Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies, highly rated 2023 NHL draftee Adam Fantilli and Arizona Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley were named finalists Thursday for the Hobey Baker award as the top college men’s player.
Knies, a native of Phoenix, had 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points in 38 games for the University of Minnesota this season. He was the Maple Leafs’ second-round pick, 57th overall, in 2021.
Fantilli, a native of Nobleton, Ont., had a breakout rookie season with the University of Michigan, with 29 goals and 35 assists for 64 points in 35 games this season. He also won a gold medal with Canada at the most recent World Juniors.
Cooley, a native of Pittsburgh, had 20 goals and 37 assists for 57 points in 37 games this season for the University of Minnesota. The third overall pick by the Coyotes in 2022, Cooley also had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in seven games at the World Junior Championship.
The three finalists emerged from a list of 10 nominees. Also nominated were Montreal Canadiens’ draft pick Lane Hutson, Sean Farrell, Collin Graf, Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi, Yaniv Perets, Blake Pietila and Jason Pollin.
