Dubuque Fighting Saints Boast More NHL Draft Stock

The Dubuque Fighting Saints continue to display their aggressive, attacking brand of hockey this season. Setting a franchise record this year with an 11-goal game, the Saints have turned in those high-powered offensive displays on several occasions with goals in excess this season: so far, 161 goals scored. The next closest team is the Green Bay Gamblers at 137. Numbers like this are a testament to your Dubuque Fighting Saints seeing some player stock rise in the NHL Draft Watchlist.

That momentum has translated directly into NHL attention, as two Fighting Saints defensemen and one affiliate forward have landed on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Defensemen Lincoln Krizizke (139th) and Hudson Lohse (219th), along with affiliate forward Kam Hodgson (224th), represent Dubuque as scouts continue circling names and sharpening pencils for the NHL Draft.

On the blue line, Krizizke and Lohse have quietly become a nightmare for opposing forwards. Krizizke has paired steady defensive structure with timely offense, highlighted by a career-high three-point night that included two goals in a blink-and-you-missed-it 22-second span. That's four goals and nine assists this year, making him a modern defender in every sense. Play by Play announcer Josh Starr has said he seems extremely comfortable jumping into the rush, confident walking the blue line, and more than willing to let a shot fly when lanes open. Add in a plus-16 rating, and you’ve got a defenseman doing plenty of battling between whistles.

Lohse brings a different but equally effective flavor. The Tennessee native has been a model of consistency, moving pucks cleanly and keeping the Saints on the attack. His plus-16 rating matches Krizizke’s, and his eight assists underline his ability to generate offense without forcing plays. Lohse’s strong season also earned him a spot in the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game; not bad company for a defenseman who makes “simple and effective” look elite.

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Up front, Hodgson continues to impress as an affiliate skater with Culver Academy. His seven goals in 11 games show a scorer’s touch that NHL evaluators never ignore. If goal scorers get paid, Hodgson is at least getting noticed. That’s always the first step.

With scouts watching, pucks flying, and goals piling up like the snowbanks we usually have along the Mississippi, Dubuque’s NHL Draft stock is rising, and fast. Just don’t be surprised if those rankings keep climbing. I am very excited to see what post-season action will look like in the USHL! After all, offense sells those tickets, but development and consistency win those draft boards.