When looking at perennial college hockey powerhouses, Arizona State isn't a school you'd typically consider. However, the Sun Devils have built a program that is competitive in a conference with some big-time names. One of the faces helping to do so is Cullen Potter, one of the many players who could be drafted in the first round on Friday.
Potter made the bold decision to jump from the United States National Team Development Program to the NCAA, finding his spot in Tempe at just 17 years old. His numbers as a freshman won't jump off the page, scoring 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games, but it was enough to be named to the NCHC All-Rookie team. It's clear he's very skilled. His bloodline might have helped with that a little.
He's another player with strong hockey ties
While Cullen is carving out his path to the NHL, his mom, Jenny, has paved the way for him as one of the most decorated women's hockey players in U.S. history. Schmidgall-Potter is a four-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in 1998. She's tied for the U.S record for points in an Olympics with 11 in 2010, and holds the record for most career points at the Olympics for an American.
She also has four World Championships to her name, while earning silver medals during her six other appearances. She was named the Best Forward at the tournament in 1999, leading all skaters with 12 points as the U.S. won silver in Finland. In 2011, she captained the Americans to a third-straight gold medal, scoring a goal in the Gold Medal Game against Canada.
One of the fastest skaters in the draft
Of course, the focus should be on Cullen and his plans of playing in the NHL. The first thing you'll notice about his game is his speed. Potter is one of the fastest skaters in this year's class. He's explosive with every stride, using his speed alone to create chances for himself and his teammates. Elite Prospects has him listed as the third-best straight-line skater in the class.
Another thing Potter isn't afraid to do is shoot the puck. He threw 118 shots at the net in 35 games with Arizona State, scoring 13 times. He added 28 shots at the U18 World Championships, finishing third in the tournament as the Americans won bronze. Given the Canes' philosophy on shot volume, he would fit nicely.
There's still room for him to grow defensively, though there were plenty of positive strides taken in that regard during his collegiate season. Most of his detractors will point to him being undersized at 5'10" and 172 lbs. I don't think that's a major issue, but some might think that's enough to pass on him in the first round.
Potter is another player who is projected to fall anywhere during the later stages of the first round. He's as high as 23rd in some mock drafts. Others have him closer to the Carolina Hurricanes' spot at #29. While he's listed as a center and a winger, it's more likely he'll land as a winger. This could be another reason some might want to stay away, though Potter's ceiling appears pretty high.