Cole Eiserman of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 Team is filing a draft diary for NHL.com this season leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft. The 17-year-old left wing (6-foot, 197 pounds) and native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, is No. 8 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters for the 2024 draft. He leads the NTDP with 67 points (43 goals, 24 assists) in 41 games this season. He ranks second in NTDP history with 112 career goals and is 14 shy of tying Cole Caufield (2017-19) for the all-time lead of 126 goals.
Hello hockey fans:
We're all looking forward to back-to-back games at Augustana University in South Dakota on Friday and Saturday.
I think we're starting to become a really good team off the ice, which is really important as we get closer to the IIHF World Under-18 Championship (April 25-May 5 in Finland). Coaches have been reminding us of the little things off the ice and obviously on the ice. They just want to make sure we don't have a lot to clean up when it comes U-18 Worlds time. We're trying to perfect our game, work as hard as we can every day.
I've been asked about the possibility of passing Cole Caufield as the NTDP's all-time goal-scoring leader. It is something I think about. I think it'd be pretty cool for me and my team. Records are meant to be broken and I'm always trying to score as many goals as I can. I just think it would be something really neat to do.
Getting a good shot off is all about consistency and having the right mentality. The want to get better at it, and wanting to be in the shooting room, to gain as much information as possible. That's what has helped me score goals and I think that's what's most important.
In addition to scoring goals though, I think just developing my 200-foot game and as a playmaker are important as well. Being able to be a threat on both sides of the puck is important and obviously creates problems for the other team. It makes you harder to defend and, on top of that, setting up your teammates is a great feeling.
Right now, my linemates are Kamil Bednarik and Max Plante; it's been pretty good. We've played a lot together this year. It's something that I've enjoyed and we're starting to heat up a little bit which is nice. It's good to see that chemistry at this time in the season.
Finally, just a quick shout out to my friend, Boston University center Macklin Celebrini.
He's been doing great with the Terriers this season. I was just up in Boston at the Beanpot Tournament in February and was able to see him. It's amazing. I see the same player that I saw at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota a few years ago, and he's been unbelievable.
I'm just so happy to be good friends with him off the ice just because I see a different side of him that other people don't. Seeing what he does on the ice is amazing and I'm super excited to keep watching.
We've got a pretty good bond. I don't really see him as the Macklin everyone else sees. I kind of see him as this goofy little kid. But boy is he doing special things at BU this season.
Well, thanks for reading this month. I'll check in again in April.
