Three Stars Appear on NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings
April 16, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln Stars defensemen Adam Kleber and Tanner Henricks and forward Blake Montgomery have appeared on the 2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings, revealed on Tuesday morning. Kleber leads the way as the 34th-ranked North American skater. Henricks appeared 79th on the same list and Montgomery made his first appearance on NHL Central Scouting's rankings with the 101st spot.
Kleber, 18, has appeared on all three of NHL Central Scouting's Draft Rankings this season, first receiving a 'C' rating in Central Scouting's Preliminary Draft Watch List in the fall and then being ranked the 60th-ranked North American skater on the Midseason Rankings. He moves up to the 34th spot and projects as a second-round pick.
The Minnesota Duluth commit finished second among USHL defensemen with 125 shots led all Stars defensemen with 26 points (5+21). Kleber was honored as one of the top American draft prospects with an invite to the Chipotle All-American Game in Plymouth, Mich. back in January.
The Chaska, Minn. native has appeared in 82 games over the last two seasons with the Stars, including in 56 games with Lincoln a year ago as the youngest member of the team. He recorded 17 points (4+13) in 28 games at Chaska High School in 2021-22 in his only season of high-school hockey. Kleber represented the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August and helped the Americans win bronze.
Henricks, 17, is also appearing on NHL Central Scoutings for a third time this season. He was a 'C' rated prospect on the Preliminary Draft Watch List and then was listed as the 104th ranked North American skater before projecting as a third-round pick in the last projections. Like Kleber, he also was in Plymouth in January for the Chipotle All-American Game and won bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August. Henricks is in his first season with the Stars and appeared in 59 of 62 games in the regular season.
The St. Cloud State commit was nearly a point-a-game player with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U AAA team last season as he posted 72 points (15+57) in 73 games. Henricks, a Mission Viejo, Calif. native, previously played at Shattuck St. Mary's for two seasons, including posting 36 points (8+28) in 61 games for their 15U AAA team in 2021-22. He record an assist in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year.
Montgomery, 18, breaks through on the final Central Scouting Rankings before the 2024 NHL Draft after tying for the Stars' team lead with 22 goals. He also finished a team-best +8 and was second with 43 points. Montgomery recorded five multi-goal games and went on a stretch from Nov. 22 to Mar. 14 where he recorded 35 points (18+17) over 34 games.
The Wisconsin commit recorded 33 points (9+24) in 52 games at Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA last season while also suiting up in three games for the New Jersey Rockets of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). The Annapolis, Md. native was selected by the Stars in the seventh round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft.
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