Danny Nelson

December 2023 – Nelson will center the fourth line for team USA at the 2024 World Junior Classic in Gothenburg, Sweden. The 49^th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is having a very solid freshman season at Notre Dame with 14 points in 18 games (3g, 11a). James Iacovone

June 2023 – Nelson was selected 49th overall by the Islanders. Pat Quinn

June 2023 – Nelson has been a valuable depth piece on a historically good USNTDP team, but his NHL projection – and his upside, specifically – remains a bit of a question mark. His skating, shot, playmaking, handling, pace, and motor all grade as subpar NHL projections. He lacks an elite defining tool to propel him to an NHL role and while he is young for the class as an August birthday, he has less stylistic developmental runway than many of his peers. That said, his net-front ability has created a lot of chances and goals for the NTDP this past year, and his distribution in transition is simple but effective enough. He anticipates play quite well and flashes (rarely) lane-switching, angle changes, and decisive middle-lane attacks in transition. His role on a team as strong as the 2023 NTDP U18 class will garner him a top-100 draft pick, but his upside is likely that of a dependable but limited fourth-line center. Significant tool development could unlock third-line upside. Sebastian High