LaCombe (second round, 39th overall in 2019) has scored a career-high 8-24=32 points with a +11 rating in 33 games. Among NCAA defensemen, he ranks fifth in points per game (.97), tied for sixth in points and tied for ninth in assists. He has already set new career highs in points and goals, while he leads Golden Gopher blueliners in points, goals and assists. He has increased his point total each of his four collegiate seasons, leading Minnesota blueliners in points each of the last three campaigns.
Kukkonen (sixth round, 162nd overall in 2021) recorded 18-9=27 points with a +5 rating in 38 games during his freshman season at Michigan Tech. He was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year after leading conference freshmen with 18 goals, the most by a Michigan Tech freshman since 1988. He led Huskies skaters in goals and ranked second in points, while he ranked fourth in the NCAA with five game-winning goals.
Moore (third round, 67th overall in 2020), tallied 1-17=18 points with a +22 rating in 33 games with Harvard. He ranked second among Crimson blueliners in points, assists and plus/minus in his sophomore season. He earned an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention for the 2022-23 season. In 2021-22, Moore was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team after notching 2-13=15 points with a +16 rating.
Perbix (fourth round, 116th overall in 2018) set new single-season career highs in points, goals, assists and plus/minus in his senior season with Western Michigan, recording 6-13=19 points with a +7 rating in 38 games. Perbix spent three seasons with the University of Minnesota before joining the Broncos prior to 2022-23.
First Round Schedule:Thursday, March 23
Western Michigan (Perbix) vs. Boston University, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
Minnesota (LaCombe) vs. Canisius, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Friday, March 24
Harvard (Moore) vs. Ohio State, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
Michigan Tech (Kukkonen) vs. Penn State, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
