Penn State men's hockey had a whirlwind of a 2024-25 season. From a 0-8 Big Ten record to an NCAA Frozen Four appearance, head coach Guy Gadowsky rallied together a respectable and competitive team in the Division I hockey realm.
Gadowsky's duo of recent commits can prove it.
Two top NHL Draft prospects declared their commitment to Penn State over the weekend. Both future Nittany Lions will be incoming true freshmen when they arrive at Penn State, something less common in college hockey given the time it takes for players to develop at the junior level.
Jackson Smith, a defender eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is the No. 6 overall prospect in the draft, according to EliteProspect's Top 32 ranking. The NHL Central Scouting Draft Ranking lists the defenseman at No. 13 out of North America. Looking at the scope of the 2025 prospects, he will likely be one of the top four defensemen in the draft.
Smith recently played in the World Juniors Championship U18 for Team Canada in the midst of his time with his juniors team, the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. He logged 83 points on 18 goals and 65 assists throughout his juniors career.
Part of EliteProspects scouting report of Smith for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft reads:
"Smith’s skating, combined with his handling skill and creativity, often lead to some truly incredible plays. He spins off the forecheck, takes the middle, and launches a cross-ice pass through the next layer for a chance. From the point, he steps in, fakes, explodes across, and walks inside for a chance. With seemingly endless creativity, he pulls pucks through defenders’ legs, cuts off the wall, and capitalizes on backdoor passing lanes as they open."
Smith will join the Nittany Lions in the upcoming 2025-26 season alongside returning defensemen Carter Schade, Jarod Crespo, Casey Aman, Nick Fascia, and Cade Christenson.
Penn State's second commit of the weekend, Pierce Mbuyi, is a five-star left winger for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League, one of the major three junior leagues in the Canadian Hockey League.
The forward was named as the OHL's rookie of the year and was a finalist for the Canadian Hockey League's rookie of the year award at 16-years-old. The NHL Draft Center 2026 Ranking, as of late, has Mbuyi at the top of its currently-unnumbered list.
While Mbuyi can still rescind his commitment, catching the eye of top prospects will only draw positive attention to Gadowsky's team. Sprinkling top NHL prospects throughout the roster, though their NCAA careers are often short-lived, may give Penn State the extra boost needed to go further in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.