Drafted 53rd Overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We’ve got a 2 for 1 Draft Special today, as we already published Brett Kulak. Our next prospect plays for Exeter High School in the US High School system. Due to the limited coverage of New England High School hockey, none of our contributors have personally seen Hart play. For this reason, he is getting an honourable mention, just like Mark Jankowski earlier this week. Hart is a two sport star, who had offers to pursue a full NCAA Division 1 scholarship in soccer. He set the New Hampshire state record for most goals in a soccer season while playing for Exeter. However, Hart has choosen to pursue hockey as his career path and has been committed to Harvard for the last two years. Its unclear whether he will join Harvard next season, or spend a year in the USHL first, and join the university team in time for the 2013-14 season.
Right Wing
Born November 25 1993 — Cumberland, Maine
Height 6.02 — Weight 216 — Shoots Right
| 2010-11 | Exeter Academy | USHS | 27 | 29 | 32 | 61 |
| 2011-12 | Exeter Academy | USHS | 29 | 31 | 34 | 65 |
Here are what some experts have to say about Hart.
The Hockey News Draft Preview ranks Hart at 56, they got the following quote from an anonymous NHL Scout:
“He’s got the size, his skating’s pretty good and when he gets a head of steam he’s tough to stop. Heavy shot, too.”
McKeen’s Draft Guide ranks Hart at 54. Here is a quote from their report on Hart:
“Once he is in motion, he is difficult to stop and he understands and uses this to his advantage to actively drive the net. He relies solely on his shot, as it is hard and heavy and can handcuff goalies. His assists would come as the direct result of the rebounds his shot would create.”
The Future Consideration’s Draft Guide ranks Hart at 46 and states the following:
“He is surprisingly quick on his feet for such a big, and still growing, body. He is strong on the puck down low and dominates in puck battles. He creates havoc for defenders by coming off the wall and driving to the net with the puck like a bull in a china shop.”
They do however note that Hart has some defensive deficiencies that he needs to work on.
NHL Central Scouting has Hart as their #54th Ranked North American Skater
Hockeyprospect.com ranks Hart at 95.
It would appear the consensus is that Brian Hart is a power forward prospect who is ranked as a late 2nd/early third round draft pick. Obviously, his size, power, and offensive abilities will be sought after commodities on draft day. However NHL teams must ask themselves how well his game will translate to the next level when facing stiffer competition than what is seen on the New England Prep School Circuit.
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