NCAA Free Agents this Summer

[Favin]

Some former college players that are unlikely to sign with their NHL drafted club this August are:

1. Keith Petruzzelli, G, DET: Former Quinnipac goalie and Hobey Baker finalist has said publicly that he will not sign with Detroit and will be come a UFA this August. As far as I can tell, he should be biggest name in this category this summer. Has NHL potential.

2. Matthew Hellickson, LHD, NJD: Former USNTDP and University of Notre Dame defenseman, who recently played for USA at World Championship. Had signed an AHL contract at end of season last year. Not signed NHL deal. Has bottom-pair NHL potential.

3. Aapeli Räsänen, C, EDM: The 2016 draftee played 3 full seasons at Boston College before going to Finland last year during Covid. Tricky case since he left NCAA because of COVID, but did sign two-year Liiga contract, so his rights may be preserved.

4. Filip Lindberg, G, MIN: The UMass goalie has said he will forego any remaining NCAA eligibility, will not sign in Minnesota and will become a free agent this summer.

5. JD Greenway, LHD, TOR: Jordan Greenway played two years at Wisconsin, transferred and played last two seasons at University of Maine. Will not be signed by Leafs.

There are a number of other players expected to return to NCAA that could elect free agency should they choose to turn pro instead returning to school. Nathan Smith (C, WPG, Mankato) probably being the best of this group, followed by Nick Abruzzese (C, TOR, Harvard), Aidan McDonough (C, VAN, Northeastern), Jesper Weatherby (C/LW, SJS, North Dakota), Ronnie Attard (RHD, PHI, Western Michigan), and Nick Perbix (RHD, TBL, St. Cloud State).

Any other names to add, list them below.

Click to read more...

 

[gifted88]

Is Strauss Mann on anyones radar?

 

[Bonin21]

Is Strauss Mann on anyones radar?

He already signed in Sweden

 

[Favin]

Just a quick refresh of the NCAA expiring rights list as there will be some that reach free agency on August 15th. The most notable names are

(1) Keith Petruzzelli, the goalie from Quinnipiac who was ECAC goalie and a Hobey Baker finalist that has refused to sign in Detroit. He is likely to sign in Boston after attending their Development Camp.
(2) Matt Hellickson, the defenseman from Notre Dame and former USNTDP product that recently played with US team at the World Championships.
(3) Kasper Kotkansalo, the Detroit-drafted d-man, who left BU during Covid and played well for Ässät in Finland.
(4) JD Greenway, the RD and brother and brother of Jordan Greenway. Rights were just recently traded to Boston, where he will sign AHL deal.


Players who drafting rights expire August 15

Kasper Kotkansalo (LD, DET, #71 in 2017) – under contract with HIFK (Liiga)
James Greenway (LD, TOR, #72 in 2016) – rights traded to Boston, signed AHL deal
Keith Petruzzelli (G, DET, #88 in 2017) – UFA, attending Bruins camp
Todd Burgess (C, RW, OTT, #103 in 2016) – signed deal with Manitoba (AHL)
Bryce Misley (C, MIN, #116 in 2017) – signed deal with Iowa (AHL)
Kale Howarth (C, CBJ, #148 in 2017) – UFA
Aapeli Rasanen (C, EDM, #153 in 2016) – signed with KalPa (Liiga)
Kristian Oldham (G, TBL, #153 in 2015) – UFA
Nick Campoli (C, VGK, #158 in 2017) – UFA
Patrick Holway (D, DET, #170 in 2015) – UFA
Garrett Metcalf (G, ANA, #179 in 2015) – UFA
Filip Lindberg (G, MIN, #197 in 2019) – Left UMass, signed with PIT
Croix Evingson (RD, WPG, #211 in 2017) – UFA
Matthew Hellickson (D, NJD, #214 in 2017) – UFA


Players that could have become free agents but are returning to school in 2021-22 (some for 5th year)

Ronnie Attard (RD, PHI, #72 in 2019)
Matthew Cairns (LD, EDM, #84 in 2016)
Mike Robinson (G, SJS, #86 in 2015)
Nathan Smith (C, WPG, #91 in 2018)
Clayton Phillips (LD, PIT, #93 in 2017)
Jasper Weatherby (C, SJS, #102 in 2018)
Nick Abruzzese (C, TOR, #124 in 2019)
Michael Karow (LD, ARI, #126 in 2017)
Tyler Inamoto (LD, FLA, #133 in 2017)
Noah Cates (LW, PHI, #137 in 2017)
David Hrenak (G, LAK, #144 in 2018)
Peter Thome (G, CBJ, #155 in 2016)
John Adams (RW, DET, #162 in 2017)
Nicklaus Perbix (RD, TBL, #169 in 2017)
Cole Guttman (C, TBL, #180 in 2017)
Benton Maass (RD, WSH, #182 in 2017)
Jakov Novak (LW, C, OTT, #188 in 2018)
Jack Becker (C, BOS, #195 in 2015)
Aidan McDonough (C, VAN, #195 in 2019)
Logan Cockerill (RW, NYI, #201 in 2017)
Ryan O'Connell (LD, TOR, #203 in 2017)
Robbie Stucker (RD, CBJ, #210 in 2017)
Joshua Ess (D, CHI, #215 in 2017)

 

[BKarchitect]

Just a quick refresh of the NCAA expiring rights list as there will be some that reach free agency on August 15th. The most notable names are

(1) Keith Petruzzelli, the goalie from Quinnipiac who was ECAC goalie and a Hobey Baker finalist that has refused to sign in Detroit. He is likely to sign in Boston after attending their Development Camp.
(2) Matt Hellickson, the defenseman from Notre Dame and former USNTDP product that recently played with US team at the World Championships.
(3) Kasper Kotkansalo, the Detroit-drafted d-man, who left BU during Covid and played well for Ässät in Finland.
(4) JD Greenway, the RD and brother and brother of Jordan Greenway. Rights were just recently traded to Boston, where he will sign AHL deal.


Players who drafting rights expire August 15

Kasper Kotkansalo (LD, DET, #71 in 2017) – under contract with HIFK (Liiga)
James Greenway (LD, TOR, #72 in 2016) – rights traded to Boston, signed AHL deal
Keith Petruzzelli (G, DET, #88 in 2017) – UFA, attending Bruins camp
Todd Burgess (C, RW, OTT, #103 in 2016) – signed deal with Manitoba (AHL)
Bryce Misley (C, MIN, #116 in 2017) – signed deal with Iowa (AHL)
Kale Howarth (C, CBJ, #148 in 2017) – UFA
Aapeli Rasanen (C, EDM, #153 in 2016) – signed with KalPa (Liiga)
Kristian Oldham (G, TBL, #153 in 2015) – UFA
Nick Campoli (C, VGK, #158 in 2017) – UFA
Patrick Holway (D, DET, #170 in 2015) – UFA
Garrett Metcalf (G, ANA, #179 in 2015) – UFA
Filip Lindberg (G, MIN, #197 in 2019) – Left UMass, signed with PIT
Croix Evingson (RD, WPG, #211 in 2017) – UFA
Matthew Hellickson (D, NJD, #214 in 2017) – UFA


Players that could have become free agents but are returning to school in 2021-22 (some for 5th year)

Ronnie Attard (RD, PHI, #72 in 2019)
Matthew Cairns (LD, EDM, #84 in 2016)
Mike Robinson (G, SJS, #86 in 2015)
Nathan Smith (C, WPG, #91 in 2018)
Clayton Phillips (LD, PIT, #93 in 2017)
Jasper Weatherby (C, SJS, #102 in 2018)
Nick Abruzzese (C, TOR, #124 in 2019)
Michael Karow (LD, ARI, #126 in 2017)
Tyler Inamoto (LD, FLA, #133 in 2017)
Noah Cates (LW, PHI, #137 in 2017)
David Hrenak (G, LAK, #144 in 2018)
Peter Thome (G, CBJ, #155 in 2016)
John Adams (RW, DET, #162 in 2017)
Nicklaus Perbix (RD, TBL, #169 in 2017)
Cole Guttman (C, TBL, #180 in 2017)
Benton Maass (RD, WSH, #182 in 2017)
Jakov Novak (LW, C, OTT, #188 in 2018)
Jack Becker (C, BOS, #195 in 2015)
Aidan McDonough (C, VAN, #195 in 2019)
Logan Cockerill (RW, NYI, #201 in 2017)
Ryan O'Connell (LD, TOR, #203 in 2017)
Robbie Stucker (RD, CBJ, #210 in 2017)
Joshua Ess (D, CHI, #215 in 2017)

Thanks for the update...it has been hard to keep track of contract situations this off-season with all the 5th year eligibility.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Just a quick refresh of the NCAA expiring rights list as there will be some that reach free agency on August 15th. The most notable names are

(1) Keith Petruzzelli, the goalie from Quinnipiac who was ECAC goalie and a Hobey Baker finalist that has refused to sign in Detroit. He is likely to sign in Boston after attending their Development Camp.
(2) Matt Hellickson, the defenseman from Notre Dame and former USNTDP product that recently played with US team at the World Championships.
(3) Kasper Kotkansalo, the Detroit-drafted d-man, who left BU during Covid and played well for Ässät in Finland.
(4) JD Greenway, the RD and brother and brother of Jordan Greenway. Rights were just recently traded to Boston, where he will sign AHL deal.


Players who drafting rights expire August 15

Kasper Kotkansalo (LD, DET, #71 in 2017) – under contract with HIFK (Liiga)
James Greenway (LD, TOR, #72 in 2016) – rights traded to Boston, signed AHL deal
Keith Petruzzelli (G, DET, #88 in 2017) – UFA, attending Bruins camp
Todd Burgess (C, RW, OTT, #103 in 2016) – signed deal with Manitoba (AHL)
Bryce Misley (C, MIN, #116 in 2017) – signed deal with Iowa (AHL)
Kale Howarth (C, CBJ, #148 in 2017) – UFA
Aapeli Rasanen (C, EDM, #153 in 2016) – signed with KalPa (Liiga)
Kristian Oldham (G, TBL, #153 in 2015) – UFA
Nick Campoli (C, VGK, #158 in 2017) – UFA
Patrick Holway (D, DET, #170 in 2015) – UFA
Garrett Metcalf (G, ANA, #179 in 2015) – UFA
Filip Lindberg (G, MIN, #197 in 2019) – Left UMass, signed with PIT
Croix Evingson (RD, WPG, #211 in 2017) – UFA
Matthew Hellickson (D, NJD, #214 in 2017) – UFA


Players that could have become free agents but are returning to school in 2021-22 (some for 5th year)

Ronnie Attard (RD, PHI, #72 in 2019)
Matthew Cairns (LD, EDM, #84 in 2016)
Mike Robinson (G, SJS, #86 in 2015)
Nathan Smith (C, WPG, #91 in 2018)
Clayton Phillips (LD, PIT, #93 in 2017)
Jasper Weatherby (C, SJS, #102 in 2018)
Nick Abruzzese (C, TOR, #124 in 2019)
Michael Karow (LD, ARI, #126 in 2017)
Tyler Inamoto (LD, FLA, #133 in 2017)
Noah Cates (LW, PHI, #137 in 2017)
David Hrenak (G, LAK, #144 in 2018)
Peter Thome (G, CBJ, #155 in 2016)
John Adams (RW, DET, #162 in 2017)
Nicklaus Perbix (RD, TBL, #169 in 2017)
Cole Guttman (C, TBL, #180 in 2017)
Benton Maass (RD, WSH, #182 in 2017)
Jakov Novak (LW, C, OTT, #188 in 2018)
Jack Becker (C, BOS, #195 in 2015)
Aidan McDonough (C, VAN, #195 in 2019)
Logan Cockerill (RW, NYI, #201 in 2017)
Ryan O'Connell (LD, TOR, #203 in 2017)
Robbie Stucker (RD, CBJ, #210 in 2017)
Joshua Ess (D, CHI, #215 in 2017)

Excellent stuff!

I believe NYI 3rd rounder (2017) Ben Mirageas, a defenseman, is heading back to Providence for his 5th season as well.

 

[Favin]

Keith Petruzzelli is returning to college after trying out with Bruins
Matthew Hellickson signed with Toronto Marlies (AHL)

 

[Breakers]

Zack Metsa should get some serious consideration

top scoring defenseman in his conference
Undersized, but is a right shot and and competes well and was the top defenseman on a stingy Quinni team
He PKs and PP

also Prebix from St. Cloud should be a commodity