The demands and preferences of NCAA free agents are usually quite specific. They're very picky. For most of these players, it's the first and only time NHL teams are going to be fighting for their services so it makes sense on their end.
Morrison is an Albertan and signed with Calgary. He was supposed to be in deep with Edmonton but they flubbed it, I guess.
Casey Bailey plays at Penn State where Terry Pegula is a big booster, and he's probably been in his ear for months. Not to mention he could easily walk on to Buffalo's top line at the moment.
For others, their age can determine big bonuses and cap numbers and one way deals. Guarantees of icetime and NHL duty burning through ELC years matter. And you know that young people love New York City.
The point: It's a stab in the dark. And 'top' guys don't pan out that often anyway, we got nothing out of Thompson, Thiessen and Hartzell who each had profile, but as Jacob points out, hit paydirt with Letestu and Lovejoy who had none, and found some moderate success with Gibbons and Megna also.
We do the best we can in this area, such as getting creative with the framing of Hartzell's deal making him an RFA that summer, and it's not a talent source we ignore. Still won't stop people sulking when certain players won't sign here.