College Free Agents -SinBin.vegas

[BattleBorn]

http://sinbin.vegas/a-look-at-the-best-available-college-free-agents/

Their list:

Josh Healey - Ohio State
Mike Vecchione - Union
John Stevens - Northeastern
C.J. Smith - UMASS Lowell

I'm not super familiar with the college end of things or prospects in general (just not my cup of tea) has anyone here seen these guys on the ice and think they'd fit in here in Vegas?

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[Johnny Hoxville]

You would think Vegas would be an attractive destination for some of these FA's, they would have a very good shot at playing time. I wouldn't be surprised if they signed 2-3 of them.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I'll try to come up with the article, but I remember reading that it's a bit of an underwhelming crop of college FA's this year.

 

[Mike Jones]

Vegas may be an attractive destination for college FAs but the reality is that most of them will be playing for the minor league affiliates so that will probably be a part of their consideration as well.

 

[willy702]

College FAs are filler at best

Not to say they never pan out, but seriously this is a very thin field. Read a recent article listing all these guys who were free agents that made it to decent NHL careers. Yes there are some, but the punch line is there are about 10 guys mentioned. Over many years. So yeah, maybe one a year will pan out to be a reliable player and sometime all-star for the entire NHL. Not exactly the odds you want to rely on. These guys may get more opportunity than other teams for VGK, but I still believe at best they are healthy scratch type players at best, career AHL/ECHL players on average.

Anyone who has watched college hockey (former DU season ticket holder here) can tell you the game is just not the same as the pro game. The intensity, the speed, the pace at which most players play is not even close and its done over a short season with relatively few games. The few kids who are drafted and playing in NCAA are light years ahead, think of college basketball one and done players, they are stars from day one and last 2-3 years as clear cut team leaders before they leave. A few that are later round picks clearly aren't going to pan out as NHL players and they stay all four years and often don't ever get a pro contract and try their luck in Europe or go get regular jobs. The free agents, well its usually 2 or 3 players per team who are late bloomers. They play the team's system well, the coaches trust them with lots of tough ice time, and they show competence enough that they can make it to minor league hockey.

 

[HanSolo]

Vegas may be an attractive destination for college FAs but the reality is that most of them will be playing for the minor league affiliates so that will probably be a part of their consideration as well.

A majority of undrafted college signees never make it to the NHL. Vegas being a potentially easier road to the big leagues might still be a good factor for them.

 

[Jonas1235]

I don't know about college but Henrik Hapaala is leader scorer in Finland and he's 22 undrafted. I would be after him big time.

 

[Mike Jones]

A majority of undrafted college signees never make it to the NHL. Vegas being a potentially easier road to the big leagues might still be a good factor for them.

With the expansion draft being as "generous" as it's supposed to be a college free agent's way may be blocked by about 30 B and C level NHLers. Their chances of making their way to the NHL may only be marginally better.