairing puck-mover or power-play specialist in the making, needing AHL seasoning to shore up his defensive game.
Brandon Holt, University of Maine
Position: Defenceman | Shoots: Left | Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 181 pounds | Age: 23
Not far behind Djurasevic (mentioned above) in utilization is Brandon Holt, who’s been a rock for Maine, improving his number year over year.
Now a junior, he’s skating 20-plus minutes for his Black Bears team and has hit a career-high 20 points in 31 games while hitting the four-goal mark for a third consecutive season.
Holt’s a cerebral two-way defender whose quick skating and sharp edges close gaps fast and easily rushes up the ice.
He’s a secondary playmaker, slinging wrist shots that find lanes and smart outlets (10-plus primary assists) while distributing from the point on the power play. He’s tenacious, blocking a shot per game, but as expected from a sub-6-foot defender, he can get muscled out occasionally.
There you have it, folks, our first defensive list. As mentioned, there is a long list of players, so feel free to leave a player in the comment section who has caught your eye and stay tuned for more!
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