Speculation: 2020 NCAA Free Agents Signings & Speculation Thread

[MMC]

Who are the top NCAA free agents that will available to sign next month, and are any teams currently rumored to any?

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[Brodeur]

We have a similar thread on the prospects board: Top Potential UFA NCAA Prospects - Part II

Reposting something from a few months back:

Stumbled on a late November podcast where Adam Wodon and Guy Flaming had a segment regarding potential college UFAs. Off the top of my head, Wodon mentioned that he didn't think there were any slam dunk future NHLers this year but name dropped:

- LD Alec Rauhauser - Prototypical size, but older 24 going onto 25. Wodon was surprised he didn't leave last season (my note: At 25, Rauhauser wouldn't necessarily have to sign an ELC a la Matt Gilroy, but I have no idea if he'd warrant a one way deal).

- RW Vincent De May - Decent size, started scoring this year for Northern Michigan.

- C Patrick Khodorenko - 4th year senior but just turned 21 so he's on the younger end relatively speaking for some college UFAs. Wodon mentioned that his contacts compared Khodorenko to a Casey Cizikas type guy.

- LW/C Marc Michaelis - Older (24) German born prospect playing for Minnesota State.

- C Devin Brosseau - Older (24) prospect playing for Clarkson.

Flaming brought up Johnny Walker and Brinson Pasichnuk from Arizona State. Wodon didn't have any goaltenders listed in his EliteProspect's article, but they discussed Francis Marotte, Stefanos Lekkas, Cale Morris, and Peyton Jones.

 

[5cotland]

We have a similar thread on the prospects board: Top Potential UFA NCAA Prospects - Part II

Reposting something from a few months back:

I like Khodorenko. Could be a decent depth player for someone and still really young.

 

[wej20]

I like Khodorenko. Could be a decent depth player for someone and still really young.

Good numbers and only 21 (will turn 22 just before next season), I imagine he'll be highly sought after.

 

[Lil rat]

Alex Limoges maybe?

 

[barriers]

Cale Morris is one of the few I can think of who should have teams lining up to sign once he graduates. No guarantees he ever plays a NHL game though.

 

[5cotland]

Good numbers and only 21 (will turn 22 just before next season), I imagine he'll be highly sought after.

Yep, and consistent number as well which is great to see.

 

[Brodeur]

Just taking a guess, but I could see Khodorenko (Bay Area native) being courted by the Sharks. Definitely some bottom six spots up for grabs which would be pretty attractive for a guy who has to sign a two way deal.

 

[RangersFan1994]

any LD UDFA that wants to play in the NHL sooner rather than later? can actually step onto the Rangers LD

 

[themelkman]

Just taking a guess, but I could see Khodorenko (Bay Area native) being courted by the Sharks. Definitely some bottom six spots up for grabs which would be pretty attractive for a guy who has to sign a two way deal.

Sharks have a ton of guys vying for a bottom six spot next year, but free assets never hurt. Even if you totally BS them like Carolina and Priske, they still got great value out of him

 

[Brodeur]

NHL.com article from about a week ago: On Campus: Chaffee, Mackey among top NCAA free agents

Though the chances of finding a forward ready for a top-six role in the NHL or a defenseman ready to play 20-plus minutes are slim, there are usually good complementary players to be had.

The potential free agent crop this season is regarded as average by NHL scouts.

Based on input from a dozen NHL evaluators, here are the top college free agents:

- Mitchell Chaffee
- Connor Mackey
- Drew O'Connor
- Josh Dunne
- Jack Ahcan
- Marc Michaelis
- Jordan Kawaguchi
- Matt Kiersted
- Nate Sucese
- Patrick Khodorenko
- Tommy Nappier
- Frank Marotte

Honorable Mentions:
- Greg Printz
- Eduards Tralmaks
- Strauss Mann
- Ben Meyers
- Josh Maniscalco
- Brinson Pasichnuk

Article has blurbs on the first chunk of players listed. And obligatory reminder that the CBA outlines the type of deals they can sign. By age:

18-21 years old: 3 year ELC
22-23 years old: 2 year ELC
24 years old: 1 year ELC
25+: no restrictions

 

[spockBokk]

David Cotton out of Boston College comes to mind. Canes 6th rd pick in 2015. He has developed pretty well, big 6’2” C. Hopefully Canes can convince him to sign by burning year 1 of his ELC.

He may very well decide to go to UFA though.

Edit-whoops, just noticed this was more than likely meant for non-drafted NCAA guys.

 

[themelkman]

Honestly think this gets hyped up too much, most of them never become anything.

 

[Brodeur]

(their disclaimer, no guarantees somebody would sign as opposed to returning to school)
- They've heard this isn't a deep class of free agents.
- For the sake of the podcast, the two hosts did a "draft" and alternated picks. So the following isn't exactly a ranking, but just for readability:

1. G John Lethemon
2. D Connor Mackey
3. RW Mitchell Chaffee
4. C Patrick Khodorenko
5. F Marc Michaelis -- host noted he knows of teams who like him more than Chaffee
6. F Josh Dunne
7. F Drew O'Connor -- host notes he recently moved to center
8. D Brinson Pasichnuk -- hosts compare him to Troy Stecher
9. D Matt Kiersted -- host says he knows one NHL GM who flew to UND to watch him
10. D Colton Poolman
11. LW Ben Meyers -- host compared him to Blake Lizotte
12. G Cale Morris
13. RW Austin Rueschhoff -- 6'7
14. D Alec Rauhauser
15. C Jared Spooner -- host expects him to return for senior year
16. RW Johnny Walker

 

[Brodeur]

Honestly think this gets hyped up too much, most of them never become anything.

Well, feel free to ignore the threads then. Taking a step back, this is a hockey prospect message board and some of us enjoy discussing the obscure names.

Nobody's saying any of these guys are surefire future NHLers, so anybody who 'hypes' them up is usually user error. Ie, last year wasn't considered a great crop and suddenly people were making fun of Max Veronneau even though nobody was really touting him as a surefire guy.

 

[MMC]

Honestly think this gets hyped up too much, most of them never become anything.

You could say the same thing about the draft

 

[MMC]

Well, feel free to ignore the threads then. Taking a step back, this is a hockey prospect message board and some of us enjoy discussing the obscure names.

Nobody's saying any of these guys are surefire future NHLers, so anybody who 'hypes' them up is usually user error. Ie, last year wasn't considered a great crop and suddenly people were making fun of Max Veronneau even though nobody was really touting him as a surefire guy.

How would you say this year compares to both last year and previous years?

 

[themelkman]

Well, feel free to ignore the threads then. Taking a step back, this is a hockey prospect message board and some of us enjoy discussing the obscure names.

Nobody's saying any of these guys are surefire future NHLers, so anybody who 'hypes' them up is usually user error. Ie, last year wasn't considered a great crop and suddenly people were making fun of Max Veronneau even though nobody was really touting him as a surefire guy.

Not complaining about the threads, just feel like people shouldn't expect a whole lot because many get very let down when guys like Vesey dont turn out.

 

[Brodeur]

How would you say this year compares to both last year and previous years?

Those podcasts + NHL.com article seemed to indicate that it appears to be average at best. The latter podcast noted that on average, 24 guys get ELCs but they had a hunch that it'd be fewer this spring.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I swear there was a similar thread for European FA's but now I can't seem to find it.

 

[Brodeur]

I swear there was a similar thread for European FA's but now I can't seem to find it.

Was it this one? : Rumor: - Top UFAs from Europe: Who will come to NA?

 

[Brent Salmon]

Who are the top NCAA free agents that will available to sign next month, and are any teams currently rumored to any?

Which ones that have been drafted will play after college season is over

 

[Bone Breaker]

iirc Avs were interested in signing Cale Morris last season. dunno if nowadays the interest still exists (I guess not, given all the guys we have signed and the insurgence of Annunen).

 

[barriers]

iirc Avs were interested in signing Cale Morris last season. dunno if nowadays the interest still exists (I guess not, given all the guys we have signed and the insurgence of Annunen).

If the Avs are interested I think they can manage to make room for him. Justus likely isn't leaving Liiga until his contract finishes after the 2021 /22 season at the earliest anyway.

 

[Mister Ed]

The Red Wings are rumoured to be interested in :


Brinson Pasichnuk, D, Arizona State

Pasnichuk has been a top scoring defenseman in college the past two seasons. He’s an undersized defenseman but has a lot of tools and is fun to watch. His offensive brain is great. He can run a pro power play due to his vision and he has a hard shot from the point. He’s not that big but he competes well. The one thing that may hold him back from being a for sure NHL player will be that, while he’s a good and elusive skater, he’s not a top of the line burner, which isn’t ideal at his size. In terms of pure talent, getting him as a free agent is worth it; and if you can build up the skating, he could become a player.